Youth, women stage protests against Homa Bay Governor,Gladys Wanga

By SHABAN MAKOKHA

Waves of grassroots protests intensified the Western and Nyanza regions following confrontations between Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo. 

Unlike the traditional protests that are organised and orchestrated by politicians, the protests in Nyanza and Western were led by women and youths. 

In Western, youth converged in Mumias town while women in Nyanza were consistent with pragmatic messages to Governor Wanga that they credit PS Omollo because of his tangible community interventions. 

They cited his support of housing for widows, support of the education of needy students and empowerment of the youths. 

Youth drawn from Vihiga, Kakamega and Bungoma counties held peaceful protests in Mumias town, Kakamega county accusing the Homa Bay county boss of unnecessarily dragging the name of the PS into politics. 

The conflict between the two leaders emerged after Ms Wanga claimed that the PS supported Mr Philip Aroko, the independent candidate in the recent by-election in Kasipul constituency, going against the ODM party position.

The accusations by Governor have evolved into a broader contest that could influence the political organization of ODM party and the Nyanza region. 

Mr Omollo denied involving himself in the local campaigns. 

Abdulaziz Tabuche, a youth from Mumias accused the Governor of political manipulation and called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to launch investigations into the use of public resources under Ms Wanga. 

Mr Tabuche, who works in Homa Bay county, said a lot of money meant for development in the county was ending up into the pockets of individuals at the expense of the tax payers. 

He said the youth were vehemently standing with Mr Omollo against any effort to drag him into politics to divert his focus from delivering on his mandate.

"We stand with Raymond Omollo and ask Governor Wanga to stop, with immediate effect, pulling him into politics," said Mr Tabuche noting that Mr Omollo is a technocrat who was employed out of his professional qualifications. 

Ali Adam, the leader of Kakamega Youth for Peace Forum (KAYPEF) condemned the intensified confrontations saying they were likely to amplify a wave of consequential political tremors in Nyanza region. 

He called on Governor Wanga to focus on her roles at the county government without meddling into the leadership at the national government. 

"She errored when she directed President William Ruto to fire the PS. Mr Omollo is a sober leader who listens to everyone irrespective of their status in the community," said Ali Adam. 

He said Omollo stands with people at the lowest level in the society who would suffer should the President heed to the calls to remove him from the docket he is holding.

"Omollo has crossed borders and built houses for widows and other vulnerable groups, he has helped many youth to get employment, he has paid school fees for needy students. He has shown that he cares about women, youth and the future of our people. Ms Wanga should leave the PS to work for the people of Kenya," said Adam. 

The women in Kisumu faulted Wanga of abanding her work and opening up unnecessary political wars that offer no direct benefit to the locals. 

"Wanga is one of the senior figures in the ODM party representing the old guard's consolidation of influence. She forgets that Omollo's rise to power was through State backing and his visibility at the grassroots. His ais of power is not pegged on ODM framework," pointed out Norine Akoth from Nyalenda. 

The intensified confrontations and counter reactions from the grassroots points to unavoidable gendered dimensions. 

With Ms Wanga, one of the prominent female governors facing sustained resistance from groups of women, points to failure in service delivery, gender identity and unusual inversion of traditional gendered politics.

This could give room to leaders with strong grassroots ties, like PS Omollo, to emerge as contenders in the local configurations.