Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has carried out a major shake-up in her administration, removing her deputy, Oyugi Magwanga, from his influential role as County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture. In his place, she appointed Danish Onyango — the CECM in charge of Roads, Transport, Public Works and Infrastructure — to take over the Agriculture docket in an acting capacity.
This move is the clearest sign yet of the widening political rift between Wanga and Magwanga. Tensions boiled over during the recent Kaspul by-election, where Magwanga openly campaigned for independent candidate Philip Aroko. Wanga, on the other hand, threw her weight behind ODM’s Boyd Were, who ultimately clinched the seat. The conflicting loyalties sparked frustration within ODM, and sources indicate that party leaders have been pushing for Magwanga to resign entirely as deputy governor.
The reshuffle did not stop with Magwanga’s portfolio. Wanga also removed Peter Ogola, the CECM for Lands and a known ally of Magwanga, and replaced him with Joseph Mitito. The governor framed the changes as part of a broader strategy to strengthen her administration’s performance, insisting that the county needs a cohesive team focused solely on service delivery, not political side battles.
According to Wanga, the adjustments are aimed at boosting efficiency in key departments that directly affect residents’ daily lives, particularly agriculture, land management, and infrastructure. She directed county staff to align themselves with the new leadership and prioritize public interests above political differences.
The reshuffle now raises further questions about the future working relationship between Wanga and her deputy, who legally remains in office but is under increasing pressure from ODM loyalists. Whether Magwanga will hold on or bow out remains to be seen, but the political temperature in Homa Bay is clearly heating up.
