In the letter, titled “REFLECTION, DIGNITY, AND THE PLACE OF WOMEN IN OUR PUBLIC LIFE,” Wanga said she was speaking in her personal capacity rather than in her official roles.
She described herself as “Gladys: daughter, mother, wife, and a woman who, like many others, continues to navigate leadership in spaces that often demand strength while offering little grace.”
She opened the correspondence with the line:
“OPEN LETTER TO H.E. HON JAMES ORENGO, SC, GOVERNOR, SIAYA COUNTY”
Addressing him directly, she wrote:
“Dear Governor Orengo (My Father),”
Wanga said she had taken time before responding, explaining that she initially chose silence out of principle and a belief that not every disagreement requires a public response.
However, she noted that some moments demand reflection because of the broader meaning they carry beyond the individuals involved.
“I have reflected deeply on the remarks you recently made concerning me,” she wrote, adding that while she has long accepted political criticism as part of public service, certain expressions carry a deeper emotional and cultural weight.
She also recalled the respect she has held for Orengo over the years, describing him as a figure many younger leaders look up to for guidance and inspiration.
She said she had always regarded him with esteem and, in many ways, a fatherly respect shaped by his long-standing presence in public life.
Wanga further observed that words spoken by senior leaders have influence beyond immediate political debate, noting that they help shape societal attitudes and norms.
She warned that when remarks directed at women carry undertones that diminish or ridicule them based on gender, age, or position, they extend beyond the individual and affect wider public perception.
She added that while politics is often described as a harsh environment, she did not expect discourse to lose its civility through personal expressions that may be perceived as undermining dignity.
According to her, respectful engagement remains essential, especially among leaders who serve as role models in society.