A simmering political rift between Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has exploded into one of the fiercest power struggles in Nyanza politics in recent years, with protests, cabinet shake-ups, public rebukes and growing pressure from grassroots and party structures.
What began as a dispute over the Kasipul by-election has now morphed into a deeper clash over political loyalty, regional influence and control of Nyanza’s emerging power centres. At stake is not only the authority of the ODM national chairperson, but also the growing footprint of the national government in a region long considered an ODM bastion.
Tensions escalated after the Kasipul by-election, where Governor Wanga accused government operatives of quietly backing an independent candidate against ODM’s choice. Though she did not name him directly, Interior PS Raymond Omollo became the political face of the alleged interference.
PS Omollo responded with one of the bluntest public pushbacks yet against a county chief.
“The truth is, your days are numbered,” he said at a rally, accusing the governor of “selling fear and conmanship” and challenging her to “show what she has done for Homa Bay” compared to national-government projects delivered under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
It was an unusually sharp statement from a senior civil servant, signalling that the feud had crossed into open confrontation.
Within days, the feud spilled into the streets across Kisumu, Migori, Siaya and Homa Bay.
Groups of women, including widows and market traders, staged demonstrations defending the PS and accusing Wanga of political intimidation.
Halina Said, a protester in Kisumu, told reporters, “PS Omollo has stood with the downtrodden. Any attempt to remove him from office must be rejected.”
Another demonstrator, Sarah Opiyo, said many youths and women had benefited from Omollo-related empowerment initiatives. “This fight against him will backfire. Let the governor focus on service delivery.”**
Youth leaders allied to the governing party accused Wanga of fanning divisions.
“We are not happy with leaders who joined the broad-based government but now want to fight the Luo leaders they found there,” a UDA youth coordinator said in Homa Bay.
The protests signal a shift: the PS appears to be consolidating a grassroots following that extends beyond traditional party lines.
As the external pressure mounted, Governor Wanga moved swiftly to reassert control within her administration.
On December 1, she stripped Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga of his additional role as CEC for Agriculture. Shortly after, his offices were sealed, a move Magwanga called “unlawful and politically motivated.”
Wanga, addressing supporters days later, defended her stance: “Someone cannot work in your administration and speak ill of the same administration. If you feel satisfied and cannot walk with us, feel free to resign.”
The reshuffle was widely interpreted as a message to dissenting county officials: loyalty is non-negotiable.
The Wanga–Omollo confrontation is exposing deeper political tensions within both ODM and the national government.
For Wanga, the battle is about asserting ODM authority in Nyanza, resisting perceived infiltration by Kenya Kwanza, and defending the party’s right to decide candidates without state interference.
For Omollo, the fight is framed as resisting political harassment of public servants, protecting development initiatives linked to his docket, and affirming the national government’s presence in the region.
For Nyanza residents, the concern is about development vs politics, service delivery vs power struggles, and unity vs rising factionalism.
Who Will Blink First?
Both leaders appear dug in.
Wanga is consolidating internally, projecting strength and rallying ODM loyalists. Omollo is gaining momentum externally, buoyed by street-level support and backing from government-aligned youth groups.
ODM insiders say senior party figures are watching closely, aware that the feud risks fracturing the party’s Nyanza base. Government sources, meanwhile, say the PS has become an important bridge for national projects in the region. making him difficult to politically isolate.
For now, neither side is blinking.
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