Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has launched a scathing attack on Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, accusing them of deliberately sabotaging President William Ruto’s administration. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show on Thursday, Cherargei described the trio as “saboteurs” of the so-called broad-based government forged through a political handshake between Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga in 2023.
The broad-based arrangement saw several allies of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) appointed to government positions in a bid to foster national unity. However, Cherargei claims that Nyong’o, Orengo, and Sifuna have been actively working to undermine the same administration they were meant to support.
“These are saboteurs of the broad-based arrangement Nyong’o, Orengo, and Sifuna. They’ve been trying every means to sabotage it, and it has undermined its success,” Cherargei said.
The backlash follows a recent letter from Governor Nyong’o to President Ruto, in which he criticized the national government for undermining devolution. He questioned the relevance of agencies like the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA), arguing that their existence diminishes the power of county governments.
Nyong’o also accused the Ruto administration of dragging the country back to the repressive ‘Nyayo’ era of the late President Daniel arap Moi. Orengo and Sifuna have also been vocal in their criticism, with Sifuna accusing some ODM leaders of abandoning accountability for political gain.
Cherargei dismissed these concerns as “populist” and called on Nyong’o to apologise to the President. He further urged Raila Odinga to publicly reprimand the three leaders for what he termed as political blackmail.
“Raila Odinga must call them out for this incessant and irritating blackmail. It’s time they stopped undermining the government,” he added.
The escalating tension highlights growing friction within the ODM ranks and the fragile nature of the opposition-government alliance.
