The uneasy political ceasefire in Homa Bay has officially shattered, with Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga alleging a covert plot by Governor Gladys Wanga to remove him from office.

This escalation marks a dangerous turn for the county's leadership, transforming what was a simmering cold war into an open conflict. For the residents of Homa Bay, this is not merely palace intrigue; it is a governance crisis that risks stalling development projects and freezing essential services while the executive locks horns.

A Marriage of Convenience Crumbles

Speaking to supporters in Homa Bay, Magwanga did not mince words. He alleged that the Governor’s inner circle has already drafted an impeachment motion against him, a move he characterized as a betrayal of their pre-election agreement.

But the Deputy Governor went a step further, placing a “nuclear option” on the table. Magwanga warned that should the motion against him be tabled and fail to meet the threshold, he would immediately mobilize Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to initiate a counter-impeachment motion against Governor Wanga herself.

"If they bring it and it flops, they should be ready for the consequences," Magwanga declared, signaling that he commands a significant faction of loyalty within the county assembly.

The Cost of Chaos

This rupture recalls the fierce rivalry of 2022, where the two leaders were bitter opponents before uniting under the ODM party banner to secure the county seat. Analysts had long warned that this “marriage of convenience” faced an expiration date.

For the average resident in Homa Bay Town or Mbita, the fallout poses immediate risks:

• Stalled Budget Implementation: With the executive divided, the supplementary budget and development funding approvals could face delays in the assembly.
• Service Disruption: As seen in other counties like Meru and Kisii, protracted impeachment battles often distract from the supervision of health and sanitation services.
• Political Polarization: The rift threatens to divide the county along clan lines, reopening wounds that the joint ticket was meant to heal.

The Impeachment Trap

Magwanga’s threat highlights the weaponization of impeachment in Kenya's devolved units. While the constitution designed the process as a check on power, it has increasingly become a tool for settling political scores.

Legal experts note that a “counter-impeachment” is a high-risk strategy. For Magwanga to succeed, he would need to prove gross violation of the constitution by the Governor, a threshold that requires more than just political animosity.

As the political drums beat louder, the residents of Homa Bay are left watching a power struggle that promises no winners—only casualties in service delivery.