Mombasa County Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed has noted with concern the shocking rise in cases of rape and defilement of teenage girls in the county.

According to Zamzam, it is high time that authorities and leadership take action to address the issue.

Speaking while issuing bursaries, Zamzam noted that there have also been cases of school girls being sexually abused by close relatives and neighbours.

"It is very sad that there are some people who have taken advantage of the fact that some of our girls cannot access sanitary pads, they end up abusing them sexually" said Zamzam.

The Mp called on Chief Justice Martha Koome to deploy more magistrates to deal with cases of rape in the county noting there has been a backlog of the cases at the Mombasa court.

Zamzam noted "We have so many cases of rape that have not yet been resolved. I would like to appeal to our CJ to deploy more magistrates to Mombasa to deal with this cases and perpetrators brought to book."

She further called on President William Ruto to revert the school girls’ sanitary pads programme from Education ministry to that of Gender.

"As Women representatives in our respective counties we are the ones who interact with these girls on a daily basis and are the ones who can easily distribute the sanitary pads. I would like to appeal to our president to ensure that the programme is reverted to the gender ministry" argued Zamzam.

Leading online sports betting company 22Bet has announced the appointment of Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones as their new brand ambassador.

The announcement marks the beginning of a new partnership between 22Bet and the award-winning artist, who is widely recognized as one of the most talented and influential musicians in Kenya.

Khaligraph Jones, whose real name is Brian Ouko Robert, has been a major force in the Kenyan music scene for over a decade, and has won numerous awards for his work, including the coveted Soundcity MVP Award for Best Hip Hop in Africa in 2020.

Speaking at the press briefing, Khaligraph Jones expressed his excitement at being named the new brand ambassador for 22Bet.

"I am thrilled to be partnering with 22Bet, a company that has established itself as a leading player in the sports betting industry. As an artist, I am always looking for new and exciting ways to connect with my fans, and I believe that this partnership will enable me to do just that. I look forward to working with 22Bet to create engaging and innovative content that will resonate with our audiences." said Jones

For its part, 22Bet emphasised the importance of the partnership with Khaligraph Jones, saying that the rapper's popularity and influence in Kenya and beyond made him an ideal choice as their new brand ambassador.

"We are delighted to welcome Khaligraph Jones to the 22Bet family," said a spokesperson for the company.

Adding "As a brand, we are committed to working with the best and most talented individuals in all areas of our business, and we believe that Khaligraph Jones is the perfect partner to help us connect with our customers and fans in new and exciting ways."

The partnership between 22Bet and Khaligraph Jones is expected to lead to a number of exciting new initiatives, including social media campaigns, live events, and exclusive content for 22Bet customers.

With Khaligraph Jones on board as their new brand ambassador, 22Bet is looking forward to continuing to grow its brand and connect with its customers in Kenya and beyond.

After a long wait, Mombasa based Banadri FC has finally unveiled their new replica jerseys.

The jersey is a representation of the team's identity, with the iconic blue and white stripes and the club crest prominently displayed on the front

Through it's official social media page, the club announced that fans can now get the new jerseys at the club's official ground, Mbaraki sports grounds.

"Mliitisha, tunawapa . Jezi za viwango vya juu zimefika .Kwa sasa, zitapatikana uwanjani Mbaraki kuanzia kesho, mpaka tutakapowatangazia sehemu zingine, kwa bei ya Sh. 2,000 pekee.Kesho njoo uwanjani kifua wazi, jezi utavalia huku" reads the tweet.

According to a source at the club, various outlets will be opened as well as online shops to sell the replica jerseys and other merchandise such as mugs and towels.

Residents of Changamwe and who are staunch viewers of  Boss television station have appealed to president William Ruto to help revive the station he unveiled last year and which has ever since shut down.

President Ruto launched the station in December 2021 during the campaign period and is said to have promised to support it but it has since shut down due to what is believed to be harsh economic times.

Among the viewers is Pastor Kennedy Omondi of light of salvation church, who regretted that since the station was unveiled by President William Ruto, while he was then the deputy president it is no longer operational.

It is not clear what could be ailing the station but residents who spoke to this blog revealed that the station shut down due to harsh economic times thus rendering hundreds of youth jobless.

 “We ask the president to help in reviving the station so that we can get benefits that we used to get when the station was live, we ask the president to honour the promise he made to help in sustaining the station,” said pastor Omondi.

Another resident John Mukaria said the boss tv channel that broadcasted most of its news from the locality should be revived to help locals continue enjoying local content.

“We are asking that Boss Tv be revived, it used to give us the best local content that we couldn't get anywhere else because the station is based in Changamwe Mombasa,” said Mukaria saying that the matter should not be seen as political.

According to James Kimondiu,a staunch viewer of boss Tv, residents are now unable to get local content after the station was shut. They claim many youth have lost jobs and talents gone to waste after it was closed.

“We are no longer getting local news like we used to get, it’s unfortunate that the station was opened by the then deputy president William Ruto last year, and has now shut down, we ask him in the spirit of hustler to help it be revived,” said Kimondiu.

Adding " This station provided job opportunities to our youths around here, they used to support their families through this station. Mr. President you promised to uplift the lives of hustlers and local mwananchi please help us in this."

Former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho has quietly arrived in the country after being away for some months.

Joho arrived in the country on Friday evening from the United States (US).

The former county boss was last seen in public during the swearing-in ceremony of the current Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, on September 23, 2022 at the Mama Ngina Waterfront.

Joho who is also known for his taste for the finest things has been posting photographs of himself in Dubai, Netherlands and the US in his instagram page which boosts of over 1.3 million followers, mainly the youth.

Joho was on Monday evening spotted interacting with Mombasa residents after breaking the fast at the busy Makadara street while enjoying snacks from local vendors. He was later spotted in Tudor, at the office of Mvita Mp Mohammed Machele interacting with the legislator and supporters.

The ODM deputy party leader has been quiet on current political affairs in the country even as his party leader Raila Odinga has been leading street protests over the current regime, something that has baffled friends and foes. He was among the vocal supporters of Odinga during the campaigns and was poised to be the Lands cabinet secretary once Odinga takes over the government.

Last month, Joho got netizens talking once again after he was spotted in a hooded jacket estimated to be worth a staggering Ksh.227,150 while in the US.

In the photograph which he shared on his instagram page, he was wearing a minty Moncler's Dincer hooded jacket ,a puffy, white, red and blue stripped fashion show-stopper which according to the official brand site costs about $1,750  equivalent to Ksh.227,150. He was standing next  toa sleek Range Rover whose number plate is designed with his initials 'HAJ.'

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir has scrapped medical assessment fee charged to persons with disability in Mombasa as the county seeks to roll out a comprehensive medical cover of the vulnerable groups.

Speaking at Tononoka hall, during an exercise to register persons with autism in the county, Nassir also ordered for immediate mapping of all persons with disability among them children with autism within Mombasa County so that they can benefit from cash transfer programs among other services.

“Money that people with disabilities pay to get medical assessment will be free from now going forward, we will hold meetings with my cabinet to tell them the importance of mapping up all children with disabilities so that they can reap benefits from the county.

Nassir said after the mapping the county will now roll out a comprehensive medical cover of the National insurance fund NHIF to over 10,000 persons in Mombasa with priority given to persons with disability.

“After Ramadhan,in the first week, we will start giving universal health care coverage to over 10,000 families, among them children coming from poor backgrounds,orphans,disability widows and widowers,” said Nassir.

Nassir was responding to a cry by  Mombasa county (NCPWD) coordinator Juliet Ruwa, who decried that persons living with autism have continued to bear the brunt of marginalization in health, education and development due to lack of registration cards.

“We are requesting the assessment money to be scrapped because without that they will not be registered, and they will not also benefit from cash transfer and other services offered, “said Ruwa.

Ruwa said registration of persons with disability in Mombasa will highlight the nature of their disability, it will also easen the burden of addressing their plight and needs without victimization.

“If they fail to get the cards, it will be difficult for them to be recognized as among persons with disability,” she added. She was speaking at Tononoka hall during a meeting convened by the Mombasa county government.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir has decried delayed disbursement of the county revenue allocation, thus affecting service delivery.

The governor claimed Mombasa is being victimized because it’s leadership is allied to the Orange Democratic Party ODM.Nassir claims that all other counties have received their share, but Mombasa was left out.

“Leadership is not about victimization, leadership is solving problems people have, we must speak, the national government should not be in the fore from to kill devolution, going for four months without money is not easy and we can’t allow that,” said Nassir.

Nassir said Mombasa is struggling to meet some of its functions owing to the delay of the monies for the last four Months. He asked the people including leaders to stay united and focus on development.

“We are saying even if they deny us money, we will thrive, even if Mombasa leadership is ODM ,this does not mean we are less people, and we must talk about the rights of our people, because monies have been delayed,” claimed Nassir.

On his part Jomvu mp Badi Twalib asked leaders to unite and deliver for the people of Mombasa.

“The central government must release funds to counties, because counties cannot manage themselves, let them know that the people of Mombasa also have a right,” said Twalib who urged leaders in Mombasa to stay united irrespective of party affiliations.

The leaders were speaking during an iftar dinner hosted by the Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib, on Saturday evening.

Speaking at the same function EALA Mp Hassan Omar said the government will not victimize anyone instead it will deliver the pledges it gave to the people of Mombasa.

Omar said it is evident that the Kenya Kwanza government is considerate about the Mombasa people when it returned port operations to Mombasa port.

“We want to promise Mombasa people that the government has big plans for Mombasa, we will not victimize anyone, and the plans are underway to ensure as the special economic zone takes shape, we will create more jobs in Mombasa.

Omar further called on Mombasa residents not to take part in the Azimio la Umoja Monday protests.

"Let them continue with their protests in other areas, as for Mombasa let us remain peaceful and ensure that our tourism industry remains steady". said Omar

Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Unizima S.A. (“Unizima”), an affiliate of Univercells Group, in Belgium have initiated a collaboration for the establishment of a Bio-manufacturing Training Hub in the country.

President William Ruto who was on a tour of Unizima’s bio manufacturing company, in Jumet, Belgium, accompanied by government officials among them Cabinet Secretary for Health Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, Acting Director General, KEMRI, Prof. Elijah Songok among others, announced on Wednesday, 29th March, 2023, that Kenya and Belgium have agreed to establish a bio manufacturing training hub in the Kenya under Unizima, a Univercells Group a Belgium Biotech company

.Under the initiative, KEMRI will partner with Unizima to advance and formalize their commitment to building a thriving biopharma skills base in Kenya and the wider EastAfrica region.

“The Government of Kenya is committed and determined to realise the constitutional right to health in the shortest time possible by delivering a universal  health coverage. We are therefore delighted to initiate a collaboration with Unizima and the Univercells Group as we share a common mission and values. This new partnership is an important step towards building local training and workforce capacities in Kenya, which is crucial for health and wellbeing of the fast growing Kenyan population”. said President Ruto.

On his part KEMRI Acting Director General Prof Elijah Songok noted “We are excited about this partnership with Unizima in Belgium that will surely provide KEMRI with expertise, advisory support, training and technology particularly in the area of bio manufacturing ecosystem which is fundamental to the Kenyan people. KEMRI is living its mission of providing leadership in human health research, capacity building and service delivery, and this landmark initiative with the Belgians is a clear indication.”

Chief Executive Officer of Unizima, Hala Audi concluded, “This new partnership with Kenya, after ground- breaking collaborations in Senegal and South Africa, continues our approach to work hand in hand with partners in Africa who are investing in their own new biopharma capability.”

The collaboration will include among other areas, building the right training and research ecosystem, that will ensure that end to end research and development and manufacturing of biologicals, expertise, advisory support, and technology transfer.

Kenyan healthcare and research leaders who are driving this initiative include; KEMRI, Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital, Kenya Biovax Institute, Egerton University and the Pharmacy and Poison Board.

As Kenya prepares for significant inwards investment in biotechnology and biomanufacturing over the coming years, the government is building the human capital and workforce development needed to ensure this investment brings real improvement in access to vaccines and biotherapeutics for patients in Kenya and the region.

This project is in line with the governments agenda of advancing the economic pillar of local manufacturing and the development objective on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).