State House on Sunday underscored the billions of shillings in massive development projects invested in the six Coast counties since the Jubilee administration came into office, saying they were key to improving lives of ordinary people.
Addressing journalists, State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu, said the development credentials of the Jubilee Administration were clear for everyone to see, and no amount of “juvenile tantrums from any quarters” would negate the improved service delivery to the Coast region.
Speaking at his first news briefing of the year at State House Mombasa, Esipisu said the Government had pumped billions of shillings to fund improved security, health care, roads, markets, electricity to homes and schools in efforts whose fruits people were already reaping.
“Security has gained from 177 vehicles under the government’s innovative leasing programme, more than 1,000 police officers, and a satellite security surveillance system that had drastically improved security in Mombasa and other tourist centres, breathing life back into the tourism sector,” said Esipisu.
“Improved security, better roads, a better performing port, in general better lives for the people of this region. That is what this administration promised, and that’s what it is delivering.”
“When we visited here in late 2013, most of you spoke of security concerns. You no longer do. Why? Because of the investments in men and equipment, in addition to tactical operational changes in the last three years,” he added.
The President’s Spokesperson cited the infrastructure sector where the National Government has pumped billions of shillings to undertake road development projects as well as the supply of the latest modern equipment to 12 hospitals in the region.
Mr Esipisu, who spoke as President Uhuru Kenyatta wrapped up his visit to the region, also cited the massive electrification project targeting schools and homes that has seen more than a thousand schools and more than 350,000 homes connected to the national grid since 2013.
He also spoke on water projects in Kwale, Mombasa, Taita Taveta and Tana River County aimed at improving and creating a steady water supply for the residents of the region.
Besides the projects that have been completed, the State House Spokesperson also revealed development initiatives that are in the pipeline or whose implementation is almost commencing.
“The administration of President Kenyatta has invested billions of shillings to significantly improve infrastructure – roads, the port, health, education in this region,” said Esipisu.
He cited the Managed Equipment Services project that has ensured that at least two hospitals in each of the six counties in the region have been kitted fully with the latest diagnostic machines under the Managed Equipment Services programme.
“In Mombasa County, the Coast General Hospital has been kitted with modern equipment at the cost of Sh 460 million while the Likoni Level 4 hospital has been equipped with facilities at a cost of Sh 430 million,” he said.
He also listed all the hospitals in the other Coast counties that have benefited from the project, including Malindi Level 5 Hospital (Kilifi), Msambweni Level 5 Hospital and Kinango Level 4 Hospital (Kwale), Lamu Level 5 Hospital (Lamu), Voi Level 5 Hospital (Taita Taveta), Hola Level 5 Hospital and Garsen Level 4 Hopsital (Tana River).
On the electrification project, Mr Esipisu said the Government has spent billions of Shillings to bring electricity to homes to replace hurricane lamps and light up schools.
“A total of 1,241 primary schools have been connected to the National Grid in the six counties in this region since 2013,” said the State House Spokesperson.
He also cited the massive investment in the port of Mombasa that has seen the capacity of the gateway to east and central Africa expanded.
“The Mombasa Port Development Project Phase 1 is now complete. This project has increased container handling at the Mombasa Port by 550,000 TEUs to 1.5 million TEUs. This has been done at a cost of Sh26.5 Billion,” said Esipisu.
He also cited several water and road projects that had been initiated in the six counties.
By PSCU.