Millie Odhiambo Admits Poor Roads in Homa Bay, Calls for Honest Assessment of Development

By Monyonge Kebati

Suba South MP Millie Odhiambo Mabona has acknowledged concerns over the state of roads in Homa Bay County, admitting that many roads in Suba South and Suba North remain in poor condition.

Odhiambo said residents should not be misled by describing poorly maintained roads as mere feeder roads, arguing that doing so could prevent the government from giving them the attention and funding they require.

“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,” Odhiambo said.

She noted that the Homa Bay-Mbita and Rusinga Ring roads are among the major roads serving the area, while acknowledging previous infrastructure projects undertaken by successive administrations.

According to Odhiambo, former President Mwai Kibaki and retired Prime Minister Raila Odinga oversaw the tarmacking of the Homa Bay-Mbita road, while former President Uhuru Kenyatta was responsible for the construction of the Mbita Bridge.

She further credited President William Ruto’s administration with tarmacking the Rusinga Ring Road and opening up the Mfangano Ring Road, where tarmacking works are expected to commence.

Odhiambo also said several other roads have been earmarked for improvement, including the Sindo-Mbito Road.

She noted that Roads and Transport CS John Mbadi recently launched two road projects in her constituency, one of which is currently being used by residents.

The legislator said the region has suffered marginalisation for years and warned against portraying the existing infrastructure situation as better than it is.

“We have been marginalized for years. Sugar-coating it by calling the bad roads feeder roads will stop the government from prioritizing these roads,” she said.

Her remarks come amid growing public debate over the state of infrastructure in Homa Bay, following videos shared online showing residents struggling with poor road conditions in parts of the county.

Odhiambo’s admission has added to calls for increased investment in road infrastructure, particularly in areas that residents say have remained underserved for decades