Jack Ranguma sacks five 'rebel' ministers

Kenya: Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma yesterday sacked five county executive committee members in what is believed to be part of the row pitting him against his deputy Ruth Odinga.

The governor cracked the whip on the officers over their alleged disloyalty and incompetence.

Ranguma said the officials had been pulling in opposite directions.

“We have experienced challenges especially where executives pull in different directions but largely away from the vision that inspired my election as governor,” he said.

He added: “Sometimes hard decisions have to be taken by a leader that has a full mandate of the people of Kisumu, and in the interest of the greater benefit that accrues to the people of Kisumu in the form of service delivery.”

The executive members who were sent packing included Vincent Kodera and Prof Barrack Abonyo who headed the ministries of Roads, Infrastructure and Public Works and Energy, and Natural Resources respectively.

Others included Dr Stephen Orot (Agriculture), Rhoda Obadha(Environment) and Omulo Okal (Finance).

The governor also reshuffled other officers and merged some ministries.