The National Government has created a new sub county for the residents of Mfangano and four other small islands in Lake Victoria, Homa Bay County.
Homa-Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan said the move was in a bid to take services closer to the residents. The new sub county named Suba Central covers Mfangano as well as Ringiti, Remba and Takawiri islands.
Lilan said the government has deployed Mr. Hassan Abdulrahman as the Deputy County
Commissioner for the new administrative unit.
The new DCC was unveiled today in a ceremony presided over by Lilan in the presence of Governor Gladys Wanga, her Deputy Oyugi Magwanga, Senator Moses Kajwang and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo.
Lilan said residents will now be saved the inconvenience of crossing to Mbita in the mainland to access government services like births and deaths certificates, national Identity Cards (IDs), and Title Deeds among others.
The County headquarters will be at Sena trading centre in Mfangano Island.
The County Commissioner said the government had beefed up surveillance to curb contraband goods entering the county from the neighboring countries and called on the area Nyumba kumi members to keep vigil.
He at the same time called for measures to curb against Ebola and urged residents to report any suspected cases promptly.
Under the umbrella of Mfangano Development Forum, the residents led by Daniel Rakoro thanked the government for the creation of the new sub county. Rokara said poor access to government services in the area had adversely affected their socio economic development.
He urged the government to expedite the tarmacking of Mfangano ring road to enhance transport network. He said shortage of water ferries and poor roads network had undermined economic development in the islands.
The residents also thanked the government for creating new locations and sub locations in the islands to enable residents access services with ease.
Governor Gladys Wanga said residents should take advantage of the new Sub County to invest in houses and other businesses to benefit from them. She said her administration will ensure the local health facilities have adequate supplies of drugs.
Wanga said her government will reserve some appointments in her government for the Suba Central residents. “We are happy that residents of the islands will be relieved from covering long distances through Lake Victoria to seek services in Mbita town,” Wanga said
She said her government had also upgraded Sena health centre to a level-4 hospital.
“The hospital will be fully equipped with medicine and surgical equipment for the benefit of the people,” she added.
By Davis Langat
