National government projects nearing completion in Mombasa

The multi-billion-shilling Mombasa-Mtwapa dual carriage road project, which is currently at 90 per cent completion rate, is set to change the face of the port city by boosting tourism and easing traffic as President William Ruto’s administration continues to improve connectivity with better infrastructure across the country.

The Mombasa dual carriage is amongst the many other national government projects that are still going on in the area, only that it is at almost completion level, unlike the other projects like affordable housing, modern markets and fish landing sites, which are still ongoing.

The Lot 1 dualling of the Mombasa -Mtwapa (A7) road section is a critical segment of the 515 km East Africa Coastal Corridor that extends to Lunga Lunga. The 13.5km stretch, valued at Sh7.5 billion, is poised to significantly ease movement across Kengeleni, Nyali, Bamburi, and Mtwapa.

Once completed, the dual carriageway will comprise four-lane highways, service lanes, footbridges, grade-separated junctions, and a modern drainage system.

While progress was initially slowed by challenges related to land acquisition and compensation, the project is now on course for completion within a year, with 90 per cent of the work already finalised.

Mombasa County Commissioner Noor Hassan said that once the Mombasa-Mtwapa dual carriage road is completed, it will open up more business opportunities to the locals as there will be a smooth flow of traffic.

“Once completed, the project will open up opportunities to locals as Mombasa to Mtwapa will be only 10 minutes away by road, making traders do their businesses in a smooth flow of traffic,” Hassan said.

He added that the road project is a game changer as it will be a major boost that will improve the economy and livelihood of the locals in Mombasa County, known to be a port city full of business opportunities in both industrial and tourism sectors.

The county commissioner said once the road project is complete, the government will further do a facelift of the Kongowea market to allow accommodation of the traders along Mombasa – Mtwapa Road so that they can be away from the road reserve area.

“There will be a facelift of the Kongowea market to accommodate all the traders selling their goods along the Mombasa-Mtwapa Road so that they can be away from the road reserve area now that Mombasa-Mtwapa Road will be a highway,” he said.

The site engineer, Eng. Joseph Gichuri stated that once complete, the dual carriageway will feature four-lane highways, service lanes, footbridges, grade-separated junctions and a modern drainage system.

“Despite some delays due to land acquisition and compensation, the project is now targeted for completion in a year, with 90% already complete,” Gichuri said.

Engineer Gichuri noted that the project is a key step toward boosting trade, easing traffic flow, and promoting tourism, especially with the presence of several five-star hotels along the route.

“The project has also created jobs for over 600 workers and 30 interns, fostering local skills transfer and advancing regional integration,” he said.

The office of the Government Spokesperson team, led by Dr. Isaac Mwaura, his two deputies, Mwanaisha Chidzuga and Gabriel Muthuma, toured the projects to communicate on their impact on the residents. Dr. Mwaura said the ongoing transformative infrastructure development was a key step toward enhancing trade, decongesting the roads of traffic and boosting tourism.

“This is a transformative project that will boost the economy, especially in tourism and trade industries, given the concentration of five-star hotels along the route. The project is also creating employment opportunities for over 600 workers and 30 interns, contributing to skills transfer and promoting regional integration,” Dr. Mwaura said.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga echoed Dr. Mwaura’s sentiments, adding that the Kenya Kwanza government was working on giving Kenyans projects that have opportunities to enable them to earn a living and improve their livelihood, even before completion of the projects.

“The road project has issued several empowerment opportunities to the locals even before completion, just like in affordable housing before we benefit from the house, thousands of Kenyans are employed at the construction sites and are earning a living, educating their children through the construction,” Chidzuga said.

Her counterpart, Gabriel Muthuma, noted that President William Ruto’s agenda was to transform the lives of Kenyans through delivering the BETA plan as a promise he made to them.

“BETA Agenda is a gamechanger to Kenyans and this will improve livelihoods from health, housing, food security, digital super highway, among others,” Muthuma said.

Meanwhile, another national government project that is nearing completion is the Kidongo Fish Landing Site in Kisauni, Mombasa, a flagship project under the Blue Economy initiative that was launched in November 2024.

The facility is set to enhance fish preservation and processing through modern cold storage, opening up better market access for local communities. Already, the project has also created employment opportunities for youth in the area.

Upon completion, the site will also host a social hall to serve as a revenue-generating facility for the community. Additionally, local fishermen will benefit from upgraded boats to enable deep-sea fishing.

This initiative promotes inclusive economic growth by supporting over 85 Beach Management Unit members and expanding opportunities for women in the fisheries value chain.

The Unit chair Kokota Chivatsi expressed optimism that the project will enable them to do more fishing with the modern fishing gear that will boost their market supply.

“The cold storage facility will enable us to do more fishing, and that will boost our market supply, which will improve livelihoods,” Chivatsi said.

Sofia Abdallah Juma, a member of the BMU, urged the government to assist them in constructing a modern restaurant after the cold storage facility so that they can supply cooked seafood to their clients as part of women's empowerment.

“We are happy for this cold storage facility, but we also appeal to the government to assist us in constructing a modern restaurant so that we can also be preparing cooked seafood and supplies to our clients as a way of women's empowerment,” she said.