Siaya Governor James Orengo has ruled out any engagement with President William Ruto until the government addresses the ten-point agenda previously advanced by opposition leader Raila Odinga, saying the issues affecting Kenyans remain unresolved.
Speaking in Ugunja, Siaya County, on Saturday, Orengo said there was no basis for dialogue with the Kenya Kwanza administration as long as the high cost of living, youth unemployment and other concerns raised by the opposition remained unattended to.
"There will be no discussions with Ruto until the ten-point agenda set by Raila Odinga is addressed. Not one point has been touched and the cost of living remains entirely unsustainable," Orengo said.
The governor accused unnamed leaders of purporting to speak on behalf of Kenyans during discussions about the country's future, insisting that citizens deserved "genuine representation".
"Our people deserve genuine representation, not outsiders speaking on our behalf when Kenya's future is being discussed," he said.
Orengo said he was prepared to "fight to the bitter end" to ease the economic burden facing ordinary Kenyans, arguing that the challenges that triggered public dissatisfaction in recent years had persisted despite repeated calls for reforms.
The ten-point agenda referred to by Orengo was unveiled by Raila during anti-government protests in 2023 and centred on the rising cost of living and governance concerns. Among the demands were the reduction of the cost of basic commodities such as maize flour, fuel and electricity; an end to new taxes that burden households and businesses; measures to create jobs for young people; the lowering of public debt; and action against corruption and wasteful government expenditure.
The opposition also called for compensation of victims of police brutality during protests, the protection of constitutional rights and civil liberties, reforms to strengthen electoral processes and greater transparency and accountability in public finance management.
Orengo said the opposition would continue pursuing what he termed Raila Odinga's blueprint for a better Kenya, with particular emphasis on tackling youth unemployment and improving the livelihoods of struggling households.
"The core issues facing Kenyans have not been resolved," he said, adding that the opposition would continue building the Linda Mwananchi Movement and engaging leaders from all communities.
His remarks are likely to fuel debate within opposition ranks over the way forward in engaging President Ruto's administration. They also come amid renewed public scrutiny of governance and accountability issues following the Gen Z-led protests, which highlighted concerns over the high cost of living, taxation, unemployment and the management of public resources.
The governor spoke during the burial of Mama Fildah Akello Opondo, the mother of his driver, Maurice Opondo, in Ugunja, Siaya County.
