What Mombasa residents expect from next occupant of State House

ODM supporters wait for Party leader Raila Odinga at Likoni in Mombasa. [Omondi Onyango,Standard]

The Coast is in crisis due to years of wilful neglect, policy indifference or total disregard for the needs and aspirations of the Coast. Now as we approach 2022, the momentous year of decision-making, it is time to correct the errors of the past. These are some of the things we expect from the president we will elect in 2022.

First, Mombasa Port is a coastal facility, but we have seen little benefit from it. Kenya Ports Authority makes an average of Sh15 billion in profit for the Exchequer. At least 20 per cent of the amount should be given back to Mombasa. This would add 20 per cent to the budget of the county.

Just like Narok gets a share of Masai Mara revenues and Turkana will share revenues from its oil, so should Mombasa share in the port revenues. Lamu County too should get a share of the revenues from their new port.

I have often heard leaders speak with admiration about how the Chinese government lifted its people out of poverty in one generation. The Chinese miracle started with the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Shenzhen.

Our SEZ in Dongo Kundu has played second fiddle to the Naivasha dry port. Fast-track the SEZ’s by starting with smaller ones. Please fast-track the approvals of SEZ laws and regulations.

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has turned painful for Mombasa. Initially, we all supported SGR as an economic enabler. In fact, we didn’t expect to see the SGR projects, initiated under the “Nusu Mkate” government, being used to break our economic back.

It is comical to forcibly send containers to Nairobi and then ship them back. Clients should have the freedom to ship goods as per their needs. With this single edict they broke the transport sector in Mombasa and seriously damaged our economy. Let’s restore sanity in this sector.

There is so much noise about the “Blue Economy”, but little action. Let’s not complicate this matter. Give us the fishing boats, nets, hooks and freezers and support the youth with training and our youth will do the rest. Then get our boys the Seaman’s Book (a six month training course), set up marketing bureaus to put our boys on ships as seamen and Kenya will become a sea faring country, just like the Philippines.

Finally, as you fly into Mombasa the next time, dear aspiring president, ask yourself why we have not allowed an Open Sky policy and allow as many airlines to come directly to Mombasa. The flawed rationale is that we are protecting Kenya Airways (KQ). Why are we protecting a single airline at the expense of Mombasa and the entire coastal tourism industry?

KQ’s main objective was to fly as many people as possible into Kenya but if it can’t, let other airlines help. Kenya will benefit more. Our people will get more jobs. This is what matters most. This policy hasn’t helped KQ over the last 20 years and its not likely to help them. Either KQ learns to survive or let it “Rest in Peace”.

Help us with the above and we will create our own jobs.