Mombasa County has achieved an unprecedented milestone, ranking 18th cleanest city in Africa, thanks to the tireless work of Hamid Shehan, the county’s Environment and Solid Waste Management Chief Officer.
Shehan credits his success to the discipline instilled in him from a young age by his late father.
“The saying ‘Charity begins at home’ has deep meaning. If I don’t start it myself, I cannot expect others to start it,” he explains.
Growing up in Old Town, Shehan was pushed into sports including swimming, taekwondo, rugby, basketball, and tennis to combat obesity, a family concern. His love for swimming saw him represent Kenya at the All Africa Junior Championships in Johannesburg in 1997.
“Swimming taught me to compete with myself, not others, so I can always be better than I was yesterday,” he says.
Shehan’s career journey has been marked by challenges and resilience. From early accounting roles at Indiana Beach Apartments and Drop of Zanzibar to setbacks during post-election violence and COVID-19 layoffs, he credits perseverance for his success.
“I learned to never do anything halfheartedly. Discipline and consistency are everything,” he notes.
In Mombasa County, Shehan first served in the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Blue Economy before moving to Environment and Solid Waste Management. Mentored by Deputy Governor Francis Thoya, he has pushed his team to achieve remarkable results.
Beyond his professional life, Shehan enjoys physical fitness, boxing, open sea swimming, long drives, and Japanese manga.
“I love cartoons and fantasy novels; they help me manage stress,” he says. He also continues to challenge himself in open sea swimming, winning seven out of eight galas.
Looking ahead, Shehan aims to propel Mombasa into the top 10 cleanest cities in Africa.
“The road to perfection isn’t travelled overnight, but with dedication and teamwork, we will get there,” he says.
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