MAYOR OF MOMBASA 1998

In 1998 he was nominated as a councillor within the Municipal Council of Mombasa and subsequently elected as Mayor of the Council. His tenure as Mayor saw him

1. Engage in a campaign that transformed Mombasa into a showcase of cleanliness and efficiency to the rest of Kenya and Africa as a whole

2. Efficient management of human resource in the provision of services for the residents of Mombasa city

3. The World Bank recognition of his efforts and received the acclamation of “Africa’s Mayor” for the sterling performance with which he undertook his responsibilities.

4. Establishment of public/private sector partnerships in the management of services within the Mombasa Municipal Council

5. Elected as Chairman of All Local Government Association of Kenya, a position that saw him continue in raise his national profile in the area of urban governance

6. In 1999, Hon. Balala was bestowed with the Silver Star, (S.S), a presidential Award, given for loyalty and distinguished service to the country.

 

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MVITA CONSTITUENCY 2002-

Through his experience as Mayor, Hon. Balala has come to appreciate, that a person in leadership has enormous opportunities to serve the people. This desire to be a servant of the people is what inspired him to seek the mandate of the people of Mvita constituency’s in 2002 to represent them in parliament. Having acquired 70% of the votes cast during the election, Hon. Balala earned himself the opportunity to serve the residents of Mvita in Parliament and have the honor of serving the Country within the Cabinet as Minister for Gender Sports Culture and Social Services, Minister for Labour and Minister of State for National Heritage.

Some of the achievements that he has been able to accomplish during this time as a Member of Parliament include:

1. Leadership of the Mvita Constituency Development Fund in the:

• Construction of the first 2 secondary schools in Mvita since independence

• Provision of access to clean and safe drinking water for 11 residential areas

• Rehabilitation of 4 primary schools

• Support to over 300 students through academic bursaries

• Construction of a drainage and paving infrastructure within residential areas

• Construction of a Chiefs office within Mwembe Tayari Location

• Supply of over 1000 desks to 11 primary schools

• Establish I.C.T as an administrative back bone for 11 Primary Schools

• Construction of sanitation facility within 2 residential areas

2. Establishment of a private-public partnership framework for the Construction of a drainage and paving infrastructure within residential areas through a pilot program in collaboration with UNEP in Bondeni ward

3. Established an annual campaign to provide access to health services and medication within Mvita through the Mvita tunajibu Medical Camps.

4. Provided leadership for the support of over 2000 secondary students within the Constituency through the Secondary School Bursary

5. Establishment of a digital village to support the development of I.C.T within primary education

MINISTER – GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA 2003 - 2005

In addition to these some of the accomplishments as a Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kenya include:

1. The formulation of the Gender bill and the subsequent establishment of the Gender Commission,

2. The establishment of a framework to improve the management of sport through the establishment of the Stadia Management Board, and

3. Appointment of caretaker committee’s in the sports of cricket and football

4. Cabinet approval and ratification of the National Youth Policy, a policy framework that has since come to see the establishment of the Ministry of Youth Affairs.

5. Drafting the Heritage Bill and recently

6. Tabled a motion in parliament to seek the establishment of a free port in Mombasa.

In 2004, Hon. Balala was bestowed with his second national award, the Elder of the Order of Golden Heart of Kenya, (E.G.H), for loyalty and distinguished service to the country.