By Emmanuel Masha, Hola, Sunday, February 25, 2018,
The World Bank has in the last six years disbursed about Sh3.5 billion for implementation of the Kenya Coast Development Project (KCDP).
The funds were channelled through seven Kenya Government agencies by the International Development Association (IDA) bank and the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) to implement community projects in a bid to improve the livelihoods of Kenya’s coastal people.
Dr. Melchizedek Osore, a scientist with the Kenya Marine Forestry Research Institute (KMFRI), also a KCDP Manager, said IDA disbursed about Sh30 billion while GEF forked Sh5 billion.
He said the projects had been successfully implemented in all the six coastal counties, through KMFRI, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Coast Development Authority (CDA), the State Department of Fisheries, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
Dr. Osore made the remarks in a colourful ceremony to mark the handing over of 13 projects successfully implemented in Tana River County at the Hola Stadium yesterday.
He noted that 80 percent of the projects had been successfully completed and that KCDP was monitoring the rest to ensure that they also complete.
He said the project had spent Sh52 million in Tana River County on various community projects and had also assisted local youths to access higher education enhancing their capacity.
The function was also addressed by Dr. Enock Wakwabi, KMFRI’s Deputy Managing Director, Governor of Tana River County, Major (rtd) Dr. Dhadho Gaddae Godhana and a number of national and county government officials representing various sectors.
Dr. Wakwabi told the residents of Tana River County to sustainably exploit natural resources, especially marine resources and stop complaining as citizens from other countries exploited them.
Dr. Godhana thanked KMFRI and KCDP for implementing the projects in the county and pledged to ensure their sustainability.
