The beach leaders want the project to be completed

The beach leaders plan to meet President Kenyatta next month to push for the completion of major projects.

"We hope to have a two-hour meeting with you when you come to inaugurate the Kenya Agricultural Association event next month," Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho said at the port of Mombasa on Tuesday marking the release of Kenya's initial oil shipment.

DIVERSIFICATION

"We hope this meeting will see projects realized to benefit coastal communities." Governors, including Joho (Mombasa), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Fahim Twaha (Lamu) and Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta) said the projects it will create thousands of projects. jobs and save the regional economy.

Projects whose completion the leaders want the President to accelerate include the Sh30 billion Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone in Mombasa, the fishing port of Shimoni Sh20 billion in Kwale and the Sh42 billion Mzima II water project.

Samboja wants to hold talks with the President about revenue sharing from Tsavo National Park, which was rejected by the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib Balala.


"We really love the port, but if the Dongo Kundu project starts to produce results today, it will use 10 times what the port leases. It is our responsibility to ensure this dream is realized, "Joho said, and urged Kenyatta to consider establishing the petrochemical industry in Changamwe.

Mr Joho stressed the need for additional pre-export values ​​by regional residents saying: "We cannot remain stagnant. We have an oil refinery in Changamwe, which we can use well. "

He asked the President to hold a meeting of coastal leaders after his visit to Japan to discuss economic diversification.

President Kenyatta left for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development Summit on Tuesday. He promised to discuss funding for the Dongo Kundu project with Japanese officials.

OPPORTUNITIES

The Kenya Port Authority (KPA) will build the port of Dongo Kundu, while the Kenya National Highway Authority will build a road connecting the economic zone to the port. Phase I of the road is complete, while construction of phases II and II will begin soon.

The economic zone will accommodate companies that will process goods for export, a step that should increase Kenya's trade and create jobs. Mr. Mvurya requested the completion of the Shimoni port.

"You gave us the Kanana-Shimoni road, which is now finished; we ask that the construction of the Shimoni port be accelerated, "he said.

Mr Twaha said he was looking forward to opening the port of Lamu to "create opportunities for our people."

We also want oil to pass through Lamu because the port is prepared for this purpose, "he said. Last week the KPA announced that the first berth at Lamu port would be commissioned in October with the first ship scheduled to dock at the facility on the 20th of the same month.

"We ask for a small portion of the income from Tsavo because it covers 62 percent of the area," Samboja said.

Tsavo's two parks cover 10 million hectares.