MOMBASA COUNTY ON THE INTERSECTION OF HISTORY AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Mombasa is a coastal city of Kenya along the Indian ocean. It is Kenya’s oldest (around 900AD) and second-largest city after Nairobi which is the capital city. it has a population of 1,208,303 people according to the 2019 census. Out of theses, male are 610,257 and female 598, 046. Youth between the age of 15 to 34 male are 242,546 and females 262,765. while those in the adolescent bracket (between the age 10 to 19) male are 104,688 and female 111,469. it is located in the South-Eastern part of the
Coastal region of Kenya. It covers an area of 229.9 Km2. The County also enjoys proximity to an expansive water mass as it borders the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Indian Ocean to the East. Other than the history of the two founding rulers of Mombasa that is Mwana Mkisi and Shehe Mvita, most of the early information on Mombasa comes from the Portuguese chronicle writings in the 16th century. Mombasa became the major port city of pre-colonial Kenya and was used to trade with other African port cities, the Persian empires, the Arabian Peninsula, India, and China. Mombasa was ruled by the Portuguese in 1631, Omani Arabs in 1698 and the British in 1887.
The county’s ecosystem has both marine and terrestrial components. Both ecosystems are characterized by diverse species of flora and fauna, the most common being coconut trees and different species of fish, which have different cultural, social, and financial values. The ecological conditions are evolving fast due to numerous developments in the county, including the recent dredging to deepen the Kilindini Channel of the port of Mombasa, construction of the second container terminals, and the construction of the Mombasa City Southern by-pass (Dongo-Kundu).
Administrative Sub-division(Sub-counties, Locations, Sub-locations)
Administratively, the County is divided into six sub-counties namely: Mvita, Nyali, Changamwe, Jomvu, Kisauni, and Likoni, and thirty county assembly wards. These are further sub-divided into thirty locations and fifty-seven sub-locations.
Call to action
Though Mombasa city is the largest trading hub in East Africa, the rate of youth unemployment is, at 44%, extremely high and risks denying Mombasa the benefits that its demographics should offer. When trying to connect youth, education institutions, and the private sector one will not fail to note that basic education and skills training is not accessible enough and is of insufficient quality and there is a gap between skills young people offer and those required by businesses, access to finance is limited, job and market information is scarce but worst of all is the cost of doing business is exorbitantly high. Many locals harbor feelings of marginalization and victimization. However, the
county has a range of economic sectors when expanded has the potential to create jobs. These sectors include Tourism, health, agriculture & agri-processing, construction, micro trade and retail, fisheries, export processing zones, Transport, waste management & recycling among others.
To stimulate the Mombasa economy youth must be meaningfully engaged in all development agenda and their voices count in the decision-making process. More efforts are needed to improve the human capital of young people to a highly-skilled cadre including in entrepreneurship, life skills, and nurtured into good values. Stakeholders, including government and private sectors, must have a strong impact on youth employment but through ethical practices, good policies, and incentives. There is no doubt Mombasa youth are demanding a better future. ARE YOU LISTENING!!!