Governor Wanga urges peace ahead of planned Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay

Speaking on Wednesday at a rally in Kabondo Kasipul, Wanga struck a peacemaking tone despite the sharp political rhetoric that had characterised much of her address, affirming that freedom of movement and expression remained a core ODM value regardless of political differences. .

"Anybody is free to tour any part of this country," she said. "Anybody is free to sell whatever they want to any part of this country."

The Governor was, however, clear that hospitality would not translate into a shift in political loyalty. She told the crowd that ODM's position in the region was settled no matter how frequently rival leaders visited.

"You can tour these places, you can tour them 5 times, you can come back 7 times, you can come back 20 times," she said.

Her comments come with the Linda Mwananchi Faction set to hold a rally in Homa Bay County on August 16, 2026, a development that has heightened attention on how the region's political temperature will be managed in the lead-up to the event.

Turning her attention to the county's youth, Wanga appealed for restraint and warned against any political violence as campaign activity intensifies. "Let us not fight. Let us not shed blood. Let us not fight each other. We are one family," she said.

She urged residents to let visiting politicians address their gatherings without confrontation, framing tolerance as a shared responsibility rather than a concession to rivals. "Mtu akikuja, wacha aseme mambo yake. Akimaliza, wacha aende. Usiku atafanya nini? Atalala," she said, drawing applause from the crowd.

The Governor's remarks come moments after tension gripped Homa Bay Town on Tuesday after a group of youths staged a protest demanding the release of their leader and five others arrested in connection with an assault on the Linda Mwananchi county team and human rights activist Evance Oloo Gor. Business premises within the town were reported closed as the protest unfolded, with residents and traders keeping off the streets amid the standoff.