Siaya Governor James Orengo criticized the long-held Kenyan tradition where politicians hand out lavish cash donations at public events. He said the public must scrutinize where that money comes from.
Speaking during a church service at ACK St Stephen Cathedral in Kisumu, Orengo warned that the country now shows an era of ostentation, with leaders distributing millions of shillings during “empowerment” programmes and project launches.
Orengo argued that the money politicians distribute does not belong to them personally; it belongs to Kenyans. He said voters should demand accountability from leaders, including explanations for their wealth.
“We know what a Cabinet Secretary earns. We know what a principal secretary earns. We know what a governor earns. The Constitution is very clear on declaring wealth and the source of one’s income,” he said.
Orengo also questioned how some leaders manage to donate hundreds of millions of shillings within a short time, adding that such amounts cannot realistically come from legitimate public salaries.
“This opulence of carrying money in sacks goes too far. We know exactly what these public servants earn, and the law requires that when someone has unexplained wealth, the EACC should investigate,” he said.
He said the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) should also require private businesspeople to explain where similar contributions come from.
“I have represented many people in KRA cases, and I know how these matters get handled. If you run a business and you contribute that kind of money, KRA should come calling at your door. There is no way even a president can hand over Ksh 100 million in one weekend. Be honest: it is your money being returned to you. That amounts to bribery,” he said.
Orengo also revealed that the late Raila Odinga spoke to him two days before his death and denied making any contribution that had been announced during a fundraiser.
“I asked him whether he sent any money that Kindiki announced at some fundraiser. Raila told me he never contributed anything,” Orengo said, adding that the trend now mirrors practices from the Moi era.
He urged politicians to stop bribing people and instead focus on doing the right work. He said they should be ready to explain their actions in the future.
Orengo argued that if leaders genuinely want to empower citizens, they should put money into sustainable development projects and back transparent community initiatives rather than distributing cash at political events.
“When there is a genuine harambee, contribute transparently and within the law. But anyone handing out millions at public gatherings should understand that, one day, they will have to explain where the money came from,” he said.
He warned that anti-corruption agencies routinely investigate unexplained wealth and that public officials should face the same scrutiny.
Orengo urged Kenyans to stay alert and question the origin of funds handed out during public functions, saying accountability protects public resources. He added that he would continue engaging citizens and speaking plainly about issues affecting the country.
“I do not tell people only what they want to hear. I tell them what they need to hear,” he said.
He also accused unnamed leaders of trying to shut a section of the country out of national affairs.
“They are building some kind of wall so Kenyans cannot communicate with each other. We must remain part of the national conversation. Some people are trying to isolate us,” he said.
Turning to ODM, Orengo claimed the party had been “captured” and no longer operates the way it used to. He praised Sifuna as one of ODM’s strongest voices.
“Sifuna has been the best performing leader after Raila and Orengo,” he said, urging the senator to stay firm despite tensions within the party.
Declaring himself the de facto leader of ODM, Orengo vowed the party would remain united and would not field a candidate who matches President William Ruto.
“We shall not offer another Ruto. We will present a patriotic person. If that person is Orengo, we will work. If it is Sifuna, we will work,” he said.
He also issued a warning about the conduct of future elections, citing reports of bribery, violence, and hate in Ol Kalou.
“If that happens next year, we will not have an election,” he said.
