Mombasa music industry legend Musa Babaz is dead.

Musa who worked closely with top musicians from Mombasa and Tanzania died on Monday afternoon at the Coast general hospital where he was receiving treatment.

Among the artists that Musa has nurtured and worked with include Chikuzee, Susumila, from Tanzania they include Chege, Roma and Stamina.

Tributes have poured in from across the music industry for the legend who was widely regarded as the "father of the Coast music industry".

"Dah, rest in peace King Babaz" posted Tanzanian singer Chege Chigunda.

"Inna lillaahi wa inna ileyhi raajiuun. Allaah akusamehe madh ambi yako na alijaalie kaburilako liwe miongoni mwa bustani za peponi. Kaka yangu ntazidi kukufanyia dua maana umekuwa mwanafamilia wa kutamani hatua zetu ziandamane pamoja kwenye kufanikisha mengi kupitia yale aliyotubariki nayo Mungu. Tulipanga mengi tangia Ramadhani ya mwaka jana tumefturu pamoja na kukutana hadi Tanzania kipindi cha kuugua kwako leo Allaah amekupokea rasmi kama alivyoahidi kwa kila kiumbe chake kuwa kwake kitarejea. Siwezi kuongea mengi sana nibakishe tu nguvu hii kwa kukuombea sana dua maana ndio zitakuwa na msaada na wewe huko ulipo. Rabbi akuzawadie pepo njema kwa juhudi zako na busara na imani yako kwa kusimama na kila mtu wa chini na juu. Uwepo wako utabaki na pengo la kuzibwa kiongozi. My brother #Musababaz Rest in Jannah" posted music Producer Shirko.

On his part Coast filmamker amd hotelier Hassan Faisal posted "The entertainment industry , we have lost a legend. "

Celebrations rocked the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) headquarters in Mombasa on Monday, March 13 after the newly appointed Kenya ports Authority KPA managing director Captain Wiliam Ruto  arrived to begin his work.

KPA employees sang and danced to welcome Ruto, who they regarded as a diligent performer and one who values the rights of employees in the parastatal.

Ruto arrived at the KPA offices on Monday morning, held a meeting with the outgoing acting MD John Mwangemi and the authority's board chairperson Benjamin Dalu Tayari before addressing thousands of waiting union workers.

Ruto was appointed last week by Transport and Road Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

 KPA had remained without a substantive boss for the past three years since the resignation of Dr Daniel Manduku on March 26, 2020 over graft allegations.

Speaking after taking over from outgoing MD Amb John Mwangemi Captain Ruto said his ambition is to ensure port operations are seamless especially when the facility is experiencing significant growth.

"I have no grudge with anyone, I have not come to haunt anyone, if there is anyone who I wronged, I ask for forgiveness, "said Ruto saying he will ensure workers deliver their jobs.

"We need to improve performance, we need to work hard, if you are lazy, you are not my friend, if you are a hard worker, we will be friends and all the demands that you have tabled will be addressed.

Ruto said he will plan how to break records, asking politicians to stay away from port operations that have been affecting services. He warned against absenteeism at work saying he will not hesitate to crack the whip.

"I will be paying a lot of attention to our stakeholders and development partners to ensure that we deliver a significant development in the facility, “said Ruto.

KPA board of directors chairman Benjamin Tayari confirmed that the board exercised fairness during the interviews for selection of the new MD.

Ruto, who has worked at KPA for 32 years after joining in 1991 as a Cadet Marine Deck Officer before rising through the ranks to be a General Manager, Operations and later a Harbour Master, was on Friday named the new substantive boss of the parastatal.

Until this appointment, he was the General Manager of the Kisumu Port.

On Friday, the Mombasa port community led by the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (Kifwa) national chairperson Roy Mwanthi, said they are optimistic that Captain Ruto will change operations at KPA.

“As a fraternity and practitioners in the clearing, forwarding and logistics sector, we are delighted to have Captain Ruto at the helm of KPA. He has been the general manager operations, he has been tried and tested, and found to be fit,” said Mwanthi.

Captain william Ruto is the new Kenya Ports Authority managing director.

Captain Ruto who until his new appointment was the  General Manager of the Kisumu Port was appointed on Friday by Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen 

"The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport appoints Capt. William K Ruto to be the Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 10th March, 2023," reads a gazette notice.

Ruto takes over from Ambassador John Mwangemi who has been serving in an acting capacity.

The position of MD at KPA has been vacant for the last 3 years.

Capt. William Ruto holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Strategic Management option from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

https://ommydalla.co.ke/people/item/3247-kpa-board-kicks-off-interviews-for-new-md

He is an associate fellow of the Nautical Institute (AF-NI) and a member of the International Harbour Master’s Association (UK), and has attained the highest qualification as a Ship Captain (Class 1 Master Mariner) from South Tyneside Marine College, UK.

The county government of Mombasa has warned contractors against adhering to safety precautions and regulations in construction sites.

According to Mombasa Executive Committee member for Land, Urban renewal and housing nominee Mohammed Hussein most of the contractors in the county are violating the regulations by not putting up safety signs at the construction sites.

Hussein noted that this is notorious with constructors in Ganjoni.

"I have had time to visit almost all construction sites in the county and one thing that worries me is the fact that some of this contractors don't put safety signs in their construction sites, something which is very dangerous" said Hussein.

Adding "This behaviour is very rampant in Ganjoni and we are going to act on it and force them to put the signs".

Hussein emphasized that the county government always requires contractors to place warning signs at construction sites to prevent any potential accidents.

Last month, Hussein together with the Chief officer department of Lands and Urban renewal Ali Sharif and other officials visited several construction sites in the county to ascertain their level adherence to regulations where they also issued stop orders to non-complient developements and arrested several developers who did not comply to enforcement notices and stop orders early issued by the department 

Speaking to members of the media at the Moi International airport, Hussein noted that his first priority after being worn into office will be to roll out the digitization process of land records and see it's implementation.

"Digitization of Land records is one of the best methods to solve challenges in the land governance department and we are determined to make this happen" said Hussein.

Interviews for candidates shortlisted for the Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director post has kicked off.

The interviews started on Wednesday and are expected to end on Thursday.

12 candidates have been shortlisted for the interviews.

Among those shortlisted for the interviews include three senior managers currently serving at the parastatal. The three are Sudi Amani Mwasinago (General Manager of Operations), Captain William Ruto (General Manager of Kisumu Port) and Engineer Vincent Sidai (General Manager of Lamu Port).

This will be the second time that Mwasinago will be facing a panel for the position of the MD.

Other candidates are Dr Jane Chepkorir Barus, Rachel Balu Musyoki, Modest Kitimo Kombo, Nicodemus Odera Odongo, Dr Maingi, Stanley Chai, Dennis Lewa, Halima Ali Omar. Alex Kazongo who once served as the general manager for finance is also among the candidates.

Last month, Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen said the new MD will be named by April 1.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/people/item/3227-new-kpa-md-to-be-known-by-april

The county assembly of Mombasa has passed a motion banning smoking in public places.

The motion which was presented by Chaani Ward representative Frankline Makanga on Tuesday, seeks to have the county government set up designated smoking zones in the county.

According to Makanga, there have been concerns from non smokers over exposure to smoking related diseases.

"There are no designated areas or zones for smoking in Mombasa County. Smoking in public can cause significant health risks to both smokers and non-smokers, since the inhalation increases risks of developing cancers, heart diseases, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases among others." said Makanga.

Makanga also argued that smoking in public can contribute to air pollution and also cause fires that can lead to property damage and loss of life if the cigarette stubs are carelessly disposed without putting them off.

Members supported the motion and the Assembly resolved that the County Government Provide designated smoking zones, clearly marked and able to provide safe and comfortable space for the smokers.

The assembly also resolved that the county government ensures that the zones are regularly maintained and monitored for hygiene and safety, such that any litter should be disposed off in the proper receptacles and all smoking materials should be extinguished.

The county government has also been tasked with coming up with smoking policy and any other regulation to ensure that both the smokers and non-smokers rights are not infringed.

The tobacco Control Act of 2007, section 33 provides that no person shall smoke in any place except in designated smoking areas.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir has come to the aid of music composer Enock Ondego's family by clearing his hospital bill.

The 90-year-old who is one of Kenya’s most prominent songwriters, died after suffering a stroke in his house in Kisauni last week and his body has been lying at the Coast general hospital mortuary.

According to media reports his bill had accumulated to over kshs 150,000.

The family has been pleading for support to accord their late father a befitting send off at his rural home in Vihiga.

Ondego known for his popular patriotic  songs like Wimbo wa Historia ,Kenya ni Nchi ya Ajabu and Kenya Yetu lived a life full of despair for the last five decades despite his status, according to his family.

The late Ondego who started his teaching career at the age of 17 was also the founder of the Mwakigena Choir which he formed in Kwale after being posted as a teacher at the Samburu Primary School.

The late founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was impressed by Ondego's music that he picked him to head the presidential music association in 1969.

On sunday evening, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir made an impromptu visit at the Coast general hospital where he mingled with patients and cleared the late Ondego's hospital bill .

Hundreds of Mombasa residents traveled to Kisumu Thursday evening to join other mourners for the funeral service of chairman of the Luo Council of Elders (Ker) Willis Opiyo Otondi.

Otondi who is the ninth chairman at the Luo Council of Elders died last week and is expected to be laid to rest on Saturday.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir organised six buses to ferry the mourners.

The mourners also received cash and t-shirts.

Nassir is also expected to lead another delegation to Kisumu on Friday ahead of the funeral on Saturday.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga is also expected to attend the funeral.

Chief Officer of Environment Pauline Oginga lauded the move by Nassir.

The Chairman of Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Mudhar Kitamy was on Wednesday overtaken by emotions and forced to cut short his speech during an anti-LGBTQ media address in Mombasa.

The cleric, expressing his emotional intolerance to the LGBTQ activities, said it was worrying that a future generation may be plunged into uncontrolled same sex immorality that is absolutely against religious faiths and moral values.  

“What will we tell our God, as staunch Muslim believers, we feel betrayed by the judges, what does the future of our children and grandchildren hold with this kind of LGBTQ activities, we want action taken, because we are strongly against it,” said Kitamy.

Kitamy asked the attorney general Justine Muturi to expedite the review process of the court to a decision that gave nod to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community to have the right to association.

Kitamy  said the country should not imitate western culture saying a country like Kenya has diverse cultural diversity and it's immoral to support activities of LGBTQ.

"We are pleading with the attorney general to expedite the review of the high court decision and outlaw the groups, “said Kitamy.He added  "We ask all agencies to also reign in on civil society groups who are conducting secret meetings to propagate the LGBTQ activities,” said shaikh Mudhar Kitamy.

The clerics, during a media briefing held at the Fort Jesus also asked education cabinet secretary Ezekiel Machogu to reign in bookshops they claim are selling reading materials with immoral content.

"These activities are immoral, let our government not stoop too low,to accept grants that will ruin our  religious beliefs, we want all NGOs to be audited the activities they propagate so as to tame LGBTQ activities, “said Shaikh Abu Amza masjid Al Hudaa,sparki.

Shaikh Badru Khamis of Masjid Fayaz demanded the three judges who passed the court rulling legalizing registration of LGBTQ organizations saying they went against the will of a majority of the citizens.

"We want the judges to be investigated because we read mischief, we want to know why they made a decision that is against all religions, we are not going to relent,if need be we are going to petition in the East Africa court of justice, “said Shaikh Khamis.

Kenya chairman of Anti-LGBTQ group said they will not relent on the matter cautioning the government for falling into the trap of grants at the expense of good moral values.

"We are collecting signatures, countrywide,that we will take into parliament and petition the withdrawal of the three judges who ruled on the LGBT case,"said Karama.

Riziki Juma Supreme council of Kenya Muslim Supkem women leader said women are suffering the most because it will affect generations.

Zubeida Njau, a women Muslim faithful, asked the president to explain to the nation why this matter is becoming an agenda in a country that is guided by religious beliefs.

"We are saying no to the people pushing this agenda to us. We don't need these activities in the country, it’s as simple as that,” said Njau.

This comes as Nyali member of parliament Mohamed Ali,is preparing a bill to parliament to outlaw same sex activities in the country.Ali says acts of same sex in Kenya should be outlawed.

“I am presenting a bill in parliament to outlaw LGBTQ,we can’t live like animals, Kenya is a country of diverse faith,” said Ali saying the government should pronounce itself on the stand about the matter.

He accused the three judges who ruled in favour of the LGBTQ community saying they should be condemned for abetting moral decadence in a country with diverse religious faiths.

Three Supreme Court judges  ruled in the majority side on the issue that has raised a heated debate in the country.