No more delay of projects, PSs assure in Coast tour

Interior PS Raymond Omollo (third right) accompanied by Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, PS Defence Patrick Mariru And Head of Government Delivery Service, Agnes Odhiambo when inspecting projects in Mombasa. [Courtesy, Standard]

Construction of the Sh2.6 billion Shimoni Fish Port in Kwale County is almost halfway complete as the government gathers pace to fast-track several projects at the Coast.

A team of Principal Secretaries who form the Governance and Public Administration sub-committee under the National Development and Implementation Committee, were at the Coast this week to assess the projects.

The team include Defence PS Patrick Mariru, Cabinet Affairs PS Idris Dakota, Devolution PS Teresia Mbaika, and Performance and Delivery Services PS Veronica Nduva. They were led by Internal Security PS Raymond Omollo.

Some of the projects inspected include the Shimoni Port in Kwale County, Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL), Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre and the Government Chemist in Mombasa County.

PS Omollo, who chairs the committee, stressed that the objective of the inspection was to identify and rectify issues that have been causing delays in the implementation of government projects.

"During our visit we not only focused on the above projects, we have also focused on other government programmes that are going on both in the Coast region as well as North Eastern so that we are able to unlock the bottlenecks that exist in those projects for wananchi to reap maximum benefits out of them," he said.

PS Omollo said the the critical project will not only boost the local economy, but also improve the quality and value of the seafood produced in the region.

"The development of infrastructure for fish processing and storage including the modern jetty and ice-making plant will help meet the growing demand for fish cargo and support the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen in Kwale," reads a statement by Ministry of Interior.

The project, which commenced October 2022, is part of the government's strategy to maximise the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Indian Ocean.

The sub-committee also toured the Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) in Mombasa County, which continues to be upgraded by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

The PS stated that the facility, which is fully operational, has played a critical role in job creation, offering at least 3,000 Kenyan artisans with job opportunities.

The artisans are currently undertaking construction, repair and maintenance works for both government and civilian boat vessels of up to 150m long.

The PSs also visited the Miritini Drug and Rehabilitation Center in Mombasa County.

The government has since designed a master plan that will see the expansion of the facility to become a National Centre of excellence for prevention, treatment and reintegration of victims of substance abuse in Kenya.

So far, two out of the eight key buildings in the master plan are under construction, including a multi-purpose hall and workshops.

Regarding the Government Chemist in Mombasa, PS Omollo highlighted its potential to enhance government revenue through services such as paternity tests, food and water analysis, and drug analysis.