Gladys Wanga

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Gladys Atieno Wanga (born 7 March 1981) is a Kenyan politician who has been the Governor of Homa Bay County since August 2022. She is the first woman to govern the Western Region and one of seven female governors elected in the 2022 general election. Before becoming governor, she served as the County Woman Representative for Homa Bay County from August 2017 to August 2022.

Wanga was born in Kisumu and grew up in a political family; her father, John Nyasuna, was a councilor in Kisumu. She attended Kisumu Girls High School, where she was once suspended for protesting. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health Management (2004) and a Master’s degree in Health Management (2012) from Kenyatta University. While at Kenyatta University, she became the first female General Secretary of the Kenyatta University Students’ Union.

Her career includes roles as a Program Manager at the Kenyan Trust for African Rock Art (and later at Trust for Africa Art) and at Liverpool VCT Care and Treatment. In Parliament, she was a member of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.

She is married to George Wanga, a former non-Executive Chairperson of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Wanga is a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). She took office as Governor on 25 August 2022, succeeding Cyprian Awiti.