By Patrick Chiriba

The national government will release 1.4 billion shillings to compensate displaced families in Likoni to facilitate the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) construction.

This comes after the African Centre for Corrective and Prevention Action filed a complaint at the Mombasa High Court seeking to stop the Dongo Kundu project owing to environmental concerns.

The petitioner claims the project will produce industrial waste which will probably be dumped into the ocean.

Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry Moses Kuria said the sub-division of land acquired for the displaced families would be undertaken and title deeds issued by March.

“The money is already released for the project-affected persons, the funds are with National Lands Commission (NLC). We will complete this exercise by March 31st,” he said.

The compensation paves the way for the project that would turn Mombasa into a major regional logistics and manufacturing center.

CS Kuria said the government hopes to have the Dongo Kundu SEZ operating by July.

He added: “Other projects will continue all the way to 2025 but that will not stop investors from moving in and we expect by July it will be a hive of activity.”

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir promised to support the national government with the survey and water provision.