Gladys Wanga has broken her silence after controversial remarks by James Orengo, accusing the veteran politician of using words that humiliated her and reflected the wider mistreatment women face in leadership.
In an emotional open letter released Thursday, the Homa Bay governor said she was responding not as a county boss or ODM chairperson, but “simply as Gladys: daughter, mother, wife, and a woman.”
The strongly worded statement comes amid growing political tensions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), where divisions have recently emerged over party leadership and regional influence.
Although Wanga did not directly repeat Orengo’s remarks, she described them as painful, dismissive, and damaging — particularly because they came from a leader she had long admired.
“I have always held you in immense respect,” Wanga wrote.
“To many of us who entered public life after your generation, you have represented courage, conviction, and the possibility of principled leadership.”
The governor revealed that she initially chose not to respond publicly, believing that not every political disagreement deserved public confrontation. However, she said the issue evolved into something larger than personal politics.
“That is perhaps why they hurt,” she stated.
“Not because political criticism is unfamiliar to me, nor because public office exempts one from scrutiny, but because certain expressions carry weight beyond politics.”
Wanga argued that remarks perceived as belittling women leaders reinforce harmful attitudes that many women endure daily in workplaces, politics, and society.
“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 wrote.
“They become an echo familiar to millions of women and girls who have endured various forms of gender-based violence, exclusion, intimidation, and dismissal.”
The governor said many women in leadership are often pressured to “speak more softly, lead smaller, occupy less space, or defer,” simply because they are women.
Her remarks have since sparked widespread debate online, with supporters praising her for addressing what they termed as sexism and generational intimidation in Kenyan politics, while critics argued the dispute risked deepening divisions within ODM.
Political observers say the fallout highlights growing friction inside the party as leaders position themselves for influence in the post-Raila Odinga era.
In the letter, Wanga defended her support for Oburu Oginga, insisting his leadership position was attained democratically through party delegates.
“Our region deserves leadership that inspires hope, not needless turf wars with a girl the age of your daughter,” she wrote.
Despite the criticism, Wanga struck a conciliatory tone toward Orengo, whom she repeatedly described as a senior and respected elder.
“I therefore choose forgiveness. I was humbled just as I was humiliated,” she stated.
She further called for dialogue, reflection, and mutual respect among leaders, saying political disagreements should never come at the expense of human dignity.
The Homa Bay governor concluded her letter with a quote from Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, warning against silencing women through humiliation.
“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced,” Wanga quoted.
“Please, do not silence our voices through humiliation.”
The exchange has now triggered intense political discussion across social media, with many Kenyans debating the treatment of women in politics, respect for senior leaders, and the growing succession battles within ODM.
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