Peter Ogola, who until early December served as the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Housing and Physical Planning, has moved to the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kisumu, challenging what he terms as an unlawful and politically motivated dismissal.
The lawsuit places the county administration under renewed scrutiny, coming amid growing divisions within the local leadership triggered by the by-election that exposed cracks in party loyalty among senior officials.
Court documents indicate that Ogola’s dismissal occurred in the aftermath of the Kasipul by-election, in which Governor Wanga actively campaigned for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate, Boyd Were.
However, not all senior county officials publicly supported the governor’s preferred candidate, a development that reportedly angered the county boss.
The by-election further revealed open divisions within the county executive after Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga publicly backed independent candidate Philip Aroko, a move that went against the governor’s political position.
Soon after the polls, Governor Wanga stripped Magwanga of his Agriculture docket and later dismissed Ogola from his position, actions that drew criticism from sections of the political class and civil society groups, who viewed the moves as punitive.
Legal challenge
Through his lawyer, Clifford Obiero, Ogola argues that his removal violated constitutional and statutory safeguards governing public service employment.
In affidavits filed in court, Ogola states that he was neither given reasons for his dismissal nor accorded a fair hearing before being sent home.
According to court filings, Ogola was dismissed through an executive order dated December 1, 2025, followed by a letter dated December 2.
However, he claims the letter was only delivered to him on December 21, more than three weeks later, and demanded his immediate handover of office.
Ogola further told the court that he first learned of his dismissal through social media on December 22, a day before he was formally served with the termination letter.
“The dismissal was abrupt, lacked justification and was carried out without affording the petitioner an opportunity to be heard, in violation of the Constitution,” his lawyer stated in court papers.
The former executive told the court that his removal has had serious personal and financial consequences.
He disclosed that he earned a monthly salary of Sh413,079, which he said was his family’s sole source of income.
Ogola argued that the loss of income would cause immediate hardship and destabilise his family, adding that the damage could not be adequately remedied through monetary compensation if the court were to rule in his favour at a later stage.
He also maintained that during his tenure, no disciplinary concerns, integrity issues or adverse audit findings had ever been raised against him.
Justice Nzioki wa Makau certified the matter as urgent and issued interim orders restraining Governor Wanga, the County Government of Homa Bay and County Secretary Bernard Muok from removing Ogola from office or interfering with his functions pending the hearing of the case.
The court scheduled the matter for inter partes hearing on January 19, 2026.
The legal battle comes against the backdrop of Governor Wanga’s recent public warnings to county officials she accused of working against her administration.
The governor has previously stated that she would not tolerate disloyalty within her government, arguing that unity and discipline were essential for effective service delivery.
Ogola argued that the loss of income would cause immediate hardship and destabilise his family, adding that the damage could not be adequately remedied through monetary compensation if the court were to rule in his favour at a later stage.
He also maintained that during his tenure, no disciplinary concerns, integrity issues or adverse audit findings had ever been raised against him.
Justice Nzioki wa Makau certified the matter as urgent and issued interim orders restraining Governor Wanga, the County Government of Homa Bay and County Secretary Bernard Muok from removing Ogola from office or interfering with his functions pending the hearing of the case.
The court scheduled the matter for inter partes hearing on January 19, 2026.
The legal battle comes against the backdrop of Governor Wanga’s recent public warnings to county officials she accused of working against her administration.
The governor has previously stated that she would not tolerate disloyalty within her government, arguing that unity and discipline were essential for effective service delivery.
She warned that officials unwilling to align with her leadership agenda should step aside.
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