Homa Bay Governor and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has urged the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to consider keeping off the coming by-election in the Nyanza region in the spirit of the broad-based government pact.

Speaking during the burial of Ong’ondo Were on Friday, May 9, 2025, the governor urged for cooperation from the ruling party, stating that ODM does not intend to square it out against their allies in Nyanza, despite the region being an ODM stronghold.

“As national chair of the ODM party, I have made myself clear on the broad-based arrangement. We are in the broad-based, and we support it. It is a promise we gave to Baba and President William Ruto,” the ODM chair reiterated.

“This particular area is an ODM zone, and as we move forward, we will be going for by-elections in Ugunja, Kasipul and other places. We want to be clear that we don’t want to compete with our allies. We want cooperation to ensure these seats that were ODM seats remain ODM’s seats, and we move on as a united ODM family,“ she affirmed.

Wanga also clarified her past sentiments, where the governor was castigated for remarks that she made to the effect that only ODM members should come to the slain MP’s burial.

She, however, iterated ODM’s readiness to defend its territory, emphasising that the party will never cower in its support for its leader, Raila Odinga and its position.

“In ODM we fight for Baba. If you slight him, we do the same to you. I said this is a Homa Bay zone, and the entire region is an ODM zone. We will defend and fight for our party. Some people mistook it, saying that I said only ODM should come to Were’s funeral. His family alone is from Mt. Kenya to the Lake. I could not have said that. Everyone is welcome here,” Wanga added.

Wanga’s remarks come after she vowed not to allow the ruling UDA to destabilise ODM strongholds by making strides into the region.

Speaking on Saturday, May 3, 2025, Wanga who warned against political incitement in the region and reaffirmed her commitment to defend the party’s presence in Nyanza.

“As the national chairman of the ODM party, I also want to make it very clear that Homa Bay County and the entire Nyanza region is an ODM zone. The next time I see people in this region shouting ‘UDA’, we will not agree; we will not accept. It will not happen under my watch as the national chairman of the ODM party,” Wanga affirmed.

The UDA party has in the past made significant inroads in the region since President William Ruto launched the party offices in Suba South constituency, Homa Bay county, on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

Key to its influence in the region has been politicians like Silas Jakakimba, a former aide of Raila Odinga and former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, who unsuccessfully vied for the Home Bay governor.