Siaya Governor James Orengo was conspicuously absent as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other opposition leaders officially launched the Linda Mwananchi party on Friday, October 30, raising fresh questions about his political relationship with the movement.
Orengo, who had previously been considered one of the influential figures behind Linda Mwananchi, was missing from the event’s official photographs and the introduction of dignitaries during the launch held in Lavington, Nairobi.
His absence comes as he increasingly focuses on building the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which he recently unveiled as his political vehicle ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The governor has also expressed interest in contesting the presidency through the new party, setting up a possible political path outside the Linda Mwananchi outfit.
Orengo recently unveiled the LDP headquarters in Siaya town as he began building structures for the party.
His political shift comes amid disagreements over the process of selecting Linda Mwananchi’s presidential candidate, with the governor previously insisting that all interested leaders should be allowed to compete for the ticket.
He has questioned efforts to rally behind Sifuna without a competitive nomination process, arguing that the movement should not impose a presidential candidate on its members.
Orengo has previously cited the 2007 ODM presidential nominations, in which several politicians stepped aside after Raila Odinga emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, as an example of how political competition should be handled.
Orengo in South Korea
The governor’s absence from Friday’s launch also coincided with his official engagements in South Korea.
In a statement shared on Thursday, October 29, Orengo disclosed that he was holding talks with officials from the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), alongside representatives from the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) and Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).
The discussions focused on Kenya’s nuclear energy programme, particularly the proposed nuclear power plant in Siaya County.
Orengo said 53 Kenyan professionals had already received training at the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, adding that the partnership would help strengthen the country’s energy security and create employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, Friday’s launch saw Sifuna take centre stage as Linda Mwananchi unveiled its party leadership and headquarters, with several opposition figures attending.
The movement is expected to hold a National Delegates Convention on November 13, 2026, to ratify its leadership and complete the rebranding process.
Orengo’s absence comes at a critical moment as the movement seeks to establish itself as a national political outfit ahead of the 2027 elections.
With the governor pursuing a separate political vehicle and maintaining his interest in the opposition presidential race, questions remain over whether he will continue playing a leading role in Linda Mwananchi.
