By Team
The ODM and the Siaya County Government’s “political lapdog” on Wednesday stoked a war between Governor James Orengo and his former allies, now rivals in the Linda Ground faction, in the emerging political battle within the party.
At the Linda Ground function in Kisumu East, presided over by ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, the political lapdog, Richard Omondi Odhiambo, alias Makamu wa Makumu, burst the war open by openly attacking Orengo, who is his employer.
Omondi, once a darling of Orengo but who switched camps in the new emerging political realignment in ODM headed by party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, Wanga, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Alego MP Sam Atandi, among other leaders from the region, found himself swallowing more than he could chew.
After the rally, Omondi received a suspension letter captioned “Notice of Suspension and Mandatory Show Cause.”
“This office is notified of an incident during a public political activity within Kisumu County on 25th February 2026 at which you uttered unsavory, derogatory, insulting, and disrespectful remarks in reference to the person of H.E. James Orengo, the Governor of Siaya County.
Your actions in this regard amount to gross misconduct, inconceivable insubordination, and flagrant breach of Section 16 of the Public Officer Ethics Act; Sections 4 and 6(c) and (d) of the Public Service Disciplinary Manual, 2022; as well as Sections 1.7 and 1.18 of the Public Service Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual, 2016.
Consequently, and in line with the provisions of Section 44(4)(d) of the Employment Act, you are hereby suspended from duty with immediate effect, pending further processing and determination of your matter.
You are therefore directed to hand over any county government property within your custody to the undersigned immediately.
Further, you are required to show cause within seven days henceforth why further disciplinary action, including dismissal from service, should not be instituted against you. Should you fail to submit a written response within this period, the matter will be processed and finalized without further reference to you, guided by applicable statutes and law,” signed by Walter Okelo, Chief Officer, Governance, Administration and ICT.
At the rally, Omondi accused Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna of opposing ODM’s pre-election coalition with President William Ruto’s UDA party over what he termed as marriage to women from Mt. Kenya.
The trio are the founders of the Linda Mwananchi faction in ODM and recently held three successful rallies in Busia, Kitengela, and Kakamega. Currently, they are engaged in planning to release the group’s calendar for the year.
In derogatory and vulgar remarks, accompanied by inappropriate gestures, Omondi castigated the trio as being under the influence of their Mt. Kenya wives.
Omondi is employed by the County Government of Siaya, reportedly not on professional qualifications and competence but on political expediency and propaganda.
From humble beginnings as a plumber in Kisumu’s sprawling slums of Manyatta, Omondi rose to the high table of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), where he shared the podium with the party leadership.
From the political podium, Omondi landed employment at the County Government of Siaya.
He was employed as a County Information Management Officer, a position that typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Information Science, Data Science, Computer Science, or Social Science.
From the above requirements, it raises questions about how Omondi was recruited into the Public Service of Siaya County, what kind of academic papers he presented, and whether the position was advertised and the hiring conducted competitively.
Omondi usually flies in a chopper with top Luo leaders, and before they address any political or social gathering, they often ask him to electrify and excite the crowd.
With the suspension of Omondi, Orengo has taken the battle to the doorstep of the Oburu-Wanga faction of Linda Ground.
Last weekend, at the Linda Ground rally in Siaya, Orengo came under a barrage of criticism from Wanga and other ODM leaders for allegedly failing to institute meaningful development and for being jealous of Dr. Oburu.
Oburu introduced former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and termed him a worthy competitor and capable of being the next Governor of Siaya.
Siaya Deputy Governor Dr. Oduol Denge, a bitter rival of Orengo, has also declared his interest in the seat and is aligned with Linda Ground to checkmate Orengo.