KISUMU, Kenya, Jun 22 – Siaya Governor James Orengo has urged President William Ruto to reject the Finance Bill and allow fresh parliamentary debate, while rallying support for planned June 25 demonstrations commemorating victims of last year’s anti-government protests.
Speaking in Kisumu over the weekend, Orengo, who has emerged as a leading voice of the Linda Mwananchi faction within ODM, questioned the legitimacy of the Finance Bill’s passage, saying many Members of Parliament were absent when the vote was taken.
“I want to thank the members of parliament, patriotic members of parliament, who are drawn across the political divide, who voted against the finance bill,” Orengo said.
The governor argued that lawmakers who walked out of the House before the vote should be counted among those who did not support the legislation.
According to him, the number of MPs who opposed the Bill or were absent exceeded those who voted in its favour.
He appealed to President Ruto to reconsider assenting to the Bill, saying Parliament had not fully exercised its constitutional responsibility in debating and deciding on a key financial instrument.
“Knowing what has happened, that the majority of members of parliament did not vote for the finance bill, he should reconsider his decision in assenting to the bill,” he said.
Orengo’s remarks came days before the June 25 anniversary of the Gen Z-led protests that rocked the country in 2024 and left dozens dead and many others injured.
The governor accused security agencies of failing to curb what he described as politically sponsored violence, claiming that criminal gangs were increasingly being used to intimidate critics of the government.
“We either choose to be a democratic and peaceful state, or rather become an autocratic dictatorship, a despotic regime, where violence can be weaponized and used as a tool of ruling the country,” Orengo said.
He cited recent incidents of violence at public forums and political gatherings, calling on security agencies to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
He focused on the planned June 25 demonstrations, which he said were initiated by mothers and relatives of victims who were killed, injured or affected during last year’s protests.
Orengo dismissed claims that opposition politicians were hijacking the memorial events for political gain, insisting that leaders had only responded to requests from bereaved families seeking support.
“The demonstrations on the 25th is a demonstration of commemoration called upon by these unfortunate mothers who lost their loved ones,” he said.
The veteran opposition politician urged Kenyans intending to participate in the demonstrations to remain peaceful and called on police to facilitate the events in accordance with the law.
“I am appealing to Kenyans, and I’m appealing on behalf of the bereaved families, that that demonstration that will take place on the 25th should be peaceful,” he said.
He also renewed calls for justice and accountability over the deaths that occurred during the protests, arguing that compensation alone would not address the grievances of affected families.
He says the government should first establish responsibility for the deaths and issue a formal apology before discussing compensation packages.
“What does Ojwang’s family benefit? One year or two years down the line, you have been given two million, three million. Every day you wake up, you see that grave where you have interred your son,” he said.
The governor further suggested that June 25 be recognised as a national day of remembrance to honour young people who lost their lives during the demonstrations.
