Youths Demand Transparency from Governor Nassir Over ‘Ghost’ Projects

By George Otieno

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

A group of vocal youth leaders from Mombasa County have accused Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir of evading accountability over billions of shillings allegedly spent on untraceable county projects.

Led by activist Edwin Shamir, the youths condemned the Mombasa County Programme-Based Budget (PBB) for the 2025/2026 financial year, citing a lack of transparency, including missing details such as the names, scopes, and locations of listed development projects.

“Eighteen sports facilities have reportedly been renovated using taxpayers’ money, yet no one can point out where they are,” claimed Shamir during a press briefing held in Mombasa on August 27, 2025.

Shamir also raised serious concerns over the long-stalled Mombasa Stadium project, which he claims has consumed KSh 3.2 billion without any visible progress.

“Mombasa County was allocated 3.2 billion for the stadium, but up to date, we have not been told where the money is—because it was eaten,” he alleged.

According to Shamir, attempts to seek clarification from the governor have been met with deflection.

“The last time we raised this issue, the governor told us to go and ask former Governor Joho. But we’re not addressing an individual—we’re addressing the institution. We deserve answers about our stadium,” he stated.

The group lamented that Mombasa’s absence of a functional stadium meant the county missed out on hosting matches during the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), currently being co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

“Had the stadium been completed, Mombasa could have hosted even one CHAN match—creating thousands of jobs for local youths,” said Shamir.

In addition to infrastructure concerns, the youth leaders criticized the county’s political elite for what they described as a “culture of handouts,” accusing elected officials of distributing questionable funds in informal cash giveaways.

“MPs and even a whole governor are walking around with sacks of money, giving handouts in areas like Likoni. We don’t want that. We want sustainable opportunities,” the group stated.

Jacebeth Mawiya, another youth leader, called for immediate funding of the Mombasa Youth Revolving Fund. She urged the county to allocate at least KSh 50 million to operationalize the initiative.

“Additionally, programs like Mombasa ni Yangu should be formalized through a youth volunteering and internship policy to ensure their sustainability and impact,” Mawiya added, stressing the importance of aligning youth-focused programs with the county’s broader strategic goals.

On national matters, the youths rejected President William Ruto’s proposed task force aimed at compensating victims of the recent Gen-Z protests. They argued that the move appeared to be a bribe and called instead for justice and accountability.

“You cannot begin compensation without justice. We don’t want panels or commissions that go nowhere. Human rights groups and independent institutions must be involved if compensation is to be discussed,” they said.

The youth leaders concluded by urging both the national and county governments to stop political tokenism and start delivering on their promises to young people.