James Orengo Has Declared for President. What He Is Offering.
James Orengo (Governor, Siaya) declared at the end of August 2026 that he would run for president in 2027. "I want leaders and members of my community to know that I am a presidential candidate in 2027 and I am a serious one," The Standard quoted him saying during a Linda Mwananchi tour of Homa Bay, which it dated to 29 August. He is running on his seniority and on the argument that the Luo community has earned the presidency. He also opposes the Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) alliance with President William Ruto.
Where he declared
The Standard placed the declaration at stops in East Kamagak, where he attended a burial, Oyugis and Kendu Bay, all in Homa Bay County. Babu Owino (Embakasi East) travelled with him, and Moses Kajwang' (Senator, Homa Bay) was present. Linda Mwananchi delegates from Homa Bay and Migori had earlier endorsed Orengo as their leader and candidate.
The tour came two weeks after the movement's 16 August rally in Homa Bay town was attacked, which we covered in Linda Mwananchi's Homa Bay rally.
What he is offering
He presented himself as the senior-most Luo politician, The Standard reported, and cited his apprenticeship under Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Raila Odinga.
The community, he argued, deserves the presidency after its part in the struggles for independence and for multiparty democracy, and should be included in national resource negotiations.
His sharpest words were for his own former party. He accused the ODM faction led by party leader Oburu Oginga of "selling" the party to Ruto by not fielding a presidential candidate, according to The Standard. After Raila Odinga died on 15 October 2025, ODM moved into a broad-based arrangement with Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA). We explained the split in ODM after Raila.
On timing he is in no hurry. In a broadcast interview on 6 September he backed Rigathi Gachagua's view that the opposition should not name its candidate early, and suggested March or April 2027, citing the "Kibaki Tosha" declaration of 2002.
His record
Orengo's career, as summarised on Wikipedia:
- 1980: won Ugenya in a by-election on a KANU ticket, aged 29.
- 1980s: detention and periods of exile.
- 1993 to 2003, and 2008 to 2013: MP for Ugenya.
- 2008 to 2013: Minister for Lands in the coalition government.
- 2013 to 2022: Senator for Siaya County, and Senate Minority Leader from 2018.
- August 2022: elected Governor of Siaya.
Orengo and Sifuna
He shares a movement with Edwin Sifuna (Senator, Nairobi), whom Linda Mwananchi endorsed for president in July 2026. At the Jacaranda rally on 13 September he said, as Citizen Digital reported: "Sifuna is my son. I want to announce that Sifuna and I will sit together at the negotiation table to ensure that we liberate Kenya." Sifuna told the same crowd the opposition would present one candidate.
Orengo has also turned up on Kalonzo Musyoka's platform. He was at the 21 September launch of The Ukombozi Alliance and gave its slogan, "one term, one team and one coalition", according to Citizen Digital. The Star reported on 23 September that sources expected Uhuru Kenyatta, the retired President, to hand the alliance's chair to him.
How Ruto answered
In Siaya on 15 September Ruto said of the opposition, as The Star reported: "Now he has hired Orengo and others. They have no agenda, they have no policies, they have no sense, they are useless." The Star read "he" as a reference to Uhuru.
What it means for Siaya
A run for president means Orengo will not be defending the governor's seat. Capital FM reported on 15 September that David Ochieng (Ugenya), former MP Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda) and Deputy Governor William Oduol had declared for it. All three align with the broad-based government.
What to watch
- Whether Orengo stays a candidate or ends up brokering a Sifuna or Kalonzo ticket. The wider timing fight is in when the opposition might name its candidate.
- Whether he takes the Ukombozi Alliance chair, and which party ticket he runs on. As of 23 September 2026 he had not named one.
- The rest of the presidential field, set out in who is running for president.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is James Orengo running for president in 2027?
Yes. The Siaya Governor declared in Homa Bay in late August 2026 that he is a serious presidential candidate for 2027, The Standard reported.
What party is James Orengo in?
He was elected Siaya Governor on an ODM ticket in 2022 but has aligned with the Linda Mwananchi movement and attended the launch of The Ukombozi Alliance. As of 23 September 2026 he had not named a party for his presidential bid.
Who is running for Siaya governor in 2027?
Capital FM reported in September 2026 that Ugenya MP David Ochieng, former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and Deputy Governor William Oduol had declared, with Orengo seeking the presidency.