Taita Taveta county Governor Granton Samboja is the new Chairman, Jumuiya ya Kaunti za pwani (JKP).

Samboja takes over from his Kwale counterpart Salim Mvurya.

Samboja was elected during a meeting held at his residence in Mwakishimba Taita on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Governors Hassan Joho(Mombasa), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Dhado Godhana (Tana River ), Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta) and Emmanuel Nzai , CEO, JKP Secretariat.

Mvurya a close ally of the Deputy President William Ruto did not attend the meeting.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Samboja stated that it was agreed all Counties in the region would put together a united front in a bid to ensure togetherness and sustainable development is witnessed. 

“ This time we will lead from the front. We expect support from those we have supported in previous years, “ Governor Samboja remarked, as he put in an apology for his Lamu counterpart Fahim Twaha who he said was sick and could not attend the meeting. 

Adding “ When it comes to issues of sustainable development and good governance we have agreed as Governors that the Coast region won’t be on the menu but have a respectable seat at the table,”.

The four Governors have been on the forefront pushing for Coast unity. Joho and Kingi recently met at least 25 Mps from the Coast region to discuss the unity.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/2003-ruto-trying-to-divide-the-coast-region-for-personal-gain-says-kingi

During the Taita meeting, the Governors also received a Cashewnut industry revival proposal from Empowering Farmers Foundation (EFF) Chairman, Mahesh Patel.

The collaboration seeks to empower small holder farmers by reviving the dormant cashew value chain in the Kenyan Coast region.

Dubbed the KOROSHO NI MAISHA PROJECT, the project aspires to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of 350,000 farmer households in Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Mombasa and aims to transform the rural Kenyan coastal economy by increasing production to over 300,000 Metric Tonnes worth Kshs. 40 Billion annually by 2030.

The partnership is to involve equipping smallholder farmers with the knowledge and skills required to transition from subsistence farming to semi-commercialization.

Tanzanian singer has just dropped the first video from his newly released album, Sound from Africa.

This is Rayvanny's first album.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/1983-rayvanny-releases-debut-album-sound-from-africa

The video titled 'Kiuno' is track number 18 in the album.

Watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r573wpRMtaA

The album has so far been successful recording a total of 105 million streams on digital platforms, just a week after it was released.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has insisted that the hustler narrative by Deputy President William Ruto is a political conmanship.  

Speaking in Mariakani town the Governor told the residents of Kilifi to be weary of the DP he said was busy trying to divide the Coast region for his own political gain. 

“We must be very careful against the current political dictatorship and conmanship through ambiguous narratives meant to confuse the common people towards 2022 General elections,” said the Governor. 

The Governor insisted that his call for Coast unity was very much alive and that within no time, the plans will be rolled out to the Coast people for deliberations. 

 “Coast region's political future is safe only when people and the political class unite for a common cause to serve the interest of the region,” the Governor said.  

He said that his ambition is to lead the Coast region to the National distribution table through a united Coast political formation. 

“Please reject the so-called 'Hustler' Nation that is going round the region endorsing political candidates. What we are seeing with the hustler narrative is total political conmanship to endorse individuals with suspicious character to political leadership,” he said. 

Mr Kingi while addressing the community reminded them how DP Ruto opposed the 2010 constitution that brought in the devolved system of government. 

“As Coast people we stood with the 2010 constitution because it was of great importance to us. But the person who led that brigade in opposing the constitution then was DP Ruto” said Kingi.

Adding “He led the ‘No’ campaign and had Kenya listened to him, many of the county development programs would still be a dream”. 

The County boss wondered that it is the same person now opposing the constitutional amendment that will bring in more resources to the counties to enhance devolution. 

“We want to increase resources to the counties but again the same person is on it again, opposing the billions that are meant to come to the counties. He is willingly giving out wheelbarrows and telling the people to oppose the billions that will come with the new constitutional amendments,” said the Governor. 

Last weekend Ruto toured some parts of the Coast region to popularise his 2022 presidential bid. The DP toured Mombasa, parts of Kilifi and Kwale where he held several rallies.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has today unveiled a new state department to oversee the ongoing implementation of the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).

The new State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Reforms within the Ministry of Education has been tasked with the roll of the new education system including recommendations of a taskforce whose report the President launched today.

"The Taskforce has made several recommendations and consulted widely including through 11 sector-based pre-conferences. This is important because it underscores my Administration’s commitment to adhere to the tenets of public participation, as envisioned in our constitution. 

"In this regard, to ensure effective implementation of these recommendations, and other curriculum reforms, I have on this 9th Day of February, 2021 set my hand and presidential seal and established a new State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Reforms vested in the Ministry of Education," President Kenyatta declared.

The Head of State announced the changes Tuesday at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi County when he presided over the unveiling of a taskforce report dubbed 'Enhancing Access, Relevance and Quality for Effective Curriculum Reforms Implementation'.

The Head of State, who recalled Kenya's curriculum reforms over the decades, said CBC will make Kenya's education system responsive to the demands of the modern world and rallied Kenyans to back the process.

"We are at a tipping-point in our education system. The old must give way to the new. The summons of our times requires us to re-imagine how we have educated our children.

"It requires us to be bold, and not rigid. It calls us to imagine a system that creates responsible citizens as opposed to subjects; a system that celebrates the creative potential of all our children as opposed to one that leaves them with labels of failure, if they do not pass exams;

"And a system that brings about freedom as opposed to conformity. This is the promise of the Competency Based Curriculum," the President said.

Besides equipping Kenyan children with the competencies needed to excel in the 21st century, the Head of State said CBC will empower Kenyans to be better citizens.

"On citizenship, we have a crisis of competence and our education system must give us a response. Youth violence and pessimism are partly a result of low civic competence amongst citizens.

"And this is because we have not taught our children the values of citizen participation from an early age. This is why youth pessimism and blind activism are on the rise," President Kenyatta said.

The President applauded the Taskforce led by Professor Fatuma Chege for its report saying its recommendations will help lessen the rigidity in the current education system by introducing the 'leading to learn' principle.

"The purpose of the new system of 'Learning to Learn' is to allow our children to explore, innovate and unshackle their minds from the old and rigid molds of learning.

"This way they will be able to exploit their imagination, creativity, solve problems, use critical thinking, apply digital literacy, and feel a sense of civic duty as citizens," he said.

On the re-opening of schools, the Head of State said the Government continues to be vigilant as schools resume after a long period of closure due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease.

"But I must say I am grateful for the patience you all have shown, and for the speed and care with which we have resumed learning after re-opening of our learning institutions.

"Yes, through the tireless work of our doctors, our nurses, our medical staff, and the diligence of Kenyans themselves, we have gradually brought the pandemic under control; but we, nonetheless, remain vigilant as our children and teachers ease back into regular order, the President said.

Education CS Prof George Magoha, his Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang, Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia and Murang'a Governor Mwangi WaIria who is also the Chairperson of the Education Committee at the Council Governors also spoke at the event attended  by a cross-section of education sector stakeholders.

Mombasa county assembly has today tabled the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Constitutional Amendment Bill and committed it to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

The bill was tabled by the assembly majority whip Juniour Wambua and seconded by Old Town MCA Murfad Amur during a session chaired by the assembly speaker Aharub Khatri.

Aharub said the committee will ensure the document is subjected to public participation to collect views from members of the public as required by law.

He said the legal committee will take the public participation to all 30 wards to collect views within the county.

“To collect views from members of public during the session will be a collective responsibility of elected ward representatives during the crucial session,” he pointed out.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/1993-joho-calls-for-a-special-meeting-with-mombasa-mcas

Aharub urged residents to attend public participation forums scheduled for next week and air their views before the draft bill is returned to the assembly.

This was the first house business as it resumed its sitting after two months-long recess.

Siaya was the first county to pass the BBI bill on Wednesday, last week.

At least 24 assemblies of the 47 are required to pass the bill before it goes to the National Assembly

The bill was submitted to the 47 county assemblies by the IEBC.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the contribution of digital technologies to Kenya's transformation saying ICTs are helping the country to create employment opportunities for its youth and enhance delivery of public services.

On the African continent, the President observed that digital technologies have enabled both Governments and the private sector to continue operating optimally despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"In the face of containment measures necessitated by the pandemic (Covid-19), technology has kept governments and businesses running; and enabled international cooperation and engagements, such as we are involved in today to be sustained," the President said.

In order to accelerate the creation of a common market, the President said African economies need to harmonize their ICT standards so as to achieve inter-operability of their digital infrastructure.

The Head of State spoke today at State House, Nairobi during the 2021 Africa Business Forum held virtually on the sidelines of the 34th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

President Kenyatta said Kenya had made progress in the delivery public services digitally adding that the country is hinging on technology to transform its economy.

"Currently, the Kenya Government has over 200 digitized services offered through Huduma Centres countrywide as well as an online self-service E-Citizen platform.

"Both platforms, which are widely utilized, offer one-stop access to essential services such as applying for Passports or National Identification Cards; and registering businesses, births, or deaths.

“Kenya is also progressively digitizing core government services such as filing of tax returns, land registries, court procedures and rulings, and public service records,” the President said.

He said the cost effective nature of digital technologies is helping African nations to solve the challenge of scarce finances needed to provide infrastructure, institutions and human resources to power economic growth.

While highlighting the transformative nature of digital technologies, President Kenyatta pointed out that 40 percent of private enterprises in Kenya are engaged in e-commerce and 70 percent of all e-commerce payments in the country are settled through various mobile money payment platforms.

The President said his Government is working on ensuring that digital technologies are not abused by investing in training and capacity building of service providers and technology users.

“To ensure technology is embraced, holistically by all business sectors we must contain misuse/abuse of technology.  We, therefore, in our training pay particular attention on ethics and values as it is key to sustainable adoption of technology,” the President said.

To support digital entrepreneurship in the country, the President said the Kenyan Government is working with partners to lower entry barriers for ICT entrepreneurs.

“To strengthen our digital technology footprint, we have established several strategic partnerships. The Smart Africa Initiative is a network of some 30 African countries seeking to leverage technology to create a single digital market on the continent. 

“Similarly, the UNDP-led SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Accelerator Lab provides a vehicle for partnerships, investments, and business linkages to accelerate local innovations and ideas; including twinning Silicon Valley with the Kenyan tech community," the President said.

Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa Vera Songwe who also spoke at the virtual meeting commended President Kenyatta for championing usage of ICT in service delivery and called on other African nations to emulate Kenya.

Apple Music has launched Isgubhu, the ultimate destination for African Dance and Electronic music.

Africa’s bustling and bubbling Dance & Electronic music scene has become a global player over the last few decades and Apple Music is on a mission to spotlight and elevate the work of the DJs, producers and artists in this space.

“Apple Music has been a long term supporter of the incredible DJs, artists and producers within the Dance and Electronic music community in Africa and we’re very excited about the launch of Isgubhu. Our regional teams are true advocates for the culture and we’re committed to continuing to connect artists to a global audience,” says Stephen Campbell, Apple Music’s Global Head of Dance and Electronic music.

Isgubhu, a Zulu word meaning beat and used to refer to a banging song, pays homage to an evergreen set of genres and the African artists who have played a pivotal role in shaping the Dance and Electronic scene across the world from South African maestros like Black Coffee, Prince Kaybee, Black Motion and DJ Lag, Kenyan producers Euggy and Slikback to Uganda’s prolific group Nihiloxica.

Several sub-genres will live under the banner of Isgubhu including Gqom, Amapiano, Kwaito, Mzansi House, Deep House and Shangaan Electro, as well as a dedicated section for Essential Albums that will highlight seminal African Dance and Electronic albums for easy discovery.

 Isgubhu will also house a collection of playlists including Spotlight On, a focus on boutique African dance & electronic labels like Soul Candi, House Afrika, Stay True Sounds and Uganda’s Hakuna Kulala & Nyege Nyege Tapes), Isgubhu Voices - a focus on the best Dance and Electronic tracks that feature vocals, and an overarching genre playlist that is currently curated by Black Coffee, the first Isgubhu cover star.

"It's a true honour to be titled as the very first Isgubhu hero artist by my friends at Apple Music. To me, home is everything... the absolute core of my being. Bringing the sounds of South Africa to the world is a life-long mission I'll never stop chasing after.” - Black Coffee.

There will also be a spotlight on Isugbhu BY, where one handpicked artist will curate their favourite African Dance and Electronic albums to feature for the month.

The first artist will be DJ Lag who had this to say “These are albums that shaped me. Releases like Big Nuz's 'Undisputed' made me dream big about being a producer one day, I was only 14 at the time. I love South African dance music I think we have a vibrant scene that keeps regenerating and reinventing itself every few years. Kwaito, Afro House, Gqom, Amapiano are movements here, not only music genres.”

Isgubhu will also include a selection of exclusive DJ mixes from the continent’s hottest DJs including: DJ Zinhle, Caiiro, Kabza De Small, Kyle Watson, Stiff Pap, DBN Gogo, Da Capo, Gina Jeanz, and more.

"Apple Music has always shown great interest in my labels and the independent music they showcase from incredibly talented artists around South Africa. The support received from Apple Music really goes a long way in this day and age when non-commercial music has to compete with Top 40 worldwide hits on global playlists.” - Kid Fonque (Stay True Sounds founder)

“As an independent artist it’s so rarely possible to get your music on most playlists and in my case it was different as Apple Music showed me love and support on my album Agora which got playlisted on a couple of platforms, in addition I got a rare opportunity to do the One Mix which has been so far one of my highlights of 2020.” - Caiiro.

 "For those who know me well, know that its been my vision & dream to take my music further across borders. Apple Music amplified the reach by supporting my music on editorial playlists, making sure I'm heard by the audience that relates to the picture I'm painting.” - Cornelius SA.

On his part Sio notes “Through their support I’ve gained so many great opportunities, opening for Lionbabe’s Worldwide Virtual tour and landing on a stage with Tom Misch. I’m super excited about Apple Music’s new Isgubhu campaign taking African Dance and Electronic music to the next level and showing the world what we do best.”

Find Isgubhu on Apple Music  http://apple.co/Isgubhu

Tanzanian singer Harmonize has been forced to cut short his music tour in his home country after falling ill.

The 'Haunishtui' hitmaker took to his social media pages to apologise to his fans for the move  revealing that new dates for the tour will be set.

He had already visited several towns especially in the Lake side of Tanzania including Geita, Shinyanga, Mwanza.

"Natamani sana kuendelea na hili vibe #INTHECLUBTOUR but i have to go back for check up IM F*** SICK. RATIBA MPYA INSHALLAH" he posted.

The tour titled ' IN DA CLUB TOUR' started on January 29 in Mwanza and was scheduled to end on March 20 in Zanzibar.

Meanwhile, singer Ibra who is signed under Harmonize's record label Konde gang is currently in Kenya, Nairobi for a media tour and popularising his songs.

Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta today received her 2019 Macky Sall Prize for Dialogue in Africa from Defence Cabinet Secretary Dr Amb Monica Juma.

The prize was awarded on 11^th December last year at the Museum of Black Civilization in Dakar, Senegal by President Macky Sall and received by Dr Juma on behalf of the Former First Lady who couldn't travel because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The annual prize is awarded to African personalities who use dialogue to avert conflict on the continent and is named after the Senegalese President Macky Sall who is a celebrated African mediator.

The Former First Lady was awarded for continuously and quietly using dialogue to diffuse tension in the country and the region over the years especially for her leading role in ending the political tension that followed Kenya's 2017 General Election.

Speaking when she received the award from Dr Juma at her Nairobi home, the Former First Lady thanked CIRID for the recognition saying it was an honour for Kenya's frontline role in the search for lasting peace and stability in Eastern Africa.

"I didn't know that there are people who know where we've come from as a country and how they settled on me as the recipient of the award. I am grateful," the Former First Lady said, and thanked Dr Juma for collecting the award on her behalf.

At the prize handover ceremony attended by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Dr Juma was accompanied by Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua and Foreign Affairs PS Amb Macharia Kamau.

The Mombasa county government has come up with stringent measures and strategies to rid the county of careless garbage dumping and littering which has been the main challenge facing the county.

First to happen is going to be fresh registration of serious waste collectors by the department of Environment in a one month exercise that is going to begin on Monday February 8, 2021, at the Environment offices based at the Yard - next to the Fire Station in Majengo/ Mwembe Tayari Ward.

Waste collectors, their carts and vehicles that are registered/ licensed after this activity will then be dressed uniquely in uniforms as per the wards they operate in as well as have county badges and stickers clearly displayed on their carts or vehicles identifying them to residents, wananchi, landlords businessmen and other waste generators.

Those found to be still using unregistered waste collectors for their garbage collection after this activity are going to face full consequences as they will be tracked and together with their collector, arrested and held responsible for the garbage found dumped carelessly in their neighborhood.

This will also result to a fine of Ksh500,000 to 1,000,000 depending on the quantity of the garbage dumped.

These measures were addressed on Saturday by County officers during a forum with community leaders and environment stakeholders drawn from across the six sub counties at the newly refurbished Railways Roundabout Park whose agenda was ridding the county off nuisance garbage dumping by uncouth individuals and groups.

Led by Chief Officer for Environment Ilhan Abass who also doubles up as the Devolution & Public Service Administration chief officer, it was also agreed that all residents will sort their garbage at the household level in decomposing and non decomposing matter and bag them for easier and speedy collection by waste collectors.

It was also agreed that their will be a continuous monthly clean up exercise - held every last Saturday of the month involving all area residents and businesses men. The first clean up activity will be held on February 27, 2021 in every Ward in Mombasa .

Also noted during the meeting that was attended by the head of Illegal dumping Richard Monanka as well as Sub County & Ward Administrators, is that every Ward and Sub County, is to identify its own waste collection and transfer point where their garbage will be regularly collected by environment vehicles.

In the new rules ,no waste collector will be allowed to dispose or transfer waste to other Wards or neighboring Sub Counties.