This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, a community in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, expressed opposition to a health centre being built in the area, claiming it would interfere with their agricultural activities.
The proposed Anyuongi Health Centre, valued at Sh4.2 million, was scheduled to start construction this month.
However, residents argue that the land where the health centre is proposed to stand is used as grazing and water point for their livestock, and using it for a health project would deny them an opportunity to keep livestock, which they depend on.
According to George Gogo, chairman of the Kawere Konyango Karading Welfare Group, the county government did not seek their opinion when planning for the project.
"Public participation is a mandatory process in all projects undertaken by the government. For this case, no one was told that the land owned by the community would be used for a project," Mr Gogo said.
He accused some residents of colluding with the county government to impose the project on them.
On the other hand, William Wawa, chairman of the Anyuongi Health Centre Development Committee, accused the opposing group of being anti-development.
"We want easy access to health centres and to promote good living. It is therefore wrong to oppose a development project in the village like this one," he said.
Following the dispute, Homa Bay County Health Chief Officer Gerald Akech announced that the project has been suspended until the issue is resolved.
