Homa Bay’s Deputy Governor, Oyugi Magwanga, says he is lucky to be alive after a late-night gun battle between his security team and a group of armed men he believes were out to kill him.
Speaking from his home in Kabuor village, Kasipul Constituency, Magwanga told reporters he had received intelligence on Sunday evening warning that unknown individuals were following him. He was returning home around 9 p.m. when the tip-off came.
“I was told they were tracking me along the usual road I take. So I changed direction. I took a different route home,” he said on Monday, visibly shaken but unharmed.
He said the attackers appeared to have been lying in wait along his regular route, which he avoided. His security officers, unaware of the switch, were still travelling along that road in a separate vehicle when the attackers reportedly opened fire.
According to Magwanga, the gunmen were carrying “an unknown number of firearms” and fired first, prompting his bodyguards to return fire. The brief exchange ended without injuries, though details remain unclear.
“The gangsters stepped a few metres off the road, then started shooting. My officers had no choice but to shoot back,” he said.
Police are yet to confirm the incident or offer an official statement on the matter. Efforts to reach local security authorities on Monday were unsuccessful.
Magwanga, a former Kasipul MP, did not name any suspects or point to political motivations, but called the incident “a clear threat to my life” and urged the government to investigate swiftly.
This latest scare comes as tensions rise across several counties, with political figures alleging targeted threats and attacks. It also echoes earlier claims by other senior politicians, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who in recent weeks has spoken publicly about alleged plots against his life.
Observers warn that Kenya’s political climate is heating up ahead of the 2027 general elections. Past campaigns have been marred by intimidation, threats, and, at times, violence often in rural areas where security coverage is thin.
Magwanga has served as Deputy Governor of Homa Bay since 2022. Known for his grassroots activism and strong following in Kasipul, he is considered a key player in county politics.
He now says he will be reviewing his personal security. “It’s not the first time I’ve received threats,” he said. “But this was different. This was an ambush.”
As of Monday afternoon, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting. Local police have yet to confirm whether an investigation is underway.
