Gumo exit leaves a big gap in Raila team

By Geoffrey Mosoku

NAIROBI; KENYA: Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo’s retirement from active politics ends a career of a gallant politician who never shied away from expressing his mind.

The hitherto combative politician is a dependable ally of Prime Minister Raila Odinga and has been crucial in marshaling support for him in Nairobi and western Kenya. Their relationship is also unique in that they are age mates. Both were born in 1945.

Further, Gumo’s exit will leave a gap in Raila’s inner team having played a pivotal role in the premier’s campaign since 2007. Raila could always count on the minister to deliver not just the Nairobi vote, but also his native western Kenya votes.

CORD campaigns

The 67-year-old Westlands MP announced his retirement on Wednesday, the eve of the ODM nominations where he was expected to contest the Nairobi Senate.

“I have decided to retire from politics peacefully. I know if I decided to run for any seat, I could have easily won. I am now 67 and I think I have done enough. I also need my own time now that I can travel around the world and my country to enjoy myself,” he told reporters at his ministerial office.

However, Gumo will still play an active role in the ODM and CORD campaigns.

He has represented Nairobi’s Westlands constituency in Parliament since 1997. He has been in politics for the last 38 years having started as a councillor and later mayor of Kitale.

In May last year, he was appointed the Local Government Minister in an acting capacity, taking over from Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who resigned from the post to focus on his presidential bid.

Memorable episode

Gumo, who is nicknamed ‘Kaa Ngumu’ (be firm) owing to his combative nature, has in the past served as chairman of the Nairobi City Commission.

He was reputed to be an abrasive, no-holds-barred and sometimes confrontational parliamentarian with his poll battles against Betty Tett for the Westlands seat being the most memorable.

Another memorable incident is last year after Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi quit ODM claiming lack of democracy. Gumo dismissed Mudavadi whom he likened to a crying baby.

“You should not cry always like a baby, you must fight on. You cannot associate with a man who is a crybaby. I cannot follow him like a woman and in fact, I am a husband of wives,” Gumo said.

His firebrand politics, however, ceased when he was elevated to the Cabinet in 2007, having recaptured his Westlands parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket. This ended his days as one of the most vocal and visible backbenchers over the years.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga while accepting the announcement, described him as far-sighted and selfless politician who is leaving politics at the peak of his career, having accomplished all he wanted to.

Active leader

“Hon Gumo was a master politician who was always in touch with the grassroots. That is how he built his career in Nairobi, where he served all Kenyans irrespective of their ethnic background. That is how Gumo will always be remembered,” Raila said while adding, ‘Kaa Ngumu Fred!’