Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has challenged the government to ensure it delivers development to every part of the country, regardless of how they vote.

Speaking during the ninth devolution conference in Homa Bay County on Thursday, August 14, 2025, Odhiambo observed that while Kenyans had attained their independence from colonialists, meaningful development has yet to be realized.

“An uncomfortable truth that a lot of African leaders don’t want to deal with is that instead of using our freedoms for progress, we are using them for regress,” she said.

Inclusion in development

“I would really want to challenge our government to ensure that it includes every part of the country in development.”

Odhiambo reminisced about growing up in Homa Bay in the years after independence, noting that the public facilities were working and the town was organized.

She lamented that with the exit of the colonialists, the working systems had been replaced with neglect and dilapidated facilities.

Deliberate effort

“I had hoped to see our hospitals bigger and better, but they were worse than the hospital I was born and raised in; I hoped the roads were tarmacked, but they were getting worse. Everything that we had, including running water in the house, had disappeared,” she stated.

Odhiambo exuded confidence that, through a deliberate effort by the national and county governments, development was coming back to Homa Bay after years of neglect due to being in the opposition.

“However, that has changed through a deliberate effort by the national government towards the inclusion of this area that has been marginalized for years for being in opposition. Civil and political rights really marry with the social and economic rights; if you are not in government, then you are not served,” she observed.

Upon her election as governor of Homa Bay, Gladys Wanga was among the few leaders in the greater Nyanza region who aligned themselves with President William Ruto.

The close working relationship has been credited for the quick transformation of the county, whose projects have been coordinated by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.