Kilifi Governor Gideon Maitha Mung’aro inspects a Guard of honour mounted by County Inspectorate team at the Assembly during State of the County Address on December 10, 2025. Photo by Ben Okweingoti 
By Ben Okweingoti
Kilifi Governor Gideon Maitha Mung’aro has unveiled a glowing scorecard of progress, outlining sweeping improvements in revenue collection, healthcare, water supply, infrastructure, education and housing during his administration’s three-year tenure.
Delivering the 2025 State of the County Address at the County Assembly on Wednesday, Governor Mung’aro said Kilifi is experiencing steady growth across key sectors, with data showing significant upward momentum.
He announced that Own Source Revenue continues to rise sharply—moving from Sh1.003 billion in 2022/2023, to Sh1.209 billion in 2023/2024, and further to Sh1.513 billion in 2024/2025. This reflects growth rates of 20.4 percent and 25.2 percent, respectively.
The county now aims to hit Sh1.875 billion in the current financial year, a further 24 percent increase. To safeguard collections, the administration plans to install security cameras at all revenue points.
In the health sector, Governor Mung’aro highlighted a dramatic rise in hospital revenue—from under Sh100 million to more than Sh550 million annually—attributed to digitisation and automation of health systems.
He reported the renovation of 21 health facilities, the opening of new dispensaries, and a strengthened workforce following the promotion of 957 health workers and hiring of 191 new staff. Kilifi’s HIV prevalence has also declined from 3.5 percent in 2022 to 2.5 percent in 2024, with 94 percent of patients now on ARVs.
On water access, the Governor said coverage has grown from 65 percent in 2022 to 69 percent in 2025, supported by an expanded network of 744 kilometres of pipeline, 49 boreholes, and 12 water pans. He, however, noted that supply challenges remain due to pressure on the county’s main water sources.
Kilifi’s affordable housing programme is also gaining traction, with 1,200 units under construction and 400 already completed and occupied, aligning the county with the national housing agenda.
Addressing the education sector, Mung’aro said progress has been notable. A total of 2,122 students have benefited from full scholarships to national schools, while the school feeding programme has boosted enrolment from 46,938 learners in 2023/2024 to 57,802 in 2025. The county has further strengthened early childhood education by training 1,100 ECDE teachers and equipping 406 centres with digital learning devices.
Vocational training has expanded significantly, with more than 2,900 graduates in 2024, alongside newly established ICT labs under the KEMFSED programme.
On tourism and trade, the Governor said Kilifi continues to attract global attention. The county now boasts 32 fully developed markets, and the 2024 Kilifi Investment Conference unlocked over USD 1.1 billion in capital flow.
Kilifi also showcased itself at nine major tourism fairs and hosted major cultural and international events, including the Mekatilili wa Menza Festival, the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference, and the Essence of Africa Conference in Malindi.
Governor Mung’aro concluded his two-hour address by assuring residents that his administration remains committed to building a modern, prosperous and competitive Kilifi.
