Gladys Wanga now finds herself at the center of a political storm after the sudden resignation of her deputy, Joseph Oyugi Magwanga, an exit that has laid bare deep cracks within the leadership of Homa Bay County.
What should have been a united county government working for the people has instead turned into a scene of power struggles, silence, and exclusion that has shocked many residents.
On February 26, 2026, Magwanga walked away from office after months of what he described as deliberate efforts to make his role meaningless.
He was not just sidelined quietly. His office was locked in December 2025 without explanation, and the keys were changed. He was sent on forced leave and later blocked from returning.
Vehicles assigned to his office were taken away while he was in Nairobi, leaving him with only one broken-down car and no fuel or support.
These actions went beyond normal disagreements in government. They showed a pattern of punishment and control meant to push him out completely.
Magwanga had been Wanga’s chosen running mate in the 2022 election, a partnership that had strong backing from party leadership including the late Raila Odinga.
What started as a political team later became a bitter rivalry.
In his resignation letter, Magwanga said public office should never be treated like private property. He explained that he could not continue earning a salary while being denied the tools to work.
He said his office had been made “functionally inoperative” and that staying would be dishonest to the people of Homa Bay.
The conflict traces back to the Kasipul by-election in November 2025. Magwanga supported independent candidate Phillip Aroko, while Wanga backed ODM’s Boyd Were, who won. After that election, the relationship between the two leaders collapsed. Wanga removed Magwanga from his additional role as CEC for Agriculture and Livestock.
Offices linked to him, including County Secretary and Payroll, were shut down. He later went to court, accusing the governor of illegally blocking him from office, withdrawing staff, and seizing official vehicles.
Instead of focusing on services, the county government became busy fighting itself. Residents began to feel the effects.
Projects slowed down. Roads remained in poor condition. Health services struggled. Farmers continued to suffer in a county that should benefit from Lake Victoria and rich agricultural land.
Critics say the leadership spent more time on loyalty tests and political battles than on solving real problems.
Public anger has been loud, especially on social media. Many people describe Wanga as difficult to work with and too focused on control.
Some say the county is run through fear and favoritism. Others accuse her of caring more about publicity and party image than about the daily struggles of ordinary people.
The picture painted by these reactions is not of teamwork, but of isolation and dominance.
Magwanga’s resignation now frees him to prepare for a possible run for governor in 2027. His exit has turned a private dispute into a public judgment on leadership style.
What could have been resolved through dialogue instead became a display of humiliation and exclusion.
This episode has raised a serious question for Homa Bay residents. Should leadership be about silencing rivals or serving the people?
