More than 800 pupils from Kitere Primary School are set to benefit from classroom renovations, new desks and piping of clean water within the school, courtesy of the ‘Shine Kenya Shinda Mamilii Kama Bingwa campaign’ grand prize victory.

The renovations and piping will be funded by the extra KES 1 million awarded to Kepher Okoth, the grand prize winner in the campaign.

Mr. Okoth, a 24-year-old motorcycle repair man, was awarded KES 5 million last week, along with an extra KES 1 million meant to support a community project of his choice through the Shine Kenya Shinda Mamilii Kama Bingwa promotion.

To help realize his dream, Safaricom Foundation has contributed an additional KES 1.3 million, bringing the total to KES 2.3 million, to complete the water supply project and install handwashing points for the pupils.

“We designed this campaign in such a way that whoever wins a million shillings and above, received an additional cash from Safaricom Foundation to support community projects of their choice. Kepher Okoth, who was our grand prize winner of KES 5M, received an extra KES 1M and he has chosen to renovate his former primary school.  In addition to the KES 1 million, the Safaricom Foundation has also contributed KES 1.3 million to fully complete the project." said Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, Chief officer, Consumer Business, Safaricom.

Adding "30 more customers from across Kenya, also won KES 1 each, and received an additional KES 250,000 each to support community projects of their choices. This way, the benefits of this promotion extend beyond individual winners to positively impact wider communities,” 

Additionally, the pupils of Kitere Primary school also received school bags crafted from recycled Safaricom billboard materials. This is part of Safaricom’s sustainability program geared towards environmental conservation through recycling.

Meanwhile, Kepher Okoth, the grand prize winner, could not hide his joy as he received a heroic welcome home.

“I want to extend my gratitude to Safaricom, not only for awarding me as the grand prize winner, but also for providing KES 1 million to support my community. I have chosen to support my former primary school by renovating and furnishing a few classrooms and addressing their longstanding water supply challenges. The school has long relied on collected rainwater and students bringing water from home. I believe that starting today, students will no longer need to carry jerrycans of water each morning and afternoon as we once did, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the school,” Okoth said.

For the school management, Okoth’s win is a huge blessing and a relief. “We are deeply grateful to Safaricom and Kepher, one of our former students, for their generous support. We especially appreciate Kepher for choosing to support this school. This generous contribution will be a tremendous blessing, benefiting hundreds of pupils and teachers who have long endured these difficulties,” said John Kennedy Kodongo, Head Teacher, Kitere Primary School.

Other community engagements to be done in Migori county this week as part of this celebration include a medical camp to offer eye care consultations, breast cancer screening, general doctor consultations and child health consultations to residents of Migori.

Patients with Fistula related issues will also get free surgeries courtesy of a free fistula camp. Further, Safaricom will visit hospitals in Migori to distribute mama-packs to new mothers.

Ministers responsible for tourism across the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region have launched the much-anticipated Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (STMP) 2024-2034, marking a transformative step for the region's tourism industry.

The launch ceremony, hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, brought together high-level dignitaries, including the IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, ministers of tourism Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Regional Director Antonio Pedro.

Jointly developed with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the STMP lays out a strategic vision for sustainable tourism across the IGAD member states, aiming to position the region as a competitive and cohesive tourism destination on the global stage.

It further underscores the plan’s role in driving socio-economic growth, reducing poverty, and promoting regional integration.

Speaking at the event, IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu underscored the immense tourism potential of the IGAD region, citing its rich cultural heritage, unique archaeological sites, and diverse natural landscapes.

"Despite these remarkable assets, our region's global tourism share remains limited. The STMP 2024-2034 is a comprehensive response to this challenge. It seeks to attract investment, foster regional cooperation, and establish tourism as a cornerstone of economic development," said Dr. Workneh.

In a significant moment during the event, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, was named IGAD Tourism Champion for a three-year term.

His leadership is expected to play a pivotal role in steering the tourism sector towards sustainability, promoting economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship.

The STMP launch aligns closely with IGAD Vision 2050 and other regional socio-economic frameworks, aiming to cement tourism’s place as a key driver in the IGAD development agenda.

As the IGAD region embarks on this journey, the success of the STMP will rely on the active collaboration of member states, the private sector, civil society, and development partners.

UNECA’s Regional Director reaffirmed the importance of partnership and shared responsibility in ensuring the plan’s success.

Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a 67 per cent decline, the sector has demonstrated its resilience. For Africa, we reached 92 per cent of pre-crisis tourist levels by 2023, contributing significantly to GDP and employment. Moreover, Africa’s travel and tourism market is projected to reach revenues of $23.37 billion by 2024, growing at 7.49 per cent." said Pedro.

Adding " The vision laid out in the Masterplan should not be insurmountable to achieve. It however requires intentional actions that will unlock the capabilities of the tourism sector to drive sustainable growth and development. To begin with, infrastructure development is crucial."

Car & General Trading Limited has introduced Piaggio electric three-wheelers at the Kenyan Coastal city of Mombasa.

The Piaggio Ape Electrik vehicles were unveiled during a flag off ceremony at the Treasury Square in Mombasa.  Ape E-City FX Max for the passenger segment was unveiled.

Currently, Mombasa has close to 15,000 passenger three wheeler units on the road that run on ice engines, making it a key transport mode for the region.

Car & General is the appointed sole distributor of Piaggio three wheelers in Kenya since 2002. Car & General pioneered the use of three-wheelers as taxis in East Africa.

On its part, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (PVPL) is a subsidiary of the Italian Piaggio Group and India’s leading manufacturer of small commercial vehicles as well as pioneers in the three-wheeler electric mobility.

The electric three wheelers were unveiled by David Chesoni, the Managing Director of Car & General and Hon Mohamed Ali Osman, the CECM – Tourism, Trade and Culture of the County Government of Mombasa.

Speaking at the launch, David Chesoni said, “Car & General is committed to its mantra of making our customers smile in every street, in every town with quality products and after-sales services.  This aligns with Piaggio’s philosophy of providing path-breaking last-mile transport solutions, even as we lead Kenya’s three wheeler EV mission. We feel the new range is an entrepreneur’s best bet to reap maximum benefits.”

The vehicles come with low maintenance costs, one year warranty, advanced technology and a long range at 120 kilometers on a full charge.

The electric three wheeler will definitely maximize the earnings of owners ensuring optimum value for customers through better range, grade ability and load-carrying capacity, as well as providing a competitive total cost of ownership. Operating the Piaggio electric three wheeler will save up to KSh 26,000 per month on fuel and service.

On his part Mombasa’s CECM for Tourism, Trade and Culture CECM Mohammed  Osman said, “E-mobility and green energy solutions uptake will cut down emissions thus alleviating challenges of climate change.”

The launch was attended by C&G dealers, corporate customers, financers, local and national government officials, industry associations, among others guests.

Meet Nyabiya Syekei, a talented 12-year-old singer and actor from Nairobi, Kenya, who is making her official music debut with the track, "Jiamini".

Nyabiya will perform this song at the highly anticipated "Our Generation 2024", an international children’s song competition set to take place in Kazan, Russia, from October 5th, 2024.

Nyabiya Syekei is Kenya’s first and only representative at this year’s edition of the competition, which brings together children from over 10 countries worldwide.

"Jiamini," meaning "Believe in Yourself" in Swahili, encourages children to have faith in their dreams and work hard to achieve them. It’s a fitting anthem for a competition designed to celebrate the voices of the next generation.

Watch "Jiamini" by Nyabiya Syekei on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HX6c0x3vzcg 

The song was written by Yviona Reign, with audio production by Motif Di Don and video directed by Rahim from Elixir Nation.

The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) has urged county governments to work closely with the media to help highlight successes achieved in the health sector, in the county levels.

AMWIK Executive Director Queenter Mbori said over the years poor communication has created a vacuum for speculation and propaganda, hindering county governments’ intended outcomes especially in the health sector.

Mbori was speaking during the opening of the three-day USAID-USAWA Co-creation workshop in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

the meeting has brought together County Government and County media representatives from Isiolo, Kakamega, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Nakuru Counties.

“We encourage you to collaborate with the media to showcase your positive work and use the media to address challenges you face, ensuring citizens can benefit from improved services,” said Mbori.

She said that each county has unique dynamics when it comes to health communication, and as such it is crucial for communicators to understand the current state of affairs and the crucial role media plays in disseminating information on matters of health.

The meeting, she said, aims to train and equip county communication teams to enhance their communication efforts to achieve their goals and effectively communicate their impact in the health sector.

"Communication is not just about delivering a message; it is about doing so in a way that resonates with the audience and enabling feedback from them. We aim to equip communicators with the skills they need to develop targeted, culturally relevant, and impactful messages that will drive behavior change and improve health outcomes,” Mbori said.

She further implored on the media that they have a crucial role to play in debunking issues in the health sector and collaborating with counties.

“The discussions we will have during this workshop will be instrumental in shaping how we deliver critical health messages to our communities and help strengthen fiscal accountability and promote health governance,” she said.

Nakuru County chief officer for ICT, E-Government and Public Communication Catherine Changwony in her remarks stated that health communication is a vital tool in ensuring that the right messages reach citizens in a timely, effective manner, especially as county governments address issues critical to public health.

The workshop she said is more than just a meeting saying that it is an opportunity to exchange knowledge, to identify the gaps in current systems, and to work collaboratively towards solutions that are impactful and sustainable.

“Let us use this platform to build stronger ties, innovate solutions, and chart a course toward healthier, more informed communities,” said Changwony.

The united society against fraud, waste and abuse (USAWA) program is being implemented by Transparency International Kenya in partnership with AMWIK , Global compact network Kenya and the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.

The County Government of Mombasa has announced an ambitious plan to carry out free cancer screening for residents across the county.

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the screening will help residents be able to detect cancer at an early stage so that they can commence treatment immediately before it is too late.

The county boss was speaking during the memorial vigil for the late Winnie Bwire alias Dida in the famous Swahili telenovela series ‘Sultana’ who passed away while undergoing cancer treatment in Turkey.

The event hosted at the Little Theatre Club brought together renowned thespians and artists across the country that all came to pay tribute to the late Dida.

"As we are all aware the cancer awareness month is coming up, I am glad to announce to you that the County Government of Mombasa will soon announce a series of free cancer tests to all,’ said Nassir.

The governor urged residents to take advantage of the free screening and testing as a precaution measure to help curb the disease he said has claimed many loved ones.

“Sometimes it is important to be cautious and know your status before so that we can all now be able to curb this menace that has hit a number of people at an alarming rate. Cancer is not something we can joke around with,” Nassir said.

He described the late Dida as a person who loved and was dedicated to her craft and touched the lives of many along her path.

Dida succumbed to cancer last week after battling the decease for close to five years.

"The crowds that are here is a manifestation of who Winnie was. All these people would not be here if the person we are honoring today was not a person who had an impact in many people’s lives,” he said.

The governor also promised to set up a youth studio at the Little Theatre Club to honor the memory of the departed thespian.

Nassir said that while he was Mvita Member of Parliament, he and his team had hatched a plan to set up the studio to nature talents. But, the idea never materialized.

"I am pleading with management of Little Theatre Club to bring back theatre to where it was before. I hereby also want to task the youth mentor Mr. Mahmood Noor and my CECM for youth and sport Ken Ambani to reach out to Little Theatre Club to see how we can turn a conversation around and make a lasting impression that will honor Winnie,” Nassir said.

Sanlam Kenya PLC and the Sanlam Foundation, in partnership with the Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation (GHF) in Kenya have announced a more than Kshs 5.6 million collaborative partnership to alleviate the plight of physically challenged children in Kenya.

This partnership has been enabled by the Allianz Group Social Impact Fund, an integral part of the group’s Corporate Citizenship Strategy to support next generations and persons with disabilities to overcome systematic social risks.

The partnership, which targets more than 300 children, will focus on enhancing social and communication skills, promoting social inclusion, and improving the functional abilities of children with disabilities in Kenya.

By providing such skills and promoting social inclusion, the partnership aims to equip children with disabilities with the tools necessary to prepare them to navigate the local job market confidently in future.

Speaking at the launch of the “Enabling Children with Disabilities for a Brighter Tomorrow project”, Sanlam Kenya PLC Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nyamemba Patrick Tumbo, said the initiative will integrate tailored occupational therapy interventions, sports and art activities for the inaugural cohort of more than 50 children, enhancing their functional abilities, independence, and overall quality of life.

“Ultimately, the programme aims to foster social inclusion and acceptance, positioning children with disabilities to participate in educational and vocational opportunities, thus enhancing their employability prospects,” Dr Tumbo said.

During the launch event, Ms Nozizwe Vundla, Head of the Sanlam Foundation, said the Foundation’s mandate is to be the custodian of Sanlam’s legitimacy as a responsible corporate citizen in Kenya and across Africa.

“To create shared value in Africa, the Sanlam Foundation drives increased positive social impact and helps protect Sanlam’s reputation as a trusted, relevant organisation that is part of the fabric of the societies within which the Group operates,” Ms Vundla said.

She added: “In Kenya, we want to be at the forefront of transformation in the financial sector and support communities to live with confidence through empowerment initiatives like the Gertrude Hospital Foundation/Sanlam Enabling Children with Disabilities for a Brighter Tomorrow project.”

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital CEO, Dr. Robert Nyarango, reiterated that the Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation aims to enhance the independence and economic potential of children with disabilities in Kenya by developing their social and functional skills.

He expressed regret that, in Kenya, persons with disabilities (PWDs) face significant barriers to accessing formal employment despite existing incentives to encourage more inclusion.

Said Dr Nyarango: “The Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation’s paediatric health intervention programs deliver diagnostic, treatment and care services at no cost, particularly to children in hard-to-reach areas of Kenya. Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation’s mission is to improve access to quality healthcare services for disadvantaged children in Kenya and Eastern Africa through the integration of care, research, education, and technology."

Adding "The Foundation believes that expanding access to quality healthcare can significantly enhance the developmental prospects of every child.”

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and other stakeholders involved in the war on drug abuse have been challenged to step up efforts in the war.

According to Mombasa youth leader, Evans Momanyi many youths in the country especially at the Coast are still suffering from the menace.

"The efforts put towards fighting this vice in our society are still not enough, we are everyday seeing more youths getting into drugs" said Momanyi.

Adding " It is high time all stakeholders come together and step up the efforts or else we will still be complaining everyday that our youth are destroying their future. we also need to address the source of these drugs."

Momanyi called for more civic education urging parents to also take the responsibility of good upbringing to their children.

"As parents we must be readyy to talk to our children. our county governments must also initiate programs that are geared towards preventing this vice,we will have nowhere to go if we as a society if we do not address this ." he charged.

Early this year during  the Illicit Alcohol And Drug Eradication Conference in Mombasa, Nacada Coast regional manager George Karisa said that, according to their research, drug use starts at a young age of 10 years.

Karisa revealed that the Coast region has really been affected and that at least 13,000 people use heroin adding that 29.3 per cent of people are using different drugs, including alcohol.

According to statistics from NACADA Mombasa leads in hard drugs and substance usage, bhang and prescription drugs that people are using without doctors advice.

At least 18,000 people are using injectable drug users.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Kenya's main airport as workers strike in protest at a planned takeover by an Indian business group, Adani

Among those caught up in the middle of the strike at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki.

The Senator was accompanying his relative to Mumbai, India for medical check up.

"I was traveling to Mumbai to take my relative for a heart check up, we were to travel with the 6am flight but we are still stranded here" said faki.

Adding" The sad thing is that no any government official even the minister has come here to try and solve the issue and assure us about our travels. All the cafeterias have closed in solidarity with the workers, so we have not even eaten."

The Senator called on the government to listen and solve the grievances raised by the airport workers.

"If they will not find a solution then let the government do away the deal with Adani" argued Faki.

Workers at the airport launched a "go-slow" on Wednesday mid-night where staff deliberately work slowly to cause disruption - in a stand against proposals to lease JKIA to the Adani group for 30 years.

The strike was also experienced in other areas like Mombasa and Kisumu.