•The gubernatorial hopeful will use the untapped agricultural and tourism opportunities.
Boga says he wants to empower residents to adopt modern farming systems for subsistence and commercial gains.
Eradicating poverty and improving the lives of Kwale people is among Hamadi Iddi Boga's agendas if elected as the next governor.
Boga wants to succeed Governor Salim Mvurya who is serving his last term.
He says the first 100 days would be administration transformational and another six months for economic changes.
“In my first few days in office, I will develop our county and improve service delivery,” Boga says.
The gubernatorial hopeful will use the untapped agricultural and tourism opportunities.
Boga says he wants to empower residents to adopt modern farming systems for subsistence and commercial gains.
He says the region is very productive but its economy is choked by poor leadership and misplaced priorities.
The former PS says attaining food security is the initial and crucial step in fighting poverty, hunger, malnutrition and unemployment.
Boga says he is passionate about serving and improving the status quo of the Kwale people.
“If fishers, livestock keepers and food crop farmers are effectively empowered then riches will reign,” he says.
“It hurts to see people suffering yet I have great ideas and means to help them.”
Boga says the county's economy is bleeding because people have concentrated on applying borrowed policies rather than having inclusive ideas to enrich lives.
About 60 per cent of Kwale land is Arid and Semi-Arid, meaning to rely extensively on agriculture is almost impossible.
The region is among the ASAL counties that have suffered from prolonged drought.
Currently, farmers have incurred losses due to poor rains.
Agriculture county department statistics show almost 70 per cent of the farmers did not harvest in the last season, the rest had poor harvests.
However, Boga says with ideas and proper planning, everything is possible.
He plans to sink more than 10,000 water boreholes and earth dams for domestic and agricultural purposes.
The former Agriculture Principal Secretary says since rains are affected by the increased climate change, adapting to irrigation farming is inevitable.
He says the boreholes would be dug scientifically to enable them to retain water and withstand harsh climatic conditions.
“Our soil water retention is very dull, so we will consider digging small dams in certain dimensions and depth,” Boga says.
“Having the water sources facing North-South will protect them from direct sunlight and reduce the amount of evaporation when the sun rises and sets unlike when they are flat.”
He says the region receives more than 300 millimetres of rain per year, sufficient to produce enough food.
Boga says he will devise mechanisms to tap the rainwater and store it for future use.
The governor hopeful holds a Bachelor of Science in Botany, a Master of Science in Microbiology from Kenyatta University and a Doctorate of philosophy in Microbial Ecology from Konstanz University, Germany.
He says the county will be in the right hands. His long experience in the study of animals and plants' behaviour is excellent in making Kwale economically industrious.
The aspirant says farmers will be provided with high-skills technology and improved equipment to fully exploit agricultural activities.
He wants to revive the coconut and cashew nut sectors that were once the backbone of Kwale people's economy.
The region is also known for the production of mangoes, oranges, lemons, passion, jackfruits among others.
Boga says he plans to develop a one product commercial village concept where each area will at least specialise in producing a certain product to achieve food security and job creation.
He says Japan has reaped a lot from the one product per village concept and Kwale can do better.
The agricultural expert says he will also look for local and international markets for locally produced products.
Boga says he will link fishermen and farmers with various investors from the maritime.
“If we have many ships docking around, visitors will need food and local farmers can supply and export overseas,” he says.
The county has a bursary programme dubbed Elimu Ni Sasa foundation which was created by Mvurya in 2013.
It was meant to support bright needy students and children living with a disability.
At least Sh400 million is budgeted each year for the bursary programme.
He wants to improve the bursary kitty allocations to benefit many students.
Boga says there is a need to expand the bursary pocket for equal and quality education for Kwale children.
He says his administration will invest well to ensure more tertiary institutions for the blue economy are built to offer youth with numerous job skills.
He aims at bettering the health system for advanced treatments at a low cost.
Boga has also vowed to end corruption and tribalism.
“Corruption is still a major headache, I will have strong policies that will discourage the vice,” he says.
Boga says his administration will empower residents rather than engage in impulse buying that provides loopholes for corruption.
He says instead of importing certified seeds for local farmers, he would empower them to be self-dependent.
Boga says most of the government funds are stolen in the name of helping residents using ghost projects.
The governor hopeful was born on December 3, 1967, at Mwaroni and raised in Mvindeni, Kwale county.
He went to Voi Secondary, a catholic school before joining Kenya High School.
The former Agriculture PS resigned to do politics. He is the brother of Omar Boga, former Msambweni MP aspirant.
He also worked as a Dean at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and a principal Taita Taveta Campus in Voi.
He is vying through the Orange Democratic Movement party.
He will be deputised by the former Correctional Services Principal Secretary Safina Kwekwe.
Boga says he chose Kwekwe because she is learned, experienced and very principled.
“Kwekwe has shown excellent leadership abilities and has contributed a lot in uplifting the residents' lives,” he says.
“Together we will transform the county to greater heights.”
Boga will face Agnes Zani and Chai Lung'anzi for the ODM party nomination ticket.
The winner will battle out with deputy governor Fatuma Achani who has the support of Mvurya, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Sammy Ruwa, Gereza Dena and Suleiman Lugogo.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris