Inside Gladys Wanga, PS Omollo cold wars

 

The recent removal of four MCAs associated with PS Omollo from County Assembly committees laid bare the bad blood between the Governor and the PS. 

The simmering war between Governor Gladys Wanga and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo is likely to mar President William Ruto’s re-election campaigns in Homa Bay County and in the larger Nyanza region. 

Both leaders, who hail from Homa Bay County, are ardent supporters of the broad-based government and the President.

Although they often project a united front at public functions, their rivalry is evident in the pronouncements of their respective allies.

The recent removal of four MCAs from County Assembly committees laid bare the bad blood between the Governor and the PS. The affected MCAs claim they were ejected from the committees for associating with Omollo.

The MCAs are Boaz Kiri (North Kabuoch Ward), Tony Otieno (Arujo), Vickins Bondo (West Kasipul) and Pauline Omogi (Nominated).

Punished

They allege they were punished for meeting Omollo on 6 February, where they discussed a range of issues, including development and President Ruto’s re-election campaign.

Kiri said their removal followed claims that the meeting created the perception they were enemies of Governor Wanga and her administration.

“It is true that we met Dr Omollo at his home in Karachuonyo. Our colleagues said we had to be removed from the committees because we had dined with an enemy of the county government,” Kiri told The Standard.

Apart from the MCAs’ ouster, Omollo’s allies accuse Wanga of taking credit for projects initiated by the national government in Homa Bay.

Among them is Homa Bay politician Odoyo Owidi, who claims the Governor is deriving political mileage from development projects funded and executed by the national government.

Owidi argues that the projects were realised through Omollo’s efforts.

“There is a trend in the Luo Nyanza region, especially in Homa Bay, where governors take credit for projects undertaken by the national government. We want them to tell us which projects they have implemented using their own budgets,” he said.

But Wanga has dismissed claims that she is appropriating credit for national government projects. She maintains that the projects were implemented following her lobbying efforts with President Ruto.

“It was through my good working relationship with the national government that these projects were implemented. It is wrong for anyone to castigate me over them,” she said.