Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has stripped Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga of his additional role as County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Agriculture, following a growing political fallout.
This development comes after Magwanga publicly campaigned for a rival candidate in the recently concluded Kasipul by-election.
Following the fallout, Governor Wanga issued an executive order on December 1, 2025, affecting broader changes to the County Executive Committee.
In the directive, Danish Onyango was reassigned to continue as CEC for Roads, Public Works, Transport and Infrastructure, while also assuming the duties as Acting CEC for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Development, filling the gap left by Magwanga.
"We've made changes to the membership of the County Executive Committee, effective immediately. This restructuring initiates a new phase of focused administration for our county," she posted.
The governor also dismissed Dr Peter Ogolla from the Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development department and nominated Joseph Mitito to take over the position, pending vetting and approval by the County Assembly.
The governor directed the County Secretary to oversee the smooth handover of responsibilities.
The move comes days after Magwanga openly campaigned for Phillip Aroko, a rival candidate in the Kasipul by-election, against Boyd Were, the ODM candidate publicly supported by Governor Wanga.
Magwanga announced his support for Aroko, claiming the ODM nomination process for Boyd was not free and fair due to external interference.
After the polls were announced, Wanga publicly dared Magwanga and other officials opposing her administration to resign and pave way for those willing to work.
"Someone cannot be working in your administration and speaking ill of the same administration because getting to be the leader of a government is very difficult," Wanga said during a rally on November 29, 2025.
She insisted that she would no longer tolerate internal disagreements within her administration and that she would push for the removal of any official unwilling to cooperate.
A Deputy Governor can only be removed through an MCA-initiated motion, requiring approval by two-thirds of the County Assembly and subsequent upholding of the charges by a Senate investigation, as outlined in Article 181 of the Kenyan Constitution and Section 33 of the County Governments Act
