On 14^th November 2022, KEPSA led by Mr Victor Ogalo, KEPSA Deputy CEO, hosted a courtesy engagement with the Mombasa County Governor H.E Abdullswamad Sheriff to discuss areas of partnership that would improve own-source revenue generation and further economic revival of Mombasa County. The KEPSA team included Ms Eva Warigia - KEPSA Public Finance Sector Board Chair; Mr Gikonyo Gitonga – KEPSA Lands and Physical Planning Sector Board Chair; and, Mr Genasio Mugo – KEPSA Energy and Extractives Sector Board Vice-Chair while the Governor was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Advisor on Governance and Digital Transformation, County Attorney, among other County officials.

Governor Abdullswamad stated that he had instituted Rapid Results Initiatives in three focus areas which include cleaning the city of Mombasa through coordinated garbage collection, enhancement of the ECD Centers and enhancement of revenue collection and he was encouraging partnerships with private sector to deliver on these areas. So far, the Governor has issued executive order to, part of which, bring down the rates of levies among other outcomes. He also emphasized that he will ensure an open-door policy facilitating dialogue with all stakeholders.

In his remarks, Mr Ogalo appreciated the gesture of the governor for reaching out to KEPSA. He further noted that the partnership will ensure that Mombasa becomes an investor-friendly destination, maximizing its underdeveloped potential and reclaiming its glory as the first Capital City of Kenya and the major gateway to Kenya. Mombasa county has a strategic location to facilitate both local and international trade owing to the seaports and the international airports.

Meeting agreed that as soon as the Governor has fully formed his Administration, KEPSA will present an engagement matrix of issues to engage with different CECs and offered to help come up with a competitiveness agenda for the County. The meeting agreed on the following areas of partnership going forward:

1. Regular engagements with the CECs once they take the oath of office.
2. Formulation of an engagement matrix that will help in evaluation and tracking progress in the ease of doing business and competitiveness of the county. The matrix will focus on;
   • Affordable health care
   • Affordable Housing
   • Safety and disaster risk management
   • E-governance implementation and enforcement
   • Efficient water uses and solid waste management
   • Social and cultural belonging
3. KEPSA to assist in unlocking the open skies policy to place Mombasa as a tourist hub.
4. Partnership towards digitization of county services to facilitate youth employment
5. The governor to assist in the follow-up on engagements with Jumia ya Pwani
6. Dealing with youth unemployment in Mombasa, which is the highest in the country.
7. Programs towards awareness and onboarding of the Mombasa youth to the formal financial market i.e banks.
8. Consideration of the KEPSA input towards the Mombasa County Finance Bill and specifically the Miraa levy