The Mining and Blue economy cabinet secretary Salim Mvurya has announced that phase one of the 1.49 billion Liwatoni fisheries complex will be completed by December.

Speaking in Mombasa during a tour at the facility accompanied by ministry officials, Mvurya said the government is steadfast to promote the blue economy sector in the country.

“This project is designed in a manner that will handle industrial fisheries products. It will provide an entire ecosystem for value addition, it’s a project that has been designed for two phases and phase one will cost sh 1.4 billion shillings, and phase two will be done in partnership with the private sector,” said Mvury.

The complex has previously faced delays in completion but according to Mvurya the delays in the project’s completion timeline were attributed to payment delays faced by contractors undertaking the multi-million project.

“This is a very important project in the blue economy sector because Most of thE fishermen doing fishing in the Indian ocean are artisanal fishermen, and I am happy that 50 percent of the work has been done,” said Mvurya.

Mvurya said once complete it will give direct jobs to about 3000 Kenyans after private fishing companies have shown interest to partner with the government to undertake the fishing.

"This phase we have given the contractor a deadline we expect by the end of December phase one should have completed, “said mvurya adding that some private entities have shown interest in fishing deep into the sea thus creating job opportunities.

Mvurya ruled out that the project had been marred by corruption. Underlining the strategic importance of the Liwatoni Fish Landing project, CS Mvurya emphasized its role in facilitating industrial fishing activities.

Other fish landing sites underway include the Shimoni fish landing site, adding that about 1,000 tons of Tuna fish will be able to be stored by the facility at a go.

He added that more direct jobs are underway.

Its good tidings all the way for Gospel singer Janet Otieno this year as she has bagged a nomination in the inaugural Trace Awards.

The nominees were announced on Monday 21st August 2023. She is the ONLY Female Gospel artiste in AFRICA to be nominated in the awards.

She is the only Kenyan Gospel artiste to be nominated in the awards Focusing a global spotlight on musicians, creators, entrepreneurs and achievers from across Africa and the African diaspora, the Trace Awards and Festival will take place in Kigali, Rwanda from Friday 20 to Saturday 21 October 2023, in partnership with Visit Rwanda and QA Venue Solutions Rwanda, the venue management company of BK Arena.

Below is the category in which she is nomintaed:

 Best Gospel Artist

Benjamin Dube (South Africa)  

Janet Otieno (Kenya)

 KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)  

Levixone (Uganda) l

Moses Bliss (Nigeria)

 Word From Janet Otieno about her nomination: "My heart is full of gratitude for the honor of being nominated in the inaugural Trace Awards. The recognition means more to me than words can express, and I wanted to take a moment to extend my sincere thanks to Trace TV. As a gospel artiste, my mission is grounded in sharing the message of hope, love, and salvation through my music. While awards are not the focus of my journey, I am truly appreciative of this gesture. It signifies not only a personal achievement but also an opportunity to reach more hearts with the good news that I am so passionate about."

Docked gently at the Mombasa Port’s Mbaraki wharf, the World’s largest floating library-Logos Hope on Wednesday officially opened her doors ready to dispense knowledge to members of the public who finally got a chance to marvel and sample contents of the globally celebrated book fair.

Aboard the vessel at Mbaraki wharf, a sprawling depth of timeless knowledge spreads across and wide, awaiting the boarding book lovers.  It's light, airy and a delight to visit.

Under well lit Logos Hope’s sealing, the wide array of genres wrapped in glossy and eye-catching book cover designs can whet any bonafide reader’s appetite and leave them spoilt for choice.

The choice is vast. It ranges from science, sports, hobbies, language, faith, cookery arts, medicine, leadership and more besides.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza described Logos Hope as a floating repository of knowledge, help, and hope and at the same time hailed its  theme "Knowledge, Help, and Hope," as a mirror to Kenya's aspirations on the global stage.

“The book fair on this vessel is a living testament to the universal language of literature. And uniquely for us, these floating shelves offer our community over 5,000 titles—ranging from science to arts, all at affordable prices. Beyond books, the ship's amphitheater will host enlightening talks aimed at enriching maritime careers,” Malonza said during the vessel's call at the Port.

While acknowledging the impact of the Ship’s arrival to tourism, she took the opportunity to welcome the 375 passengers and crew from over 70 countries “to the wonder that is Magical Kenya.”

“The increasing arrival of cruise ships like MV Logos Hope showcases Kenya's magnetic appeal. Our land boasts a diverse tableau of experiences—wildlife safaris, water sports, cultural richness, and tranquil beaches. These unique offerings have already led to return visits, like last year's encore from the MV World Odyssey, signaling our rising status as a prime tourist hub,” the CS said: “The global impact of the cruise industry is awe-inspiring. Before the pandemic, it generated over $154 billion and catered to nearly 30 million passengers. Today's cruise-goers are digitally savvy, and we're ready to meet them. The inauguration of Mombasa's cruise terminal is our bold step into this lucrative market.”

Malonza noted that the Ministry of Tourism is actively collaborating with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport, to maximize the benefits of our coastal assets.

Speaking on board the vessel, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir reiterated his call to the national government to provide a visa-free offer to all visiting crew ships to give a chance to visitors and tourists to enjoy their stay at the coast of Kenya and encourage more such visits.

The governor also assured that most of the books on board Logos Hope will be bought and reserved in some schools to benefit students in the port County of Mombasa.

 According to Kenya Port Authority (KPA) Managing Director Captain Willam Ruto for the next 45 days, members of the public will be treated to the fun of touring the expansive vessel to explore other amenities like the international café, visitors deck, welcome area among others.

At the same time, he said the 370 crew members on board the vessel drawn from 70 nationalities, will have an opportunity to disembark and visit our city to sample the rich Swahili culture, and the cultural diversity of Kenya.

“They will visit some of the best sun and sand beaches in the world and interesting historical attractions like the Fort Jesus built in the 16th Century by the Portuguese. I am positive that the visitors will have a great time in Mombasa,” assured Captain Ruto.

He said Kenya is known world over as a giant in the tourism industry, and one of the best cruise tourist destinations and therefore, tourism facilities should be commensurate “with the world-class service standards we have always had.”

“This is why Kenya Ports Authority in its capacity expansion strategy developed a modern cruise terminal at the Port of Mombasa to support tourism. The state-of-the -art cruise terminal is built to modern standards complete with various amenities including duty free shops, restaurants, conference facilities, passenger baggage areas, and offices for key stakeholders in the industry.

The KPA boss noted the modern Cruise Terminal has significantly boosted Kenya’s capacity and competitiveness for cruise tourism in the continent.

“In the recent cruise tourism circuit season that ended in April this year, the Port of Mombasa received four vessel calls carrying over 4000 passengers.The famous Cruise Liner World Odyssey, also known as semester at sea operates the World’s floating campus, was among the cruise liners that docked at the Port of Mombasa,”  Ruto stated.

Docked gently at the Mombasa Port’s Mbaraki wharf, the World’s largest floating library-Logos Hope on Wednesday officially opened her doors ready to dispense knowledge to members of the public who finally got a chance to marvel and sample contents of the globally celebrated book fair.

Aboard the vessel at Mbaraki wharf, a sprawling depth of timeless knowledge spreads across and wide, awaiting the boarding book lovers.  It's light, airy and a delight to visit.

Under well lit Logos Hope’s sealing, the wide array of genres wrapped in glossy and eye-catching book cover designs can whet any bonafide reader’s appetite and leave them spoilt for choice.

The choice is vast. It ranges from science, sports, hobbies, language, faith, cookery arts, medicine, leadership and more besides.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza described Logos Hope as a floating repository of knowledge, help, and hope and at the same time hailed its  theme "Knowledge, Help, and Hope," as a mirror to Kenya's aspirations on the global stage.

“The book fair on this vessel is a living testament to the universal language of literature. And uniquely for us, these floating shelves offer our community over 5,000 titles—ranging from science to arts, all at affordable prices. Beyond books, the ship's amphitheater will host enlightening talks aimed at enriching maritime careers,” Malonza said during the vessel's call at the Port.

While acknowledging the impact of the Ship’s arrival to tourism, she took the opportunity to welcome the 375 passengers and crew from over 70 countries “to the wonder that is Magical Kenya.”

“The increasing arrival of cruise ships like MV Logos Hope showcases Kenya's magnetic appeal. Our land boasts a diverse tableau of experiences—wildlife safaris, water sports, cultural richness, and tranquil beaches. These unique offerings have already led to return visits, like last year's encore from the MV World Odyssey, signaling our rising status as a prime tourist hub,” the CS said: “The global impact of the cruise industry is awe-inspiring. Before the pandemic, it generated over $154 billion and catered to nearly 30 million passengers. Today's cruise-goers are digitally savvy, and we're ready to meet them. The inauguration of Mombasa's cruise terminal is our bold step into this lucrative market.”

Malonza noted that the Ministry of Tourism is actively collaborating with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport, to maximize the benefits of our coastal assets.

Speaking on board the vessel, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir reiterated his call to the national government to provide a visa-free offer to all visiting crew ships to give a chance to visitors and tourists to enjoy their stay at the coast of Kenya and encourage more such visits.

The governor also assured that most of the books on board Logos Hope will be bought and reserved in some schools to benefit students in the port County of Mombasa.

 According to Kenya Port Authority (KPA) Managing Director Captain Willam Ruto for the next 45 days, members of the public will be treated to the fun of touring the expansive vessel to explore other amenities like the international café, visitors deck, welcome area among others.

At the same time, he said the 370 crew members on board the vessel drawn from 70 nationalities, will have an opportunity to disembark and visit our city to sample the rich Swahili culture, and the cultural diversity of Kenya.

“They will visit some of the best sun and sand beaches in the world and interesting historical attractions like the Fort Jesus built in the 16th Century by the Portuguese. I am positive that the visitors will have a great time in Mombasa,” assured Captain Ruto.

He said Kenya is known world over as a giant in the tourism industry, and one of the best cruise tourist destinations and therefore, tourism facilities should be commensurate “with the world-class service standards we have always had.”

“This is why Kenya Ports Authority in its capacity expansion strategy developed a modern cruise terminal at the Port of Mombasa to support tourism. The state-of-the -art cruise terminal is built to modern standards complete with various amenities including duty free shops, restaurants, conference facilities, passenger baggage areas, and offices for key stakeholders in the industry.

The KPA boss noted the modern Cruise Terminal has significantly boosted Kenya’s capacity and competitiveness for cruise tourism in the continent.

“In the recent cruise tourism circuit season that ended in April this year, the Port of Mombasa received four vessel calls carrying over 4000 passengers.The famous Cruise Liner World Odyssey, also known as semester at sea operates the World’s floating campus, was among the cruise liners that docked at the Port of Mombasa,”  Ruto stated.

A Danish investment and development delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark Lars Løkke Rasmussen has today held a consultative meeting with Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, and other top county leaders in efforts to identify potential areas of investment and development partnerships.

The talks held at the Governor's office centered around possible areas of partnership and collaboration in Maritime Affairs given the strategic global positioning that Denmark enjoys in the sector.

During the meeting which was also attended by the  Danish Ambassador to Kenya  Ole Thonke, Governor Nassir made an impassioned case for private public partnership to establish modern water transport networks to ease traffic congestion in Mombasa.

“Mombasa is ready to step into the modern age as the primary logistics hub for the Horn of Africa. Mass urban transport will be key to facilitating economic growth. This is why Mombasa has advertised for an expression of interest to implement modern water transport through PPP,” said Nassir.

Denmark boasts of several popular modern domestic ferry routes to connect the various Islands.

The leaders also took time to review the progress of the devolved government since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.

Rasmussen on his part stated that Denmark shall remain a dependable economic partner and ally to Kenya and by extension, Mombasa.

The Foreign affairs Minister who has previously served as a Mayor and a Prime Minister noted that the partnerships between both nations will continue even as they navigate the emerging challenges of the present day.

EALA member of parliament Hassan Omar on Tuesday said he has no personal issues with his political rivals.

Omar who is also the UDA Vice Chairperson said his style of politics is different from many politicians especially in Mombasa.

Speaking during an empowerment forum for persons with disabilities at the YMCA Kizingo, Omar challenged his fellow politicians to change their style of politics.

" We had issues with Hasssan Joho, Abu Joho and even the current governor Abdulswamad Nassir during the previous elections and campaigns but you will not find me sitting in a table where people are planning for their downfall" said Omar.

Adding " It is high time that we realise that we are one, we all work for the people of Mombasa. If Mombasa fails today we all fail. Mombasa needs to be one".

Omar took issue with Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali over his style of politics and attacks on fellow leaders terming him as a rumour monger.

Omar charged " We all know what you are good at, spreading rumours and lies. You need to stop this. Why do you have to attack each and everyone whenever you get the opportunity to speak, we are also capable of doing that but we have just deciding to keep quiet. Who do you think you are, you need to stop this."

"You are painting a bad picture of our President William Ruto and our UDA party as a member. Why should it always be you complaining and quarelling with everyone. You come up with all sorts of stories everyday of people planning bad things about you. This is not right."

Omar also took the opportunity to call on UDA politicians in Mombasa to embrace and work with other leaders and politicians from different partis.

"Your enemy today might be your friend tomorrow, you never know so let us please work together, we need each other".

The legislator further callled on youths from the county to come out in large numbers during this years Kenya Defence forces (KDF) recruitment exercise set for end of this month (August ).

The World largest floating library MV Logos has finally docked in Mombasa.

The 132-metre-long floating library, operated by GBA Ships, a non-profit organisation based in Germany, docked in Mombasa a few minutes past nine at the Mbaraki wharf within the Mombasa port with approximately 350 people on board.

On her maiden call, MV Logos comes to the East African Coast after an 18-year hiatus following a visit by a sister vessel- MV Dulos in 2005, was received by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the Mombasa county government officials.

Kenya premier league side Shabana Fc have embarked on an extensive fans registration drive at the coastal region in a bid to increase its fanbase.

The club's coast region top brass led by Ronald Muma have held series of meetings at the Mbaraki sports club planning how to support the club.

Speaking after chairing the meeting held at the Mbarakinsports club,Muma said their mission is to make the clubs visibility at the coastal region.

"We held meeting to discuss how we can come together to support the club in all aspects as it is a community club which depends on its fanbase to run affairs of the team,"said Muma.

Shabana Coast top brass is composed of Treasurer Edwin Ombati, secretary Douglas Nyamache,and organizing secretary Duke Osoro among others.

Afropop global music star Yemi Alade is back with a brand new hit record - “Fear Love” - a groovy and Afro-fusion track .

Written by Yemi Alade alongside Kunmi and produced by Hulla; “Fear Love” is a groovy and easy listen with addictive percussion influences adding onto a rich musical experience. 

Yemi continues to command the world stage in 2023 alongside The African Train Band.

Her AFRICAN BADDIE WORLD TOUR ‘23 is currently making stops in America and Europe with electrifying performances to sold out venues.

She took some time to reflect on “Fear Love” saying, “This song came to me at a time when I needed to voice these thoughts. It's like therapy, if you let it sink in.” 

The lyrics and melodies to this song ring a bell for many. Insecurity shows up in different forms like when you find someone to show deep affection for. The new single takes on such moments when you develop feelings for someone or experience love but still remain cautious - safeguarding your heart.

“Fear Love” follows the success of “Fake Friends (Iró Òre)” - the lead single off Yemi’s upcoming seventh body of work set for release in the last quarter of 2023.

She shares more, “My upcoming album is a representation of my thoughts, needs, experiences, stories, ideas and my desire to connect with every listener on each song. Every song is potent with stories.” 

Yemi continues to rule charts in 2023 with fan favorites hits like “Pounds & Dollars” feat Phyno, “Baddie”, “Jojo” feat. Bisa Kdei and “Bright Future” with Mr Vegas. These releases have cumulatively surpassed 20 million views on YouTube - only.