Siaya Governor James Orengo has called for investigations into multimillion shilling public donations made by state officials, questioning the source of the funds.
Speaking on Monday as Kenya marked the 36th anniversary of the July 7, 1990, pro-democracy protests, he said displays of wealth undermine the democratic ideals of Kenya’s historic Saba Saba movement.
Orengo said the country must reflect on whether it was living up to the constitutional principles of accountability, transparency and the rule of law that protesters fought to secure.
“Saba Saba was not just an event; it was a loud, unyielding rejection of the imperial presidency and the culture of political patronage,” Orengo said.
He criticised what he described as a growing trend of state officials making multimillion shilling donations at weekend fundraising events, saying the practice was at odds with the economic hardships facing many Kenyans.
“Over the past weekend alone, we witnessed state officers dishing out individual donations of 20 million, 10 million and 2 million shillings. Where is this money coming from?”Orengo asked.
The governor said public office is a public trust and that every shilling spent or displayed by a state officer should withstand constitutional scrutiny.
He called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to conduct mandatory lifestyle audits of officials whose donations appear disproportionate to their known lawful income, citing provisions of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, and the Public Officer Ethics Act, 2003.
The governor also demanded full public disclosure of the sources of large donations and urged leaders to adhere to Chapter Six of Kenya’s Constitution, which sets standards for leadership and integrity.
He said leadership should be measured by constitutional compliance, prudent use of public resources and service delivery rather than the size of donations made at public events.
Orengo linked his remarks to a 10-point political agenda signed on March 7, 2025, which commits its signatories to promoting integrity in leadership, fighting corruption and eliminating wasteful use of public resources.
He said the original spirit of the harambee fundraising tradition was rooted in community solidarity and mutual support, not a money-laundering bazaar or a public relations theatre for unexplained wealth.
“”The heroes of Saba Saba did not fight for a country where public office would become a gateway to overnight, unaccountable wealth,” Orengo said.
The anniversary of the Saba Saba protests is widely regarded as a turning point in Kenya’s struggle for multiparty democracy after demonstrators demanded political reforms under then-President Daniel arap Moi’s one-party rule.
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