President William Ruto received an enthusiastic reception from Mombasa residents on Thursday evening as he stopped in Changamwe ahead of his three-day developmental tour of the Coastal region.
The visit came in the wake of recent protests against his administration. However, on this first day of the tour, the Head of State was welcomed by hundreds of residents who turned up to greet him.
Addressing the cheerful crowd, President Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to the local fishermen.
“I promised the local fishermen that I would return. I come bearing good news. I have allocated Sh800 million to the fishing sector to ensure the young people get opportunities to make a living,” he announced.
Ruto also highlighted plans to address power connectivity, aiming to ensure every household in the region has access to electricity.
He promised to open a local market and tackle water issues during his tour.
The President encouraged locals to support his development efforts by endorsing his recent Cabinet nominees. He confirmed the appointment of former Governor Ali Hassan Joho as the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Mining, Fishing, and Blue Economy, a decision that was warmly received by the residents. He also named Salim Mvurya, the immediate former CS for the same docket, to the Ministry of Trade.
“I appointed a new batch of Cabinet nominees. People of Mombasa, I ask you to support Ali Hassan Joho to become a minister in my government. Are you in agreement?” Ruto asked, receiving affirmative responses from the crowd.
President Ruto further stated, “I have also nominated one of your own, Salim Mvurya, to become the Minister for Trade to help us address the issue of unemployment for the young people.”
He emphasized that nominating coastal leaders would ensure that the developmental issues and grievances of the Coastal region are addressed by those familiar with the area.
The jubilant crowd responded with thunderous cheers, confirming their approval of the President’s decisions.
Several coastal leaders were present to welcome President Ruto, including Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir, Mvita MP Machele Mohamed, Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi, and County Assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri.
