For years, Homa Bay has played second fiddle to its more illustrious neighbours, including Kisumu, both politically and economically.

Tucked along the eastern shores of Lake Victoria, the county has been a bane of ridicule, with the first 10 years of devolution doing little to help it shed off the negative image it has grappled with for many years.

However, since President William Ruto took power in 2022, Homa Bay has undergone a steady transformation, rising from a quiet frontier county to a political and economic giant.

The Gladys Wanga-led county is fast becoming the face of President Ruto’s broad-based government, with the Head of State making at least three visits to the region, between February and August this year.

Christened “County of endless potential”, Homa Bay is quickly becoming Dr Ruto’s second citadel of power outside Nairobi.

It has slowly taken the shine from Kisumu, which was a darling of former President Uhuru Kenyatta after the “Handshake”.

Mr Kenyatta concentrated most of his “Handshake” projects in Kisumu as he made numerous trips to the lakeside city. President Ruto appears keen on Homa Bay.

The ex-President took Madaraka Day celebrations to Kisumu, repaired Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu, built a modern port, the Kenya Marine Institute, and the Kenya Shipyards, where ferries are now being constructed, and refurbished Kisumu’s port.

Kisumu State Lodge, where no president had slept, suddenly became a hive of activity as Mr Kenyatta spent a lot of time there.

But the tide has changed with President Ruto choosing Homa Bay. This came after Mr Ruto struck a political deal with ODM leader Raila Odinga last year.

The 10-point agenda, between ODM and President Ruto’s UDA, is meant to address Kenya’s most enduring governance and political challenges.

Between his first visit in October 2022 and February this year, President Ruto has toured Homa Bay five times despite receiving little support from the voters in the region.

“I am delighted to be back in Homa Bay, the county of endless potential, a place whose promise mirrors that of our great nation: vast possibilities awaiting bold action as we steadily unlock the full benefits of devolution,” said President Ruto during the official launch of the 2025 Devolution Conference on Wednesday.

The President visited the Homa Bay State Lodge, a project implemented by his administration ahead of this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, and signed crucial bills supporting devolution into law from there.

Such ceremonies have always been a preserve of the State House in Nairobi.

However, the Head of State broke from tradition by assenting to the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2025 which increased the equitable share of revenue to Sh415 billion for counties, and the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which amended the Public Finance Management Act to grant county assemblies financial autonomy.

On Wednesday, Governor Wanga recounted how Homa Bay struggled to make a name for itself.

She said no one thought the county could even host the devolution conference. The county had been given several demeaning names including mwisho wa lami (end of tarmac).

She said the derogatory references implied the county had no capacity to host a national event, as it was also considered a small county. “A lot of transformation has taken place here over the last three years,” Ms Wanga said.

She said up to three-quarters of the development in the region has been done with support from the national government.

The governor said some of the amenities that residents are currently enjoying, including roads in Homa Bay Town, development at the lakefront and other projects, were developed through a partnership between her administration and the national government, under President Ruto.

“You (the president) promised not to leave Homa Bay behind just because of how we voted. The transformation has been enormous. The dualling of Homa Road, the transformation of the lake front developments and many other projects.”

But no one captured the state the county was in before the 2022 elections better than area Senator Moses Kajwang’.

“We did not have 90 per cent of the roads and other public infrastructure we currently have. This region had been considered the black sheep of the government,” Mr Kajwang said.

The Senator added: “Many people used to wonder what good can come out of Homa Bay. I am glad you have seen this as a county of endless potential.”

Mr Kajwang said the region was side-lined by previous governments including Uhuru Kenyatta’s.

On Wednesday, President Ruto was in Homa Bay once more to open the three-day 2025 Devolution Conference, a continuation of the Head of State’s dalliance with the county.

President Ruto’s first visit was on October 2, 2022, when he attended a prayer service at the African Inland Church in Homa Bay town.

In January 2023, the President was back in the county to launch the construction of affordable houses and commissioning the Homa Bay Municipal Market.

In July the same year, the President was back for a thanksgiving and prayer service at the home of Interior PS Raymond Omollo.

In August 2024, President Ruto was back in Homa Bay town when he pledged to make it a city, among his many other visits to the county.

“We are planning to make Homa Bay a city and I will ensure it is done,” he said, adding; “My administration is committed to improving major economic sectors to promote development in Homa Bay.”

“This includes electricity, water supply, road, trade and completion of Raila Odinga stadium,” he added.

During the tour, President Ruto also inspected the ongoing construction of Homa Bay fish market.

“I will be back in December to open this fish market. Electricity will be connected to ensure fishermen do business with ease,” Dr Ruto said.

In December 2024, he was back to the county, accompanied by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to grace the Genowa Governor’s Cup.

In contrast, the six visits were more than ones made by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta in the 10 years in office and even during the four years of the Handshake era.

In February this year, the President was the chief guest at the second Homa Bay International Investment Conference (HOBIIC) at the Tom Mboya University Grounds.

Additionally, the Head of State also presided over the official launch of Riwa City Special Economic Zone (SEZ) where he awarded the county government of Homa Bay an operational licence to the SEZ, making the county become one of only three counties to fully own an SEZ. Victory Farms was given the licence to become the anchor investor at the Zone.

“It is very difficult to resist Wanga. I had nowhere to hide. I will be back next year for the Mashujaa Day celebrations,” said Dr Ruto.

True to his words, the President was back to the county four months later – his sixth visit – when the devolved unit hosted this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations – a first national event to be held in the county.

In her address, Governor Wanga expressed deep appreciation to President Ruto for granting Homa Bay the honor of hosting the event, describing it as a milestone in the county’s development journey.

“For the first time ever, the people of Homa Bay are not merely following these national celebrations on television; they are living them and this day will leave an indelible mark on our community,” said Governor Wanga.

The first term county chief highlighted major infrastructural upgrades in the region being implemented in collaboration with the national government, including the ongoing dualing of the main highway, expansion of Kabunde Airstrip runway, and other significant improvements to local roads and market centers.

The dualing of the main highway, a Sh424 million project, which started in May this year and is expected to be completed within 18 months and is being implemented by the Kenya National Highways Authority, will facilitate smooth flow of traffic within the town thus dealing with unnecessary traffic jams.

But that is not all. The county, which borders 80 percent of Kenya’s Lake Victoria shoreline, has also witnessed progress with the revitalisation of key piers in Homa Bay, Kendu Bay, and Mbita, with plans underway for a Lake Victoria public ferry service to boost trade and transportation across the region.

The government is also undertaking the construction of the 74-kilometre Mbita-Magunga-Sori road linking Homa Bay and Migori counties, as well as Mfangano and Rusinga Islands’ ring roads.

There is also the Mbita Bridge connecting to Mbita Town, revamped Homa Bay pier, which once finished, will enable enhanced water transport around Lake Victoria.

After the deadly anti-government protests by the Gen Zs, Homa Bay County benefited from the broad-based government by having former Suba South MP John Mbadi being appointed a National Treasury cabinet secretary, the first Luo to hold such a position since Kenya achieved her independence more than 60 years ago.

Yesterday, Governor Wanga said the projects have seen the county gradually rise from a crawling entity to a county brimming with blinding hope for the close to two million residents.

She disclosed that when she took over, the county’s healthcare system was near collapse, roads were in deplorable conditions, access to clean water remained a distant dream despite its proximity to Africa’s largest fresh water lake.

“The people’s hopes were at an all-time low with the first 10 years of devolution delivering no hope. When we mooted the idea of hosting this (devolution) conference, it looked like a pipe dream.

“This little county considered the very far end of the world was able to host this conference,” she said.