Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has stripped Deputy Governor Oyugi #Magwanga of his additional role as County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Agriculture, marking an escalation in the growing political tensions within her administration.
The decision comes shortly after Magwanga publicly campaigned for a rival candidate in the recently concluded Kasipul by-election, a move that triggered division among senior county leaders.
Executive Order Reshuffles Top County Officials
Following the fallout, Governor #Wanga issued an executive order on December 1, 2025, announcing a broad reshuffle within the County Executive Committee.
In her directive, Danish Onyango was reassigned to continue serving as the CEC for Roads, Public Works, Transport and Infrastructure, while also taking over as Acting CEC for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Development, replacing Magwanga.
“We’ve made changes to the membership of the County Executive Committee, effective immediately. This restructuring initiates a new phase of focused administration for our county,” Wanga posted.
The governor also removed Dr. Peter Ogolla from his position in Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development and nominated Joseph Mitito to replace him. Mitito’s appointment will take effect once vetted and approved by the County Assembly. Wanga further directed the County Secretary to ensure a smooth handover of all affected duties.
Rift Deepens After Kasipul By-Election
The latest move comes just days after Magwanga openly supported Phillip Aroko, a rival candidate in the Kasipul by-election. This was in contrast to Governor Wanga, who rallied behind Boyd Were, the ODM candidate.
Magwanga defended his decision, arguing that the ODM nomination process for Boyd was not free and fair, claiming there was external interference that influenced the outcome.
Following the election, Wanga issued a strong message to officials opposed to her leadership, urging them to step aside rather than undermine her administration.
“Someone cannot be working in your administration and speaking ill of the same administration because getting to be the leader of a government is very difficult,” she said during a November 29, 2025 rally.
Wanga emphasized that she would no longer tolerate internal sabotage and vowed to push for the removal of any official unwilling to cooperate with her leadership.
Can a Deputy Governor Be Removed?
Under Kenyan law, a Deputy Governor cannot be dismissed directly by the governor. Removal can only occur through a formal process initiated by a Member of the County Assembly (MCA), where the motion must pass with a two-thirds majority. The Senate must then uphold the charges after an investigation, as provided under Article 181 of the Constitution and Section 33 of the County Governments Act.