Siaya Governor James Orengo on Friday accused the government of attempting to intimidate members of the Linda Mwananchi movement after one of their campaign trucks was stoned in Kisumu ahead of a planned rally in Kakamega on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference in Kisumu, Orengo claimed the attack was orchestrated by senior people in government and warned that the group would hold the State responsible if any harm befalls supporters attending the rally.
He said similar attempts to disrupt their activities in Kitengela and Busia over the past two weekends had failed and maintained that the movement would continue holding rallies across the country.
“This thing is huge, it’s a tsunami. It is unstoppable, no force on earth is going to stand in our way. So rest assured that, with their machinations, this meeting is going to take place. Just like they tried in Kitengela, but the meeting went on. The forces that be better be prepared for this huge movement of the people, by the people, for the people,” he said.
Orengo noted that the Linda Mwananchi faction is largely driven by members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) who are dissatisfied with what he termed as the party’s surrender to interests hostile to its founding principles.
These include ODM Secretary General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Orengo, Osotsi, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi among others.
Their activities have highlighted divisions within ODM, where another faction dubbed Linda Ground and led by party boss Dr. Oburu Oginga is seen as supportive of the broad-based government and President Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.
Orengo defended the 10-point agenda and a Memorandum of Understanding signed between President William Ruto and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, describing them as key to the party’s reform agenda and the former Prime Minister’s legacy.
“ODM had values and principles which are well set out in the Constitution, but of immediacy is the 10-point agenda, which some elements within ODM want to be thrown into the dustbin of history,” said the Governor.
“The 10-point agenda and the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed between President William Ruto and our leader Raila Odinga is part of his legacy. It is not about a broad-based government or coalitions, it’s about Kenya and the people of Kenya. The 10-point agenda is like a blueprint for Kenya to move into the future.”
Vihiga Senator and ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, on his part, urged supporters to turn up in large numbers for the Kakamega rally, saying the gathering would send a strong message to President William Ruto’s administration.
“Let us all attend the meeting in Kakamega to send a message that your days are numbered. We cannot continue to have a regime that does not tolerate divergent opinions and does not respect the Constitution,” Osotsi said.
He accused the government of panicking over citizens exercising their constitutional rights to assemble and express themselves.
“We saw the Linda Ground (team) holding a meeting at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega and no one stopped them. So we don’t expect them to come and disrupt our rally because we’re doing it in peace. We did the same rally in Busia, they tried to interfere with it but the people stood very firm. In Kitengela, they destroyed our dais ahead of our meeting, but the people stood with us,” said the lawmaker.
“I want to tell them that even in Kakamega, our protection is the people, and people’s power cannot be stopped by anyone. President William Ruto, if you have done good things for this country, you have nothing to fear. But if you’re going to destroy our rally, then you will be in the process of beginning to destroy this country, by not allowing democracy to thrive.”
