Britam General Insurance has launched a new travel insurance plan in partnership with Kenya’s leading tour and travel company, Bonfire Adventures and digital innovation lab Qhala.

Under this partnership with Britam, Bonfire will offer all their domestic travel customers, a free travel insurance cover, insuring them against accidental injuries, illnesses, and death during their travel.

In case of an accident resulting in death, an amount of Sh100,000 will be paid to the beneficiaries of the covered, while a similar amount will be paid to the person covered in the event of permanent disability arising from an accident during the trip.

Additionally, customers are covered up to Sh40,000 for medical expenses resulting from an accident during their trip.

Travelers can also opt in to an enhanced package for Sh600, which covers evacuation and hospitalization during their trip. The benefits of this enhanced cover include Sh100,000 for death and Sh100,000 for permanent disability arising from an accident during the trip.

Additional benefits include Sh100,000 for inpatient medical treatment and Sh40,000 for emergency medical evaluation during the trip.

“We want to ensure that Kenyans have peace of mind when creating memories with their loved ones; both individually and collectively,” said Evah Kimani, Britam’s Director for Partnerships and Digital, while announcing the partnership.

“This cover is a value add to our customers and aligns with our commitment to give customers memorable experiences. This partnership is also timely as we approach the holiday season,” said Bonfire’s Chief Executive Officer – Simon Kabu.

“Qhala is proud to have built the digital platform that allows Bonfire customers, to access Britam's pioneering insurance offer. We are proud to have played a key role in making travel insurance more accessible to all,” Shikoh Gitau, CEO and Co-Founder of Qhala said.

Adding, “We see a wider application for this on-demand insurance cover model to gig economy workers.”

Britam and Bonfire are also working on plans to introduce a travel insurance cover for international travel.

Governors from the Coast region are expected to meet to deliberate on the hustler fund and blue economy among other issues.

On Tuesday the cabinet approved the legal and institutional framework to anchor the establishment and implementation of the hustler fund. In the first phase of the fund which will be launched on November 30, 2022, the loan limits will be at a minimum of Ksh.500 and a maximum pegged at Ksh.50,000, based on the borrower’s credit score.

According to Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir,  the Coast leadership will be meeting to see how the Coast people will benefit from different economic opportunities including the hustler fund.

"We want to focus one on the issue of hustler fund, blue economy and those opportunities that are available in the Coastal region. We want to see how our people will benefit from them" said Nassir.

Adding " We are waiting for our Chairman Kilifi governor Mung'aro who is currently away, he will chair the meeting. We will all come together as Coast governors irrespective of our political differences ."

Kilifi governor Gideon Mung'aro was last month elected as the Chairman of the regional economic block  Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani.

Nassir revealed that Coast Mps will also be holding their meeting on the same issues and come out with one voice.

"We will also make sure that our speakers also meet to deliberate on these issues, to represent the voices of all members of county assemblies from the region" said Nassir.

Last Saturday Nassir held a meeting with leaders from Mombasa and Kilifi counties at a hotel in Mombasa, among those who attended the meeting was Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali and his UDA counterpart Owen Baya of Kilifi North.

Nassir charged "The meeting was basically about our unity as Coast leaders irrespective our political differences, we want to serve our people since we are all one" 

Africa’s biggest in the comedy scene are gearing up to excite a Kenyan audience at the game-changing, rib-cracking Laugh Festival in Nairobi, Kenya (10 Dec 2022) at the KICC Tsavo Ballroom.

This is the fourth annual edition of the Laugh Festival produced and presented by Laugh Industry - Kenya’s biggest comedy central.

The night of African comedy by The King of comedy Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki will feature the best of the best Kenyan comedians and their international counterparts including Celeste Ntuli (South Africa), Salvado (Uganda), Daliso Chaponda (Malawi), Loyiso Gola (South Africa), Q-Dube (Zimbabwe) and Oga Bachelor (Nigeria).

The Laugh Festival is a premier comedy and entertainment event with the aim of converging Africa’s top performing comedians on a grand stage annually.

It is designed to be a night full of laughter and great experience as comedian acts from Kenyan and around Africa converge in one venue to commemorate and contribute to Africa’s comedy scene.

This shall continue to bring discovery and celebration of the gem that lies within the country’s comedy scene and Africa at large while presenting world-class entertainment.

The Laugh Festival 2022 edition brings back momentum to the series following a Covid hiatus with the last edition successfully held in 2019.

Partners of the fourth edition of Laugh Festival include Radio Africa (Classic 105 & Kiss 100), Magnate Ventures, amongst others.

A group of Islamic scholars from Al-Azhar University in Egypt, Cairo have called on Muslim community to coexist peacefully with other religions clerics and boldly speak out against extremist groups such as Al Shabaab who target mainly the youth to recruit them into their groups.

The scholars under the auspicious of the Azhar mission in Kenya said it's against Islamic teachings to wage war against such groups, adding that youth especially from the Coast region have been misled to and engage in radicalization.

Speaking on the sidelines of a madrassa/ Arabic and IRE teachers special lecturers under the concept of moderation in Islam, led by the head of religious section Wizaratul Auqaf, Egypt, Sheikh Gabrer Taie Youssef Soultan, they urged Muslim madrassa teachers to stick to right teachings.

“If a teacher has good teachings they will not involve themselves with terrorism, there are those who pretend to hide in the religion to lure people, it’s a crime, and we strongly condemn this, “said Sultan through an interpreter. 

He urged Muslims and Islamic organisations in various parts of the country to preach peace and tolerance.

He further urged the youth to avoid such extremist groups whose main goal is to bring violence.

He also urged Muslims to reject or ignore the aspects of fundamentalist Islam that predict or encourage Islamist domination over all other religions

He said Islam is a religion of peace and that those using religion as a justification for violence are people with twisted ideologies out to tarnish the name of the erstwhile peaceful religion.

Ustadh Muhammad Sheyba, the administrator at the Shibu Mosque said youth are soft prey because of skewed Islamic teachings from some institutions adding that this could be tamed if all religious clerics coexist.

He said violence of whatever nature against a fellow human being is against the tenets of Islam and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

“Religion should not be used by people to preach hatred. Let’s encourage our faithful about the importance of religious and peaceful coexistence without encouraging violence in the guise of preaching Islam,” he added.

The cleric noted that there is no place in the true religion of Islam that ‘promotes, commends and encourages violence, bloodletting and the killing of the innocent people’.

“We want these teachers to go out and give the correct teachings in accordance with religious integrity, we don’t want people who preach radicalization, because Muslim religion is peace, “added Sheyba.

According to Masjid Shibu ustadh Abdulkarim Mohamed Shabiby, muslims should coexist and preach peace without setting any borders. He spoke at the at the Shibu mosque in Mwembe Tayari shortly after teaching sessions of Muslim imams.

 “The scholars are here with us for one week before they travel to Nairobi for similar sessions,” said Shabiby on Sunday. At least 150 teachers from the six Mombasa sub counties benefited from the teachings where they will be expected to extend the teachings to the grassroots.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir has announced that he is advertising for the positions of county executives including CECMs, cheif officers and the position of county secretary.

In a media brief at the governor's office on Sunday, Nassir said that the decision to advertise for the positions was informed by the need to ensure that Mombasa gets qualified individuals.

He also announced that he had set up three committees made up of professionals to help him vet and pick individuals to fill the positions advertised.

"The law allows me to pick individuals, but I found it wise to engage professionals to assist me pick the individuals to serve in my administration"

"I have already written to the county public service to immediately hire those who will be picked for chief officer positions as the rest face the assembly for vetting," said Nassir.

His announcement comes two months after he was sworn into office on September 15.

There were speculations that he had failed to announce his cabinet because of interference from powerful sources within and outside of the county. 

Nassir however refuted the reports saying that no individual or entity was interfering with his running of Mombasa.

"I have advertised these positions and will like to welcome those who feel they are qualified to apply regardless of political assertion, religion or ethnicity," he said.

Adding "Those are just rumours, there is no  single person who has tried that."

The committee to vet those applying for the county cabinet executives positions will be led by representative from Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mombasa chapter.

The committee will also have Mahmoud Noor and Ali Ahmed from the Finance Taskforce and will be joined by former Mombasa Law Society chairman Benjamin Njoroge.

Other members will include pastor Ibrahim Charo to represent the church, former chief Kadhi Sheikh Hammad Kassim to represent Muslims, and a representative from the Mombasa diaspora council.

Dr Wilfred Githinji, a don at Kemu will chair the committee to pick the new county secretary and will be joined by a representative from KNCCI Mombasa.

Others will be Oscar Juma from the  Institute of Certified Public Accountants Kenya (ICPAK), Mwinyi Bwika from LSK and a representative from the county government workers union.

Nassir said that the process of picking the individuals to serve in the positions will be done in ten days time beginning Monday.

 The CECM positions to be filled include Lands, Housing and Urban Planning, Water Natural Resources and Climate change resilience, Environment and solid waste management, Transport and infrastructure..

Others will be, Health, Finance and economic planning, Blue economy, agriculture and Livestock, Public service administration, youth gender and sports and Tourism, culture and trade department.

Positions for Chief officers will include a chief officer in Policy and planning, Governance, Tourism culture and trade, Blue economy agriculture and livestock and Youth gender and social services.

Others will be Public service administration, Education and digital transformation, Lands housing and urban planning, Water and sanitation, Renewable energy natural resources and climate change resilience, Environment and solid waste management, Transport and infrastructure, public health and disease prevention, clinical services and finance and economic planning.

Mombasa businessman and politician Suleiman Shahbal has mourned his former chief campaigner and strategist Nyonga Makemba.

Makemba died on Saturday evening while receiving treatment at a hospital in Mombasa where he had been admitted for some days.

Makemba also served as a personal assistant of former powerful Coast politician Karisa Maitha.

In a long social media post, Shahbal as his strongest supporter, brother and friend.

"Today, I have lost a friend, a brother, and my strongest political supporter for the last 12 years David Nyonga wa Makemba. Nyonga stood with me in every single crisis in my campaigns since I started my political career." posted Shahbal.

Shahbal revealed that he was to visit the late Makemba at hospital tomorrow(Sunday).

"I spoke to his son yesterday and I had planned to go see Nyonga tomorrow morning, but unfortunately, he passed on today. Nyonga had been admitted at the Coast General Hospital.Nyonga has been a key political player in both Kilifi and Mombasa politics from the days of the late Karisa Maitha."

Adding "He was a leader and a Mijikenda elder who was respected by all including those who disagreed with him.My deepest condolences to his wife, relatives, friends, and family."

Coast political strategist and businessman Nyonga Makemba is dead.

Makemba who was a close associate and personal assistant to former Coast powerful politician the late Karisa Maitha died on Saturday evening at a hospital in Mombasa.

Makemba had been admitted at the hospital for days after suffering a stroke.

Makemba was also the chief campaigner and political strategist of Suleiman Shahbal during the 2013 general election. Shahbal was vying for the Mombasa governor seat but lost to Hassan Joho.

His loyalty for Shahbal saw him jailed for perjury after testifying in support of an election petition filed against Joho Shahbal where he admitted to voting without his name being found in the voters’ register.

The late Makemba also served as chairman of the Mijikenda Youth Forum.

He was among  individuals fighting for the inclusion of the Mijikenda people in regional (Coast) leadership..

Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali has called on Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir to work with President William Ruto and his government saying the election season is over and it was time for nation-building.

Ali argued the only way that the people of Mombasa will benefit from the current government is by governor Nassir working closely with government.

Speaking during the commissioning of the food for education kitchen for school feeding program, Ali said he is ready to support Nassir despite being from different political parties.

"I would like to commend you for your efforts in bringing leaders from the county together, you have invited us in your official functions several times, you have always been picking our calls and listening to us and we appreciate this" said Ali.

Adding " I would like to tell you this, do not waste anytime, come and work with the current government under President William Ruto. Do not fear anything you were elected by the people of Mombasa, time for politics and looking at your political party is long gone, it now time to work for the people and you can only do this through working with President Ruto. I personally support you."

The vocal legislator also called on Nassir to ensure that does not appoint selfish individuals as his executives but individuals who will work for the people.

Ali charged "When I look at you office I see there are some problems but I will like to tell you to make sure that you do not  bring people who are not selfish to that office."

In his response, Nassir said he is ready to work with any leader for the sake of development and the common welfare of the residents. 

" I have heard what my brother Ali has said, we have work closely with him, we were from different political sides. In this crowd there are those who voted for Ali and others who voted for me, our first priority is the growth of Mombasa and the people. And for that reason we are going to have an open door where we will work with everyone as long as priority number one is the growth of Mombasa" said Nassir.

Kenyan brand KikoRomeo debuted its latest ILLE collection at Heineken Lagos Fashion Week  to a star studded audience in Victoria Island, Nigeria.

The cream of Nigerian models walked the runway as all eyes looked to Lagos for the latest in outstanding African design.

Now led by Iona McCreath, the heritage brand showed outstanding innovation in its textiles and silhouettes as the 26 year old Iona, married traditional dyeing and weaving techniques with new textures, patterns and silhouettes. 

The collection for men and women featured easy to wear fluid pieces with space for movement around the body.

Sharp “V” necklines, were contrasted by asymmetric hems, parallel pants and deep pleats. Flowing jumpsuits and dresses in regenerated orange peel and rose petal textiles contrasted with boxy cuts of handwoven cotton.

Patterns were rich with linear stripes of brightly-colored beads, blurry stripes of hand dyes and soft geometric diamonds in blues, oranges and browns.

These were combined with undyed natural yarn and napa leather. As always the brand paid close attention to detail with finely crafted coconut shell buttons and laser-cut cowhorn buttons, both upcycled by-products of the food industry.

Speaking about the collection, Head designer and Creative Director Iona McCreath said “With inspiration stemming from the Rendille and Samburu and the processes of hybridisation and evolution that they have faced in relation to each other. The body as a form of adornment is another theme that this collection explores."

Adding "Primarily from the perspective of Nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples who move around constantly. Thus, through processes of permanence (through scarring, piercings etc) and impermanence, (through body painting and jewelry) the body becomes a way to convey cultural processes and tell stories. Within this collection, these themes are explored through the individual textiles and their pairings.”

The ILLE textile was created to encapsulate the wealth of Kenyan beadwork and embody it within a textile. The glass beads are combined with rainfed cotton, and then woven into the textile, reflecting the semi-permanence of bodily adornment.