Mombasa City has been ranked among the wealthiest cities in the World.

According to a report published by Henley & Partners and intelligence firm New World Wealth, Mombasa has a total of 700 High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and only 2 centi-millionaires, there is no any dollar billionaire who lives in Mombasa. The report also adds that the number High-Net-Worth Individuals in Mombasa grew by 33 percent in the past decade.

The report covers the population data of High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in 97 cities across nine regions namely; Africa, Australasia, CIS, East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Kenya's capital Nairobi is ranked as the fifth wealthiest city in Africa after Johannesburg, Cairo, Cape Town and Lagos.

The report states that Nairobi has 4700 High-Net-Worth Individuals, individuals with investable wealth of USD 1 million (Ksh134 million) or more.

Nairobi also has a total of 11 centi-millionaires, persons with investable wealth over USD 100 million (Ksh.13 billion). No dollar billionaires live in Nairobi.

The report further states that High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in the city growing by 30 percent from between 2012 and 2022.

Globally, New York City was ranked the world's wealthiest city with a total of 340,000 HNWIs, 724 centi-millionaires and 58 dollar billionaires. Tokyo, Bay Area in USA , London and Singapore are also among the top five wealthiest cities in the world according to the report.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has urged President William Ruto ensure that cases of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearance in the country are a thing of the past.

Nassir who was speaking during an iftar dinner hosted by President William Ruto at state house Nairobi on Monday evening said many families especially at the Coast have had to live with the pain of losing their family members through extra judicial killings and disappearance.

"As a member of parliament for two terms I had to see the faces of parents whose Children had mysteriously disappeared, I had to explain to them the agony of every single Tuesday and Thursday trying to produce statements and calling Cabinet secretaries to provide answers as to why all these levels of injustices were being done. I left parliament after serving for two terms with no answers on the hundreds that I represented" said Nassir.

Adding " I wish not to be in a similar situation as a governor or a parent to see the face of a parent not knowing the fate of their children whether they are alive or dead, whether they will be able to appear or they have permanently disappeared. And I wish that is the one of the legacies that you will be able to leave in this country for future generous to emulate that we can be able to have justice without necessarily to judge people by virtue of their colour of skin or religious practices."

Nassir also called on the government to ensure that it firmly deals with the issue of drug abuse.

"I speak this as a parent, If there is something that disturbs us is the effect of drug abuse in the population. Make sure that you empower the police officers so that we can flush out all those who are doing all these crime" said Nassir.

He further called on President Ruto to appoint the commissioners of the Wakf foundation.

Global Citizen, the world’s leading international advocacy organization has announced the recipients of this year's prestigious Global Citizen Prize and the Cisco Youth Leadership Award.

The awards honor young, trailblazing changemakers who are profoundly impacting their local communities in the fight to end extreme poverty, demand equity and protect the planet, in line with Global Citizen’s campaign to End Extreme Poverty Now.

The award recipients will be honored at a prestigious ceremony taking place during the Global Citizen NOW action summit at The Glasshouse in New York City on Thursday April 27, 2023.

The ceremony will be hosted by Actress, Humanitarian, and Global Citizen Ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha and feature appearances by Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Chair of Global Citizen’s European Board of Directors and United Nations IFAD Goodwill Ambassador; Padma Lakshmi, Producer, TV Host, Author and Activist; Bridget Moynahan, Global Citizen Ambassador; and Erna Solberg, Former Prime Minister of Norway, and will feature performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Chloe Flower, and Samara Joy. 

The Global Citizen Prize celebrates individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to achieving the United Nations Global Goals by keeping the world's poor at the forefront of their campaigns, and recognizes unsung activists who champion and elevate the most vulnerable in their local communities.

This year, the Global Citizen Prize highlights activists across four categories: Climate Change, Civic Space, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Food Security.

The recipients will receive a year-long programme of support from Global Citizen, together with a donation to their organization. Proud Global Partners of the Global Citizen Prize 2023 include Cisco, Citi and P&G.
 
The Global Citizen Prize 2023 awardees are:

Deja Foxx, Activist and Founder of GenZ Girl Gang, from the U.S.

Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Global Coordinator and Cofounder, Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, from Rwanda;

Pashtana Durrani, Social and Political Rights Activist, Executive Director, LEARN Afghanistan, from Afghanistan;

Wangari Kuria, Founder and CEO of Farmer on Fire Ltd, from Kenya.

The Cisco Youth Leadership Award was established in 2018 by Cisco and Global Citizen to celebrate an individual aged between 18-30 who has contributed meaningfully towards the goal of ending extreme poverty in their community, through their leadership, dedication, and innovation.

The prize winner will receive a US$250,000 grant to their organization to enable its continued growth.

Candidates were judged, by a panel including representatives from Global Citizen, Cisco, esteemed activists and leaders in the international development field, against five equally-weighted criteria, including impact, vision, catalyst, global citizenship, and technology innovation.

This year’s Cisco Youth Leadership Award recipient is Nkosana Butholenkosi Masuku, Founder and CEO of Phenomtech-Sciency Learning, from Zimbabwe.

A Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teacher working at a rural school, Nkosana created Sciency Learning as a result of the lack of resources for teaching STEM in Zimbabwe’s rural communities.

Sciency's objective is to provide low-cost STEM education to students across Zimbabwe in a bid to reduce dropout rates and advance STEM development across the country.

Nkosana is an alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and an award-winning entrepreneur.

“STEM education is critical for opening doors of opportunity, and Nkosana’s vital work utilizing innovative technology to offer STEM learning to rural schools across Zimbabwe is transformative,'' said Fran Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer of Cisco.

Adding  “Investing in education reaps a lifetime of benefits, not only for children but also for their communities. The work of young leaders like Nkosana is helping to usher in a more inclusive future by empowering youth in Africa and around the world to thrive in the digital economy.”

“It is an honor to recognize these inspirational, young changemakers who are advancing the fight to end extreme poverty,” said Liza Henshaw, President, Global Citizen. 

Adding “The world needs innovators who will courageously pursue positive change in their local communities, and inspire others to action through their ingenuity.”

On Sunday, 16 April, Netflix hosted the premiere of Queen Charlotte at the Quoin Rock Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.

Netflix celebrated the upcoming show, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, with an exclusive gathering that saw renowned actors, social media influencers and personalities dressed to the nines with a hint of afro chic.

The event brought out the African Ton - a glittering array of stars from Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and South Africa.

Queen Charlotte herself, Golda Rosheuvel, was in attendance, along with the Young Lady Danbury, Arsema Thomas. Both stars wore creations by South African designers.

Kenya’s Catherine Kamau, Nikita Kering, Azziad Nasenya, Mammito Eunice, Joy Kendi and Tanzania’s Idris Sultan were among the esteemed guests summoned to the exclusive gathering,

Queen Charlott, a Bridgerton Story is a prequel spin-off about Queen Charlotte, a fan-favourite character from Bridgerton.

The series premieres worldwide on May 4, only on  Netflix. 

East African Legislative Assembly member Hassan Omar on Sunday launched a scathing attack on opposition leader Raila Odinga saying the Azimio leader is not above the leader.

Omar called on Odinga to stop 'inciting' Kenyans to demonstrate against the government saying it is high time that he (Raila) accepts the fact that he lost the elections.

"I have fought for human rights for a very long time, I was also in the streets. Raila Odinga is not above the law, the country has spoken that William Ruto is the president in the most fair, trusted and transparent elections in the country and it is high time that Raila accepts this" said Omar.

Adding " Your right to protest does not extend to the right to topple a legitimate elected government. Enough is enough. This cycle of Raila Odinga must be broken".

Speaking during an Iftar dinner at the Serani grounds, Omar who is also the UDA Vice Chairman called on Mombasa residents to ignore calls by Odinga for demonstrations after the end of Ramadhan.

"Do not agree to go the streets, if you go to the streets tourists will cancel their bookings in our hotels and it is our sons and daughters who will suffer for lack of jobs" argued Omar.

Last week Odinga announced that the weekly anti-government demonstrations will resume after Ramadhan.

Speaking during the Azimio coalition town hall meeting held in Ufungamano House on Thursday, April 13, Raila claimed that the decision was made after a consultative meeting with other leaders allied to the coalition due to lack of seriousness from the government regarding proposed bipartisan talks.

Buxton Point has started the handing over process of the Sh6 billion modern and affordable housing project to homeowners.

The delivery of the units will be done on a sectional basis with the first one targeted for the handing over being District C. Phase 1 has District A, B and C with a total of 584 units.

Speaking during a tree planting exercise at Buxton point on Saturday, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir demanded for a clear tenant purchase scheme for Buxton estate tenants before the projects are completed and tenants are let in.

Nassir noted that failure to resolve the matter amicably has continued to raise concerns from buyers and those who were evicted to pave way for the project.

“As we plant trees, I want to urge the developer, Suleiman Shahbal, before the first tenants occupy their houses, to finalise every tenant purchase agreement possible, so that we will ensure people own houses, “said Nassir.

Nassir said the matter has escalated to the senate, where he is expected to appear before the senate to shed light on the project implementation.

Former Buxton tenants have often complained about what they termed as unclear tenant purchase deals.

“I raised this matter in the parliament, and also going to answer questions in the senate, and we need to address this process so that we can ensure there is no victimization,” said Nassir urging his executives to ensure actualization of the project.

At the same time the governor said he is working on a plan that will see all other former tenants get units in the redeveloped Buxton Point Apartments.

The plan involves trying to negotiate a tenant purchase scheme with financial institutions for the 346 tenants who were not county employees.

“I have written a letter to the state department of housing that the government should chip in and ensure that those who don’t have houses get houses,” said Nassir.

He further stated that the 176 county employees who were former tenants at Buxton estate will have the scheme.

He added” Nobody will stay without a house, we want to talk to the government to ensure a purchase scheme favours employees of the county government, so that by the time they retire they own a house,” said Nassir.

Suleiman Shahbal, the brains behind the project, said Mombasa has now become a benchmark destination on matters of housing and urban development following the construction of the Buxton Point project.

He said the sold-out Phase 1, which has 584 units, will change the narrative about social and affordable housing in Mombasa and Kenya at large. Phase 2 of the project will have 1,300 units, which are currently on sale.

Shahbal said Mombasa should be proud that it is the pioneer of housing projects. He said the Buxton point has benefitted over 3000 people and over 30 companies. He said the project is nearing completion.

“Mortgage is high and we know many people can’t afford it, to pay it, but we are in collaboration with the president to ensure we reduce the mortgage so that people can afford to pay,” said Shahbal.

Former Mombasa mayor said politics should not derail any development. He said Shahbal was able to navigate through political interference to put up the multi-Million project.

Young people at the Coast and country at large have been urged to take up maritime training courses to acquire skills that would enable them to tap on the job opportunities in the Blue Economy.

Shipping and Maritime Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime on Saturday said there are alot of opportunities in the blue economy sector that the youth can exploit noting that the government has already started opening up the sector.

Mwadime revealed that the government through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has set aside a revolving fund of Ksh 20 million to be availed strictly to students pursuing maritime careers.

"One of our objectives is to establish as many job opportunities  as possible in the blue economy and we have gone full throttle. We have tried as much as we can even with liaising with international shipping lines to ensure we get this job opportunities and slots available, we are competing with other countries like Philippiness which is way above us" said Mwadime.

Adding " I want to encourage as many young people as possible particularly graduates who are tarmacking out there to realize that we can convert them to seafarers, we have Bandari maritime college and other institutions offering maritime courses, so if for example one has done electrical engineering we can be able to absorb them to work as electricians at shipping companies after going through the trainings. Someone who has done mechanical engineering one can go for a conversion course at Jomo Kenyatta university to convert into a marine engiineer because that is where opportunities are available as it is."

Speaking during an interview with Blue Radio in Mombasa, Mwadime also noted that the government is intending to convert the Bandari maritime academy into a regional centre of excellence.

Mwadime charged "We will invest heavily in terms of infrastructure, equipements. Our students will become the best in terms of maritime issues in the region. In the next 10 or 15 years that is what we are intending to achieve." 

The PS also noted that ministry is planning to change the regulations on maritime training to ensure that sea time experience is part of the maritime course.

"Sea time experience is very critical, it goes hand in hand with theory, and therefore we are going to change the regulations so that we insist that the institutions that offer the courses have a memorandum of understanding with the international shipping companies so that our young people can have that experience. The minimum is just one year in the sea, that qualifies you to join the international market in a competitive way so that you are able to secure the high end job" Mwadime noted. 

The Kenya Ports Authority has donated food items to members of the Muslim community in Kwale county.

KPA Chairman Benjamin Tayari presided over the distribution of the donation worthy 1 million, on Thursday.

The donation will benefit over 500 families in the larger Kwale county.

The food items distributed include maize and wheat flour, rice, cooking oil and beans.

"This exercise will be carried out in all the Coast counties. As KPA we have a special CSI program that implements community programs with a focus on the areas of Education, Health & Environmental conservation, sports and humanitarian causes." said Tayari.

Adding "As KPA we will continue with these program, next month we will be in Taita Taveta county for a free medical campaign".

On Wednesday, KPA managing director Captain William Ruto flagged off the consignment at the KPA headquarters with each county expected to receive food items worth Sh1 million.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/people/item/3284-kpa-donates-food-items-worth-sh3-million-to-muslims-in-mombasa-kwale-and-lamu

"KPA espouses care as a fundamental value in our operations, business relations and communion relations and that is why we believe in partnership and extending a helping hand to the community" said Ruto.

Mombasa has been ranked among the top 5 preferred destination for UK holidaymakers.

According to the Holiday Money Report 2023 released by the UK’s Post Office, Mombasa was named as the 4th most cost-effective destination among the 40 global locations which were considered.

Mombasa comes after South Africa’s Cape Town, Turkey’s Marmaris and Sunny Beach in Bulgaria.

Mombasa was ranked seventh position in the last year(2022)  survey.

The survey, which picked eight items as representatives of purchases that UK tourists are likely to make while visiting, found that the average spend in Mombasa would be €58.3 (Sh8,500) per day compared to €198.4 (Sh28,924) in Reykjavik, Iceland, which came last in the list.

Among the items sampled in the survey are a three-course meal for two with a glass of wine, a cup of coffee, a bottle of local beer, a can of cola, a bottle of still water, sun cream and insect repellent.

The study also noted that the cost of tourism has significantly gone up in some parts of the world such as Costa Rica and Mauritius.

The devaluation of the Kenyan shilling has also made vacations cheaper for tourists with stronger currencies.

Beautiful Beaches, Rich Culture and History, Wildlife Safari, Water Sports and Activities, Mouth-watering Cuisine,  are among features that make Mombasa a preferred tourist destination.