Makau Mutua, an advisor to President William Ruto, recently expressed doubts about Siaya Governor James Orengo’s loyalty to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. He reflected on the factors that led to the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition’s defeat in the 2022 General Election.
During a local television interview on June 28, 2026, Mutua challenged Orengo’s political fidelity, suggesting he should refrain from invoking Raila’s name in his current political pursuits. “James Orengo has not been aligned with Baba for a considerable time. If he were sincere, he would stop using Baba’s name to advance his agenda; he has never truly supported Baba,” Mutua stated.
Although Mutua made strong claims, he did not provide specific examples to back his statements during the interview.
Reflecting on Azimio’s loss, Mutua noted that the defeat profoundly impacted Raila’s supporters. “The outcome of the election affected many deeply. Many believe Baba is the president Kenya never had. This last election hit Azimio hard, and those around Baba understood it might have been his final opportunity due to his age,” he shared. “There seems to be a lot of denial about the election results and a tendency to look for scapegoats.”
Mutua also rejected allegations that he had any influence over the election outcome or control over key state institutions. “I did not control the government, the IEBC, or the Supreme Court. There was a private citizen, one of Baba’s closest advisors, who I referred to as my soul mate. How could this individual, who teaches in New York, come to Kenya and manipulate state institutions to deny Baba the presidency?” he questioned.
He further addressed accusations from Dennis Onyango, a former aide to Raila Odinga, who claimed Mutua had taken Baba hostage. “Do you really think anyone could take Baba hostage? If that were the case, where were the others?” he asked.
Mutua described Embakasi East MP Babu Owino as “a young man in a hurry,” advising him to take measured steps. “Babu is a friend; he should learn to walk before he can run,” he noted.
On June 7, 2026, Dennis Onyango expressed his reluctance to forgive Makau Mutua, blaming him for Raila’s loss in the 2022 presidential race. “I won’t forgive Makau Mutua. I don’t believe he contributed positively to Raila’s campaign, and I still think he derailed us,” Onyango stated.
As for Orengo, he had not responded publicly to Mutua’s recent comments by the time of publication. However, in a previous interview, Orengo denied any rift with Raila, calling such claims a “misnomer.” He acknowledged that while they occasionally disagreed on political and constitutional issues, including the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), these differences did not harm their relationship. “We got along well,” Orengo asserted, adding that he supported Raila even when he raised constitutional concerns about BBI. He emphasized that he has “never” been afraid to voice disagreements with Raila or his late father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, highlighting that political differences are a natural part of their enduring relationship.
