Homa Bay Hosts Historic Madaraka Day as Governor Wanga Celebrates County’s Transformation
Homa Bay, Kenya — In a landmark event marking the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations, Homa Bay County hosted the national ceremony for the first time in history, drawing praise and pride from both residents and national leaders. Governor Gladys Wanga delivered a powerful address celebrating the county’s transformation and President William Ruto’s support in making the occasion a success.
In the presence of President Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto, Raila Odinga, and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, Wanga described the occasion as a momentous day not just for Homa Bay but for the entire Lake Region. She expressed deep appreciation for the President’s decision to allow Homa Bay to host the national celebrations, saying it marked a turning point in how the county is perceived and how its future will be shaped.
Infrastructure, Housing, and Development
Governor Wanga highlighted Homa Bay’s infrastructural leap, including the unveiling of a newly expanded 12,000-seater Raila Odinga Stadium, the dualing of the main highway, and the expansion of Kabunde Airstrip. These projects, she stated, not only improve transport efficiency but also put Homa Bay on the map as an emerging destination for investment, sports, and tourism.
Ongoing upgrades to major road networks such as the Mfangano Ring Road, Rusinga Ring Road, Mbita-Sindo-Magunga Road, and several others across the county signify the administration’s focus on economic connectivity. Wanga emphasized that improving road infrastructure would boost trade, attract investors, and connect marginalized areas to mainstream development.
She also praised the government’s commitment to developing fresh produce markets in 10 key locations including Kijebi, Luanda, Sindo, Mbita, Ndiwa, and Kindu Bay, among others. An additional six markets have already been approved, underscoring a shared commitment between national and county governments to empower farmers and small-scale traders.
Leadership, Gender Representation, and Unity
Recognizing the presence of numerous dignitaries, Wanga paid tribute to the collective leadership driving development across the region. She acknowledged local MPs, county assembly members, and county executive members for their collaboration in ensuring the county’s success.
Wanga also celebrated the presence of women leaders, noting that Homa Bay is among the few counties to achieve the two-thirds gender rule. She commended female MPs including Hon. Millie Odhiambo, Dr. Eve Obara, Dr. Lillian Gogo, and Hon. Bensouda, along with Senator Beatrice Ogola, for their exemplary leadership. The county, she said, was leading by example in the inclusion of women in politics and governance.
The governor paid homage to the late Tom Mboya and other regional heroes, and especially to Raila Odinga, who she referred to as the “father of devolution.” Naming the stadium in his honor was a tribute to his tireless efforts in entrenching democracy and devolution in Kenya’s constitution.
Blue Economy and Agricultural Potential
Speaking in alignment with the year’s theme — blue economy and maritime affairs — Governor Wanga called for the establishment of a Blue Economy Center of Excellence at Tom Mboya University. She also requested support for lake safety initiatives for fisherfolk, and enhanced funding for beach management units. The governor noted that by tapping into the lake’s resources, Kenya could unlock 52,000 blue economy jobs.
Homa Bay, Wanga said, is already a leader in fisheries and agriculture. The county is the top producer of fish, sunflower, sweet potatoes, and peanuts, and ranks second in cotton production. It is also among the top producers of millet and sugarcane. The sweetened pineapples of Olare in Kochia were also highlighted as a unique agricultural gem.
With the establishment of the Riwa Special Economic Zone and County Aggregation and Industrial Park, in collaboration with the national government, the county is poised to become a hub for agro-processing, value addition, and industrial growth. A new fish processing plant by Victory Farms, she said, would bring much-needed private sector investment.
Governor Wanga called on additional investors to explore opportunities in cotton ginning, edible oil processing, sweet potato pelleting, and other agri-based industries at the economic zone. She requested national support for building horizontal infrastructure in the area to fully unlock its potential.
Healthcare, Education, and Social Services
Gladys Wanga announced major strides in health, including the construction of a five-story accident and emergency block at Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital. The facility, she said, would serve as a regional referral hub and play a central role in enhancing emergency care. She called on the national government to assist counties in financing healthcare worker recruitment and in regularizing UHC staffing.
She added that her administration was proactively addressing gender-based violence, HIV, teenage pregnancies, and maternal and infant mortality. These issues, she stressed, require multi-stakeholder collaboration and national policy support.
In the education sector, the county has built 241 classrooms under the “Ondoa Kaunda” initiative and runs scholarship and bursary programs that benefit over 20,000 students annually. Programs like Fundi Mangula and Fins to Swim provide vocational and formal educational opportunities, creating pathways to economic empowerment for the youth.
Economic Performance and Vision for the Future
In a remarkable economic feat, Homa Bay has raised its on-source revenue by over 700% in just two and a half years, growing from KES 191 million to over KES 1 billion. Wanga attributed this to better revenue collection systems, increased economic activity, and improved governance.https://shorturl.at/D8RMQ
She outlined a bold vision to transform Homa Bay into a modern urban center—a “Cape Town of Kenya”—within the next decade. To support this, a new five-story county headquarters is nearing completion, constructed in partnership with the CPF. The facility will house a Huduma Center and serve as a one-stop shop for government services.
Administrative offices are being relocated to open up the lakefront for tourism, investment, and hospitality development. The county’s long-term plan includes transforming Homa Bay into a vibrant economic hub and a strategic gateway to East Africa.
A Call for National Solidarity
Wanga concluded her speech with a call for national unity and shared prosperity. She thanked President Ruto for appointing Homa Bay natives to strategic positions, including Treasury CS John Badi and Interior PS Dr. Raymond Omollo. These appointments, she noted, have increased the county’s voice in national policymaking.
She expressed gratitude for the bipartisan cooperation between the government and the opposition, specifically referencing the partnership through the ODM 10-point agenda. She thanked President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, and lauded the broad-based inclusivity now characterizing national politics.
“Let us all be on board the Kenya Prosperity Ship,” she declared. “No Kenyan should be left behind—not the youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, or any of the 47 counties.”
Governor Wanga extended a warm invitation to all Kenyans to return to Homa Bay for the 2025 Devolution Conference and World Food Day, and also announced that the county would be hosting the Mashemeji Derby for the first time outside Nairobi at the Raila Odinga Stadium, the home of football star Michael Olunga. https://touchdigitalnews.com/ruto-outlines-bold-vision-of-progress-in-madaraka-day-address/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKptgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFSWlBuc0U1Zm9yVG5BNFllAR7IMDmwaJ_uVSxY_4LfZUVo45Ip9gtjCqF1JlhngEYaEEwBvAKkRibXQ05JDw_aem_Razrn9OKceCiZgu1ybUzPQ
“God bless Homa Bay. God bless Kenya,” she said in conclusion.