Governor Wanga has reshuffled her cabinet, marking the latest political storm in Homa Bay, after she stripped her deputy Oyugi Magwanga of his Agriculture role has exposing widening cracks inside her administration.
The move follows a bitter fallout that played out in full view during the Kasipul by-election, where Magwanga backed a rival candidate. With new appointments, dismissals, and bold declarations, Wanga is reshaping her government while sending a clear warning to dissenting allies.
Governor Wanga Reshuffles Cabinet, Triggering Tense Power Shift
Governor Gladys Wanga has executed a sweeping reshuffle that removes Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga from his extra duties in the Agriculture docket. Her decision marks one of the strongest political moves since taking office, and it follows a clear pattern of internal friction that has been building for weeks.
Wanga’s executive order, issued on December 1, 2025, introduced broad changes to the County Executive Committee. In the new arrangement, Danish Onyango will continue leading Roads, Public Works, Transport and Infrastructure. He will now also serve as Acting CEC for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Development, temporarily filling the seat left vacant after Magwanga’s removal.
The directive also dismissed Dr Peter Ogolla from Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development. Wanga nominated Joseph Mitito to take over the position, pending vetting by the County Assembly. She instructed the County Secretary to oversee an orderly transition in all affected departments.
These changes reveal a governor tightening her grip on county leadership at a moment when political loyalty has become a sensitive topic.
Magwanga’s Defiance Fuelled the Fallout
The fallout between Wanga and Magwanga reached its peak during the Kasipul by-election. The deputy governor openly campaigned for Phillip Aroko, the rival candidate running against Boyd Were, the ODM hopeful fully endorsed by Wanga.
Magwanga defended his stance by alleging that Boyd’s nomination was compromised. He claimed outside forces influenced the ODM process, making it neither free nor fair. His public defiance shocked some within ODM and emboldened critics who accused the county leadership of mishandling internal party matters.
For Wanga, the deputy governor’s action crossed a political line. A senior official campaigning against the governor’s preferred candidate highlighted a deeper split within the county’s top leadership.
Wanga Draws a Hard Line on Loyalty
After the by-election, Governor Wanga addressed the matter with remarkable firmness. She challenged Magwanga and any other county official opposing her administration to resign instead of undermining her leadership from within. Her remarks during a November 29, 2025 rally captured the tension clearly.
“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 declared.
The governor made it clear that the era of internal friction had ended. She insisted she would not tolerate public dissent, especially from officials who benefit from her administration’s platform. By restructuring her cabinet, Wanga has signaled that cooperation is no longer optional.
Removal of a Deputy Governor Remains Legally Difficult
Despite her decisive reshuffle, Governor Wanga cannot directly fire Deputy Governor Magwanga. Under Kenyan law, removing a deputy governor is a complex process that requires the intervention of the County Assembly and the Senate.
A Deputy Governor can only be removed through a motion initiated by a Member of County Assembly. The motion must be approved by two-thirds of the County Assembly. After that, the Senate must investigate the charges and uphold them, according to Article 181 of the Constitution and Section 33 of the County Governments Act.
This legal barrier means Magwanga will remain deputy governor unless a political coalition within the assembly pushes for his removal. However, Wanga’s reshuffle has effectively isolated him by removing his additional responsibilities and reducing his role in county operations.
