Investments, Trade, and Industry CS Salim Mvurya has directed Kenya Ports Authority to expedite the resettlement and compensation of 1,648 persons affected by the Mombasa Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone project.
Mvurya said KPA as the implementing agency should complete the exercise by the end of September this year.
“The authority will also be handling grievances that the Project Affected Persons might have raised. Once concluded, then the land will be ready for development,” he stated.
The CS made the remarks when he chaired a multi-sectoral consultative engagement at KPA headquarters in Mombasa, which brought together leaders from Mombasa and Kwale counties to discuss the progress of the project.
The meeting highlighted the significant milestones achieved by KPA and the Special Economic Zone Authority in developing the area to attract investors.
“We decided to have a meeting to take them through the key milestones but also how to unlock the potential of the SEZ,” noted Mvurya.
To date, 97 investors have expressed interest in establishing their operations in the Special Economic Zone, with 60 per cent of them being local and 40 per cent foreign.
Mvurya also emphasised the importance of holding regular consultative meetings with local leaders to address any emerging issues throughout the implementation process.
“We have noted an information gap between the project stakeholders involved in the process and the grassroots leadership, however, that will have to change,” he asserted.
Mvurya instructed the Principal Secretary for Investment and Promotion, Abubakar Hassan, to form a dedicated technical team focused on critical issues, such as addressing the skills gap among local youth.
“The team will work closely with the academia, and local institutions of higher learning to provide targeted training that aligns with the needs of the investors setting up premises in the area,” he explained.
He noted that the initiative will be vital in meeting the requirement for 50 per cent local employment, ensuring that the youth are well-prepared for the upcoming job opportunities as the SEZ project advances.
