The start of the implementation of development projects as pledged by the Kenya Kwanza government has rejuvenated UDA activities in Homa Bay's Suba region.
The government, through a Gazette notice last week, created new subcounties, divisions, locations and sub-locations, with Suba among the regions that benefited the most.
It got two new subcounties (Suba Central and Suba West) and several divisions, namely, Ruma/Kaksingri East, Kaksingri West, Gwassi South and Gwassi North.
Locations are Rang'wa East, Nyamarandi, Sindo, Kwirathia and Mwegemu.
The government has also started tarmacking the 74km Mbita- Magunga- Sori road. Some 7.4km have already been tarmacked.
It is against this backdrop that youths and women from Suba met to revive activities to popularise the party through grassroots mobilisation.
Youths coordinator Bruce Ogweno and his women league counterpart, Josephine Abonyo, said implementation of the projects will open the area for development.
Previously, the region had two subcounties: Suba and Mbita.
Ogweno said that joining the ruling party will make the region, which has 24,000 registered members, benefit more.
“We plan to register more than 40,000 people in the UDA party by June. The community has realised that working closely with the government is beneficial,” the youth coordinator said.
President William Ruto toured the region in October last year and pledged to implement various projects.
During the tou, the head of state commissioned the tarmacking of Mfang'ano and Rusinga ring roads, and promised to build Wakula and Nyandiwa fish landing sites.
Suba is among regions considered marginalised, and has never had a tarmacked road since independence.
Speaking on Saturday in Sindo, Suba South constituency, Ogweno said the creation of the administrative units will ensure residents are accorded more resources for development.
Abonyo said tarmacking of Sindo -Magunga-Sori road will enhance business activities and opportunities in the region.
Suba region has the longest Lake Victoria shoreline in Homa Bay and more than six islands. Fishing is one of the main economic activities.
“Tarmacking of the road will improve business activities in Suba since we will have our goods reach markets with ease. More people will also be employed with the coming of the new administrative units,” she said.
Residents, Joshua Magadi, Maureen Adhiambo and Okinyi Nyauke, pledged to register new members to the ruling party.
“We are ready to undertake door to door membership mobilisation and registration of people. The agenda is to make UDA popular in the Suba region,” Magadi said.
