Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has defended the county’s infrastructure record, saying poor roads highlighted during the Linda Mwananchi tour reflect decades of underdevelopment rather than a failure of the current county administration.
Wanga said the condition of roads in parts of Homa Bay County was a long-standing problem linked to historical marginalisation that had affected several regions since independence.
“The dust on the Mbita–Sindo–Kiabuya–Sori corridor tells a story. But it is not the story of a people who have failed. It is the story of a region that has waited far too long for the infrastructure required to unlock its potential,” she said.
Her remarks followed the Linda Mwananchi tour of Homa Bay, during which poor road conditions in parts of Suba South attracted public attention.
Wanga points to historical neglect
The governor said the road network had been neglected under successive governments and argued that the responsibility could not be placed solely on the current administration.
She cited the Mbita road as an example, saying the 74 kilometre road was first awarded in 2016 but stalled after only 7km had been completed.
“It was re-awarded in 2020 and again saw little progress. In the last two years, 28km have so far been tarmacked, with works currently ongoing,” Wanga said.
She also argued that major trunk roads could not be addressed through county governments or the Constituency Development Fund.
The governor linked the wider infrastructure deficit to what she described as historical economic marginalisation affecting parts of Nyanza, Western Kenya, the Coast, Turkana and Maasailand.
She said devolution had given counties greater control over development and provided a constitutional mechanism for addressing regional inequalities.
Wanga lists ongoing projects
Wanga said Homa Bay had seen increased government investment in roads and other infrastructure in recent years.
She listed ongoing projects along the Mbita, Sindo, Kiabuya and Sori corridor, as well as road works covering areas including Rangwe, Ramba, Kadel, Rusinga and Mfangano.
Other projects cited include the Homa Bay Pier, Modern Fish Market, Raila Odinga Stadium, Emergency Support Programme markets and the Rusinga and Mfangano road projects.
Wanga urged residents not to be discouraged by the criticism that followed the Linda Mwananchi tour.
“The dust is real. The historical deficit is real. But so is the transformation now underway,” she said.
She called on residents to judge the government’s current infrastructure projects alongside the county’s longer history of underdevelopment.
