Siaya county Chief Officer Walter Okelo |Photo courtesy|
Siaya County Chief Officer in charge of Governance and Administration, Mr. Walter Okelo, has praised ODM leader Raila Odinga for his collaborative approach with the government.
Speaking on KTN earlier today, Okelo described Raila’s actions as an exemplary display of statesmanship.
“I applaud Raila Odinga for rising above partisan interests to engage in statesmanship,” he said.
Raila Odinga had advocated for national dialogue to address the concerns of Gen Zs, who had escalated their grievances into nationwide demonstrations against the government.
During the interview, Okelo noted that one of the reasons for the Gen Z protests was a lack of inclusivity, an issue he believes President Ruto has addressed with the recent formation of a broad-based government.
President Ruto, in response to the Gen Z concerns, opted to collaborate with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a key affiliate of the opposition coalition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance.
Notable appointments from the opposition to the cabinet include former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, former Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, and former nominated MP John Mbadi.
While the ODM’s decision to work with the government has faced criticism from some Azimio La Umoja Coalition parties, with a few threatening to exit the coalition, many opposition leaders have commended the president for this bold move.
Okelo noted that, for the first time, the Nyanza region feels included in the government. Unlike in the past, the region now has two Cabinet Secretaries—one for Treasury and one for Energy—and the country’s Attorney General.
He mentioned that John Mbadi, the newly sworn-in Treasury Cabinet Secretary, will focus on addressing key issues related to devolution, such as the timely disbursement of funds to help governors complete various projects.
“Like the last financial year, there was no exchequer for the month of June,” Okelo said, adding that the newly appointed officials will work with the government to ensure stalled projects are completed.
In Siaya County, for instance, Okelo highlighted the Bondo-Nango road and Goye Beach as projects that have been delayed for a long time.
The governance expert also commended Gen Zs for their proactive stance in expressing dissatisfaction with the government, urging the new cabinet to prioritize the youth agenda.