Elders Question Governor Wanga’s Conduct Over Escalating Feud With DG Magwanga
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has come under intense criticism from a group of elders in her county, who accused the county boss of undermining local leaders and sowing division within the community.
Rachuonyo elders spoke out on Wednesday, December 3, expressing concerns over Wanga’s conduct during and after the recent Kasipul constituency by-elections. The elders claimed the governor’s remarks reflected poorly on her leadership and risked creating political rifts in Homa Bay County.
“Your utterances of late do not show the quality of leadership. Having quoted the undisclosed amount of money that has been spent in the by-election, was it your money or money that belongs to the public?” one elder questioned.
The criticism extended to Wanga’s dual role as both Homa Bay governor and chairperson of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Elders warned that her focus on party politics was overshadowing her responsibilities as county chief.
“You, as the governor, are the chair of ODM. How are you going to manage yourself as chairman and governor of Homa Bay? Sometimes you will choose one and leave the other. The two contradict each other,” the elders said.
The elders also condemned Wanga’s recent cabinet reshuffle, which saw Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga removed from key roles, including his additional position as County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Agriculture. According to the elders, the reshuffle was politically motivated, allegedly as a punishment for Magwanga’s refusal to support ODM candidate Boyd Were in the Kasipul parliamentary race.
In the lead-up to the by-election, Wanga had openly endorsed Boyd Were, son of the late Kasipul lawmaker Ong’ondo Were, citing his ODM affiliation as a key factor.
“We saw the governor and deputy at loggerheads because of the stance they took. That is a democratic right, and overstepping the boundaries is unacceptable. The governor knows her role and what is not her role,” the elders warned.
Tensions between Wanga and Magwanga became public on November 30, when the governor challenged her deputy and other county officials who opposed her administration to resign, making way for personnel willing to align with her leadership. She emphasized that loyalty and discipline were non-negotiable, insisting that no one within her administration had the moral authority to publicly criticise it.
The criticisms from Rachuonyo elders highlight growing friction within Homa Bay’s political landscape, raising questions about internal cohesion in the county leadership and the balance between party politics and governance responsibilities.
Elders Question Governor Wanga’s Conduct Over Escalating Feud With DG Magwanga