Homa Bay County has ushered in a new chapter in its executive leadership after Danish Otieno Onyango was sworn in as the county’s new Deputy Governor, pledging to turn the region’s vast potential into tangible opportunities for residents.

Onyango officially assumed the position on Thursday, succeeding Joseph Magwanga, who resigned earlier this year. He was nominated by Governor Gladys Wanga to fill the vacant position after previously serving as the County Executive Committee Member for Roads and Transport.

The new Deputy Governor took the oath of office alongside Isaac Ongiri and Elijah Obiny Dede, who were sworn in as County Executive Committee Members for Communication and Governance and Trade and Cooperative Development respectively.

In his first address after taking office, Onyango described his appointment as more than a promotion, saying it came with a greater responsibility to serve the people of Homa Bay and deliver results.

“I stand before you today not as one who has merely attained a position, but one who has accepted a sacred trust,” Onyango said.

He pledged to work closely with Governor Wanga and other members of the county executive to accelerate development and improve the lives of residents across the county.

At the centre of his agenda is the need to transform Homa Bay’s natural and economic resources into opportunities for ordinary residents. Onyango identified fishing, agriculture, mining and emerging investments as key sectors capable of driving the county’s economy.

He particularly highlighted the Riwa Special Economic Zone, promising to push for the completion and operationalisation of the project and position it as an industrial and commercial hub capable of attracting investors and creating jobs.

The Deputy Governor also promised to champion agro-processing and value addition, particularly for crops such as sweet potatoes, saying the move would help farmers earn more from their produce while reducing post-harvest losses.

“Homa Bay County remains Kenya’s hidden treasure with endless potential,” he said, while recognising the contribution of farmers, fishermen and other producers to the local economy.

Onyango praised Governor Wanga’s administration for what he described as efforts to spread development across the county, citing ward-based programmes and ongoing road projects as examples of investments aimed at reaching residents at the grassroots.

He further pledged to strengthen cooperation between the county and national governments, particularly in efforts to upgrade key roads to bitumen standards and improve connectivity across Homa Bay.

The new Deputy Governor said his office would focus on mobilising resources, building strategic partnerships and working with different stakeholders to speed up the implementation of development projects.

He also called on the newly appointed CECMs to work together and remain focused on delivering the county government’s agenda.

“Together we will work together. The future of Homa Bay is bright. Our resolve is unshaken. Our finest days are ahead of us. Our potential is truly endless,” Onyango said.

His assumption of office comes at a time when Homa Bay is seeking to harness its strategic position along Lake Victoria, strengthen agriculture and fisheries, attract investment and create more economic opportunities for its growing population.