Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has reacted to Siaya Governor James Orengo’s decision to enter the 2027 presidential race, saying the veteran politician has every democratic right to pursue the country’s highest office.
Amisi, speaking to the press on Wednesday, September 1, while addressing the recent government directive on domains and email services, was asked to comment on Orengo’s announcement and the implications of his bid for the opposition.
Responding off the cuff, the Saboti lawmaker said Orengo should proceed with his presidential ambitions if he believes he is ready to compete, regardless of the political formation under which he chooses to run.
“My response to this off the cuff question is that Orengo can go ahead and vie under LM or whichever formation he wishes, as it is his democratic right,” Amisi said.
However, Amisi noted that many young people had hoped Orengo would take a different role ahead of the 2027 elections. According to the MP, the youth wanted the veteran politician to remain outside the presidential contest and instead help mentor a new generation of leaders.
“But it was the wish of the youth that he stays back and mentor us into achieving the call for our generational duty, economic liberation,” he said.
Amisi's remarks reflect an emerging debate within opposition politics over generational transition and the role of veteran politicians in the next electoral cycle.
Orengo, a former Cabinet minister, senator and long-serving opposition politician, recently declared that he would seek the presidency in the 2027 General Election. His announcement places him among the politicians positioning themselves for the race to succeed President William Ruto.
The Siaya governor has also been associated with the Linda Mwananchi (LM) political formation, where his entry could trigger competition with other leaders seeking influence within the opposition movement.
For Amisi, however, Orengo’s political history deserves recognition even as a new generation seeks greater space in national leadership.
“We give Orengo his flowers for the past struggles,” Amisi said, acknowledging the governor’s contribution to Kenya’s political and democratic struggles over several decades.
The Saboti MP’s comments appear to strike a balance between respecting Orengo’s constitutional right to contest and acknowledging calls from younger Kenyans for veteran leaders to create room for a new generation.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Orengo’s presidential declaration is likely to add another layer to the ongoing debate over opposition unity, leadership succession and generational change in Kenyan politics.