Balala picks ex-shipping expert Ondego to head Mama Waterfront board

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala, flanked by the newly inaugurated Mama Ngina Water Front Management Board Members address the media at the Mombasa based renovation site in Mombasa County on September 27, 2019. [Image: Standard]

Former Shipping and Logistics expert Brown M'Mbai Ondego has been unveiled as the new board chairman of the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa County.

While making the announcement, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said that Ondego has vast knowledge on 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.

Balala at the same time announced that they have secured 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.

Balala said the Sh460 million Mama Ngina Waterfront will be officially be 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 institution 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 Principal Secretary of State Department of Tourism and County Secretary of Mombasa County Government.

Balala said that 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 also be tasked with identifying 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.

And 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 who is also the Regional General Manager for Pride Inn Hotels said.

The park has been selected to host this year’s World Tourism Day and Mashujaa Day celebrations respectively.

The waterfront park, which sits on a 26-acre parcel of land facing the Likoni crossing channel, was supposed to have been completed by May 31.

During the commissioning of the project, President Uhuru Kenyatta had given the contractor, Suhufi Agencies Limited, a 150-day deadline to complete the whole project.

However, due to changes in designs, it had to be delayed.

According to the project designs, the Mama Ngina Waterfront Park would be an integrated urban destination for culture, festivals, shopping, dining, and relaxation.

Notable features of the initial designs of the project are the state-of-the-art amphitheater, the Kilindini Cultural Centre, the Pigeon Towers, the traders’ kiosk, the leisure walk-ways, the ablution blocks and the two main gates leading to the park.

The transformation of the park located on Mama Ngina Drive into a modern public facility is part of ongoing efforts to restore the glory of Mombasa as a leading tourist destination in the region.