Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has dismissed claims of a strained relationship with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, saying she remains committed to working with her despite their differing political interests and strong personalities.
Odhiambo said she had no personal differences with Wanga and maintained that she had supported the governor, including within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), amid public speculation about their relationship.
The legislator acknowledged that building a working relationship between the two leaders had not always been easy, attributing the challenges partly to their strong personalities and different approaches to politics.
“I would like us to work together with Gladys Wanga, but sometimes what we want does not go well. I have personally tried. It is like putting two bulls in one pen. I think it is because we are both tough,” Odhiambo said.
She described Wanga as a strong woman, adding that their differences should not necessarily be interpreted as personal animosity.
Odhiambo also dismissed suggestions that she was interested in competing with Wanga for the Homa Bay governorship, saying her political ambitions had always been focused on the national stage rather than county leadership.
“Secondly, I have never wanted to be governor since I joined politics, and I will not want to. It has never been my interest. My interests are at the national level, not the county,” she stated.
The Suba North MP said she believed some of their supporters had contributed to perceptions of a fallout by creating divisions between the two leaders.
She urged them to stop fuelling rivalry and instead allow Wanga to concentrate on her responsibilities as governor while continuing to strengthen the ODM party.
“There have been some of our supporters putting us against each other, but generally, she is a good lady. Let her just work and continue strengthening the party,” she said.
The remarks come amid speculation over the relationship between the two influential ODM politicians, whose political influence extends beyond their respective leadership positions in Homa Bay County.
Their relationship is significant within ODM, where unity among senior leaders remains important in maintaining the party's political influence in the region.
Odhiambo's comments appear to signal a willingness to maintain cordial relations with Wanga while acknowledging that differences in personality and political interests may complicate cooperation.
She maintained that she was not seeking a county-level political contest with the governor, calling for an end to divisions among their supporters and greater focus on party unity and leadership responsibilities.
