// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Opiyo Wandayi a good baker? He kneads the way.
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James Opiyo Wandayi | |
|---|---|
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| Preceded by | John Mbadi |
| Constituency | Ugunja |
| Cabinet Secretary of Energy | |
| Minority Leader of The Kenya National Assembly | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 June 1972[citation needed] |
| Citizenship | Kenya |
| Party | Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Politician |
James Opiyo Wandayi MGH,[1] CBS (born 22 June 1972) is an agricultural and development economist and Kenyan politician currently serving as the Cabinet secretary of Energy and Petroleum.[2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Wandayi received his Kenya Certificate of Primary of Education (KCPE) from Sikalame Primary School in 1986. He then enrolled in Sawagongo High School where he received Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in 1990 and enrolled in University of Nairobi to pursue Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He joined Kenya Institute of Management in 2008 for Diploma in Business Management. In 2010 he joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology for MBA Executive. He is currently pursuing LLB at Daystar University.[4]
Political career
[edit]Wandayi is a member of parliament representing the Ugunja Constituency in Siaya county.[5] He is a member of Orange Democratic Movement and a coalition member of Coalition for Reforms and Democracy.[6][7]
He was once ejected from parliament after disrupting President Kenyatta's State of the Nation address[8][9] by constantly blowing a whistle.[10][11][12] He was given a suspension from parliament from March until the end of the session.[13] He challenged the action by the Speaker before the High court which ordered he be allowed back to the House citing that his electorate were not being represented.[14][15]
Controversy
[edit]Unlawful Assembly and Destruction of Private Property
[edit]On 20 March 2023 it was widely reported that Wandayi along with some Azimio members of parliament were involved in destruction of private property while he was a Minority Leader of parliament during an unlawful assembly.[16][17] In the same month, Wandayi along with the involved Azimio members of parliament were arrested and charged in court for damaging the vehicle of Joyce Nyambura while conducting an unlawful assembly within Nairobi along city Hall way.[18]
According to the arrested Azimio members of Parliament, they had planned to kick off their march to State House to "claim their victory" following Ruto's 2022 presidential election win whose victory they opposed.[16] In the same matter Azimio accused police of siding with the government instead of being non-partisan.[19] In April 2023, the DPP dropped the charges against Wandayi to pave way for an alternative settlement between the aggrieved parties.[19]
Petroleum importation scandal
[edit]In April 2026 Wandayi was called out by lawmakers and Kenyans to resign after his ministry was involved in a Ksh.12 billon oil importation scandal. The importation was found to have been outside the G-to-G framework introduced by the Kenyan government in 2023 to stabilize fuel supply and ease foreign exchange pressure. Principle secretary in the Ministry of Energy Mohamed Liban, Kenya pipeline CEO Joe Sang and EPRA director general Daniel Kiptoo resigned after being arrested and found with millions worth of stacks of cash in their houses in line with the scandal. Wandayi distanced himself from the scandal affirming that he was the one who alerted the president on the malfeasance as soon as he got wind of it, claiming that he did not approve the importation.[20][21][22]
Honors
[edit]Honors received by Opiyo include:
- Moran of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (MGH)[1][23][24]
- Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS)[25]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Award of Orders, Decorations and Medals: Jamhuri Day, 12th December 2022". Kenya Gazette. 12 December 2022. p. 9039. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ↑ Opiyo wandayi takes oath as Cabinet Secretary for energy and petroleum. Citizen TV Kenya. 8 August 2024 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Hon James Opiyo Wandayi, MP, CBS, MGH". Kenyan Parliament. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ "HON. WANDAYI, JAMES OPIYO | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ↑ "Hon James Opiyo Wandayi, MP, CBS, MGH | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ↑ "Respect Raila or leave ODM – MP Opiyo Wandayi tells rebels". www.pd.co.ke. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ↑ "Respect Raila or form your own party, ODM leaders told". The Star. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ↑ Nguta, Judy. "Uhuru Kenyatta's address in Parliament disrupted by whistling MPs". The Standard. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ↑ "Kenyan President's Speech Interrupted by Whistling Lawmakers". VOA. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ↑ "Why I disrupted President Uhuru's speech – suspended MP Opiyo Wandayi". Citizen Digital. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ↑ Odhiambo, Olivia; Oywa, John. "I will keep my whistle ready, says suspended MP Opiyo Wandayi". The Standard. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ↑ Ngetich, Jacob. "Ugunja residents 'biggest losers of House chaos'". The Standard. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ↑ "Court 'overturns' Muturi's suspension of MP Opiyo Wandayi". Citizen Digital. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ↑ Njagih, Moses. "Reprieve as Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi back in the House". The Standard. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ↑ "Court suspends MP Wandayi's year-long ban from Parliament over misconduct". Gender in Kenya. 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- 1 2 Ciuri, Simon (23 March 2023). "Azimio protests: Opiyo Wandayi, 3 other MPs released on bail". Daily Nation.
- ↑ Kiilu, Damaris. "Six Azimio leaders charged with unlawful assembly, malicious damage". The Star (Kenya).
- ↑ Asamba, Mercy. "In courts today: Six Azimio leaders to be arraigned over protests". The Star (Kenya).
- 1 2 Kurgat, Paul. "Case Against Opiyo Wandayi, Other Leaders Dropped After Raila Demand". Kenyans.co.ke.
- ↑ Naliaka, Fridah (13 April 2026). "I have no reason to resign over fuel scandal - Energy CS Wandayi". Citizen Digital.
- ↑ "Energy CS Wandayi disowns fuel import deal - Business Daily". www.businessdailyafrica.com. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ "Police arrest MD Sang, PS Liban and Epra boss in swoop on energy top brass". Daily Nation. 3 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ "President Ruto confers state honours to 483 Kenyans for their outstanding service to the nation". Citizen Digital. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ↑ Ng’etich, Jacob. "Ruto awards Chebukati, parliamentary leaders state commendations". The Standard. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ↑ "Gazette Notice 18 December 2020" (PDF). The Kenyan Gazette. Retrieved 25 April 2023.