By Habil Onyango
Homa Bay County Assembly established a ward projects initiative aimed at transforming grassroots developments and bringing essential services closer to residents.
The focus of these ward projects varies according to the unique needs of each community, often encompassing infrastructure development such as road construction, water and sanitation projects, health centres, schools, and agricultural initiatives.
These projects are typically initiated through community consultations and are overseen by the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for the respective ward. This structure promotes local development plans tailored to each of the county’s 40 wards, allowing MCAs to identify specific grassroots needs and secure funding in the budget to ensure equitable distribution of county resources.
Project identification involves public participation, where residents attend local meetings to voice their ward’s most pressing needs. These needs are then recorded in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).
The County Assembly (MCAs) is responsible for approving the budget, after which the County Executive advertises tenders, hires contractors, and begins construction.
For the Financial Year 2024/2025, Homa Bay County allocated approximately KSh960 million towards ward-based projects, translating to about KSh24 million per ward across all 40 wards.
A report from the Department of Legislative and Committee Services of the County Assembly of Homa Bay noted that while ward projects have significantly contributed to local development and service delivery, they have also encountered challenges such as limited funding, political interference, capacity constraints, and cases of mismanagement.
“Nonetheless, they remain a critical tool for fostering inclusive development and empowering local communities in Kenya,” stated Committee Chairperson Sophy Koweje, who is also the Lambwe MCA.
“Over the years, Homa Bay County has implemented numerous ward-based projects focusing on education, water, sanitation, infrastructure, and climate resilience,” she added.
The report highlighted several successes, noting that the county has constructed Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres, enhanced water supply systems, improved marketplaces, increased accessibility, and built sanitation facilities across various wards.
Furthermore, according to the report, the Department of Public Health and Medical Services was allocated KSh120 million for ward project implementation across the county, with each ward receiving a budgetary allocation of KSh3 million for FY 2024/2025. It is important to note that the projects carried out during this financial year were rolled over from FY 2023/2024.
The department reported 11 completed projects, 11 projects requiring a change of scope and subsequent retendering, five projects to be retendered, two projects abandoned, one facility supplied with assorted medical equipment, nine ongoing projects, and one facility that had not received medical equipment.
Some notable projects facing challenges include the proposed construction of the Wikondiek Laboratory in Kanyaluo Ward, which had a change of scope and had not yet started by the time of the visit. The proposed construction of the Homa Line Maternity Block in West Karachuonyo Ward, the completion of the Kijawa staff house, and the renovation of the Koduogo Health Centre also needed retendering or a change of scope and had not yet commenced by the time of the visit.
Additionally, the report indicated that the Sports, Youth, Talent Development, and Gender Department was allocated KSh40 million, translating to KSh1 million per ward for upgrading 40 ward playfields. However, the committee reported that no projects had been tendered by the time of the visit.
“It is noteworthy that the projects implemented in the financial year under review were rolled over from FY 2023/2024,” the committee reiterated.
“The KSh1,000,000 allocated per ward was inadequate, and we recommend that the Bill of Quantities be reviewed to accommodate a pavilion and fencing,” the committee noted.
According to the report, this revision would attract an additional KSh495,065 per ward, which the department requested to be incorporated into the supplementary budget for FY 2025/2026.
Furthermore, the Committee directed that public lands be identified for construction, emphasising that the Department should avoid constructing on institutional lands, as this may lead to future conflicts regarding management and ownership.
The Water, Irrigation, Sanitation, Environment, Energy, Forestry, and Climate Change Department was allocated KSh140 million for the implementation of ward projects across the county, with each ward having a budgetary allocation of KSh3.5 million for FY 2023.
During the site visits, the committee observed that the projects implemented in the financial year under review had been rolled over from FY 2023/2024. The department reported a total of 25 completed projects, including four boreholes that have been drilled but are awaiting solar installation, four ongoing projects, and five projects that are in the retendering stage. One project was terminated while another project had stalled.
The committee noted 26 completed projects, one incomplete project, three stalled projects, and six projects that had not started. Additionally, there was one dry borehole located in Kanyamwa Kosewe Ward, and another site in Arujo Ward was abandoned.
Furthermore, the committee found that out of the 101 projects planned for implementation by the Departments of Trade, Industry, Tourism, Cooperative Development, and Marketing, 77 projects were completed, 17 had not started, and one was stalled. They also reported concerns about a boda boda shade at Osodo in Gembe Ward, which had not been constructed to standard.
They noted five ongoing projects, one incomplete project, a boda boda shade at Sofia that was built on the wrong side, and the boda boda shade at Junction Dalawa in Arujo Ward, which was demolished to allow for the construction of a dual carriageway.
The department reported awarding 82 road projects in the Roads, Transport, Public Works, and Infrastructure ward-based status report for 2024-2025. Out of these, 51 projects were ongoing while 31 had not yet started.
According to the committee’s findings, the department successfully completed eight projects, while 30 projects were yet to start and 51 remained ongoing. Five projects were reported as stalled. It was noted that the Adega-Nyasore road was not a ward project as indicated; the actual ward project should have been the Kajakongo box culvert.
Observations:
The committee identified notable inconsistencies between departmental reports and the actual status of projects on the ground, as confirmed by Members of County Assembly (MCAs).
“The presentation of projects remained low in most departments, mainly due to the accumulation of pending bills by the County Government entities, particularly those departments implementing ward projects,” the report states.
“This situation has led to contractor apathy, as contractors have lost trust in the government’s ability to pay existing pending and current bills,” the committee observed.
Additionally, they noted that the procurement processes for most projects were initiated and started late, resulting in the completion of only a few projects within the intended timelines.
The committee also acknowledged that several contractors abandoned project sites or failed to return after contract awards, leading to stalled projects. Weak project supervision and monitoring contributed to poor workmanship, delayed completion, and substandard implementation of projects.
