Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga has broken her silence and addressed recent reports about the alleged demolition of a factory to make way for the construction of her office.
In a statement released on August 21, her spokesperson clarified that the Animal Feeds Factory project, initiated in 2014, was stalled due to non-compliance with construction standards and environmental regulations.
“The construction of the Animal Feeds Factory in Arujo Ward, Homa Bay Town Sub County, was initiated in 2014 but stalled for long due to not meeting mandatory construction standards,” read the statement in part.
It was explained that the factory was deemed incompatible with the nearby Kabunde airstrip, thereby posing a significant risk of bird strikes, which led to its relocation to a more suitable site.
“The project did not receive the requisite approvals from agencies such as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) due to its close proximity of about 300 meters to the Kabunde airstrip and thus on the flight path,” indicated Wanga in a statement.
“Animal feeds manufacturing was incompatible with the flight path and a risk of bird strikes; the area has been since replanned under the Physical Planning Act. The animal feeds project was moved to the County Aggregation and Industrial Park at Riwa Special Economic Zone.”
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Consequently, the unfinished structure deteriorated over time and was eventually decommissioned by the former Governor Cyprian Awiti’s administration.
Repurposing Projects to Minimize Wastage
The statement also pointed out that Governor Wanga’s administration repurposes projects such as this one, left unfinished by the previous administration in a bid to safeguard public funds and minimize wastage.
“Governor Wanga’s administration has therefore redesigned and repurposed the existing buildings to serve as a Huduma Centre for service delivery as part of the County Headquarter,” she added.
Additionally, the governor noted that this time all necessary approvals for the development have been secured, emphasizing the commitment to ensuring transparent governance and responsible use of public resources.
Wanga concluded her statement with a message to media outlets, calling for objective reporting that seeks all sides to a story.
She stressed that if her office had been approached for comment she would have readily made this information available.
“We would like to urge the media to strive to report objectively and seek all sides of the story before publishing. If our input had been sought, this additional information would have been readily available,” concluded the statement.
Uproar Over the Factory’s Demolition by Gladys Wanga
The factory, which was at the roofing stage and was reported to have cost taxpayers Ksh100 million, was a project initiated during former Governor Cyprian Awiti’s administration.
However, the current government opted to replace it with a new office for the governor and senior staff, claiming the existing offices were inadequate.
“Some officials are struggling to find space to operate. The new building will give a good environment,” the governor said when she led the groundbreaking for the offices in Arujo on May 31.
This decision has drawn criticism from activists, who argue that the demolition took place without public consultation and violated procurement laws outlined in the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act 2015.
The activists identified as Evance Oloo and Eugine Obisa have since challenged the county governments decision with a petition being filed at the Environment and Lands Court.
Details of the Activists’ Petition
In the petition, the activists are demanding transparency from the county government regarding the building’s valuation and demolition process.
“It appears the building was demolished without a professional valuation, which is crucial for ensuring the county government gets fair value for the property,” said Oloo in a letter to the departments of roads, finance, procurement and public works.
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Furthermore, Oloo faulted the county for failing to outline the method of disposal, the reason for the demolition and the expected benefits.
“The county government did not use a public auction or tendering, both standard methods for the disposal of public assets. Failure to advertise the disposal publicly raises concerns about transparency and fairness,” the letter continued.
The matter is now under legal scrutiny, with a court hearing set for October 7, where petitioners will present their case against the county government’s actions.
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