Tourism stakeholders urge State to fast-track completion of Dongo Kundu project

Tourism stakeholders in the Coast region are urging the government to fast-track the completion of the multi-billion shilling Dongo Kundu project.

They said the completion of the road would increase the number of tourists visiting the South Coast, thus boosting revenue flow.

Head of the Diani Hospitality Owners Association Mohamed Hersi expressed hope that the initiative would encourage investment and boost tourism in Mombasa and Diani.

Mohamed, who also serves as the director of operations for Polmans Tours Safaris Group, said Diani is currently depending on the infrastructure to boost its revenue.

"This bridge is very close to Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the airport, so it will only take a tourist less than an hour to get to Diani," Mohamed said.

"Tourists will be able to avoid the Likoni Ferry Channel which is time-consuming. Sometimes travellers end up missing flights."

Africa Tours & Discovery Company managing director Nyaga Kombo claims that travellers have been inconvenienced by the frequent traffic jams at the Likoni Ferry.

According to Kombo, the travel expenses that the tourists incur will be drastically decreased after the completion of the Dongo Kundu bridge.

"The Dongo Kundu bridge connectivity will make it easier to market Diani as a tourist destination since it will be easy to access it," said Immaculate Nyaga, sales manager for Africa Tours & Discovery Company.

"It has always posed a big headache to tourists since no one knows when the ferry will break down," she added.

Nyaga said delays at the ferry channel usually force the tourists to vacate the hotels four hours before their scheduled check-out time.

Dongo Kundu road

Works on the road began in March 2020. The governments of Japan and Kenya provided funding for the project.

The Sh22 billion dual carriageway project consists of two bridges at Mwache (660 meters) and another at Mteza (1,440 meters), as well as an interchange at Likoni-Lunga Lunga highway.

According to the Deputy Director of the project Eustace Mutea, the last bridge still needs construction.

The government owes the contractor Sh1.4 billion, and stakeholders in the tourism sector want that money paid to the contractor so that the project is not jeopardised.