President William Ruto has thrown a political cat among the pigeons in Nyanza, engaging directly with Siaya MCAs in Eldoret and bypassing Governor James Orengo with a simple, loaded message: "Tell Orengo to look for me."

The closed-door meeting at the Eldoret State Lodge is a masterclass in divide-and-rule politics. By hosting the Ward Representatives—the very people who hold the power of impeachment and budget approval—Ruto is effectively isolating the Governor. It is a subtle power play that tells the fierce ODM loyalist: work with me, or I will work with your subordinates.

The Soft Power Offensive

Ruto told the MCAs that his administration is ready to pour development into Siaya, specifically targeting water projects and the chaotic specialized hospital referrals. "I don't hate Siaya," the President reportedly joked. "But development follows relationships. Orengo is my friend, but he is too quiet. Tell him the door is open."

• The Strategy: This is the "Bottom-Up" approach applied to political maneuvering. Ruto is building a base in Luo Nyanza not by converting the chiefs, but by courting the soldiers. If the MCAs align with the State House agenda, Orengo will find himself governing a county that takes its orders from Eldoret.
• The Orengo Dilemma: James Orengo, a legal titan and staunch Raila Odinga ally, is now in a bind. If he goes to State House, he risks being branded a "sellout" by the zealous ODM base. If he refuses, he risks being blamed by his own MCAs for "blocking development."
• The 2027 Calculator: Ruto knows that Nyanza will never vote for him en masse. But he doesn't need them to. He only needs to fracture the unity, create pockets of friendly leadership, and reduce the turnout for his opponent.

The Handshake Ghost

As the MCAs return to Siaya with promises of funding and a message for their boss, the political temperature in the lakeside county is set to rise. The President has fired a shot, not with a gun, but with an invitation. The ball is now in Senior Counsel Orengo's court.