By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 11 December 2025 - Kilifi Governor Gideon Maitha Mung’aro’s 2025 State of the County Address on Wednesday painted a portrait of a county making measurable gains across revenue, health, water, housing, education, and tourism.
While the speech focused on achievements over his three-year tenure, it also offered insights into the administration’s broader strategy of combining infrastructure development, service delivery, and investment promotion to stimulate socio-economic growth.
A key highlight of Mung’aro’s address was the steady rise in Own Source Revenue (OSR), which increased from KSh 1.003 billion in 2022/2023 to KSh 1.513 billion in 2024/2025, representing growth rates of 20.4% and 25.2% respectively.
With a target of KSh 1.875 billion for the current financial year, the administration is clearly prioritising financial self-reliance.
Plans to install security cameras at revenue collection points indicate a focus on safeguarding resources and improving accountability—a critical move for sustaining public trust and funding further development initiatives.
The health sector emerged as another area of progress.
Digitisation and automation have contributed to growth in health collections from under Sh100 million to over KSh 550 million annually.
Renovations of 21 health facilities, the opening of new dispensaries, and the hiring and promotion of over 1,100 health workers reflect a commitment to expanding service delivery.
The reported decline in HIV prevalence from 3.5% to 2.5% and near-universal antiretroviral coverage signal tangible public health outcomes.
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Water and housing initiatives further underscore the county’s developmental trajectory.
Water coverage has improved modestly from 65% to 69%, supported by extensive pipeline networks, boreholes, and water pans, though Governor Mung’aro acknowledged that demand continues to outstrip supply.
In the housing sector, the construction of 1,200 affordable units, with 400 completed and occupied, aligns Kilifi with national housing targets and demonstrates a commitment to addressing the urban accommodation deficit.
Education and vocational training have also featured prominently in the county’s agenda. Over 2,100 students received full scholarships to national schools, while school feeding programmes boosted enrolment from 46,938 to 57,802 learners.
Investment in early childhood development, teacher training, digital learning, and ICT-enabled vocational centres indicates a long-term strategy to equip Kilifi’s youth with market-relevant skills.
Tourism and trade have been positioned as engines of county growth. The development of 32 markets, hosting of cultural festivals, participation in nine international tourism fairs, and the Kilifi Investment Conference, which attracted over USD 1.1 billion in capital commitments, reflect efforts to brand the county as an investment and tourism hub. Hosting international events like the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference and the Essence of Africa Conference in Malindi also reinforces Kilifi’s visibility on regional and global platforms.
While Mung’aro’s address focused on accomplishments, underlying challenges remain—particularly in water supply and maintaining momentum across multiple sectors.
Nevertheless, the speech underscores a governance approach that blends revenue generation, infrastructure investment, and human capital development, positioning Kilifi as a county increasingly capable of delivering measurable socio-economic progress.
