When Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga appeared before the Senate Public Accounts Committee on June 16 to respond to queries raised by the Auditor-General in the 2024/2025 financial year report, she provided a detailed account of how her administration utilised public funds during the period under review.
Among the many issues discussed, one expenditure captured public attention more than any other did: the construction of a two-door pit latrine at a beach in Suba South at a cost of Sh500,000.
Homa Bay residents were have questioned how half a million shillings could be spent on a single pit latrine.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
In a county where access to adequate sanitation remains a challenge in some areas, many residents were quick to question how half a million shillings could be spent on a single pit latrine.
Some argued that the figure was grossly inflated and reflected one of the many ways public funds are lost through exaggerated project costs. Others took to social media, comparing the amount with what they had spent on similar projects elsewhere, often claiming significantly lower costs.
Artificial intelligence generated images of pit latrines soon flooded online platforms, with critics using them to ridicule the county government. Supporters of Ms Wanga, however, insisted that the governor had accurately presented the figures and that the cost was justifiable under certain circumstances.
For more than a week, the issue has dominated conversations online and in social gatherings across Homa Bay, with residents attempting to calculate how much it should reasonably cost to construct a pit latrine.
A pit latrine constructed by Homa Bay County Government at Ngeri Beach in Kaksingri West on June 23, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
The matter first came into sharp focus when Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna raised concerns over pending development expenditure bills. Among the projects he highlighted was a latrine at Ngeri Beach in Kaksingri West, which had reportedly been completed and handed over but remained unpaid.
The pending bill for the project stood at Sh348,954.
Responding before the Senate, Ms Wanga maintained that the amount reflected the standard cost of constructing a two-door pit latrine. “That is the cost of excavating and building it. It is usually about half a million,” she said.
The governor explained that the figure represented an average cost and noted that some contracts could be awarded at between Sh460,000 and Sh480,000.
“The cost depends on the site where you are building it and the soil structure. Somebody could quote less,” she told senators.
Since then, county officials have found themselves on the defensive, painstakingly explaining the figures behind the controversial project in an effort to justify the expenditure.
The backlash has compelled them to use public forums to break down the costs involved in constructing a pit latrine.
When Governor Wanga attended a prayer service at Roho Church in Ugina Village, Mfangano last Sunday, County Education Executive Martin Opere devoted part of his address to defending the county government and explaining the project cost.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
He said that every taxpayer-funded project begins with a public advertisement inviting contractors to bid for the tender.
Different firms submit varying quotations, after which the government awards the contract to the lowest qualified bidder.
“Whoever wins the tender must pay VAT, which is 16 per cent of the total project cost. In this case, that amounts to about Sh80,000, which goes back to the government,” Mr Opere said.
Construction, he noted, involves multiple processes and expenses beyond the purchase of materials.
“Besides construction materials, the contractor must pay workers. Anyone who questions how the money was used but refuses to accept a proper breakdown has ulterior motives,” he said.
Construction experts have also weighed in, explaining that building costs vary significantly depending on factors such as soil stability, terrain and the location of the project site.
Homa Bay County Contractors and Suppliers Association Chairperson, Collins Omito, said poor soil bearing capacity could substantially increase construction costs.
The foundation work alone can account for between 30 and 40 per cent of the total cost of a structure when a site has weak soil, he said. This often requires deeper excavation, additional steel reinforcement and stronger concrete slabs.
“In addition to taxes, profit margins and other associated expenses, the cost of a two-door pit latrine can easily exceed Sh500,000 if it is constructed in an area with weak soil. The contract ceiling suggested by the governor could therefore be accurate,” Mr Omito said.
He added that some locations have favourable construction conditions, making projects considerably cheaper than in areas with challenging terrain or unstable ground.
