“If it Comes to Resignation then We Should Both Resign” — Oduol Cracks Up Senate

Siaya Deputy Governor Dr William Oduol Denge on Thursday afternoon mesmerized the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations with his wit as he responded to their questions seamlessly.

The visibly relaxed Oduol had been summoned to appear before the Senate together with his boss Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo in efforts to reconcile the duo.

While the Governor was adamant that the relationship between himself and his Deputy was irredeemably damaged Dr. Oduol was noncommittal prompting a female Senator to ask whether he had considered resignation as an option.

“If I were to resign then the Governor should tender in his resignation as well and ask for a fresh mandate. Remember we were elected as a ticket,” responded Dr. Oduol.

Oduol further told the Senate that the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission EACC had vindicated his claims of rampant corruption within the County Government of Siaya which was the basis of the fallout between himself and the Governor.

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He reiterated his readiness to work for the people of Siaya County who had confidently elected him alongside Orengo.

A running mate in a presidential or gubernatorial election is often chosen on grounds of ideology, geography or ethnical balance.

Dr. Oduol was chosen to run alongside Orengo not because of any flower-girl qualities but his proven professional capacity to turnaround and run highly successful corporations. As a candidate on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party ticket, Dr Oduol had more traction than the main candidate having vied and come very close to trouncing the outgoing Governor Cornell Rasanga Amoth in 2013.

Without the input of Dr. Oduol the possibility exists that Eng. Nicholas Odero Gumbo could have had an easy run in Alego-Usonga, Gem and Ugunja Constituencies besides Rarieda, Bondo and Ugenya where he already was extremely popular.

Following lengthy deliberations Senate efforts to reconcile the two were not concluded. The Senate asked for more time to come to the ground on an extensive fact-finding mission.