Mombasa County Executive grilled over Industrial Park's progress

The Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Tourism, Culture, and Trade, Mohammed Osman on Monday was grilled by the County Assembly’s Tourism, Culture, and Trade Committee regarding the status of the County Aggregated Industrial Park (CAIP), a project proposed in the 2023/2024 financial year.

During a session held at the County Assembly chambers, Osman was questioned about the progress of the CAIP, which has been presented as a joint venture between the Mombasa County Government and the National Government.

According to Osman, both governments have each allocated Sh250 million towards the project’s development. However, concerns have arisen over the feasibility of meeting the November deadline, as the committee’s report indicates that the project would require a minimum of seven months to complete, and only two months remain before the set deadline.

The session was led by the Committee Chairperson, MCA Abdirahman Hussein, who expressed doubts about the project’s timeline. “We are concerned about the likelihood of this project being completed on time, given that we only have two months left before the November deadline. The report suggests a seven-month timeframe, which seems unrealistic at this point,” said Hussein.

MCA Fadhili Makarani raised further concerns, pointing out discrepancies between the project’s budget and a recent report submitted to the committee. “There are clear inconsistencies between the budget allocated and what is being reported. We need clarity on whether these discrepancies are contributing to the delay,” Makarani stated.

He further called on the project manager to clarify the situation, though the explanation provided did little to alleviate the committee members’ concerns.

Feasibility concerns

MCA Kibwana Swaleh echoed these sentiments, expressing doubts about the feasibility of completing the project within the remaining two months. “Given the current pace, it is hard to believe that this project can be completed in just two months. The report indicates that at least seven months are required for completion, which casts serious doubt on meeting the November deadline,” Swaleh said.

In response to the mounting concerns, CECM Osman pledged to provide an updated report and assured the committee of full cooperation going forward. “We understand the committee’s concerns and are committed to transparency. I will ensure that a detailed and updated report is submitted, and we will fully cooperate with the committee to address any issues,” Osman said.

To gain a clearer understanding of the project’s current status, MCA Fadhili Makarani proposed a site visit. “A site visit would provide us with the necessary insight into what is happening on the ground,” he suggested.

The proposal was accepted by the committee, with Chairperson Abdirahman Hussein scheduling the visit for August 28, 2024.

Chairperson Hussein requested the County Department to provide several key documents before the site visit. These include an Environmental Impact Analysis Report, a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the County and National Governments, and a copy of the signed contract.

The committee hopes that the upcoming site visit and the requested documentation will shed light on the actual progress of the CAIP and address the growing concerns regarding its completion.