Kenya: Disquiet as Raila skips Governor Jack Ranguma's homecoming party

Political differences among leaders in Nyanza played out on Saturday during the homecoming party for Governor Jack Ranguma.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who was scheduled to be the chief guest at the event held at Kisumu's Otieno Oyoo Secondary school did not show up. All the governors and senators from Nyanza region, including Ranguma's deputy Ruth Odinga, also snubbed the event.

Speculation is now rife that Raila's failure to attend the fete informed the absence of other political leaders from the region.

Even in Ranguma's Kisumu County, only one out of the seven local MPs attended the event which was also skipped by a section of area MCAs allied to Senator Anyang' Nyong'o, who also did not attend.

Of the country's 47 governors, only two, Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and his Bomet counterpart Isaac Ruto, were present.

The two also left before the function ended.

Also in attendance were MPs Rose Nyamunga (Kisumu Women Representative), Aduma Owuor (Nyakach) and Andrew Toboso (Butere).

Party leader

The absence of Raila was so conspicuous that Mr Oparanya was forced to allay fears that the CORD leader had skipped the event due to perceived bad blood between him and some leaders in the county.

Oparanya, who is ODM's deputy party leader, said Raila did not attend due to other pressing commitments.

"Raila has an important function in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but he would have loved to be part of this homecoming ceremony. He has sent me as his deputy to represent him," said Oparanya.

But the apology was not well received considering that Raila's absence had previously led to the postponement of the event thrice.

"I hear rumours that Raila has skipped this event. Those are baseless arguments and I am here to fully represent the party leader. As the deputy party leader I want to assure everybody that Raila had even requested to have this event postponed so as to allow him to be part of it. But the preparation was ripe and it could not be postponed further," he said.

Ms Odinga, who has recently been critical of her boss over management of the county affairs, said she did not attend the fete because she had personal engagements in Nairobi.

"I personally participated in organising the event but could not attend due to an urgent engagement in Nairobi. I gave my apology to the governor himself which he conveyed at the ceremony," she said.