Elders warn of secret plot to oust Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma. (Photo:Standard)

Kisumu, Kenya: Elders from Kisumu County have come to the defence of area governor Jack Ranguma over a planned impeachment by a group of residents dubbed ‘Kisumu Leaders Caucus’.

Ranguma also dismissed his critics and urged them to support the development agenda of the county government. In a press statement signed by 12 members representing different constituencies in Kisumu County, the elders expressed concern following the alleged bid to oust the governor.

They claimed the alleged group had conducted more than four secret meetings in Nairobi and in the lakeside city with a plot baptised “high-tide” which allegedly intends to remove the governor from office.

The meetings are said to have been sponsored by civil society groups and a section of university lecturers and students in the county.

Public meetings

Led by former Cabinet minister Onyango Midika, the elders claimed the group intends to hold public meetings at Kisumu Sports Ground next month to evaluate the county government’s performance in the last one year in what they term ‘Kisumu County Score Card’.

The scheme will be followed by massive campaigns to mobilise residents against the county administration, the elders alleged.

 “The group plans to hold a public rally where the governor will be vilified and propaganda aimed at turning residents against his government spread,” he said.

 “The group is inspired by impeachments of Embu and Kericho governors. They have vowed that governor Ranguma will not serve his full term,” Mr Midika further said.

The group is also said to be in coordination with some unnamed senior county officials.

They said the county officials are the ones allegedly leading the ‘Kisumu Leaders Caucus’ group secretly.

“Implementation of preliminary stages of this plot has started as evidenced by sponsored negative reports and commentaries in a section of the media. They are also working in cahoots with some senior county officials to undermine the governor,” read part of their statement.

This, they claimed, is facilitated by leaking confidential information about the Kisumu County government to unauthorised persons.

Raphael Agai, one of the elders, said actions of the group, which he described as meant to destabilise the county government are not in the best interest of the county.

Derail programmes

“Such actions, based on personal vendetta and petty political witch-hunt would only serve to derail the many social and economic programmes that have been rolled out by the county government,” said Agai, a former deputy mayor of the defunct Kisumu municipality.

The remarks by the elders come barely a week after Luo Council of Elders raised alarm that there was a group out to undermine devolution by humiliating governors from the region.

Governor Ranguma, however, said his county government has rolled out several development projects in the region and such alleged attempts are meant to kill the county’s development agenda.

Ranguma, who had just returned from an official function in Nairobi, said he was not aware of such plot.

“My government has brought all stakeholders on board to ensure we realise our dreams. The critics should give us a chance to fulfill our pledges to the electorate,” said Ranguma.