President William Ruto has pledged increased government investment in Nyanza, saying the region will be placed at the centre of his administration’s development agenda.

Speaking Thursday during the official opening of the Kendu Ultramodern Economic Stimulus Program Market in Kendu Bay, Ruto said the government had reached an understanding with the local leaders that Homa Bay should benefit significantly from national development programmes.

“We have come to an understanding with the people of Homa Bay that when we plan for Kenya’s development, Homa Bay must be at the heart of that development,” Ruto said.

The President said the government was implementing projects covering markets, roads, affordable housing, education, healthcare, water and other infrastructure.

He pointed that the government was constructing 21 modern markets across Homa Bay County at a cost of about Sh3.7 billion.

He said the Kendu Bay facility would provide a better trading environment for women, fish vendors, mama mbogas and other small-scale traders who previously operated in difficult conditions.

The government allocated Sh27 billion for affordable housing, markets and hostels for students in higher education.

Ruto announced major road investments, saying Homa Bay had been sidelined in development for many years, adding that about Sh29 billion had been allocated to construct about 400 kilometres of new roads in the county.

Among the projects undertaken are the Kadel-Kanyadhiang, Kanyadhiang-Pala-Kadienge-Twis and Njeri-Oriwo-Pala roads. He said a 90-kilometre road was also being constructed in Karachuonyo.

The government is also investing in infrastructure around Lake Victoria. Ruto said Sh300 million had been allocated through the Kenya Ports Authority to construct a new pier at Kendu Bay, complementing the completed Homa Bay Town pier.

Ruto’s administration is also investing Sh10 billion in the Lake Victoria ecosystem, including the construction of four new piers, nine landing sites and the procurement of safety equipment for fishermen.

The government also plans to support fish-cage farming to increase production. “Our plan is to unlock the economic potential of Lake Victoria and its food security potential, create jobs for young people in this region and enhance the economy using the resources that we have in Lake Victoria,” Ruto said.

He hinted that a public ferry intended to connect the mainland with islands on Lake Victoria was nearing completion and would become operational within two months.

Ruto also announced plans for a 500-kilometre Lake Victoria ring road, estimated to cost Sh75 billion.

Construction, he said, would begin in November, with the road connecting Busia through Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay to Muhuru Bay in Migori County.

On healthcare, Ruto defended the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA).

He said about 680,000 people in Homa Bay had registered with SHA and that Sh4.1 billion had been released to settle medical bills in the county.

Ruto said the new system was designed to improve access to healthcare and prevent families from selling property to meet medical expenses unlike the previous health cover.

He urged more residents to register, saying about 33 million Kenyans had already enrolled nationally.

On education, the President said the government had hired 100,000 teachers and planned to recruit another 20,000.

He also cited the construction of 23,000 classrooms and the introduction of a new higher-education funding model intended to make access to education less dependent on parents’ ability to pay.

Besides, Ruto called for closer cooperation between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Referring to his political relationship with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, he said the two had discussed cooperation and the possibility of ODM playing a role in government.

“Moving forward, we should unite ODM and UDA parties as one so that we can make one government,” Ruto said.

He described the broad-based government arrangement between the two political formations as a means of implementing his administration’s development agenda, citing housing, markets, education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure.

Ruto also questioned calls for him to leave office after one term, saying the movement lacked an agenda.

He called for national unity across ethnic and regional lines, arguing that cooperation was necessary to address tribalism, hatred and discrimination.

The President’s remarks came as his administration seeks to advance major development projects in Homa Bay while strengthening political cooperation between leaders associated with UDA and ODM.

In his development tour, Ruto officially opened several other modern markets in the county including Kijebi New Ultramodern Market in Suba and Sindo Modern Market. He also commissioned a Kenya Medical Training College facility in Sindo.

by Sitna Omar