By Hope Barbra
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga could be walking into panic mode over the Kasipul by-election.
On Wednesday, during the presentation of nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) by Boyd Were, ODM and Wanga displayed what could be viewed as either a show of might or panic.
During a meet-the-people tour after presenting the papers to the IEBC, Wanga let the cat out of the bag by saying that the murder of the immediate former area MP, Charles Ongondo Were, was a plot to scuttle and undermine her political power in Kasipul and Homa Bay County.
“The Kasipul by-election was a plot to finish me. The killers of Ongondo wanted to end my political grip in Kasipul and Homa Bay County.
There is a scheme and plot to finish me in Homa Bay County politics and leadership. They have resorted to abusing me in public. They want ODM to lose in Kasipul so that the national chairperson of the party cannot even deliver a seat in her backyard.
Those who opposed my candidature as governor are back plotting against me. They don’t accept that we have delivered and brought Homa Bay County to the national limelight.
They want to finish me politically. It is a war to remove me from the governor’s seat in Homa Bay,” she said at the rally.
Wanga also wrote on her X handle:
“The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) proudly presents Boyd Were Ong’ondo as our official candidate for the upcoming Kasipul Parliamentary by-election!
This morning, we stood firmly with him as he presented his nomination papers to the IEBC in Kosele. Our strong delegation was led by DPL Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and included DPL Godfrey Osotsi, Sec. Gen. Senator Edwin Sifuna, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, MPs Peter Kaluma, Fatuma Full Network, Dr. Joyce Osogo Bensuda, Senators Moses Kajwang, Eddy Muok, Ledama Ole Kina, and a host of other leaders and residents of Kasipul Constituency.
The journey to 27th November has now officially begun! Thank you, Kasipul, for your overwhelming show of love and confidence in ODM and our incoming Kasipul MP, Hon. Boyd Were!”
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang also acknowledged the ODM machinery that landed in Kasipul and hoped their presence would sway the public to elect the party’s candidate.
Kajwang wrote on his Facebook page:
“The ODM machinery is in Kasipul Constituency to root for Boyd Were, our candidate in the upcoming by-election. The primaries are over, and we must now work in accord to deliver victory on 27th November.”
Conspicuously absent at the rally was Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga, a bitter rival of the immediate former MP.
Magwanga and Wanga differed over the ODM primaries, with the former supporting Newton Ogada while the Governor supported Were.
Earlier attempts by Wanga to convince Magwanga to support Boyd failed, and the two have now differed openly.
Reportedly, Wanga asked Magwanga to support Boyd and, in return, she would back his candidature for the ODM Homa Bay County chairman seat.
Magwanga confirmed the visit, saying they discussed various issues but neither denied nor confirmed whether he was approached to support the son of his political nemesis in exchange for the county ODM chair seat.
“The Governor visited me last night, and we discussed several issues. You are free to speculate whatever we discussed. I have been having several visitors to my home, and everyone is welcome,” he said.
Wanga and Magwanga are likely to face off in the 2027 gubernatorial election.
The by-election has also attracted leading candidates Philip Aroko and Robert Riaga, both vying as independents, and Sam Rateng Otiende of UPA.
ODM is facing stiff competition from opposition candidates who enjoy the support of professionals and the business community.
Chairman of the Kasipul Professionals Caucus, Tom Awino Okoko, said he declined Wanga’s request to support Boyd, saying the people should be allowed to make an independent choice.
“It is true Wanga reached out to me. I was very specific with her. I told her to stop interfering in the nomination and allow the people of Kasipul to elect a leader of their choice. We do not want outsiders to decide for us. As professionals, we know what is good for Kasipul,” he said.
The by-election is crucial and strategic for both Wanga and Magwanga ahead of the 2027 general elections, where they may face each other at the ballot box for the county seat.
For Wanga, the demise of Ongondo left a vacuum that she must fill with her preferred candidate.
Ongondo was the checkmate to Magwanga, and the two were bitter rivals who rarely shared a podium. Ongondo was used by Wanga to checkmate and tame her deputy while controlling his political influence in the constituency.
For Magwanga, he wants to have a say in the constituency he once represented for two terms before he decided to vie for the gubernatorial seat in the 2017 and 2022 elections.
Kasipul remains his fulcrum if he intends to pursue his ambition, and he wants a new MP allied to him to take over from Ongondo.
The by-election is a warm-up for Wanga and Magwanga as they gear up for the 2027 elections.
