Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and her deputy, Oyugi Magwanga, have officially drawn political battle lines as they campaign for different candidates ahead of the November 27 by-election in Kasipul.
The two politicians are reading from different scripts as campaigns to replace Ong'ondo Were heat up, explaining the deputy governor’s absence from some events hosted by his boss.
Ms Wanga, who is the national chairperson of ODM is supporting Boyd Were, the party’s candidate in the mini-poll, while her deputy, despite being an ODM member, has thrown his weight behind independent candidate Philip Aroko. The two candidates are the front runners in the contest.
ODM chairperson, Gladys Wanga.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
Their supporting for different candidates is likely to further strain the relationship between Ms Wanga and Mr Magwanga. Word has it that already the two leaders are not seeing eye to eye.
Ms Wanga has hosted multiple events over the last few weeks, including the International Food Day on October 28, which was not attended by her deputy despite him being the county executive member for Agriculture.
Their political differences in Kasipul are also likely to continue beyond the mini-poll, as the deputy governor is said to be among the politicians planning to challenge Ms Wanga in the 2027 election.
This will reignite their political contest ahead of the 2022 election when both were eyeing the Homa Bay gubernatorial seat before former Prime Minister Raila Odinga brokered a truce.
Kasipul parliamentary candidate Philip Aroko speaks to his supporters in Kosele, Homa Bay County after being cleared to run the November 27 by-election.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor | Nation Media Group
Mr Magwanga openly defied the ODM national chairperson when he attended a political rally hosted by Mr Aroko in Wire, West Kamagak, on Friday afternoon.
Ms Wanga is on record saying party members had resolved to back its candidate, who was at another rally at God Agulu in West Kasipul, attended by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, County Assembly Speaker Polycarp Okombo, county Roads Executive Danish Onyango and a group of MCAs from Homa Bay.
Mr Mbadi said he has every right to share his political opinion despite being a member of the Cabinet.
From left: Migori Senator Eddie Oketch, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna, Kasipul ODM candidate Boyd Were, ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga, deputy party leader Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi during a campaign rally Pap Kawaindi grounds in Kasipul constituency on October 8, 2025.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor | Nation Media Group
He said he only stepped down as an official of ODM when he joined the Cabinet, but he still retains party membership. Mr Mbadi expressed confidence that Boyd Were will win the by-election.
“After winning, we will collaborate in undertaking government projects in the region. Boyd will give me a list of priority projects that my ministry should finance,” Mr Mbadi said.
Flawed nomination process
He also appealed to officials of the ruling UDA party to support Boyd. This came after some members of the ruling party campaigned for Mr Aroko.
“We are a broad-based government and should support only one candidate. It is none other than Boyd Were,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
ODM candidate for the Kasipul parliamentary seat Boyd Were, ODM deputy party leaders Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and Migori Senator Eddie Oketch after Were was cleared to run in the November 27 by-election.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor | Nation Media Group
Meanwhile, Mr Magwanga has explained why he has chosen not to support the ODM candidate.
“There is no law that says that if a leader dies, it is his son who should replace him. I have been told to support Boyd, but I will not,” he said.
Mr Magwanga claimed that nomination process that settled on Boyd as the party’s flagbearer was not free and fair as ODM claimed.
During the ODM nomination exercise on September 24 was marred by violence in some parts of the constituency where supporters of different candidates clashed.
Kasipul parliamentary candidate Philip Aroko speaks to his supporters in Kosele, Homa Bay County after being cleared to run the November 27 by-election.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor | Nation Media Group
According to Mr Magwanga, the nomination process was infiltrated by people from other regions with an aim of manipulating the outcome.
The deputy governor also said he is concerned about cases of violence in Kasipul, including the destruction of property witnessed during the nomination.
“We all encourage investors to put money in our county. It is unfortunate that rowdy youths stormed a private hospital and destroyed property there,” he said.
At the same time, Mr Magwanga has claimed that some unidentified have been spying on him using a drone.
“Some people have been sending a drone over my compound to spy on me,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Samuel Owida, a political commentator, said ODM is facing a challenge because of the way it conducted its nomination.
He argued that the outcome of the nomination did not reflect the principle of democracy that ODM champions.
“Key stakeholders, like Magwanga, were left out. Remember he was an MP in Kasipul. It means he still commands support in the constituency,” Mr Owida said.
According to the analyst, other candidates in the Kasipul by-election can take advantage of the current situation to make inroads.
He said politicians from other parties can use the opportunity to campaign against ODM and win over the voters.
“They have a leeway to convince voters that ODM is not as democratic as it appears and use this to their advantage, especially targeting people still disgruntled over the nomination. If the process was fair, there would have been no resistance,” Mr Owida said.
“The relationship between Governor Wanga and her deputy will be closely watched, as will the outcome of the by-election. The division within ODM could lead to internal conflicts and potentially damage the party’s reputation,” he observed.
