Why Siaya MCAs Are Holding Governor Orengo at Ransom

Details are now emerging that the frequent night meetings held between Siaya Governor James Orengo and a Representative of the County Assembly has to do with payback time and the MCAs are just demanding their rightful pound of flesh.

According to our mole [who is yet to file a comprehensive report on the latest night meeting], Governor Orengo agreed to let the MCAs have a freehand in handling development projects at Ward Level.

“This understanding goes back to the days of campaign when we agreed to support Orengo against Gumbo,” our source revealed, adding “it’s now difficult to restrain the MCAs particularly when you guys report that KES 10 million was misappropriated as allowances in the Qatar mission.”

Since it is a eating spree, the MCAs are demanding greater control of the multimillion shillings projects the county is undertaking in their Wards. Whether or not it’s illegal and a conflict of interest for MCAs to be awarded tenders is of little concern here.

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The Governor will have to play ball or have his goose cooked. Laughing gleefully about the whole situation Siaya Assembly Speaker George Okode yesterday called the media to a most unusual event dubbed a conversation and not a briefing.

Assembly Majority Leader Martin Otieno has confirmed the fallout, but has denied reports that they are holding the county chief to ransom.

“It’s s big lie to claim that we are coercing the governor to accede to our demands,” Mr. Otieno said, adding “There’s nothing unique about meeting the Governor at night”.

Gem South MCA Gad is said to be working in cahoots with a key figure in the Assembly to engineer the Orengo ouster.

This is not the first time such infighting has erupted in the county assembly. The other time MCAs took a position for Orengo to impeach his Deputy Dr William Oduol Denge.

The MCAs admitted to receiving financial considerations to impeach Oduol. It wouldn’t be surprising if the ghost has risen to haunt the master.