Homa Bay releases Wanga to popularise ODM

Homa Bay ODM leadership has released Governor Gladys Wanga to campaign for and popularise the party outside the Nyanza region ahead of the 2027 General Election.

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The county party chairperson, Peter Kaluma, said they want Wanga to help ODM leader Oburu Oginga rejuvenate the party and make it as vibrant as it has been in previous elections.

Kaluma argued that they do not see the need for Governor Wanga to concentrate on Homa Bay politics when the party is commanding a strong following.

Homa Bay and Busia counties have been ODM strongholds since the party’s formation. In Homa Bay, all MPs, the senator and the governor have been elected on the party ticket.

ODM was initiated by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The party has received overwhelming support in Western and Coastal counties.

Currently, ODM is facing a test of strength after two factions emerged. There is a faction led by Oburu Oginga and another led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

Sifuna’s faction is called Linda Mwananchi.

Kaluma said he would take charge of Wanga’s campaigns in Homa Bay and ensure that she is re-elected in 2027.

“I have traversed Homa Bay and undertaken assessment on the popularity of both Governor Wanga and the ODM. I say here that Homa Bay is sorted and we release the governor to go and popularise the party outside Nyanza,” Kaluma said.

Speaking when they attended a fundraiser at the Faith Community Fellowship Church in Kochia, Rangwe Constituency, Kaluma urged residents to continue supporting ODM to maintain its strength at the grassroots.

The MP appealed to Homa Bay residents to distance themselves from the Linda Mwananchi team on the grounds that they want members of the Luo community to move out of the broad-based government.

Kaluma was in the company of Governor Wanga, MCAs Michael Nicholas Nyang’i (Kochia), Nicholas Owaka (Kanyamwa Kosewe) and nominated MCAs Caroline Odundo and Evelyn Otieno. Rangwe MP aspirant Calvince Okello was also present.

ODM began working with the Kenya Kwanza government in 2024 after the Gen Z protests. Their collaboration saw President William Ruto appoint John Mbadi as CS for National Treasury. Others included Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Hassan Joho (Blue Economy) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives).

Kaluma said the community had lagged behind for a long time due to discrimination by previous regimes compared to the government of President Ruto.

The Homa Bay Town MP urged the Linda Mwananchi team to campaign peacefully when they come to Homa Bay.

The team plans to hold rallies in the county on August 16, 2026.

“As a people we have made a firm decision to remain in ODM and stand with Ruto in 2027. Let our people not be hoodwinked by detractors whose agenda is to take us back to opposition politics,” he said.

Kaluma said he would take charge of ODM campaigns in Homa Bay and ensure Wanga is re-elected. He also urged residents to register in large numbers as voters in preparation for the elections.

The electoral agency, IEBC, projects Homa Bay to register more than 700,000 people as voters before election day.

Ahead of the 2022 elections, Homa Bay had more than 551,000 voters.

“I want Homa Bay people to turn out in large numbers and register as voters. Let eligible residents not be locked out of the important exercise,” he added.

Wanga vowed that ODM would not work with DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua because he is accused of propagating ethnic division.

She claimed that Gachagua is undermining marginalised communities due to their numerical weakness.

“ODM has nothing in common with DCP and Gachagua. We have decided to work with UDA because that’s the party we share an agenda with,” Wanga said.

The ODM national chairperson dismissed Siaya Governor James Orengo and his Linda Mwananchi team.

“We’re not going to return to opposition politics,” she said.

Okello urged residents to elect leaders with track records. He told politicians not to cling to Wanga’s coat in order to get elected in the 2027 polls.

He expressed confidence that he would win the Rangwe MP seat due to his good relations with the electorate.

“Governor Wanga has a lot of responsibilities, and we should give her an easy time to promote the party outside Nyanza. Politicians will be elected on the basis of what they have done,” Okello said.

Nyangi and Owaka pledged to campaign for Wanga’s re-election.