Reports from local news agency Western Insight, Homa Bay County Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga survived an attempted assassination at his rural home in Kasipul last night.
According to Mr. Samwel Owida, the Head of Communication at the Deputy Governor’s office, Magwanga narrowly escaped the attack by what he described as the grace of God.
Owida said that Magwanga had left his home at around 6.30 pm to go to his farm in Sikri village. While he was away, he received information that suspicious individuals had been seen around his home, raising fears of a planned attack.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and her deputy Joseph Oyugi Magwanga during a past meeting. PHOTO | COURTESY
Based on this information, Magwanga decided not to return home the usual way.
Instead of using his official car and normal route, he switched vehicles and took an alternative route, reaching home safely by 8.00 pm without drawing attention.
His official vehicle, which was sent separately, was ambushed just 30 meters from his gate. This confirmed the earlier fears that someone was waiting to attack him, assuming he would return in his government-issued vehicle.
Owida explained that the security team had been alerted about a possible ambush, so they were prepared. When the official vehicle approached the gate, a gunshot was fired at it. The security personnel responded immediately, and a gunfight broke out that lasted for several minutes.
No one was injured during the shootout, but the suspects managed to escape into a nearby river. The deputy governor’s security team later went to Oyugis Police Station and recorded a statement.
Senior security officials from Rachuonyo South visited Magwanga’s home and have been investigating the scene since the incident, hoping to collect useful evidence. Owida added that Magwanga is not in a position to speculate on why someone would want to kill him. He instead called upon the police to carry out proper investigations and arrest the people behind the incident.
This attempted assassination comes just days after the shocking murder of Kasipul MP Charles Ongondo Were, who was gunned down along Ngong Road. Police investigations into Ongondo’s murder have already led to the arrest of several people, including his driver, his security officer, a director at the Lake Basin Development Authority named Dave Kalo, and a politician called Philip Aroko. Ongondo had been elected as Kasipul MP in 2017 after Magwanga chose to run for governor against then incumbent Cyprian Awiti.
With these two violent incidents happening so close together, residents of Homa Bay are now demanding answers and calling for increased protection of public officials in the area.
