Rusinga Island is riding on a wave of optimism following the completion of the 19-kilometre Rusinga Ring Road by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority; the island’s first-ever tarmac road that, although yet to be commissioned, has already transformed daily life, residents say.
According to Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo, who toured the project on Tuesday, December 9, during his second day in Homa Bay County, this road had started reshaping the island’s economic fortunes, noting that signs of change were visible across several sectors.
“This is the first tarmac road ever built on this island, and it will surely be a game changer,” Owalo said during an inspection tour of the shoreline loop in company of Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and other officials. “Rusinga has beautiful beaches, abundant fish stocks, and its proximity to Ruma National Park will now make it a top tourist destination.”
The KSh 1.3 billion project traces the island’s stunning shoreline, forming a smooth circular route linking fishing beaches, homes, farmlands, and tourist sites – a transformation locals say they have waited for generations.
For the fisherfolk, the new road is already proving invaluable. With faster, smoother transport, fishermen can now rush their highly perishable catch to markets before it spoils, cutting losses that have long eaten into their earnings.
“The improved connectivity will allow fisherfolk from different beaches to move their catch quickly and safely. This will boost household incomes and stabilise livelihoods,” Owalo said.
Tourism stakeholders also share the reason for renewed optimism. Indeed, the new loop now opens up panoramic beaches, hilltop viewpoints, archeological sites, and homestay locations to visitors who previously struggled to overcome Rusinga’s challenging landscapes.
The milestone road forms part of the vast 480km Lake Victoria ring-road network-a long-planned infrastructure corridor intended to spark trade, mobility, and cross-county cooperation across the lake basin.
Owalo and his delegation, which included national and county officials, also inspected several other ongoing infrastructure projects in Homa Bay as part of a mission to address bottlenecks and fast-track economic growth.
The projects included the Kabunde Airstrip Runway Rehabilitation, which was 65% complete and cost KSh 216 million. Upon completion, the upgrade by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is likely to widen connectivity and attract new investors within the region.
In Rachuonyo West, it reviewed the progress of the 67km Kadel–Alara–Pala–Kanyadhiang Centre–Kilusi–Opanga–Ramba road network, a KSh 4 billion KeRRA project that is currently at 7% completion. This network aims to open up isolated rural communities and improve access to markets, hospitals, schools, and other essential services.
For Rusinga Island, the completion of the ring road marks more than just an engineering feat, it is a new chapter for an island long cut off by rough terrain, now preparing to step into its full economic potential.
