AU High Representative for Infrastructure Raila Odinga today today  held a meeting with the organisers of the anti SGR weekly protests fast action business movement.

The  meeting which took place at Raila's residence in Nyali was also attended by rights groups, Haki Africa and Muhuri.

According to a source who was present at the meeting,  they resolved that there should be free movement of cargo and that the SGR should compete with local trucks.

"It was also resolved that no shipping line should interfere with the local clearing and forwarding and warehousing business as per the Merchant Shipping Act and that all cargo should be cleared in Mombasa and not Nairobi" said the source.

 Also present at the meeting  were Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir.

At the end of the meeting they resolved that Raila will address a media briefing tomorrow in Nairobi to avert  more demonstrations and seek for a permanent solution which will not sabotage the county's economy.

Raila assured the transport sector the government will have a round table to iron out the teething problems  and chart the way forward.

He told the forum the government will engage them to avert future demonstrations in the coast region.

Fast action business movement together with the rights groups have been organising the protests every Monday to put pressure on the government to revoke an order requesting all cargo from the Mombasa port be transported by the standard gauge railway (SGR).

According to a study done by the University of Nairobi School of Business and published last month, Mombasa has already lost Sh17.4 billion and 2,987 jobs equivalent to 8.4 per cent of its annual earnings since the implementation of government policies requiring mandatory transfer of most import cargo through the SGR.

Early this month, Mombasa leaders led by Governor Hassan Joho met with the Transport CS Jmaes Macharia and his Interior counterpart Fred Matiang'i over the issue where they announced that the order had been suspended.

"The suspension of the directive on compulsory cargo haulage from Mombasa via SGR is still in effect until we find solutions to the issues affecting our freight services. My colleague" said Matiang'i.

Truck drivers have however maintained that the directive has not been implemented.

Tanzanian singer Rajab Abdul Kahali popularly known as Harmonize is set to release his new song dubbed 'Uno' in Nairobi this week.

This is his first song under his label Konde Music worldwide after leaving Wasafi.

The release party will be at the Gosip ultra lounge this Friday.

Meanwhile the artist launched a free feeding programme over the weekend.

The programme ' Konde Boy Mgahawa'  will be supplying free food for the next six months to the needy every Sunday.

Speaking during the launch, Harmonize said the restaurant has been part of his ambitions for quite some time and he is planning to expand it to other parts of Tanzania.

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the National Assembly will on Friday, October 18, hold the Speaker’s Roundtable. 

The annual event brings together the National Assembly and the apex body of the private sector for structured engagements over two days and will be held at the Travellers’ Beach Hotel in Mombasa.

An estimated 300 participants drawn from the National Assembly and the private sector are scheduled to share ideas on the role of the Legislature and the private sector in boosting Kenya’s competitiveness to enable economic growth and the creation of jobs.

Speaking ahead of the event, KEPSA Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Carole Kariuki, said the Speaker’s Roundtable will build on the discussions held last year; when the event raised awareness about the role of Parliament in the creation of a conducive business environment and to set the business legislative agenda for Parliament.

 “The National Assembly plays a critical role in creating the right environment for businesses to thrive. For the private sector to increase investments and create jobs, the policy needs to be right and we are happy that the National Assembly has worked to make this possible over the years. This is a conversation that we need to continue having and that’s why this annual event is important,” Ms. Kariuki noted. 

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi said this year’s event will provide both the business community and the Members of Parliament an opportunity to take stock of the implementation of agreements made last year and to plan for the future.

“The Speaker’s Roundtable is in essence an opportunity for us to deliberate on the legislation that the private sector deems necessary to catalyse economic growth and address Kenya’s social-economic challenges. This is a valuable forum as it informs and enriches the quality of debate on various Bills in which KEPSA has provided input and KEPSA’s involvement in turn represents an important element of public participation,” said Hon Muturi.

A similar meeting is scheduled with the Senate at a later date.

In the past two years, both legislators and the private sector through KEPSA have collaborated on a number of important laws, among them; County Revenue (Raising Process) Bill, 2017; Natural Resources (Benefit Sharing) Bill, 2018; Data Protection Bill, 2019; Tea Bill, 2018; Kenya Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders Management Bill, 2019; Statute Law (Misc. Amendments) Bill (No. 2) 2018 on the Amendments to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (otherwise referred to as Prompt Payment Bill); and National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2019. 

Some of these Bills are expected to have an immediate impact on investors.

With the County Revenue (Raising Process) Bill, county governments are expected to improve their revenue-racing processes. KEPSA hopes that this Bill will help address the multiplicity of taxes, levies and charges and the lack of harmonization of the same. It is also expected to put in place more stringent accountability measured to avoid the arbitrary enforcement of increased rates and levies.

The amendments to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, otherwise known as the Prompt Payment Bill, are expected to help unlock business funds for suppliers, improve the stability of businesses and as a consequence improve GDP growth. The new law is expected to improve businesses’ trust in government, enhance stability in the monetary sector because of the reduction in non-performing loans and reduce non-performing trade-credit related to pending bills.

Trailblazing global act and one of Africa’s most successful artists, Yemi Alade and her record label Effyzie Music Group, hosted an exclusive album release party in Nairobi, Kenya in celebration of her recently released fourth studio album 'Woman of steel' and short film 'Home'.

The party which was held on Tuesday was graced by key media personalities, influencers, celebrities among them: Chimano (of Sauti Sol who also was the host), Victoria Kimani, Naiboi, Hart The Band, Blinky Bill, Patricia Kihoro and Ivlyn Mutua (who translated the Swahili version of “Poverty”—Yemi’s latest Swahili song in #WOSAlbum).

Released through her label Effyzzie Music Group and distributed by Universal Music France, the 13-track WOMAN OF STEEL album garnered over 1 million streams on Spotify in one week of its release.

The album is a huge achievement for the award-winning “Mama Africa”.

The critically acclaimed album follows her previous successful albums: King of Queens (2014), Mama Africa (2016) and Black Magic (2017).

She also released a new single Swahili version of “Poverty” in East Africa.

In the short film 'Home', a single lifted off the album, Yemi makes her official debut as an actress.

The emotive film captures the essence of finding strength, self-love and being your own hero in tough times; boasting stellar performances from the cast and powerful screenplay.

Directed by Clarence A. Peters, the film stars Nollywood icon Clarion Chukwura alongside talented heartthrob Frankincense Eche Ben.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance  along with First Lady Margaret  Kenyatta will be launching the  Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine In Mombasa on Friday.

Cancer of the Cervix, which forms the lower part of the uterus, is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women in Kenya, killing at least 9 Women daily. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the primary cause of 99.7% of all cervical cancers.

At least two thirds of cervical cancer cases could be averted if 90% coverage is reached with HPV Vaccines. Kenya plans to introduce HPV vaccine into routine immunization for girls aged 10 years in 2019, to reduce the burden due to Cervical Cancer in the country.

The Vaccine will be offered Nationally alongside other Routine Infant Vaccines through an existing network of over 9,000 Public, Private, Faith Based and NGO health facilities FREE OF CHARGE, to 800,000 girls, who are currently 10 years old and subsequently to all girls as they turn 10 years in future.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has pledged to name a street in Free Town Mombasa after iconic Bango music maestro Joseph Ngala famously known as Mzee Ngala.

According to Joho , the move is aimed at showing respect to Mzee Ngala.

Joho made the pledge after joining Mzee Ngala and his family at his home in Free Town for his 84th birthday celebrations.

The County Chief also promised to renovate Ngala's house.

"The founder of Bango music ,Mzee Ngala been an inspiration to many for decades. His songs entertained, educated and united millions both locally and internationally" posted Joho

Adding "I was privileged to share from his wisdom and experiences in life".

Ngala has nurtured several talents including Juma Tutu, Afro Simba and Gogo Simba.

Kenyan gospel artist Peterson Githinji, Pitson has undergone a successful operation to remove an abnormal tissue that had stuck in his vocal cord for the last three months making it hard for him to sing.

The award winning artist took to social media to update fans and Kenyans on the progress and also shared photos of the nodule.

Pitson Posted 

“This is the microscopic nodule that had stuck in my vocal cord for 3 months.
By the grace of God doctors were able to get it out.
Glory to God!
Special thanks to #nairobihospital
Dr.wahome (Operating doctor)
Dr. Gakuo (consulting Anesthesiologist)
Dr. Carol Mwai Doctor In charge of post hospital recovery.
Asanteni sana kwa maombi.
Hoping to sing again soon.#healing#godspeed”

In August this year the artist revealed that doctors advised him to stop singing for at least two months saying  he had been overworking his throat, causing damage to his vocal cords.

“I went to see a doctor after I was unable to sing and they said I am not going to sing for the next two months because my voice is damaged" said Pitson