Wanga upgrades four Homa Bay urban centres to municipalities
By Noven.Owiti, January 10, 2023
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga yesterday signed charters to create four new municipalities in the county.
Wanga approved the Charters to confer Kendu Bay, Ndhiwa, Mbita and Oyugis towns’ municipality status.
She said the new municipalities were created in line with relevant laws being followed, including the Towns and Urban Act.
Part of the process involved the formation of a committee at the county assembly which conducted public participation in the formation of the new boundaries.
A classification committee was then formed to conduct delineation before drafting the charter and taking it to the House which eventually approved the charter.
The signing of the charters now brings to five municipalities in the county.
The other is the Homa Bay town municipality that was created by the previous administration.
The elevated townships are expected to start experiencing rapid growth in future.
Some of the towns have recorded a rise in population as people migrate from rural areas to urban centres. Wanga said the rise in population in the towns makes it difficult for people to live in them with limited resources.
“We expect the creation of these municipalities to attract investments. Potential developers will be keen on putting up new structures. Donors will also channel funds to develop the towns,” she said.
The governor noted that Homa Bay has positioned itself to be a county which can attract investors to promote urbanisation.
She announced that in the coming weeks, the executive will move to the new municipalities to present the chatter to residents.
The upgrade of the towns is expected to create job opportunities for residents who will work on municipal boards.
The governor said her administration will soon advertise for positions in the newly created municipalities while urging residents to apply.
“This is one of the achievements we have made in the shortest time,” Wanga said. Some of the activities of the county government have been opposed by lobby groups.