Editor's Review

“We cannot sit down with somebody listening to him when he has taken away security from Baba."

Siaya Governor James Orengo now says he will skip the forthcoming Council of Governors meeting that will be presided by President William Ruto. 

Speaking on Friday, August 11 during the requiem mass of victims of anti-government protests in Siaya County, Orengo said he will not attend President Ruto’s event yet the government withdrew the security of ODM leader Raila Odinga and other opposition leaders. 

Orengo noted that Azimio governors will convene a meeting to resolve on boycotting the event.

“We have been told to go for a meeting for the council of governors and it is going to be opened by President Ruto… we the Azimio Governors are the only ones without security together with other Azimio politicians,” said Orengo.

He added, “We cannot sit down with somebody listening to him when he has taken away security from Baba. We will have a meeting so that we resolve that we cannot go into a meeting presided by Ruto while he has taken away the security of our leader Raila Odinga.”

File image of James Orengo. 

This comes weeks after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that Azimio leaders will not get their security back until after three months. 

He pointed out that the security detail will be returned if they show good behavior and don’t engage in anti-government protests.

“I have not seen a commitment that you (Azimio) denounce violence and give Kenyans undertaking that you will not go back to the streets those policemen will stay on standby for now. If in the next three months, you are of good behavior, there is no demonstration and chaos on the streets, we shall return the police to guard you," Gachagua said on July 31.