This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
Published on August 6, 2019, Mombasa County has unveiled an ambitious urban regeneration project aimed at transforming the city into a manufacturing and value addition hub with world-class infrastructure.
The Mombasa County Urban Regeneration Project, developed in consultation with the ministries of Tourism and Environment, includes plans for an international conference centre, affordable homes, a high-rise parking lot, storm water drainage system, a fish port, slaughterhouse, bus rapid transport, and a cancer screening and treatment centre.
Deputy Governor William Kingi said the plan is meant to position Mombasa as a major manufacturing and value addition centre, with basic infrastructure necessary to open it up.
The project envisions the construction of the Mombasa International Convention Centre (MICC) at a cost of between Sh6 billion and Sh10 billion to boost conference tourism at the Coast.
The county also seeks to increase the average annual hotel occupancy from the current 40 per cent to 80 per cent by 2025 and ensure year-round tourist visits.
Additionally, the county plans to implement a Sh50 billion mass urban housing project in its 12 existing estates to plug a 380,000 unit deficit in the city.
The plan acknowledges that the city has limited space for expansion against a rapidly growing population, and informal settlements estimated at 72 currently, justifying the need for decent and affordable housing.
