Siaya Governor James Orengo has claimed that several members of his staff were arrested ahead of President William Ruto’s planned visit to Siaya County.
In a statement released on Saturday evening, Orengo alleged that six of his staff members were arbitrarily arrested and detained in both Siaya and Nairobi in connection with the President’s visit scheduled for Sunday.
The governor strongly condemned the arrests, terming them unlawful and a threat to democratic principles.
“This evening several members of my staff have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in Siaya and Nairobi in connection with the Presidential visit to Siaya tomorrow. This egregious conduct on the part of the police has no place in a constitutional democracy. I demand their immediate release,” Orengo said.
However, the governor did not immediately provide further details about the identities of the staff members or the specific reasons for their arrests.
The development comes amid growing political tensions as President Ruto prepares to tour the region.
Orengo has in recent months emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the broad-based government arrangement between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
His position has reportedly ruffled feathers within ODM, where some leaders support the cooperation between the two parties.
The Siaya governor has also recently been associating himself with the “Linda Mwananchi” group, a faction of outspoken younger ODM leaders that includes Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who have been critical of the government.
