Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

The contest or the position of Homa-Bay County women representative is expected to be the toughest and most grueling battle of wits judging from the characters and individual personalities said to be eying for the same seat.

The lattest entry into the race is Mrs Gladys Wanga, the fiery former student leader having been the first lady to hold the position of Secretary General at the Kenyatta University Students Union {KUSA}.

Mrs Wanga’s development track record is equally impressive having mobilized millions of shillings from the European Union to promote tourism within Nyanza Province, particularly around Lake Victoria region.

This project resulted in the construction of the monumental Abasuba Community Peace Museum as a place for conservation of the Suba Culture and a tourist’s destination.

In additional Wanga has been involved with sanitary towel distribution in schools and giving hearty talks to motivate girls to excel in their education.

Wanga received her early education at the Aga Khan Primary School in Kisumu town before she moved to the Kisumu Girls High School the next door. She was admitted to the Kenyatta University where she studies Bsc an Msc degrees in health science.

Wanga is also credited for having mobilized through Homa-Bay District Water Office resources from UNICEF for the implementation of a major water project in her home turf of Kochia, in Rangwe constituency, a project that has radically changed the life of residents for the better.

With a wealth experience of ten years in the service of community project, Mrs Wanga says her vision is embedded in one core principle – “The power to sustainable development lies with the people,” – the esteemed communities of Homa-Bay county; the brave women old and young who wake up early morning to leave their homes for the farms and markets and return at dusk with something small for their families; the young sons and daughter who take are of their widowed mothers.””In there the solution the solution to the challenges that face Homa-Bay county lies.”

Mrs Wanga has published on this in her hand book entitled “Managing Community Projects.”

She told this writer that vision in a country where the “people” { young and old, rich and poor, men and women} are substantially involved” in finding solutions to the challenges they face.”

Mrs Wanga launched her elaborate campaign a couple of weeks ago and has toured most parts o the Homa-Bay including Mfangano Island where had worked with the local community previously. Homa-Bay County comprises of eight parliamentary constituencies covering Kasipul, Kabondo, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Homa-Bay, Ndhiwa, Gwassi and Mbita. The region is full of tourist attractions and pre-historical sites. The upper part of the County including areas like Kabondo, Kasipul, Gongo, Kagan, Gem, Ndhiwa have fertile land which is arable and suitable for the production of cash crops such as tea, coffee, maize, fruits and vegetable.

The low laying locations along the shoreline of Lake Victoria have the potential of cotton production and other cash crops. But fishing and fish trade, are the mainstay of the economies scenarios for tourist attractions and pre-historical sites in Gwassi, Mbita, Homa, Rangwe and Karachuonyo.

If elected Mrs Wanga is likely to faces the tough challenges including sensitizing the gender issues, encouraging women to venture into businesses to compete equally with their men folks.

Homa-Bay county is also rich in minerals such as gold, lime and cement, whose deposits are said to be in abundance around Ruri Hills, copper, though some of the minerals he remained unexploited for years.

Ends

photo of Mrs Gladys Wanga