Posted on :Tuesday , 30th April 2024

The government is committed to accelerating the implementation of key infrastructure projects in counties with the help of the National Government Development-County Implementation, Coordination and Management Committees (NGD-CICMC).

As stated by Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde, the government strategies to wrap up megaprojects as swiftly as possible so that they can fully contribute to the economy at large. Orinde stated that the government will remain committed to putting in place the necessary infrastructure now and in the future by enhancing community engagement and improving environmental protections.

The national government's major active projects in Kwale include the Sh20 billion Mwache multipurpose dam project, the Sh24 billion master class Dongo Kundu bypass, the Sh2.3 billion Diani Airport rehabilitation and extension project, and the Sh2.6 billion Shimoni fish port development project.

Other projects include the Sh1.15 billion Funzi Causeway off the Milalani-Munja road, the Sh3 billion Kwale-Kinango road, the Sh.606 million regional maritime transport and port logistics center, and the Sh.538 million Mwachande Bridge, which will connect Msambweni and Lungalunga subcounties.

According to Orinde, large-scale infrastructure projects in the coastal county pass through areas where fishing, agriculture, and tourism are the primary economic activity. The county administrator stated that the projects would assist create new jobs, expand commercial prospects, and promote local economies.

He acknowledged appreciation with the quality of the work done thus far and stated that the administration was dedicated to completing all projects in the coastal county. Orinde stated that some megaprojects, such as the Dongo Kundu bypass and the Shimoni fishing port project, were nearing completion and that their implementation rates were improving.

Eng. Ikoa noted that the Funzi causeway, which spans 500 meters and has a two-kilometer road, provided island residents with easy access to the mainland in Msambweni Sub County. He stated that the contractor had received Sh95 million as an advance payment, and that the scope of work included the building of a vented causeway and the renovation of access roads to the gravel grade of the Funzi Causeway.

Eng. Lewis Maina, a Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) Coast Region officer, says the Dongo Kundu bypass will give road access to the South Coast including the Dongo Kundu special economic zone, promoting socioeconomic growth. He stated that the Special Economic Zone Development project at Dongo Kundu is one of the coastal region's Vision 2030 showpiece projects.

According to Eng. Maina, the Dongo Kundy bypass is an essential transportation corridor for traffic heading into Kenya's interior and beyond. He asserts the project spans Kwale and Mombasa counties, beginning at Mteza Bridge and ending at Kibundani on the Mombasa-Lungalunga route. According to Eng. Maina, the bypass, also known as the Mombasa Southern Bypass Highway, will facilitate trade and boost socioeconomic growth.

Benjamin Ndani, in charge of Kwale's Government Delivery Service (GDS), says they are optimistic that the ongoing construction projects would meet their initial completion deadlines and generate the expected economic growth. He said the government is going to provide the funding and is dedicated to accelerating the delivery of key infrastructure, as well as strengthening and improving existing projects.

He stated that one of the most important success criteria for major infrastructure projects is the involvement of those who will benefit or be affected by the construction endeavor. He stated that the national government has launched multibillion-shilling infrastructure projects in the coastline region to solve the country's long-standing infrastructure deficit.