By Anderson Ojwang
After decades of marginalization by successive governments, Homa Bay the county of endless potential is rising.
The sleeping economic dinosaur is waking up from the slumber that had caused the country to gain negative publicity from fish for sex to the ravages of HIV/Aids.
Homa Bay County became a soft punching bag for the media where developmental stories were given a wide berth or never existed to negative stories that depicted and created a wrong perception of the region.
The birthplace of Kenya’s freedom fighter and the first minister of Economic planning the late Tom Joseph Mboya, Homa Bay can be arguably said as the grain basket of Nyanza.
It sits next to the world’s second fresh lake, Lake Victoria and is blessed with various tourism destinations, that are yet to be exploited for economic gain.
Despite Homa Bay being the aorta of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, and voted 92 per cent for Raila in the last presidential election, President William Ruto opted to rewrite the story of the region.
President Ruto has found a home and comfort in Homa Bay where he has appointed two sons to the key positions in his government.
In the key positions are cabinet Secretary for Treasury Mr. John Mbadi and Internal Security and National admiration Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo.
Apart from the key appointments, President Ruto is waking up the county of potential with multi-billion development projects, the region has not witnessed for the last 62 years.
Dr Omollo said President Ruto’s developmental overtures to Homa Bay county are genuine with good intentions to open up the region for economic growth.
“President Ruto means well for Hoima Bay County. We have several projects that have been rolled out by the national government and they have so far reaching important in the region and nationally,” he said.
Dr Omollo named key projects to include the construction of Kendu-Bay Water Supply and Sanitation at accost of Sh 673,929,361.
Which will go a long way in addressing the endemic water problem in the two sun counties of North and West Rachuonyo.
The project status is 100 per cent complete and is only awaiting Commissioning by the President.
He said the national government was constructing the County Aggregation and industrial park for Sh 498, 338,151 and the works are at 30% and ongoing.
“The National Government is constructing a modern fish Market at Homabay -Koginga Beach at a cost of Sh 345, 855,837 and is 80% Complete. This will be a milestone for the fishing sector,” he said.
Similarly at Tom Mboya University, the national government is constructing the Administration and Lecture Hall Block at a cost: of 1,230,818,806 and is 98 percent complete.
Dr Omollo said the tarmacking of the Rusinga Loop Ring Road is 95 per cent and cost Sh 1, 285,157,005 and will open the region for economic activities.
“The construction of Mbita-Sindo-Kiabuya-Karungu-Agolo Muok Road. 74km is on course at a cost of Sh:2, 293,206.091.56 and is being implemented by KURA. Already, 11.4 km has been tarmacked, which accounts for 20 per cent,” he said.
The road had stalled for several years and was constantly used as a campaign chip by politicians and subsequent regimes.
He said the tarmacking of the Mfangano Ring which is 53 km for Sh 299, 871,526.50 is complete awaiting launching.
“The government is constructing an affordable Housing project of 110 units in number with 30 studio apartments, 1 Bedroom: 40 units, 2 bedrooms: 38 units, shops/studio 2 units. The project is costing Sh. 227, 010,01 and is 90 percent complete,” he said.
Homa Bay town suffers from an acute shortage of housing and most of the houses are made of dilapidated mabati structures.
The rehabilitation of Homa-Bay Pier by Kenya Ports Authority is 80 per cent complete for Sh 600M while the constriction of construction of Homa-County Headquarters, at a cost of Sh:57, 000,000.00 is 60 per cent complete and is being implemented by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
Dr Omollo said the construction of the Deputy County Commissioner’s headquarters at Kabunde, Homabay Sub County for Sh 29M, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration is 85 per cent complete and the works are ongoing.
” We are constructing Rangwe Sub County Headquarters at a cost of 41, 063,450.00 and is implemented by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. The status: is at 97 percent complete.
Ongoing we have the Oyugis water supply and sanitation at a cost of Sh 1, 370,000,000. Completed and currently being used by the community,” he said.
Dr Omollo said the government was constructing several markets namely Rodi Kopany and Kendu bay at a cost of Sh 118, 398,480 and are 73 per cent complete.
Others are Misambi Esp Market for Sh 60M, Lwanda, Sindo and Ndhiwa at a total cost of Sh 174, 438,830.
Also being constructed are Kobodo and Kijebi markets at a cost of Sh 97, 003,520 while Ratanga Market is costing 25M.
‘‘We have Upgraded of power supply to Referral Hospital from 315 kva to 630 Kva at a cost of Sh 7.8, million and Last mile connectivity in all 11 Sub counties at 88,000,000.00. They are 80% design stage and 70% complete.
We envisage to have universal Health connectivity for all level 4 hospitals at Sh 105M and is 15% complete,” he said.
Dr Omollo said the government was establishing of power station at Kiabuya at Sh144M and the project was on course. And that 375 groups have benefitted from Uwezp funds amounting to Sh 11,445,000.00
He said from the Youth Development Enterprise funds 42 groups have received Sh 11,900,000 while 808 groups of Persons with disabilities {Pwds} have received 8,080,000. OPTC 31316 KES 313160,000.00
