Elders from Rachuonyo in Homa Bay have criticized Governor Gladys Wanga for her handling of a public feud with Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga. The confrontation stems from recent political tensions during by-elections and a controversial cabinet reshuffle. Wanga faces accusations of prioritizing her party role over county duties.
On December 3, 2025, elders from Rachuonyo sub-county in Homa Bay confronted Governor Gladys Wanga over her escalating feud with Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga. The elders accused Wanga of undermining local leaders and government officials through divisive remarks made during and after the Kasipul constituency by-elections.
One elder questioned Wanga's leadership, stating, "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?"
The elders also criticized Wanga for focusing excessively on her position as chairperson of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which they said conflicts with her responsibilities as governor. "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," they remarked.
A recent cabinet reshuffle further fueled the tensions, as Magwanga was removed from his role as County Executive Committee member for Agriculture. The elders viewed this as retaliation because Magwanga did not support ODM candidate Boyd Were, son of the late lawmaker Ong'ondo Were, in the Kasipul race. Wanga had publicly backed Were.
"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.
The feud became public on November 30, when Wanga challenged Magwanga and other officials opposing her administration to resign. She stressed that loyalty and discipline are essential for county officers, insisting no one in her team has the authority to criticize it.