United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Mombasa governor candidate Hassan Omar has said he is ready to work with former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko.

Omar said, should Sonko be barred to vie for the Mombasa governor seat, he is ready to welcome him at his camp in the quest to capture Mombasa leadership; saying they share the same ideologies, to serve the common people.

 “We welcome Sonko to join us because his plan was to rescue Mombasa, and that is our plan too, so he is very welcomed to work with us,” said Omar.

The former Mombasa Senator welcomed Sonko in the quest to save Mombasa from what he termed as capture by few individuals

Omar noted  “What Sonko was agitating for is what we are talking about, we want to save Mombasa from the capture of few individuals, tribalism and many other things, so we ask Sonko to join us, we were together in the senate and we know he meant well to agitate for the people.”

Sonko is currently in court trying to challenge the decision by the Independent electoral and boundaries commission (IEBC) to bar him from vying, but Omar believes that the former Nairobi boss can still discharge his hopes to serve the Mombasa people by backing his candidature.

“We have given you a clear choice, Sonko wanted to end tribalism, and we know his plan was very clear in Mombasa so we know he can also join us as we seek to liberate Mombasa county,” said Omar.

Addressing the media on Monday morning together with other UDA candidates including Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali, Senatorial candidate Khamis Mwaguya among others, Omar called on Mombasa residents to ensure they make informed decision in the August poll and vote for leaders with good track records.

Nigerian rapper, songwriter, and actor Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz the Bahd Guy, has released his fifth studio album titled BAHD, in the wee hours of Thursday, 9^th June, 2022.

The new album, released under his self-owned record label, Bahd Guys Entertainment, comprises 12 tracks and features Nigerian stars like Tiwa Savage, The Cavemen, BNXN, LAX, Chike, and new Mavin Records signee Boy Spyce.

Falz came into the limelight after he released the song “Marry Me” featuring vocals from Poe and Yemi Alade.

He has since dropped four albums “Wazup Guy in 2014″, Stories That Touch in 2015”, “27 in 2017”, and his fourth “Moral Instruction in 2019”.

BAHD comes three years after Falz’s last studio album, Moral Instruction, in which the 31-year-old heavily sampled the late Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and dealt extensively with socio-political themes including government corruption, religious hypocrisy and terrorism, and failing moral standards on the part of Nigerians.

His new album departs from that political tone, settling instead for the comic and light-hearted themes for which the rapper first came to be known.

Falz has since grown a reputation as a musician with a political streak since he, alongside colleague Runtown, led the first round of protests in Lagos State during the EndSARS campaign of October 2020.

Get the album HERE

Tanzanian singer Mbosso has opened up about his struggle with a chronic heart condition.

Speaking during an interview with Wasafi fm, Mbosso revealed that he has been having issues with his heart since childhood, an issue that has seen him visit several hospitals.

The singer revealed that the condition that causes his body to tremble was caused by a blockage in his arteries.

He further stated that there are times when the condition causes so much numbness in his body that he loses consciousness.

"I have been told my problems are due to my blood vessels being blocked by fat. It's a condition that I have had for a long time." said Mbosso.

Adding "The doctor told me my condition was probably going to get worse after the age of 30. He said it might lead me to never have children again without treatment."

He revealed that only his parents, his baby mamas and his boss Diamond Platnumz have been aware of the situation stating that he is planning to go for further treatment abroad.

 Femi One has just dropped the video for Hepi, the highly anticipated single that features fellow Kaka Empire label mate King Kaka and talented Mbithi.  

The upbeat song has the perfect vibe to get you into the party mood, with a catchy chorus listing all the ingredients that make up recipe ya hepi. 

The bound to be club banger and Tik Tok top trender is actually the second time that Femi One is featuring King Kaka.  

In Hepi,produced by Bern Mziki , Femi, King Kaka and Mbithi have tapped into their fun loving side while still delivering some killer signature punchlines. 

The hype and scenic video was shot and directed by Steve Mugo. 

Watch the video here

Mombasa county Health officials have reported an outbreak of dengue fever, a potentially fatal infection that has seen 700 samples collected from patients testing positive for the mosquito-borne tropical disease.

On Friday, Mombasa health chief officer Pauline Oginga warned that the situation could worsen due to heavy rains that have continued to pound coast region.

She said there were increased cases of fever in adults and children visiting hospitals in the six sub-counties in Mombasa.

We are going to start fogging but when can't go everywhere, we will start with the informal settlement where the cases are rampant but we emphasize that resdents take up prevention measures," said Oginga.

The county health official said the rains have created breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Dengue is spread by Aedes mosquito. Symptoms include Fever headache and joint pains.

"Dengue fever have doubled since last month,and we are urging the community to disinfect stagnant water and also ensure they go to public hospitals whenever that show signs of the fever,"said Oginga.

Similarly the county has also reported a surge on diarrhea cases with 8,648 cases being reported since last month.

"We are kindly requesting residents to use safe water for drinking and avoid drinking contaminated water, we still emphasize residents to observe all measures," she added.

The county has also raised alarm over the rising cases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mombasa.

"The positivity rate has gone up, we have moved from 0.8 to 4 percent as by 15 the, this means that people have relaxed observing containment measures, people have started shaking hands and this is causing the spread, so we are appealing to residents to mask up to avoid being infected," said Oginga.

"At least 460,000 people have been vaccinated in Mombasa.The uptake of second dose is at 54 percent and that is quite low,and booster we are at around 10,000 who have taken up the covid 19 booster shot," she added saying they are planning to increase the number further.

Speaking at the county health headquarters at Mwembe Tayari, Oginga emphasized on the need to continue observing the covid 19 containment measures.

"We are urging residents to kindly mask up, avoid shaking of hands and ensuring that they get vaccinated,” she added.

She said the county is keen to suppress the disease and is now asking residents who had taken full dose and about six months to go for a booster shot.

Kenya and Zambia have agreed to work together towards removing barriers that hinder trade and investment between the people of the two countries.

President Kenyatta said his discussions with visiting Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Wednesday focused on opportunities to harness the strong bonds of friendship as well as the business and economic ties including the removal of obstacles to trade.

“In this context, we have agreed to address the prevailing bottlenecks, including addressing ourselves to a few tariff and non-tariff barriers that bar our people from enjoying the freedom of trade amongst themselves,” President Kenyatta said.

The Kenyan leader spoke last evening during a State banquet he and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta hosted in honour of Zambian President Hichilema at State House, Nairobi.

President Kenyatta pointed out that he had also agreed with President Hichilema that the ministers responsible for trade of both countries will work together to expeditiously address the outstanding tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade.

“So this visit (by President Hichilema) is nothing more than a visit to reinforce and enhance the cooperation between our two countries as we seek to deepen that partnership for the mutual benefit of our respective people,” President Kenyatta said.

Noting that Kenya and Zambia were amongst the first two countries to sign and ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), President Kenyatta affirmed Kenya’s commitment to working with Zambia and other African countries in improving the ease of doing business.

“And I want to assure you that the Kenya Government will continue to work with its partners in Zambia and across the African continent to continuously remove barriers to trade, continue to improve the ease of doing business, continue to open our borders to our brothers and sisters across the continent,” the President said.

He encouraged Zambian investors to not only make Kenya their investment destination of choice but also to look to their Kenyan counterparts as their investment partners of choice.

On his part, President Hichilema concurred on the need for Kenya and Zambia to work together in eradicating obstacles to trade and investment between the two countries.

He said time has come for the two countries to trade directly between them instead of passing through a third party.

“…how strange it is that sometimes we (Zambia) trade in goods from Kenya through Europe and vice versa. Really? Does that make sense? Absolutely not. That’s what we want to fix.

“So President Kenyatta, thank you for giving us this opportunity to advance that path walked by those who came before us. We know you are doing it for the people of Kenya, the people of Zambia and for Africa,” President Hichilema said.

The Zambian leader emphasized the need to ensure that the agreements and MOUs signed were implemented as the two countries move to redefine the way they work with each other to lower the cost of doing business between them.

Azimio La Umoja One-Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga, senior Government officials and members of the diplomatic corps also attended the State banquet.

The Chairperson of the Pamoja African Alliance Party (PAA) national election board Edward Mwachinga is dead.

According to reports, Mwachinga, collapsed and died at his home in Nairobi on Tuesday night, June 14, 2022.

Mwachinga, a lawyer by profession, from Kilifi county was recently appointed to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance's National Economic Taskforce by Deputy President William Ruto.

Kilifi governor Amason Kingi, who is also the PAA party leader, eulogized Mwachinga as diligent and dedicated person who advocated for inclusion of the Coast people at the national level.

"It goes without saying that as a County, and as a party, we have indeed lost a strong-willed scholar who gave everything when it came to empowering the lives of the Coastal people. May God rest his soul in peace." said Kingi.

On his part Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi described him as a brother and adviser.

"Mwachinga was always on hand to advise me on a wide range of issues. He took me with him like a brother introducing me to many. The PAA fraternity has also lost a dependable NEB Chairman who worked tirelessly for the nascent party.. Mwachinga you left us too soon." said Kingi.

The late Mwachinga was the guest of honour when Kingi who is eyeing the Mombasa governor seat unveiled his running mate and manifesto last month.

In his condolence message, hotelier Mohammed Hersi said Kilifi has lost one of its finest son terming him as a fine professional.

Hersi noted "What a fine Profesional and a genuine friend. I served with him on various boards with him and two weeks ago I shared a table with him in Mombasa when William Kingi was launching his Mombasa Gubernorial bid. Edward was very passionate about lifting the wellbeing of his community and matters Kilifi and Kenya coast was dear to his heart ."

A section of Orange democratic Movement (ODM) leaders from the Coast have asked governors Salim Mvurya of Kwale and Amason Kingi (Kilifi) to distance themselves from the agitation of transfer of port services to Naivasha claiming they are part of the problem.

The leaders said by virtue of the two leaders being aligned to the deputy president William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition that automatically classifies them as liars and enemies of the coastal people, as they have failed to fight for it during their period in leadership

Speaking in Mombasa on Tuesday, Kaloleni  Mp Paul Katana condemned the two governors asking them to stop lying to the coast that they will return to port operations when they form the next Kenya Kwanza government.

 “I want to tell Kingi and Mvurya to stop lying to our people that they will return port operations when they form Kenya Kwanza government, if they are genuine, they should have championed this matter through the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani which they are part.” Said Katana.

Katana has termed the pledge by the Kenya Kwanza leadership to revert port operations to Mombasa as a mockery and a ploy to get votes from electorates.

He said it’s shameful that the leaders think the solution of coastal problems lie with Kenya Kwanza.

“I want to tell our opponents in the UDA to stop pretending, we fought for the transfer of port operations in parliament, and surprisingly those who opposed it then, are the ones now playing saint. The time when our people got cheated is over,” said Katana.

Katana asked residents not to be duped by ‘sweet street’ promises issued by deputy president William Ruto and his coastal brigade as they are just tricks to win votes.

 He said the UDA leadership can’t offer solutions to the coastal people alleging that they are part of the problem.

Mvita Member of parliament Abdulswamad Nassir said the plight of Coastal people can only be solved by Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga as he understands well the economic challenges facing the region.

On her part Likoni Mp Mishi Mboko cautioned deputy President William Ruto against using the port issue for political gains.

“We the Coast people are not going to allow such politics, we are not fools so stop thinking that you will fool our people, those days are long gone.” Said Mboko.

The leaders were addressing the media at the Shariff Nassir secretariat on Tuesday evening.

Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib maintained that the Coast region is still an ODM zone cautioning Kenya Kwanza leaders against attacking Mombasa governor Hassan Joho.

“Why are they profiling governor Joho yet he was the one in the forefront fighting for the port.” Posed Twalib.

“They abused us telling us that we don’t have the right education to understand these things, now they are here playing saint, they want to cheat our people, we will not accept that.” said Twalib.

The Mombasa high court has declined to issue orders to quash the decision by the Independent electoral and boundaries commission ( IEBC) decision not to clear former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko to vie for the Mombasa governor seat.

In his ruling on Tuesday morning via a virtual court session, Mombasa resident judge, John Mativo said it was prudent for the court to hear preliminary objection(PO) raised by the Independent electoral and boundaries commission,(IEBC)through its lawyer Edwin Mukele who tabled a preliminary objection indicating that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the petition.

Mativo noted " Am alive to the fact that ,the application is pending before me. I'm of the opinion that issues raised by IEBC on if the court can hear the petition are of importance l therefore allow for adjournment to allow time for IEBC time to argue the preliminary objection."

Justice Mativo pointed out that there are  similar disputes that had been filed and are pending before other forums and that  he was hesitant to issue the interim orders as sought since such orders may interfere with other related matters.

The matter will be heard on July 17 2022

Tanzanian singer Zuchu is gearing up for the release of her debut album.

The 'Nyumba Ndogo' hitmaker made the revelation through her instagram story without divulging more information concerning the album.

"Making history Am grateful my album is coming" she posted.

The WCB wasafi signee recently made history for being the first female East African singer to reach over 2 million subscribers on YouTube.

This made her the 4th female artiste in Africa to reach that milestone after Nigeria's Yemi Alade. She has also garnered a total of over 327 million views from her music videos.

"Thank you so much, 2,000,000 million subscribers on YouTube. First East African female artist to ever reach this milestone! The 4th female artist in Africa. Mind you, within just two years in the music industry. God is good. We cannot stop now, we have a life to live, a country to represent and a point to prove. Let's keep pushing.”  she noted.

In 2020, Zuchu released her 7-track debut Ep titled 'IM ZUCHU'.