Mombasa businessman-cum-politician Suleiman Shahbal has promised to tackle the scourge of youth unemployement head on if given the mandate to govern the county.

Shahbal regretted that most youths from Mombasa have been forced to engage themselves in criminal activities and drug abuse due to unemployement.

Speaking at Siloam Church Bamburi while celebarting their 16th anniversary, Shahbal noted the responsbility of ensuring that there are enough jobs for the youths lies with the leaders.

"I know very well that the major challenge facing us right now is the issue of unemployment. Most parents have unemployed youths in their homes and it's their wish that they get jobs." said Shahbal.

Adding "The first responsibility of a leader is to ensure that there are enough jobs for the youths. Issuing handouts is not a solution. it is very sad that our youths have now been forced to turn to crime and drug abuse."

Meanwhile, Shahbal has promised to sponspor Mombasa based football club Congo Boys FC which features in the National Division One League.

Speaking on Sunday after meeting Congo Boys FC players before their match with Gor Mahia FC, Shahbal awarded them Sh100, 000.

“Give me one month from now and I will deliver the team some tracksuits and jerseys." said Shahbal

Adding "I believe in sports because it is through these talents that we can prevent our youth from getting into crime”

Shahbal also promised to form a county team as a way of also creating opportunities to the youths.

"Our youth need jobs, if we create these opportunities then they will not have time for drugs and crime,” he said.

Fast rising Tanzanian RnB singer Louis just dropped his debut Extended Playlist (EP) titled “LIGHTS ON ME.”

This EP is an experience and a summary of his musical journey. It also serves as a reflection of his life struggles and past relationships.

‘LIGHTS ON ME’ EP has a total of six songs; Kona, Hennessy, Unanimaliza, Leo, Sawa and Lost.

This amazing body of work Produced by the best producers from the region, ‘S2kizzy’& ‘Trone’ sees Louis deliver a sound scape of overflowing with catchy vibes, amazing rhythms and groovy sounds cape.

Speaking of the EP and the opportunity given by his USA based label ‘Legacy Records’.

Louis says “I feel proud and honored to work with these amazing producers on my debut EP. I have always been a big fan of their work given that they’re responsible for a majority of the Biggest hits to ever come out of East Africa.”

Growing up in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania, Louis discovered a passion for music and joined his High school choir later competing in music festivals.

Eventually he found time to nourish his musical talent and create a sound which is truly unique.

This debut EP ‘LIGHTS ON ME’ is going to set him up and realize his potential as he takes things further, refining and perfecting his craft.

The famous Mama Ngina waterfront park in Mombasa is set to reopen it's doors to the public.

According to a statement from Tourism Principal secretary Safina Kwekwe, the park will be reopened from 1st June 2021.

Some activities will however not be allowed, they, are driving into and through the park, parking of vehicles and motorbikes, meetings and all forms of gatherings, vending and hawking and games of all types.

The only activities that will be allowed are health exercising, walking exercise jogging, running and cycling.

The park will be opened daily but on specific timings , 0600am to 0900am and from 4:30pm to 7:00pm.

"All COVID-19 health protocols should strictly be adhered to by every user. You are requested to comply with guidance and directions given by the waterfront staff " reads part of the statement.

Mombasa County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo, on March 15, ordered the indefinite closure of public beaches and recreational areas, including Mama Ngina Waterfront Park, to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

The iconic seaside public park that was redeveloped at the cost of Shs 460 million was officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta on October 2019.

Tanzanian superstar AliKiba and his Kenyan wife Amina Khalef have welcomed their second baby, a baby boy.

Their first child Keyaan was born on February 19, 2019, just a few months after their grand wedding. 

A little bird whispered to Ommy Dallah that Amina gave birth on Sunday, 15 May 2021.

Read more: http://ommydalla.co.ke/gossip/item/2048-exclusive-ali-kiba-s-wife-amina-khalef-pregnant-with-second-child

Via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, Amina shared a photo of a newborn’s hand without a caption.

Celebrated Kenyan musicians Wahu and Nameless, in partnership with Eugene Mbugua from Documentary and Reality TV, have today unveiled the first season of their docu-reality series,This Love, in an event that was held at The Social House Nairobi.

This Love will premiere exclusively on Showmax on Monday 24 May. 

The 13-part series which has been created, and is executive-produced by Eugene Mbugua (Sol Family, Stori Yangu) will highlight Nameless and Wahu’s timeless love, colourful lives, and legendary history, as well as the lessons they have picked up along the way.

Speaking during the event, Nameless and Wahu also shared more about their upcoming joint album, also titled This Love which they revealed inspired the docu-reality series.

“As we strive to do this joint album, we also want to share the story behind the music. We want to give insights on what inspires us, what drives us, our thought process, personalities , our shared and different perspectives and our different temperaments,” the couple said.

Speaking for Showmax, Timothy Okwaro Channel Director, East and Southern Channels, while reiterating MultiChoice’s commitment to local content praised the couple for staying relevant in the music industry for over 20 years.

“It’s admirable how they (Nameless and Wahu) have managed to reinvent themselves and stay relevant despite the changing genres of the music industry in Kenya. We are happy to see them open up their lives to us for the first time, and most importantly, to have that happen on our platform,” Okwaro said.

"We actually approached Nameless and Wahu back in 2018 to do a reality show on them. They have a rich history not just in music but as a couple. They are both fascinating people and very personable.  We had just come off from doing the first Kenyan celebrity reality show, and they seemed to us like the next obvious choice." Said Eugene Mbugua. 

Acclaimed Nigerian afro-pop superstar Yemi Alade gifts us with her superb music video for empowering track ‘Dancina’ – available to watch now.

The visual showcases another standout track from Yemi’s successful fifth studio album Empress, which was released last year - buy and stream HERE.

Directed by Paul Gambit (Ozzybee, Teni) the vivacious official video for ‘Dancina’ instantly matches the pulsating beat with its euphoric, synchronized choreography.

Yemi Alade is poised throughout as she leads her army of dancers and takes viewers on a whirlwind of striking, avant-garde fashion pieces juxtaposed with desolated, urban backdrops.

A showstopper video for a groundbreaking track - ‘Dancina’ radiates Yemi’s motivation to bring Africa’s vibrant culture to the forefront of stages worldwide. ‘Dancina’ was used as the lead track to celebrate Spotify expanding into key African territories earlier this year, these countries included Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

On the ‘Dancina’ video, Yemi expresses, “If you know me, you know I like to dance, and there’s no way I wouldn’t have something for the dance community. ‘Dancina’ is one of my favourite songs off the Empress album. I’m glad I was inspired to record #Dancina in Amsterdam and come home to Nigeria to shoot the video

Released earlier this year, Yemi shared her radiant dancehall video for ‘Temptation’ featuring Patoranking - which can also be found on her self-written afro-anthem LP Empress.

Yemi Alade’s long awaited return to the live stage in the UK will be at the brand-new Yam Carnival at Clapham Common, London in August. More new material to be released soon.

With five albums, one EP and many record breaking hits such as ‘Johnny’ , ‘Handle This’ , ‘Na Gode’ and ‘Bum Bum’ under her belt Yemi Alade has accumulated over 450 million streams and views which cemented her as the No.1 afro-pop female artist on the African continent.

She has gained plaudits from Vogue, The FADER, Forbes, BBC, Billboard, Essence and The Telegraph.

Alade features on ‘Don’t Jealous Me’, a track from Beyoncé’s Grammy winning compilation album The Lion King: The Gift and appeared in the Disney ‘BLACK IS KING’ special based on the creation of the album.

Yemi has received accolades including winner of MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) for Best Female, BET Awards nominee for Best International Act Africa and a two-time MOBO Awards nominee for Best International Act.

She not only inspires within her own music, but also helps others develop theirs as a current judge on The Voice Nigeria.

In addition, outside of the music sphere Yemi has joined the likes of Michelle Obama and Bono as an ambassador for the charity One Org.

She and fellow African artists released a song called ‘Stand Together,’ which served as a rallying cry for women’s empowerment, and to end extreme poverty in the hopes to reach new goals for sustainable development in Africa.

Alade has continued her work with Global Citizen and is a part of their latest initiative - Recovery Plan for the World. Alongside other artists such as Billie Eilish, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus and Usher the year long campaign is designed to better the planet across five categories which includes ending COVID-19, the hunger crisis, resuming learning, protecting the planet and advancing equity.

As part of World Malaria Day (25th April), Yemi teamed up with Zero Malaria as the voice of their latest animation ‘My Name Is Muundo’.

The animation demonstrates how we can all play a part in beating malaria and hopes to develop a new universal language to unite the world against it.

Yemi has vowed "to lend her voice" by taking her passion for helping progress African culture and the fight for feminism and is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

President Uhuru Kenyatta today presided over the operationalization of the first berth of the new Lamu Port, marking a major milestone for the regional Shs 2.5 trillion Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor project (LAPSSET) launched in 2012.

When complete, the Shs 310 billion port will have 32 berths, 29 of which will be financed by the private sector, making it the largest deep-water port in Sub-Saharan Africa.

On his way to the port, President Kenyatta stopped at Minjila in Garsen, Tana River County where he launched the Garsen-Witu-Lamu Road. The 114-kilometer road will facilitate the movement of cargo in and out of Lamu Port.

The President witnessed the docking of Maersk operated MV Cap Carmel and MV Seago Bremerhavel, the first and second vessels to dock at the new port respectively.

MV Cap Carmel, a Singaporean container ship, docked at Lamu on its way from the Port of Dar es Salam in Tanzania to Salalah in Oman.

On the other hand, MV Seago Bremerhavel is hauling a cargo of premium Kenyan avocadoes from Kakuzi PLC, Makuyu Orchards in Murang’a County to France.

Speaking during the historical event, President Kenyatta said the new port will position Kenya’s economy on the continent and globally, aiding the country's post-Covid recovery.

“As a critical pillar of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project, this Port will connect South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Eventually, it will connect northern Kenya to the Middle Belt of Africa; which runs from Dakar, Senegal in the west to Lamu in the east,” President Kenyatta said.

The President noted that Lamu Port is strategically located at the convergence of major shipping routes, saying its operationalization will open up northern Kenya to international trade, thereby fortifying the country’s position as a top economic gateway to Africa.

“With one of the deep-water harbours on the east coast of Africa, Lamu Port has the potential to become a premier transshipment hub for all cargo destined for the continent. Furthermore, Lamu now joins Mombasa Port as a key entry and exit point of cargo, deep into and out of Africa’s hinterland,” he said.

The Head of State said Lamu Port reflects Kenya's boldness and clarity of vision as it strives to become a prosperous and newly industrialized, middle-income country by the year 2030.

The President said Lamu Port and LAPSSET form  an integral part of the broader connectivity the Government is establishing through the Kenya Transport and Logistics Network (KTLN), an ambitious infrastructure blueprint that seeks to seamlessly link the country's ports through railways and pipelines.

“In the next phase of LAPSSET, Lamu Port and northern Kenya, will be connected by rail and pipeline links, which will eventually reach Ethiopia, South Sudan and other regional States, with the final stop being Dakar in Senegal,” the President said.

President Kenyatta, who also commissioned the construction of the 470-kilometer Lamu-Ijara-Garissa Road that includes 214-kilometer 'security roads' to Baragoi and Kiunga, said the new infrastructure will create opportunities for Kenyan youth as well as address marginalization of some parts of the country.

“Lamu Port is intended to serve the upper Northern region of our country. The whole objective is to ensure the issue of marginalization is dealt with once and for all,” President Kenyatta said, pointing out that the seaport is of great significance to the East African Community and the African Union, as evidenced by the participation of  South Sudan and Ethiopian leaders during the launch of LAPSSET in 2012.

Addressing wananchi at Kibaoni on the new Garsen-Witu-Lamu road, President Kenyatta said with the new port, roads and associated infrastructure, residents of Lamu should expect new employment and trade opportunities.

“Once this infrastructure is complete all residents of Lamu will enjoy better life as their fellow citizens elsewhere in the country. This new project will also offer job opportunities to our youth, thereby discouraging them from taking part in criminal activities,” the President said.

He cautioned the youth not to be lured into criminal activities especially radicalization and terrorism saying with the new project, they have a better future to look forward to.

The President challenged the local community to work closely with security agencies to tame crime and insecurity in the area by reporting suspected criminals to security agencies.

Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha and Treasury CS Ukur Yatani also spoke at the launch, an auspicious event attended by several Governors, Cabinet Secretaries, MPs, diplomats and senior government officials.

Former Taita Taveta County Woman Representative Joyce Lay is not going back to politics anytime soon.

Taking to social media, Lay who has since joined gospel music said she is comfortable where she currently is.

For those who are asking, I'm at a different stage of my life, separate from politics. This is where I'm happy most." she said.

Adding "I found my purpose and I have just started walking towards it. I'm not looking back."

In the post, Lay also revealed that she has been approached by some unnamed quarters to position herself as the best deputy governor for the county.

"I'm not planning to vie for a seat inTaita Taveta County, in 2022. Even the Deputy Governor positions that were offered to me....I won't take any." she charged.

She noted that she went through alot during her time in politics, at some point she was betrayed by her close associates.

"It's too early for me to go back now. It was too much on me. I lost everything. I had so much pain. I was shattered, Broken, wounded, Broke the whole time. People I trusted turned out against me, This was the most scary place in my life. To see your friend turning evil before your eyes. I have forgiven them".

She promised to reveal more on her upcoming series #JewelTalk.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/1617-former-mp-joyce-lay-turns-to-gospel-music

Idris Elba's wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba is in Kilifi, Kenya enjoying her holiday.

In photos shared on instagram, Dhowre is seen enjoying her stay in Kilifi spending most of her time at the beach with close relatives.

"Not tryna leave. #africaloveyou" she says in one of the posts.

Dhowre a former Miss Vancouver and a model of Somali descent got married to Idris in April 26, 2019 in Marrakech, Morocco before proceeding to Tanzania for their honeymoon..

British Vogue, who featured the two lovebirds last year, quoted Elba as saying, the couple’s spark was “love at first sight.” That first sight happened in 2017.

They were both at a jazz bar in Vancouver, where Elba was filming his survival tale, The Mountain Between Us, co-starring Kate Winslet, when he “locked eyes” with Dhowre.

Dhowre joins the list of international celebrities who have visited Kenya especially Kilifi county for their holiday with British super model Naomi Campbell being a frequent visitor.