Wanga Goes After KTN, Standard Over Homa Bay Violence Reports

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has lodged a formal complaint with the Media Council of Kenya over reports by KTN and The Standard concerning the events of August 16, 2026, accusing the media outlets of publishing defamatory and unverified allegations.

In a complaint dated Monday, September 7, Wanga said the KTN broadcast aired on September 6 and the subsequent Standard newspaper report published on September 7 created a false impression about her character and the integrity of the office she serves.

The governor said her objection was not to legitimate media scrutiny, arguing that she supports accountability and open public discourse. 

However, Wanga accused the two media outlets of failing to uphold basic journalistic standards in their coverage of the violence.

Wanga questioned a front-page photograph published by The Standard showing an armed individual wielding a machete. 

She identified the man as Nicholas Odhiambo Onyando, whom she said is a Siaya County employee serving as a revenue officer in Akala.

Wanga argued that the presence of an armed officer from a neighbouring county at the scene indicated that external agents were involved in the conflict, and accused the media of misleadingly using the incident to implicate her administration.

"Furthermore, despite my office providing a clear and substantive response to these grave claims, KTN failed to reflect it adequately or fairly in its broadcast, effectively denying me my right of reply.

"My position on the events of 16 August 2026 has been unequivocal and consistent: I unreservedly condemn violence and intimidation in all forms, affirm that every Kenyan has a constitutional right to visit Homa Bay and engage in peaceful assembly, and maintain that the truth must be established through impartial, evidence-based investigation," she wrote.

Wanga cited sections of the Media Council Act, arguing that the Media Council of Kenya has a statutory responsibility to enforce the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism.

She accused KTN and The Standard of failing to independently verify serious allegations, marginalising her office's response and airing prejudicial material while the matter remains under official investigation.

"I request the Council to exercise its statutory authority to review this broadcast against the Code of Conduct, direct KTN and the Standard Newspaper to issue an immediate, prominent retraction and unconditional apology, and take appropriate disciplinary action. Public discourse on sensitive matters must be anchored in truth and evidence, not speculative character assassination," she added.

Elsewhere, this comes weeks after Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has threatened legal action over the republication of a viral video showing a heated exchange between him and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo.

The video, from a parliamentary debate on the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, captures Kaluma telling Odhiambo that, 'Nobody stops you from getting children, even now,' after the Suba North MP raised concerns over delays in the passage of the Bill.

In a statement on Friday, August 28, Kaluma responded to the recirculation of the clip, saying the video had been republished without context of the debate.

"These proceedings took place last year. Parliament was debating the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill in which Hon. Millie Odhiambo proposed surrogacy for those who can’t conceive naturally. I brought amendments to the Bill, all of which were passed by Parliament.

"On this day, Hon. Millie had claimed that my amendments proposals had delayed and stopped her from getting a child through surrogacy. I responded that laws are made for posterity and that Parliament shouldn’t allow wrong provisions to pass," he said.

Kaluma said he also sought to explain that surrogacy was not prohibited in Kenya at the time, arguing that Odhiambo could still pursue the option even as the Bill was under consideration.

"I also told Millie that nothing stopped her from having a child even now as surrogacy is not prohibited in Kenya, giving the example of Hon. Shabir who had confirmed begetting children through the process even as the Bill was still being considered," he added.

Kaluma accused those republishing the video of presenting the exchange in a misleading manner by omitting the context surrounding the debate.

"It is malicious and defamatory to republish this parliamentary engagement over a year later without providing this context. This has damaged and continues to damage my reputation," he further said.

Kaluma demanded that the video be retracted and that an apology be issued, warning that failure to do so could result in a defamation suit.

"Please retract this and apologise, or face legal action for defamation," he concluded.