Mama Zamzam Mohammed Calls for Greater Investment in Youth Skills and Inclusive Coast Development

By Kelvin Malick 

Mama Zamzam Mohammed Calls for Greater Investment in Youth Skills and Inclusive Coast Development

During President William Ruto’s ongoing development tour of the Coast region on 1 October 2027, Mombasa Women Representative Mama Zamzam Mohammed, popularly known as Mama County, highlighted the importance of investing in education, technical skills, employment and economic empowerment as key drivers of the region’s future.

Mama Zamzam commended the national government for its continued focus on development programmes targeting education, infrastructure, skills development, employment and economic opportunities. She emphasised that the Coast’s young population represents one of the region’s greatest resources and should be equipped with practical skills that can translate into employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.

She singled out institutions such as Shanzu Teachers Technical Training College as important centres for developing a skilled workforce. According to her, young people need more than academic qualifications; they require technical, digital and entrepreneurial skills that can respond to changing labour-market demands and create opportunities both within Kenya and internationally.

She called for increased investment in TVET institutions, digital education, innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that technical and vocational training can provide young people with practical pathways into employment and business ownership.

Mama Zamzam also drew attention to challenges affecting young people at the Coast, including unemployment, the cost of education, limited access to capital, drug and substance abuse and inadequate opportunities for women and youth. She urged both levels of government and other stakeholders to strengthen programmes that address these challenges and ensure that development opportunities reach ordinary citizens.

On broader Coast development, she welcomed investments in infrastructure, education, land, housing, healthcare, water and economic empowerment, while stressing that development should ultimately improve household livelihoods. She called for programmes that deliberately include women, young people, persons living with disabilities and vulnerable families.

She further commended the students and trainers at Shanzu Teachers Technical Training College, describing them as important contributors to Kenya’s future workforce. She encouraged students to use the skills acquired in training institutions to become employees, entrepreneurs, employers and innovators who can contribute to the economic transformation of Mombasa and the country.

Addressing young people, Mama Zamzam urged them to embrace skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship and hard work rather than relying solely on formal employment opportunities. She also encouraged parents to support their children in pursuing technical and vocational education, noting the growing importance of practical skills in an economy increasingly dependent on competent workers and innovative enterprises.

She urged President Ruto, as he continues his Coast tour, to ensure that the voice and priorities of Mombasa residents remain central to the development agenda, particularly on education, employment, infrastructure, healthcare, water, housing and economic empowerment.

Mama Zamzam emphasised the importance of cooperation between the national government, county governments, educational institutions, communities and other stakeholders. She said such collaboration would be necessary to unlock the Coast region’s economic potential while ensuring that development is inclusive and benefits communities across the region.

Her message centred on the need for people-focused development—development that goes beyond construction of infrastructure and translates into better opportunities, stronger livelihoods, skilled young people and greater economic participation for residents.

She concluded by reaffirming her commitment to working with all stakeholders to advance opportunities for the people of Mombasa and the wider Coast region, while calling for development that is inclusive, transparent and beneficial to all communities.

“Our young people are our greatest resource. Let us equip them with skills, innovation and opportunities that will enable them to build their own future and contribute to the development of Kenya.”

She concluded with a message of goodwill:

“May God bless the people of Mombasa, may God bless the Coast region, and may God bless the Republic of Kenya. Asanteni sana, na Mungu awabariki.”

In summary: Mama Zamzam’s address focused on youth empowerment, TVET and practical skills, employment, women’s economic empowerment, infrastructure, healthcare, water, housing and inclusive development, while urging the national government to ensure that Coast development delivers tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary families.