Raila wants Governor Jack Ranguma probed on graft concerns

Cord leader Raila Odinga (centre), Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma (left) and Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong'o (right) during a meeting with Kisumu County leaders at the assembly on April 18, 2015. The Governor Thursday said he would only appear before an ODM disciplinary team “when he finds time from his busy schedule”. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI |

By  Silas Apollo

What you need to know:

  • This is a result of a petition tabled by Kisumu senator Anyang’ Nyong’o in the Senate last month seeking to institute an inquiry on the governor.
  • The meeting however failed to reconcile the leaders who accused each other of mudslinging. Those present were governor Ranguma, his deputy Ruth Odinga, Speaker Ann Adul, members of the county Assembly and the executive.
  • He also criticised Mr Ranguma of failing to follow due process in firing the five members of the executive in January.
  • “You cannot just wake up one day in the morning and fire people over incompetence. How were they hired in the first place?  The assembly was also responsible in vetting them,” he said.

Cord leader Raila Odinga has directed ODM MCAs to form a committee to investigate corruption allegations against Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma.

Mr Odinga directed the ODM executive director Oduor Ong’wen to institute a committee to investigate the accusations raised against Mr Ranguma by members of the county assembly and residents.

This is a result of a petition tabled by Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o in the Senate last month seeking to institute an inquiry on the governor.

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“We need a county where leaders are in sync for the prosperity of the residents. I want to ask the national executive to look into these issues,” he said.

The 32-page petition, prepared by three members of the Kisumu Assembly, accused Mr Ranguma of nepotism and influencing procurement processes.

Speaking during a reconciliatory meeting between leaders of the county on Saturday, Mr Odinga said members have failed in their oversight role and instead sought favours from the governor.

“It is not proper to have an assembly that befriends the executive all times. That is why we came here today to solve the leadership wrangles,” he said.

FAILED TO RECONCILE

The meeting however failed to reconcile the leaders who accused each other of mudslinging. Those present were governor Ranguma, his deputy Ruth Odinga, Speaker Ann Adul, members of the county assembly and the executive.

He also criticised Mr Ranguma of failing to follow due process in firing the five members of the executive in January.

“You cannot just wake up one day in the morning and fire people over incompetence. How were they hired in the first place? The assembly was also responsible in vetting them,” he said.

The five Vincent Kodera (roads), Barack Abonyo (Energy), Stephen Orot (Agriculture), Joseph Omulo (Finance) and Rhoda Obadha of environment were sacked on January over what the governor termed as non-performance.

Mr Ranguma had also been embroiled in a supremacy battle with his deputy Ruth Odinga over the management of the county.

Whereas Ms Odinga accused Mr Ranguma of nepotism and sidelining her in running affairs of the county, the later said their differences are a result of efforts to seal corruption loopholes in the county.

The directive by Mr Odinga comes months after the ODM party released a report implicating Speaker Ann Adul of corruption and mismanagement of the Assembly.

Ms Adul is currently fighting an appeal filed by members of the assembly seeking to challenge her reinstatement by the Labour and Employment court.

She was impeached last October over allegations of corruption and intimidation of members of the assembly.

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