In August 2024, Homa Bay County government under Governor Gladys Wanga demolished a partially constructed animal feeds factory in Arujo Ward to clear space for a new office block for the governor and senior staff.
The factory project began around 2014 during the term of former Governor Cyprian Awiti. By the time of the demolition, the structure had reached the roofing stage after years of delays.
Reports at the time put the potential cost of the factory at around 100 million shillings, raising questions about the use of public funds.
County officials later stated that only about 26 million shillings had been spent on the incomplete building, which had deteriorated into what they called a ghost project. They said the structure failed to meet required construction standards and lacked necessary approvals from the National Environment Management Authority, Kenya Airports Authority, and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
The main issue was the site’s location roughly 300 metres from Kabunde airstrip, placing it on a flight path.
Officials explained that an animal feeds factory in that position could attract birds and create risks of bird strikes for aircraft. As a result, the county replanned the area under the Physical Planning Act and moved the animal feeds project to the County Aggregation and Industrial Park at Riwa Special Economic Zone.
Governor Wanga’s administration said the existing county offices were too small and that staff needed better working space. Construction of the new offices, financed partly through a loan arrangement with the County Pension Fund, began after a ground-breaking ceremony in May 2024. Officials also mentioned plans to include a Huduma Centre at the site.
The decision drew criticism from some local activists. Two of them, Evance Oloo and Eugine Obisa, went to the Environment and Lands Court. They argued that the demolition did not follow proper procedures under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, lacked public participation, and that no clear valuation of the structure had been made public before it was brought down.
County spokespersons responded that all required approvals for the new headquarters and related facilities had been obtained, including from the National Land Commission and NEMA. They described the move as a practical step to put unfinished projects to better use rather than leave them idle.
The episode highlighted ongoing debates in Kenya about how county governments prioritise development projects, manage public assets, and balance industrial plans with infrastructure needs such as aviation safety. While the animal feeds factory was intended to support local agriculture and create jobs, the county maintained that safety concerns and regulatory requirements made the original site unsuitable.
