By Habil Onyango
Homa Bay County has always been one of the strongholds of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), previously led by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
All the elected political leaders, except eight MCAs, were elected on independent tickets, while the remaining majority are heavily controlled by ODM.
The County Governor, Gladys Wanga; Senator Moses Kajwang; Joyce Atieno Bensuda, the Woman Representative; and MPs Opondo Kaluma (Homa Bay Town), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul) and Lilian Gogo (Rangwe) were all elected on the ODM ticket.
Others who sailed through under the team currently led by Dr Oburu Oginga are Adipo Okwome (Karachuonyo), Boyd Were (Kasipul), Martine Owino (Ndhiwa) and Suba North legislator Caroli Omondi, who has since decamped to the opposition and vowed never to seek re-election on the party ticket.
However, with less than a year to the 2027 elections, the Homa Bay governor’s race is already taking shape, with the position at stake.
A political showdown is expected between the incumbent Governor, Wanga; her estranged deputy, Joseph Oyugi Magwanga; and the latest entrant, former banker Nicholas Koriko, who are ready to face off.
Magwanga, who quit his position as Wanga’s deputy, has already launched a grassroots campaign, while Koriko, who served in former Governor Cyprian Awiti’s government for 10 years as County Executive Committee Member in charge of Finance, recently announced his mission to topple Wanga from the county’s top seat.
Both Magwanga and Koriko were aspirants in the 2022 elections but opted out following the intervention of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, allowing Wanga to fly the ODM flag against independent candidate Kidero.
The Wanga–Magwanga fallout, which began with their joint 2022 winning ticket, has deepened due to local political realignments and county-level disputes, setting up a direct intra-party or bruising contest.
Magwanga settled for the deputy governor position before the split and was replaced by Danish Onyango.
Koriko, however, said that he had what it takes to lead the county into the next phase and tap into its vast opportunities.
He revealed that a campaign apparatus had already been deployed to popularise his candidacy in the county and that he would soon officially launch his campaigns.
“I have been having sessions with my team and delegation, and we have developed a roadmap to winning the election,” he said.
ODM Nominations
A number of aspiring leaders, including Magwanga, have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the planned party nomination process, considering that Wanga, who is the party’s National Chairperson, will be defending her seat.
Magwanga has accused her of favouring candidate placements to eliminate opposition within the county leadership.
For Magwanga, his name will appear on the ballot regardless of which political party he represents.
He stated that, for a fair and transparent nomination process, Wanga must either resign as the party’s National Chairperson or be removed from the position.
If not, he will seek a new political vehicle to compete against Wanga for the position of County CEO.
“Come the 2027 general elections, my name will be on the ballot papers regardless of the party I’m contesting with,” he said.
“Wanga must resign, or the party must take action to remove her from her position to ensure a fair playing ground for all aspirants, free from external influence,” he said.
He emphasised, “You cannot be a player and the referee at the same time in a football match.”
“I want to tell the people of Homa Bay, come the 2027 general elections, vote for me as Magwanga and not [based on] which party I will be vying with,” he said.
Wanga has, however, assured all aspirants across the country that, under her leadership, the party will conduct free, fair and transparent primaries.
She warned those considering bribery to face the voters, stating that they would ultimately determine who appears on the ballot.
The Governor expressed her readiness to compete against any opponent during the party primaries, even as she seeks re-election herself.
“Our party will conduct free, fair and transparent primaries. I am willing to face any aspirant interested in the Homa Bay Governor seat. If I lose, I will accept that,” she stated.
Wanga is defending her seat on an ODM ticket, focusing on her development record and continuity.
Magwanga also cited concerns about the conduct of the recent Kasipul by-elections, alleging that Wanga influenced the outcome through unethical means, including taking control of election materials, personnel and security.
“If the National Chairperson could openly take sides before and during party nominations, how can we expect a free and fair process if she is a candidate for the seat herself? Would there be a transparent exercise?” Magwanga questioned.
“I am not afraid to face her in the party primaries, but I believe we should do so under different leadership as the party’s National Chairperson for a fair playing field,” he concluded.
Broad-Based Government and Zoning
ODM is demanding 50-50 power-sharing arrangements with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the planned 10 August 2027 General Election.
Senior party officials, including Wanga, Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati and the Secretary-General, have stated that the party will not accept a junior role in any pre-election coalition.
ODM insists on a 50 per cent split of government positions, portfolios and influence under any formal framework with UDA.
Further, the party is pushing for a clear zoning strategy that protects its traditional strongholds and secures independent regional control.
ODM elected leaders have taken a hard line on “zoning” as a cornerstone of pre-election negotiations ahead of the scheduled general elections under the broad-based government arrangement.
They argued that, in order to support William Ruto’s re-election, UDA should not field any of its candidates in regions currently held by ODM.
Further, they are demanding that positions in the agreement be divided on a 50-50 basis, with the Deputy President position going to ODM if Ruto vies for the presidency.
The proposed zoning is intended to prevent “friendly fire” between ODM and UDA candidates in ODM’s traditional bases, ensuring the party retains its influence.
Wanga insisted that any coalition agreement with UDA must include a clear zoning formula that guarantees ODM a fair and respectable number of seats in regions where it has strong support.
“ODM will not be a ‘junior affiliate’ to UDA, and we expect a 50-50 power-sharing structure where ODM controls its traditional strongholds,” she insisted.
However, if the zoning strategy sails through, a number of aspirants might consider looking for other political vehicles to face off with the broad-based government candidates.
ODM, however, remains a political vehicle in Homa Bay, meaning the primaries or alignment with national broad-based political negotiations will heavily influence the outcome.
A number of political parties are already sprouting in the Nyanza region, which some aspirants might consider vying on in the event of sham ODM nominations.
They include former Chief Justice David Maraga’s United Green Movement (UGM), which has set up a number of offices across the country, including in Homa Bay, and the Movement for Democratic Growth (MDG), which is led by Ugenya MP David Ochieng.
A number of aspirants are already aligning themselves with the two parties to prepare for the next general elections.
