Former Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma has rubbished the narrative that the Luo Nyanza region can exist on its own and doesn't need the support of the government.
The region has most of the time since independence been on the opposite side with the government, with its kingpins, founding Vice President Jaramogi Oginga and his son, ODM leader Raila Odinga, being at war with the government most of the time.
Ranguma has said that the region needs government help like every other corner of the country, and cannot continue to pretend to be doing just fine.
He has announced that it is for this reason that himself and other area leaders have decided to work with President William Ruto, adding that they will also ask for his help to assist the region catch up.
"We can't keep saying we are not poor and we don't need government support. That's a lie because even those who need to grow their business can occasionally turn to the banks to ask for loans," he is quoted by The Star.
The leader, one of the Nyanza leaders going against Raila to work with Ruto, made the remarks when he accompanied ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo to Rarieda Constituency on Thursday.
Owalo said that Ruto's decision to work with Luo Nyanza has nothing to do with politics but his desire to see the entire country united under him for development and progress purposes.
"We have no time for politics of division and empty rhetoric. Our politics will be people-centred. Focusing on improving the lives by building roads, electricity connection and food security," he said.
Ruto is expected in Homa Bay County tomorrow, after which he will attend Owalo's homecoming ceremony in Siaya. Most area politicians, however, are his critics and loyal allies of Raila.
In the concluded presidential election, the region gave him the least number of votes, choosing Raila instead. Earlier, just before the poll, his motorcade was peddled with stones in Kisumu, which he blamed on the former Prime Minister and his allies.
Ranguma was an ally of Raila earlier, even winning the governor seat through his ODM party, but has been praising Ruto since his defeat in August last year.
Content created and supplied by: Otieno-Onguko (via Opera News )
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