Homa Bay Governor Sets Ten-Year Timeline to Transform County into Full City Status
Homa Bay, 11 March 2026
Governor Gladys Wanga has crossed the one billion shilling revenue milestone and now aims for city status within a decade. Her administration turned around a county with negative 34 per cent revenue growth through cashless collection systems and comprehensive reforms. The transformation plan focuses on infrastructure development and economic opportunities under the ‘Genowa’ manifesto, positioning Homa Bay as a major hub in the Lake Victoria region and strengthening Kenya’s devolution success story.
Revenue Transformation Under Wanga’s Leadership
The ambitious city transformation plan builds upon a remarkable financial turnaround that Governor Wanga’s administration has achieved since taking office. When Wanga assumed leadership, Homa Bay County faced a dire fiscal situation with revenue growth at negative 34 per cent [1]. The county has since implemented comprehensive revenue reforms, including the enactment of new revenue laws and the establishment of a revenue board, ultimately crossing the one billion shilling revenue milestone [1]. This dramatic financial recovery was further bolstered by the transition to cashless revenue collection in October 2022 [1], modernising the county’s revenue systems and improving collection efficiency.
Strategic Framework and Service Improvements
The transformation agenda operates under the County Integrated Development Plan for 2023–2027, which serves as the strategic guide for the county’s programmes and financial decisions [1]. Wanga’s administration has demonstrated its commitment to rapid service delivery through the launch of a ‘100-day task force’ aimed at improving public services [1]. This initiative has already yielded tangible results, including the commissioning of an outpatient wing at the County Referral Hospital, acquisition of a new CT scan, and upgrade of the maternity wing [1]. The governor’s approach reflects the core principles of the ‘Genowa’ manifesto, which translates to ‘Our Hope’ and focuses on dignity, opportunity and transformation [1].
City Status Vision and Regional Positioning
During her third State of the County address delivered on 11 March 2026, Governor Wanga outlined her vision for Homa Bay to become a fully fledged city within the next decade [1]. This ambitious timeline represents a significant leap for the county, which has already begun raising its regional profile through strategic initiatives. In 2023, Homa Bay successfully hosted the Piny Luo cultural gathering at the Raila Odinga Homa Bay Stadium [1], demonstrating its capacity to handle major regional events. Governor Wanga articulated her administration’s vision, stating: ‘We undertook the challenging task of raising our profile. We crafted a vision to transform Homa Bay into the best county to live, work and invest in’ [1].
Future Development Trajectory
The county’s development momentum is set to accelerate with several high-profile events planned that will showcase Homa Bay’s growing capacity as a regional hub. The county is preparing to host both Madaraka Day on 1 June 2025 and the 9th Devolution Conference in August 2025 [1] [alert! ‘These dates appear to be in the past given today is 11 March 2026’]. These events will provide platforms to demonstrate the county’s infrastructure capabilities and administrative capacity to handle national-level gatherings. Governor Wanga’s transformation plan positions Homa Bay as a strategic player in Kenya’s devolution success story, with the county’s journey from financial distress to prosperity serving as a model for other counties seeking to achieve sustainable growth and development in the Lake Victoria region.