President William Ruto recently made new appointments across various parastatals and state bodies to enhance government efficiency including George Wanga, husband of Homabay Governor Gladys Wanga.
George was appointed to be the non-executive chairperson of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for a three-year term, replacing Jackson Boma Ojwang whose second term under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appointment was revoked.
His appointment is highly attributed to Kenya Kwanza’s broad-based approach of administration which includes the inclusion of Raila Odinga’s allies in governance.
George who is in his mid-40s, has a background in finance, having studied banking at Kenyatta University where he met Gladys during their undergraduate programs.
The first gentleman prefers a private life away from the media but occasionally makes appearances in public appearances such as the spouse of the governor such as her swearing-in ceremony.
George first gained public attention during the 2017 electoral campaigns where he blatantly opposed his wife’s choice of governor.
Gladys was backing Cyprian Awiti who was the ODM candidate at the time and was seeking to defend his seat, while George was rooting for an independent candidate Oyugi Magwanga.
George was against party politics at the time, asking candidates to vote based on qualifications which was contrary to his wife’s view.
He would attend Magwanga’s rallies, boosting his popularity across the county while Gladys struggled to rally the massses behind her, as it seemed that she had failed to unite her family to support a single candidate.
The rift between the two deepened as election day approached and the county boss and her husband would air their differences publicly.
Despite the vigorous campain by George and Magwanga, Gladys was able to ensure ODM got all parliamentary, Senate and governor seats.
In 2022 however, the couple reunited with a goal in mind, to clinch the gubernatorial seat. Gladys publicly assured her electorate that she was in good terms with her husband, and during the entirety of the campaign season, he tagged along at most of her rallies.
Before his appointment to the EPRA chairmanship, the father of two ran his family’s personal businesses.
