Buxton Point has started the handing over process of the Sh6 billion modern and affordable housing project to homeowners.

The delivery of the units will be done on a sectional basis with the first one targeted for the handing over being District C. Phase 1 has District A, B and C with a total of 584 units.

Speaking during a tree planting exercise at Buxton point on Saturday, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir demanded for a clear tenant purchase scheme for Buxton estate tenants before the projects are completed and tenants are let in.

Nassir noted that failure to resolve the matter amicably has continued to raise concerns from buyers and those who were evicted to pave way for the project.

“As we plant trees, I want to urge the developer, Suleiman Shahbal, before the first tenants occupy their houses, to finalise every tenant purchase agreement possible, so that we will ensure people own houses, “said Nassir.

Nassir said the matter has escalated to the senate, where he is expected to appear before the senate to shed light on the project implementation.

Former Buxton tenants have often complained about what they termed as unclear tenant purchase deals.

“I raised this matter in the parliament, and also going to answer questions in the senate, and we need to address this process so that we can ensure there is no victimization,” said Nassir urging his executives to ensure actualization of the project.

At the same time the governor said he is working on a plan that will see all other former tenants get units in the redeveloped Buxton Point Apartments.

The plan involves trying to negotiate a tenant purchase scheme with financial institutions for the 346 tenants who were not county employees.

“I have written a letter to the state department of housing that the government should chip in and ensure that those who don’t have houses get houses,” said Nassir.

He further stated that the 176 county employees who were former tenants at Buxton estate will have the scheme.

He added” Nobody will stay without a house, we want to talk to the government to ensure a purchase scheme favours employees of the county government, so that by the time they retire they own a house,” said Nassir.

Suleiman Shahbal, the brains behind the project, said Mombasa has now become a benchmark destination on matters of housing and urban development following the construction of the Buxton Point project.

He said the sold-out Phase 1, which has 584 units, will change the narrative about social and affordable housing in Mombasa and Kenya at large. Phase 2 of the project will have 1,300 units, which are currently on sale.

Shahbal said Mombasa should be proud that it is the pioneer of housing projects. He said the Buxton point has benefitted over 3000 people and over 30 companies. He said the project is nearing completion.

“Mortgage is high and we know many people can’t afford it, to pay it, but we are in collaboration with the president to ensure we reduce the mortgage so that people can afford to pay,” said Shahbal.

Former Mombasa mayor said politics should not derail any development. He said Shahbal was able to navigate through political interference to put up the multi-Million project.

Young people at the Coast and country at large have been urged to take up maritime training courses to acquire skills that would enable them to tap on the job opportunities in the Blue Economy.

Shipping and Maritime Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime on Saturday said there are alot of opportunities in the blue economy sector that the youth can exploit noting that the government has already started opening up the sector.

Mwadime revealed that the government through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has set aside a revolving fund of Ksh 20 million to be availed strictly to students pursuing maritime careers.

"One of our objectives is to establish as many job opportunities  as possible in the blue economy and we have gone full throttle. We have tried as much as we can even with liaising with international shipping lines to ensure we get this job opportunities and slots available, we are competing with other countries like Philippiness which is way above us" said Mwadime.

Adding " I want to encourage as many young people as possible particularly graduates who are tarmacking out there to realize that we can convert them to seafarers, we have Bandari maritime college and other institutions offering maritime courses, so if for example one has done electrical engineering we can be able to absorb them to work as electricians at shipping companies after going through the trainings. Someone who has done mechanical engineering one can go for a conversion course at Jomo Kenyatta university to convert into a marine engiineer because that is where opportunities are available as it is."

Speaking during an interview with Blue Radio in Mombasa, Mwadime also noted that the government is intending to convert the Bandari maritime academy into a regional centre of excellence.

Mwadime charged "We will invest heavily in terms of infrastructure, equipements. Our students will become the best in terms of maritime issues in the region. In the next 10 or 15 years that is what we are intending to achieve." 

The PS also noted that ministry is planning to change the regulations on maritime training to ensure that sea time experience is part of the maritime course.

"Sea time experience is very critical, it goes hand in hand with theory, and therefore we are going to change the regulations so that we insist that the institutions that offer the courses have a memorandum of understanding with the international shipping companies so that our young people can have that experience. The minimum is just one year in the sea, that qualifies you to join the international market in a competitive way so that you are able to secure the high end job" Mwadime noted. 

The Kenya Ports Authority has donated food items to members of the Muslim community in Kwale county.

KPA Chairman Benjamin Tayari presided over the distribution of the donation worthy 1 million, on Thursday.

The donation will benefit over 500 families in the larger Kwale county.

The food items distributed include maize and wheat flour, rice, cooking oil and beans.

"This exercise will be carried out in all the Coast counties. As KPA we have a special CSI program that implements community programs with a focus on the areas of Education, Health & Environmental conservation, sports and humanitarian causes." said Tayari.

Adding "As KPA we will continue with these program, next month we will be in Taita Taveta county for a free medical campaign".

On Wednesday, KPA managing director Captain William Ruto flagged off the consignment at the KPA headquarters with each county expected to receive food items worth Sh1 million.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/people/item/3284-kpa-donates-food-items-worth-sh3-million-to-muslims-in-mombasa-kwale-and-lamu

"KPA espouses care as a fundamental value in our operations, business relations and communion relations and that is why we believe in partnership and extending a helping hand to the community" said Ruto.

Mombasa has been ranked among the top 5 preferred destination for UK holidaymakers.

According to the Holiday Money Report 2023 released by the UK’s Post Office, Mombasa was named as the 4th most cost-effective destination among the 40 global locations which were considered.

Mombasa comes after South Africa’s Cape Town, Turkey’s Marmaris and Sunny Beach in Bulgaria.

Mombasa was ranked seventh position in the last year(2022)  survey.

The survey, which picked eight items as representatives of purchases that UK tourists are likely to make while visiting, found that the average spend in Mombasa would be €58.3 (Sh8,500) per day compared to €198.4 (Sh28,924) in Reykjavik, Iceland, which came last in the list.

Among the items sampled in the survey are a three-course meal for two with a glass of wine, a cup of coffee, a bottle of local beer, a can of cola, a bottle of still water, sun cream and insect repellent.

The study also noted that the cost of tourism has significantly gone up in some parts of the world such as Costa Rica and Mauritius.

The devaluation of the Kenyan shilling has also made vacations cheaper for tourists with stronger currencies.

Beautiful Beaches, Rich Culture and History, Wildlife Safari, Water Sports and Activities, Mouth-watering Cuisine,  are among features that make Mombasa a preferred tourist destination.

By Victor Ogalle

For six successive seasons a majority of the ASAL Counties did not receive sufficient rainfall with this tagging along a myriad of social and economic effects. Since mid March 2023 running through the beginning of April, the East African region has experienced heavier than usual rain quantities that have resulted into  flash floods across the Northern and Southern parts of the country.

Traditionally flood prone counties were Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Tana River, Garissa, West Pokot, Narok, Kwale, Baringo, Migori, Taita Taveta and Homabay.

However this list is increasing as four more countries have been joined the list i.e Isiolo, Marsabit, Mandera and Wajir.

The government through various agencies such as the National Drought Mangement Authority and humanitarian players like the Kenya Red Cross have been responding to this developing situation.

According to Maurice Anyango the Upper Eastern Regional Manager for Kenya Red Cross Society they began interventions that spiral back to 2022. This include integrated medical outreaches, relief food donations and cash for health support.

While in most past of the county the rains have come with good tidings in terms of agricultural productivity as well water and sanitation in Northern Kenya the rains are wrecking havoc.

With  already  over 2.5 million livestock dead in the ASAL counties in Kenya the little that survived have since been swept by flash floods leaving communities with nothing.

The worst affected parts of Marsabit county are Golbo, Obbu and Sololo wards with villages such as Laqi, Ambalo and Badan Rero left without road access after the floods cut off the areas.

This technically means that food insecurity will be on the increase as well the number of displaced people who have also lost hosehold and personal belongings.

A Kenya Red Cross report from joint assessments with county Governments showed that  about 4,616 livestock have been lost nationally due to floods. Infratsructure has equally been damaged and swept away.

 “In Marsabit county over 350,000 households have been affected in the three wards of Moyale Sub County and a further 8000 in the entire Marsabit county, by the floods which emanate from the neighbouring Ethiopian Higlands,” confirms Maurice Anyango.

Kenya Red Cross in partnership with  Airbus Foundation conducted the relief food airlift programme to the far to reach areas of Laqi, Ambalo and Badan Rero. The airlift programe  saw 315 households receive food aid that was airlifted from Dambalafachana area.

While humanitarian organisations have been putting in measures to mitigate the atrocities of the floods in Marsabit county another impending danger that the communities are glaring at is an infestation of waterborne diseases mainly cholera  due to carcases that were not properly disposed.

The communities are also experiencing food insecurity due to a multi-year ongoing overall drought situation.

Access to clean and safe water is equally challenge as the water resources could be contaminated due to toilets being swept away leaving the community members with nowhere to ease themselves.

A spot check in North Horr and South Horr indicated that Hygiene Promotion at this point in time is among the key interventions needed as well provision of non-food items to supplement the few household items salvaged by the community members.

Galma Roba aged 67 years narrates how since his childhood he has never experienced such harsh climatic conditions. “I had over 200 cows and goats but after 2021 all my cows dies and I remained with 40 goats. We woke up one morning and they had been swept away by floods. I am now living like pauper with nothing I can call mine as I am being housed by my younger brother”, Shares Roba.

Data from the National Disaster Mananegement Authority as at 27^th of March, at least 36,432 people had been affected by the floods across 19 counties in the country among them West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Marsabit, Samburu, Kakamega, Narok, Turkana Mandera, Kisumu, Nyamira, Kisii, Isiolo, Wajir, Kiambu, Siaya, Bungoma and Nairobi.

In the Rift Valley it is feared that landslides may occur especially in places where massive environmental degradation has happened due to rampant tree felling.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a manhunt for a suspected international fraudster after the suspect conned two business premises in Mombasa.

In a detailed sequence posted on the DCI KENYA official social media pages, the DCI stated that detectives based in Mombasa have launched a manhunt for for the individual of South Sudan origin.

They believe the suspect is an international serial fraudster with fraud cases stretching from as far as Melbourne in Australia, to  Kampala, Uganda and Nairobi in the country’s capital.

"The self-styled millionaire with various names  including Don Solomon a.k.a. Mukisa Okello a.k.a. Tony Taban Suleiman Malish a.k.a. Yee a.ka.a Big Papa is wanted for depositing a bad cheque of Sh599,950 in favour of Naivas Limited and fraudulently obtaining 10 television sets of 55”  from Naivas Mwembe Tayari branch, on March 8, 2023," the DCI said.

It is believed that around the same time, Big Papa also fraudulently obtained assorted steel rods from Bayfair Hardware at Bombolulu in Mombasa valued at Sh842,000, by depositing a bad cheque of similar amount at the hardware’s bank account. 

Part of the consignment was recovered at Mulolongo and one suspect charged vide CR 345/56/2023 at Shanzu Law Courts.

According to the statement, Don Solomon as he is also referred to has previously been arraigned at the Milimani law courts for forgery and being in the country illegally.

He has also been accused of obtaining services from top 5-star hotels  in the capital city and sneaking out without paying. 

"In one such establishment along Chiromo Road, the man on the run failed to pay a bill of Sh1.045 Million after spending days  at the luxury facility," said part of the statement.

Big Papa who flaunts a flashy lifestyle is believed to have also heartbroken the hearts of a dozen city girls who fell for his life on the first lane antiques.

"In Uganda, he is believed to have previously gifted a TV host a sleek automobile, that was later discovered to have been stolen from Congo DRC by Ugandan authorities," the statement said.  

The suspect is also accused of fraud and related offenses at various banks in Melbourne Capital, Victoria State in Australia.

The DCI have called on any Kenyans who might be aware of his whereabouts to report immediately as Big Papa who is currently on the run was recently spotted in Roysambu’s Mirema Drive where he is believed to be dwelling and has since evaded a police dragnet twice. 

The Kenya Ports Authority(KPA) on Wednesday donated food stuffs worth Sh3 million to vulnerable communities in Mombasa, Kwale and Lamu counties.

KPA managing director Captain William Ruto flagged off the consignment at the KPA headquarters with each county expected to receive food items worth Sh1 million.

Adressing the media shortly before the flagging off, Ruto said KPA as an organisation believes in partnership and extending a helping hand.

"KPA espouses care as a fundamental value in our operations, business relations and communion relations and that is why we believe in partnership and extending a helping hand to the community" said Ruto.

Adding "This is also a response to the call by the government to all corporations to extend a helping hand to people facing adverse climatic conditions."

The food in Mombasa was handed over to the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM) to assist needy faithfuls observing fast in the holy month of Ramadan.

"Ramadhan is a month of fasting, prayer and spiritual growth. We also strengthen our relations and our unity as a community is encouraged during this period. We are encouraged to show our compassion and care by remembering the needy in our community," Ruto said.

The food items to be distributed include maize, wheat flour, rice, cooking oil and beans.

On Thursday the distribution will take place in Kwale as the exercise is expected to be carried out in Lamu County on Friday.

Supken national vice chairman Sheikh Muhdar Khitamy lauded KPA for the gesture saying that the donation will go a long way in assisting needy families currently observing the fast.

Sheikh Muhdhar alluded to the fact that the country is undergoing a tough economic time making it difficult for many families to afford three square meals every day.

"The food will go along way in helping the Muslim families who will benefit. We as Supkem laud KPA for this initiative and call on more corporations to follow suit," said Muhdhar.

Sheikh Muhdhar also lauded president William Ruto for his efforts to stabilise the economy.

He lashed out at the opposition for their demonstrations against the government, calling on them to embrace dialogue and join in helping revive the economy.

"Demonstrations will not end hunger and help in lowering the cost of living. We need to have peace and encourage our leaders to embrace dialogue in resolving issues," he said.

Nigerian-born music superstar, business visionary and international nomad Mr Eazi has announced the formation of a new pan-African music group, Choplife Soundsystem. 

The group will also consist of UK-based, Kenyan-born afrobeats selector and tastemaker DJ Edu, as its resident DJ, along with an informal crew of contributing DJs, artists and producers from across the continent.

Mr Eazi will be the primary vocalist on Choplife Soundsystem recordings, and will also serve as its MC or Minister of Enjoyment at live events.

Choplife Soundsystem derives its name from the popular West African pidgin slang phrase chop life, meaning “enjoy life,” along with the traditional soundsystems that are the backbone of Jamaican music culture.

In Jamaican parlance, a soundsystem is a mobile crew of DJs and MCs, typically financed by a prominent local businessperson, who present music together at public events, such as street parties, clubs and festivals.

Recent years have seen international outfits like producer Diplo’s Major Lazer project put their own spin on the format, functioning as both creators and performers of original music, as well as a tastemaking DJ crew.

With Choplife Soundsystem, the always-visionary Mr Eazi is putting a modern, African twist on soundsystem culture, incorporating genres like amapiano and afrobeats to curate the ultimate African party experience— both on original studio recordings and at curated live events.  

Inspired to take the vibe and spirit of his successful Ghana holiday party Detty Rave on the road, Mr Eazi “soft launched” Choplife Soundsystem with events in Cotonou, Benin; Stockholm, Sweden; and Kigali, Rwanda, in 2022. Mr Eazi will announce further details about Choplife Soundsystem, including new music releases, partnerships and live events, later this Spring. 

“I’m going back to where I started from, hosting the biggest parties at uni,” Mr Eazi says. “That’s how I started singing. I am looking forward to this new and fun ride, and I can’t wait for all the music to start dropping and the accompanying live experience” 

Tanzanian songstress Nandy has gifted his husband rapper Billnass a brand new Range Rover sport on his birthday.

Billnass turned a year older on Tuesday.

In a video shared online, Billnass who was blindfolded was taken to a decorated venue, where his surprise was awaiting him.

In the video Nandy is seen cutting a ribbon before unveiling the vehicle.