Reports Leo Odera Omolo In RongoTown

The creation of a separate parliamentary constituency mainly for Homa-Bay town and its environs will now easy pressure of development activities for the older larger Rangwe electoral area.

Previously all the development activities were concentrating in areas along the Lake Victoria, especially areas around Homa-Bay town and its environs.

The reason being so is the fact that nearly all he previous MPS, with exception of Dr. Shem Ochuodho brief stint in the August House between 1992 and 1997, came from around the lake shorelines. They include Prof Ouma Muga (1988-190), Ray Oloo Ndong,’ {1990 -1992}, Prof Ouma Muga {1992-1997}, Dr Shem Ochuodho {1997-2002}, Eng Phillip Okundi {2002=2007} and the incumbent Martin Otieno Ogindo 2007.

The separation of Homa-Bay town and its environs still has left Rangwe as one of the largest rural constituencies in the greater Southern Nyanza region covering half a dozen of Administration Locations, stretches from Oluch –Nyangweso at the northern tip in an area bordering Rangwe and Karachuonyo constituencies.

Rangwe is now covering locations such as Gongo, Kagan East and Kagan West, Kochia East and Kochia West, Gem East, Gem Central and Gem West. Most of these farming administrative rural locations are lying in areas previously neglected, but highly potential for agricultural development, and massive production.

The upper part of the constituency, particular from the boundary of Bonchari on the Kisii side, along he Riana Valley is said to be holding massive deposits but untapped wealth in the precious stones {Gold}. These areas which are close to River Riana which wounding up and flow its water into River Kuja {Gold}.

The gold deposits which is said to be of commercial value runs underneath of both some parts of Rangwe and neighboring Rongo constituencies. It starts from Go Nyinyo in Kamwango sub-Location in North Kamagambo run down to Oboke Market in Rangwe down to opapo in Ndhiwa.

This particular area covering River Riana valley winding up at Marindi Trading Center has also potential for sugar cane growing apart from the cash crops such as maize, vegetable, sorghum, coffee and other domestic crops. Several investors both local and international companies have been reported to have shown interests in establishing a new medium size white sugar manufacturing plant around Opapo. The areas mentioned has the best annual rainfall, which is conducive for massive production.

However, a young Nairobi based entrepreneur has come forward with a far reaching plans and strategy to develop the agro-based small cottage manufacturing industries, which is sounding viable.

Eng Joseph Mboya Nyamuthe, who hails from Gem West location within Rangwe constituency, has already established one agro-based industry, which is manufacturing sweet potatoes.The plant is at Ndiru in Kagan Central.

Photo of Eng Joseph Mboya who is trying hard to creaet jobs for the youths by launching agro-based manufacturing plants in Rangwe

Mboya Nyamuthe who announced last week that he would be vying for the Rangwe parliamentary seat hitherto was unknown character and personality in Rangwe, though he has been carrying out feasibility studies on various cash crops and their economic values to the community.

He said h was happy that the residents of Central an parts of Kochia West have resolved to go full blast in pineapple crops, and although already one plan is in the process of being put in place, there will be the need in the near future to have a much bigger pineapple squeezing plant. Pineapple grown in Kochia area has proved to b popular with the hotels an family tables all over Kenya.

He said the greatest impediment is the access and feeder roads across the constituency. Nobody has pressurized he government to construct the highly potential Oyugis Rangwe road. This road is vital because farmer could easily access market places outside the constituency.

The Rangwe -Rodi-Kopany also need to be tarmacked so as to have it linked to the main Homa-Bay-Rongo road. Also needed to be upgraded is Rangwe- Asumbi-Sunika road, and Rangwe Oboke-Rongo road. But priority should be given to Oyugis-Rangwe and Rangwe-Rodi Kopany road.

Rasidents of Rangwe, said Eng ,Mboya Nyamuthe are wondering about where the millions of shillings located for the district road maintenance goes, and yet Oyugis Rangwe road has remained impassable at time even pathetic for close to five years. On the side of Kasipul Kabondo then this road is perfect, but once a motorist crosses into Rangwe constituency then it became nightmarish.

Cotton is another economically important crop, though it has been neglected in he past efforts should be made to have this money minting crops back in production.

Ends