Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has formally accepted the resignation of Oyugi Magwanga as Deputy Governor of Homa Bay County, bringing an abrupt end to his tenure in the county’s executive leadership.
In a statement released on February 27, 2026, Governor Wanga confirmed receipt of a resignation letter dated February 26, 2026, in which Magwanga stepped down with immediate effect.
Office Declared Vacant
Pursuant to Article 181(1) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) and Section 32C(b) of the County Governments Act (2012), Governor Wanga officially declared the Office of the Deputy Governor vacant effective February 26, 2026.
She assured residents that county operations will continue without disruption and that the process of filling the vacancy will be handled strictly in accordance with the law.
“Service delivery remains uninterrupted, and the vacancy in the Office of the Deputy Governor will be addressed in accordance with the law,” the statement read.
Political Undercurrents and Party Unity Concerns
Governor Wanga noted that prior to the 2022 General Elections, Magwanga had been a gubernatorial aspirant.
However, in the interest of party unity, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) requested him to accept the running mate position, a role he subsequently took up.
Upon assuming office, the Deputy Governor was not only accorded his full constitutional mandate but was also entrusted with the additional portfolio of County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock Development according to the Governor.
However, his resignation letter cited “persistent and irreconcilable differences.”
Governor Wanga indicated that a growing preoccupation with future political ambitions increasingly undermined the collective focus required in the Office of the Deputy Governor.
“The people of Homa Bay are entitled to full-time, undivided service from their executive leadership,” she emphasized.
Governor Wanga thanked the former Deputy Governor for his service and wished him well in his future endeavors.
The development now sets the stage for the legal process of appointing a new Deputy Governor, a move that will be closely watched within Homa Bay’s political landscape and the broader ODM party structure.
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