The ribbon was officially cut yesterday at the recarpeting works on the Malindi seafront road, at least for the first stretch from Lawford's to Coral Key, passing through the fish market and the now (in)famous Seafront Road, which has long been ravaged by holes.
The works were announced a few months ago by Kilifi County and the attention shown by civil society, responsible citizens and associations that aim to revive the tourist destination has certainly speeded up the times.
Three weeks ago, with the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi and the help of the Italian manufacturer Fernando "Masharubu" Vischi, we had patched up the waterfront road and were promised that work would begin very quickly. The owner of the company that won the contract also made himself known. The company has also recently completed the asphalting of a road between Malindi and Watamu, again on behalf of the County. 
It was Governor Amason Kingi who started the work, getting on one of the bulldozers and setting it in motion. At the presentation in Shela, just in front of the site of the other works, those of the beach front, Kingi greeted the beginning of a new era for Malindi.
"In this year's financial report we have been particularly concerned with what for many of us, within the County, is home: the town of reference - we have allocated one hundred million shillings for roads and infrastructure. In addition to the seafront project, the first stretch of which must be completed by the end of the year, the reconstruction of the road will continue to Casuarina until beyond the marine park. But there are other asphalted roads in the program: the next one will be the one that starts from the Barclays Bank in Lamu Road to the prisons of Mtangani". 
Kingi reiterated that he will continue to push for Malindi to be able to receive direct flights from Europe at his airport.
"We can't see so many tourists, especially Italians, fleeing to Zanzibar and other destinations. We are doing our part, the government will have to do its".
This concept was reaffirmed with even more vigour by the Parliamentarian Owen Baya, who invited the Minister of Tourism Najib Balala not only to support Mombasa and the north of the country, but also to take a greater interest in coastal destinations.
The inauguration was also attended by the Minister of Tourism of the County Nahida Mohamed who indicated this as the beginning of a new season for Malindi, in the name of services and embellishment of the destination.