Even after ousting influential Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna from his position, opposition party – the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is still unable to unable to contain the rebellion that threats to project the once powerful movement as a tribal outfit without a specific vision or mission other that tagging along ghee president.

In the latest development Siaya Governor James Orengo as a “tragedy”, Senator Oburu Odinga shocked the country when he recommended that the president embraces “a little benevolent dictatorship” to enable him implement his agenda for the country.

Mr Orengo noted, “It is as if already Ruto is not a dictator. You have heard about extrajudicial killings and abductions, but now it is a shock and a tragedy for somebody who is in Parliament; more particularly in the Senate, and has taken an oath under the 2010 Constitution, to invite a president who is already authoritarian to become a benevolent dictator.”

Oburu said his prescription for authoritarian rule was informed by: “There is too much democracy (in Kenya); there should be some little benevolent dictatorship so that some things can move.”

In response, Mr Orengo censured Senator Oburu about his remarks that promote for tyranny in the frame of “a little benevolent dictatorship.” He described the statement as unfortunate and warned that such remarks are potentially the starting point of erosion the democratic gains secured under the 2010 Constitution.

Speaking when President Ruto assented to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, 2026 at State House on Thursday, Oburu Odinga lamented that individuals with vested interests were frustrating President William Ruto’s transformative government projects and programmes.

In what passed as clarification, Oburu told Ruto, “Mr President, I don’t want to say that you should be a dictator. I am not saying that, but some of these things like SHA, I think people who are criticising it don’t go into details on what is happening.”

The Siaya senator cited the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a transformative programme that has so far covered more than 30 million Kenyans, recalling the challenges previous regimes faced in their quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage.

Speaking after a meeting with Mombasa opinion leaders, Orengo, who recently fell out with the ODM leadership and is one of the principals of the Linda Mwananchi movement, said he was shocked and disturbed by Oburu’s remarks made during the assent to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, 2026, on Wednesday.

“I was surprised and shocked that our brother Oburu, who comes from a political family that has fought for democracy and belongs to a party whose name bears the word democracy, would invite Ruto to become a benevolent dictator,” Orengo said.

Orengo said the movement has begun grassroots engagements with voters in coast region and would traverse Mombasa, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta counties to popularise the Linda Mwananchi outfit. He affirmed that the outfit is a national movement and appealed to its supporters not to reduce it to a tribal arrangement.

“We don’t want a tribal arrangement. It’s a national movement, and the coast has always been important in the national movements to bring change in the country,” Orengo reminded his audience.

He also wished Ol Kalou voters a peaceful by-election and urged them to vote “for the party of the moment in Ol Kalou, which stands with us in the opposition to bring about change in the country.”

Brian Weke, a Linda Mwananchi leader, echoed Orengo’s comments on benevolent dictatorship, saying they fought for democracy, constitutionalism and the protection of citizens’ rights and underlined the importance of public participation before the implementation of government projects and programmes.

“Our party ODM fought for freedom, democracy and a new constitution that provides for public participation,” Weke said.

H said e Oburu faction – Linda Ground – had lost direction. He said the Sifuna faction had tasked Orengo with serving as a unifying figure in the opposition and bringing together opposition leaders to front a single presidential candidate.

Suleiman Mwakitsanga, Chairman of Wamiji Council of Elders, lauded Orengo for engaging grassroots leaders, but lamented that the cost of healthcare had become unaffordable for many Kenyans. He urged opposition leaders to unite in their quest to bring change to the country. “We won’t go back, come rain or shine. We will work with Orengo, Sifuna and Gachagua to save this country,” Mwakitsanga said.

On his part, youth leader, Robert Nyiro, said they had faith in the Linda Mwananchi movement to address historical land injustices at the Coast, tackle unemployment and ensure more young people access education.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Sadik Hassan