Governor Rasanga, MP Gumbo clash over incompetence, early campaigns

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga has hit out at Rarieda Member of Parliament Nicholas Gumbo for distracting him from executing his mandate.

Speaking in Siaya on Wednesday, Rasanga said that Gumbo, who is also the chair of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has been spending time running early campaigns in Siaya instead of serving the country in his capacity as PAC chair.

“I get distracted when Gumbo is distributing blankets, Ksh 100 and lesos to women here in Siaya instead of focusing on service delivery at PAC,” he said.

“When people wake up at 6:00am in Sigomere, he is there issuing blankets, thus neglecting his role in the Parliamentary Committee.”

In a rebuttal, Gumbo accused Governor Rasanga of incompetence in service delivery saying he is being used as a scapegoat for his (Rasanga’s) apparent failures.

“Unfortunately, his incompetency is so glaring, there really isn’t much he has can do to stop the inevitable chance of leadership to a competent person who truly cares about the plight of Siaya people.”

He further accused Rasanga of holding meetings with ODM delegates from various wards in Siaya and dishing out cash to bribe members to support his re-election bid.

The PAC chair accused Rasanga of embezzling public funds which he is using to fund his campaigns adding that he is in panic mode in the run up to the next elections in 12 months’ time.

On Monday, Rasanga was on the news again accusing some ODM members of launching campaigns to oppose his candidature.

Rasanga remarked that, despite being elected on an ODM ticket during the 2013 General Election, he has faced opposition from within the party that affecting the operations of his government.

Speaking the same day, ODM leader Raila Odinga said that everyone in the party will be given a fair chance to run for their position of choice, saying reports that there are preferred candidates in the party are baseless.

Gumbo declared his interest in the Siaya seat last year, setting in motion a battle of cards between him and the current Governor Rasanga.

Rasanga has on several occasions been accused of corruption and embezzlement of public funds and failing to deliver on his election promises.

He has, however, denied the claims saying his wealth has been legally sourced. He noted that his father was a wealthy chief during the colonial era saying this has played a part in his current wealth status.

Rasanga blamed his political rivals for propagating the claims as a way to discolour him for their own political gain.

@benjaminwafula