How devolution has changed lives in Mombasa County

What you need to know:

  • More than 25,000 students are benefitting from Scholarships and Bursaries disbursed across the six sub counties to access education.

  • School milk programme in all the 97 public schools so far benefits over 30,000 children, five days a week.

  • The programme has led to improved enrolment, class attendance and information retention among the children.

  • The county has also set up eight brand new ultra-modern ECD centres, which has improved transition rates and set a solid foundation for children.

Devolution is now well in the second term with major accomplishments to boast of, expectations as well as plans, which are greater than before.

The devolved system of governance came with many expectations and with it there were teething challenges.

But looking back, there is every reason to appreciate the many benefits it has brought to Mombasa County residents.

Among the top achievements is major improvements at the Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH).

INSURANCE

CPGH is the largest referral facility in the Coast region with all major medical procedures—including open heart surgery, oncology, endoscopy and laparoscopy— being handled.

The county government is also very keen modernizing public hospitals and health centres, upgrading existing infrastructure, adopting latest medical technology and ensuring uninterrupted supply of affordable medicines and equipment in all public health facilities.

The county will also establish a health insurance scheme for high risk populations such as the elderly and women in informal settlements as well as develop a public health education programme to sensitize communities and fight preventable communicable diseases

 Estate roads have been improved. In the last five years, the government has constructed more than 100km of roads in the county.

“We have also installed many street lights than any other time in history. The drainage system has to some extent been done depending on the allocation of funds considering that this is a capital-intensive undertaking,” said Mr Taufiq Balala, the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Transport and Infrastructure.

ROADS

It has also constructed more than 78 Km access roads in all sub counties.

Improvement of Aldina-Kwa Ng’ombe Drift Bridge in Jomvu has enhanced security, improved connectivity, promoted economic development and improved social integration.

The installation of traffic lights at six junctions —Saba, Buxton, Kengeleni, Digo, Makadara and King’orani— has greatly reduced traffic congestion and improved safety.

Building of storm water drainage systems in Majengo, Old Malindi Road, Hongera Road and drainage works at Soko Mjinga, Sisi kwa Sisi, Flamingo, Wayani, Mwijabu Primary, Likoni flats, among other areas  has reduced flooding and ensured road safety.

This has also been enhanced by installation of gulley pots and covers along Digo Road and Abdel Naser Road.

In order to improve safety of pedestrians, reduce traffic congestion and bring sanity in the transport sub sector, the county constructed bus stops along Ronald Ngala and New Malindi roads.

Another notable project is the mass lighting service, popularly known as Mulika Mwizi, which improves security.

URBANISATION

The government has also acquired road construction equipment such as graders, shovels, rollers, tippers and backhoe, a move that has improved construction and maintenance of roads.

However, this is an area where more resources are required given the planning challenges, especially in informal settlements.

The city of Mombasa has been grappling with critical issues of land tenure, housing and rapid urban growth.

Likewise, in planning, the department is working tirelessly to ensure every plan conforms to the laid down guidelines for urban development.

Mr Edward Dzila Nyale, the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Land, Housing and Physical Planning, said for the first time in 20 years, through cooperation with the Japanese government, there is now a complete great master plan for Mombasa, which highlights areas of opportunities and areas of improvement in infrastructure and urban development

Planned projects include Likoni Bridge, which is in the final stages of designing, the second and third Nyali bridges and a light train from Likoni to Kengeleni to be completed between 2030 and 2040.

HOUSING

Planned establishment of special economic zones— such as the Petro City in Pungu Likoni, the Eco City in Mwakirunge— will boost conference tourism.

A new land policy passed by the County Assembly in 2017 will deal with issues such as tenant-at-will.

The department has also just completed re-evaluation of the valuation roll 20 years after the last one was done for Mombasa to increase revenue.

Mr Nyale said there are 70,000 documented informal settlements in Mombasa, a situation that calls for a multi-pronged approach.

The county government plans to settle at least 30, 000 squatters in the next five years.

They have also unveiled a social housing plan to build 32,000 low-cost houses in the next two years.

Partnering with World Bank, Swedish Government and Kenyan Government through Kenya Informal Settlement Programme (KISP), the project will also improve the settlements.

WATER

Construction of five-kilometre water pipeline and six water kiosks in Likoni, which increased water access to 1,200 households, is among the measures in place to provide clean water to the resort city.

The county has also undertaken construction of 22 boreholes across the six sub-counties at a cost of Sh60 million to boost clean-water supply.

 Laying of a 2.8km pipeline and four-yard taps through Bokole Water Supply Project in partnership with WSTF has benefitted 800 households.

At the same time, water tankering is ongoing in West mainland where 15 plastic tanks were installed at different strategic areas and filled using water bowsers.

The government is in the final stages of procurement for the construction of a water desalination plant in south and north mainland to provide fresh water to the residents.

 Similarly, the signing of the water purchase agreement with World Bank has paved way for the construction of Sh16-billion Mwache dam that will supply residents with 180,000 cubic meters of water daily.

AGRICULTURE

Ms Rosina Wasoi, County Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives says the government has unveiled a robust subsidy programme where farmers are given certified seeds and other farm inputs as a motivation to take up crop cultivation.

“In the livestock sub sector, poultry keeping, especially the kienyeji species, is gaining momentum with some farmers forming an association to enable them sell to meet the demand, which is currently being satisfied by chicken coming all the way from Ukambani,” she said.

“Very soon we will start providing incubators as an incentive to farmers to help them have easy access to chicks,” she added.

One of the steps taken towards mechanisation of agriculture is the acquisition of a tractors that farmers can easily access.

The county is also promoting the growing of high value traditional crops such as amaranth, sweet potatoes, cassava in a bid to reduce overreliance on maize.

To exploit the blue economy, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Hassan Mwamtoa noted initiatives have been put in place in the fisheries sub sector.

FISHING

They include establishment of a common user storage facility, fish auction market and processing plants to improve fishers’ earnings.

A landmark project that the county government successfully accomplished is the construction of the MV Mombasa fishing boat for deep sea fishing, which enables fishermen to venture in waters beyond one nautical mile.

According to County Chief Officer for Fisheries Uzel Mzera, deep sea fishing boats will also be bought to enable local fishermen venture and fully exploit the exclusive economic zones.

 Future plans include putting up fish processing facilities complete with packaging and cold storage facilities.

“We also want to undertake continuous capacity building to impart fishing skills,” he said.

“Other plans include the rehabilitation of landing sites but more critical is to get the title deeds to safeguard the sites from grabbing and encroachment.”

The Trade and Tourism department is rebranding Mombasa with a focus on promoting the city as a destination for shopping, sports, beaches, cultural and historical heritage to reap from the benefits of diversification.

MILK IN SCHOOLS

One of the government’s legacy in empowering the youth is the state-of-art mini stadiums.

County Revolving Fund and reducing fees charged on certain processes has also provided support to women and youth in the county to become entrepreneurs.

Governor Hassan Joho’s government has also established partnerships with local universities which have seen flagship ideas like the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani initiative benefit from the wide range of skills in the institutions

More than 25,000 students are benefitting from Scholarships and Bursaries disbursed across the six sub counties to access education.

School milk programme in all the 97 public schools so far benefits over 30,000 children, five days a week.

The programme has led to improved enrolment, class attendance and information retention among the children.

The county has also set up eight brand new ultra-modern ECD centres, which has improved transition rates and set a solid foundation for children.

INSPECTORATE

More than 100 teachers have also been employed at Early Career Development Centres and 20 three Maktaba centres (libraries).

 Partnership with Mombasa county polytechnics has seen over 2,000 youth benefit from tertiary education.

Mombasa County Inspectorate has now become the source of pride, especially with regard to management of traffic and waste management.

During the outbreak of Chikungunya in Mombasa, the inspectorate played a crucial role in mobilising and helping residents.

Improvements in the ICT in the Department of Trade has not only seen a rise in revenue collection but also increased the efficiency in monline licensing and permit renewals.

 Last year Mombasa grew its revenues to Sh1.9 billion from Sh1.6 billion.

To be able to respond better to the challenges of the future, Mr Joho’s leadership has developed the Mombasa County Vision 2035.

The Vision hopes to modernise Mombasa to expand business opportunities and grow its capacity to handle the needs of residents.

VISION 2035

It is anchored on Kenya’s Vision 2030 and sets out specific and measurable milestones that will guide its implementation.

Mombasa, being a manufacturing hub in the country, is automatically targeted by the Big Four Goals of expanding the manufacturing sector by 20 percent.

Big Four Agenda seeks to inject new impetus in the four areas of Manufacturing, Health, Food Security and Nutrition and Housing which are on focus in Governor Hassan Ali Joho’s Manifesto 2017-2022.

The Mombasa county development blueprint seeks to create a vibrant economy with a focus on SMEs in a bid to create jobs for the youth and women.

Goal Four on Housing links well with Mombasa county’s endeavour to improve access to water and sanitation, create a sustainable environment and develop modern transport infrastructure.

This goal feeds into Mombasa Vision 2035, which aims to modernise land use to fit with its present and future economic needs.

Under the Vision, Mombasa plans to provide modern, affordable housing for its people as envisaged in the Big Four Agenda.