Over 2,000 workers have been left jobless after Mombasa's giant apparel firm EPZ Simba apparel closed one of its production unit in Changamwe.

The workers have been on strike for the last one week.

The management of the firm has accused the workers of staging "illegal strike" since September 9 following the internal fight between the two shop stewards of their union.

They also accuse the workers of failing to honour two return to work agreements.

According to the first return to work agreement signed by TTWU Deputy General Secretary Ezra Ojuka, John Ngari (National Organizing Secretary), Odengo Otieno (Branch Secretary), Collis Omondi (Deputy Shop Steward)  Damaris Munyao Chef Shop Steward and Meshak Mwanganji., the workers were supposed to resume work on September 13 but they failed to turn up.

“We decided to shut down the factory because the workers have refused to honor two return-to-work agreements we signed with their representatives,” said the firm in a statement.

The proprietors also pointed out that they recorded loss of Sh20 million due to its failure to export 100,000 garments to the USA.

They also accuse a local politician of fueling the unrest in the workers.

“Since September 9 the workers have staged an illegal strike due to internal in-fight between two shop stewards of the union which is supporters by local politicians,” said the firm.

Today the workers led by chief shop steward Meshack Mwangangi held a protest.

They said they  called for a strike after gang attacked some of the workers inside the factory.

The workers are demanding their jobs back.

September 12 of every calendar year ushers in new year in Ethiopia, according to their Orthodox calendar.

Ethiopians living in Mombasa joined their fellow country men in celebrating the new year also known as Enkutatash.

The celebrations were held at the Sheba club led by the Ethiopia ambassador to Kenya Meles Alem. Kisauni Mp Ali Mbogo was also present during the celebrations.

Enkutatash which literary means “a gift of jewel to your finger” marks the Ethiopian New Year based on the Coptic calendar of Julian calculation. It signifies the end of the rainy season and the ushering in of the sunny one.

The tradition goes back 3,000 years as it was started to commemorate the Queen of Sheba of ancient Ethiopia and Yemen who visited King Solomon of Israel in Jerusalem.

During the celebration in Mombasa, the proprietor of Sheba club Wondwossen Kassie was also unveiled as the Ethiopia's cultural ambassador.

There is an eight-year gap between Ethiopian calendar and that of the one adopted by the rest of the world which follows the Gregorian calendar.

The Luo community residing in the coast region under the umbrella of Ramogi Welfare have refuted claims their focus is on the 2022 presidential succession battle.

They said the welfare's strategic plan has nothing to do with the battle to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta but the economic welfare of members.

Led by Mombasa county government chief of staff Joab Odhiambo Tumbo they said their five year strategic plan is beyond the 2022 general elections.

He said the strategic plan from 2019 to 2023 focuses on the economic empowerment of the members and the realisation of sustainable development.

"Let's unite and strengthen the community members apart from the cultural funeral gatherings in the region," he pointed out.

He spoke when he presided over the launch of the welfare community's five year strategic plan held at the Mombasa Women’s hall in Mvita constituency, Mombasa county.

The county chief of staff cautioned their critics they won’t allow the welfare to be used as a political vehicle for the 2022 polls.

Tumbo, who was accompanied by Mombasa County Executive for Devolution and Public Service Administration Seth Odhiambo Odongo, vowed he will ensure the welfare is not used as a stepping stone to politics.

He reiterated the welfare will not allow itself to be used as a campaign tool for the 2022 general election in the region.

"The welfare's strategic plan has nothing to do with the next polls," he pointed out.

On his part, Seth urged the community to engage in constructive politics which will empower them than politics of division which will ruin them.

He advised the community that they will succeed and prosper if they unite and speak with one  voice in the region.

Ramogi Welfare Community chairperson Ishmael Ochola has acknowledged the formation of the members' welfare was started in 2004 with the sole agenda of organizing funeral gatherings for transportation of the deceased for burial but assured them they want to transform the outfit to focus on economic empowerment of members.

He said since he took over he has been able to offset the minibus loan through a funds drive and they have plans to acquire a second minibus.

Ochola said they have identified a plot to put up a multi-purpose hall for generating income and they are targeting to recruit almost 30,000 members in the next five years.

"Before the implementation of the five year plan we will establish a Savings and Credit Cooperative (Sacco) initiative to empower members,’’ he pointed out.

Cabinet has today announced an immediate ban on adoption of children by foreign nationals. 

A special Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta and attended by Deputy President William Ruto also directed the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to formulate a new policy document to regulate the adoption of children by foreign nationals in Kenya.

The meeting also directed the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to streamline operations of the Child Welfare Society of Kenya and those of children homes in the country.

On infrastructure, the Cabinet approved Kshs 6.9 billion for the development of an Inland Container Depot, Railway Marshalling Yard, Logistics Zone and Public Utility Area as well as other core enabling infrastructure to support the development of the Naivasha Special Economic Zone and the impending completion of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) phase 2A.

The Cabinet also approved the hosting of the upcoming Nairobi Summit of the 25^th International Conference on Population and Development  (ICPD 25).

The summit that will be held from 12^th to 14^th November 2019 is expected to attract over 6,000 delegates from 179 countries. The summit is set to project a positive image and solidify the country’s position as an ideal conference and aviation hub, a move that will boost Kenya’s tourism sector.

Deputy President William Ruto will make a five-day tour of the Coast region starting with Tana River on Thursday this week.            

The development tour will cover Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa and Taita Taveta Counties.

Today, Dr Ruto will be in Tana River where he will inspect KoraKora Canal Water project and the coconuts and cashew nuts projects in Bura.

His visit comes only three days after President Kenyatta toured the region, where he stayed for five days. His son Nick Ruto was also in Mombasa few days ago where he attended a volleyball tournament in Jomvu. 

The National Irrigation Board project on the cashew nuts and coconuts allows it to give farmers seedlings for free.

Bura MP Ali Wario said the project would go a long way in empowering farmers who have in the past suffered from poor production due to use of low quality seedlings.

“The diversification to cashew nuts and coconuts assures the public of an income. This will address the unemployment challenge among youths in this region,” noted Mr Wario 

The Deputy President will also open a livestock market in Garsen, a move that aims at turning the activity into a commercial venture.

On Friday, Dr Ruto will be in Kilifi County where he is expected to  commission the Baricho Lot Three water pipeline that is poised to bring  stability in the supply of the commodity in the entire Coastal region.

The Deputy President will thereafter launch several Last Mile projects in various towns, including Kilifi, Mtwapa, Rabai and Malindi.

In Mombasa, he will launch a Sh300-million sewerage works in Changamwe funded by the African Development Bank.

He will also attend a church fundraising in Mikindani on Saturday where he will be hosted by the area Mp Badi Twalib.

Dr Ruto will also launch a Sh500-million works to reconstruct a dam washed away by floods in Pemba, Kwale.

Curtains on the extensive tour of the region will be drawn in Taita Taveta on Monday next week when he will launch several pans in the county.

At the same time, Dr Ruto will inspect the rehabilitation of the Njoro Kubwa Irrigation Scheme.

Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) has launched a new alcoholic beverage – Sikera Premium Apple Cider. The innovation is a distinctly light and refreshing, premium drink delivering a perfectly balanced for a drinking experience.

A cider is an alcoholic beverage typically made from crushed apples. Available from today in bars and restaurants - and best served chilled - Sikera Premium Apple Cider comes in a 300ml bottle pack with an Alcohol by Volume (ABV) of 4.5 percent and at a recommended price (RRP) of Kshs 150. 

Speaking at the launch event in Mombasa, KBL Managing Director Mrs. Jane Karuku said KBL’s twin desire of recruiting new consumers and responding to their changing tastes and preferences led to the development of the innovation.

“Sikera’s launch is the result a recently-conducted consumer study on the trends driving the alcohol beverage market in our industry. These consumer insights then informed our innovation efforts extending our cider category, to provide a broader variety to our consumers,” said Mrs. Karuku

She added “This new brand is geared to supporting our business agenda to accelerate growth in our innovation, which has enabled KBL to both recruit new consumers as well as provide a wider variety from around which consumers can build their drinking repertoire.”

EABL Marketing and Innovations Director Graham Villiers-Tuthill, reinforced that Sikera Premium Apple Cider entry into the company’s agenda is to connect with an ever-evolving consumer base through flavoured offerings.

“This new to world brand has been specifically developed to meet the changing consumer palette and consumption behaviour of consumers in Kenya. Sikera is a crisp, light and refreshing apple cider, and early consumer feedback to this fresh new offering has been very positive,” said Villiers-Tuthill.

Sikera Apple Cider will be launched across the country in the coming weeks with expected roll-out to market in the coming days.

KBL has prioritised innovations as one of the company’s key growth pillars, with its innovations contributing 22 per cent of East African Breweries Limited’s revenue in the financial year ending June 2019. Recent innovations include Tusker Cider, Captain Morgan Gold and Black & White.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka clarifies that Jackson Makini, aka CMB Prezzo, intends to vie in Kibra Constituency in 2022 General Elections; not the coming by-election.

Kalonzo ""Today at the Wiper Democratic Movement Headquarters, I received Jackson Ngechu Makini aka CMB Prezzo who joined the Wiper Movement officially. Prezzo intends to vie in Kibra Constituency in the 2022 General Elections."

This comes after reports that Prezzo will take part in the Kibra by election.

Earlier the party national Chairman Chirau Makwere had stated that the party will not take part in the by election.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/1206-wiper-party-will-not-participate-in-the-kibra-by-election-says-makwere

Musician Jackson Ngechu Kimotho Makini commonly known as Prezzo has decided to join the murky waters of politics.

The 'My Gal' hitmaker will be vying  for the Kibra parliamentary by-election seat on a Wiper ticket.

Prezzo was unveiled by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka at the party’s headquarters today.

Over the weekend Prezzo attended the same church service with Kalonzo Musyoka in Nairobi.

He will be battling out with ODM's Bernard Otieno Okoth 'Imran' who is also the brother to the late area Mp Ken Okoth, ANC's Eliud Owalo, footballer McDonald Mariga (Jubilee) among other candidates.

Prezzo becomes the latest Kenyan artist to join politics after Charles Njagua 'Jaguar' who won the Starehe Parliamentary seat in the last election.

Last week Friday (September 6) Africa and the world at large woke up to the news of the death of former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe died at a hospital in Singapore aged 95. Several leaders came out to mourn his death with the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta ordering the national flag be flown at half mast.

Among those who had the opportunity of meeting Mugabe during his days is Mombasa businesman and politician Suleiman Shahbal who has since shared his recount with the leader.

Below is the recount

In 1996, I met President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. He had the demeanor of a headmaster and spoke with a clipped English accent that reminded one of Africans who had lived too long in England. He asked me what I thought of Zimbabwe.

I told him Harare reminded me of Nairobi of the early 1980s when the city was still green and less congested. He asked me what I thought of the land reforms that he was implementing. Zimbabwe was already turning chaotic and the economy was already heading towards the precipice. "Your Excellency, I think it’s the right thing to do, but it could have been done better," I answered. I referred to our own experience with land reforms in Kenya.

"Young man, (he repeatedly referred to me as young man), we fought for independence. Twenty thousand of our people died in the bush. Many of us were jailed for years and our families faced untold miseries. Independence is not having a flag. Independence is having our own land and deciding our own destiny. At independence the British government asked us to wait for 10 years to solve the land issue. I was very unhappy but agreed reluctantly. They promised to help buy out the white farmers.

"After 10 years Margaret Thatcher basically told me she would not honour her government's promise and said it should be a willing buyer-willing-seller arrangement. Young man, do you know that 4,625 white farmers own 80 per cent of the arable land of Zimbabwe? Do you know that they actually farm only 40 per cent of that land? Meanwhile Zimbabweans still have no land?"

The figures shocked me into silence.

I countered back that there was no need to kill white farmers. "Young man," he continued, "since the land acquisitions started, only six farmers have been killed. It’s very sad and unfortunate. I subscribe to the Farmers Almanac (periodical) from South Africa and every month at least 15 white farmers are murdered in South Africa."

He insisted that he had to do what he did because future generations would never forgive him if he did not get back the land for his people. "The blood of 20,000 heroes call out to me for action. I had to do it."

He argued that Zimbabwe was being punished, not because of what he did, but as a warning to South Africa where the problem is even much larger. "If Zimbabwe is successful, then the South Africans will have to follow suit and take over the white farms. Zimbabwe has to be sacrificed to ensure that South African white farms are not taken over."

Of course Mugabe was right. If he had not forced the issue, Zimbabweans would still not own their land. Because Zimbabwe became such a mess, Nelson Mandela and his men ended up accepting so many political and economic compromises that to date the land issue has not been solved.

No wonder Julius Malema and his Economic Freedom Party are rising in popularity. Zimbabwe has paid the price for the compromises that Mandela was forced to accept. There is a sense that the political freedom of South Africa did not bring the desired economic changes that the proletariat wanted and expected.

The xenophobia that we see today is the poor hitting back at other Africans who they feel have "stolen" their opportunities. When a whole generation feels it has no hope, then they start hitting out at any perceived enemy. Let this be a warning to us too, in Kenya, when thousands of graduates lose hope in finding jobs and a future.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Mugabe, the former school teacher, improved the education of his people so much that today Zimbabweans are among the most educated people in Africa. They work as professionals all over the world.

However, Mugabe the freedom fighter became the repressive tyrant. He jailed his compatriots like Joshua Nkomo, sent in troops to violently sort out the Ndebele tribe. The land reforms became land grabs for his closest supporters. Sanctions led to massive corruption and economic mismanagement that finally destroyed that beautiful country.

Mugabe, despite all the problems that he created, still managed to win election after election – assisted by some creative accounting. Truthfully, despite the rising opposition in the urban areas, Mugabe remained a popular figure in Zimbabwe.

Men have lost kingdoms because of the women they love. Mugabe did the unpardonable sin of allowing bedroom politics into national politics. Perhaps had his wife Grace Mugabe not involved herself in succession politics, Mugabe might have died a president.

Today, as we wait for the hero’s burial, let us recall Shakespeare’s famous words from Julius Caesar: “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I come to bury Caesar not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, the good is often interred with their bones. So let it be with Caesar”.

Unfortunately, as we bury Mugabe, we will remember the evil he left behind. Let us as Africans try to remember the good that he did too.

Back to tell another classic story, multi award-winning Hip-Hop artist, Songwriter and Producer, K.O and Nandi Madida are getting ready to release a sweet love song titled Say U Will.

Five years ago, fans and music lovers alike were treated to K.O and Nandi Madida’s charismatic collaborative effort in the form of Skhanda Love, this year we see them joining forces yet again to bring us their highly sought-after follow-up in Say U Will. 

The song is a classic love story between 2 lovebirds declaring their love and commitment to each other.

If early reviews are anything to go by, the song is set to be yet another winner over this year’s wedding season.

Say U Will carries a similar music theme, classic rap verses; and a melodious Afro RnB chorus.

The new single beautifully paints a forever love and tells the story of always choosing love and each other time and time again.

K.O had this to say about creating Say U Will and working with Nandi Madida again “Working on this song was really very special and purely organic. We wanted to recreate a classic and continue on from the story told on Skhanda Love"

Adding "Once again, the Magic came together naturally between Nandi and I; I am truly excited to share this song with the world and show off Skhanda like never before.”

Listen the song below..