Mombasa:Trade unions and civil society leaders in Mombasa have voiced their disapproval of the county government’s approach to announcing projects and programs outside the established planning process. They emphasized the need for development priorities to be included in the Annual Development Plan (ADP).
According to Kenya News Agency, the leaders, organized under the Mombasa Accountability Committee, called for transparent budget allocations, equitable resource distribution, the completion of stalled projects, and improved public service delivery. They also stressed the importance of considering residents’ recommendations in the final county budget.
During a public participation meeting at Tononoka Hall regarding the 2027/2028 ADP, Coast Civil Society Network for Human Rights Chairman Zedekiah Adika highlighted the necessity for county governments to heed the development needs of residents. He criticized the political leadership in Mombasa for making “roadside declarations” and urged them to formally incorporate projects into the ADP.
The county’s recent announcement of free healthcare services in October, in memory of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, was critiqued by union leaders for bypassing the County Assembly. Adika noted a decline in Mombasa’s own-source revenue and attributed it to decisions made without following due process. He urged adherence to legal procedures involving public funds.
Adika also expressed concern over the low turnout at ADP public participation meetings and encouraged more residents to participate. Kassim Ziro, chairman of the Kenya University Staff Union’s Technical University of Mombasa branch, pointed out the city’s waste management issues and proposed reintroducing roll-off dumpsters and increasing budget allocations for waste collection.
Peter Maroko, Chairman of the Kenyan National Union of Nurses and Midwives Coast Region, called for a health workforce assessment and the recruitment of qualified medical professionals to address staffing shortages, particularly at Utange Level 4 Hospital.
Old Town MCA Abdirahman Hussein commended civil society leaders and residents for their participation and assured that their input would be considered in the final ADP. He noted that the 2027/2028 Finance Bill would maintain current tax levels without any increases.
