Siaya Deputy Governor Dr. William Oduol speaking to the press on July 5, 2025 at Nairobi hotel.
By Peace Muthoka.
July 5, 2025 — Siaya Deputy Governor Dr. William Oduol has broken his silence on the growing political rift at the county’s top leadership, calling for calm, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to constitutional order.
Speaking in a press address following Governor James Orengo’s temporary absence from office, Dr. Oduol reaffirmed his loyalty to the Governor and emphasized that his role remains that of a principal assistant, not a rival.
“My allegiance to His Excellency is resolute and unwavering,” he said. “We are bound by a shared duty to deliver a people-centred, transparent, and accountable government.”
His remarks come amid heightened speculation over strained relations within the Executive, with tensions threatening to derail service delivery in the county. But instead of escalating the rift, Dr. Oduol struck a reconciliatory tone extending a hand of peace and pledging to seek dialogue over division.
“Leadership is not about personal ambition or rivalry,” he said. “It is about selfless service. Now more than ever, we must come together to restore harmony and focus on the needs of our people.”
The Deputy Governor acknowledged that differences had emerged between him and the Governor but stressed that such conflicts should not override their shared responsibility to the people of Siaya.
In a move aimed at preserving institutional integrity, Dr. Oduol also called for clear respect of the constitutional separation of powers. He took issue with what he described as confusion over the roles of the Executive and the County Assembly, urging Speaker George Okode and other leaders to remain within their legal mandates.
“The County Assembly is not an extension of the Executive,” he asserted. “It has a legislative and oversight role, not an administrative one. Any attempts to overreach undermine our constitutional order.”
Citing Article 3(2) of the Constitution, Dr. Oduol reminded public officials that exercising power outside the law is not only wrong it is illegal.
To ease tensions and rebuild public confidence, he laid out a three-point roadmap: convening a consultative meeting with the Governor upon his return, pursuing structured engagement with the County Assembly, and maintaining full alignment with the law in the discharge of his duties.
“In everything we do, we must be guided by the values enshrined in Article 10 transparency, accountability, democracy, and public participation,” he said.
Dr. Oduol concluded with a passionate plea for unity and a return to the founding promise of devolution a system anchored in service, not supremacy.
“Let us rise above suspicion and division,” he urged. “Let us recommit ourselves to reconciliation, respect for the Constitution, and unwavering service to the people of Siaya.
