In an incident on October 12, 2023, Turkana Governor Jeremiah Napotikan Lomorukai, who was elected on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket, announced his support for President William Ruto’s 2027 presidential bid during the Turkana Cultural and Tourism Festival held in Lodwar town. Gad Aguko, a private citizen, expressed his disapproval in a letter to the ODM party dated October 18, delivered through his lawyer Abdikadir Osman.
Aguko criticized Governor Lomorukai for his bold declaration of aligning with UDA, a political party led by President Ruto, during the festival. He claimed that these statements were designed to subject both the ODM party and its leader, Raila Odinga, to ridicule and embarrassment. Aguko pointed out that these actions and statements not only displayed a disregard for Article 136(2) and Article 142 of the Kenyan Constitution concerning presidential term limits but also violated the Party Constitution.
Aguko urged the removal of Governor Lomorukai’s name from the party members’ registry and recommended taking disciplinary action against him. Aguko stated that if the party did not respond within seven days, the letter would serve as an official complaint in line with Article 8.4.1 of the Orange Democratic Movement party Constitution and would be submitted to the Disciplinary Committee.
Last week, during the Turkana Cultural Festival, chaos ensued when a group of Jubilee Party MCA leaders confronted Raila Odinga, who was the chief guest at the event. The security team swiftly moved him to a safer location outside the venue, where he addressed the constituents. The leaders expressed their discontent, alleging that Odinga had overlooked their community in important appointments and criticized his nomination of Winnie Odinga to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
