Magwanga defies ODM, campaigns for rival candidate in Kasipul

Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga campaigns for Philip Aroko in Kasipul on Friday last week

Politics of Kasipul has taken a new dimension after Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga endorsed an Independent candidate in the Wednesday constituency by-election.

Magwanga defied his boss, Governor Gladys Wanga, who is apparently leading campaigns for ODM candidate Boyd Were.

Wanga is the national chairperson of ODM, and the party had instructed members to support its candidate.

On Friday, the deputy governor, who was elected on a joint ticket with Wanga, defied the party and endorsed Philip Aroko's candidacy.

Most party members, including MCAs, have been campaigning for Boyd Were, the ODM flagbearer in the race.

Magwanga said he is not ready to support the ODM candidate.

“Residents of Kasipul should not be coerced to vote for a particular person. We can’t allow outsiders to mess the by-election after they interfered with ODM nominations,” Magwanga said. 

Speaking during a rally in Wire, the deputy governor claimed that the nomination process that settled on Boyd Were as the ODM flagbearer was not free and fair.

 He argued that illegible members of the party and constituency, including pupils, participated in the ODM primary.

Magwanga said the nomination process was infiltrated by people from other regions whose intention was to interfere with voting and manipulate the outcome.

The Kasipul by-election comes following the death of former MP Ongond’o Were. He was shot on April 30 in Nairobi.

 ODM settled on his son Boyd as the party flagbearer.

 "There is no law that says that if a leader dies, it is his son who should replace him," Magwanga said.

"I am being told to support Boyd to replace his father but I will not.” 

The deputy governor also raised concerns about cases of violence in the constituency. He linked the people he described as outsiders to violence.

Magwanga maintained that the forthcoming by-election should be free and fair.

“We’re going to protect our votes. Aroko should remain firm and ensure votes are protected,” he said.

Political differences between the governor and her deputy are likely to continue into the next election.

There are indications that Magwanga will challenge his boss in the 2027 election.

Samuel Owida, a political commentator, said ODM is facing a challenge in Kasipul because of the way it conducted its nomination.

He argued that the outcome of the nomination did not respect the principle of democracy that ODM champions. During the party nomination, former aspirant Newton Ogada said his six cars were damaged.

 "The party is not facing stiff competition in Ugunja, where the nomination exercise was a bit fair. Ignoring Magwanga in Kasipul was a big mistake that ODM made," Owida said.

On Friday, while at God Agulu village, National Treasury CS John Mbadi appealed to residents of Kasipul to vote for Boyd Were.

 Mbadi said Boyd is considered as the candidate for the broad-based government.

Most UDA officials and members from Homa Bay county are supporting Aroko.

Mbadi said he was engaging in politics as a member of ODM. 

 "Those who are in the broad-based government should support only one candidate. It is none other than Boyd Were," he said.