Homa Bay County Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga is lucky to be alive. On a tense Sunday night, gunmen sprayed bullets at his official vehicle between 9:15 p.m. and 9:20 p.m., barely two weeks after the shocking assassination of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were.
While Magwanga was not in the vehicle, the incident has sent shockwaves through Homa Bay’s already divided political arena.
Many are now asking, was this a politically motivated assassination attempt? And if so, who is afraid of Magwanga’s rising influence ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial race?
Tensions Rise in Homa Bay After Magwanga Assassination Attempt
The botched attempt on Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga’s life has unmasked the deadly undercurrents in Homa Bay County’s politics. Coming days after the killing of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, the incident suggests a county in political turmoil, where ambition, betrayal, and fear of power shifts are fuelling deadly plots.
Magwanga’s vehicle, which was under heavy security escort, was ambushed as it returned from a farm visit. Gunmen opened fire, but thanks to prior intelligence, Magwanga had made strategic changes to his movement.
While he escaped unharmed, the message was chilling and clear: someone wants him out—permanently. The question on everyone’s mind is who orchestrated the attempt, and why now?
Feuding Camps in Homa Bay Are Fueling Political Violence
Homa Bay is now a political battlefield. On one side is Governor Gladys Wanga, whose rise to the top was paved by an ODM direct ticket handed to her by party leader Raila Odinga. On the other is Joseph Magwanga, the seasoned political tactician who served as Kasipul MP and later eyed the governorship in 2017 and 2022.
Magwanga was a strong contender, but under pressure from Raila, he shelved his ambition and agreed to deputize Wanga. However, many believe his heart has never truly been in the deputy role. His loyalty to Raila may have silenced his voice temporarily, but his gubernatorial ambition burns hotter than ever.
Wanga’s closeness to the late Charles Ong’ondo Were—Magwanga’s long-time rival—only worsened the tension. Were and Magwanga were fierce enemies during the 2013 Kasipul MP race, and the political bad blood never dried. Now, with Were gone and an attempt made on Magwanga’s life, fears of a politically motivated purge are rising.
Magwanga’s Growing Influence Is Rattling the Status Quo
In Homa Bay’s political hierarchy, Magwanga is no longer just a deputy. He has become the nucleus of a powerful faction threatening to upend the Wanga-led status quo.
Several top ODM leaders in the county—Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma, Senator Moses Kajwang’, and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo—have gravitated towards Magwanga’s camp. Even Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who was initially eyeing the governorship, was forced to step aside by Raila in favor of Wanga.
With this solid support, Magwanga’s 2027 gubernatorial bid looks increasingly viable. But it also paints a target on his back. If he waits until 2032, he risks fading from political relevance. Those eyeing a longer stay in power might now see eliminating him as a shortcut to survival.
There are whispers that the failed assassination attempt could be a warning—a signal to Magwanga to stay in his lane, or else.
Who Wants Magwanga Dead and Why?
So, who could be behind the Magwanga assassination attempt? There are two dominant theories. One points to rogue political operatives within the county government who fear being unseated in 2027 if Magwanga ascends to the top.
The second blames national power brokers who see Magwanga’s alignment with the anti-Wanga camp as a threat to ODM’s long-term control of the region.
The timing of the attempt—just days after Were’s assassination—raises suspicion. Were was Wanga’s closest ally and a fierce critic of Magwanga. With him out of the picture and Magwanga surviving an attempt on his life, the streets of Homa Bay are abuzz with talk of a broader conspiracy.
Sources close to the DG claim he had received credible threats before the attack and had modified his travel schedule in anticipation. His survival wasn’t accidental—it was strategic. But this calculated move may only intensify the next attempt.
Whether the assassins were hired guns or part of a more complex political network remains unclear. What is clear is that someone wants Magwanga silenced.
Conclusion
The Magwanga assassination attempt has exposed the rot beneath Homa Bay’s political surface. It is no longer just a contest of ideas or party loyalty—it’s a fight for survival. The line between political rivalry and bloodshed has been dangerously blurred.
Unless action is taken to stem the growing tide of violence and impunity, Homa Bay risks descending into a full-blown political warzone. Leaders must condemn violence and open space for fair, democratic competition. Until then, figures like Magwanga will continue to live under the shadow of death—for daring to dream of leadership.
