James Orengo, commonly referred to as the walking constitution, has a decorated CV…he is among the most brilliant Kenyan having won more than 90% of the cases he has so far handled.
James Aggrey Bob Orengo, the only Luo with four names, was born in Ugenya, educated at Ambira Primary School and the Alliance High School. He later joined the University of Nairobi, when university was university, for a degree course in law. He graduated in 1974.
After a colourful graduation ceremony,Orengo joined Raila Odinga,Martin Shikuku and other democrats in fighting for multi-party democracy. He was instrumental in the second liberation movement which gave birth to multiparty system in Kenya. While fighting for democracy,Orengo founded member of Muungano wa Mageuzi (Movement for Change).
Orengo was elected as an MP for Ugenya Constituency as a KANU candidate in a bye election in 1980. He became the youngest MP at age 29. Orengo was subsequently elected as an MP in December 1992 on a FORD-Kenya ticket. He was re-elected in December 1997 on a Ford-Kenya ticket but lost his seat in the 2002 general elections when he also contested for the Presidency on a Social Democratic Party ticket.
Before he lost the 2002 seat, Orengo had tried to fight Raila to win Luo subjects but he lost the fight after Raila told him:”it’s either my way or the highway”. After staying in the cold for five years, the Siaya Senator would later reconcile with Raila,a decision that won him back his supporters.
As of 2007 he was still the SDP chairman. The party supported Raila Odinga of Orange Democratic Movement at the 2007 general elections. In the 2007 elections ,Orengo won the Ugenya Parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket. He had been out of parliament since the 2002 elections after losing the seat to Arcbishop Stephen Ondiek.
During the post-election crisis, Orengo served as one of four spokesmen for the Orange Democratic Movement in its attempts to settle its dispute with the Party of National Unity following the disputed presidential elections in Kenya in 2007
Orengo was sworn in as a Minister for Lands in the new Coalition Government formed by the National Accord Act of 2008. This is his first stint as a cabinet Minister.
The NASA leader revealed the sale of the Grand Regency hotel at 2.7 billion Kenyan Shillings (approximately $30 million US). He announced the transfer of ownership from the Central Bank of Kenya to the new Libyan owners had taken place under the direction of Amos Kimunya, finance minister. This has set off the Grand Regency Scandal.
In 2017, Orengo won his Siaya Senatorial seat without campaigning. This is after supporters told him, “help Baba win the presidency”. The Siaya Senator later led a group of NASA lawyers to petition IEBC on the 2017 presidential results. He won.
From 2013 to 2017, Orengo has lost less than 5 cases and won more than 20,making him one of the best lawyers in the country.
The Siaya Senator is among few Kenyans who hold the title, “Senior Counsel”, others include Paul Muite and Fred Ngatia.
