A quick-witted social media ‘like-and-share’ hunter added Governor Anne Waiguru a middle name. The Kirinyaga governor is now Anne ‘Adhiambo’ Waiguru among those who liked the clip, in which she sustained a speech for two minutes in Dholuo.
The governor made gestures to accentuate the speech, attracting cheers. Some of the babies born on that day, and its neighbourhood, may likely be named Anne Adhiambo, with a Waiguru version for generous namers.
The governor was attending an investment conference in Homa Bay, as the chairperson of the Council of Governors. She was also showing solidarity with a sister governor. She was among the ‘Group of Seven’ women governors, who brought cheer to citizens of Homa Bay.
Eighteen months ago, Homa Bay county was an outpost of corruption. To locate the lake county among the 47 devolved units, one had to search from the bottom. Now Homa Bay is a competitive destination for investors. To find it now, among other counties, one must start reading from the top.
The county proudly stayed down during the first decade of devolution. It was the defending champion of the ‘boto’, as sheng singing children would say.
It was a wasted decade in the estimation of right-thinking citizens. Cynical musicians composed songs ridiculing the excesses of devolved governments.
The ‘owners’ of counties fought back, saying the high public expectations were baseless. In their vested interests-guided logic, devolution was new. Devolution stayed new for a decade despite financial inflows from the National Treasury.
Meanwhile, county rulers engaged in endless benchmarking trips. The allowance-supported outings were ‘bed-marking’ ventures in luxury hotels. There were no quantifiable returns on public investment.
Something has changed.
A choirmaster, Dickson Owili, from a village public primary school in Karachuonyo, one of the eight subcounties in the bay, composed an awaking song — Mama Tiyo. The composition celebrates the passion of maternal leadership, which Governor Gladys Wanga represents.
The seven women governors — working under the umbrella Group of Seven — are setting the pace. When ‘Their Excellencies’ ‘landed’ in Homa Bay for the investment conference, they had a message: Kenya grows when every county grows.
There is evidence of change on many fronts. The once water hyacinth-logged Homa Bay town beachfront is clear of the eyesore. The bay is becoming what it should be: A place to sample the endless beauty of nature.
The pier is being revived. The stench that once came from the miss-located fish market has gone. A planned fish market is coming up, with 40 per cent of the work done. The blue economy is taking shape.
Riwa Special Economic Zone is attracting investors in agriculture and fisheries. Palm oil production is planned — the county’s ticket to job creation and food security. If the plan works, Kenya will say goodbye to imports of edible oils.
Riwa, in Karachuonyo subcounty, was at the centre of a mega scandal during the first decade of devolution. It was then called ‘agricity’.
The aggregation centre will put money in meriting pockets and food in needy stomachs. Value addition is key to the county's economic turnaround.
Work on the stadium that stalled for a decade is complete. Raila Odinga Stadium is the home ground for Shabana FC from Kisii county, which shares a border with Homa Bay.
The stadium will host Mashujaa Day celebrations next year. It’s wished as one of the possible venues for 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. ‘The Bay’ dream, patriots say, is valid.
The change in the ‘Bay Area’ is better illustrated by the second Homa Bay International Investment Conference, which concluded last week. The conference, planned around the theme 'Unlocking the endless potential of the bay', attracted potential local, national, regional and international investors.
County own revenue collection has improved courtesy of the cashless model adopted months after the August 2022 general election. Revenue leakages during the peak of farm-gate corruption (2013-2022) are being sealed.
The revenue base has moved from Sh100 million to Sh195 million, jumping to Sh600 million, with Sh1 billion as the next target. This potential was lost during the first decade of devolution. It was a time when the county leadership engaged in self-aggrandisement, as the people moaned.
About two years later, the county has reason to sing, ‘Mama Tiyo!’
