Tag Archives: Mombasa

General News

Here is the refurbished, iconic Mama Ngina Waterfront Park in Mombasa; Photos

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President Uhuru Kenyatta officially opened the Mama Ngina Waterfront Park; on Sunday October 20, 2019 that was redeveloped at a cost of Shs 460 million.

The iconic seaside public park reopened its doors to the public earlier in the day when it hosted this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations that was led by President Kenyatta.

The park, sitting on 26 acres overlooking the Kilindini Channel in Mombasa, has now been transformed into an integrated urban tourist attraction site.
The refurbishment included landscaping and paving the waterfront with concrete blocks, construction of a state-of-the-art amphitheater, the Kilindini Cultural Centre, ablution blocks and two main gates leading to the park among other developments.

Tourists visiting the park will have a choice to treat themselves to cultural exhibitions, shopping, dining at open air fresco restaurants and cafes or to relax at the breathtaking expansive site.

The project is designed to support a 24-hour economy and its layout includes a new jetty for water taxis.
The Ministry of Tourism is already optimistic that the park will attract more local and foreign tourists to Mombasa, Kenya’s oldest town and the country’s second city.

Photo grid; The iconic Mama Ngina Waterfront park in Mombasa.

President Kenyatta commissioned the construction of the park in January this year during which he expressed his expectation that the facility will help restore the glory of Mombasa as a top tourist destination in the region.

The redevelopment that was undertaken by a local company, Suhufi Agencies, was completed in time to host the Mashujaa Day fete, which was held in Mombasa County as part of a rotational hosting of certain national celebrations by counties.
The official opening of the park was marked with a retinue of entertainment activities that included fireworks, traditional dances and acrobatic shows among others.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and other senior Government dignitaries including Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho accompanied the President during the official opening ceremony

General News

Mombasa more secure as extra surveillance cameras are mounted

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Facial recognition cameras mounted in Mombasa will greatly boost security of the city and it’s environs.

President Uhuru Kenyatta who visited the National Police Service, NPS, Stand in Mombasa International Show expressed satisfaction over the effectiveness of the facial recognition surveillance cameras currently in operation in Mombasa and Nairobi Communication Command and Control centres.

There are over 300 surveillance cameras in Mombasa alone while over 1800 Cameras are mounted in Nairobi City and it’s environs.

Since installation, the surveillance cameras have assisted in identifying criminals for prosecution while a number of stolen vehicles have been recovered courtesy of the number plate recognition surveillance cameras in the two cities.

The NPS has upgraded its Integrated Command and Control system covering Nairobi and Mombasa, to incorporate Facial Recognition capability. The technology was installed in partnership with a Japanese electronics company and will help in fast and accurate identification of suspects.

Politics & Govt

President Kenyatta Outlines Measures To Increase Agricultural Productivity As He Opens Mombasa Show

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President Uhuru Kenyatta today outlined the measures his administration is taking in order to enhance agricultural productivity in the country.

The President who underscored the importance of agriculture as a key driver of country’s industrialization strategy challenged Kenyans to fully utilize the potential of the sector.

He acknowledged the importance of the sector to the country’s economy saying the country’s Vision 2030 will largely be delivered through a performing agricultural sector.

“In 2018, the agricultural sector was the largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our nation, accounting for a direct contribution of 32 per cent of GDP and an additional 27 per cent of GDP, through linkages with manufacturing,” the President said.

“The theme of this year’s Show “Promoting Innovations and Technology in Agriculture and Trade” is most appropriate and resonates well with our nation’s aspiration to be an industrialized middle income country by 2030. In our context, agriculture is key to our industrialization strategy as most of our industries are agro–based,” he added.

President Kenyatta who spoke when he presided over the official opening of this year’s Mombasa International Show said the government is implementing a 10-year comprehensive Agriculture Sector Transformation Growth Strategy, which seeks to boost incomes from agriculture.

“This is a decade-long process that will support modernization of agriculture, increase value addition by moving from primary production towards processing and retail,” the President said.

As part of the far-reaching reforms in the sector, the President said the government is implementing legal and policy reforms to support youth and women to engage in agriculture and agribusiness.

“My administration is particularly keen to support our youth and to encourage more of our young people to engage in agriculture and agribusiness and we will continue to develop several technology-driven programmes to enable them participate in the agricultural production value chain,” the President said.

The Head of State cited the Kenya Agriculture Insurance Programme (KAIP) and the Kenya Livestock Insurance (KLIP) as measures the government is taking to mitigate against the effects of climate change and weather variability. The two interventions have benefitted 500,000 farmers and 180,000 pastoralist households respectively.

On the blue economy, the President outlined the various Government initiatives aimed at reviving the fishing and shipping industries.

“Further, to promote the development and efficiency in coastal fish related businesses and achieve various activities we have now established the Fisher Associations and the Kenya Fish Marketing Authority ,” he said.

In the current financial year, the President said the government had allocated the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Shs 48.5 billion to boost food production.

“The funds will be directed to key flagship projects, including irrigation, input subsidy, strategic grain reserve, fisheries, livestock development and technology transfer. This will boost overall agricultural production and lead to a reduction in food prices,” President Kenyatta said.

Alongside the direct interventions, the President said his administration is implementing several road projects to ensure farmers have easy access to local and regional markets.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho said he fully supports President Kenyatta’s development agenda to improve the livelihoods of all Kenyans.

He urged all leaders and the people of the Coast region to rally behind the President saying his projects are aimed at making Kenya a better country for all.

Other speakers included Tourism CS Najib Balala and Agriculture Chief Administrative Secretary Andrew Tuimur.

Related news;

President Kenyatta to preside over the official opening of the 2019 Mombasa International Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Show.
Politics & Govt

Lamu Port To Be Launched Next Month, President Kenyatta Has Announced

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that the first berth of the new Lamu Port will be opened in October.

The President who expressed satisfaction with the progress of the ongoing construction works at the seaport said the mega project will create the much needed jobs for Kenyan youth.
“Since I was here last year, it is true you’ve worked hard. Very soon, next month, we will be here to open the first berth which I am told you will have completed,” the President announced.

“We will launch by seeing a ship dock here to offload cargo. Offloading of cargo will be the beginning of jobs not just for you alone but also for the youth of Lamu and the entire Kenya,” he told hundreds of workers who gathered to welcome him.

The President further announced that plans are underway to start the construction of a crude oil pipeline from the Turkana oilfields to the new port.
“Very soon we will start the construction of a pipeline to get oil from Turkana and bring it to this port,” President Kenyatta said.

He asked the workers to remain vigilant and to continue working closely with security agencies in averting terrorist threats.
On the ongoing road projects in the region, the President said the intention is not only to enhance national connectivity but also to attract investors to the new port and the region.
On his way to inspect the 200km Mokowe to Garsen Road, which is currently under construction, the President made a brief stopover on the link road connecting the port and the new road.

He expressed satisfaction with the speed and quality of ongoing construction works and encouraged the contractor to ensure that the project is delivered within the agreed timeframe.

At Hindi town, the President, who was accompanied by area MP Stanley Muthama and Lamu Woman MP Ruweida Obbo, cautioned residents against divisive politics and urged them to continue living together in peace and harmony.
He said his government was implementing development projects across the country adding that development will help the country rid itself of poverty.

President Kenyatta said the new Lamu Port, the tarmacking of the Mokowe to Garsen Road and the ongoing distribution of electricity are government projects aimed at creating new employment opportunities by attracting investors to the area.

“If we have the port, have the road and have electricity, isn’t that an expansion of Lamu? Isn’t that employment for the youth?,” the President posed.
“Those who will come to collect their cargo, those who will come to set up their factories will create jobs for our youth. That’s how we want to see our Kenya moving forward,” he continued.

The President said plans are underway to build a national secondary school in the county so as to give children from Lamu an opportunity to excel just like children from the rest of the country.

The President who is on a working tour of the Coast was accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Samson Mwathethe and Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata.

Politics & Govt

Unite And Work Together For Faster Development, President Kenyatta Tells Coast Leaders

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has challenged Coast leaders to unite and work closely with each other so as to achieve faster development in the region.

The President advised the leaders to have a broader and more long-term view of development saying the focus should be on projects that benefit more people through wealth and employment creation.

The President who spoke at State House, Mombasa when he hosted elected leaders from the region told the leaders to always put the interests of wananchi ahead of all other partisan considerations.
“Let us find solutions to our challenges, there can be nothing which is impossible if we unite,” President Kenyatta told the leaders who included all Governors from the 6 coastal counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Kwale and Tana River.

The President said time had come for leaders to think of how they would like to remembered by current and future generations.
“We must look at our history as a country and as a region, and ask ourselves can our people as Kenyans continue to sustain politics of division, politics of hate, politics of backstabbing and still believe that we are going to be a middle income country by 2030? Is it possible?” President Kenyatta posed.

The Head of State cautioned the leaders against divisive politics saying leadership is a God given opportunity to serve all Kenyans irrespective of their stations in life.
On development, the President outlined the various mega projects being implemented by his administration in the region adding that the government will ensure all ongoing roads, water and other infrastructure developments are completed.

He said the projects such the various roads, the Dongo Kundu SEZ and the Port of Lamu are aimed at opening up the region to more investments.

President Kenyatta reiterated that the handshake between him and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was aimed at uniting all Kenyans so as to take the country’s development agenda a notch higher.
“The essence of the handshake is not about who shall be where and who shall have what position but how can we as Kenyans together not live in the past but learn from it,” the President told the leaders.

“We need not plan for today but live in it and plan for the future because that is what we can give as a gift to this country,” said the President.

All the leaders who spoke at the consultative meeting among them Governors Ali Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Dhadho Godhana (Tana River), Fahim Twaha (Lamu) and Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta) said they supported the President’s development agenda as espoused in the Big 4 blueprint.

The Coast political leaders thanked the President for the various development projects implemented by the government saying the transformative interventions are changing the economic fortunes of the region.
“Your Excellency I want to first of all assure you we are walking with you in the journey of transforming this country of ours because after all this country belongs to all of us,” Governor Joho said.

“And for those that God has given the opportunity to be in leadership like ourselves whatever we do we put first considerations of the future generations,” he added.

Tourism CS Najib Balala, Lands CAS Gideon Mung’aro, Devolution CAS Hussein Dado and Lands PS Nicholas Muraguri also attended the State House, Mombasa meeting.