Coastal region: Coastal residents have been urged to support the National Government’s development agenda aimed at improving livelihoods and infrastructure in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Joho (Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs), Salim Mvurya (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports) and Senate Speaker, Amason Kingi, are actively urging residents in the coastal region to support the national development agenda. These leaders emphasize that the government’s development plans remain on track to deliver tangible results, even as the country moves toward the high-stakes 2027 general elections.
Joho, Mvurya, and Kingi, who previously served as governors of Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi counties respectively from 2013 to 2022, are calling for peace and unity among the people, stressing that sustainable development can only thrive in a stable and secure environment. The leaders have been traveling across the coastal counties, urging residents to register in large numbers ahead of the 2027 General Election to demonstrate the region’s voting strength.
Accompanied by local elected leaders allied to the government, the former governors are holding civic engagement forums to promote peace and unity before, during, and after the 2027 polls. They stress that by working together, the region can secure greater opportunities by supporting the government’s long-term development agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). BETA focuses on Agricultural Transformation, MSME Economy, Healthcare, Affordable Housing, Settlement, and Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy.
CS Joho noted that the Kenya Kwanza administration has initiated numerous projects across key sectors such as agriculture, education, infrastructure, and health and sanitation aimed at improving livelihoods. He emphasized the importance of residents’ cooperation in the successful completion and impact of these projects.
During their meet-the-people tours, the leaders are discussing the region’s political direction and the importance of voter registration and active participation in elections. Joho warned residents against making electoral decisions that could negatively impact future generations.
Major infrastructure and economic projects in the region include the Sh32 billion Dongo Kundu Bypass, Sh20 billion Mwache Multipurpose Dam, Sh48 billion Lamu port project, Sh2.6 billion Shimoni fish port, Sh12.5 billion Galana-Kulalu Food Security project, and the proposed Sh455 billion Mombasa-Nairobi expressway. These projects aim to transform regional trade, water security, and transportation, offering new opportunities for traders and boosting local economies.
CS Mvurya urged residents to unite behind the government to enable the full delivery of its mandate. He highlighted the government’s youth and women empowerment initiatives, including the Sh5 billion National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project, designed to address youth unemployment and associated social issues.
Mvurya commended President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration for prioritizing the coast region in the national development agenda, addressing historical challenges of marginalization and underdevelopment. Speaker Kingi highlighted the completion and opening of the Ronald Ngala Utalii College, which is expected to boost the tourism sector and position the institution as a center of excellence.
Kingi urged the region to unite, regardless of political affiliations, and support the national economic transformation agenda championed by President Ruto. The Ronald Ngala Utalii College, set to open in Kilifi County on September 1, 2026, will admit its first cohort of 1,000 students, contributing to the development journey of the coastal region.
