Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town

The newly elected governor of Homa-Bay County Cyprian Otieno Awiti faces a big challenge of turning the mineral, fisheries and tourism rich region into a vibrant economic hub.

If Governor Awiti and his team could work hard and put into good use of the reportedly abundant natural resources such fisheries, tourism and turn the region into a vibrant economic hub in the entire Western Kenya.

Homa-Bay County has the longest shorelines with the Lake Victoria, particularly the Nyanza Gulf which stretches from River Sondu Miriu in Nyakwere in Eastern part of Karachuonyo constituency and running up to Gwassi district.

Experts have also hinted of the presence of abundant, but untapped mineral resources such as gold, nickel, uranium, iron – ore, copper and cement.

His is the only region in Nyanza with a game viewing park, the Ruma National Game Park, which is located in Lambwe Valley partly in Mbita district and partly in Homa-Bay districts.

The County is covered by seven parliamentary constituencies, which included Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay town, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo-Kaspul.

The upper part of the region is endowed with fertile and arable land, which produces cash crops like tea in area of Kabodo – Kasipul. Coffee is also being grown in both Kasipul East ad West.

Bewfore Kenya attained its political independence in 1963, there used to be full fledged gold mining at Awuoro mine, which is located next to Ruga market on the border of Kitutut – Chache – Kasipul constituency. However, the investors closed the mine prematurely on fears that independence could bring chaos and mayhem. The investors were Bowers from South Africa who packed and went away not to wait to for an African independence government after many years of economic suppression and persecution of the locals, particularly the workers.

Experts say these people left a lot of gold underneath the mine shafts as they were leaving in huff. It is obvious that the county devolved government would try and lure new investors to come and resuscitate these abandoned mines.

Governor Awiti has an up-hill task to secure investors for cement factory near Ruri hills. And possible an investors to put up a five star hotel inside Ruma National Game Park. Beach hotels could also be established around the pre-historic sites such as Nyamgondho Wuod Ombare shrine in Gwassi.

Other pre-historic site could be traced in Lihanda areas of Rusinga island.

There is the Nyama – Gi – Ware bull stones, with a lot of myth tales about two bulls one belonging to two brothers of whom once upon a time lived on Rusinga Island Ware and the other belonging to Mnyama & his brother, which are said to have fought until they enter into the lake and turned to be two rocks ressembling bulls.

However, the new County authority will have to battle the menace of the water hyacinth, which has of late hampered the fishing activities in the region. Fish from Lake Victoria has of late become one of the greatest economic assets being exported to European Union countries, Japan, Middle East. Israel and the United States. Fish trade, according to the latest statistics available is raking in close to Kshs 16 billion annually, particularly the more prized Nile Perch.

Homa-Bay region has one of the best road networks after the recent completion ofKendu0Bay-Homa-Bayroad and also Homa – Bay -Mbita road.

Mbita could also be accessed by Ndori – Luanda Kotieno road which traverses the area via Uyoma Peninsula in Rarieda district.

Travellers can now travel deep into the interior part of the Suba region by using Mbita – Mfangano Ferry, which can also transport several motor vehicles on board, and the visitor drivers off as soon as after the Ferry landed on Mfagano, an all whether roads has been constructed on Mfangano Island.

The lower parts of the region, especially in those locations which are laying along the shoreline of Lake Victoria the new County government will have to move much faster and encourage cotton growing in areas with black cotton soil such as Karachuonyo Central and Karachuonyo west,

Governor Awiti’s team will have to grapples with more road network, particularly the Kendu-Bay Oyugis, Oyugis Rangwe and Kendu-Bay Pala and makes sure that this road traverses Homa Hills .

Road infrastructure between Karungu Bay and Laknyiero in Gwassi also need to be constructed a fresh.It could link Gwassi and Nyatike district and create the opportunity for traders to visit market places in the hinterland.

Governor Awiti a shrude politician is no stranger to development activities. Before being elected to the coveted office, he had traversed the full length and width o Homa-Bay region while making hefty cash donations to schools, health centres, youth groups, women groups and churches.

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