Reports by the Western Insight have raised serious concerns about theft under Governor Gladys Wanga’s administration in Homa Bay County. Sh 500 million, part of the Sh 1.4 billion from development partners for the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP 2), was disbursed, yet no single construction project has started.
The funds were meant for road upgrades, drainage, street lighting, and other infrastructure across six informal settlements, but nothing is on the ground.Despite receiving the money, Wanga’s government has failed to commence the work.
Even worse, the tender was irregularly awarded. The two best candidates were ignored, and the contract was handed to the third bidder. This raises serious questions about favoritism and misuse of public funds.
While national government projects were completed in time for Madaraka Day, the KISIP 2 project is stuck, with the term almost ending and zero meaningful progress made.Residents are now worried that the project will stall completely.
Interface Community Desk, a civic group, wrote to PS Charles Hinga requesting details about the roads, contracts, and technical plans. In response, the PS confirmed that implementation had not started. He said the project was still at the recruitment stage for an implementing partner.
That means no actual construction has begun more than a year after the contract was awarded.The contract worth Sh 1.4 billion was given to MS Richpam Company Limited in joint venture with Sajucy Company Limited in June 2024. PS Hinga claimed progress stands at 36 percent, yet residents have seen no work.
The settlements of Makongeni, Shauri Yako, Sofia, Nyandiwa, Rusinga Old Town, and A Thousand Street have nothing to show for the money. The silence from the county communication office only makes the situation worse.
In Makongeni for instance, plans included building a concrete drainage box, while in Shauri Yako, a stormwater channel measuring approximately 2.4 km in width, 1.3 meters deep, and stretching 1.08 km in length was outlined.
Additional drainage of around 0.92 km along paved roads was also scheduled in the same area. Nyandiwa was set to receive a 1.65 km long stormwater system, 2 meters deep and 2 meters wide.Security masts measuring 30 meters high were to be installed, with three in Shauri Yako, and one each in Sofia, Makongeni, and A Thousand Street, while Nyandiwa was to get two. Across the six areas, a total of 436 solar streetlights were to be put up.
Sanitation facilities were also part of the plan, including two toilet blocks for Shauri Yako and one in Rusinga Old Town, alongside elevated water tanks with a 100 mm2 capacity for both locations.
Business support was included with vending spaces planned in Nyandiwa and Shauri Yako, along with beautification and playground improvements for children at Shauri Yako.
According to Hinga, the major construction contract, valued at Sh 1.4 billion, was awarded to MS Richpam Company Limited working jointly with Sajucy Company Limited. The project officially started in June 2024, though actual progress is reported at only 36 percent despite 60 percent of the time having passed.
Hinga noted that land and planning surveys had been finalized, with updates made to the relevant urban plans and management systems. Efforts are still ongoing to verify beneficiaries to prepare land ownership paperwork.
Attempts to get comments from County Communication Chief Officer Ms. Atieno Otieno were unsuccessful as she did not respond to our messages.
Governor Wanga must answer where the Sh 500 million went. There is no excuse for this level of inaction after funds have been released. The people of Homa Bay were promised better infrastructure, but what they have received is delay, silence, and questionable deals. This is not just failure, this is mismanagement of public resources under her watch.
