President William Ruto has hailed Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga for what he described as bold and innovative leadership that is delivering modern infrastructure and improving services in the county.

Speaking on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, during the official opening of the new Homa Bay County Government Headquarters and the Ugatuzi Amphitheatre at the Homa Bay Arboretum, Ruto said the projects reflected the county’s commitment to efficiency and progress.

He praised Wanga for forging partnerships that made it possible to complete the headquarters in good time, calling it a “world-class facility” that will help county officers serve residents more effectively.

“This is a shining example of how counties can be effective, efficient, and focused on serving wananchi,” the President said, adding that the headquarters is a symbol of the county’s readiness to deliver on the promise of devolution.

The praise came just a day after Governor Wanga unveiled an ambitious plan to transform Homa Bay into a top tourist and investment hub in East Africa.

Drawing comparisons with Cape Town, South Africa, she said the county’s unique natural assets, particularly its long shoreline along Lake Victoria position it for major economic growth in tourism, the blue economy, and urban development.

“Homa Bay has the longest stretch of Lake Victoria’s shoreline. We believe we can use this to drive our growth and become the Cape Town of Kenya,” Wanga said in a local media interview on August 12, ahead of the Devolution Conference.

As part of her vision, Wanga wants to give the county a modern urban facelift, with the goal of attaining city status within the next decade. She said the transformation will involve reorganizing land use along the lakefront to create space for high-quality hospitality and leisure facilities.

“Currently, some government offices sit along the lakefront, including a small office with about 30 staff on seven acres of land much of it underused and occupied by broken-down vehicles,” she explained. “We plan to move those offices uphill to free the space for better developments.”

According to Wanga, these changes will not only boost tourism but also attract investors and create jobs, setting Homa Bay on a path to long-term prosperity.