It is a race against time by Government to complete a number of billion-shilling projects on the Kenyan coast, particularly by President Kenyatta to confirm commitments made before he steps down as the country's leader in August 2022.
Last week, the Kenyan President embarked on an extensive tour of Mombasa and Kilifi counties to see for himself the infrastructure already completed and projects still in progress while handing over more than 2,000 land titles in the Rabai area in the hinterland of Kilifi.
According to a report by the Ministry of Interior, there are more than 450 projects on the coast, including those completed and those still in progress.
The government has invested 1.4 trillion shillings in 450 projects on the coast," confirmed government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna, "Once they are implemented, they will change the face of the region and the whole of Kenya.
The projects referred to include the three berths at Lamu port, worth 40 billion. The first berth is complete, while the second and third will be completed in November.
Other infrastructures already launched are the Garsen-Lamu road (L10.8 billion), the second L30 billion container terminal at the port of Mombasa, the new L40 billion Kipevu oil terminal and the bridges that will link the island of Mombasa to Likoni, with the causeway (surely the car bridge cannot be completed by next year).
Among the unfinished projects are the Dongokundu bypass, a veritable Mombasa by-pass, with a second bridge at Nyali, the Mwache and Makamini dams in Kwale County for which a total of 22 billion shillings has been allocated, and the 6.1 billion Miritini-Mariakani dual carriageway. Many other development programmes cover fisheries and agriculture.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, through his Chief of Staff Job Tumbo, has expressed the belief that the infrastructure projects will catalyse economic growth in the region and complement the growth of the blue economy.
While especially the issue of the port of Mombasa and the "privileged" relationship of the SGR railway for the transport of containers does not find favour with the categories of workers and representatives of local associations and civil society, the government spokesman invited young people to take advantage of the moment of preparation for development to open support activities, logistics and develop an induced activity that could solve the problems of employment and sustainable growth of Mombasa, the nerve centre of the entire coast.