Governor Wanga defends development track record

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has defended her development track record and told off critics, saying that they were propagandists out to malign her administration for selfish reasons.

Speaking at the County Assembly during the state of the county address, Wanga said her administration had done a lot of development projects with the county budget.

“Some people are just spreading propaganda that my administration has not done much in terms of development, but those are pure lies; we have done a lot in the three years we have been in office and merit reelection,” Wanga said.

She said the projects are aimed at transforming the lives of the people.

She said she found a county that was doing badly in maternal and child mortality, water provision, own source revenue collection and other sectors.

“We have crafted our vision of transformation to make the county the best place to live, work and invest in,” Wanga said.

She outlined a number of projects her administration had done in all of Homa Bay County’s 40 wards.

The projects included the expansion and strengthening of the road network, in which 736 kilometres of new roads were opened, while 538 kilometres of existing roads received routine and periodic maintenance to ensure they were motorable.

“At least 116 kilometres of targeted access roads were rehabilitated to connect schools, health facilities, markets, and beaches,” Wanga said.

On water and sanitation, Wanga said five major rural water schemes had been rehabilitated.

They included Sindo in Kaksingri West Ward, Ramula in Kabondo West Ward, West Karachuonyo in West Karachuonyo Ward, Kochia/Ngegu in Kochia Ward, and Ndhiwa in Kanyamwa Kosewe Ward.

“These rehabilitations, together with 121 ward-based community water projects implemented across all 40 wards and 52 new water points, have brought reliable, safe water closer to households, thereby reducing the burden on women and supporting year-round domestic and agricultural needs,” she said.

Wanga said her administration had strengthened health infrastructure across the county.

"A strong health system begins with a strong workforce. We are at the tail end of onboarding 79 new health workers across all cadres. These recruitments will boost staffing levels, reduce workload pressure on existing staff, improve service delivery and ensure timely health care in our facilities,” she added.

She said they had also rehabilitated five markets, including Nyakwere, Oyugis, Nyatoto, Ouru and Pala.

“We completed 191 ward-based trade projects that include fencing, solar lighting, access roads, pit latrines and boda boda sheds that transform trading centres into safer, cleaner and dignified economic spaces,” Wanga added.

Homa Bay county Assembly Majority Leader Richard Ogindo hailed Wanga for her efforts.

"The Governor has shown that the projects are not mere public relations but reality,” Ogindo said.