The Government through Trade Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has set a September deadline for compensation of Ksh1.4 billion to accelerate the Mombasa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Dongo Kundu project.
In a meeting chaired by the CS on Monday at the Kenya Ports Authority (KAA) headquarters in Mombasa County, pay date was reached to hasten the progress of the Dongo Kundu project.
The meeting highlighted the significant milestones achieved by the Kenya Ports Authority and the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) 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.
During the deliberations, Mvurya directed KAA to expedite the resettlement and compensation of 1,648 project-affected persons (PAPs) by the end of September this year. The PAPs are set to receive Ksh1.4 billion.
“The Authority will also be dealing away with grievances that PAPs might have raised. Once concluded, then the land will be ready for development,” Mvurya stated.
To date, 97 investors have expressed interest in establishing their operations in the Special Economic Zone with 60 percent being local and 40 percent foreign.
Mvurya also emphasized 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.
In response to some concerns raised, 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.
This 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.
