The headquarters of the County Government of Homa Bay is set to be relocated to the Kanyabala location on the outskirts of Homa Bay town.
Governor Gladys Wanga said her administration has decided to relocate the county headquarters to a site where an animal feed project has been partially constructed.
The animal feed factory was started by former Governor Cyprian Awiti in August 2015 but stalled midway.
Governor Wanga said the construction of the headquarters will be funded by the County Pension Funds (CPF) through a loan.
Wanga launched the project in the company of her Deputy Oyugi Magwanga, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, and Woman Rep Joyce Osogo.
The Governor said the decision to remove the animal feed factory was due to its proximity to Kabunde Air Strip.
The Governor said it is not suitable to construct an animal feed factory near an air strip because it attracts birds, which can cause air accidents.
“I want to state categorically that we are constructing the county headquarters on the land that had been earmarked for an animal feed factory.
But you are all aware of the proximity of the factory to the airstrip. The factory is unfit for this site because it can cause accidents because it attracts birds.” Wanga said.
The governor said her administration had earmarked the construction of factories at Riwa Industrial Special Economic Zone in Karachuonyo Constituency.
She said her administration had put measures in place to ensure industries were established by private sector actors.
“This animal feed factory will be moved to where an investor can take it, but our plan is to ensure almost all industries are constructed at Riwa,” Wanga said.
Wanga said the construction of the headquarters was expected to be complete by December this year.
Kaluma said the project will expand Homa Bay town to rural areas.
“This project will help in expanding our town towards rural areas,” Kaluma said.
Osogo argued the project will increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Homa Bay town.
“The locals are going to build rental houses near the county headquarters and thus improve economic growth,” Osogo said.
By Davis Langat
