This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
On September 27, 2019, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala unveiled Brown M'Mbai Ondego as the new board chairman of the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa County.
Ondego, a former shipping and logistics expert, has vast knowledge of the Port City of Mombasa, where he has served with zeal and dedication. He formerly served as the Managing Director of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Mackenzie Maritime Limited, Grain Bulk Handlers, and also worked at the defunct Rift Valley Railways as Executive Vice-chairman and CEO.
At the same time, Balala announced that they have secured a title deed for the land where Mama Ngina Waterfront lies in the name of Treasury CS as a trustee of the Tourism and Wildlife Ministry for 99 years. The land measures six hectares.
The Sh460 million Mama Ngina Waterfront will be officially inaugurated by President Uhuru Kenyatta during the Mashujaa Day on October 20, 2019.
''We have appointed a board to manage Mama Ngina Waterfront with Brown Ondego as chairman. He will work alongside other reputable institutions like the Kenya Coast Tourist Association (KCTA), Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF), Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Mombasa Golf Club, Law Society of Kenya Mombasa branch, and the National Museums of Kenya,'' Balala said.
Other members of the board include the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Tourism and the County Secretary of Mombasa County Government.
According to Balala, a coordinator for the Waterfront shall be appointed and will serve as the secretary to the board.
''The board shall provide effective oversight over the development of the Mama Ngina Waterfront. The board shall also prepare and submit to the Cabinet Secretary a sustainability plan for the Mama Ngina Waterfront,'' Balala stated.
He also said that the board shall identify additional sources of funding for the development of Mama Ngina Waterfront and recommend it to the cabinet secretary.
''With approval from the Cabinet Secretary, the board shall solicit support from development partners for the development of Mama Ngina Waterfront,'' the CS said.
The board shall serve for a term of three years.
Reacting to the development, KCTA chairman Victor Shitakah said that it is a big honour to have KCTA sit in the Mama Ngina board.
''We are delighted at the gesture to have KCTA sit on the new board and wish to assure the Cabinet Secretary of our total support and efforts to help Mombasa tourism grow in leaps and bounds,'' Shitakah said.
