James Orengo:Raila's Ultimate Wingman

 

By Brian 

As the nation mourns a fallen giant, social media has lit up with memories of Baba in his prime — smiling, dancing, sometimes holding a glass with a little too much confidence. And almost always, somewhere in the background, is James Orengo — the ever-present shadow behind the storm.

Their friendship wasn’t born in campaign trails or cabinet rooms. It was forged in the fire of resistance — in the jails, courtrooms, and streets of a country fighting to free itself from the chokehold of dictatorship. Back then, standing up against the regime could cost you your freedom — or your life. But Orengo, the fiery young lawyer with a sharp tongue and sharper mind, never flinched.

He was one of the loudest voices in Kenya’s second liberation, often standing in court by day and in protest by night. It was in those early days that he and Raila Odinga found common cause — and an uncommon bond.

But like all great relationships, theirs wasn’t without turbulence.

In 2002, after years of struggle together, Orengo took a different path. While Raila and much of the opposition rallied behind Mwai Kibaki’s NARC coalition, Orengo chose to run for president under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). It was a bold move — but one that cost him dearly.

To many in Raila’s camp, it felt like betrayal. The once-revered revolutionary became a political outcast. He lost his parliamentary seat, his influence faded, and for a time, he disappeared from the spotlight.

But politics, like history, has a way of circling back.

By 2007, the rift had healed. Orengo returned to Raila’s fold, older, wiser — and this time, loyal to a fault. He rejoined ODM, campaigned fiercely, and rebuilt his political career. From senator to governor, his roles changed, but one thing didn’t: he was always in Raila’s corner.

Their connection was more than political. In quiet moments — the ones cameras rarely captured — when Raila let his guard down to laugh, dance, or raise a glass, Orengo was often right there. Sunglasses on, silent and steady. The calm beside the whirlwind.

He wasn’t just a lieutenant. He was a confidant, a co-conspirator, and, perhaps most importantly, a friend.

Now, as the country reflects on Raila’s towering legacy, it’s impossible to tell his story without James Orengo — the man who walked beside him through fire and fog, victory and exile.