Governor tells critics to toe the line or be sacked

A blame game has erupted between Governor Jack Ranguma and his deputy Ruth Odinga over the running of the county.

Ms Odinga accuses the governor of sleeping on the job but Mr Ranguma insists the issues being raised lie squarely in her docket and the Cabinet whichshe supervises.

Besides a planned retreat for County Assembly members, which the Ms Odinga has denounced despite approval by her boss, the two leaders have also differed on low revenue collection, poor performance of executives, appointments as well as slow pace of projects.

The county projected to collect Sh3.2 billion annually in revenue but only raises Sh900 million.

Mr Ranguma yesterday asked his critics to toe the line or be sacked.

“It beats logic that people who are given responsibilities are the first to complain of poor services.

“Let my deputy and the ministers she has been tasked to supervise take charge of their dockets,” Mr Ranguma said when he spoke to the Nation.
County officers were expected to deliver in line with performance contracts which spell out what is expected of them, he said. “I must not be physically present for work to go on,” he said.

BONDING RETREAT

Differences between the two leaders played out over a scheduled bonding retreat for ward reps, executive officers and other senior officials at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi.

It is said the trip would cost Sh5 million, an amount Ms Odinga says should be used in completing stalled projects.

“I advised the governor against the trip on the backdrop of the serious gaps witnessed in the performance contract review that we are currently doing,” said Ms Odinga.

But a section of the reps have accused Ms Odinga of overstepping her mandate and undermining the governor.
Among them are Assembly leader of majority, Mr Samuel Ong’ow, his deputy Mr John Olum and Ms Caroline Owen, deputy minority leader.