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The battle for Homa Bay governor race has intensified after Woman Rep Gladys  Wanga declared she is firmly in the race.

Wanga, hitherto deemed as a fron-trunner in the race, termed as propaganda speculation that she has bowed out and would instead seek re-election to her current seat.

She spoke in the wake of murmurs that the entry of former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero into the race had complicated the political equation in the county and sent many would-be hopefuls back to the drawing board.

In a county where political mobilisation mainly revolves around clans and posts distributed along constituency lines, the deep pocketed Kidero candidature upsets the dynamics for ODM chairman John Mbadi, with whom they hail from the same Suba clan as well as Wanga who comes from Rangwe Constituency like the former Nairobi county chief.

Matters are further complicated by the fact that Senator Moses Kajwang’ is also Suba.

Other candidates in the contest include Deputy governor Hamilton Orata, former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga, County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe, businessman Jared Kiasa, Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori and former Maseno School principal Paul Otula.

Speaking in the county on Wednesday, Wanga said her rivals and people who do not mean well for her political ambitions are propagating the rumours.

The lawmaker expressed confidence that with the support of residents, she will overcome the challenges and capture the governor seat.

Speaking when he announced his entry into the race, Kidero stated: “I have been approached by locals as one of their sons to vie for the seat. It is something I am considering very seriously.”