Uncomfortable truths about Homa Bay’s roads 13 years after devolution

The roads of Homa Bay have become a focal point for discussion following a recent tour by Linda Mwananchi, prompting a broader conversation about infrastructure, devolution, and accountability in the region. While it is inaccurate to claim that all roads in Homa Bay are in poor condition, images of dusty and rough roadways captured the nation's attention.

Government officials and local leaders have highlighted both tarmacked roads and those under construction, such as portions of the Mbita-Sindo-Kiabuya-Sori corridor. This debate is more about the expectations residents should have 13 years after devolution rather than whether Homa Bay has good or bad roads. Homa Bay receives funding through the county equitable share and other revenue sources, with the county's own planning documents indicating that road development and maintenance are part of its programmes.

For the 2026/27 financial year, the county plans to allocate Ksh400 million for new road construction, Ksh50 million for access road rehabilitation, and Ksh700 million for maintenance of other county roads. However, not every road can be tarmacked simultaneously, and residents should inquire about the planned roads, their prioritisation, allocation of funds, and completion status.

Not all roads in the Linda Mwananchi tour fall under county government jurisdiction; major highways and classified roads are managed by national road agencies, while county roads are handled by counties under devolution. It is essential to determine who is responsible for each road based on its classification and the agency in charge.

Confusing the National Government Community Development Fund (NG-CDF) with county government funding is misleading, as constituency development funds support local projects, and counties have their budgets and functions. Blaming one level of government for every road would provide an incomplete picture, and residents should ask about the responsibility for each road.

While poor roads may raise suspicions of corruption or misuse of public funds, they do not necessarily prove corruption. Instead, a responsible conversation should involve examining procurement records, project costs, completion certificates, contractor performance, payments, and audit findings. Homa Bay's public financial documents can serve as a starting point for scrutiny.

The county's 2023/27 development plan outlines the money received and projects planned, with Governor Gladys Wanga attributing infrastructure challenges to historical marginalisation, former Suba South MP John Mbadi highlighting ongoing national road projects, and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo suggesting that some roads should not be considered merely feeder roads.

These perspectives can be examined without resorting to a political blame game. The uncomfortable truth is that Homa Bay has both improved roads and those that residents still find challenging to use. After 13 years of devolution, residents have the right to request clear information about which roads are complete, under construction, the responsibilities of the county and national governments, the allocated funds, and the expected completion dates.

This is not an accusation against any leader but rather the basic accountability that should accompany devolution.