• CS tells National Assembly National Museums of Kenya has a history of mismanagement
• President gives contractor 150-day deadline, to be ready by May 31
The Tourism ministry will hire a private firm to manage the Sh460-million Mama Ngina Waterfront Park project.
Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala made the announcement on Friday.
Artefacts from a 13th Century mosque have been unearthed at the waterfront and archaeologists hope to find at least three more mosque cites.
The project currently is being managed through an agreement among the Tourism ministry, the Mombasa county government and the National Museums of Kenya.
The national government allocated Sh460 million for the waterfront project which was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on January 7.
Mombasa county, the museums of Kenya and Tourism ministry representatives are on the committee overseeing construction.
The CS told the National Assembly Committee on Culture and Tourism that the National Museums of Kenya will not be given the project because it has a history of mismanagement.
He said Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach in Mombasa has been neglected.
“That place is now a slum. The government gave NMK a mandate to manage it, but some officers from the institution sold part of the land," Balala said.
He said the ministry has been allocated money to develop the public beach, but nothing can be done until the 'mess' is resolved.
The CS said the Mama Ngina Waterfront Project will remain under Tourism, Mombasa county will regulate business at the park and the NMK will retain the mandate of preserving the history of the site. That wuld include mosque relics.
The waterfront project, launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on January 7, is45 per cent complete and the contractor is ahead of schedule.
The actual work began on January 20. By Friday, the project was exactly 60 days old and moving at the right speed, Balala said.
The President gave the contractor, Suhufi Agencies a 150-day deadline. It should be ready by May 31.
The President is to launch the project during the August holidays. The Mashujaa Day fete will be held there.
“The money for this project is released in tranches. So far, the contractor has been paid Sh35 million, and it is at 45 per cent. They have requested Sh25 million, which has been approved,” Balala said.
The CS told the MPs the Sh460 million budget for the project is at the Treasury and so even if there are delays, the money will not be touched in the new financial year.
National Assembly Culture and Tourism chair Victor Munyaka said they are impressed with the progress.
“After completion, the ministry can still come up with additional designs to enhance the place and we will approve the budget,” he said.
According to the project designs, Mama Ngina Waterfront Park is to be an integrated urban destination for culture, festivals, shopping, dining and relaxation.
It will feature a state-of-the-art amphitheatre, the Kilindini Cultural Centre, Pigeon Towers, traders’ kiosks, leisure walkways and ablution blocks. the two main gates leading to the park can now be seen when touring the site.
Suhufi Agencies has employed more than 300 local youth to work on the project.
REgistered traders at the park will have at least 120 kiosks made from 40-foot containers. The containers will be placed at about four designated areas on the 26-acre shoreline area.
At these kiosks, local and international tourists will be buying regional delicacies, cassava crisps and the palm fruits (madafu). Some of the kiosks will well souvenirs.