Internal Security and National Administration PS Raymond Omollo has urged leaders from Coast to embrace unity, proactive leadership and collaborative governance.

This, he said, would secure lasting peace, equitable development and justice for their constituents. Dr Omollo spoke in Kisumu yesterday during a retreat by the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG).

He called on the lawmakers to seize their legislative influence and use it strategically to unlock the full potential of the six coastal counties.

The improved mobility, which includes the commissioning of Dongo Kundu Bypass, linking Mombasa’s mainland to Kwale, he said, would open up economic corridors and create a more enabling environment for tourism, trade, and agribusiness.

He said the new transport link would ease traffic congestion, stimulate trade, and increase accessibility to the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

PS Omollo also pointed to upgrading of Mombasa–Mtwapa–Kilifi Road as another strategic investment. “These milestones exemplify the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and the government’s vision of locally rooted, inclusive development,” he said.

He lauded the CPG for engaging directly with national agencies, saying such platforms deepen mutual understanding and build synergy. “The Coast Parliamentary Group’s deliberate engagement sets a commendable example of responsive leadership,” he said.

While urging the 47-member caucus to assert its numerical and political strength, Dr Omollo challenged the MPs to prioritise and lobby for key regional issues. He cited the high cost of electricity as one requiring urgent attention.

“Many families are forced to make tough choices between paying for water, school fees, or food. These are not just financial decisions, they are dignity decisions. We must make water services viable and affordable,” he said.

The PS lamented the stalled progress of key projects under the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor. He urged the MPs to leverage the national budget-making process to ensure funding for the region is secured and contractors return to site.

“Let us seize the budget-making process to secure what this region deserves. Strategic lobbying through your leadership will unlock results,” he said.

He said while infrastructure provides the framework for development, it is peace that sustains it, adding that security must be holistic, moving beyond policing to include community engagement. He said forums like Jukwaa la Usalama serves as effective platforms for collecting citizen feedback and tailoring more inclusive security strategies.

CPG chaiman Danson Mwashako stated the importance of security in fostering growth, citing ongoing boundary disputes and gun-related conflicts that demand collective leadership and urgent intervention.