Gumo takes over Mudavadi Local Government post
Mr Fred Gumo, the MP for Westlands, is the new acting minister for Local Government.
His appointment in an acting capacity ends a week of behind-the-scenes jostling by hopeful politicians.
Mr Gumo, who is the Regional Development minister, is a senior member of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement.
The appointment was announced in a one-paragraph statement from the Presidential Press Service, which said President Kibaki had made the appointment after consultations with Mr Odinga.
In practice, the President merely makes the announcement as the decision regarding MPs from the ODM side of the coalition is Mr Odinga’s.
Mr Gumo replaces Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who resigned last week as ODM deputy leader and Local Government minister. He intends to vie for the presidency against Mr Odinga but on a United Democratic Front ticket.
His appointment came amid pressure, especially from Western Province leaders, for Mr Odinga to replace Mr Mudavadi with an MP from the region.
Among those who had been touted as possible candidates for the vacant post were Planning minister Wycliffe Oparanya and assistant minister Alfred Khang’ati.
Possible candidates
The others were MPs Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i), Alfred Sambu (Webuye), Ben Washiali (Mumias) and Wilbur Otichilo (Emuhaya).
The MPs have been jostling for the post through councillors allied to them. A section of councillors from Bungoma asked Mr Odinga to replace Mr Mudavadi with Mr Khang’ati to “neutralise” the influence of Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa in the county.
Led by Mr Henry Okumu, the councillors said it was the only county in the province which did not have a Cabinet minister from the ODM wing of the coalition.
But their Vihiga counterparts demanded that Mr Otichilo be appointed to the post because Mr Mudavadi hails from the county.
Sources close to Mr Odinga said the choice of Mr Gumo, albeit in an acting capacity, had caught many party members by surprise.
“We expected him to call a meeting of key ODM leaders or even MPs from Western to explain to them his choice before making it public but this did not happen,” said an ally of the PM, who asked not to be named for fear of appearing to challenge the decision.
The Nation learnt that those who had been pushing for Mr Namwamba to be appointed minister argued he would help sway the youth vote.
But critics say it would be unfair for Busia County to have two ODM ministers, the other one being Dr Paul Otuoma of Sports while Bungoma has none.
Mr Washiali was last week forced to deny angling for Mr Mudavadi’s Cabinet position after he was criticised by Kakamega ODM officials for allegedly undermining the Sabatia MP.
Mr Gumo’s choice appears to have been influenced by the stature he holds in the party as head of the informal Rapid Response Team, a grouping bringing together Mr Odinga’s key allies. The group also includes ministers William ole Ntimama and James Orengo.
An ally of Mr Odinga argued that the choice of Mr Gumo was informed by the MP’s experience gained when he served as chairman of the Nairobi City Commission in the 1980s.
“Given the short time remaining before the next elections, we need somebody who can whip councillors into place and nobody can beat Gumo in that field.
“The game plan is to confirm him to the position and appoint Khangati to replace him at Regional Development while Namwamba goes to the PM’s office as assistant minister,” said a Cabinet minister, who declined to be named because he had not been authorised to speak on the matter by the PM.
The Rapid Response Team’s main role is to intervene whenever serious disputes arise in the party and was at the forefront trying to convince Mr Mudavadi to drop his presidential ambitions and back Mr Odinga.
The PM is also yet to appoint a substantive minister for Industrialisation after Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey stepped aside on being charged with abuse of office. Fisheries minister Amason Kingi is still acting in the portfolio.
