A heated debate has erupted over the cost of constructing two-door pit latrines in public markets in Homa Bay County, after revelations that each unit is budgeted at about KSh500,000, sparking questions over value for money in county projects.
The controversy intensified after Governor Gladys Wanga defended the expenditure before senators, insisting that the figure represents a standard cost for the sanitation facilities and not the amount contractors actually walk away with in cash.
“The standard amount for the two-door pit latrines is about half a million shillings… It’s usually about half a million shillings,” Wanga told lawmakers, a statement that has since fueled public scrutiny rather than calm it.
Homa Bay County’s sharp rebuttal
In a strongly worded clarification posted on its official X account on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, the county government dismissed claims that contractors pocket the full KSh500,000 per latrine, arguing instead that a significant portion is absorbed by statutory deductions and legal obligations.
According to the breakdown provided, 16% Value Added Tax (VAT)—approximately KSh80,000—is remitted to the Kenya Revenue Authority.
A further 30% (about KSh150,000) is described as a guaranteed minimum Return on Investment for contractors under procurement regulations, while 3% (around KSh15,000) is allocated to contractual oversight and compliance costs.
After these deductions, the county claims roughly KSh255,000 remains for the actual construction of a two-door pit latrine.
“That is the modest amount left for pitting and constructing a two-door latrine after statutory deductions and legal returns. Do the math before the noise,” the statement read, a phrase that has since drawn both ridicule and criticism online.
Questions over “half-million latrine” economics
The explanation, however, has not fully silenced skepticism, with critics questioning how a basic sanitation structure can command such a headline cost in the first place—especially in a region still grappling with development needs.
The debate has placed Homa Bay under renewed scrutiny over county-level procurement, with opposition voices and civil society actors demanding clearer audits of public infrastructure spending.
At the center of it all is a growing national conversation on whether devolved units are delivering value for money or inflating project costs under the cover of statutory deductions and contractual frameworks.
Sanitation gains vs. cost controversy
Despite the backlash, the county maintains that sanitation investments have improved hygiene access in markets, beaches, and public spaces. It also cited data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicating that Homa Bay ranks among counties with improved access to sanitation services.
Still, the optics of a KSh500,000 pit latrine—regardless of how the money is split—continue to dominate public discourse, placing Governor Wanga’s administration under pressure to justify every shilling in an increasingly scrutinized devolved governance system.
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