Nairobi News

Construction of the Ida Odinga Library Research, Innovation, and Resource Centre at Ogande Girls High School in Homa Bay County has hit a standstill.

The ambitious project, with a budget of Sh 300 million, has faced delays since the August 9, 2022 election, and there seems to be uncertainty surrounding the reasons for the pause.

The project, initiated by Ms Ida Odinga, was intended to provide her former secondary school with a state-of-the-art library, research, and innovation center.

However, more than eight months after it was supposed to be completed, the site displays incomplete buildings with wooden supports.

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Ogande Girls High School’s management expressed confidence that the project would eventually be finished.

Principal Jenipher Otolo and Parents Teachers Association chairman Moses Nyambere assured stakeholders that the project was not abandoned, and both government and NG-CDF (National Government Constituency Development Fund) support was in place.

Dr Otolo stated that officials from the public works department recently assessed the building’s progress and that construction was paused during the election.

“We have scheduled a meeting where we will discuss on how the project can resume. Madam Ida called me over the same [matter],” the principal told Nairobi News.

Mr Nyambere said he could not tell when the project would be completed.

“It is three quarters complete. But being a big project, I cannot exactly tell when it will be completed, besides its completion depends on availability of funds,” he said.

While one side of the facility, which is already in use, boasts nearly finished interiors, the project’s delays have raised concerns about potential cost increases due to rising building material prices.

It has tiles on the floor and white paint on the wall. But the windows are unfinished open, meaning the facility cannot be used when it is raining or during strong winds.

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The library, meant to accommodate 500 students, was initially envisioned as a legacy for Ms Odinga’s family, offering a space for various events.

Several fundraisers were organized to raise money for the project, with politicians from ODM taking centre stage at the funds drive.

Some were held virtually, while the main fundraiser was held in August 2020.

Senior government officials in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government also raised funds for the project.

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and his counterpart from the Education Ministry, the late Prof George Magoha, led other government officials in a groundbreaking building construction ceremony in December 2020.

The late Magoha would later visit the site to assess the construction progress as the national government had allocated funds for the project.

He would commit government support for the facility, saying it would be completed on time.

Education activists in Homa Bay blamed implementers of the project for misplaced priorities.

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Homa Bay County Education Coordinator Julius Omuga said the facility should have been established at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay.

“The university is at a central place where students from other institutions can easily access. Besides, a university is a place of research and the facility was purposely built for research,” he said.

According to Mr Omuga, project funds could have been pocketed, with some not being accounted for.

He questioned why the project stalled for more than eight months without the implementers communicating to the public about it.

The education activist also called on political leaders in Homa Bay to step in and ensure the library and resource centre do not become a white elephant.

“Politicians were actively involved in funding the project before the election. Now that everything is settled, they have all gone quiet,” Mr Omuga said.

He wants investigative agencies to look into the alleged loss of funds.

“A lot of money was raised for the project yet the work does not commensurate with what has been done,” Mr Omuga said.

Despite the delays and setbacks, the hope remains that the Ida Odinga Library will eventually reach completion, serving the educational and community needs for which it was intended.

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