The Government, with financial support from Japan, will build a new container terminal at a cost of Kshs 16 billion to improve the Mombasa port's capacity to handle bigger ships, President Mwai Kibaki said on Thursday.
Speaking when he officially opened this year's A.S.K Mombasa International Show, President Kibaki said the Government will also construct a new port entry at Dongo Kundu that will be developed as a free port so that both local and international business people can trade freely.
"These port facilities will be complimented by air transport with the ongoing expansion of the Mombasa and Malindi airports," President Kibaki said.
The President expressed satisfaction that following his directive the port of Mombasa was now operating on a 24-hour basis, saying this will help to expedite cargo clearance.
Said President Kibaki: "With regard to the port of Mombasa, I would like to emphasize that this is not only Kenya's life-line to the rest of the world, but it is also an important gateway that serves most of our neighbors."
Noting that the land issue remains a big impediment to productivity in the Coast Province, President Kibaki said that is during his first term in office his Government begun the most ambitious and comprehensive land reform policies in the coast since independence.
In this regard, the Head of State said he had instructed the Ministry of Lands to expedite the land reform programme to ensure that wananchi in the region have access to this vital factor of production.
On agriculture, President Kibaki encouraged farmers and especially small-scale producers to treat farming as a business as agriculture caters for the livelihoods of more than 70 percent of country's rural population.
The sector is also our nation's highest foreign exchange earner.
The President observed that in the last five years agriculture has achieved an annual average growth rate of 5.2 percent despite recurrent adverse weather and the rapid increase in the prices of fuel and fertilizers.
The Head of State, however, regretted that the Coast province has not benefited from the sustained improvement in agricultural productivity yet the region has immense potential because of its unique climatic conditions which are favourable for a wide range of crops.
"For instance, some of Kenya's best mangoes and citrus fruits are grown in this province. The province is also home to cash crops such as coconuts, cashew nuts, and bixa. However, farmers' earnings remain low at about 743 million shillings from coconuts, 1.25 billion shillings from cashew nuts and 86 million shillings from bixa," the President noted.
In order to enhance earnings from coconuts, President Kibaki said his Government has established the Coconut Development Authority to oversee the development and marketing of the crop.
Saying that one way of improving farmers' earnings is through value addition to their produce, the President expressed hope that the new Coconut Development Authority would invest in processing, packaging and branding of coconut products in order to increase market access and enhance farmers' incomes.
He announced that a cashew nut factory will be built in Malindi while a mango processing plant will be constructed in Kwale.
Advising farmers to diversify their production activities, President Kibaki said sugarcane had the potential to become a major income-earning crop for farmers in this region.
In this connection, the President said the Government would like to see the new sugar factory at Ramisi is fully operational by next year and that the company will work closely with local farmers to ensure a successful out-grower scheme.
President Kibaki said the Government also supports efforts to launch sugarcane production in the vast Tana Delta, saying this project has the potential to employ up to 20,000 people and uplift the living standards of the local residents with new investments being channeled into roads, health facilities and schools.
In the power sector, President Kibaki said the Government has set aside 305 million shillings for rural electrification in coast province, targeting market centers, schools and hospitals.
In addition, the President said, the Government with support from the Government of Belgium will spend 1 billion shillings for the construction of a high voltage line from Rabai to Ngalu to improve power supply in the region.
He reiterated that the Government has also increased funding for road construction and maintenance in Coasty province, saying he was particularly pleased with the ongoing upgrading of Mariakani - Kilifi road which will cost the Government about 2.5 billion shillings.
To preserve the country's road network, President Kibaki assured all Kenyans that the Government is determined to get rid of the four axle-load trailers that are damaging roads through overloading.
On the fishing industry, the President said the Government will construct three additional cold storage facilities in Vanga, Malindi and Lamu to support the production and marketing of fish.
He urged fishermen and investors to take advantage of Kenya's exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean which remains under exploited, saying the Government has increased surveillance in Indian Ocean to curb illegal fishing by foreign firms.
On dairy industry, President Kibaki expressed satisfaction that the new KCC milk processing plant at Miritini is now operational and that farmers in the Coast region have heeded the Government's call to increase supplies to the plant, which has been operating below its installed capacity.
The President also urged beef farmers to take advantage of the revival of Kibarani Kenya Meat Commission plant by increasing livestock production.
The Head of State challenged the elite in Coast Province to work with the Government extension personnel and the residents to improve livestock production in the region.
President Kibaki said it was discouraging to see leaders in the region continue engaging in petty politics when the region lagged behind in development.
"The coast region cannot continue experiencing deficiencies in all sectors when the province had untapped potential which could be exploited with Government support," the President Said.
He disclosed that the Government has secured a loan of 3 billion shillings from the Arab Bank for International Development which will be used to rehabilitate the Bura Irrigation Scheme and increase the acreage under irrigation from 2500 hectares to 6700 hectares.
On tourism, President Kibaki said he was satisfied following marketing efforts which are being spearheaded by Government agencies like Kenya Tourist Board in collaboration with the private sector; the sector is on the road to recovery with many tourist facilities around the country reporting increased tourist arrivals.
The head of State earlier toured award winning stands and unveiled a commemorative plague to inaugurate the refurbished Mombasa Maize Millers stalls. He also presented prizes and certificates to the winning stands.
Speaking at the same occasion the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka asked leaders in the region to be accommodative and emulate the political parties now working together for the good of all Kenyans under the Grand Coalition Government.
Agriculture Minister William Ruto said the law would soon be reviewed to restrict export of raw nuts to encourage local industries to process the products locally thereby create jobs for the country's youth.
Several Cabinet Ministers, Senior Government officials and the ASK National Chairman Stewart Madzayo also attended the opening session.
Speaking when he officially opened this year's A.S.K Mombasa International Show, President Kibaki said the Government will also construct a new port entry at Dongo Kundu that will be developed as a free port so that both local and international business people can trade freely.
"These port facilities will be complimented by air transport with the ongoing expansion of the Mombasa and Malindi airports," President Kibaki said.
The President expressed satisfaction that following his directive the port of Mombasa was now operating on a 24-hour basis, saying this will help to expedite cargo clearance.
Said President Kibaki: "With regard to the port of Mombasa, I would like to emphasize that this is not only Kenya's life-line to the rest of the world, but it is also an important gateway that serves most of our neighbors."
Noting that the land issue remains a big impediment to productivity in the Coast Province, President Kibaki said that is during his first term in office his Government begun the most ambitious and comprehensive land reform policies in the coast since independence.
In this regard, the Head of State said he had instructed the Ministry of Lands to expedite the land reform programme to ensure that wananchi in the region have access to this vital factor of production.
On agriculture, President Kibaki encouraged farmers and especially small-scale producers to treat farming as a business as agriculture caters for the livelihoods of more than 70 percent of country's rural population.
The sector is also our nation's highest foreign exchange earner.
The President observed that in the last five years agriculture has achieved an annual average growth rate of 5.2 percent despite recurrent adverse weather and the rapid increase in the prices of fuel and fertilizers.
The Head of State, however, regretted that the Coast province has not benefited from the sustained improvement in agricultural productivity yet the region has immense potential because of its unique climatic conditions which are favourable for a wide range of crops.
"For instance, some of Kenya's best mangoes and citrus fruits are grown in this province. The province is also home to cash crops such as coconuts, cashew nuts, and bixa. However, farmers' earnings remain low at about 743 million shillings from coconuts, 1.25 billion shillings from cashew nuts and 86 million shillings from bixa," the President noted.
In order to enhance earnings from coconuts, President Kibaki said his Government has established the Coconut Development Authority to oversee the development and marketing of the crop.
Saying that one way of improving farmers' earnings is through value addition to their produce, the President expressed hope that the new Coconut Development Authority would invest in processing, packaging and branding of coconut products in order to increase market access and enhance farmers' incomes.
He announced that a cashew nut factory will be built in Malindi while a mango processing plant will be constructed in Kwale.
Advising farmers to diversify their production activities, President Kibaki said sugarcane had the potential to become a major income-earning crop for farmers in this region.
In this connection, the President said the Government would like to see the new sugar factory at Ramisi is fully operational by next year and that the company will work closely with local farmers to ensure a successful out-grower scheme.
President Kibaki said the Government also supports efforts to launch sugarcane production in the vast Tana Delta, saying this project has the potential to employ up to 20,000 people and uplift the living standards of the local residents with new investments being channeled into roads, health facilities and schools.
In the power sector, President Kibaki said the Government has set aside 305 million shillings for rural electrification in coast province, targeting market centers, schools and hospitals.
In addition, the President said, the Government with support from the Government of Belgium will spend 1 billion shillings for the construction of a high voltage line from Rabai to Ngalu to improve power supply in the region.
He reiterated that the Government has also increased funding for road construction and maintenance in Coasty province, saying he was particularly pleased with the ongoing upgrading of Mariakani - Kilifi road which will cost the Government about 2.5 billion shillings.
To preserve the country's road network, President Kibaki assured all Kenyans that the Government is determined to get rid of the four axle-load trailers that are damaging roads through overloading.
On the fishing industry, the President said the Government will construct three additional cold storage facilities in Vanga, Malindi and Lamu to support the production and marketing of fish.
He urged fishermen and investors to take advantage of Kenya's exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean which remains under exploited, saying the Government has increased surveillance in Indian Ocean to curb illegal fishing by foreign firms.
On dairy industry, President Kibaki expressed satisfaction that the new KCC milk processing plant at Miritini is now operational and that farmers in the Coast region have heeded the Government's call to increase supplies to the plant, which has been operating below its installed capacity.
The President also urged beef farmers to take advantage of the revival of Kibarani Kenya Meat Commission plant by increasing livestock production.
The Head of State challenged the elite in Coast Province to work with the Government extension personnel and the residents to improve livestock production in the region.
President Kibaki said it was discouraging to see leaders in the region continue engaging in petty politics when the region lagged behind in development.
"The coast region cannot continue experiencing deficiencies in all sectors when the province had untapped potential which could be exploited with Government support," the President Said.
He disclosed that the Government has secured a loan of 3 billion shillings from the Arab Bank for International Development which will be used to rehabilitate the Bura Irrigation Scheme and increase the acreage under irrigation from 2500 hectares to 6700 hectares.
On tourism, President Kibaki said he was satisfied following marketing efforts which are being spearheaded by Government agencies like Kenya Tourist Board in collaboration with the private sector; the sector is on the road to recovery with many tourist facilities around the country reporting increased tourist arrivals.
The head of State earlier toured award winning stands and unveiled a commemorative plague to inaugurate the refurbished Mombasa Maize Millers stalls. He also presented prizes and certificates to the winning stands.
Speaking at the same occasion the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka asked leaders in the region to be accommodative and emulate the political parties now working together for the good of all Kenyans under the Grand Coalition Government.
Agriculture Minister William Ruto said the law would soon be reviewed to restrict export of raw nuts to encourage local industries to process the products locally thereby create jobs for the country's youth.
Several Cabinet Ministers, Senior Government officials and the ASK National Chairman Stewart Madzayo also attended the opening session.