Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has written a letter to Siaya Governor James Orengo expressing hurt over remarks he recently made about her, while at the same time extending forgiveness and calling for respectful engagement in leadership.

The ODM chairperson said she had initially chosen silence following Orengo’s remarks but later felt compelled to speak because the matter reflected the broader struggles women face in leadership spaces.

“I have reflected deeply on the remarks you recently made concerning me. I chose silence at first, because I have always believed that not every disagreement demands public contest,” Wanga wrote.

Senior leadership of Orengo

Wanga described Orengo as a senior leader she has long admired for his courage and principled leadership, saying his remarks were especially painful because she viewed him as a father figure and mentor to younger politicians.

“That is perhaps why they hurt,” she stated.

According to Wanga, the comments went beyond ordinary political criticism and touched on the experiences many women endure in workplaces and public life.

“When remarks directed at a woman carry undertones that diminish, ridicule, or reduce her because of her gender, age, or place in public life, they travel far beyond their immediate target,” she said.

The governor argued that such statements reinforce harmful attitudes that many women continue to battle, including exclusion, intimidation and gender-based discrimination.

“Many women are told to speak more softly, lead smaller, occupy less space, or defer not because they are wrong, but because they are women,” she added.

Despite the hurt caused, Wanga stated that she will not engage in a prolonged public confrontation with the Siaya governor, maintaining that she still respected him as an elder statesman.

Need for dialogue

She further called for dialogue and collaboration among leaders, saying the focus should remain on uplifting communities and promoting dignity in public service.

“Governor, despite the distress and untold discomfort this episode has caused me and those close to me, I do not wish to engage you in prolonged exchanges over this matter. I consider you my senior, a respected elder, and someone whose contributions to public life deserve honour and respect,” Wanga noted.

“I therefore choose forgiveness. I was humbled just as I was humiliated.”