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Opiyo Wandayi: I will now actively engage in Siaya politics

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Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has said he will now take a more direct role in the politics of Siaya County, marking a clear shift in tone as divisions deepen within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in the region.

Speaking on Saturday, May 30, 2026, during a meeting that brought together local leaders and residents, Wandayi said he had been silent for some time but would now become actively involved in county affairs, especially politics.

“A number of people have been asking why I am quiet. I want to tell you that from now onwards you’ll be seeing me actively involved in the affairs of this county. Not just affairs, in the political affairs of this county.”

“I said earlier on and let me repeat it for the avoidance of doubt, because once we did elections, we played our part as a people of this county, and if we elected you and you have chosen to depart from us we can’t force you to come back,” Wandayi said.

He added that Siaya County would continue moving forward as one unit, even if some leaders chose different political paths.

“Siaya County is going to move forward; it’s going to move forward in unison regardless of one or two fellows who have decided to go astray,” he said.

Governor race warning

Wandayi also focused on the importance of the governor’s position. He described it as central to development and leadership in the county. Residents must choose carefully in future elections and avoid repeating past mistakes.

“For that reason, as a people gathered here today, and many others were not here, we have resolved that we shall not make a mistake. We shall not make a mistake. I will personally not allow myself to be party to a situation where we make another mistake in this county,” he declared.

His strong words come against a background of sharp fights within ODM in western Kenya and Nyanza. Siaya Governor James Orengo, who leads the Linda Mwananchi faction, has clashed repeatedly with other senior party figures aligned to the main ODM leadership and the government.

Orengo has accused sections of the party of shifting loyalties, holding private meetings with President William Ruto, and effectively putting the party up for sale. These claims have deepened divisions and triggered public exchanges.

The tensions escalated further in recent weeks. On May 19, 2026, authorities abruptly withdrew Orengo’s entire personal security detail and the officers guarding his Nairobi residence. Orengo protested the move in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, calling it irregular, unprocedural, and politically motivated.

He linked it to his criticism of the national government and his active role in the opposition-leaning Linda Mwananchi movement. The incident left him exposed at a time when he faced other challenges, including violence during his political tour of Homa Bay County the following week.

Orengo’s convoy attacked

On May 29, 2026, Orengo’s convoy came under attack in Mbita, Rusinga, and Sindo. Assailants damaged vehicles, threw stones, set up roadblocks with burning tyres, and injured members of his team. Orengo blamed the incidents on political intolerance linked to Homa Bay leaders.

UDA officials and some ODM figures condemned the violence but pointed to Orengo’s own confrontational style as a factor in the rising temperatures.

These events highlight the bitter split inside ODM. Orengo questions the legitimacy of Oburu Oginga’s leadership and has positioned himself as the de facto party leader. Oburu, on the other hand, insists he followed proper party processes and has accepted mediation through Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Zacchaeus Okoth.

Other ODM leaders, including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, have also traded accusations with Orengo over party direction and alliances ahead of 2027.

Wandayi did not name individuals in his Siaya speech. Although he has previously focused on national duties, his firm promise to prevent another mistake in the choice of governor has fuelled speculation that he could position himself or back a candidate aligned against the current governor-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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