The National Government is constructing new Huduma centres in all sub-counties of Kilifi County to bring services closer to the people.
Huduma Kenya Chief Excecutive Officer CPA Ben Kai said they have already laid foundation for the centres in four sub-counties and talks are currently ongoing with Kilifi North MP Owen Baya to open one in his constituency.
Speaking after officially breaking ground for the construction of the Malindi Huduma Centre which will be built at a cost of KSh48 Million, Kai said once complete residents will no longer have to travel for long distance to seek crucial services such as birth certificates, passports and others as all will be handled at the sub-county level.
Kai said the Malindi Huduma Centre would be among the best in the country—a storey building that will include a recording studio for youth and an ICT Hub.
“Apart from the normal services found in Huduma centres there will be a recording studio for artists to come and record, there will be a digital hub for those who want to do online jobs,” he said.
The Huduma centr, he said, will have many offices including a centre for processing passports and it will be a centre that will transform services in the county.
He said the contract will take eight months and urged the contractor to ensure the project is ready at that time.
Kai called on the contractor to give priority to the local youth during the construction process so as to enable them get employment opportunities.
Apart from Malindi, other Huduma centres that are being constructed in Kilifi County are in Ganze, Kaloleni and Kilifi South, with Kai adding that another one will be built in Watamu.
He called on leaders in Kilifi, regardless of their political affiliations, to work together so as to push for development.
The CEO was received by Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule, Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi the host, Kilifi Woman Rep. Getrude Mbeyu, the Deputy County Commissioner, a host of MCAs led by Shella Ward MCA Twahir Abdulkarim and a team from Huduma Kenya headquarters.
A happy MP Mnyazi said the project construction had kicked off and termed it a major milestone for the people of Malindi as they will soon be able to get government services easily.
She dismissed critics who she says are politicizing everything being done by the government, saying from now she has no time to respond to them.
Mnyazi said she was busy pushing for development of her people and those politicking should continue as their talks will not change her mission to fulfil her manifesto for development.
She also called on the Huduma Kenya CEO to ensure that locals are given prioity on the job opportunities during the construction phase.
“I have said the customer cannot be reached I am busy doing development, I am saying so because even this Huduma centre project, which I thought was a good project for people, some have began criticising it and politicising the issue,” she said.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Florence Chibule said the ICT hub domiciled in the Malindi Huduma Centre will be a plus, as the county government has initiating projects to empower the youth. She also used the podium to encourage young people to embrace a saving culture so as to get funding from Wezesha Fund.
Kilifi Woman Rep Getrude Mbeyu lauded the Huduma centre project, adding that Malindi people have suffered for a long time seeking services in Kilifi, something that was expensive.
