President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced the creation of a peace and environment award dubbed “Amani and Mazingira Global Award” as part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The President said the bi-annual award, which will be sponsored by the Government and the people of Kenya, will be given to persons or institutions that champion environmental sustainability and peace.

“It will be accompanied by a monetary award of USD 20,000 and the first awardee will be announced on the 1st of June this year, which is our Madaraka or Republic Day,” the President said.

The Head of State spoke on Thursday at the UNEP headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, when he presided over celebrations to mark the 50 anniversary of the global environment body.

Held under the theme "Strengthening UNEP for the implementation of the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, the anniversary celebrations came a day after the conclusion of the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5).

The President applauded UNEP for boldly championing the global environment conservation agenda since its establishment in 1972.

He said for over 50 years UNEP has galvanized collective action to protect the environment by progressively leading the world to understand the centrality of the environment in human existence.

“This journey has not been easy.  It has required UNEP to provide technical, diplomatic and political leadership in the development of the core concept of sustainable development; and more importantly, to build ownership of these concepts at the national level,” the President said.

The President pointed out that it has required UNEP to define and enforce rules and procedures for protecting the environment such as limiting emissions of gases or stopping endangered species from becoming extinct.

“Through its scientifically driven agenda, UNEP has established a credible platform for countries to come together and act boldly to advance the global environmental agenda,” he said.

He commended the leadership of the United Nations and the UNEP family for remaining steadfast and focused on implementing UNEP’s core mandate.

President Kenyatta also singled out former Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN, the late Amb. Jowi Odera, for playing an instrumental role in ensuring that UNEP finds a home in Nairobi.

“Equally worthy of recognition is the first UNEP Executive Director, the late Mr Maurice Strong. Mr Strong played a central leadership role in defining the character of the United Nations Environment Programme and in leading the Earth Summit, which is recognized as one of the most consequential UNEP conferences,” the President said.

The President also paid tribute to the late Prof Wangari Maathai for championing homegrown solutions to combat environmental degradation.

At the same time, President Kenyatta assured of Kenya’s  commitment to environmental sustainability, saying it is anchored in the country’s economic blueprint, the Kenya Vision 2030.

The President added that Kenya is proud to be the only UN headquarters in the global South, terming it an honour that the country appreciates and protects.

“Today, I am pleased to report that we will provide land for the development of humanitarian and logistics hubs in three locations in Kenya, namely Naivasha, Nairobi and Mombasa.

“We have further provided land for the creation of a diplomatic enclave adjacent to the United Nations Office at Nairobi complex,” President Kenyatta said. 

To enhance efficiency in the administration of diplomatic privileges, the President said his Government has developed an integrated protocol management information system (IPMIS).

The system creates an automated one-stop-shop for tax exemptions, staff registration, issuance of diplomatic ID cards, registration and transfer of motor vehicles among other online services.

During the event, President Kenyatta invited the delegates to two key environment meetings – Stockholm +50 and the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon – which Kenya will co-host later this year with Sweden and Portugal respectively.

Speaking at the event, Presidents Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana) and Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria) commended Kenya for providing exemplary leadership in environmental conservation and combating climate change.

Other speakers included Morocco’s Energy Transition and Sustainable Development minister Leila Benali who is also the incoming President of UNEA 6 and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.

Mombasa governor aspirant Suleiman Shahbal says he will present a memorandum of understanding to the Orange Democratic Party ODM party leadership demanding clarity in the preparation for the party nominations in Mombasa.

Shahbal says he will draft a letter and mobilize ODM supporters to storm the Party offices demanding an explanation from the ODM party to explain how the party is prepared to hold nominations in Mombasa so as to avert any irregularities in the whole process.

The governor contestant raised fears that some candidates may be treated special during the process under the disguise of being too loyal to the party.

Shahbal is competing for the ODM party ticket to contest for Mombasa governor against Mvita Mp Abdulswamand Nassir and Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi.

“I want to prepare a memorandum, articulating point by point all the things that we want from ODM party nominations. We want free, fair and credible party nominations so that after nominations the party remains united,” said Shahbal.

Shahbal said the party had not done enough to assure aspirants of a fair nomination process noting that this might affect the strength of the ODM party in the county.

“Mombasa is divided between team project and team Shahbal. And team Shahbal stands for change, change must come in Mombasa, because we are tired,” he said

Adding “Under no circumstances, will we allow the nominations of Mombasa to be controlled or rigged by anyone,”

Shahbal also said that time is long gone, when some individuals would impose candidates on electorates in Mombasa.

The two times governor contestant said he is aware of a plot to implant some leaders he regarded as projects to be elected for political positions.

 “There are some people here in Mombasa who have a tendency of choosing leaders for us, we have seen it all over from the governor seat, my friend in Mombasa that will be no more. I have been in the race and I witnessed it, but the 2013 Shahbal you knew is not the same as 2022,” he said.

He was speaking after meeting various ODM party aspirants at Wesley Hall in Mombasa on Thursday, where he urged the aspirants to do extensive campaigns for his candidature.

It’s the beginning of March, and the first couple of months of the new year have already gone by, and your bill and bank statements can no longer be ignored.

But if you broke the holiday budget in December, don't panic: there are some simple steps you can take to start improving your finances and restore your credit score to better health.

It’s important to realise that you’re not alone. The World Bank’s ongoing survey on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19^[2], in collaboration with the Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), found that employment shocks in Kenya due to the pandemic created a huge reduction in earnings and that more than one in four households surveyed were seeking additional income generative activities in April to June 2021.

Joseph Nyaga, Chief Operations Officer (COO) at TransUnion Kenya, shares his top 5 tips to get 2022 off on the right financial footing.

Budget, budget, budget

The only way to get on top of your finances and avoid overspending in 2022 is to create an effective budget. It doesn’t have to be complicated: list your monthly income and your monthly expenses.

Once you’ve allocated the fixed expenses, like your home loan, school fees and credit card payments, you can set realistic budgets, says Nyaga.

Save something for a rainy day

Try to put aside a portion of your salary to pay for any unexpected financial crises, such as health emergencies or a major repair on your car or a household appliance.

That way, you’ll avoid having to access expensive credit to deal with unexpected expenses.

“It’s tough to save right now. But start small: even 5% of your monthly income can help you build up a nest egg that adds up over time. If you pay yourself first, it’s also easier,” says Nyaga.

Pay down your debts

Prioritise your debts. Pay your most expensive debts first. If you can, pay more than the minimum balance owing each month, or you’ll end up paying more interest than you have to.

If you’re going to battle to make all your payments, it’s vital that you speak to your lenders and restructure your loan repayments where possible.

Once you default on a payment, it affects your credit score negatively, and will hurt your chances of getting credit in the future.

Change your spending habits

It’s vital to manage your exposure to credit carefully. Make sure you pay off your full balance owing on your credit card every month. And if you want that fancy new big-screen TV, save up for it.

“If you’re financially stressed right now, you want to start planning how to avoid feeling the same next year. Your stress levels will thank you in 12 months’ time!” says Nyaga.

Get your latest credit report

Your credit report lists your current credit accounts, including credit cards, home, car and student loans. You can download your credit report for free once every 12 months from TransUnion and other credit bureaus in the country.

You can also request a credit report or access your Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) clearance certificate through TransUnion’s Nipashe, which allows consumers to easily access their credit information through SMS. Your first clearance certificate is free.

Mombasa county governor aspirant Suleiman Shahbal’s wife, Rahma Shahbal has asked women in Mombasa to vote in a governor who understands the plight of women.

Addressing women at Salvation Army hall in Likoni, Rahma said women in Mombasa County have suffered for a long time due to bad leadership.

“if it’s the pain of being a parent I know it,I have suffered like any other woman and therefore if my husband gets elected, he will ensure he focuses on the plight of women, “said Rahma.

Rahma has come out to publicly campaign for her husband who is seeking to be elected as the governor for the third time after losing two times.

“My women, I want to urge you to come out in large numbers, I know what you are going through, because I was there, I came from a very humble background, before I met my husband,” she stated.

Businessman Suleiman Shahbal has said he does not fear any competitor in the race to succeed Governor Hassan Joho.

Shahbal is fighting it out with Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and deputy governor William Kingi for the ODM ticket to vie for the county’s top seat.

Others in the race for Joho’s seat include Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo and former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar.The hopefuls have upped their campaigns as they sell their agendas to the Mombasa electorate.

Shahbal has often stated that Joho is the toughest politician in Mombasa and he twice gave him a run for his money in 2013 and 2017.

Global Afropop star Yemi Alade has been appointed Global Ambassador for #ItsUpToUs— a pan African campaign driven by the Africa CDC and Mastercard Foundation.

The campaign encourages Africans to unite and get vaccinated against COVID-19. The announcement was marked by the release of a campaign video featuring the singer.

#ItsUpToUs comes at a critical time in Africa’s fight against COVID-19.

The continent continues to bear the brunt of global vaccine inequity, with cases and deaths rising quickly across the continent. To date, less than 12 percent of the continent has been fully vaccinated against the virus.

The AVAT, African Union, and Africa CDC, with the support of partners like the Mastercard Foundation, have made significant strides in securing vaccines.

Ensuring vaccine adoption is the next step towards increasing vaccine coverage on the continent. Given that nearly 60 percent of Africans are under the age of 25, targeting young people is key to ensuring Africa reaches its goal of vaccinating 70 percent of its population by the end of 2022.

“COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is important to achieving herd immunity and safeguarding citizens in Africa and globally against the virus and its variants. That's why Africa CDC and the Mastercard Foundation are joining efforts in ensuring access to vaccines for Africa,” said Dr. John Nkenagsong, Director of the Africa CDC.

Vaccines remain critical for providing protection against the virus, massively reducing the chances of serious illness, hospitalization and death.

COVID-19 vaccines protect everyone including public health workers—and enable economies to recover.

Since COVID-19 began, the Mastercard Foundation has been working to ensure communities across Africa access accurate information about how to protect themselves.

“Vaccines remain critical for saving lives and livelihoods. But, misinformation spreads fast, so we need to be smarter and more creative to spread the right information faster. People make the right choices to protect themselves and their families when they have the facts,” said Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation.

Yemi is no stranger to the global vaccine conversation. For over a year, she has been vocal about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, the importance of vaccine equality, and the need to dispel myths around COVID-19 and vaccines—particularly in Africa.

Yemi’s involvement aims to remind Africans of the power they have to make change in their communities, and in the lives of their friends and families, by getting vaccinated.

“I’m delighted to be a part of #ItsUptoUs, a movement that encourages Africans to take up the responsibility in making the world safe again,” Yemi remarked. “I’m happy to lend my voice to this important issue and moment.”

 In addition to the video released today, Yemi is releasing a campaign Unity Anthem on March 9, 2022 that will be accompanied by an #ItsUpToUs dance challenge choreographed by 21-year-old Zambian social media star and choreographer, Mooya Musunga.

It’s Up to Us is driven by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with the Africa CDC under their Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative—a $1.5 billion partnership to enable vaccination in Africa by purchasing vaccines for more than 65 million people and providing logistical support to enable the vaccination of millions more.

The partnership also aims to support vaccine manufacturing in Africa through a focus on workforce development, and to strengthen the Africa CDC’s capacity to oversee a historic vaccination effort and to better respond to future outbreaks.

King Kaka is definitely not pregnant but he has delivered per usual in his latest banger Wasi Wasi. 

The up tempo song is all about good vibes, reminding y'all to live a worry free life!.

The video features the one and only Aggie The Dance Queen who did not come to play with the moves despite being heavy with child.

Aggie, as star of the video directed by Joowzey, draws the audience in with her beautiful bump in full display. 

The Ruler is back for sure, Wasi Wasi is a great reminder of King Kaka's brilliant versatility, which is how he has amassed a huge fan base in the span of his 11 year rap career.

Do not take our word for it, check it out for yourself. 

Mvita Member of Parliament Abdulwamand Nassir says he will not be cowed by intimidation from his rivals in his quest for Mombasa county governor seat.

Nassir, instead asked his supporters to choose peace so as to remain focused on the gubernatorial target.

The legislator who was recently caught up in political chaos during the Azimio Rally in Tononoka grounds said he has forgiven those who perpetrated the act against him.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/2702-raila-moves-to-assure-fair-nomination-as-shahbal-and-nassir-supporters-clash-in-azimio-la-umoja-rally-in-tononoka

“They will try to target everyone near me, and I want to urge you, because time is  limited to where we are going, let us not accept to be derailed from our target, '' said Nassir.

Nassir who has been at war with his arch rival for Mombasa governor Suleiman Shahbal says he will forgive those who rebuke him and his supporters.

“For everyone who rebuked us, in one way or another abused us, I urge you to forgive them because, because if God grants us power, we will serve them the same way as others, so we must stay focused,if I fail to forgive them it may affect us from achieving what we want” he said.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of Rashmmy Salon and training institute in Mombasa on Monday, Nassir vowed to remain focused on his governor target. He said his opponents are out to force themselves into leadership.

 “Ushindi hauji kwa Hasira,hii ngoma ya siasa ni mambo moja pekeake,huwezi kununua mapenzi ya watu,wala Nyoyo za watu,’)’you can't force political support, you can’t force people to love you, what is important is to extend love to the people,” said Nassir in reference to political clash between is supporters to that of his political opponents.

He told his supporters not to accept the destruction of the political strength and support they have cultivated over the years by falling into the trap and theatrics of his political opponents.

“I can’t continue to carry enmity with me because it will destroy me internally, what we want to do is to forgive and forget and focus, if they continue to hate don’t respond to them, “he added.

Uganda and Switzerland merge on this dulcet collaboration titled Niko Tayari -which translates from Kiswahili to “I am ready.”