Governor Orengo Demands Immediate Reinstatement of His Security, Explanation from IG Kanja
In a strongly worded public statement issued on Tuesday, May 20, Governor Orengo demanded an immediate explanation from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen after officers attached to his personal security and those guarding his Nairobi residence were reportedly withdrawn without notice.
“In light of the above, I urgently request an official explanation as to the grounds upon which this security withdrawal was authorised and the immediate reinstatement or replacement of my official security detail at all designated stations, including my Nairobi residence,” Orengo stated.
According to the governor, the withdrawal happened simultaneously at multiple locations on Tuesday evening, leaving both his residence and personal movements without state protection for several hours. He insisted that neither his office nor county officials had received any warning, memo, or replacement deployment from security agencies.
“This drastic action was taken without any prior notification, formal communication, or the provision of suitable replacements,” he added.
Orengo, one of ODM’s senior-most figures, has in recent weeks emerged as a vocal critic of the broad-based political cooperation between sections of the opposition and the government. He has repeatedly positioned himself as a defender of what he calls “true opposition politics,” even referring to himself as the party’s “de facto” ideological leader.
Political analysts now view the security withdrawal row as potentially significant in the broader national political landscape, especially as discontent grows over rising fuel prices, taxation, and the cost of living.
The governor has recently been actively mobilising support for demonstrations against high fuel prices and new economic measures introduced by the government. He is also associated with the Linda Mwananchi faction, which has demanded a steeper reduction in fuel prices beyond the adjustments recently announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The faction has been pushing for a reduction of more than Ksh50 per litre on diesel prices, arguing that the current adjustments remain insufficient for ordinary Kenyans already struggling with soaring transport and commodity costs.
Orengo argued that the withdrawal of security from a sitting governor raises serious constitutional and governance concerns, insisting that state protection for elected leaders is not discretionary.
“Security for public officers holding constitutional office is not a favour or privilege. It is a constitutional and institutional requirement necessary for the execution of official duties,” sources close to the governor quoted him as saying during consultations following the incident.
As of Wednesday evening, neither the National Police Service nor the Interior Ministry had publicly explained why the governor’s security personnel were withdrawn or whether the officers would be reinstated.
The incident now adds another layer to Kenya’s intensifying political tensions, coming at a time when debates over fuel prices, public protests, taxation, and opposition realignments continue to dominate national discourse. Observers say the government’s next move could determine whether the matter escalates into a wider political confrontation between national and county leadership.
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Governor Orengo Demands Immediate Reinstatement of His Security, Explanation from IG Kanja
