Philip Aroko: I have no personal feud with Governor Wanga
By Mabonga Makhanu, December 2, 2025Recently defeated Kasipul Kabondo by-election candidate Philip Aroko has dismissed claims that he holds any personal vendetta against Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
Speaking during an interview on Monday, December 1, 2025, Aroko said speculations of bad blood between him and the governor were unfounded, even though Wanga openly backed his opponent in the by-election under the ODM ticket.
He explained that he had supported Wanga in her earlier political journey, including during her bid for the Woman Representative seat and throughout her tenure, long before she became governor.
According to Aroko, their political paths only drifted apart over time.
Aroko admitted that there were instances in 2024 where the two clashed publicly, including an incident in which he was denied an opportunity to speak at the funeral of one of his allies.
He said such confrontations were normal in politics, as both leaders were championing their own interests. He maintained that those disagreements were purely political and should not be mistaken for personal animosity.
Aroko insisted that even the governor would confirm that there is no personal conflict between them, adding that their differences were being blown out of proportion.
“There is nothing personal between me and Wanga. I supported her when she was the county woman rep. People are just blowing it out of proportion. Even if you ask her, she will say there is nothing personal,” Aroko said.
Possibility of DP position
On growing discussions about Wanga potentially being considered as a presidential running mate in 2027, Aroko said the governor would only be in a strong bargaining position if she succeeds in uniting the Nyanza region behind her.
He argued that Wanga had divided the region, particularly in Homa Bay, by imposing leaders on residents, as he claims was the case in the Kasipul by-election.
However, he noted that if she consolidates support across the entire Lake Region bloc from Homa Bay to Siaya, she could mount a credible push for the Deputy President slot.
Her county role
Aroko also criticised Wanga’s leadership in the county, saying the region is in disarray and lacks tangible development.
He claimed that the notable projects in Homa Bay were initiated by the national government, yet they fall under the mandate of the county government.
He further accused the governor of focusing on public relations, stating that she transports crowds in buses to cheer her up to create false impressions of progress.