Gusii governors, senators to skip leaders retreat

Governors and senators from Kisii and Nyamira counties are set to skip the Gusii leaders retreat on Sunday morning following divisions among the leaders.

Last-minute attempts by Kisii deputy governor Joash Maangi to have the meeting postponed for at least two weeks to resolve differences were rejected by North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko.

Mr Maangi and Mr Nyamoko were charged with coordinating the retreat set for the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

The over 30 elected leaders from the two counties and other parts of the country were expected to check in at the retreat last night ahead of the deliberations set to kick off on Sunday morning.

“As you already know, the two governors and senators will not be available for the Sunday meeting due to unavoidable circumstances. Let us kindly reschedule the meeting to a date when all will be available. Preferably in two weeks’ time. Kindly bear with us,” read a message from Mr Maangi to Mr Nyamoko.

Mr Maangi was charged with coordinating the governors and senators attending the retreat while Mr Nyamoko was coordinating the MPs.

RETREAT

Mr Maangi’s message was referring to Kisii governor James Ongwae and his Nyamira counterpart John Nyagarama as well as Kisii senator Sam Ongeri and his Nyamira counterpart Okong’o Omogeni.

The Sunday Nation also learnt that both Mr Maangi and the Nyamira deputy governor Amos Nyaribo would give the retreat a wide berth.

The official reason given for Mr Nyagarama’s absence was that both he and his son were indisposed. No reason was, however, given for Mr Ongwae’s and Prof Ongeri’s absence.

Mr Omogeni was said to have jetted into the country from an official trip to Cuba on Saturday morning and would therefore not make it for the retreat.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i, who was also invited, will not attend as he is in the United Kingdom checking on former minister Simeon Nyachae who is admitted in a London hospital.

“He left the country on Wednesday to see Mr Nyachae. But he gave us his blessings,” said Mr Nyamoko who insisted that the retreat will proceed notwithstanding the absence of the key leaders.

However, two nominated senators, Beatrice Kwamboka (ODM) and Millicent Omanga (Jubilee), are expected to attend the retreat.

SKIP EVENT

It is not clear if Woman Reps Janet Ong’era (Kisii) and Jerusha Momanyi (Nyamira) will be in attendance. A host of MPs from the two counties are expected to be present.

Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati and his Nakuru Town West counterpart Samuel Arama, though elected in Nairobi and Nakuru counties respectively, were also invited to the meeting.

Sources told the Nation that it is the invitation of Transport Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure and Solicitor-General Ken Ogeto that informed the decision by the governors and senators, all elected on an ODM ticket, to skip the event on grounds that Mr Nyamoko’s group had turned the event into a Jubilee affair.

OPTIMISM

Chief Justice David Maraga was also invited, with Mr Nyamoko maintaining optimism that he will attend the meeting as it is for the good of the community at large.

The governors were to bear the costs of the retreat but, with their withdrawal, those attending will now have to each pay for their expenses.

Mr Maangi told the Sunday Nation that the agenda of the meeting must be clear if the unity deal is to survive.

“Efforts to unite the community two years ago failed after some leaders started advancing selfish interests. This is happening once more and it is very unfortunate,” said Mr Maangi.