A sea wall to safeguard houses from being swept by waters of the Indian Ocean is set to be constructed at Ngomeni village in Magarini sub-county, Kilifi County at a cost of sh73 million.
Already the devolved government has set aside the funds in the infrastructure development that will revamp the old renowned fishing landing site.
According to Gongoni ward MCA Mr. Albert Kiraga, the project is being done in partnership with the national government.
Mr. Kiraga who is also the county assembly budget chairman said the main aim of the project is to protect the Indian Ocean waters from destroying property.
He was speaking during the handing over of Ngomeni secondary school’s modern dormitory constructed by Magarini NG-CDF.
The event was graced by area MP Michael Kingi where the MCA said in this financial year’s budget the county assembly approved Sh73 million for the project to be implemented.
“The Sh73 million is aimed at setting up the sea wall here in Ngomeni, to ensure the houses built at the shores of the Indian Ocean are protected in the future.
The construction work for the sea wall is expected to begin soon before October this year according to the MCA.
“Here in Ngomeni, there are two problems one is the road which has been a prolonged challenge, the other one is the sea wall, we can talk of all developments but without building the sea wall after a few years the water levels will rise to the road and sweep away houses,” he said.
He said already there are buildings constructed two years ago but have now been swept away by the Ocean.
He said the sea wall project has caused sleepless nights to leaders for quite some time and has heard talks with the MP over the issue.
On his part, the MP said the sea wall project comes at a time when the Italian government has also approved funding amounting to over Sh750 million for different projects in the constituency including the tarmacking of Mjanaheri Ngomeni road which has been in a bad state for time immemorial.
He said they have been pushing for the projects together with the MCA, Governor Amason Kingi, and the Coast Development Authority (CDA) to make sure the funding is approved.
Mr. Kingi said there was a time he took all the Kilifi members of parliaments to give him support in lobbying for the funding which had stuck in phase two.
“The project has not started but where we have reached am happy because it was the issue of the Attorney General to sign and he did, there were amendments that had been sought by the Italian government and were already done and documents are now in Rome,” he said.
The legislator said he was called and informed that everything is ready and what remains is for CS treasury to sign and promised to go to his office to ensure the approvals are done by the Cabinet secretary.
Kingi said the funding shall help implement projects in Malindi and Magarini but his constituency is the one which benefitted more as the former shall only get funding for the construction of CDA offices.
In his constituency, Kingi said the funds will be used to expand Ngomeni-Ras Road, add another dormitory at Ngomeni secondary, classrooms, kitchen at Ngomeni primary, and a multi-purpose hall at Ngomeni.
In Ras, they will build classrooms and a chief’s office while in Midodoni the funds shall be used to construct classrooms, a kitchen at Mamburui dispensary, eight classrooms in Burangi, and a footbridge at Burangi crossing.
“I thank God for the progress of the funding we are only left with one step, I will be meeting the CS and whatever he will tell me I will bring the feedback here,’ he said.
Furaha Chengo a local youth leader thanked the county government for allocating funds for the construction of the sea wall saying it will go a long way to reduce damage to buildings.
He said the sea wall is crucial because the locals use the area as a fishing landing site and has houses for locals that will be protected.
*This article was written by Ramadhan Kambi for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews@gmail.com to submit your story.
