Mombasa masterplan to cost Sh120m

By PATRICK BEJA

Mombasa:  The Government yesterday announced plans to develop a new integrated urban development masterplan from next month at a cost of about Sh120 million.

The new plan was announced following a meeting between Japanese donors and a Kenyan delegation led by Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury Henry Rotich and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho in November last year.

Mombasa city has been without a masterplan since 2006, leading to rapid growth of slums and unplanned development, Mombasa county government executive secretary for Lands and Physical Planning Francis Thoya said yesterday.

The official also attributed traffic congestion and poor sanitation infrastructure partly to lack of a new masterplan.

“We are going to develop the new masterplan after getting positive indications from the Japanese donors that we will get the grants soon. It will take between 18 and 36 months to develop the plan,” said Mr Thoya.

He explained that the masterplan was urgently required to restore sanity in developing the port city, including planning proposed settlement schemes, commercial, industrial and residential zones.

Port expansion

It would assist planning for the multi-billion shilling Dongo Kundu, Mombasa port expansion and proposed railway for commuter trains in Kenya’s largest city.

“If we do not plan all these projects, will be in jeopardy. As you realise everyone in Mombasa is currently having his own plan,” said Mr Thoya.

The current masterplan for the city was developed in 1976 by McLoffin Company of Britain to cater for a population of 300,000 and was to last 30 years until 2006.

The old document zoned the county into commercial, industrial, residential and agricultural areas, but the defunct Mombasa Municipal Council was blamed for failing to adhere to the plan.

However, the population has shot up to 1.2 million leading to rapid growth of slums.

The proposed masterplan is set to last for 50 years. It will provide for mini cities to help decongest the port town.