"Hawajui uchungu tunasikia": Wanga hits back at claims Homa Bay looks like Yemen

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga addressed a live crowd at the Wikondiek SDA Church Fund Drive on Sunday, 16 August 2026, hitting back at viral comparisons of her county to war-torn Yemen

- The controversy erupted after Linda Mwananchi's political team, led by Babu Owino and Sifuna, visited Homa Bay and were met with fierce resistance from locals

- Videos from the visit sparked a wave of online mockery, with netizens pointing to the state of roads in the region to draw the damaging comparisons

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga took to the microphone at a public church fund drive to confront viral online claims that her county resembles a conflict zone, delivering an impassioned defence of Homa Bay and its residents in front of a live crowd.

The remarks came during the Wikondiek SDA Church Fund Drive held on Sunday, 16 August 2026, in Homa Bay, with footage from the event broadcast live by Ajwang' Junior TV on TikTok.

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Wanga spoke with visible emotion about the pride Homa Bay people should have in their county's trajectory, invoking devolution, the new constitution, and human rights as pillars of progress that have changed lives in marginalised communities.

What triggered the backlash?

The furore began after a delegation from Linda Mwananchi's political outfit, led by prominent politicians Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna, made a campaign visit to Homa Bay and received a hostile reception from alleged goons.

Videos from the visit spread quickly, and netizens were quick to pick apart the visible state of the roads in the region, with many comparing the scenes to footage from Yemen and Afghanistan.

The comparisons stung, and Wanga's response at the church event appeared aimed squarely at those critics, pointing to infrastructure projects including the Lake Victoria Ring Road as evidence that development is moving forward.

She referenced visible progress and urged those outside the county to understand what residents have gone through before passing judgment.

"I saw them laughing at us, saying Homa Bay looks like Yemen. Because of how the roads look like in Suba. They do not know the pain we have been feeling because all these years we have been voting but there was no development that was coming here because we were fighting for this country. That is why we were marginalised. But the road that they were laughing at, is soon being worked on because CS Mbadi has already okay the signature," she said.

Watch the video below:

The clip drew lively debate in the comments section, with opinions split sharply along political lines.

@Green pips said:

"Where did 96 billion go since 2013?"

@YOYA said:

"Exposing you was part of the deal 😜."

@Mickey_G257 said:

"Kanisa si mahali paa siasa elders wa hio church hamna manual."

@jully said:

"The educated will understand her speech."

@steve mgaza memes said:

"Tutam unstoppable."

@Ochieng' Randere Asembo said:

"In iwalo sana."

@AnzimBojongo said:

"Iwalo to devolution is now old enough for development."

@SwiriNyarKanoke said:

"Time to change all that is now."

@Alvin said:

"Wanga anasema ukweli."

The comments reflect the wider tension surrounding the state of infrastructure in Homa Bay and the political contest playing out in the region.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.