•Ranguma who hosted the East Africa community chief administrative secretary at his Chemelil home said his move was based on talks on who should take on governor Nyong'o in 2022.
•The decision by Ranguma to throw his weight behind Obura is likely to shape the Kisumu gubernatorial battle into a two horse race between Obura and governor Anyan'g Nyong'o
Image: DICKENS WASONGA
Ken Obura' s candidature to clinch Kisumu governor position received a boost on Saturday after former governor Jack Ranguma endorsed him.
The decision by Ranguma to throw his weight behind Obura is likely to shape the Kisumu gubernatorial battle into a two horse race between Obura and governor Anyan'g Nyong'o
Ranguma who hosted the East Africa community chief administrative secretary at his Chemelil home said his move was based on talks on who should take on governor Nyong'o in 2022.
Ranguma who hails from the populous Kano clan at the same time said he had no plans of going back to ODM.
He said he was chatting a new political path adding that he will enter into a post election power plan after Obura wins the seat.
" We have been having discussions with the three of us. Myself, senator Fred Outa and Obura. This is the outcome of those deliberations," he said.
While endorsing Obura , the immediate former governor said the declaration will inform the future politics of 2022 race for Kisumu county.
Ranguma at the same time appealed to senator Outa to back Obura who served as Kisumu central MP between 2013 and 2017.
" I want to appeal to the Senator who has been part of these talks to also publicly voice his support for the CAS," he said.
He said Obura is young and stand the best chance to battle it out with Nyong'o in ODM.
" My age doesn't allow me to fight it again in ODM. I therefore leave it to my younger brother Obura. He still have the rigours and the energy to do battle within ODM," he said.
Ranguma vied unsuccessfully as independent candidate in 2017after he controversially lost the ODM primaries.
" What happened in the last polls is history. Because I can't go back to ODM, I am endorsing Ken Obura. He's still younger. I have no energy to battle this time," he said
Obura has won the support of key politicians from the larger Nyando including Nyong'o's first chief of staff Patrick Ouya .
Ouya was amongst the politicians from the area who were present during Ranguma's Saturday endorsement of the CAS .
Ouya was a key figure in the team that mobilized support for Nyong'o in 2017. He teamed up with Senator who was then Nyando MP to sell the governor's candidature in the vote rich Kano .
But he would later fall out with Nyong'o who sacked him from the position of Chief of staff.
" These talks began two years ago. Today we have come here to inform you that the white smoke has been spotted," he said before he invited Ranguma to address those who had gathered at the home.
Representatives drawn from the seven Constituencies of Seme, Muhoroni, Nyando , Kisumu West, East and Central and Nyakach attended the meeting which was dominated by political undertones.
They included former MCAs from the seven sub Counties.
Addressing the meeting, Obura exuded confidence in clinching the ODM party ticket in the primaries.
" I want to thank the former governor for this bold step. I am confident that I will emerge victorious," he said.
Obura said that Kisumu county has immense potential to grow and develop into food basket for the region.
" We are blessed with rich agricultural land which has the potential to feed the entire lake region. We have to revive the stalled sugar sub sector and ensure our people are self sustained ," he said.
Obura said what is needed is prudent utilization of resources available in the county to improve the well being of the local residents.
" We need a functional health care system. We must use funds disbursed to the county from the exchequer promptly to for enhanced livelihood of our people," he said.
Obura , Ouya and Obura later criss crossed Nyando and Muhoroni constituencies addressing impromptu rallies at Chemelil, Muhoroni town, Awasi, Ahero and terminating in Kisumu.
Saturday's political move is likely to send a shock wave to governor Nyong'o's camp that has been fighting to redeem its image over accusations that his administration over-saw demolitions that displaced many traders from the CBD.
Kisumu regeneration project implemented with support from Kisumu Urban project saw most of the hawkers moved from the areas along Oginga Odinga street, Jomo Kenyatta Streets which cuts across the city's CBD. Some are yet to be relocated.
In Kibuye which is also being mordenized, traders had to move to pave way for reconstruction which is ongoing.
While governor Nyong'o's administration has been praised for giving the city a facelift, the projects that pushed traders out of their operation bases has provided political forder to his opponents.
Nyong'o who beat Ranguma in 2017 to become Kisumu's second governor will be defending his seat through ODM.
Those eying the Kisumu governor seat include Obura, Nyong'o, Outa and former speaker Onyango Oloo.
Edited by S. Maombo