By Team
For a long time, Homa Bay residents have been treated to politics of rhetoric over development, and now with the fallout between Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, tough questions have emerged.
The battle has shifted from the politics of zoning to accountability and transparency over the Sh8 billion that had been earmarked for development for the last four years in the county from the development fund.
Millie threw the challenge to Wanga to table her development projects and said she must stop posting national government projects as county government projects.
Millie said she was ready for a comparative analysis of her NG-CDF projects against Wanga’s county government projects.
She said they will not allow projects implemented by the national government, NGOs, and other development partners to be counted as projects of Wanga’s administration.
“We will not allow projects by NGOs or the National Government to be paraded as County projects or NGCDF projects. So do not put a photo of the Homa Bay Fish Market, the Homa Bay Stadium, or any other. Those are projects done by the National Government. The CEO of the National Government is President Ruto,” she said.
Millie said it was time the people of Homa Bay spoke openly about development and not political rhetoric.
“I have seen people have moved to the topic I wanted to bring next week on development, so we shall start village to village. NGCDF vs County Funds,” she said.
Wanga battles PS Omollo over national government projects
In the recent past, the people of Homa Bay and the country have been treated to a battle over national government development projects in the county.
Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo, ahead of the Madaraka Day celebration held in Homa Bay last year, credited President Ruto for turning the fortunes of the once sleepy town.
Omollo said the decision to hold the fete in Homa Bay County was part of a broader national trajectory of inclusivity in development, regional empowerment, and strategic recognition of untapped potential.
Omollo said the presence of the President and other dignitaries was to open and accelerate Homa Bay County, attract investors, boost infrastructure development, and unlock tourism and trade potential for the future.
He said Homa Bay town, which previously had modest infrastructure, has been elevated into a national hub capable of hosting one of the country’s national public holidays.
“Homa Bay town has witnessed comprehensive infrastructural upgrades, and the plan to prepare the town for its historic role is on schedule,” he said.
Omollo said the transformation has resulted in a fully modernized Raila Odinga Stadium, upgraded road networks in the town, rehabilitation of Kabunde Airstrip, improved public facilities, and a rejuvenated waterfront.
“At the Raila Odinga Stadium, the government expanded the stadium capacity and upgraded its facilities, ensuring it meets national ceremonial standards for the event. The seating has been increased to accommodate 20,000 spectators, while the construction of terraces, roofing of pavilions, and installation of security features will ensure safety and comfort for all guests,” he said.
He said the stadium will have a media zone, emergency exits, floodlights, and modern parade grounds, making it suitable for sports tournaments, regional events, and national state functions.
Omollo said the government, in a bid to improve access to the venue and general transport in the area, is implementing upgrades of roads, with more than 35 kilometres of roads under construction or rehabilitation within the town and its outskirts.
“The roads include a 1.2km ceremonial road from the pier to the stadium, a 2km road connecting Arujo to the stadium, 10.8km of urban roads being improved, and rural link roads including Wahamba-Imbo (11km) and Ruga-Lala (12km) being murramed and upgraded to improve public access,” he said.
Omollo said at Kabunde Airstrip, which will serve as the landing point for dignitaries, various works are ongoing, including the building of a modern terminal with check-in counters, waiting lounges, secure exits, and VIP holding areas.
Omollo said the county’s Commissioner’s residence was being upgraded to host a state garden party, which includes landscaping, internal renovation, new sanitation systems, and raising of the perimeter wall.
Omollo said for the first time in history, Homa Bay will have a mini state lodge; the temporary presidential residence will house the Head of State and serve as the Presidential luncheon for the event.
“The government is rehabilitating the Homa Bay pier, once a neglected transport hub on Lake Victoria. The rehabilitation of the pier is intended to reintroduce Homa Bay as an important player in the water transport ecosystem,” he said.
But Wanga argued that through her lobbying with President Ruto, the projects should also be credited to her.
“I have been in the forefront of lobbying for these projects. Why didn’t we have these projects in the previous regime?” she said.
Ward-based development projects
Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) of Homa Bay could face voter backlash over multimillion water-based development projects.
Ahead of this year’s financial year, the MCAs stared at the reality of failure to have actualized the ward-based projects.
According to a report by the Assembly Ward Projects Committee on the status of ward projects for the FY 2024/2025, the MCAs are exposed over failure to implement the projects as was stipulated in the budget.
In the report, the Department of Roads, Public Works, Transport and Infrastructure was allocated Sh400 million for the implementation of ward projects across the county, which translated to Sh10 million per ward.
The department reported that the road inventory and condition survey exercise had been completed and the final report compiled, and that the cabinet approved all the projects, which were at the tender document preparation stage.
The committee observed that all the projects were awaiting the preparation of tender documents; therefore, there was no project status report.
In the Health Department, it was allocated Sh120 million for the implementation of ward projects across the county, with each ward having a budgetary allocation of Sh3 million.
The department reported that 33 projects had been awarded, three were not responsive, four were completed, one document was not returned, and two facilities were to be supplied with assorted medical equipment.
The committee observed that six projects were completed, 20 projects were yet to be started, 10 projects were work in progress, three projects were not responsive, and two facilities were awaiting supply and delivery of assorted medical equipment.
The Department of Youth, Sports, Gender Inclusivity, Cultural Heritage and Social Services was allocated Sh40 million for ward projects for the upgrading of 40 playfields.
The department listed 40 playgrounds to be upgraded and reported that no project had been tendered for and no work had commenced.
The committee found that there was no tendering done, and so there was no project status report from the department.
The committee’s general findings revealed late commencement of procurement processes for the implementation of most ward projects, leading to failure to actualize them.
Some projects had been completed, and others were work in progress, as was reported by the Department of Health and Medical Services. This was in tandem with Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
There was work in progress in the implementation of ward projects by the Department of Health and Medical Services, with a considerable number of projects about to be completed.
Other departments, such as Roads, Transport, Public Works and Infrastructure, and Youth, Sports, Gender Inclusivity, Cultural Heritage and Social Services, gave no report on the status of project implementation.
This was occasioned by a sluggish procurement process, which is contrary to the dictates of Articles 56 and 174 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
But Wanga said the projects had been advertised and would be rolled out.
“Upgrade is labour-based, so no advertisement is needed. It is similar to ‘Ondoa Kaunda’ we undertook for ECDE classroom constructions,” she said.
The clock is ticking fast, and with the changing alliances and demand for accountability, the battle for the gubernatorial seat in Homa Bay may be settled on the altar of development and ideology, not party affiliation.
