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Kleptomania: What condition referenced by Orengo as he tackled Ruto means
18th March, 2026 03:58 PM
Siaya Governor James Orengo has described Kenya as a kleptocratic state, expressing deep concern over the current state of affairs in the country.
Addressing a press conference convened by the Linda Mwananchi faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Orengo expressed concern over President William Ruto’s well-being.
Without providing evidence or facts to back his claims, the veteran opposition politician conveyed his belief that President William Ruto could be battling a medical condition.
“I describe Kenya as a kleptocratic state…you want to acquire anything even if you have enough. You can never really have enough, and the acquisition is using primitive capital accumulation,” Orengo stated.
Orengo’s concerns
Orengo roped in Ruto in a series of events in the recent past involving a private hospital in the country and prime property belonging to a former Cabinet Minister.
The Siaya County boss expressed concerns that the trend signals trouble if left unchecked.
What is kleptomania?
According to Mayo Clinic, kleptomania is a “mental health disorder that involves repeatedly being unable to resist urges to steal items that you generally don’t really need”.
Although rare, the condition is very serious, and those diagnosed with it have an insatiable appetite for stealing items, including those that have little value and ones that they can comfortably afford.
The serious mental health condition requires medical intervention as part of treatment.
Symptoms of kleptomania
“They steal simply because the urge is so powerful that they can’t resist it,” Mayo Clinic notes, with the inability to resist powerful urges to steal items that one does not need and feeling pleasure, relief or satisfaction while stealing listed among the key symptoms of the condition.
Others include feeling guilt, remorse, self-loathing, shame or fear of arrest after the theft, but this only lasts until the return of the urge to steal and a repetition of the kleptomania cycle.
According to Mayo Clinic, people who simply can’t stop shoplifting or stealing need to see qualified medical personnel to help them recover from the condition.
