Linda Mwananchi Tour Exposes Deplorable Road Conditions in Homa Bay

The Linda Mwananchi campaign tour in Homa Bay on Sunday, August 16, 2026, reignited debate over the county’s road infrastructure, with leaders and residents pointing to long standing neglect and worsening conditions on key routes.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo dismissed claims that the roads used as alternative routes during the disruptions were merely feeder roads, insisting that many of them are main roads that have remained in poor condition for years.

Odhiambo, who has served in Parliament since 2008, said residents of Suba North and Suba South continue to struggle with dilapidated roads and urged leaders to confront the issue honestly.

“Most of our roads are bad in Suba South and North. Let us stop cheating people by saying those are feeder roads and that the main roads were barricaded,” she said.

The national government says it has begun investing heavily in road development across Homa Bay and the wider Nyanza region.

According to county officials, the government has committed Ksh17 billion to upgrade 298 kilometers of major roads, with an additional Ksh5.6 billion earmarked for 78 kilometers, including the Mfangano Island Ring Road and other routes.

President William Ruto has also announced plans to fast track the proposed Lake Victoria Ring Road, a 500 kilometer corridor linking Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori. Construction is expected to begin before the end of 2026.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who previously served as Woman Rep for 10 years, attributed the county’s poor road network to years of political marginalization, saying the region’s support for constitutional reforms and devolution came at a development cost. She told a gathering on Sunday that the situation was now improving under what she described as a broad based government, citing plans to tarmac the Suba Road, which has faced persistent criticism.

Wanga was responding to remarks comparing parts of Homa Bay—particularly Suba—to conflict hit regions because of the state of the roads. “I’ve seen they are laughing at us that Homa Bay looks like Afghanistan because of the nature of our roads in Suba. They don’t understand the pain we are feeling,” she said.

The debate comes as the Linda Mwananchi tour exposed the challenges of navigating the county’s road network, with leaders and residents calling for sustained investment to address decades old infrastructure gaps.

Senator Edwin Sifuna wondered why the roads are in such a poor state yet the supporters of the broad-based government claim that money "sleeps" in Suba. The current National Treasury Secretary John Mbadi is a former MP for Suba South.