There is proposed construction of an official residence for Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Deputy William Kingi.
The information and details on the proposed project are found in a Sh12.9 billion medium-term draft budget for the 2018/2019 financial year.
The draft budget states that the construction of the residence for the two county leaders shall be done in two phases.
Finance Executive of the county, Mariam Mbaruk who is supporting the proposal, says that the move is necessary because the two leaders will not be getting house allowances.
“It is a proposal from the national government that going forward, governors and their deputies will not be paid house allowances,” she said, as quoted by Nation
Some politicians have disagreed with the proposal, saying that is not timely nor a priority at the current time, with the fact that the Governor is on his final term in the office.
The opposing politicians lament that the county is being faced with so many challenges like poor infrastructure, poor drainage system, with some section of the city flooding, garbage collection issue, dangerous criminal gangs, high rate of unemployment and abuse of drugs in the region.
Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo, Bamburi MCA Robert Nyiro, and Freetown MCA Charles Kitula are amongest those opposing the proposal.
“We have many burning issues. We have not received bursaries yet schools are opening for second term," said Nyiro, Bamburi MCA.
From the public point of view, this is what some of the residents in the county are saying about the proposed project:
Salimu Apuch: "Si Joho ana nyumba kule Nyali, tena kubwa sana, ingine ya nini jamani?"
Mr. Al-Shifaa: "Haina haja, let them channel that money to the drainage system, it floods a lot in my village."
Mzee Juma: "Huo ni uongozi usio jali anaye aongozwa, ingalikuwa vizuri kama angefanya ivo kwa wazee kama Juma mimi."
Ali Charo: "If is because of excluding them from house allowances, then let it be so. But the houses should remain public properties."
Tasi Binti Hamis: "I do not see the reason for that, let them use that money to give students bursaries, they will be helping many youths as well as poor parents."
Mercy Mwaniga: "Sijasikia hayo mimi, lakini sioni umhimu wake."
Abdi Haji: "If all other counties are doing the same then be it, otherwise they should prioritize their budget."
Abu Jimale: "Am sure they got their houses within Mombasa, what are those houses doing? Let them deliver for us if at all we elected them to serve us."