Ruth Odinga: Why I missed national fete

What you need to know:

  • She missed the 52nd Madaraka Day celebrations at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports grounds, sparking concerns over her relationship with Mr Ranguma.
  • The two leaders have been at loggerheads over what is seen as a supremacy battle over the management of the county.
  • Mr Ranguma has since denied snubbing the summons, saying the committee failed to notify him on the change of venue in time.

Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga has dismissed claims she skipped Madaraka Day celebrations due to her differences with Governor Jack Ranguma.

Ms Odinga said she was ill days before the celebrations and has been on a sick leave.

“There are no wars between me and the governor any more. We have since settled our differences,” she told the Nation.

“As we speak, I am from a prayer meeting hosted by the governor Tuesday morning at his office. We are at peace and are working together now,” said Ms Odinga.

She missed the 52nd Madaraka Day celebrations at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports grounds, sparking concerns over her relationship with Mr Ranguma.

Her seat, next to the governor’s, remained unoccupied and none of the speakers explained her absence.

However, yesterday, Ms Odinga said she had been involved in preparations for the event. She hoped to get well before the fete but it didn’t happen.

“I fell sick last Wednesday and have been on a leave since then. Organisers were not aware and reserved a seat for me. The governor could not give an explanation because he shouldn’t give an apology for his junior.”

The two leaders have been at loggerheads over what is seen as a supremacy battle over the management of the county.

Last week, Mr Ranguma snubbed a summons to appear before an ODM disciplinary committee. The committee had asked him to appear alongside Ms Odinga, over their differences. The two were to give their accounts on the causes of wrangles in the assembly and the executive.

Ms Odinga, who honoured the summons did not explain the governor’s absence, saying she was not responsible for him.

Mr Ranguma has since denied snubbing the summons, saying the committee failed to notify him on the change of venue in time.

Problems started last year when Ms Odinga boycotted a retreat for all county officials and MCAs terming it a waste of taxpayers’ money.