MOMBASA, Kenya— President William Ruto on Monday concluded his five-day Coast region tour after launching major infrastructure projects and issuing fresh promises on electricity, housing, water and land ownership.
The President commissioned a KSh3 billion electricity sub-station in Mariakani, Kilifi County, saying the project is expected to improve power reliability across the Coast and support industrial growth.
Ruto said the sub-station will transmit electricity from Ethiopia and Naivasha to the region, reducing dependence on costly thermal power and boosting projects such as the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone.
In Mombasa County, the President laid the foundation stone for a modern market and an affordable housing project at Makupa in Mvita Constituency estimated to cost KSh600 million.
The Head of State also directed the Kenya Defence Forces to partner with Kilifi County in laying water pipes to improve access to clean water in Mariakani.
He further announced plans to allocate 10 acres of land belonging to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) for the construction of a truck parking yard and 1,000 affordable housing units.
On the long-standing Coast land question, Ruto said the government had set aside KSh5 billion to compensate absentee landlords and facilitate issuance of title deeds to squatters.
According to the President, 381,000 title deeds have already been issued in the region, with another 200,000 expected within the next 90 days.
Ruto also assured residents that the Mwache Dam project would be completed soon to help address persistent water shortages in the Coast region.
The tour covered Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu and Tana River counties and brought together senior government officials, governors, MPs and MCAs.
