President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the removal of the century-old Makupa Causeway after the UN warned Kenya that the tourism hub will soon cease to be an island following wanton reclamation of the Indian Ocean.
Demolition of Mombasa's Makupa Causeway and building of a bridge in its place is expected to ease traffic in the tourism hub.
President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the removal of the century-old Makupa Causeway after the UN warned Kenya that the tourism hub will soon cease to be an island following wanton reclamation of the Indian Ocean.
Mombasa business community, residents as well as tourism and other industry players now say the president’s directive will not only protect Mombasa’s island status but will ease traffic flow from the mainland west to the island.
The business community led by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Mombasa branch chairperson Rukia Rashid said the causeway has been a bottleneck to tourists leaving and arriving at the Moi International Airport and Miritini SGR terminus.
“The bridge will be in sync with the Sh5 billion Moi International Airport road. It will ease traffic and enable tourists reach their destination on time. Our tourists have been suffering at the bridge,” Ms Rashid said.
Private developers have been accused of grabbing the sea at Makupa Causeway and erecting multimillion properties including a container freight station.
On Monday, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said the President ordered the demolition of the causeway to pave way for the construction of a bridge, which would protect the town's status.
”I am glad to announce here that the President had directed the ministry to work on removing the causeway. There shall be a bridge here. The causeway will be removed and there shall be free flow (of water in the sea). So Mombasa will permanently remain an island..,” he said.
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
