Linda Mwananchi brigade at Homa Bay. [File, Standard]
Linda Mwanainchi's rally in Homa Bay County on Sunday exposed the region’s underbelly of poor roads and neglected infrastructure, dwarfing claims by a section of politicians that the region’s infrastructure has improved significantly.
For motorists travelling through parts of Homa Bay County, the journey is becoming a test of patience, with dusty, narrow and badly maintained roads turning what should be short trips into hours of struggle.
Homa Bay leaders who had hoped to portray Homa Bay as the frontier of development for the Nyanza region under President William Ruto's government were left with eggs on their faces as the rally exposed the pathetic condition of roads.
For a person travelling on the roads for the first time, it is hard to believe this is the same road leaders have been shuttling in helicopters are also using for their road travel to dish out millions in handouts and in economic empowerment forums.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo attributed the status of infrastructure in Suba to several years of marginalisation but sarcastically intimated that even though the roads are bad, the views of the region are terrific.
“If there is one thing this trip to Suba has shown, is that when we talk of marginalisation, it is true,” said Millie.
“Most of our roads are bad in Suba South and North. Let us stop saying that those are feeder roads and that the main roads were barricaded. What you see *other than Homa Bay to Mbita and Rusinga Ring Roads, are the main roads),” said Millie in a Facebook post, adding that President Ruto has also implemented several roads.