Gladys Wanga Breaks Silence on Ridicule Over the State of Roads in Homa Bay

Governor Gladys Wanga, on Monday, August 17, declared that she was not ashamed, but was proud of the state of the roads in Homa Bay County.

In a statement issued to the press, Governor Wanga stated that the road, which had been captured during Linda Mwananchi's rally, was a testament to the region's prolonged marginalisation by the past governments.

"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 stated.

The Governor contended that the Linda Mwananchi leaders should have been the last to point and laugh, given that their alleged sponsor was among the Presidents who marginalised the County.

"What was billed as a tour of Homa Bay by Linda Mwananchi ended up doing something its organisers did not intend: it highlighted the very tribulations our community has been fighting to overcome. Rough roads in parts of Suba South became a visual metaphor, and a source of ridicule, for Homa Bay's exclusion from development (including by their main sponsor)," Wanga stated.

She added that while others made fun, the roads were the reality for locals. According to the County Chief, the ripple effect of poor roads includes poor access to markets, healthcare services, high cost of business and arrested development.

Wanga suggested that the situation could have probably been different if Luo Leaders like Jaramogi Odinga, Tom Mboya and Raila Odinga were not deliberately denied an opportunity to serve the country as Heads of State.

Wanga explained that the now-famous road was set to be constructed in 2016, but under the Uhuru government, only 74 kilometres had been completed.

She lauded President William Ruto for including the county in his development plans. The County Chief added that the construction of the road was not her mandate as governor, but that of the national government.

"In the last two years, 28km have so far been tarmacked, with works currently ongoing. It is important to note that a 74km trunk road is not something that devolution or CDF can address," she stated

The Homa Bay County Boss added that since 2024, Ruto's administration had embarked on several infrastructural projects in the county, including improving the road network, building markets, and the Raila Odinga Stadium. 

She stated that the effort by President Ruto to better the situation was more than enough reason to back his re-election.

"Neglect is a subject we do not shy away from; it is why we urge our people to look past sideshows and support an administration that has shown genuine willingness to correct the marginalisation of Nyanza and other underserved regions," Wanga added. 

Her sentiments came after a section of Kenyans claimed that Homa Bay County looked like a war-torn area given the dusty roads and incomplete buildings spotted during Linda Mwananchi's tour of the region.

On his part, Dennis Itumbi stated that the places captured showed the government's commitment to developing the county. Itumbi pointed out that apart from the road, the viral photo also captured the affordable housing units in the county.