Coast based youthful golfer Fidel Wasike carded 45 stableford points to emerge the overall winner of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 2022 Corporate Golf tournament  that  closed  its curtain after the fourth  and  final circuit of the tourney  played at the par71 Nyali Golf and Country Club Course in Mombasa County on Saturday.

The fifteen years old Wasike of Mombasa’s Braeburn International School playing off handicap 27 carded 45 stable ford points to claim the title for the crown bagging his second title  this year after  the recent 2022  Kenya  Association  of Hotel Keepers and Caterers (KAHC) played at the same venue.

An Estimated 252 golfers from the home Club and across the country attended the daylong 18 holes stable ford tournament  sponsored by Kenya Ports Authority.

"I had a rocky start but my team mates kept on encouraging me and I believe that is what made me won this tournament" said Wasike

Michael Kariuki playing off handicap 23  was the  Men winner on 43 points while  handicap 9  Miqdad  Walji  was the runners up  on a count back score of  42 points  after tying on the same points with third placed handicap 26 Dr. Atul  Shah.

The Lady winner was handicap 26 Jayne Githere with a score of 41 points beating handicap 17 Christine Ockotch to the runners up slot with a two point’s difference.

 Ijaz Sheikh  playing off handicap 24  brought 41 points to win the Senior prize  and  handicap 11  Alyssa Jamal  scooped the junior prize  after carding 36 points.

The staff prize was won by handicap 20 Japheth Obonyo  on 44 points  while  handicap 15b  Terry Oddo  settled  for the runners up slot on 38 points  and   Emmanuel Wambua playing off handicap 13  carded a  count back score of 37 points to win  the Guest prize.

Handicap 29 J.M.Muthuuri  brought 39 points to win the  high  handicappers  of  handicap 28  and over  prize  and  handicap 45 Lynette Oketch  was the  Lady winner of the  same for  handicappers  36  and above  after   carding 41 points.

The event was also graced by Businessman Brown Ondego,the Stallion International CEO Wilson Rading, the Chairman of Kakamega Sports Club Ambassador Bruce Madete, Wesley Bosuben of James Finley, Jacob Kamau of Union Tea Brokers, Lawrence Odhiambo of Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprise, Thusara De Silvia of Empire Tea EPZ and Peter Kimanga of Kericho Gold  among others.

KPA Communication Corporate Affairs Manager Bernard Osero said the Authority introduced four circuits this year in line with their customer and stakeholder segmentations focus.

He said the first one in the calendar year 2022 was held in Kakamega Sports Club for Nyanza and Western Region, then Nakuru Golf Club for central Kenya and north rift and recently at Muthaiga for the Nairobi circuit.

 “Mombasa is the Maritime hub for KPA operations through to the hinterland that it serves, hence the need for the final leg of the Tournament to be hosted in the Port City. The popular tournament is important to the Authority as it's used to appreciate customers and a platform for getting feedback as well,” said Osero.

 KPA Chairman of Board of Directors General (Rtd) Joseph Kibwana, flanked by the Acting Managing Director Amb.John Mwangemi thanked golfers for attending in large numbers and said they are happy to be host the final leg at Nyali Golf and Country Club to connect with most of their port users.

Radio Rahma station staff are a suffering lot following a five-month salary delay.

According to a source, most of the demoralised employees from Editorial, management, and other departments are crying for justice due to the unbearable condition.

The media house which broadcasts in pure Swahili targeting the expansive coast audience has been struggling from what is believed to be shrinking revenue streams.

For the past few weeks, the station programmes have remained on automation while the demoralized staff opting to stay off air in protest.

The situation has caught staunch listeners in shock and some of them have even started physically making their way to the station premises to seek answers.

Some of the angered listeners are said to be unhappy with how the station has lately been operating with no live calls during programs.

Some of the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization say only the news desk has been operating.

"We have not been paid since July,2022, the staff who are hardworking have opted to staying at home thus affecting normal programming, we have tried to reach the management but there is no communication,".

The station is said to be owned by a prominent politician in Mombasa.

"We are asking for payment so that we can provide for our families, it's humiliating to stay in the city without a pay, some of us are now living under the mercy of family members, others have been locked out of their houses for lack of rent,"  said the source.

Broadcast media has faced tough times as competition grows and emerging digital channels.

Kenya’s iconic city-based hotel, Sarova Stanley, scooped Kenya’s Leading Hotel award in the World Travel Awards (WTA) for 2022. The historic awards were held in Africa for the first time at the iconic Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC).

Sarova Stanley has over the years remained Kenya’s go-to hotel, attracting visitors within and without the country due to its unique and long-standing tradition of offering unforgettable experiences and world-class services to its customers.

The 5-Star luxury hotel had been nominated in three categories; Kenya’s Leading Hotel for 2022, Kenya’s Leading Luxury Hotel for 2022, and Kenya’s Leading Hotel Suite for 2022.

The latest win comes at a time when the hotel has put in place mechanisms and embraced innovation to ensure that it continues being the best, not just in Kenya but in the world.

“This is not our win. It is a win for our esteemed customers and all those who believe in us and our services. It is a clear testimony of the invisible currency that we have always traded in; trust. We shall always strive to live by the expectations of our customers and always be ahead of the ever-changing trends,” said Sarova Hotels and Resorts Managing Director Jimi Kariuki.

Hamisi Mwaguya has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA).

Mwaguya who vied for the Mombasa Senator seat through UDA party replaces Geoffrey Mwango who haa been serving in the position since 2019.

Mwaguya lost to ODM's  Mohammed Faki.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/2543-joho-s-advisor-mwaguya-joins-uda

Mwaguya who once served as the economic advisor of former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho was appointed through a gazette notice signed by president William Ruto on November 17, 2022.

Former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar of Kenya Kwanza and businessman turn politician Suleiman shahbal are among nine politcians voted to represent Kenya in the East Africa Legislative assembly (EALA).

Omar who vied for the Mombasa governor seat in the August election but lost to Abdulswamad Nassir led the Kenya Kwanza coalition with the highest number of votes at 253, followed by Zipporah Kering who garnered 223 votes.

Suleiman Shahbal of ODM party closed the list of four Azimio MPs by garnering 181 votes. ODM party leader Raila Odinga's daughter Winnie Odinga got 247 votes.

Kennedy Musyoka from Wiper party led with 262 votes garnered from both chambers, Senate and National assembly.

Former Nominated MP David ole Sankok got 223 votes, while Godfrey Mwangi bagged 213 votes from both Houses.

Falhada Dekow survived after Fred Muteti who had garnered 189 was edged out on a gender technically.

The nine will now join their colleagues in Arusha next month for swearing-in ahead of their sittings.

The Uganda- Kenya Coast tourism conference and exhibition 2022 kicked off on Thursday in Mombasa, bringing together hundreds of attendees mainly tourism stakeholders from Kenya and Uganda.

The two countries Kenya and Uganda have stepped up efforts to compliment each other in the tourism sector.

According to a report, tourism arrivals in Uganda in 2021 stood at 512,945, out of these 326,387 were from Kenya which translates to 63.63% of all arrivals in Uganda.

Between January and March 2022 close to 95,000 Kenyans visited Uganda for various reasons reporting an increased demand for Kenyan visitors to Uganda due to various events that have taken place in Kampala such as golf, rugby tournaments, music concerts among others.

Speaking during the official opening of the conference, Uganda's Minister for Foreign affairs in charge of regional cooperation John Mulimba called for more cooperation between Kenya and Uganda tourism stakeholders.

Mulimba emphasized the need for peace in the two countries for tourism to thrive.

"If you have good products but no peace then you will not achieve anything. To our tourism stakeholders from Kenya and Uganda present at this conference, please work closely with the security agencies for the industry to thrive" said Mulimba.

Adding" As Uganda, we recently had a challenge due to the outbreak of Ebola virus but all is well and we welcome all visitors to Uganda, we are now safe."

On his part Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA) Chairman Victor Shitaka said Uganda remains one of major market for the Coast tourism industry.

"For the first time in the history of Kenyan Coast different teams from the tourism industry have started partnering, Kenyan Coast and Uganda have come together to promote tourism, this is a major step" said Shitaka.

Adding "Kenyan Coast has it's unique products and this is the same case with Uganda so we believe coming together will work well in complementing the two countries."

Shitaka revealed that they will also be seeking to partner with other East Africa countries.

"We are looking forward to increasing our numbers as the Kenya Coast. We are targeting to increase our numbers by 10% in the next six months" Shitaka revealed.

Transport cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is set to make his first official tour of the Mombasa port tomorrow, Thursday.

According to a programme seen by this blog, CS Murkomen is expected to arrive at the KPA headquarters at 9 am before proceeding to the Chairman's office for a brief meeting.

The CS is then expected to proceed to the boardroom where he will be taken through a presentation of Mombasa port operations by the acting Managing Director John Mwangemi.

The CS is also expected to make a tour of key port facilities including the Second Container Terminal, SGR marshaling yard, Kipevu oil terminal and Dongo kundu.

This will be Murkomen's first visit to the facility after being sworn into office one month ago.

In September, KPA started the process of returning port services to Mombasa in compliance with President William Ruto’s directive.

Leaders and the business community from Mombasa have been supporting the return of port operations to the coastal city.

The Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA) has called for or concrete actions to address mental health concerns among health workers.

According to KCOA Secretary General Joseph Chebii the issue of mental health has now become a concern among health workers.

Speaking during the 24th Kenya clinical officers association annual scientific conference held at the Sai Roch hotel Mombasa, Chebii said many health workers go through stress due to poor working conditions, overworking due to shortage of health workers in health facilities and lack of resources.

"In the past three months we have buried four of our members from clinical medicine department. The issue of our colleagues taking their own lives through suicide has now become a major concern to us and it needs urgent and concrete action to address to it." said Chebii.

Adding " We have a problem with issues of mental illness and this one is attributed to many factors including work stress, alcoholism and drug abuse."

Chebii called on the government to come up with a special taskforce and policies to address the issue before it escalates further.

"We have been having an issue with the CBC and we saw the government forming a special taskforce to address it, we also want a taskforce be gazetted and address the issue of health workers. " charged Chebii.

His sentiments were echoed by KCA president Albert Taity who also emphasized on the need for more resources to be channeled to the health sector by both national and county governments.

"I think it is important to note that most of the counties have not been meeting the 15% of the budgetary allocation to health out of their resources according to the Abuja declaration. We want to also push the national government to devolve more resources to to the counties because health is now a devolved function." said Tiaty.

Adding" The other thing we also need to do is to think about the general welfare or our health workers. Health workers are the software of the system, even if you have the best gadget but poor software it can never work.

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.