Mombasa county governor aspirant running mate Francis Thoya has outlined some of the key plans the next county government will focus on to revive the multi-Million tourism sector in Mombasa.

Thoya who is the running mate to Mvita Mp and ODM candidate for the Mombasa county governor seat Abdulswamad Nassir, stated that relaxing some of the taxes and levies imposed on tourism players is among considerations the next Mombasa next county government will prioritise.

Thoya said the sector that is reeling from the post Covid 19 pandemic requires a collaborative approach to cushion players from closing shop.

“Our team led by Nassir plans to sit with stakeholders in the sector with a view to complement the sector on around relaxing some of the taxes and levies that we think have not been encouraging, for instance, bed levies, how would you change bed levies when the hotel is in low season and no guests, this is one of the things that we want to critically relook at,” said Thoya.

Players in the sector have often expressed their displeasure in the way the county government of Mombasa introduced a collection of bed levy from a select category of hotels within the county.

Tourism players want an enactment of the Mombasa County Beach Management Act to institutionalize the Beach Management Fund which will offer convenience and proportionality to hospitality stakeholders to contribute.

Thoya noted “If we provide an enabling environment for the sector to thrive, it means we are going to create jobs, we also need to encourage our stakeholders to look at rebranding our products, like conference tourism, health tourisms and these are some of the emerging opportunities that I see, that would properly Change the whole sector."

The former Mombasa county secretary said the next county government will invest heavily on creating jobs, reviving the economy and curbing crimes in Mombasa to make the city an investment hub.

“For the sector to thrive we must secure our city and also make the city clean, we must bring the criminal gangs to a stop, part of the plans that our team has os to provide incentives to the youth that will create employment opportunities to the youth so that we can attract investments and   create jobs,” he added.

Thoya Says the sector fortunes are yet to be fully exploited, adding that move investment needs to be done in the multi-Million sector in Mombasa.

“Tourism has largely depended on foreign tourists arrivals but of late we have seen a shift, that minority of tourists are locals, this is an experience we saw during covid -19 period. This should be encouraged to ensure the sector thrives when there is decline of foreign visitors,” said Thoya.

On May 18, 2022 Nassir Unveiled Thoya as his running mate ahead of the August General Elections. Nassir, who will be running on an ODM party ticket, also laid out his manifesto for the county.

Kizz Daniel and Tekno’s Buga is currently the most Shazammed song in the world. The smashing hit is number 1 on the Top 200 Global Popular Songs on Shazam Music.

“Buga” is a Nigerian slang that translates to showing off.

Kizz Daniel released the Blaise Beatz and Young Willis co-produced “Buga” on May 4, 2022, became the number one song on the Apple Music Top 100 in Nigeria just three days after its release and, as of today, May 16th, 2022, has become the Apple Music number one song in Sixteen different countries in Africa.

To add to the list of feats for the song, it has officially become the most shazamed song in the world, with a staggering 610,935 shazams for the song.

 Kizz Daniel is no stranger to the charts, his new EP ‘BARNABAS’ most recently broke a record on Boomplay.

Since then, the song has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, and that probably featured its popularity score.

“Buga” is the kind of record–with its drumming and organ notes and inviting crooned chorus–that will get you moving your body and wanting to take to the dance floor anyways, so it was a well calculated move by the Fly Boy and Empire Records act.

Lady luck has shone on George Karanja, the latest millionaire in town, who took home Sh. 40million from the Betsafe Super Jackpot Guaranteed Bonus, yesterday, Saturday 21st May.

“It is interesting that I was finalist number seven and won the jackpot on my daughter’s birthday, the 21st of May which is a multiple of seven,” said the father of two.

Speaking to media at the RFUEA Grounds, Karanja expressed his happiness at winning the jackpot bonus, stating that he was surprised to have won.

“When I was announced as the winner, I was very happy. I thank God for the opportunity to be a millionaire. Even though I’ll keep playing until I get the grand prize of Sh. 100,000,000 from Betsafe, I implore other gamers to play wisely and never bet with money they can’t afford to lose,” said Karanja.

 The Kinangop-based dairy farmer has big plans for his winnings, intending to expand his farm operations by opening more branches and eventually begin a new business.

 “As of now, I just want to scale up my dairy business so that I can secure my future,” said Karanja.

Betsafe CEO, Victor Simiyu, promised to hold Karanja’s hand as he executes his plans, stating that the company will provide a financial advisor.

“As a business, we are excited that George emerged the winner. This shows the commitment that we have to our players and the market. We are here to stay. We wish George all the best as he starts his life as a millionaire. We will be with him all through to ensure that he makes the right decisions and give him the right financial advice,” said Simiyu.

 Karanja’s journey to winning Sh. 40 million began on Monday, 16th May when he qualified for the bonus finals after correctly guessing the outcome of 10 out of 17 games in the Betsafe Super Jackpot.

A pool of ten finalists was picked through a weekly random selection process overseen by the Betting Control and Licensing Board.

“From the start, we have continuously abided by all the rules set out by the BCLB to ensure the process was fair to all players. As a company, we aim to set the standard in transparency and fairness by which all other betting companies will be judged,” Simiyu said at a press conference before the finalists draw.

A family in Mariakani, Kwale County is crying for justice after their kin was forcefully abducted by unknown persons under unclear circumstances.

Omar Mangale,33 a Madrassa teacher at Madina Madrasa Mosque in Mariakani was reportedly abducted on Friday 20, at around 5.20 pm at his home in Kichinjio village.

According to Mangale’s wife, Zainab Chengo, her husband was bundled into a white land cruiser by people they suspected to be police officers and has not been seen since then.

 “They arrested another boy called Kassim Musa who then redirected them to her husband. When Kassim was arrested, they asked him to direct him to Omar. That's when they came and arrested my husband, they went together and later released Kassim on the way,” claimed Chengo.

Speaking at the Haki Africa offices on Sunday, the family claims they cannot trace their kin as their frantic efforts to look for him at various police stations within Kwale County have not bore any fruits.

"They forcefully bundled the boy and loaded my husband in the car and fled with him, since then we can't locate him, we have tried to go to all police stations and we can't find him."said Chengo with tears rolling down her chin.

They filed the report at Kalalani police station .The family reports that Omar was kidnapped alongside his friend  Kassim Musa, but minutes later Kassim was released by the abductors.

 "I want my husband to be released because I depended on him for everything, he was the breadwinner, he has never had a criminal record, we are very bitter by the way they carried him,” she added.

According to the family members Kassim is a cleaner at the Mosque where Omar works, and they are said to be close friends.

It is reported that after Omar was captured he was asked to hand over all his sim cards to his abductors before they fled with him.

Mangale Chondo, father to the abducted, referred to his son as a Godly man who dedicated his time to serving humanity. He said his son has never had a criminal record because his work was teaching at the Madrassa.

"I want to ask the government to help us get my son, so that we can have peace of mind, we are suffering emotionally because we don't know his status," said his father.

His brother Juma Ismael said Omar was a peaceful person, a madrassa teacher and has no any criminal record.

"My brother has never had a criminal record, he is a peaceful person who taught religion at a local madrassa, what we are aski6as a family is to have our kin back," he said.

Haki Africa Human rights rapid response Officer Alexander Mbela said the organization has documented over 15 cases related to Abduction. The official condemned the act and asked authorities to produce Omar dead or alive.

“According to our view and according to the reports that we have, we suspect that these are police officers. We are asking authorities to help relieve the family by telling them where their kin is, they are suffering emotionally,” said Mbela.

Wiper Democratic Party Mombasa gubernatorial candidate,Mike Sonko has condemned the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Hajj and Chief Justice Martha Koome for interfering with his court cases.

This is after Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) instructed returning officers not to clear impeached public officials from gunning for elective seats in August polls unless a court order compels them to process their nomination papers.

The CJ said people who have been convicted or impeached from office remain guilty of the offences that faced them until the sentencing and conviction are either reversed or set aside by a higher court.

Mr Sonko said the laws and the constitution allows him to vie for any political anywhere seat until proven guilty. He said he has invested and was born in Mombasa and has any right to contest in the Coast region.

"Those utterances issued by the CJ and DPP are careless and threats to me. They are not above the laws. I have constitutional rights to defend myself. I respect the DPP and the CJ but I have a right to criticise them," said Mr Sonko.

In an interview with Spice FM, Ms Koome said those convicted for criminal offences cannot hold or run for a public office, pending the hearing and determination of any appeal filed to challenge their sentencing.

“You remain impeached until that impeachment is lifted. When you are sentenced, you are sentenced until the sentence is set aside,” Justice Koome said on Friday.

But briefing the press on the woes bedeviling his candidature following the IEBC and CJ's verdict, Mr Sonko says he won't back down until proven guilty by the courts.

"I am ready to respect the court verdict if they will bar impeached governors from vying but the same laws allows me to exhaust all the appeals. Mr Hajj stop threatening me with cases still in court, and those that were concluded 24 years ago. Come and arrest me if I have any case to answer," he said.

The embattled politician said he cannot be convicted by the DPP yet his cases are still ongoing in court have not been concluded.

He said he decided to keep a low profile only to be proved by Mr Hajj who said he should be rearrested to go complete his sentence.

The former Nairobi governor insisted that he is still in the race to succeed Hassan Joho as the next governor of Mombasa.

"I'm still in the race, Mombasa people need change, some people have started feeling threatened because they know that I will bring the change. If things go worse, we have plan B, it is not a must that I be the governor but I will make sure that Mombasa gets change" said Sonko.

Afrobeats sensation Olakira is back with the visuals for his latest single ‘Fall’. 

Watch Fall : https://youtu.be/l54oGhBHewI 

Self - produced by the seasoned multi-instrumentalist himself,and video directed by Dammy Twitch, Olakira dares to reveal a creatively vulnerable side in 'Fall', which takes the form of a smooth, highlife sound with drizzles of Afrobeats.

In a love song that talks about reassurance and dedication to one's love, Olakira harnesses rich African sounds to create this original sound that's full of rich melodies.

'Fall' is a testimony to the mid tempo groovy sound that boasts of rhythms from the west of the continent — Sweet, and sensual.

The internationally recognized singer and producer who has a huge following in Europe, Nigeria, East and Southern African countries, has managed to stay rooted in that element where confidence meets creative direction and delivery, positioning him to be one of the outstanding African Musicians who continues to shape the new Africa sound.

The In My Maserati hitmaker started the year on a high note following a massive global collaboration deal with vehicle manufacturer, Maserati. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for tangible, practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing Africa’s urban areas.

Speaking today in the lakeside city of Kisumu when he officially opened the 9^th Edition of Africities, President Kenyatta noted that the summit provides an effective forum for the continent to take stock, reflect and plan on the best ways of addressing the challenges of urbanization.

This year’s Africities summit held under the theme “The role of intermediary cities of Africa in the implementation of the Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063” is the first to be hosted in an intermediary city.

“This Year’s theme is most apt, as the summit comes at a critical time when, Africa’s rapid urbanization and the challenges of future cities, are increasingly coming into sharp focus; more so after the shocks of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” the President said.

At the same time, President Kenyatta emphasized the need to scale up the role of intermediary cities as the next frontiers of African urbanization and development.

“I say so because in Africa, an unprecedented rate of urbanization has propelled intermediary cities to stand at approximately 1,086. These intermediary cities are home to approximately 174 million people; representing about 36 percent of the continent’s total urban population and contributing about 40 percent of the continent’s GDP,” President Kenyatta said.

Accordingly, President Kenyatta said the Africities summit has the task of providing the continent with a comprehensive and achievable roadmap on how intermediary cities can contribute more towards the implementation of the Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063.

The President informed the summit that in Kenya, the National Government has over the last five years been implementing projects and programmes geared towards the improvement of the lives of Kenyans through the achievement of SDGs.

“This has been achieved under the auspices of our national Economic blueprint, the Kenya Vision 2030 and its Medium Term Plan – the Big Four Agenda.  The agenda espouses provision of a decent roof over many more heads at affordable costs, affordable healthcare for all, value addition and increase in manufacturing and jobs and ensuring food security for all Kenyans,” he said.

He said the Government has also embarked on a slum upgrading programme spread across the country, notably in the capital city of Nairobi and the intermediary cities of Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru.

“These concerted actions have been taken through the Kenya Devolution Support Programme, the Urban Support Programme, the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme and the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Programme,” the President said.

Noting that cities and local authorities around the world played a key role in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the President said they proved to be an indispensable “ring” in the governance chain and prevention of the pandemic.

Speaking at the panel discussion session of the Africities summit, former Primer Minister Raila Odinga who is also the African Union (AU) High Representative for Infrastructure Development, underscored the importance of infrastructure in addressing the challenges of urban areas in Africa.

The former Prime Minister said, as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development, he acts as the catalyst to ensure infrastructure projects identified by the AU are implemented on a timely basis to accelerate the continent’s progress.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa who is also the acting CS for Devolution, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o and his Kisii counterpart James Ongwae who is also the deputy chairman of the Council of Governors spoke at the ongoing summit that has attracted delegates from over 110 countries.

Other speakers included United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) President Christine Mba Ndutume, UCLGA Secretary-General Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed who delivered their speeches virtually.

Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir on Tuesday named former Mombasa county secretary Francis Thoya as his running mate in the Mombasa governor's race.

Thoya a journalist by profession also served as the Mombasa county executive member for Lands. 

Thoya a close ally of Mombasa governor Hassan Joho left the county government in 2019 after he was appointed as a director for the United Kingdom’s (UK) Department for International Development (DFID). He was overseeing UK-based activities along the Kenyan Coastline.

"I have settled on Thoya after an extensive consultation with the people of Mombasa and a rigorous vetting exercise which involved several candidates. I weighed the candidates based on their abilities, integrity and principles and out all of them Thoya emerged the top " said Nassir.

Adding "I was looking for someone who also shares my values and principles, someone who can serve the people of Mombasa well".

On his part Thoya called on Mombasa residents to avoid and reject leaders dividing them on religious and tribal lines.

"I decided to stop politics and join the British high commission in 2019 but just recently a group of elders and respected individuals from the county approached me and asked me to come and help my brother Abdulswamad in this journey. Yesterday was my last day at the British high commission and am now ready to hit the ground and make sure we win this race of which I'm sure we will win". said Thoya .

Adding " Mombasa has a rich heritage and history of bringing together several tribes and religions and this is something that we must safeguard as the people of Mombasa, No one should try to divide us in any way, the best way to reject those trying to divide us is by defeating them in the August election. My mother is a luo, father Mijikenda and wife is from Taita so I will be in the forefront in ensuring that there is inclusivity and that  we as the people of Mombasa live together".

According to analysts, Nassir settled on  Thoya, a Mijikenda because they are the single largest voting bloc in Mombasa.

Initially Thoya was also planning to run as the next governor of Mombasa before shelving his plans.

"I remember there was a time we were at the same function with Nassir's mother Mama Nassim, and she asked me if I will make it to the governor race, I told her that I was in the race until the end, but I would like to now assure her that I'm one hundred percent behind her son" shared Thoya.

AfyaRekod, a Pan African health tech company last week announced their partnership with megastar rapper King Kaka in Nairobi Kenya. 

King Kaka has recently shared his personal story of a misdiagnosis and mis-prescription based on the lack of historical medical data. From not having his medical records on hand, the potentially fatal experience has created a need for the artist to address the issues of a patient-first healthcare solution. 

The partnership between AfyaRekod and King Kaka entails community mobilization to encourage young people and society, in general, to prioritize their health and store their health records.

In the new global economy, where technology is front and center, the need to digitize records and simplify record-keeping has become paramount. 

Healthcare digitalization is reshaping the way we interact with healthcare professionals, share medical data and make decisions related to treatment and outcomes. 

Globally, keeping medical records and sharing relevant medical information from doctor to doctor and hospital to hospital has however proven to be an unreliable process, resulting in a staggering 33% of total deaths as a result of a lack of access to healthcare data.

The founder and CEO of AfyaRekod John Kamara said “We focused on the most important party in the healthcare ecosystem, the patient. We wanted to provide a unique proposition as a patient first solution, resulting in the patient owning their health data and having full autonomy over who can access the information.”

With AfyaRekod, Patients are now able to share, store, and manage their historical data and receive treatment based on their medical records, while doctors are now able to track and access the mobility of their patient’s records and give accurate diagnosis and treatment. 

“When I was laying in the hospital, fighting for my life, that's when I realized that health is the most critical thing at any point in time. I believe AfyaRekod is an incredible solution because for the first time ever it empowers patients with access to their health records and allows them to receive quality health care anytime, anywhere making healthcare accessible and convenient. I know from first-hand experience how accurate health data can save lives.” Said King Kaka.

For physicians, AfyaRekod transforms traditional hospitals and clinics into digital clinics, connecting the facility, the doctor, and the patient via a tele-medicine solution, while giving patients a portal to access their health data from their doctor or clinic in real-time. 

“Our vision is to put patients at the core of what we do. We want families to have access to their medical records virtually and access them any time, in a matter of seconds. The partnership with King Kaka will help us create the awareness that every patient, doctor, and hospital can now experience a seamless flow of data on the AfyaRekod Platform at their fingertips, thus enabling them to make better-informed decisions.” Concluded John Kamara.