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By Jane Meza
Mombasa County, Kenya: A recent oversight report has spotlighted Mombasa County over stalled projects and service delivery to residents.
Presented to Governor Abdulswamad Nassir by Senator Mohamed Faki, the report highlighted some pressing concerns that needed attention for Mombasa County.
Senator Faki, who led the County Oversight Committee, emphasized the importance of the Oversight Fund provided by the Senate in enabling their role in monitoring county government projects.
The two-week oversight tour covered all six sub-counties, Jomvu, Mvita, Likoni, Changamwe, Kisauni, and Nyali, revealing a concerning pattern of stalled projects. “We found numerous projects initiated by the devolved government remain incomplete, For example only in Likoni, several health centers, such as Shonda, were left unfinished.” Stated Faki.
The report also pointed to a shortage of medical professionals, inadequate infrastructure at health centers, including the absence of perimeter walls, and patient overcrowding.
“It’s a daily struggle here, the overcrowding is unbearable. We often have to wait for hours just to see a doctor. The lack of space and constant shortage of medicines is a real concern for us,” said Fatuma Chiro a resident of Kongwea.
The oversight team also discovered stalled Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDEs), such as the one in Mwijabu in Changamwe Sub-County, initiated in 2020, and others in Kengeleni, Nyali, and Dingirikani.
“The Mwijabu ECDE center was supposed to be a blessing for our children,” expressed James Mwili a resident of Changamwe. “But it’s been years since construction began, and now it’s just a skeletal structure. This negligence is unacceptable. Our children deserve better especially when we’re paying taxes.
Furthermore, the report pointed out challenges with completed markets where traders have yet to relocate. Senator Faki announced his intention to scrutinize the utilization of the Elimu and Stawisha funds.
Governor Nassir acknowledged the findings of the oversight report and stated that a comprehensive response would be forthcoming. He attributed some of the project delays to legal challenges and the abandonment of work by contractors.
“The Kongowea Health Center’s perimeter wall construction was hindered by legal disputes over land ownership. We recently prevailed in the court case,” Governor Nassir explained.
Regarding the stalled ECDEs, the Governor attributed the delays to various factors, including payment issues to contractors. He stated that work has resumed on some projects after payments were made, while the county is in the process of terminating contracts with contractors who have absconded despite receiving payment.
To address the issue of medicine theft in health centers, Governor Nassir announced plans to implement an automated system for the delivery and issuance of medications. “It is unacceptable that the County Government incurs substantial costs, such as the recent Sh70 million drug purchase, while health facilities consistently report drug shortages. Digitization is crucial to address this issue,” he emphasized.
Governor Nassir concluded by promising to promptly address the urgent concerns raised in the interim report.
