I’m not planning to hijack leadership- Orwenjo

By George Amolo

Former Siaya Mayor John Orwenjo Umidha has dismissed claims that he plans to ‘hijack’ the leadership of the recently established Siaya County Former councilors’ Forum (SCFCF).

On Wednesday, a section of the forum’s members, led by their chairperson Dolly Otieno and organizing secretary Joachim Odido, accused Mr. Orwenjo of planning to take over leadership through dubious means.

Orwenjo, who is currently the chairperson of the former councilors’ forum in Alego/Usonga constituency, has called for a meeting of all former civic leaders from across the county today (Thursday), a move that the members suspect is a secret move to hijack the county leadership.

Orwenjo has, however, clarified that he only called for that meeting to find a way of uniting the embers since the forum’s leadership, which is still serving on an interim basis, has never called a joint meeting to chart the way forward.

The former mayor told journalists that the forum was established to cater for their welfare, but the interim office was doing nothing for the members. He cited that they recently lost a member, but the officials showed absolutely no concern.

Orwenjo went further to say that some members of the association were in poor health, but no action was being taken by the forum’s current leadership.

Citing the ‘lack of concern’ as his main motive, the former mayor maintained that the agenda of the meeting is to find how the county’s leadership can unite to be able to support one another.

Orwenjo also rubbished claims that he is planning to take over the leadership of the forum with an aim of soliciting funds from politicians.