The Dr Ida Odinga Library, Research, Innovation and Resource Centre at Ogande Girls High School in Homa Bay Town was unveiled in 2020 as a landmark education project expected to transform learning in the region.
Designed to house a 500-capacity digital library, an ICT hub, research facilities, a creative arts centre and a 1,000-seater amphitheatre, the project attracted widespread support from national and county leaders, corporate organisations and individual donors.
When construction was launched in December 2020, the initial fundraising drive had realised about KSh176.9 million through cash, cheques, pledges and in-kind support against an estimated project cost of more than KSh350 million.
Earlier estimates had placed the cost at about KSh409 million. At the time, the project was expected to be completed within 18 months.Nearly six years later, however, the facility remains unfinished, raising questions over funding, implementation and accountability.
Questions over fundingThe project enjoyed significant political backing from the outset.
The launch brought together Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i and the late George Magoha, Ida Odinga and several national and local leaders.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also made a contribution, while the Ida Odinga Foundation coordinated the fundraising campaign.
The National Government pledged continued support and the Homa Bay Town NG-CDF committed about KSh50 million in phased allocations.
Construction commenced soon after, with periodic progress updates and site visits by leaders.However, work later slowed before stalling altogether.
In August 2023, The Star reported that construction had not recorded significant activity for more than eight months.
The school’s principal at the time said stakeholders were expected to meet to review the project’s progress and agree on a new completion timeline, even as education stakeholders warned that the development risked becoming a white elephant.
Audit concernsPublic funding for the project continued through NG-CDF allocations.
In the Auditor-General’s review of stalled and abandoned projects for the 2023/24 financial year, the Ogande Girls Library project in Homa Bay Town Constituency was identified among incomplete NG-CDF projects.
The report indicated that the project accounted for KSh40 million of incomplete works within a national portfolio of stalled constituency-funded projects valued at KSh495 million.
Separate claims based on audit findings have also cited specific NG-CDF disbursements, including a KSh20 million allocation, where verification reportedly found incomplete works.
Homa Bay Town MP George Peter Kaluma has, however, maintained that the NG-CDF has contributed KSh50 million through annual instalments.
He has stated that the library section is already operational while construction of the auditorium remains incomplete, adding that implementation is under the school’s Board of Management.
Even so, no consolidated public record has been released detailing how much of the KSh176.9 million raised in 2020 was received in cash, how much remained as pledges, the total public funds disbursed, payments made to contractors, or the current amount required to complete the project.
Fresh fundraisingIn September 2025, leaders held another major fundraising event to mobilise additional resources for the project.
President William Ruto pledged KSh55 million, while Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced KSh50 million from the Ministry of Education.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Members of Parliament and other leaders attended the event, with organisers appealing for more support to complete the facility.
The renewed fundraising underscored the project’s continued financing needs despite the substantial amounts previously mobilised.
Accountability concernsAuditor-General reports on NG-CDF projects have consistently highlighted stalled projects, incomplete works and weaknesses in project oversight across the country.
While such findings do not in themselves amount to evidence of fraud or theft, they point to concerns over project management, monitoring and accountability.
Donors who contributed during the initial fundraising campaign and taxpayers whose money has been channelled through public allocations are entitled to clear information on how the funds have been utilised and the project’s current financial position.
The Dr Ida Odinga Library, Research, Innovation and Resource Centre remains one of the region’s most ambitious education projects.
Whether it ultimately delivers on its original vision may depend not only on securing additional funding, but also on greater transparency through the publication of comprehensive financial records, procurement documentation, contractor payment schedules and audited accounts.
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