I’m too busy to heed party summons, says Ranguma
What you need to know:
- Mr Ranguma on Monday snubbed summons to appear before the five-member committee at the Vic Hotel in Kisumu and his defiance could put him at loggerheads with the party.
- The assembly currently does not have a substantive speaker, a leader of the majority and deputy following the ouster or suspension of the incumbents.
- Mr Ranguma has also been engaged in constant battles with his deputy, Ms Odinga, over the running of the county and the sacking of five members of the executive last year.
Governor Jack Ranguma yesterday said he would only appear before an ODM disciplinary team “when he finds time from his busy schedule”.
The governor’s communication director, Mr Michael Onyango, yesterday told the Nation that Mr Ranguma’s priorities were to deliver on his campaign pledges, not to play politics.
“The governor is a busy man who works to schedules and so I cannot make a commitment whether he will attend the next hearing or not,” said Mr Onyango.
“I believe our concern should be whether the governor is fulfilling the promises he made during the campaign or not. He has a strict schedule,” he said.
The committee was appointed to investigate constant wrangles in the county assembly.
On Tuesday, newly elected Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya urged Mr Ranguma to ignore the summons, saying political parties cannot take over the powers of other constitutional bodies.
SNUBBED SUMMONS
Mr Ranguma on Monday snubbed summons to appear before the five-member committee at the Vic Hotel in Kisumu and his defiance could put him at loggerheads with the party.
ODM national chairman John Mbadi yesterday said the party was waiting for the outcome of the hearing before a decision is made on the action to be taken against the governor.
The team had asked Mr Ranguma, his deputy, Ruth Odinga, and Chief Whip Isaiah Onyango to shed light on the cause of conflict in the assembly.
Ms Odinga and Mr Onyango have appeared before the panel.
The county has been embroiled in unending wrangles that have affected service delivery.
The assembly currently does not have a substantive speaker, a leader of the majority and deputy following the ouster or suspension of the incumbents.
Mr Ranguma has also been engaged in constant battles with his deputy, Ms Odinga, over the running of the county and the sacking of five members of the executive last year.
Speaking after the Monday meeting, the chairman of the disciplinary committee, Mr Fred Athuok, said fresh summons had been issued to Mr Ranguma to appear before the team within seven days.
