Nassir mulls ward Development Fund for MCAs
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir has awarded Members of the County Assembly a Ward Development Fund to steer grassroots development.
Nassir instructed the county attorney to explore a legal framework to set up the fund so that the electorate can reap the benefits of devolution.
Nassir made the announcement during his maiden speech at the third Mombasa County Assembly, where he listed a number of county laws that will be presented to the house for approval.
“I have instructed the office of the county attorney to explore a legal framework to set up the Mombasa county ward development fund, devolution was meant to bring development to the lowest administrative unit, which is the ward level,” said Nassir.
Nassir said the establishment of the fund is expected to address programmes which forced elected members of county assembly to dig into their own pockets.
“We will not be deterred and I want to assure this house that we will be working to find a legal and appropriate way to make the ward development fund a reality to our people,” he added.
Bamburi MCA Patric Mbele and his Kadzandani counterpart Fatma Kushe who termed it a game-changer have welcomed the ward fund move.
“We will not hesitate to pass it when it it is tabled in the house, it’s something we have been waiting for the past 10 years, this will enable youth, women to reap from it,” said Mbele.
Nassir, who took time to outline details of his development plan, asked the members of the country assembly to make the spirit of devolution a success by formulating key laws that will ensure effective service delivery to the people.
“It’s my intention to ensure good governance in the country of Mombasa, I shall be presenting bills before the assembly for implementation,” said Nassir.
Speaking during the inaugural speech at the County Assembly he hinted that he will be presenting a Mombasa County Revenue Service bill that seeks to expand the tax base of Mombasa County through new revenue streams.
“This bill he says will help in revenue mobilisation, facilitate transparency and enhance county revenue and identify new revenue streams, “We want Mombasa to become a hub of business, we will facilitate the private sector to grow and develop Mombasa”, said Nassir.
Bloated wage bill
Mombasa County is choking under the burden of a bloated wage bill that has made it near impossible to facilitate development.
“We have close to no fiscal space to implement the promises we made to the people. As a County Government, we have to find innovative ways out of this quagmire we find ourselves in. The only way out is through improved own source revenue and to achieve this, we must have the Mombasa Revenue Service as a county institution in place,” he added.
He also announced that he will be presenting the county finance bill 2022-23, which will inform in funding county projects and facilitating resources to key development projects upon approval by the county assembly.
“The bill will completely revolutionize the business environment and tax regime in Mombasa. We will become the most business friendly county and start ups will flock to us because of our new proposed policies to zone levies in Mombasa,” said Nassir.
The county is also set to l bring down the cost of licensing for tuk tuks, public service vehicles and start while making the process digital, transparent and devoid of human interaction that may occasion corrupt practices.
The executive will present a Mombasa County Transport Bill for your wise consideration due to rising congestion and environmental pollution in Mombasa.
Non-motorised transport
“The purpose of the bill is to promote more usage of non-motorized transport within Mombasa County; reduce air pollution within Mombasa County. Reduce/control congestion within some parts of Mombasa,” he added.
On matters of health, he pledged to revamp the Coast General Hospital to beat the rising demand of health services in Mombasa.
He said he will present a health bill at the assembly to foster adequate funding of all health centers in Mombasa County including the Coast General Hospital.
He asked the county assembly to protect and keep on toes the county executive to ensure it delivers on its mandate.
The packed county assembly session was opened by the speaker of the Mombasa county assembly Kharub Khatri.Khatri is serving a second term in the assembly after his reappointment. In attendance was Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, Senator Mohamed Faki, Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi nominated senator Miraj Abdilahi and Mombasa deputy governor Francis Thoya,
