Magwanga Quits, Dares Wanga to a ‘Battle Royal’ for Homa Bay Seat
The political truce that once made Homa Bay a “model of unity” in Nyanza has officially gone up in flames. On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga did what many political analysts have predicted since late last year: he turned in his resignation and officially declared war on his boss, Governor Gladys Wanga.
In a fiery press conference in Oyugis Town, Magwanga didn’t just announce his exit; he fired the opening shots of a 2027 gubernatorial campaign that promises to be the most expensive and divisive in the county’s history.
The “Bewitched” Office and the Kasipul Trigger
The fallout between the two can be traced back to the November 2025 Kasipul by-election. In a bold act of defiance, Magwanga campaigned for independent candidate Philip Aroko, directly opposing Governor Wanga, who was leading the charge for ODM’s Boyd Were.
The “punishment” from the Governor’s office was swift and brutal:
December 2025: Magwanga was stripped of his influential role as CEC for Agriculture.
January 2026: His allies in the cabinet, including Lands CEC Peter Ogolla, were fired.
The “Lockout”: Magwanga claims his office was locked and “bewitched,” rendering him a “homeless” deputy.
“I will not step into a bewitched office,” Magwanga famously stated in January. By today, he had seen enough. “I leave with my conscience clear. I cannot earn a salary for a job I am being blocked from doing.”
The “Ungrateful” Narrative
Magwanga’s 2027 strategy is built on a single word: Betrayal. During his resignation speech, he reminded voters that he shelved his own 2022 gubernatorial ambitions only after the late Raila Odinga intervened to broker a joint ticket.
“I sacrificed to help you become governor, but you have proven to be ungrateful,” Magwanga said, addressing Wanga directly through the cameras. “The people of Homa Bay gave us a mandate as a pair; you decided to rule as a solo act. Now, let the people decide in 2027.”
The 2027 Roadmap: A One-Term Governor?
Magwanga’s departure sets up a fascinating “Battle Royal.” As the ODM National Chairperson, Gladys Wanga has the party machinery behind her. However, Magwanga remains a grassroots powerhouse in the South Nyanza region, particularly in the Kasipul and Kabondo-Kasipul constituencies.
His resignation allows him to:
Campaign Full-Time: He is no longer tethered by the “decorum” of being a sitting Deputy Governor.
Play the Victim: He can frame himself as the “ousted hero” who was bullied by a “dictatorial” administration.
Build a Coalition: Rumors are already swirling about a potential alliance between Magwanga and other Nyanza leaders who feel sidelined by the current ODM hierarchy.
The Wanga Response
While the Governor has yet to issue a formal statement on the resignation, her allies have been vocal. Finance CEC Solomon Obiero recently challenged Magwanga to “quit and face us” if he wanted to campaign early. Today, Magwanga did exactly that.
