Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma fails to meet Sikh community over statue

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma

BY KEVINE OMOLLO

KISUMU COUNTY: A meeting scheduled between the Sikh community and Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma to discuss the controversial monument brought down by Kisumu residents failed to take place.

The meeting called by Mr Ranguma failed to kick off after six members of the Sikh community led by Chairman Charjeet Hayer were kept waiting at the governor’s office for close to two hours without any response.  “We had decided to bring the statue down so as to restore peace in the town but consequently we were to meet the governor to settle the matter,” said Mr Hayer.

Last week, Kisumu residents brought down the monument of the Sikh god erected at Nyerere Road claiming that the statue portrayed them as worshipers of idols.

Interventions by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to calm the residents fell on deaf ears and when a three-day demonstration to pressurise the removal of the statue failed, the residents opted to demolish it.

Mr Raila directed the county government to meet the community representatives to solve the issue, which had turned Nyerere Road into a battlefield. The residents called on the county government to construct monuments of Kenyan heroes instead of religious symbols.

Yesterday, County Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure Vincent Kodera however, said the Sikh community had been permitted to erect a water fountain and not a statue. “Everyone was surprised but we hope the matter will be settled in an amicable manner,” said Mr Kodera.

The County’s Director of Communication Merita Ombuor said the governor was held up in Governors’ Consultative Meeting for the Western Circuit and was not aware of the Sikh community representatives at his office. “The governor is ready to discuss with the Sikh representatives and we are working out a solution,” said Ms Ombuor.