On Wednesday, May 24, the iconic wildlife sculptures installed in key locations in Mombasa County were on removed.
The crocodile, buffalo, shark, camel and lion sculptures had been installed at the Makupa, Lebanon, Digo Road, Nyerere, Port and Ganjoni roundabouts.
According to a report on Nation, the sculptures were removed following a row between Mombasa City County Government and Mombasa Cement.
The row between the company and the county government follows a directive ordering the company to stop philanthropic activities at public hospitals.
In April 2023, the Abdulswamad Nassir-led county government wrote to Mombasa Cement owner, Hasmukh Patel, instructing him to stop his philanthropic works.
The company installed the sculptures at the above mentioned roundabouts after years of neglect that had seen it turn into illegal dumpsites.
However, Patel worked with the previous regime to rehabilitate the roundabouts and give them a new look.
The sculptures were made in Nairobi and later ferried to Mombasa; the elephant sculpture cost Ksh 500,000.
Following the new development, company’s community relations officer, Imtiaz Sayani, said the sculptures will be moved to Kilifi County.
“We have had discussions with the Kilifi County government and Governor Gideon Mung’aro is open to the idea of us moving the sculptures. We are excited about the new partnership,” he said.
Philanthropic works
As mentioned above, Mombasa Cement removed the sculptures over a row with the Mombasa County Government.
It is reported that the county government had ordered Mombasa Cement to stop philanthropic activities at public hospitals.
Likewise, Mombasa County Health CEC, Swabah Ahmed, sent out a communication to the chief officers of Medical Services and Coast General over the same.
In the memo sent out in April 2023, he instructed that no donation or financial support should either be sought or allowed.
For quite some time, the company has been paying hospital bills for patients who are stuck with hefty bills at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
According to Nation, Patel uses up to Ksh 2 million daily through his company, Mombasa Cement, to bail out patients at the hospital and other facilities.
The company deploys staff at the hospital, who receive, verify and pay the bills directly to the hospital.
Patel also runs a free daily feeding programme targeting thousands of vulnerable street families in Mombasa City.
