Ommy Dallah
President Uhuru To Commission Phase One Of Buxton Housing Project In June
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to commission the first phase of the Sh6 billion Buxton Housing Project in June this year.
This is according the Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga who toured the project on Monday afternoon.
The PS was accompanied by the project owner businessman Suleiman Shahbal and the project Buxton Housing Project CEO Ahmed Badhawi.
Addressing the media after the tour, Hinga said that the president himself was going to hand over the keys to the first 582 units with priority given to the initial buxton residents.
“People are used to seeing the president commission starting projects, but this time he will personally be here when the first phase is done to commission the houses,” said Hinga.
Hinga expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing works at Buxton saying that it was in line with the president’s big four agenda on affordable housing.
He hailed the quality of works being done in the houses saying that the project had set standards for local developers to come and benchmark.
“Going by the works I have seen here today, the benchmark has been set and we cannot go backwards. Affordable housing is not synonymous to poor quality, affordable housing is high quality but at a pocket friendly price,” said Hinga.
The PS took issues with those going to court to stop some of the housing projects in the country saying that they were propagating their own selfish interests at the expense of the common citizens who are expected to be the biggest beneficiaries of the projects.
He called on the people to be weary of the people and not allow themselves to be dragged into their selfish agendas.
“There are those who have been running to court to try and stop this kind of progress, for sure it does not make any sense. You people don’t represent us, you don’t represent the majority, you are only representing your own selfish interest,” said Hinga.
Hinga said that the ongoing works at the Buxton housing project was going to bring back the dignity to poor Kenyans as they will be able to become homeowners.
He further revealed that the government was going to partner with NSSF and the National Housing Corporation to offer a tenant purchase scheme at a rate of 3 percent to Kenyans working and living in the informal
“We have even reduced the mortgage interest rate a single long term digit of 9 percent to enable more Kenyans access mortgage plans." he said.
Adding "We are also in talks with NSSF and the housing corporation to purchase some units to be able to offer Kenyans a tenant purchase scheme."
Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal who was given the project expressed confidence that the first phase would be ready before june this year for the president to commission.
He further stated that phase two would be completed on time by June next year.
“Our objective from the very beginning was to deliver to the people Mombasa at least 2,000 apartments of high quality with all the social amenities, giving the people and indication of what a new Mombasa should look like,” said Shahbal.
Uhuru To Grace Global Medics Conference In Mombasa, Roll Out UHC Programme
President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to grace a global conference on harmonization of curriculum and training of health professionals post Covid-19 starting Monday Morning.
The three days meeting whose theme is ‘Repositioning today’s health workforce for the future’ has attracted at least 24 foreign nations and will take place at Sarova Whitesand Hotel in Mombasa.
According to Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council Daniel Yumbya has confirmed that president Uhuru Kenyatta will be the key guest of the event.
Discussions will be centered on how the health sector globally can leverage on medical technology in line with emerging global trends.
“We have realized that telemedicine is not included in the core curriculum where health professionals are trained, therefore we are going to look at challenges affecting the sector post covid, in terms of addressing the challenges that we got,” said Yumba.
While addressing a media briefing, Yumbya said the conference will strengthen the capability and technical support for health professionals to implement Universal Health Coverage (UHC), anchored on the pillars of provision of quality healthcare, ensuring access and
affordability of health care services.
He termed the conference as a major milestone towards health care reforms aimed at
strengthening technical and soft skill competencies. He further said it will enhance global competitiveness and future job readiness of health professionals.
“Speakers drawn from republic North Korea, China local universities, researchers are set to address the conference, this is a conference that will give us a way forward inters of heath training in future,” added Yumbya.
Key speakers will attend the conference in-person at Sarova White Sands hotel in Mombasa County while other participants will attend virtually in line with the COVID-19 health protocols.
Local, regional and international corporations, medical institutions, trainers and providers will have an opportunity to showcase their work at exhibition stands during the conference.
According to Dr.Kgosi Letlape, President of the Association of the Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) said the world out to reposition itself on emerging global trends by embracing technology.
“We need to ensure that access to health care should be guaranteed and people should be accountable for the actions that they take, and the important thing is that how we will collaborate with each other to help the public get good healthcare,” said Letlape.
Meanwhile President Kenyatta is also expected to officially launch the Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) programme at the the Port Reitz sub county hospital.
UHC is one of the “Big Four” strategic pillars declared by President Uhuru Kenyatta which will see major policy and administrative reforms in the medical sector, to ensure everyone has access to quality and affordable medical coverage by 2022.
Zuchu Gifts Her Manager A Brand New BMW For Her Birthday (Video)
Sensational Tanzania singer Zuhura Soud aka Zuchu has gifted her manager Dorice Mziray a brand new BMW in celebration of her birthday.
The Talent manager turned a new age on Saturday, and the “Nyumba ndogo ” hitmaker decided to spoil her with the new whip.
Dorice was surprised with the new car during a private birthday party held at Zuchu's residence in Daresalaam, on Saturday night.
The party was also attended by WCB boss Diamond Platnumz and Mbosso.
"We have been through alot together and as a friend I promised you that we will always be together no matter the circumstance" said Zuchu in her speech.
Adding " Please accept this small gift from me as a friend and sister".
Nassir Leads Mombasa ODM Brigade For Azimio La Umoja Rally
Mvita legislature Abdulswamad Nassir on Saturday led the Mombasa ODM brigade for a Azimio la Umoja meeting at the Mvita Primary School grounds.
The rally was in a bid to affirm that Mombasa was still an ODM zone as it ran concurrently with the Kenya Kwanza meeting that was led by deputy president William Ruto held at the Tononoka grounds.
The rally was attended by Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Mombasa senator Mohammed Faki, Mombasa MCA's together with several ODM MP and MCA aspirants across the county.
The MP drummed up support for Odinga's presidential bid as he urged Mombasa residents to turn out in large numbers and register as voters and ODM party members.
"I know we have intruders in Tononoka today, but we are here to affirm that Mombasa is an ODM zone fully behind Baba Raila Amollo Odinga," said Nassir.
Nassir also hit out at the DP for saying that Odinga was a state project being enforced to Kenyans.
He warned Ruto to keep Odinga's name out of his mouth saying that the freedom and democracy Kenyans enjoy today was as a result of Odinga's efforts.
"I want him (Ruto) to clearly understand that Odinga is the people's project, Baba was even detained as he fought the freedom and Democracy that he Ruto is enjoying today," said Nassir.
The legislature further warned Mombasa residents to be weary of the DP's fake promises saying that he had no meaningful agenda for the country.
His sentiments were echoed by Jomvu MP Badi Twalib who said that Mombasa people were not going to fall into their opponents tricks.
"You can fool some people for some time, but you can't fool all the people all the time," said Twalib
Twalib further urged the youth to register as voters to be able to vote in Odinga the nex president of Kenya in the August general elections.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko on her part said that Odinga was the right man to take over from president Uhuru Kenyatta saying that Odinga had demonstrated ability to unite Kenyans.
"Baba (Odinga) has proven beyond doubt that he will not only revive the economy but also unite Kenyans. The country needs a president who will transform the economy and bring Kenyans together, that man is Raila Amollo Odinga," she said.
Mboko hailed Odinga's agenda of giving Sh6,000 monthly cash transfer to vulnerable families in the country adding that the Babacare health scheme was going to provide healthcare services to millions of poor Kenyans.
Sharp Divisions Rock Luo Community As Different Factions Resurface To Endorse Political Aspirants In Mombasa
Sharp divisions have rocked the Luo community in Mombasa over who to endorse for Mombasa county governor seat in the upcoming general elections.
Several factions have continued to resurface, one throwing its weight behind former Nyali Mp Awiti Bollo, another one supporting Abdulswamand Nassir while the other endorsing businessman Suleiman Shahbal.
One group is branding itself Luo professional, another one includes the Luo elders, the Luo focus, Luo veterans and Luo coordination team, both of who are now claiming to politically bargain on behalf of the community in various political seats.
The community members are now urging politicians seeking elective positions to disassociate with what they called masqueraders out to rake in money from senior candidates in the pretext of supporting them in the elections.
“We have not sat down as a community to send someone to bargain for us, this must be understood, when we want to do so we will send our patron to go and negotiate for us,” Joseph Okungu a Nyali resident who comes from the community.
According to Party of National Unity Secretary General Michael Odongo and a member of the community, the Luo community is united and asked the Luo council of elders to speak in one voice and stop those that are tainting the image of the community.
“We have not sent anyone to Suleiman Shahbal,and those that are pretending to be speaking for the community, must know they are alone and they are deceiving the community, if there is any endorsement, we will do it unanimously,” stated Odongo.
The community has for previous years supported Mombasa governor Hassan Joho for county governor post, but as the 2022 general election approaches,it has continued to experience political differences.
http://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/2665-nassir-confident-of-mombasa-governor-win
“It has come to our attention that there are three groups purporting to be speaking on behalf of Luo community, we want to state that as a community we have our patron who is Hezron Awiti Bollo,and nationally we have Raila Odinga,so we would like to disassociate ourselves from the three groups one of them calling itself luo professionals,luo veteran,” he said.
Odingo said the only leaders who should talk on behalf of the community is though sitting political leaders and the council elders warning residents not to be used by the individuals who have appointed themselves as spokespersons.
Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir and businessman Suleiman Shahbal who are both eyeing the Mombasa governor have separately met sections of the Luo community residing in the county, in a bid to gain their support.
Blackson Kenya, The Singing Cop Releases New Single 'Donda Moyo'
Kakuma based rising star , Blackson Kenya has released his second single “Donda Moyo”.
Watch “Donda Moyo” HERE : https://youtu.be/ylGmWvp6sL8
“Donda Moyo” is an upbeat single that showcases Blackson Kenya's vocals and songwriting prowess.
The lyrics speak to the universal impulse towards romanticizing the past and reveling in the nostalgia of memories from someone you held in high regards.
In Blackson Kenya's own words: “The Donda La Moyo" idea came from an experience I had with someone and it really messed with my heart hence the reason for putting it into a song."
“Donda Moyo'' was produced by renowned music producer Vicky Pon Dis. “Donda Moyo '' is the second single by Blackson who is famously referred to as The singing policeman.
ABOUT
Kelvin Otieno Ochieng, also known as Blackson, is a police officer based at Kakuma Police Station, located deep inside the Kakuma refugee camp.
Hailing from Homa Bay, Blackson’s journey with music began in church where he was part of the school choir at Mbita High School.
He also participated in the national music and drama festivals and took part in several talent searches held in the Nyanza region.
According to the 23-year-old, he hopes -through his music – that Kenyans will recognize that the police “also have talent, feelings and love everyone” and only aim at directing citizens towards the right side of the law.
Adenkule Gold Releases Highly Anticipated new Album 'Catch Me If You Can'
Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold today is set to release his highly anticipated album, Catch Me If You Can via Platoon, on Friday 4th February 2022, marking his fourth studio project.
Symbolizing the space that Gold sees himself in life, Catch Me If You Can encapsulates the sounds of freedom, clarity, and confidence in the person he’s becoming, and centers on the importance of growth, shedding expectations from others, and throwing oneself into the unknown.
With collaborations including Ty Dolla $ign, Stefflon Don, Lucky Daye, Foushee, Davido, Fatoumata Diawara and more, this album solidifies Gold’s place amongst the greats and furthers the evolution of his sound, his songwriting, and his production. Describing the music, Gold himself says it plays as the sound of a happy man and
puts forth soulful experiences in love, fatherhood, and understanding.
Says Gold of what the album represents for him in his creative journey “I think of my whole discography as an adventure game. It gets really interesting at every level. This new album is Level 4 of the game. It’s crazy, it’s mind blowing and my understanding of life, what really matters, and who I am is slowly unraveling."
Catch Me If You Can is available to stream here. Album artwork can be found here. Press images are here for use.
The leading pioneer of the Afropop genre, Gold remains one of the most prolific, popular, and elegant artists to come out of Africa to date.
Catch Me If You Can reflects the breadth of natural beauty and dignity of the black experience across art and style that represents Gold’s personality itself: stylish, timeless, and groundbreaking.
President Kenyatta Invites African Leaders To Attend Nairobi Infrastructure Event
President Uhuru Kenyatta has invited African leaders to attend the 7th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) week slated for 28th February to 2nd March 2022 in Nairobi.
President Kenyatta, who is also a member of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee, said the PIDA week provides an opportunity for stakeholders to review and reflect on the progress in the implementation of infrastructure programmes across the continent.
The Head of State spoke on Wednesday evening when he virtually attended a closed-door 39th Session of New Partnership for Africa’s Develop (NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee meeting.
Other African Heads of State including DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, the current Chairman of the African Union, also attended the meeting chaired by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
President Kenyatta pointed out that the Nairobi infrastructure event will also enable participants to discuss ways of overcoming challenges, share lessons and advance possible solutions geared towards improving infrastructure development in the continent.
He added that during the PIDA week, Kenya will showcase its infrastructure development projects within the country and beyond including the Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Programme.
At the meeting also attended by Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua, National Treasury CS Ukur Yatani and NEPAD/African Peer Review Mechanism CEO Ambassador Samori Okiya, President Kenyatta congratulated Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas for being appointed the new African Union Development Agency (AUDA)-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer.
President Kenyatta observed that the appointment of the new CEO was a major milestone as it injects fresh impetus in the AUDA-NEPAD, expressing optimism that the organization will continue operating with vibrancy towards achieving its goals.
President Kenyatta also praised outgoing CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki for steering AUDA-NEPAD to greater success.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the current NEPAD bureau will continue to serve for one year under the leadership of President Kagame.
The President appreciated the support accorded to Kenya by AUDA-NEPAD member states, saying he was proud that during the last 10 years Kenya has made substantial contribution to the organization’s achievements.
African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat also spoke at the meeting that discussed the 2021 AUDA-NEPAD activity report among other development matters of interest to the continent.
AUDA-NEPAD is a development agency of the African Union established to coordinate and execute priority regional and continental development projects towards the accelerated realisation of Agenda 2063, which is Africa’s vision and action plan.
Mr Eazi Joins R3hab And Wafia In New Collaboration 'I Wanna Run Away'
Global African superstar Mr Eazi joins forces with Dutch-Moroccan Multi-Platinum DJ and producer R3HAB and Gold-certified alt-pop singer/songwriter Wafia for the newest single "I Wanna Run Away."
Drawing on all three artists’ unique sounds, "I Wanna Run Away" combines dance, pop, and African influences to create an upbeat, catchy sound that appeals to listeners across the musical spectrum.
Watch “I Wanna Run Away” video - https://bit.ly/3zXYpBm
Listen to “I Wanna Run Away” - https://bit.ly/320XPX6
Opening with organic instrumental chords and a reggae-inspired vocal hook, the track builds gradually into upbeat melodies that sound like they could be playing from the beach on a tropical island.
"I Wanna Run Away" is R3HAB's first collaboration with Mr Eazi, but the second time the producer links up with Wafia after R3HAB's remixed her 2020 song "Good Things".
Speaking on the collaboration, Mr Eazi says, "This song took a long time to figure out, but we solved it and are glad to share it now."
R3HAB adds, "I've been a big fan of Mr Eazi for years, and this record has been a long time coming. The pure clarity of Wafia’s voice complements Eazi's delivery and brings levels of nuance to the record."
Wafia on her end confesses, "I've been a fan of R3HAB for such a long time, and I'm so glad we finally got to put out this song with Mr Eazi. I feel so honored to be hopping on a track with these two legendary artists!"
Confusion Mars Mombasa New Traffic Routes Test- Run
Motorists in Mombasa were on Wednesday morning caught up in a huge traffic snarl-up as the county government implemented new traffic rules.
The situation brought chaos and confusion among motorists and passengers using public transport means getting to the CBD causing them to get let.
The county government of Mombasa through the department of Transport and Infrastructure came up with new traffic rules dubbed ‘double 2 double 2’ meant to ease congestion with Mombasa.
In the new directives that became effective Wednesday morning, all motorists going to the city center will be required to turn left at Buxton junction and join Digo Road all the way to Likoni-Ferry.
Those coming from ferry will have to turn left at the Backlays roundabout and go all the way to sabasaba before turning right and head towards Buxton to Nyali Bridge.
The county has also banned heavy trucks from accessing the CBD and will instead operate between 8pm and 5am in the morning.
Angry motorists and passengers expressed their frustrations saying that the new directive was ill advised as it was only going to cause more traffic.
“I have never seen such confusion in our roads, if this is what they want to implement then they have failed, it is not going to work. The county needs to rethink the strategy ,” said Ali Swaleh, a resident from Kisauni.
Swaleh called on the county to rather invest in expanding the road network in Mombasa which he said was going to decongest the city’s roads.
His sentiments were echoed by Rajab Juma from old town who said that the move failed to consider emergencies because making the road from buxton to Backlays meant that one had to go all the way to sabasaba and round to buxton to get to coast general hospital.
“The new rules will create a mess in our roads, how will someone coming from old town or ferry get to Coast general hospital if the road is only going one way, how will they even cater for fire emergencies?” he posed.
Matatu drivers faulted the new rules saying that they were not consulted saying that they will be forced to increase fare as they are forced to go round a longer route to get to several destinations within Mombasa town.
Abdulrazak Salmini, a matatu driver along the Mtwapa-Town route said that the new rules were not going to work.
He said that the main Mombasa-Malindi highway already experiences traffic at Bombolulu and and Lights area.
“The new rules will not work as it has many challenges, it has in fact increased jam and has forced us to use longer routes increasing the cost of fuel, we have no option but to also increase fare,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Michael Chayu plying the Tudor-Docks route who said that the new traffic rules were going to affect their pick-up points and stages.
“The county ought to have consulted us before coming up with the new rules, the move has affected stages meaning that we will be forced to drop and pick passengers in the middle of the road, this will lead to an increase in accidents on our roads,” he said.
Mombasa County Transport executive Tawfiq Balala however dismissed claims that they failed to consult stakeholders saying that they were all involved before the new traffic rules were formulated.
“We have had a series of meeting with all stakeholders in the transport industry before we decided to implement the new system, we expected the confusion today but I believe with time things will run smoothly,” said Balala.
Balala said that the county was going to monitor the happenings on the road for the next one week and prepare a report on the challenges experienced to come up with solutions to streamline the entire traffic schedule to work effectively.
