A political storm is brewing in Homa Bay after Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga publicly broke ranks with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), declaring his support for independent candidate Philip Aroko in the upcoming Kasipul parliamentary by-election.

Magwanga, who served as Kasipul Kabondo MP before becoming Governor Gladys Wanga’s deputy, said he decided on what he termed as “betrayal” by the ODM party during the nomination process.

Speaking during a community engagement in Kasipul, Magwanga accused ODM of conducting a flawed nomination exercise aimed at sidelining him and imposing a candidate he did not support.

“Magwanga has made the best step that he delayed to make because he has to make a choice on who is the best candidate for Kasipul,” Magwanga expressed his frustrations.

“He has not betrayed the ODM party; it is the ODM party that betrayed Magwanga because when we were going for the nomination of the ODM candidate, they decided to sidestep Magwanga and rig the election in favour of a candidate that Magwanga did not support.”

The ODM candidate in the race is Boyd Were, who secured the party ticket after a competitive nomination. However, the Deputy Governor insists that the process was manipulated, claiming that a transparent contest would have produced a different outcome that he would have willingly backed.

“If there was a free and fair nomination, I am very certain I would have supported that candidate,” he said.

“Magwanga is more ODM than Gladys Wanga, and I must tell you that the candidate I have chosen to support now is a member of the broad-based government.”

The move has triggered confusion among ODM supporters, particularly because it pits the deputy governor directly against the party-backed candidate despite his senior position within the Homa Bay County leadership.

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The post Kasipul By-Election Drama: Gladys Wanga’s Deputy Defies ODM, Declares Support for Independent Aroko appeared first on Daily Trends.