Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga/FILEHoma Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has formally accepted the resignation of Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga, declaring the position vacant with immediate effect.
In a statement issued on Friday, Wanga confirmed that she had received and accepted a resignation letter dated February 26 from Magwanga, who cited “persistent and irreconcilable differences.”
“Pursuant to Article 181(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and Section 32C(b) of the County Governments Act, 2012, I hereby declare the Office of the Deputy Governor, Homa Bay County, vacant with effect from 26th February 2026,” Wanga said.
The governor assured residents that county operations would continue uninterrupted as the constitutional process to fill the vacancy begins.
Magwanga, who addressed the media on Thursday, said he was leaving office with a clear conscience and remained committed to advocating for integrity and prudent management of public resources.
“I leave office with my conscience clear and my commitment to the people of Homa Bay County unwavering,” Magwanga said.
He also declared his intention to contest the Homa Bay gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Elections.
Magwanga’s resignation marks 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.
The fallout can be traced back to the November 27, 2025, Kasipul parliamentary by-election, where Magwanga campaigned for Kasipul MP candidate Philip Aroko, defying Wanga’s support 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 turning point in their strained relationship.
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 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 her statement, Wanga noted that Magwanga had accepted the running mate position in 2022 at the request of ODM, in the interest of party unity, despite initially seeking the gubernatorial ticket.
She said her administration had fully supported him.
Wanga said a sustained focus on future political ambitions had compromised the collective responsibility required in the Office of the Deputy Governor. She emphasised that residents deserve full-time, undivided service from their executive leadership.
“Service delivery remains uninterrupted,” she said, thanking Magwanga for his service and wishing him well in his future political pursuits.
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