Homa Bay: MCA Establishes 26 Water Projects Worth KSh 80 Million In His First Year In Office

• Erick Omollo told TUKO.co.ke that he had spent over KSh 80 million to implement at least 26 water projects in his Homa Bay East ward
• Omollo said that he raised KSh 77 million from donors and got another KSh 3 million from county government to implement the projects
• He said the major challenge in his nearly one year of leadership was the public's lack of understanding of different elected leaders' roles thus making demands to wrong officials

Work has not been a bed of roses for Erick Omollo, a first-time Member of County Assembly (MCA) representing Homa Bay East ward.

Water shortage in Homa Bay

Omollo, locally known as 'Japii', loosely translated as 'mtu wa maji' in Kiswahili or water man in English, was known for his efforts to drill boreholes to help curb lack of clean water for domestic use, something that has nagged Homa Bay East ward and its surroundings for years.

According to Omollo, at the time of his election, he had planned to ensure all 27 schools within his ward had wells and the communities to have boreholes to provide water for both school children and the people around those schools by the end of his first year in office.

"My main objective was to solve the water problem that has long been experienced in my area. Only five out of the 27 schools in my ward had access to clean water before I was elected and one year later, only one school does not have a well,” he told TUKO.co.ke.

He expressed determination that he will be able to deliver the remaining well in the next few months and complete other 19 community-based water projects within 12 months.

Borehole drilling price in Kenya

“Water shortage will be a thing of the past the moment these projects will be complete,” he added.

He confessed that he does not depend on county finances to execute these programmes and attributed the commendable project implementation to partnerships with donors from Kenya, Africa and abroad.

The projects, according to Omollo, cost approximately KSh 80 million, with only Ksh 3 million coming from the county government.

"The water projects cost on the upward of KSh 80 million with KSh 77 million coming from donors and the remaining KSh 3 million from the county. In this and subsequent financial years the county will be giving KSh 3.5 million to the 40 wards in Homa Bay, that's an extra KSh 500,000 from the current allocation. It is not much but it will help," he explained.

These county allocation, he said, will ensure at least four water projects are done to completion in a year's time.

Donor funding in Kenya

The legislator also noted that it takes an indefinite time frame for the donors to disburse money for such projects, and some may even fail to give money as promised contributing to unfulfilled pledges.

Apart from water, which was the main objective, he said his number two objective was enhancing the road networks.

He said that he has already done at least 16 kilometres new roads and renovated five kilometres of those that were already constructed.

There's no doubt these projects have positively impacted many lives in the villages, if 53-year-old Helida Auma's sentiments are anything to go by.

Water projects already done include Maguje, Majiwa, Wangapala, Marindi

She told TUKO.co.ke that she was married in the ward for over 20 years and only got access to clean and safe water this year.

Auma fetches water from the well of a school located about 400 metres from her home.

"My children and I have been getting up as early as 5am during dry seasons to go to look for water many kilometres away. We would sometimes be forced to buy water from a vendor about two and a half kilometres from here. Now that struggle is behind us and they no longer get to school late," she narrated.

She lightly stated that she sleeps more soundly, no longer thinking about waking up early in the morning to go and look for water.

Functions of MCAs

Omollo, however, mentioned lack of sensitisation as one of the challenges he was facing as a first-time MCA.

He noted that a large percentage of the electorate have little, if any knowledge about their roles and which government tiers and departments are responsible for implementation of different projects.

"Members of the public do not know which leader should be doing which job and implementing which projects. They tend to blame leaders without necessarily knowing that they could be bashing the person who is not responsible for that particular issue," he noted.

By this time in 2022, many elected leaders were about to be sworn into office to commence service to the public and fulfilment of pledges.