- CS Mutua said the move is meant to outdo the juvenile gangs that have been terrorising locals along the Diani beaches endangering lives and affecting tourism activities.
- He said visible security will be in place alongside intelligence surveillance to bolster security and curb untoward incidents along the Diani white sandy beaches.
Image: SHABAN OMAR
The national government is set to improve beach security and initiate several projects to boost tourism in Kwale county.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said the government is planning to put up streetlights along the beach access roads, construct a tourism police base and equip the unit with four-bike wheeler to enhance patrols.
He said the move is meant to outdo the juvenile gangs that have been terrorising residents along the Diani beaches endangering lives and affecting tourism activities.
“Those rogue youth terrorising women and tourists, their days are numbered. They will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
Mutua said visible security will be in place alongside intelligence surveillance to bolster security and curb untoward incidents along the Diani white sandy beaches.
He made the remarks during a press briefing at the Kwale headquarters in Matuga subcounty.
The CS said the multi-agency security team will be conducting day and night patrols in all tourist attraction sites to guarantee security.
Mutua said a life guard unit will be established and furnished where youth will be trained to offer rescue services along the beaches.
The government will buy tractors to enhance beach cleaning to improve hygiene at the beaches, he said.
Mutua said the government in partnership with the county is looking forward to developing the beachfronts and improving beach infrastructure to attract more tourists and promote the sector.
“My ministry will work with the Kwale government to revive tourism to drive economic growth and contribute to job creation,” he said.
The CS said the government is committed to creating employment through the exploitation of the blue economy and tourism opportunities.
He said processes are ongoing to construct Kwale Heritage and Conventional Centre and Tourism, Cultural Market and Halal beach centre at the Kongo beach mosque in Diani to diversify tourism packages.
Mutua said the new facilities are expected to be a game changer for Kwale tourism and spearhead socio-economic growth.
He added that the infrastructure development will supplement the Diani White sandy beaches and convince tourists to prolong their stays for more explorations.
He said the tourism facilities will provide an opportunity for the county to market the rich Swahili culture and traditions among others.
Mutua said the government is determined to develop numerous ways to market tourism in the region and tap into its full potential.
The CS said more beach access roads will be constructed to open up and develop potential tourist attraction sites like the famous map of Africa in Tiwi, Matuga subcounty.
He said more development measures are in place to expand the Shimba Hills National Reserve by improving infrastructure and number of animals.
Mutua said the government is working on looking for investors to develop the park and build hotels and ecotourism activities.
He said a proper plan will be laid down for residents to collect firewood and initiate water projects for people to coexist peacefully with the wildlife.
Governor Fatuma Achani said the county welcomes the national government move to launch multiple development projects in the region.
She said her administration is determined to ensure tourism is revived and fully nurtured.
Achani said the county will partner with various investors to make the project a success.