Leaders say 2017 elections at play in Kisumu assembly wrangles

Leaders in Kisumu County have accused politicians with an interest in the 2017 General Election of fuelling on-going wrangles within the assembly.

The leaders comprising of the clergy, politicians and businessmen said the images portrayed from the county were a result of supremacy battles between factions having an eye on the county leadership ahead of the 2017 elections.

Some of them have now proposed that for the sake of peace, the county be dissolved if the conflicts pitting its leaders do not stop soon.

The county assembly has in the past week attracted negative headlines over protracted wars pitting suspended Leader of Majority Samuel Ong’ow, Deputy Speaker Pamela Omino and members of the assembly.

Mrs Omino was last Tuesday violently ejected from the House by members allied to Mr Ong’ow after she sought to chair a session.

And on Thursday, a section of youths and members of the civil society locked the gates to the assembly accusing Mr Ong’ow of defying a directive by ODM secretary-general Ababu Namwamba that suspended him.

SUSPENDED FOR GROSS MISCONDUCT

Mr Namwamba in a letter addressed to Mr Ong’ow, called for his suspension and that of his deputy John Olum over allegations of gross misconduct.

Speaking to the Nation on Saturday, Governor Jack Ranguma, MPs Olago Aluoch (Kisumu West), Gor Sunguh (former Kisumu East MP), Bishop Mwai Abiero (Anglican Church) and MCAs Samuel Ong’ow and Eat Seme’s Aggrey Ogosi said the issue in the assembly is a question of a minority wanting their way at the expense of a common stand of the members.

The conflicts in the county come barely a week after ODM party leader Raila Odinga held a reconciliatory meeting with county leaders including the governor and his deputy, Senator, embattled Speaker, MPs and members of the assembly.

Mr Ranguma said the wars are being caused by people who have a different agenda and are not willing to let go their position and stance.

“I have told you before that there are three of four people who just want to have their way and I think it is wrong.

THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT AGENDA

“You know a minority should also have their say, but the majority must have their way.

“The way they want to propose this to happen means they have a different agenda,” he said.

Mr Olago Aluoch said the assembly portrayed sheer disrespect of the law and asked the MCAs to put their act together for the wrangles to end.

“There is a standing order that specifies most of the things we have found to be the cause of the problems in the assembly. It is easier to go the way of the law than take shortcuts,” said Mr Aluoch.

Former Kisumu mayor Sam Okello said the wrangles did not reflect the foundations they laid while in office in the defunct municipality that transited to the county.

“Let Governor Jack Ranguma, as the father of the county, solidify his authority towards ending the wrangles.

“We should not see any fights especially after ODM leader Raila Odinga took his time to reconcile the MCAs,” said Mr Okello.