Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi moves to attract investors

Kilifi County governor Amason Kingi , flanked by his deputy Kenneth Kamto addresses the Media in presence of Kaya elders at the Kilifi County Governor's gardens

KENYA: Governor Amason Kingi has announced tax brakes and fee waivers in a bid to woo international and local investors.

Mr Kingi said his administration was creating a good working environment to make Kilifi an investor's paradise.

Speaking in Kilifi town yesterday, the governor said the county was blessed with good and well-located beaches where people can invest in the hospitality sector.

The county chief said the memorandum of understating between Lombardy district of Milan in Italy and Malindi town was a step in the right direction and was meant to resuscitate the tourism sector.

Kingi said his administration early this month signed a memorandum of understating with the officials of Lombardy, the richest district in Milan, Italy, to work jointly and improve tourism. "Investors coming to Kilifi County will enjoy a tax and rates waiver to enable them inject more funds into their businesses and attract others to help improve our economy and create jobs for our people," he said.

DRAINAGE SYSTEM

The governor said Malindi was an international tourist destination, adding that the area needed to be well-planned to attract both investors and tourists. He said his administration, with the support of the World Bank, was working on plans to improve the town's drainage system.

He said beautification programmes for Malindi town would be launched to ensure the town and its environs got a face that could easily attract international investors.

He said the streets of Malindi will be erected with lights to enable people conduct business around the clock. Kingi said the street-lighting system would address insecurity.

And players in the hotel industry have welcomed plans by Kenya Airports Authority to expand the Malindi Airport runway.

The investors said the expansion would allow bigger planes from other countries to fly directly to the airport.