Homa Bay, Kenya, 30 October 2025 – In a landmark moment for inclusive urban planning, residents of Homa Bay Municipality formally handed over the People’s Adaptation – Local Physical and Land Use Development Plan to the County Government for endorsement by the County Assembly. Once approved, the plan will serve as a blueprint for structured, climate-resilient development—positioning Homa Bay to proactively manage rapid urbanization and escalating climate risks.
The handover ceremony was presided over by County Secretary Professor Bernard Muok, joined by County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Peter Ogola; Chief Officer Charles Obondo; Director Teddy Oginga; and Municipal Manager Sigar Agumba, among other senior officials.
Muok emphasized the timeliness of the plan, noting that “Homa Bay, like many parts of Kenya, is urbanizing fast under a changing climate. We must plan for resilient municipalities and infrastructure.” He commended the technical team—comprising county planners, Akiba Mashinani Trust (AMT), and civil society organizations—for accelerating the process, which was initially projected to take two years but was completed in just over one.
Ogola underscored the strategic importance of the plan as Homa Bay Municipality advances toward city status. He called on the County Assembly to allocate resources for implementation once the plan is approved.
Developed through extensive public consultation, the plan reflects the aspirations and priorities of residents—including those from the informal settlements of Sofia, Shauri Yako, and Makongeni. It includes actionable proposals presented as Action Area Plans and Capital Investment Plans, grounded in community-identified needs. Local administration played a key role in mobilizing participation. The Senior Chief of Arujo Location affirmed that community members were actively involved and expressed optimism that implementation would bring tangible benefits.
AMT CEO Jane Weru congratulated the County Government and Municipal Board for their leadership, highlighting the central role of data in planning. She noted that over 300 youth from Homa Bay were trained and engaged in household mapping and enumeration—building local capacity and ownership.
Victor Orindi, Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) commended the planning achievement but reminded stakeholders that “the real work begins with implementation.” He reaffirmed GCA’s continued commitment to supporting the rollout of this people-led plan.
