Ommy Dallah
Aharub Khatri To Retain Mombasa Speaker Seat Unopposed
Aharub Khatri is set to retain the Mombasa County Assembly Speaker position unopposed.
Mr. Khatri now has an easy sail after his nine opponents were disqualified from the race.
According to Mombasa County Assembly clerk Salim Juma, only Khatri managed to submit the duly signed nomination paper with the requisite documents by Wednesday 23 September which was gazetted as the deadline.
The other nine who had expressed interest for the seat are former Frere Town MCA Charles Kitula, radio Journalist Ali Mwaimu, Mohamed Zuber, Moses Musine, Stephen Samo, Rishi Aruu Parikh, Richard Ochola olonde, Odwuor Derrick, and Emmanuel Maweu.
The newly elected Mombasa County assembly members are expected to be sworn into office tomorrow, Friday, thereafter elect the deputy speaker.
Nassir Suspends Dumpsite Fees As He Orders Closure Of All Illegal Dumpsites
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir on Wednesday suspended all dumpsite fees levied against waste collectors a he moved in to clear the garbage menace in the county.
The governor also ordered the shutdown of all illegal landfills as he ordered that they be cleared within the next seven days.
Nassir was speaking in Tudor Ward where he had gone to supervise the clearance of garbage at the illegal dumpsite.
“We have deployed 40 trucks to help us clear the garbage from all the illegal dumpsites created across the county. This exercise will be done and completed within the next seven days, I have appointed my deputy Francis Thoya to see to it,” said Nassir.
While issuing the orders, Nassir said that the landfills were supposed to be used as transfer sites, but because of lack of order they ended up turning to be garbage sites.
The governor said that henceforth, transfers will be done directly to trucks.
“The public will be informed in the course of the week on where to take their garbage. The trucks will be stationed at designated sites,” Nassir said.
He added that the county will also deploy ant-damping officers in all the illegal landfills closed to ensure that whoever continues to dump illegally faces the law.
He however stated that the county will continue engaging in public participation to ensure that the public and all waste collectors are fully aware of the new changes.
“We have to achieve our agenda for a cleaner Mombasa within the next 100 days. We expect to see order in all the transfer points, there will be no more excuses or reasons,” he said.
The Deputy Governor Francis Thoya called on Mombasa residents to support the governor in his agenda to clean Mombasa.
The garbage menace he said has bedeviled the county for years even as he promised that he will not relent until the work is done as delegated to him.
“I want to put on notice all environment officers who receive bribes for people to subvert the law, your time is up. Magufuli is back” said Thoya.
Thoya said that the county has the capacity to deal with the garbage menace, but they get overwhelmed because of garbage backlog.
According to a UN Habitat Assessment Report of 2019 released by the county, Mombasa produces about 900 tons of solid waste every day.
The county only manages to collect 60 percent of it with the remaining 40 percent finding itself on to the streets all the way in to the ocean.
The report also indicated that plastic waste made up 9 percent of the garbage translating to about 81 tons whereby only half of it is processed for recycling.
Lawyer Seth Mwatela Wins Kwale Speaker Seat
Lawyer Seth Mwatela Kamanza has been elected the new Kwale county assembly Speaker after garnering 20 out of 30 votes during the second round of voting..
His closest rival Salim Gombeni got 10 votes.
Former speaker Sammy Ruwa was knocked out during the first round of voting after getting 7 votes. In the first round, Seth and Gombeni had garnered 13 and 9 votes respectively with former Msambweni Omar Zonga getting only 1 vote.
Ruwa previously vied for the county top seat but finished fifth after being trounced by Fatuma Achani.
Mwatela also vied for the Kinango parliamentary seat during the August election but lost to Gonzi Rai.
Meanwhile the newly elected members of the Mombasa county assembly are expected to be sworn into office on Friday, they are thereafter expected to elect their speaker and deputy speaker.
Nassir Orders For A Review Of PSV Licenses To Cushion Operators
Mombasa county governor Abdulswamad Nassir has ordered for a review of licenses levied on public service vehicles and tuktuks operating within Mombasa County.
Matatu operators had complained of what they termed as exorbitant charges for licenses levied on matatus and tuktuks by the county government during the governor Jho administration.
The announcement which is a sigh of relief, to the key players was made on Tuesday when the newly elected governor met the transport operators in a consultative meeting.
Nassir, who took over from Joho, said as part of fulfilling some of his campaign pledges he will direct that the levies be reviewed downwards to cushion the sector players from the economic burden.
“It is my recommendation that these county fees be reviewed downwards subject to the approval of the County Assembly in the upcoming Finance Bill and the ease of compliance be improved so as to increase the collections for the county,” said Nassir.
Nassir promised that a detailed circular will be released by the county government before the end of next week detailing how to ease the cost of doing business in Mombasa.
Nassir said the county government will now automate the payment processes so as to ease the burden of queuing at the transport department in the Shimanzi area to make payments.
“We will no longer require operators to go all the way to Shimanzi for clearance then to Treasury Square for payment - we will enhance the simplicity of compliance by digitizing this process,” he added.
During his swearing in speech at the Mama Ngina waterfront last week,Nassir made a first executive order to waive licence penalties levied on markets and businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Mombasa residents are struggling with the rising cost of living as income dwindles as our hotel industry and port-related businesses struggle,” Nassir said.
He said his priority will be the revival of Mombasa's economy. He also promised that dormant businesses will soon be revamped and existing ones expanded through his administration.
Speaking to this blog, Matatu Owners Association Mombasa Chairman Ali Batesi welcomed the move saying it will not help them as operators but also Mombasa residents and commuters.
"This is a very good move and we thank our governor for this. He has proven to us that he cares for us as businessmen and Mombasa residents at large" said Batesi.
Adding " It's timing is very right, now that the prices of fuel are always increasing and this will not only help us as businessman but commuters too. As you are aware we have not increased fares despite the high cost of fuel so this is something that we cannot take lightly and we promise the governor our support and cooperation as he settles in his new office"
Teddy Mwambire Elected As Speaker, Kilifi County Assembly
Former Ganze Mp Teddy Mwambire has been elected as the speaker of the Kilifi county assembly.
Mwambire got a total of 37 votes against his close rival James Mlewa of the Pamoja African Alliance party (PAA) who got 13 votes during the election on Tuesday. Kilifi governor Gideon Mngaro was present during the speaker election.
In Kilifi, ODM won 18 out of the 35 elected MCA seats, PAA scooped six and the other parties shared the remaining slots.
Mwambire who is also the Kilifi ODM chairman lost the Ganze parliamentary seat to Kenneth Kazungu of the PAA party.
Journalist Ali Mwalimu Picks Nomination Papers For County Assembly Speaker Post
Radio Rahma presenter and reporter Ali Mwalimu has expressed interest in the Mombasa county assembly Speaker's position.
Mwalimu picked the nomination papers for the post on Monday morning at the Mombasa county assembly clerk's office.
"This is as an opportunity to grab as journalists, we have been pushing for change and we cannot just sit down and wait for that change, we need to get into the system to make things work, so this is one of the reason that pushed me to get into the race" Mwalimu told Ommy Dallah.
The Mombasa County Assembly has advertised for the speaker position on Friday through local dailies.
The deadline for the application is tomorrow, Tuesday, 20th September.
The constitution requires that the speaker be elected among persons who are not members of the County Assembly.
The first sitting of the county assembly will be held on Friday, 23 September at 10am.
Video: Mombasa Shia Muslims Mark Ashura
The Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat Federation of Africa Tablig chairman Sheikh Sajaad Walliji has urged Kenyans to unite and continue living in peace.
He urged Kenyans to help the less fortunate in the society.
Speaking during a peaceful procession to mark the 40th day after the death of Imam Hussein the grandson of prophet Muhammad, Islamic religious teacher Ali Bahero urged Kenyans to love one another regardless of ethnicity, race or social status.
Ashura is marked on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.
It is a particularly important period of mourning for Shia Muslims, as it marks the anniversary of the seventh-century Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq, when Hussein was killed.
The death of Hussein is considered by the Shia community as a symbol of humanity’s struggle against injustice, tyranny and oppression.
The primary rituals and observances on Ashura consist of public expressions of mourning. Sunni Muslims commemorate the day through voluntary fasting.
Some in the Shia community mark the day by flagellating themselves with chains and the blunt ends of swords. This is intended to exemplify the suffering Hussein experienced shortly before his beheading.
In Mombasa, members of the community dressed in black converged at the Jafery sports ground Mbaraki for a two hour procession that ended at the community cemetery in Mwembe Tayari, on Saturday.
Prominent Mombasa businessman Mohammad Jaffer was among those who took part in the procession.
Mombasa County Advertises Assembly Speaker Position
The Mombasa County Assembly has advertised the vacant speaker position.
Applicants will be required to fill in and sign nomination forms and attach a copy of their resumes.
Nomination papers are to be collected in person by the interested applicants from the office of the clerk of the county assembly during working hours from Friday 16th September to Tuesday 20th September.
"Pursuant to article 178 of the constitution of Kenya 2010 section 9A of the county government act 2012 and standing order 5 of the county assembly standing orders, the office of the speaker of the county assembly shall become vacant upon the first sitting of the county assembly thus election of the speaker" reads an advert on the dailies.
The constitution requires that the speaker be elected among persons who are not members of the County Assembly.
The first sitting of the county assembly will be held on Friday, 23 September at 10am.
This comes just days after the swearing in of the governor Abdulswamad Nassir.
Aharub Khatri who was the speaker of the last assembly is said to be keen in defending the position.
ODM party remains the majority in the assembly after it bagged 23 seats in the August polls. UDA clinched four, two are independent and one for Wiper.
Ruto To Make First Visit To Mombasa As President On Saturday
President William Ruto is expected to make his first official visit to Mombasa after being sworn into office on Saturday.
The head of state is expected to officially close the ongoing governor's and deputy governor's induction at the Pride Inn hotel Shanzu.
According to the program, the governor's are also expected to elect their new leadership today, Saturday.
Besides the chair position, deputy and whip, the governors will also lock horns in picking chairpersons of 18 various council committees with some perceived as lucrative.
Kenya Kwanza has fronted Kirinyaga governor Ann Waiguru for the chairperson position while Azimio has fronted Kajiado county governor Joseph Ole Lenku.
Ayra Starr Returns With The First Single Of The Year - Rush
Mavin Records songstress, Ayra Starr proves her musical process yet again with a new single dubbed, Rush.
Hot off the back of his debut album ‘19 & Dangerous‘ which housed hits like Bloody Samaritan and Fashion Killa, Ayra Starr takes another step forward.
The talented female singer recently won the “Viewers Choice Award” at the 2022 Headies Awards in Atlanta.
However, on the new single “Rush”, Ayra Starr discusses a range of themes, most notably gloating about her money, the necessity to grind every day to preserve her status, and the need to avoid bad energy from her opponents while doing so, a theme that is similar to that of “Bloody Samaritan.”
Rush by Ayra Starr“, was produced by Henri Velasco and Andre Vibez, serves as one of the new records off the upcoming deluxe edition of her 19 & Dangerous album out next month.
Listen HERE..
