Nairobi — The Italian government has expressed satisfaction in the usage of Sh 240 million being spent in various integrated projects in the Coast Province supervised and coordinated by the Coast Development Authority (CDA).

The Director of the Italian Cooperation Office Dr Nino Procacci said that due to the transparent manner in the funds utilisation, his government would continue to support programmes in the country to the tune of Sh 450 million annually for the next 10 years. The programme started three years ago.

In Malindi and Magarini districts alone, the Italian Cooperation has spent more than Sh 120 million under the Malindi/Magarini Integrated Social Health Development Programme which focuses on education, health, water, energy, roads and fisheries. Other projects are in Kinango, Kwale and Taita Taveta.

Addressing officials from various ministries and the CDA after touring projects in Malindi and Magarini on Wednesday, Dr Procacci said Kenya was a priority nation for financial aid by the Italian government and commended CDA for the effective usage of the funds.

"We have undertaken irrigation projects for maize in northern Kenya, water and fisheries projects, construction and refurbishing youth polytechnics and a Sh 200 million slum upgrading project in Korogocho in Nairobi," he said.

Dr Procacci who was accompanied by Mr Leon Comin from the Italian Cooperation Office reiterated that most important was the provision of effective services to the beneficiaries.

"This facility should provide service to the people. Having nice buildings and fancy facilities is of no use if the ordinary people do not receive satisfactory service," he said and insisted that the Government had a duty to provide enough qualified personnel to operate the facilities like health centres.

He said his Government would release Sh125 million for Malindi and Magarini districts next year for various other projects also to be supervised by CDA.

The CDA managing Director Dr Nesbert Mangale said most of the projects undertaken were nearly complete adding that the whole programme ends in April 2010.

"This integrated programme is undertaken by the ministry of Regional Development Authorities and several line ministries including Education, Health, Office of the President, Roads, Public Works, Fisheries, Water Resources and Irrigation Development," he said.

Dr Mangale, who was accompanied by the Director for Regional Development Mr Charles Mwanda and CDA chairman Mr Martin Tsuma said the project's main objective was to uplift the standards of nearly 350,000 residents of the two districts under the bondage of poverty, gender disparity and poor health, education and infrastructural facilities.

Among the facilities the team toured included the Malindi District Hospital where a water system rehabilitation programme, X-ray block construction and road and parking area projects have been undertaken at a cost of more than Sh 17 million..

The team also toured the Sh 2.8 million Mambrui dispensary block, Sh 3.88 million Marikebuni dispensary, maternity wing and borehole, Sh12 million Ngomeni primary School rehabilitation and extension project, Sh 35.7 million Ngomeni Health Centre and the Sh 43.82 million Ngomeni Secondary School.