[James Orengo in a past event. He is said to have persuaded NASA leaders to attend swearing-in by ruling out possibility of arrests. Photo/Nation]
Lawyer James Orengo reportedly met Raila Odinga along with Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula to offer legal counsel minutes before Tuesday's swearing-in, reveals a top ODM official.
Both Wetangula and Mudavadi are said to have had reservations on the swearing-in of Raila, which they eventually skipped.
But a determined Orengo, the official says, insisted the event was legal and pledged to represent them in court if at all the government arrested them.
"Orengo met Raila and his colleagues at DesitD2 hotel minutes to swearing-in and he assured them of legality of the event.
"He even went further to promise probono should any of them got arrested by authorities. He was determined to ensure they were all secure on legal consequences," said the official in confidence.
Flanked by city business mogul Jimmy Wanjigi and Mombasa county boss Hassan Joho, they accompanied a deserted Raila to Uhuru Park after co-principals switched off their phones.
For months now, Orengo has been a key legal pillar in NASA coalition and has represented a number of them in court battles.