[Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong'o. He is gunning for the county's gubernatorial seat during the forthcoming polls. Courtesy: The Star]
Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma's reelection bid has been dealt a huge blow, after elders from the Kano clan endorsed his rival's and Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong'o gubernatorial candidature.
Nyong'o is seeking to unseat Ranguma on an ODM party ticket.
He trounced Ranguma in the race for the Orange ticket during the April Party primaries.
Led by Kano Luo Council of Elders chairman Odungi Randa on Saturday, the members announced that they had resolved to back Nyong'o during the forthcoming polls.
"We appreciate the role Ranguma has played but we ask him to retire peacefully. There are several jobs in the government and we hope in Raila Odinga’s government he will be able to serve as an ambassador or a PS (principal secretary)," he said.
"As for us, we will rally our community behind Prof Nyong’o come rain come sun shine because we believe, with his wealth of knowledge, he will be able to improve the status of our county," he added.
Ranguma hails from the Kano clan.