When I read an article attributed to the Government Spokesperson, Dr. Isaac Mwaura, on this online publication of The Star, headlined, “Mwaura says Ruto’s administration has delivered 1,000 good things in 1,000 days,” my thoughts were thrown into a wonderland.
One thousand things in 1,000 days? This means one thing every day throughout.
The bewilderment was real. But wait until I joined the Spokesperson on a media tour of the projects by the National Government in the Coastal region.
My wonderland was turned into a true world from the sight of what the government has been able to do in the thousand days in question through its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, or simply put, BETA.
The projects at different stages of completion, between 30 and 100 per cent, are a testament to Dr. Mwaura’s assertions.
A visit to three of the six counties in the coastal region, specifically Mombasa, Kwale and Taita Taveta, revealed ongoing implementation of a total of 75 projects spread across the counties, not mentioning those in the other three counties of Kilifi, Lamu and Tana River.
They cut across economic sectors, including roads, bridges, airstrips, modern markets, Affordable and Social Housing, ICT hubs (dubbed Jitume hubs), industrial parks, last-mile internet, water and electricity connectivity, fishing and various value chains among others.
In addition to these projects are programs and services such as provision of subsidized fertilizer to farmers, on-boarding of government services onto e-citizen online platform for easier access by the public, social protection cash transfers (for older persons, orphans and vulnerable children and persons living with severe disabilities) land title deeds, financial equalization fund, capacity building for the MSME players and settlement of squatters besides other interventions particularly in the Marine and Blue Economy.
The most striking projects were: the dualling of the 13.5km Mombasa – Mtwapa (A7) Road Section (linking Mombasa and Kilifi counties), Kidongo BMU Fish Landing Banda, Diani airstrip in Kwale County and the last 17-mile electricity connectivity in Taita Taveta County.
The Mombasa – Mtwapa road starts at the end of Nyali Bridge in Mombasa City and forms part of the 515 Km East Africa Coastal (Multinational Malindi Lunga Lunga/Tanga - Bagamoyo Road) Corridor Development Project. It runs in a northerly direction through Kengeleni, Nyali, Bamburi, before terminating at the start of Mtwapa Bridge.
The project is being expanded to a four-lane highway at a budgeted cost of Sh7,590,747,592 and is at 42 per cent overall completion.
It has seen 478 persons, including 28 expatriates hired as foremen, plant operators, artisans, drivers and labourers to provide both skilled and unskilled labour at the various workstations, thus acting as a catalyst for job creation.
On the other hand, Kindongo BMU Fish Landing Banda is under construction, incorporating a cold storage for fish, Ice ice-making plant, a place for fish preparation and packaging and a conference hall to aid business negotiations, all at a cost of Sh170 million.
The project is 80 percent complete and brings with it benefits like community’s ease of acquiring fish through the facility, preservation of excess fish at the cold room reducing wastage, direct employment to the local youth during and after construction, help fishermen to go to the deep seas for better quality fish for export and allow them access to new markets for their catch prompting improved standards of living.
In Kwale County lies the Diani Airstrip, whose facilities are being upgraded to the level of an airport.
Currently, the government is in the process of constructing a concrete turn pad, a runway and runway strip alongside, extension of the Apron and construction of a new taxiway in addition to expansion of the existing taxiway.
Being constructed for Sh173,702,292, the project is 89 per cent complete with a deadline for 1st August 2025 and is projected to improve tourism in the region as it aids ferrying of visitors to enjoy the beach life and other tourist attraction features along the Indian Ocean.
The Airstrip Manager, Bernardine Mundui, is upbeat about the project completion date and grateful for the contribution she is making to the community through the project, which has created jobs and promises to create more with the targeted increase of visitors and investors to the region.
In Taita Taveta, a total of 17 last-mile electricity connectivity projects are earmarked to connect 4,154 households and a rice mill.
The county has other programs, including issuance of title deeds with a total of 1,336 deeds having been issued between January and March this year and some more 1,792, pending release to owners.
About the developments attained in these regions, the Government Spokesperson told the media that the government shall not relent on its resolve to implement policies, initiatives, programs and projects in the country, ensuring all-inclusive national development.
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