Over the years, Siaya Senator James Orengo has cut a niche as a vocal supporter of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Raila Odinga, and a greatest critic of the government of the day.
But that has seemingly changed for Orengo since the handshake between Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta in March last year.
While appearing on K24’s Punch line program on Sunday, the show host Ann Kiguta reminded Orengo of his changing fortunes in terms of independently speaking his mind, indicating that the handshake has really gagged him.
“The handshake has really gagged you, hasn’t it? You seem to have a degree of difficulty in saying what a James Orengo would say a few years ago,” she said.
“No! No! No!” Orengo responded.
Kiguta had asked Orengo a question about whether he feels President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Cabinet Secretary for Interior Fred Matiang’i should take responsibility for people who were allegedly killed by police during protests that erupted in various parts of the Country, after Kenyatta was declared winner of the 2017 Presidential elections.
After being reminded that the Head of State praised police for the work they did during the said period, the second-term Senator responded “When you are Head of State sometimes you are put in as situation where you cannot abandon the people who protect you.”
The handshake between Odinga and Kenyatta, greatly helped reduce political tension in the country. Orengo is a close ally of Mr Raila Odinga.