Meet the Mayor
Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, born in 1986, is the youngest Mayor in the history of the Gambia. In 2018, at just 31 years old, Talib blazed to a stunning victory in the KMC mayoral elections.
His unique campaign style frowned upon partisan attacks and focused squarely on bringing development to the municipality. The campaign included an ambitious manifesto to transform the municipality by providing services to its residents and creating employment for youths.
The University of Toronto Economics graduate came to office with a tall order and he has not disappointed. In less than two years, Mayor Bensouda has made an impact with many achievements including:
1) Deploying 500 street bins to the municipality
2) Employing 200 personnel in new projects
3) Boosting the image of the Council through various street cleaning exercises and flood prevention clean-ups
4) Leading a staff restructuring exercise and improving the financial health of the Council
5) Enhancing market infrastructure and improving sanitation
6) Championing a D100 million small business loan fund for women and D20 million loan fund for the youth
The most notable project of his tenure is ‘Mbalit’ (meaning ‘rubbish’), which re-introduced residential and commercial waste collection throughout the municipality with a fleet of 24 brand new garbage trucks operated by over 100 sanitation staff.
The ambitious young businessman hasn’t stopped there. Under his leadership, the Council has plans:
– To upgrade and expand 10 standard markets in KM
– To establish an affordable municipal bus service
– To build the first municipal library to the tune of $3.5 million
– To introduce a standard waste processing facility
Amongst Mayor Bensouda’s many plans, he is a man on a mission with his greatest goal being to unite people of different political parties and tribes through his slogan ‘Together for a better KM’.
Talib is also a family man with a beautiful wife and two children.
