Ranguma says he will retain deputy as his running mate

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and his deputy Ruth Odinga consult during the signing of county performance contracts in 2015. Mr Ranguma has said he will retain Ms Odinga as his running mate in the 2017 elections. FILE PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Ms Odinga, on the other hand, said she will be out to dethrone Governor Ranguma.
  • At one point, Mr Ranguma and Ms Odinga had a rough time working together.
  • Some attributed the frosty relationship to the chaotic ODM nominations where she was declared the winner.
  • Ms Odinga has maintained that she will not go for a seat lesser than the one she currently occupies.

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma has said he will retain Ruth Odinga as his running mate in the 2017 elections even as his deputy said she will be out to dethrone him.

Mr Ranguma, speaking to the Nation, said even though they started on a rocky path, he has enjoyed a cordial relationship with Ms Odinga.

“There is no need to change a winning team,” said Mr Ranguma, who spoke in Kisumu.

“I have been made to understand that those seeking the governor’s seat are traversing the county hunting for suitable running mates. Well, I am not doing that because there is no vacancy in my line-up,” he added.

At one point, Mr Ranguma and Ms Odinga had a rough time working together, with the latter accusing the governor of frustrating her.

Ms Odinga accused her boss of not giving her clear roles.

Some attributed the frosty relationship to the chaotic ODM nominations where she was declared the winner.

However, the decision did not go down well with residents of Kisumu who took to the streets in protests before she became Mr Ranguma’s deputy.

Other aspirants, including Rhoda Ahonobadha, became ministers.

But Wednesday, Mr Ranguma called Ms Odinga as "my able deputy".

“Together, we are working to deliver pledges we made to residents in 2013,” he said.

“To ensure we succeed, I delegated the role of service delivery to her and I am happy to report that Kisumu was the first county to sign performance management contracts which compel officials to discharge their duties diligently and produce results,” he added.

However, Ms Odinga has vowed to unseat the governor during the 2017 general elections.

PROMISED TO WORK TOGETHER

Before then, she said she would, however, continue discharging her duties as the deputy governor and promised to work with her boss.

Ms Odinga, who has also been said to be eyeing the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat, has maintained that she will not go for a seat lesser than the one she currently occupies during the coming elections.

She has also dismissed an alleged arrangement where Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o would go for the governor’s seat and Nyando MP Fred Outa for senator.

“When does Nyong’o provide oversight to the county government or fights for more resources if he is always busy campaigning? And when does Outa do his job in Parliament?” wondered Ms Odinga.

“I am currently supervising all the development projects to ensure they are all completed as planned,” she added.

The other aspirants for the governor’s seat include Dr Hezron Mc’obewa and Asaka Nyangara, while Mr Ocholla Ogoda is eyeing the senatorial seat.