Governor Hassan Joho to unveil mega plan to make Mombasa regional hub

Aerial view of Mombasa city. Governor Hassan Joho will today unveil a plan to redevelop Kenya’s second largest city by 2035. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho will today unveil the Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plan (ISUDP), commonly known as the Mombasa Vision 2035.

The strategic plan is aimed at positioning the county as a modern regional commercial hub.

This will be the second development plan for Kenya’s second largest city. A strategic plan formulated in 1971 was never implemented, leading to haphazard development of the area over the years.

Briefing the Press at the governor’s office yesterday, Land, Planning and Housing County Executive Anthony Njaramba said the key highlights of the new plan are the zoning of the county to ensure controlled development and proper utilisation of available resources.

The strategic plan, which will be launched at the Mombasa Golf club, projects a population of 2.3 million people in Mombasa by 2035, up from the current 1.2 million (according to county government statistsics).

Water buses

Some of the major projects to be developed under the grand plan are the construction of a bridge across the Likoni Channel and introduction of water buses and light commuter trains to decongest roads.

Sites for the development of jetties to be used in the proposed water transport system that would run in the same way as matatus have already been identified. The plan also caters for the expansion of roads to accommodate the growing traffic in the city.

It also proposes the building of 30,000 housing units through partnerships between the county government and private investors.

The blueprint, seen by The Standard on Saturday, highlights short-term projects that could be implemented by the county government from 2016-19 at a cost of Sh6.640 billion.

These projects include street lighting, rehabilitation of informal settlements and the Kongowea market. “Feasible projects can be easily funded by the development funds available with county government for first three years,” says the report.

Under the blueprint, Likoni sub-county has been designated as a petrol city. The zone will also host a special economic zone at Dongo Kundu where value addition of goods would take place.

“Since the 1997 tribal clashes, Likoni has remained largely unexploited. In the new strategic plan, the area will host all petroleum-related industries as well as a special economic zone which will generate thousands of jobs,” said Njaramba.

The county executive, who was flanked by Lands Chief Officer Salim Jabu and Communication Director Richard Chacha, said the main zone in Likoni will create more than 500,000 jobs through the planned economic activities.

Kisauni sub-county will host major educational institutions such as a university in Mwakirunge and an international stadium, larger than the Kasarani sports complex in Nairobi, at Shanzu.

Njaramba said the international stadium may also be built at the Shimo la Tewa High School as the institution has more than 120 acres.

Changamwe has been designated for commercial and industrial development under the new ambitious plan.

With the strategic plan, Njaramba said, investors will no longer have trouble identifying areas to base their businesses. Those currently operating in wrong zones may be required to relocate within reasonable time, he said.

Vibrant economy

“This strategic plan is going to sustain a robust and vibrant economy. It is going to make it easier for everybody to know where to live, invest, play and work. Businesses will work on a predictable graph and the confusion about housing and transportation will ease,” he said.

The master plan was prepared by the Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats PVT. Ltd from India and local firms.

Under the Capital Investment Plan, the county proposes to reinforce the water supply network at a cost of Sh1.9 billion, rehabilitation and upgrading of the sewerage treatment plant. It also plans to develop a bus terminus and a 684km drainage system.