George Otieno, 36, does masonry work.
Upon graduating from Ayila Polytechnic in Bondo sub-county several years ago, a desperate Otieno would scout for jobs at various construction sites with little success.
Occasionally, he would be lucky to land temporary jobs within his rural home in Rangwe. These jobs were scarce and unpredictable.
"I would land few opportunities from the homeowners who offered maintenance jobs. However, given the erratic nature of such jobs, planning any personal development becomes a challenge," he said.
Apart from not being able to carry out any meaningful personal development owing to the unpredictable incomes, Otieno found it difficult to fend for his young family.
On Monday, the Star caught up with him, busy alongside many workers at the construction site where the national government is implementing a multi-million Shillings affordable housing project in Homa Bay town.
Otieno is amongst the hundreds of residents of Homa Bay County who have been offered jobs at the site, earning directly from the project that kicked off mid-February last year after the launch by President William Ruto.
The Homa Bay county Government led by Governor Gladys Wanga provided land for the housing projects.
Each day, at least 50 workers are hired by the contractor at the site.
A part from the site workers, Evelyn Achieng, 33, is earning directly from the construction site.
" I supply food to the construction workers here every day. I have been doing so from the time the project began. We are ten women supplying food to them," she said when we met her at the site on Monday.
The positive stories are shared by most Homa Bay residents who are working on various government projects spread across the region. Others benefit by supplying building materials.
Apart from the Sh 227 million affordable housing project whose construction is at 65 per cent, President William Ruto also launched several high-value development projects in Homa Bay County last year.
The president has been to the county three times to launch various development projects undertaken by his Kenya Kwanza Government since he took office in September 2022.
Ruto has also visited Siaya, Kisumu, and Migori counties during his working tour, where more projects were launched specifically targeting the Luo Nyanza region.
Some of these projects that will have a massive socioeconomic impact and will completely transform Homa Bay include the construction of the Sh300 million Mfangano Ring Road project, which is 53 kilometres long.
The road project is being undertaken by Kenya Urban Road Authority ( KURA) and is 40 per cent complete.
According to Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan, after taking over the site, the contractor is carrying out stripping works.
"Construction of box culverts and grading/shaping is ongoing," the county commissioner said during an interview at his office on Monday.
"The project will enhance ease of movement for residents of Suba Central and across Mfangano Island," he added.
Apart from the Ring Road project, the Kenya Kwanza government is also constructing the Mbita- Sindo- Kiabuya-Karungu -Agolomuok Road, which is 74 kilometres to bitumen standards.
The project will cost Sh2.8 billion.
According to the implementation progress report, 24 kilometres of earthworks have already been done, as well as 7.6 kilometres of cement layer.
It is being implemented by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra)
"This is an important road for the residents of the areas it traverses and for connectivity of the region as well. The project will ease transport challenges to the local community in Suba and Mbita Sub counties," Lilan noted.
A few kilometres from Homa town, at Kodinga beach, construction workers are racing against time to deliver another multi-million Shillings modern fish market project by the national government.
Awarded to Jyan Construction Services, implementation of the project began mid-December last year, and it is expected to end in 2025.
According to the site engineer Wanyonyi Simiyu, the Sh 346 million project will be implemented in two phases because of financial constraints.
Phase one, which kicked off two weeks ago, will include the construction of the fish market, a road, and a perimeter wall.
The fish market will have modern fish landing sheds, a sun drying area, a central communal area ( serving as a kitchen), a parking lot, a green buffer zone, a biodigester, water tanks, shops, stores, cold storage, fish cutting areas and a garbage collection point.
According to the inspector of works Shadrach Ouko, approximately 2,000 fishmongers will use the market to carry out their activities daily.
This project is being undertaken by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development and employs about 60 locals every day during the construction period.
"We are doing sub-structure walls and retaining walls. Excavation works have been done, and we are now laying the ground for foundation and casting for lower ground floor slabs," the site engineer said.
The county commissioner said the market, upon completion, will enhance a good working environment for fish traders in Homa Bay town.
Just separated by a fence across the market project, engineers from Kenya Shipyard Limited are also on-site, executing the rehabilitation and construction works for the Homa Bay pier.
Keen to revamp the under-exploited blue economy in the region, the government is rehabilitating the neglected and dilapidated piers along Lake Victoria.
The rehabilitation works have kicked off at the Homa Bay pier and will target Mbita, Kendu Bay, Asembo Bay, and Sena.
According to Homa Bay County Commissioner, the works will cost Sh 600 million.
When Star caught up with the site engineer Patrick Michori at the Homa Bay pier on Monday, heavy equipment, including dredgers and compactors, dotted the place.
The contractor has sealed off the site, which is now a military installation, and preliminary works, including excavation and laying the ground where the port offices will be erected, are underway.
Beautification works along the shoreline within the port, and landscaping will follow, complete with a modern restaurant at the gates.
"The project implementing agency is Kenya Ports Authority, and the contractor is Kenya Shipyard Limited. Demolitions are ongoing, and artworks and construction of the contractor's office are also underway, " the county commissioner said.
He said the government was implementing high-value integrated projects that would greatly enhance the economic status of the residents and greatly transform many livelihoods.
The county commissioner noted that the national government, through the Lake Victoria Water Works Development Agency, has also completed two key water projects in Oyugis and Kendu Bay towns.
"The construction of the Oyugis water supply and sanitation project is done and ready for commissioning. The project will serve a population of 73,000 and is projected to grow to approximately 120,000 people by 2040," he said.
"Kendu Bay water supply and sanitation project at a cost of Sh 567 million is also 98 per cent complete and is ready for commissioning," he added.
Major parts of East Karachuonyo division, parts of Rachuonyo East sub-county, will benefit from the water project.
"Approximately, a population of 35,000 households will be served by this project, and it is expected to grow to approximately 60,000 by the year 2040," the county commissioner said.
The Rangwe sub-county headquarters project, which is being done by the Ministry of Interior for Sh 41 million, is 85 per cent complete.
According to the county commissioner, the project will enhance efficient service delivery to members of the public who reside in the Rangwe sub-county.
Lilan said the Homa Bay affordable housing project, which is amongst the many housing projects launched by the president across Kenya, is 65 per cent complete.
Awarded to Ernie Campbell, the project included the construction of 110 units in five blocks.
Block 1, which is 57 per cent, according to the contractor, contains one-bedroom units, while block 2 has two bedrooms with shops and is 58 per cent complete.
Block 3, referred to as studio apartments, has 30 units while blocks one and two have 40 units each. Construction at block 3 is at 59 per cent.
Block 4 is at 60 per cent and contains two-bedroomed units without shops, while block 5, which is at 56 per cent of construction, contains single-bedroom units.
"The project has created job opportunities for the residents of Homa Bay town and those from other sub-counties within the county. It has also benefitted other service providers through construction materials to the project," Lilan pointed out.