By Anderson
Immediate former Homa Bay Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga’s market value for the gubernatorial seat is appreciating, thus attracting suitors.
Magwanga, who has declared interest in the seat, will finally have a date to settle scores with his mentee-turned-boss, the incumbent Gladys Wanga.
Magwanga has declared an all-out war on Wanga and recently declared that for her to contest in the ODM primaries, Wanga, who is the party chairperson, must resign from the post.
Resign
Magwanga demanded that Wanga must resign or be removed from the party leadership to ensure free and transparent nominations.
He said if the party fails to act on his demand, then he will be left with no alternative but to seek a new political vehicle to unseat his former boss.
“Wanga must resign, or the party must act to remove her from her position to ensure a fair playing field for all aspirants, free from external influence.”
Wanga was recently confirmed as the national party chairperson during the Special Delegates Conference held in Nairobi.
Suitors
The demand is unlikely to be met, and this leaves Magwanga open to various political formations and suitors.
Already, the broad-based parties have been sending feelers to attract his attention, and they include President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the MDG of Ugenya MP David Ochieng, among others.
On Friday, in Kasipul, at the burial of his nephew, the Linda Mwananchi group of Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also extended an invitation to Magwanga to join their fold.
Orengo said, “Brother Oyugi Magwanga, I ask you to join us and become part of us. That other side is parked, and you will be our candidate,” he said.
Magwanga has declared he will be on the ballot for the gubernatorial race.
“Come the 2027 general elections, my name will be on the ballot papers, regardless of the party I represent.
“I want to tell the people of Homa Bay, come the 2027 general elections, vote for me as Magwanga, regardless of which party I am with,” he said.
Cagey and Coy
Magwanga has been cagey and coy on the political vehicle he will use in the 2027 general elections.
The former deputy governor has continued to play his cards close to his chest, leaving his supporters and opponents guessing about the vehicle.
In 2017, Magwanga contested as an independent candidate and gave the incumbent Cyprian Awiti a run for his money. In the election, Awiti won by 52 percent, with 210,178 votes, against Magwanga’s 47 percent, with 185,050 votes.
Awiti won the controversial elections but lost the High Court and Court of Appeal cases and was only saved by the Supreme Court.
Forced Marriage
In the 2022 general election, the former Prime Minister and Orange Democratic Movement party leader, the late Raila Odinga, forced a marriage between Wanga and Magwanga.
Raila prevailed upon other aspirants and tasked Magwanga to deputize Wanga.
“In 2022, I accepted the honour of serving as the running mate to H.E. Gladys Nyasuna Wanga after consultations presided over by the late former Prime Minister and party leader, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. Following our electoral victory,
The marriage built on sand crumbled after Raila’s death, and early this year, Magwanga resigned and termed Wanga a thankless person.
“Today, after deep reflection and consultations with leaders, supporters, and my family, I have resolved to resign from the office of Deputy Governor with immediate effect.
“I have concluded that it is neither tenable nor honourable for me to remain in office under these prevailing circumstances. I therefore step aside with dignity and clarity of conscience.”
2022 ODM Ticket
In the 2022 general elections, the ODM leadership, under the late Raila, prevailed on several aspirants to support the Wanga-Magwanga ticket.
Raila prevailed on Magwanga to be Wanga’s deputy and agreed on a power arrangement between the two leaders.
Former Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero differed with Raila’s move and opted to run against the Wanga-Magwanga joint ticket as an independent candidate.
Kidero lost the gubernatorial election and the election petition against Wanga at the High Court.
One Term
Magwanga recently told Wanga that she was a one-term governor and a failure.
He claimed Wanga had failed to manage the county and that the county was in shambles, incapable of paying contractors and securing basic necessities for the daily running of offices.
Magwanga told Wanga that she was an ungrateful person to the people who helped her become governor in the 2022 general elections and that her time was up.
“Wanga is a one-term governor and her time is up. I sacrificed for you to be the governor, but you are a very ungrateful person. Now it is the time for payback,” he said.
Dynamics
Magwanga comes from the greater Rachuonyo, which consists of Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo Kasipul, forming 46 percent of the vote block in the county.
Wanga is from Rangwe, with 58,886 registered voters, while Karachuonyo has 94,184, Kasipul 67,513 voters and Kabondo Kasipul 59,980 voters, as per the 2022 IEBC data.
Homa Bay Constituency has 58,338 registered voters, Ndhiwa 96,764, Suba North 60,678 and Suba South 54,182.
For Wanga, she has to work extra hard to break the Rachuonyo vote block and seek alliances to boost her vote basket or else perish.
For Magwanga, he will need to consolidate the greater Rachuonyo vote, and the choice of a deputy will hand him a swing vote to win the election.
But the choice of the party will be crucial in his next game plan.
