Oyugi Magwanga: Why I Resigned as Homa Bay Deputy Governor

Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga of Homa Bay County resigned on Friday, announcing his intention to contest the county’s top seat in the 2027 General Election. 

His decision ends a period of escalating tensions with Governor Gladys Wanga, exposing divisions within the county leadership. Magwanga, a former Kasipul MP, cited frustrations with unfulfilled development promises and governance issues as key reasons for his resignation. He explained that remaining in office would have linked him to the administration’s perceived shortcomings, which he intends to challenge in his own campaign. 

“If there are problems in the county, we will all be blamed,” he said, adding that he could no longer serve in a government he planned to oppose.

Governor Wanga accepted the resignation, framing it as the result of irreconcilable differences. In a statement, she accused Magwanga of prioritising his political ambitions over the unity needed for effective governance. She also pointed to his support for an independent candidate in the Kasipul by-election, which was seen as a break from the ODM party’s official candidate. 

Wanga assured residents that service delivery would continue without interruption and pledged to nominate a new deputy in accordance with constitutional requirements. The rift between the two leaders had been building over time. Initially elected together in 2022 following negotiations mediated by the late Raila Odinga, they appeared united in public. 

However, disagreements over the implementation of their pre-election agreements and differing views on governance gradually eroded their relationship. Magwanga’s removal from his role as agriculture executive and subsequent exclusion from county facilities highlighted the extent of the breakdown.

In his resignation letter, Magwanga expressed dissatisfaction with public finance management and the failure to fulfil campaign pledges. He described the working environment as untenable and revealed that he had sought legal redress without success. Supporters of Magwanga claim he was sidelined, while Governor Wanga’s allies argue that his divided loyalties made his position untenable.