Oyugi Magwanga: Man with a political career marked by battles

Former Homa Bay County Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga/ROBERT OMOLLO

Former Homa Bay County Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga has rarely been out of the headlines throughout his political career.

From bruising electoral contests and court battles to high-stakes political negotiations and, ultimately, a dramatic resignation, Magwanga’s journey has been marked by both turbulence and resilience.

On Thursday, Magwanga resigned from his position as Deputy Governor of Homa Bay County, citing irreconcilable differences with Governor Gladys Wanga.

His departure marked the culmination of a deteriorating working relationship that had played out both politically and legally over the past year.

The once-cordial ties between the governor and her deputy began to unravel following divergent political positions and internal administrative disagreements.

What started as subtle differences soon escalated into open political defiance and institutional confrontation.

The turning point in their strained relationship can be traced back to the divisive November 27, 2025 Kasipul parliamentary by-election.

Magwanga publicly defied Wanga by campaigning for Kasipul MP candidate Philip Aroko, despite Wanga leading campaigns for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Boyd Were.

The by-election exposed sharp political differences within the county leadership and is widely seen as the moment when the rift between the two leaders became irreparable.

Shortly afterwards, Wanga initiated a sweeping reorganisation of her administration.

The shake-up saw several senior officials lose their positions, including Magwanga, who was removed from his role as County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Agriculture.

Dr Peter Ogolla, who had been serving as the CEC Member for Lands, was also relieved of his duties.

In a letter signed by County Secretary Bernard Muok, the governor defended the changes as necessary for better service delivery.

“In order to enhance service delivery to better serve the people of Homa Bay, and while exercising the powers bestowed on me, I reassign Danish Onyango as the executive member for Agriculture. Dr Peter Ogolla is dismissed as provided under Section 35(a) of the County Governments Act,” Wanga stated.

Around the same time, the governor publicly cautioned officials who could not align with her administration’s agenda, advising them to consider resigning — remarks many interpreted as directed at her deputy.

Tensions escalated further in early February when Magwanga moved to court challenging what he termed as the governor’s decision to close his office.

According to Magwanga, the closure left him without a workspace and effectively rendered him incapable of executing his constitutional mandate.

He argued that keeping his office locked undermined service delivery and denied county residents the support and representation they were entitled to receive. Magwanga maintained that he could not discharge his duties from home or under a tree, insisting that the office space was essential for him to serve effectively.

Magwanga sought court orders compelling Governor Wanga to reopen his office, which he claimed had remained inaccessible since last year.

Before the legal battle, he had publicly lamented being sidelined in key decision-making processes within the county administration, suggesting that his exclusion from strategic discussions weakened his ability to contribute meaningfully to governance.

His resignation on Thursday now signals the end of that turbulent chapter.

Born on December 12, 1966, in Kokwanyo-Kakelo Ward, Kasipul Kabondo Constituency in Homa Bay County, Magwanga built his political career from grassroots mobilisation to national prominence.

He first entered Parliament in 2007 when he was elected Kasipul MP under the ODM ticket, a seat he held until 2017. During his decade in the National Assembly, he established himself as a vocal and sometimes combative legislator.

In the 2017 General Election, Magwanga sought to elevate his political standing by contesting the Homa Bay gubernatorial seat against the incumbent Cyprian Awiti. After losing the election, he moved to court, alleging electoral malpractice.

The High Court in Homa Bay nullified Awiti’s election. The Court of Appeal upheld that decision, ordering a fresh poll. However, the Supreme Court of Kenya, in a ruling delivered on July 17, 2018, overturned the lower courts’ decisions and affirmed Awiti’s victory.

The Supreme Court found that the irregularities alleged by Magwanga did not substantially affect the election outcome, thereby dismissing his petition and confirming Awiti’s election as governor.

Undeterred, Magwanga renewed his gubernatorial ambitions in the 2022 General Elections.

He sought the ODM ticket but stepped down after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga endorsed Gladys Wanga as the party’s candidate, reportedly persuading Magwanga to support her bid.

Wanga went on to win the governorship, with Magwanga serving as her deputy.

Beyond politics, Magwanga’s life has also been marked by personal tragedy. He was married to Judith Otieno, who died in a road accident in 2010, a loss that profoundly affected him.

Academically, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi and has completed CPA Part II, Sections 3 and 4, at Strathmore University.

Magwanga’s resignation leaves Homa Bay County at a crossroads and raises fresh political questions ahead of future elections.

Whether this marks a temporary retreat or the beginning of another political reinvention remains to be seen.

What is certain is that Magwanga’s name will likely continue to feature prominently in Homa Bay’s political discourse as the country heads to the 2027 elections.