President Uhuru Kenyatta has helped Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho deliver on a project the latter vowed to deliver in 2015.
“A bridge must be done. We want to do this in the fastest way possible.I want to ask the national government and its infrastructural agencies to support this noble initiative.
“If we feel there is a stumbling block somewhere, the county will go ahead and construct it in whichever way, even if it means engaging directly with friends of goodwill,” Joho spoke in 2015.
On Friday, September 20, 2019, the national government inked a deal that has set the ball rolling on the multi-billion infrastructure project.
Kenya will receive assistance amounting to Ksh88 billion for both the bridge and the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone project.
The suspended bridge will take up Ksh46 billion alone. When completed, the super bridge will bring an end to the use of creaky ferries at Likoni Channel and open access to roads, electricity, water supply and drainage facilities.
Many people have on several occasions missed flights at the Moi International Airport due to delays caused by the ferry problems.
Hoteliers in the South Coast have complained that tourists were shunning them because of the unreliable crossing channel.
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Japan for providing the loan credit for the two projects under very high concessional terms,” acting Treasury CS Ukur Yattani spoke while announcing the deal.
“It is a major undertaking and we are now going to have a permanent solution that will not only be desirable but welcome at all times,” he added.
