Wanga hits back at Sifuna over dusty roads during Linda Mwananchi Homa Bay tour

During her tour of Homa Bay, Governor Gladys Wanga defended her administration's handling of the county's roads, which were brought into sharp focus by images of dusty and poorly constructed roadways during the Linda Mwananchi tour. Wanga argued that the poor condition of the roads should not be used to ridicule Homa Bay residents, but instead should be seen as a story of a region that has waited far too long for the necessary infrastructure to unlock its potential.

She noted that the infrastructure problems facing Homa Bay did not begin under her administration, but rather have been a decades-long issue, with successive national governments failing to address the county's needs since independence. Wanga highlighted the 74-kilometre road from Mbita to Sori, which was first awarded in 2016 under the Uhuru Kenyatta administration, with only 7 kilometres completed before the project stalled due to funding challenges.

The project was re-awarded in 2020, and since then, 28 kilometres have been tarmacked, but construction is still ongoing. Wanga defended the role of devolution in addressing historical development gaps, stating that counties like Homa Bay now have a greater say in their own development priorities. She also invoked the political history of the region, mentioning leaders like Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Tom Mboya who advocated for greater development and political influence for the region.

Her comments come as the condition of Homa Bay's roads has become a fresh political talking point following the Linda Mwananchi tour, with leaders debating who bears responsibility for the infrastructure deficit in the region.