Siaya Governor James Orengo has declared his intention to run for president in the 2027 general election, adding a high-profile contender to an increasingly crowded opposition field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orengo made the announcement on Friday during the burial of Steven Onyango, the son of Linda Mwananchi advocate Newton Ogada, in Homa Bay County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The veteran politician also criticised President William Ruto, accusing him of failing to support Kenya\u2019s current constitution before eventually taking the presidential oath under it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Ruto, who didn\u2019t believe in the Constitution, is now the president. Ruto was swearing with the Constitution he never supported. That is why we have these many problems,\u201d Orengo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then addressed Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang\u2019, who has recently drawn attention over comments concerning support for President Ruto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orengo said he was ready to seek the presidency and described himself as a serious candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Kajwang, I am here. From today, know that I am the presidential candidate. A serious presidential candidate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The declaration places Orengo among a growing number of politicians positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential contest, when Ruto is expected to seek a second term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also raises questions about how the opposition will manage competing presidential ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leaders of Linda Mwananchi have said their broader aim is to unite opposition parties behind a single candidate to challenge Ruto. There has been no official indication that the movement has split.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orengo, 75, is one of Kenya\u2019s longest-serving politicians and a prominent figure in the country\u2019s pro-democracy movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has served as MP for Ugenya, minister for lands, Siaya senator and Senate minority leader. He became governor of Siaya in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has previously sought the presidency. In 2002, he contested the election but lost to Mwai Kibaki, who went on to form the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orengo later became a close ally of Raila Odinga and a senior figure in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), serving as one of the party\u2019s leading constitutional lawyers during successive election disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His involvement in Kenya\u2019s reform movement dates back to the era of former President Daniel arap Moi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was among politicians and lawyers who opposed one-party rule and campaigned for the return of multiparty politics and constitutional reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His latest declaration comes as political parties and leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 election, with alliances and possible opposition coalitions expected to take shape in the months ahead.
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Siaya Governor James Orengo has declared his intention to run for president in the 2027 general election, adding a high-profile contender to an increasingly crowded opposition field. Orengo made the announcement on Friday during the burial of Steven Onyango, the son of Linda Mwananchi advocate Newton Ogada, in Homa Bay County. The veteran politician also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":25962,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-politics"],"yoast_head":"\n