Mvita Member of parliament Abdulsamand Nassir emerges as the most popular gubernatorial candidate, according to the Mombasa Infotrak survey released on Sunday.

According to the report, Nassir's popularity stands at 48 percent ahead of his bitter rival, businessman Suleiman Shahbal with 18 percent.

The poll results come out at a time when there is a heated supremacy battle between Nassir and Shahbal over who should fly the Orange democratic ODM party ticket to succeed Mombasa governor Hassan Joho.

The report dubbed ‘Mombasa Custom Countytrak’ also places United Democratic Alliance UDA’s gubernatorial candidate Hassan Sarai third with five (5) percent followed by Kisauni Mp Ali Mbogo with four (4) percent while Mombasa Deputy governor Dr William Kingi comes last with 1 percent.

In the distribution of the results per sub-county, Nassir's popularity stands at 42 percent in Changawe,49 percent in Jomvu,40 in Kisauni,46 in Nyali,53 in Likoni,62 in Mvita tatalling to 48 percent.

While shahbal’s  popularity per sub county stands at 21percent  in Changamwe, 18 in Jomvu,16 in Kisauni,17 in Nyali,19 in Likoni and Mvita 15 percent placing the two candidates as the main contenders of the Mombasa gubernatorial race.

In the senatorial candidate, Mombasa senator ODM’s Mohamed Faki remains the most popular candidate with 21 percent ahead of  UDA’s Hamisi Mwaguya with five (5) percent ,ODM’s Hashim Mwidau two ( 2) percent and Mohamed Abbass with two (2 ) percent.

Others are Abdalla Said with one percent, Joho’s cousin Mohamed Amir with 1 percent and former Mombasa deputy governor Hezel Katana with 0.1 percent.

In the women representative category, Mombasa women rep Asha Hussein remains the most popular with 17 percent followed by her competitor Zamzam Mohamed with 10 percent while Fatma Nakari and Rose Achieng follow third and forth category with five (5) and Two (2) percent respectively.

Others are Dorothy Nyakio,Marium Marzul,Amina Abdalla,Miraj Abdilahi and Maimuna Salim each with one (1 )percent. This means that if elections were to be held today ‘Ashuu’as she’s popularly known would be re-elected as women rep for Mombasa.

 In the political coalitions category Azimio La Umoja remains the most popular coalition with 51 percent followed by Kenya Kwanza with 23 percent ahead of One Kenya Alliance associated with Kalonzo Musyoka with( 3) three percent.

In the category of political party popularity within Mombasa, Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Party ODM remains the most popular with 46 percent followed by Deputy Presidents DP UDA party was second with 24 percent.

Others are the Jubilee party with five( 5) and Kalonzo’s  Wiper democratic Movement with One (1) percent while the latest Pamoja African Alliance PAA party with 0.3 followed by KANU with 0,.2 percent.

Gospel singer Kevin Kioko popularly known as Bahati has joined the list of celebrated persons who have since tossed themselves into the murky waters of politics.

He will be contesting for Mathare MP’s position on the ruling Jubilee Party ticket.

Speaking on Friday at the Jubilee headquarters, Nairobi, Bahati announced that he was a Jubilee Party member and also supports Azimio la Umoja political movement.

"Mtoto wa mama, Bahati mtoto wa Mathare will be vying as the member of parliament Mathare constituency on this coming general elections" sai Bahati.

Adding "“I am a proud member of Jubilee Party and the Azimio la Umoja movement,”.

The announcement comes just weeks after the singer released a music collaboration with ODM leader Raila Odinga who is also the Azimio la umoja flag bearer for the presidency.

Other celebrities who have joined politics includes, singer Smith Mwatia, alias Rufftone eying Nairobi Senator position, popular comedian Jalango, who  is going for the Langata MP seat. Singer Davidson Ngibuini aka DNG has shown interest to represent residents of the Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course in the Nairobi county assembly. 

Grammy-award winning afro-pop band, Sauti Sol, have announced their partnership with Shahara, coming on board as Creative Co-Founders.

Shahara is an online platform that enables the African creative economy to earn revenue directly from their work, through their audiences.  

Launched in August 2021 by Africa Uncensored, The Catapult Agency LLP, and Baraza Media Lab, Shahara - which derives its name from the Swahili word Mshahara (salary) - was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the creative economy as marketing and other events were postponed or canceled.

Determined to build a direct alliance between the content creator and their audience, Shahara offers a platform where creators can publish their work and their audiences can support them directly by paying for the content, with the content creator taking a lion share of whatever they earn. 

The first project that launched on Shahara was A Letter To My Younger Self, an audio/visual podcast that features popular content creator, Maxine Wabosha, in conversation with inspirational Kenyans about the moments that shaped them into the people they are today. 

Since then, the platform has become home to other exclusive content such as the Africa Uncensored documentaries, Pandora Papers, Crooks & Wombs, and Under Your Watch; as well as Cynthia Abdullah’s documentary, Inyumba Yu Mulogooli. 

In addition to joining Shahara as Creative Co-Founders, Sauti Sol will also share their own exclusive content on the platform, starting with Bien Aime and Aaron Rimbui’s BALDMEN Virtual Experience - an acoustic performance that offers a wonderful story of love, life, fun, and prestige which is now available on shaharavideos.com for only 100 kenya shillings. 

Future premiers to look forward to on Shahara include: more exclusive content from Sauti Sol; the sequel to NDIZI TV’s Omwanchi Trubena (Beloved Trubena) Part 2 - a Kisii movie with over 99,000 views; exclusive content from Season 2 of Maxine Wabosha’s A Letter To My Younger Self; exclusive content from Season 1 of The Joyride Podcast, as well as content from the award-winning theater performers, Too Early for Birds, Story Sosa a production by Baraza Media Lab and content from the East African production house, Fat Rain Films. 

In the next few months Shahara will also introduce a series of masterclasses and tutorials for content creators.

Plus, later in the year, the platform will launch features that will allow for writers, journalists, artists, and photographers to also publish their work on Shahara.

Sarova Panafric is set to host the Big Honey Brunch tailored towards offering customers an extensive spread of delighting cuisine in partnership with Jack Daniels.

The Big Honey Brunch will be hosted at the Poolside Restaurant on Sunday 20^th March from 12pm to 4pm.

The new look Poolside Restaurant is the ideal venue for that fun-filled Sunday brunch for city residents to come to enjoy a spectacular and lavish spread in the garden setting. It boasts a crisp clear swimming pool and serene ambience.

DJ Miles will be on the decks for the afternoon playing the best jams to compliment brunch and cocktails for Kshs 4,900 and Kshs 3,900 for brunch alone.

Sarova Panafric Hotel is an idyllic city getaway in the hub of Nairobi that recently re-emerged newly expanded, with enhanced suites and rooms following the completion of a phase of the comprehensive renovations that began in October 2018.

The new project aimed at transforming the hotel which falls under the umbrella of one of the largest indigenous collections of hotels in East Africa, Sarova Hotels & Resorts into a contemporary Pan-African establishment.

Sarova Panafric is committed to re-inventing its offering to continue meeting customers' dynamic needs at a time tastes and preferences are evolving.

Nairobi City residents can now hope for order and sanity in the capital City after Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu struck a deal with boda boda operators to end the menace that has affected the sector for years.

In the deal, Nairobi City County Government will register all boda boda operators in the sub-county level and issue them with unique identification numbers that will be used to enforce order and sanity in the sector.

Speaking on Thursday at City Hall after meeting with representatives of boda boda operators in Nairobi, Governor Kananu however called for order and sanity to be restored in the Capital City by bodaboda riders especially in the Central Business District.

“Sanity must be restored in Nairobi City County. All bodaboda riders have to be registered through Saccos to enable the County Government weed out rogue riders," said Kananu during a meeting with the boda boda officials.

Kananu said that once the bodaboda riders are registered at the Sub-County level, City Hall will issue them with County stickers to identify them from riders from other Counties.

“My administration will immediately form a committee to hold further discussions with the bodaboda representatives to ensure that there is continued talks, compliance and orderliness in Nairobi City,” added Kananu.

The boda boda operators in Nairobi can also breathe a sigh of relief after Kananu ordered for unconditional release of impounded motorbikes with petty offences.  

Kananu directed the Nairobi City County Government Inspectorate Department to hand over the impounded motorbikes to the rightful owners once they produce ownership documents.

“The detained motorbikes that were confiscated on minor offences will be released to the logbook owners subject to provision of relevant documentation,” she said.

The Governor has further assured the boda boda operators that the Nairobi City County Government Askaris will not harass them if they obey all traffic rules and City bylaws. 

“I believe in empowerment of the youth and I would also like each Sacco to identify representatives who will be trained by the County on disaster management so that we can use our boda boda operators during emergency cases on our roads,” Kananu stated.

Kananu also called upon the leaders of boda boda riders in each sub-county in Nairobi to hold frequent briefs with Sub-County Administrators to identify issues in the sector and mitigate on them.

Nairobi County Trade, Tourism and Co-operatives CEC, Winfred Gathagu who also attended the meeting at City Hall added that the County was ready to issue County stickers to bodaboda riders once they are fully registered in their Saccos. She further said that the County will soon support Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) such as the bodabodas sector once they formalize their operations.

Deputy Director Operations, Enforcement Department, William Kangogo said that Nairobi City County Government had issued public notice in 2014 on demarcated boundaries for bodaboda riders, but they have not been complying. He called on their Saccos to emphasize to their members on the need to follow law and order in the Central Business District.

The boda boda representatives led by their Chairman Kevin Mbadi informed Kananu that they are updating their system to ensure all riders are registered to enable their data to be included in the stickers to be issued by Saccos. 

He further stated that the stickers will have codes to enable the County Enforcement Department and Police identify genuine riders.

“We are currently registering 200 riders daily and we are requesting the Governor for more time to comply with all the regulations,” said Mbadi.

The meeting was also attended City Hall Chief of Staff, Mutunga Mutungi, Governors' Economic Advisor, Sylvester Kasuku, Govenors' Legal Advisor, Joseph Kiarie, Member of County Assembly for Kariobangi North, Maina Njoka, Member of County Assembly for Dandora 2, Ongwae Matara and other bodaboda representatives.

There are at least 1000 boda Bodas that are being held by the inspectorate department.

The meeting was called by Governor Kananu after she issued a seven-day ultimatum to the boda boda operators representatives in Nairobi to reach our over their rogue behavior following a video that went viral of a female motorist being attacked and sexually harassed out of her vehicle by boda boda operators along Wangari Maathai road in Parklands.

Kaloleni Mp Paul Katana has called on the registrar of political parties to quickly resolve the illegal registration of voters to parties that are not of their choice.

According to Katana, some Kenyans have expressed deep concerns after realizing they have been registered into political parties that they do not subscribe to.

He says this has defied fundamental rights and freedoms including the right to privacy and data protection as well as the right to make free freedom choices.

“The registrar of political parties must resolve this matter amicably, there must be a law that protects the rights of the people to ensure that people do not find themselves registered in parties that are not of their choice, “said Katana.

Speaking during a political parties sensitization meeting of political aspirants from the Coast region and the office of political parties registrar, the Mp welcomed the changes in the new political party law saying it brought sanity in the political parties by strengthening how nomination affairs will be conducted.

“This law has strengthened political parties and we support it because if you feel discriminated in the nomination process, you can walk out, again the law also has cleaned the way we will participate in the nomination, unlike before where people who are not even in the register ,participated in the nomination elections,” said Katana.

This happens as the office of the registrar of political parties ORPP says it has deployed enough personnel in the regions to solve disputes that will emerge from party nominations processes countrywide.

The registrar prospects massive disputes may emerge from candidates after the nomination processes, but urges parties to exercise transparency and diplomacy to avert disputes.

 “The new law has added 18 new members to the political party’s dispute tribunal (PPDT) initially they were only six and they couldn’t go everywhere, but now we have more personnel who will be able to solve the disputes speedly,”said Abdilahi.

On his part deputy political parties registrar Ali Abdilahi said 18 new members have been recruited to solve regional tribunals.

“Initially people used to go to Nairobi but now members of the tribunal are able to sit aim all regions so that they handle all cases emanating from the primaries, so it makes justice more open to members, there will be different panels independently to solve disputes, “said Abdilahi.

The registrar said it will monitor party nominations so as to ensure special groups get their nomination fairness in line with set party laws and code of conduct.

“We are now in talks with the National persons with disability council body to ensure that anybody disabled and is in the party list gets genuine certificates to avoid people declaring themselves disabled and they are not, so we will be verifying the list,” added Abdilahi.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has condoled with the family of State House Comptroller, Mr Kinuthia Mbugua, following the death of his mother Mama Loice Njeri Mbugua.

Mama Loice, 100, passed away this morning while undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital.

In his message of comfort and encouragement to the family, President Kenyatta described Mama Loice Njeri as a hard-working and progressive community leader who cherished education as the key to success.

The Head of State also noted that Mama Loice was a strong advocate of family values and raised a distinguished family, which has continued to serve the nation with diligence in various sectors.

“Despite growing up during the colonial era, Mama Loice Njeri Mbugua strove to ensure her children received quality education with the understanding that knowledge was the fountain of life,” President Kenyatta eulogised.

The President said Mama Loice also valued women empowerment and promoted agribusiness as a way of boosting women’s income in her community.

“Mama Loice was a progressive person who dedicated her energy in farming to enhance family income. We will always appreciate the role she played in ensuring food security in her community besides being a role model to other women of her generation,” the President said.

President Kenyatta pointed out that Mama Loice Njeri was a strong matriarch who continued to mentor young people, especially her grandchildren, even in her old age.

“As a nation, we will forever be grateful for the work she has done for our country. We note with appreciation that she imparted good family values to her community, values that have ensured the well-being of our society,” President Kenyatta said.

The President said Mama Loice will also be remembered as a courageous, brave and selfless leader who endeared herself to many through her generosity and love.

“Mama Loice was a strong believer in Christ Jesus and loved all people irrespective of their backgrounds. As a devoted member of the PCEA church and the Women guild, she actively participated in spreading the word of God and demonstrated her faith through acts of kindness,” President Kenyatta said.

The President prayed to God to comfort the larger Mbugua family and give them strength as they come to terms with the passing away of their family matriarch.

Nigerian rising, afro dancehall star, producer and Tik Tok sensation 1da Banton has dropped the remix to his acclaimed single and hitsong No Wahala featuring Tiwa Savage and Kizz Daniel. 

This comes on the heels of the success of the original version which has become one of the most played songs in Europe and Africa.

With the #NoWahala challenge currently one of the most participated challenge on TikTok Worldwide. 

The uplifting mid-tempo single by Blaise Beat encourages individuals to have fun despite life’s hardships. 

The video was directed by the renowned Nigerian director Adasa Cookey in Nigeria for Squareball Entertainment. 

WATCH 'No Wahala' Remix: https://youtu.be/D7wqi1HZFq8 

The original version of the song has amassed over 50 million streams across all platforms till date, it's no surprise that the remix took flight immediately. 

1da Banton hit the industry with his debut EP The Banton under Squareball Entertainment. Some of his songs include Amaka (2baba Amaka’s Cover), Farabale, Jowo, African Woman, Foreigner, Whine Fi Mi (featuring Kranium) among others. 

1da Banton is set to embark on an East African Media tour next month with the first stop being Kenya.

Listen to the audio https://onerpm.lnk.to/NoWahala-Remix

Mombasa governor aspirant Suleiman Shahbal has intensified campaigns in the race to succeed Governor Hassan Joho.

Shahbal banks on the ODM party ticket expressing confidence that he will outshine his main rival Mvita Mp Abdulswamand Nassir in the nominations.

Shahbal who defected from Jubilee party to ODM in 2021 says he will give it a third time after unsuccessfully contesting  twice. 

The businessman turn politician said Mombasa deserved better leadership. He slammed his opponents for failing to outline their plan for Mombasa county.

"We are determined that we will win the nomination ticket and eventually win Mombasa governor, it’s possible to transform Mombasa county with good leadership,” said Shahbal during a rally at Kadongo grounds.

On Tuesday, Shahbal with his 'Change must come' campaign slogan led a caravan of supporters to traverse the entire Kisauni from Kadongo grounds to Minalove,Bamburi Mwisho to Utange area.

Speaking at Kadongo grounds where both Shahbal and Bedzimba held a brief rally, they asked coastal residents to support the Azimio La Umoja presidency led by Raila Odinga ahead of the 2022 government takeover.

“Governor Joho is leading the campaigns for Raila' Odinga in Nairobi where he is expected to rally for the bigger cake for the coastal region,” said Bedzimba who is now drumming up support for Shahbal's quest to succeed Governor Hassan Joho.

"If you give me a second chance I will continue with my development record, that targets women, youth and elderly,” said Bedzimba who is seeking re-election to the Kisauni Mp through  ODM ticket.

The duo also drummed up support for the Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga, stating that Odinga will transform the economy of the country.

On Wednesdy, Shahbal is expected to take his 'Change must come' campaign to Jomvu.

Kenyan youth have been asked to venture in the rich blue economy sector which has vast economic opportunities especially along the Coastal region.

According to the Mombasa governor's Youth Leadership programe in climate action sector leader Basil Muga , the blue economy sector remains fully unexploited, urging youth to take advantage of the multi-Billion sector.

“We have realized that there is huge opportunity for young people in the blue economy, the demand for fish is high but the supply is going down, because we have continued to mess with the Ocean, so we urge the youth to participate in the reservation of the Ocean if you want to really reap the benefits of the Ocean,” said Muga.

He said the Blue economy is promising for the youth from fishing, tourism, ocean science, among others but this can be achieved through protection of Oceans from pollution.

Basil noted that Mombasa is endowed with a vibrant biodiversity from land and from the ocean presenting many opportunities for development from the blue economy .

“Let us protect it so that we can increase what comes out of the ocean so that we don’t import fish, and as we do that we will also get to increase the culture of eating fish locally and we will encourage more fishers going for fishing in the sea,” added Muga.

He made the remarks during the Governor’s young leaders  youth in climate action round table meeting  which brought together over 150 youths from Mombasa and other stakeholders to deliberate on the effects and mitigation on climate change where he asked youth to actively participate in mitigating climate change.

“We have to act now because the planet is dying, if we remain with the same practice we will not have somewhere to live, even if it means joining volunteering for beach cleanups, and letting up young people getting into entrepreneurship in green businesses, “he added.

Innocent Wanyonyi from coastal marine resources development stated that a lot of implications of climate on marine environment were as a result of human activity, which is majorly pollution.

Fish populations are already declining in many regions as warming waters throw marine ecosystems into disarray, according to the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of scientists convened by the United Nations to guide world leaders in policy making.

“When sea temperatures rise, different species of marine start disappearing and we get a lot of losses especially on dependants of sea fishing,” said Wanyinyi adding that some fish species have completely been exploited because of climate change.

Climate change is heating the oceans and altering their chemistry so dramatically that it is threatening seafood supplies, fueling cyclones and floods and posing profound risks to the hundreds of millions of people living along the coasts.

 “One of the other effects of climate change is the unpredictability of ocean cycles which has affected fish count in the sea, thus denying us food and making the cost of fish very expensive,” said Wanyonyi adding that youth have a big role to play in mitigating the effects.

Mombasa is largely affected by climate change ,residents experience long heat spans above the normal tropical climate,floods and the ever rising sea level are a real threat to life in this very cosmopolitan city.