The Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mombasa, poised to generate employment opportunities for thousands of youth and bolster the county’s economy, is set to commence operations.
The Kenya Kwanza government is in the final stages of tender issuance for the construction of a new Sh60 billion berth at the SEZ. According to UDA vice chair Hassan Omar, a Japanese company has secured the tender for the construction project.
“In the process of construction, we will, together with other leaders in UDA, ensure that Kenyans are the first to get jobs there,” Omar said.
The jobs, he said, will not only include actual construction but also supply of materials, which he is fighting to ensure the inclusion of youth and women groups in Mombasa.
“There is no big issue in supplying sand, cement, gravel, and other construction materials to the construction site.
“Mombasa will be the foundation of Kenya’s economic revolution,” Omar said.
He spoke at the UDA Hustler Centre in Nyali where he met party delegates from Jomvu and Changamwe sub-counties in preparation for the June 22 grassroots elections.
The government has secured a USD2 billion (approximately Sh261 billion) from AfriExim Bank for onsite infrastructure construction.
This includes roads, water and drainage systems, and electricity infrastructure, among others to bolster production.
“Here, there will be more jobs for our youth and women from the sub-counties across Mombasa county,” Omar said.
The Dongo Kundu SEZ has attracted interest from various national and international companies looking to establish their presence there. Taifa Gas from Tanzania has already initiated construction of their plant at the SEZ, a project that was inaugurated by President William Ruto in February last year.
Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has also shown interest in establishing a vehicle manufacturing plant at Dongo Kundu. UDA vice chair Hassan Omar expressed the desire for other international car brands like Hyundai from Korea, Mercedes Benz from Germany, and Peugeot from France to establish manufacturing plants, rather than assembly plants, at Dongo Kundu.
Omar highlighted the potential for ventures like Nike and Adidas to thrive in Dongo Kundu, suggesting that the government may be seeking to attract such brands to the SEZ.
Furthermore, Omar emphasized the importance of leveraging the blue economy, urging leaders in Mombasa and the Coast region to advocate for its development. Kenya Kwanza has appointed a Cabinet Secretary from the region to lead the ministry, demonstrating the government’s commitment to the sector.
Despite the abundant resources in the sea, Coastal residents have not benefited significantly due to the lack of value addition for sea products. The government is prioritizing the blue economy to unlock the potential of the Indian Ocean, aiming to improve returns for Coastal residents.
“We fish and eat the fish as they are, with some going bad because of lack of cold storage facilities,” Omar said.
He said it is time Kenyan fishermen also get funded to buy bigger vessels that can go into the deep sea to catch fish like the foreign vessels do.
“Today, we eat tuna fish in packages written ‘Made in Somalia’ yet they Somali has not been stable for ages. But Kenya, which has enjoyed peace for ages, cannot produce packaged fish. Why?”
Ruto’s government is looking to open factories across the Coast region and other areas where fish are caught to foster value addition on sea, lake and river products.
