An uneasy calm has settled over Goma after several days of deadly violence between combatants.

Heavy shelling and intense fighting forced tens of thousands of people many of whom were already displaced due to earlier conflict to flee once again.The intense clashes in Goma and its surrounding areas over the past week have further deepened the already dire humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Maina Kingori, Acting Country Director for CARE DRC, witnessed heart-wrenching scenes of people escaping the fighting.

"I’ve seen large numbers of people lining the sides of the roads carrying their belongings—mattresses, buckets, and household items—on their backs or bicycles, fleeing for their lives. Families are leaving camps, fearing that the bombs will reach them. From one of my colleagues, I heard of two brothers who were severely injured when a bomb exploded near their shelter— both suffering life-threatening injuries, one losing his leg. This conflict is not just displacing people; it’s shattering lives and communities."

Heavy artillery fire in and around Goma has been causing widespread fear and psychological distress.

“The fear, anxiety, and mental anguish are palpable in the region. The constant sound of artillery has been traumatizing,” Kingori shared.

“For children, the fear of bombs falling nearby, and the uncertainty of safety create mental anguish that is difficult to overcome. Women are left carrying the burden of keeping their families safe while enduring the risk and fear of further violence.”

DRC is grappling with a decades-long crisis, leaving communities in a state of perpetual insecurity and vulnerability.

Over 6 million people are displaced, with recent hostilities exacerbating their plight. North Kivu, where Goma is located, hosted over 2.7 million Internally Displaced Persons. Since the beginning of the year, over 400,000 have been displaced due to conflict.

Even before the recent escalation of fighting in Goma, IDP camps were already overcrowded as families fled ongoing violence in surrounding villages Over the past few days, more makeshift shelters on steep hillsides are visible; schools are being used as temporary accommodations for those displaced.

This all underscores the desperate need for stability.  In this environment, women and girls continue to face heightened risks of gender-based violence, including sexual violence by armed combatants. Sexual violence has been a devastating weapon of war that has seen women lose their lives after being assaulted. 

CARE’s programs in the DRC, which focus on economic empowerment, providing essential food, and medical supplies, and supporting the most vulnerable, especially women and girls, have been so heavily affected.

“Even before this escalation, our teams and partners faced significant challenges accessing communities in need due to road blockages and insecurity. However, with the recent intensification of violence, these challenges have greatly increased. In some cases, we are taking routes twice as long, even crossing into Uganda, to deliver supplies to health facilities. The humanitarian need is immense, but so are the barriers to reaching those in need,” said Kingori.

CARE urgently calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians caught up in the fighting, unhindered humanitarian access, and the meaningful inclusion and participation of women and girls and women-led and women’s rights organizations in the humanitarian response.

"We cannot stand by as women and children bear the brunt of this protracted crisis," Kingori added. "Every effort must be made to protect lives, ensure access to humanitarian aid, and uphold human dignity."

Successful cyberattacks can have multiple impacts on a business, and the repercussions can be both far-reaching and long-lasting. Robust cybersecurity measures are therefore essential in mitigating these risks, including against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which are designed to force a server, website or online service offline.

As outlined by NETSCOUT, which provides visibility, security and performance solutions for organisations across the globe, cyberthreats are all around us, lurking in unexpected areas of the internet, networks and even individual devices. Uncovering the identification, prevention and evolution of the most common cyberthreats is a significant step in an organisation’s cyber defences.

Unpacking Common Types of Cyberattacks

NETSCOUT confirms that some of the most common types of cyberattacks include the following:

1. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks: These cyberattacks flood servers, applications or other network areas to render them unavailable and disrupt the availability of services, leading to potential revenue loss and reputational damage.
2. Malware: This malicious software that is installed on targeted devices or networks has a variety of negative effects, including deleting or encrypting files, hindering performance, and gaining access to accounts. Malware is spread by downloading infected files, clicking on malicious links, or visiting hacked web pages.
3. Social engineering (including phishing): This threat targets individuals, trying to trick them into taking actions that allow threat actors to gain covert access or spread malicious software.
4. Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks: Here, an adversary intercepts or eavesdrops on communication between two parties. The goal is to steal login credentials, encryption keys and other private information.
5. SQL injection: In this code-injection technique, malicious prompts are inserted into SQL databases. Threat actors enter prompts such as ‘Dump the entire database to X location’ to export the contents of a database for their own purposes.
6. Zero-day exploits: Adversaries make use of unknown or unaddressed security flaws to place malware in a system. Threat actors can already use these weaknesses to access systems, so vendors have zero days to remedy the issues.
7. Advanced persistent threats (APTs): These threat actors pursue their victims repeatedly over an extended period of time and adapt to defensive measures.
8. Ransomware: This is malware that encrypts files and blocks access. Threat actors then demand payment to unlock the files and restore access.
9. Credential reuse: This type of attack – also known as ‘credential stuffing’ – uses lists of compromised user credentials to log into a system and gain network access. 

 Know Your Enemy: Taking Action Against DDoS Attacks

The impacts of data breaches and outages can include operational disruptions, which cause delays in critical business processes and negatively affect the supply chain; financial loss due to the costs of remedying an attack, such as removing malware and paying regulatory penalties; and damage to the brand’s reputation, further eroding customer trust and resulting in a loss of future revenue.

DDoS attacks are arguably one of the most devastating types of cyberattack an organisation can experience, and NETSCOUT excels in monitoring, understanding and protecting against such attacks, for customers worldwide, against a DDoS landscape that is constantly changing.

As part of its offering to global organisations, NETSCOUT releases a bi-annual report outlining the latest information on DDoS activities around the globe, as well as presenting regular information updates across various platforms.

Remarking on the 13th and most recent issue of its global DDoS Threat Intelligence Report, the 1H2024 edition, the company stated that: “In the first half of 2024, large surges in attack frequency were noted, notably in geopolitical conflicts, driving never-before-seen stresses on networks worldwide and leading to more sophisticated attacks than ever before.

DDoS-capable botnets are evolving and growing, with a notable increase in bot-infected devices. Critical infrastructure, such as banking, financial services, and public utilities, are prime targets, seeing a massive wave of attacks targeting them.

“We first determined the global aggregated DDoS attack impact via large-scale analysis of concurrent DDoS attacks,” the report says. “During the first half of 2024, this averaged out to 1,900 attacks, with a total volume of approximately 3.2Tbps and 595.6Mpps, at any given point in time.”

Local investigations of the aggregated attack impact per network type revealed that networks with typically lower traffic loads (such as government or nonprofit organisations) report peak attack volumes on the same scale as those experienced by high-traffic networks (such as content and service providers).

This indicates that the relative surge in traffic during attacks is significantly higher for lower-traffic networks (≥4 orders of magnitude) compared with high-traffic networks (3 orders of magnitude).

“These attack dynamics clearly demonstrate that all network types require substantial mitigation capacities to ensure robust protection,” says Hamman.

“Protection against DDoS – and other - cyberattacks is therefore of critical importance in safeguarding the excellent progress that has been made to date, and to allow it to continue into the future,” he concludes.

East Africa’s most celebrated female percussionist, Kasiva Mutua, reveals a new music identity with the release of “Ndikweteela” single and video.

The Kenyan vocalist, guitarist and storyteller of remarkable depth, marks the beginning of a transformative journey with this new single which is a lead up to her highly anticipated debut album, DESTURI scheduled for release on 14th February 2025. Pre-save here

“Ndikweteela” is a poignant exploration of love and loss, capturing the bittersweet pain of a long-distance relationship’s unraveling.

The song reflects the heartbreak, insecurities, and irony of infidelity in separation. Written as a final farewell, “Ndikweteela” is both a tender apology and a resolute embrace of healing and renewed joy. 

The accompanying visually striking music video, delivering a powerful visual narrative, was shot in the breathtaking landscape of Ol Donyo Nyokie, home to the Maasai people of Kenya.

In a moment rich with cultural symbolism, a Maasai man dances alongside Kasiva as she plays the drum—an instrument traditionally reserved for men in many African traditions.

This striking scene celebrates Kasiva’s role in breaking gender barriers and honoring her position as a transformative force in East African music.

WATCH “NDIKWETEELA” MUSIC VIDEO

The rhythm that has defined Kasiva Mutua’s extraordinary career as one of Africa’s foremost percussionists now carries a stunning new melody: her own voice.

This brand new single marks a new chapter in Kasiva’s career, revealing herself as more than a percussionist. 

Grounded in Kamba lyrics, “Ndikweteela” blends a tapestry of African sounds. Drawing from the rhythmic influences of Maloya music from La Réunion, coastal Kenya’s Chakacha traditions, and Isukuti beats from Western Kenya, it showcases a captivating fusion of cultural heritage and modern innovation.

The single’s artwork, featuring Kasiva in a black dress, symbolizes the mourning of lost love while embodying resilience and hope.

Car & General has launched a dealer in Kitui. The dealer, Salaba Holdings, will be retailing the company’s Piaggio three wheelers and TVS motorcycles as well as offer service and parts in the Eastern region town.

Car & General is a leading distributor of tuk-tuks and bikes and was the pioneer of the two as taxis in Kenya over two decades ago. Last year, C&G launched its electric three wheelers in Nairobi and Mombasa in a in a bid to revolutionize transport by contributing to cleaner environment and lower operational costs.

E-mobility solutions cut down emissions thus alleviating challenges of climate change.

The company also launched the TVS HLX 125 bike with five gears.

Speaking at the launch, Jones Musau, the Regional Manager for C&G said, “C&G is committed to its mantra of making customers smile in every street, in every town with quality products and after-sales services. Our two and three wheelers play an integral role in transforming millions of lives by creating employment opportunities and providing reliable and efficient last mile connectivity for people and goods.”

The launch of the Kitui dealer resonates with Car & General’s philosophy of moving its products and services closer to its customers.

The Westerwelle Foundation in partnership with the German Federal Foreign Office has officially launched Westerwelle Startup Haus Mombasa (WSHM), its first innovation hub in Kenya offering incubation and acceleration programmes, co-working spaces, and networking events to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses in the coastal region.

This new Kenyan hub will join the international network of Westerwelle Startup Hubs, following successes in Tunis (Tunisia), Kigali (Rwanda), and Arusha (Tanzania).

WSHM provides Kenyan startups, SMEs, and youth with essential resources for building businesses, including mentorship programmes, networking opportunities, office spaces, investment readiness training, and access to the international Westerwelle Foundation network.

Additionally, the hub’s programmes will support special groups, such as women entrepreneurs, who have traditionally been disadvantaged.

“Mombasa’s growing talent pool and vibrant small business community hold immense potential for economic growth,” said Michael Mronz, Chairman of the Westerwelle Foundation.

Adding “Historically, resources and support organizations have been concentrated in Nairobi, leaving Mombasa underserved. By establishing this innovation hub, we aim to unlock the potential of local talent, empower entrepreneurs, and help to foster sustainable growth entrepreneurs in the region.”

The hub seeks to partner with the government, the local business community, startup investors, and other support organisations to address the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the region, where resources and support have historically been concentrated in Nairobi.

The decision to base the hub in Mombasa highlights the region’s strategic position as a gateway to East Africa, its rich blue economy, and the hidden talent within its coastal communities.

WSHM is designed to be a catalyst for economic transformation, leveraging partnerships with different stakeholders to drive meaningful impact.

The innovation hub caters to a diverse range of entrepreneurs and businesses. Members can join as coworking participants, renting desks or private offices, or enrol in the incubation and acceleration programs.

WSHM offers a comprehensive package of support designed to address the specific needs of entrepreneurs in the coastal region.

“Unlike Nairobi’s startup ecosystem, which is better served, Mombasa’s offer a unique opportunity to deliver impactful solutions and uncover hidden talent,” explained Joshua Murima, Country Director of the Westerwelle Foundation in Kenya.

“This initiative is about more than just supporting startups; it’s about working with local entrepreneurs and stakeholders to strengthen the entire community and create a hub of innovation that drives lasting change.”

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir welcomed the gesture saying his government is ready to support start ups and work together with partners to ensure that is achieved.

"This hub represents much more than a space—it is a beacon of collaboration. It symbolizes the incredible power of partnerships between governments, private sector stakeholders, non-profits, and international allies. Together, we have the opportunity to create a thriving ecosystem that will not only support our local entrepreneurs but will also position Mombasa as a key gateway for innovation across the African continent." said Nassir in a speech read by his Deputy Francis Thoya.

Adding "Mombasa is uniquely positioned to become a regional hub for entrepreneurship. With its strategic location, vibrant business community, and immense potential in the blue economy, we have all the ingredients needed for success. But unlocking this potential requires the full participation of all stakeholders—local businesses, national and international donors, support organizations, and, most importantly, our young people."

While WSH Mombasa is industry-agnostic, it is particularly keen to attract startups with tech-enabled businesses and sectors such as the blue economy, climate tech, and digital talent. The foundation’s first program at the hub, DigiTalents – Westerwelle Foundation, focuses on providing digital skills to young entrepreneurs, supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

This programme is currently supporting 30 young digital talents through technical training, professional coaching, and market connections.

Additional programmes tailored to key industries, including climate tech and blue economy, will be introduced throughout the year.

“Our work is grounded in partnerships,” added Murima. “We invite other organizations and investors to join us in supporting Kenyan entrepreneurship and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the hub.”

Westerwelle Startup Haus Mombasa is a Kenyan non-profit initiative, uniquely combining its identity as part of the international Westerwelle Foundation network with its commitment to the needs and opportunities of the coastal region.

This dual identity underscores its mission to bridge local talent with global opportunities.

By Joshua Murima- Kenya Country Director Westerwelle Foundation

In the pursuit of equitable growth, secondary hubs like Mombasa are often overlooked by investors focusing on primary cities. Yet, these regions possess immense potential for sustainable development and inclusivity. Redirecting investments to secondary hubs can create a balanced economic background that benefits all.

Incubator hubs are crucial in this transformation, providing startups with essential resources, mentorship, and infrastructure.

They nurture ecosystems that encourage collaboration and creativity, helping entrepreneurs steer early challenges and scale their businesses. Mombasa exemplifies this potential; despite its vibrant small business community and talent pool, it lacks the support structures found in Nairobi.

The launch of Westerwelle Startup Hub (WSH) Mombasa, however, is a step toward addressing this gap. According to Joshua Murima, Kenya Country Director at Westerwelle Foundation, "Mombasa’s entrepreneurial potential is immense, and with the right support structures like the Westerwelle Startup Hub, we can turn local challenges into opportunities that empower communities and drive sustainable growth."

High unemployment rates in Mombasa highlight the urgent need for entrepreneurship-driven solutions. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, unemployment in coastal counties like Mombasa hovers around 14.6%, significantly higher than the national average of 7.2%.

This challenge presents an opportunity for investors to access untapped talent with less competition compared to saturated primary markets like Nairobi. Mombasa is a goldmine for those seeking high-potential startups.

The Coastal city, which is located on the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) side offers significant financial advantages in sectors like fisheries and marine conservation. Startups focused on the blue economy can drive innovation while addressing regional needs such as sustainable resource management and job creation.

Additionally, the demand for purified water presents a lucrative opportunity, given Mombasa's warm climate and high population. Entrepreneurs can establish water purification businesses or distribution networks to meet this critical need

Renewable energy solutions are crucial as well, with opportunities for startups that provide solar energy or energy-efficient technologies. The tourism sector also offers unique business prospects; startups can create guest lodges or eco-friendly accommodations that cater to both local and international tourists, enhancing the visitor experience while promoting sustainability.

Furthermore, the logistics and transportation sector stands to benefit from Mombasa's strategic location as a port city. Startups that streamline supply chain solutions can capitalize on this advantage, ensuring efficient movement of goods.

Despite historical neglect from investors, the potential benefits of investing in secondary hubs far outweigh the risks. For instance, Nairobi's iHub has successfully catalyzed Kenya's startup ecosystem, positioning local entrepreneurs for global success. Tailored initiatives in Mombasa could replicate this success while addressing regional disparities.

Incubator hubs also bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering research-driven innovation. Institutions can play a vital role by combining academic expertise with industry insights to improve local innovations and nurture collaboration among universities, research institutions, and businesses.

Such partnerships boost innovation and ensure solutions are grounded in real-world applications. By aligning academic research with entrepreneurial efforts, secondary incubator hubs will create a pipeline of talent that fuels sustainable growth across sectors.

Inclusivity is a cornerstone of incubator hubs' impact on equitable growth. By providing opportunities to diverse entrepreneurs, including women and marginalized communities, these secondary hubs will address systemic inequalities while expanding economic participation. Supporting diverse teams is both moral imperative that drives better innovation outcomes, which is a critical advantage for startups competing globally.

The success of secondary incubator hubs will rely on collective action from various stakeholders. The Government must create an enabling environment through supportive policies and infrastructure investments. Public-private partnerships can amplify impact by leveraging resources from both sectors while mitigating risks associated with early-stage ventures.

For Mombasa specifically, targeted interventions including grants for blue economy startups or incentives for tech-enabled businesses could accelerate ecosystem development while addressing region-specific challenges. As global economies become interconnected yet unequal, investing in secondary hubs like Mombasa is no longer an option. These hubs provide fertile ground for cultivating innovation ecosystems that drive equitable growth while addressing localized challenges.

By encouraging collaboration among stakeholders, supporting diverse entrepreneurs, and leveraging regional strengths like the blue economy, incubator hubs can transform Mombasa into an engine of sustainable development.

In essence, investing in secondary hubs like Mombasa not only addresses regional disparities; it’s about unlocking untapped potential that benefits everyone, from local communities to global investors. As we strive for a more equitable future, prioritizing investments in these emerging ecosystems should be at the top of every policymaker’s agenda. The time to act is now; building a more inclusive economy starts with empowering those who have been overlooked for too long.

Coast region rotary clubs have joined hands to host a mega event dubbed Sunshine Rally on February 8^th to fundraise money that will be used to initiate community projects aimed at benefiting the physically challenged people in the region.

The one-day event that will be held at Shree Swaminarayan School is targeting to bring together more 2,500 pupils across the region and engage them in various sporting and fun activities. 

The event activities and logistical issues have been sponsored by Mombasa Cement who are dedicated to ensure the Rally will have an impact for generations matching their slogans Building for Generations.

The event, which is anticipated to demand chauffeuring services, refreshments, gift packs, venue payments would have been a huge burden to the Coast Rotary Clubs thank you to the Platinum sponsor Mombasa Cement.

Speaking to one of the event organizer Rose Chege a decorated Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Mombasa Downtown said that the Sunshine Rally Coast edition preparations are on going well and that she is happy for the support that is flowing through from various corners.  

“So far we have so many rotarians, rotaractors and friends of rotary who are willing to be volunteers for different roles during the event, this shows how coastarians have embraced the event” noted Rose.

On the other hand, Mombasa Cement have promised to provide food items to twelve schools in the region courtesy of the Sunshine Rally as part of their sponsorship. That will include bags of maize, beans, sugar and gallons of edible oil among others. We urge the community to support the event by buying event merchandise like t-shirts, monetary support through PAYBILL 247247 ACC. RCMD15.

Mombasa press club chairman Omar Abdallah has challenged journalists to promote road safety campaigns by telling informative stories within their media platforms.

Abdallah who spoke during the official launch of Mombasa county road safety report 2023,on Tuesday, reiterated on Role of Media in Promoting Road Safety in the country.

He stressed on Effective communication about road safety, whether in the media, in safety campaign materials, or in community outreach efforts, saying it plays an important role in ensuring safety mobility of all road users.

His call comes in the wake of a sustained road safety campaign by government and private sector players from  Mombasa in collaboration with international partner's in the quest to  zero rate on road crashes.

"Media outlets serve as a bridge between the government and the public. By actively participating in such sensitization programs, journalists and media personnel can effectively communicate the importance of road safety to the masses,"said Abdalla.

While acknowledging the significant work done by journalist in ensuring safety on our roads, Abdallah said media can shape the agenda and influence change in public behavior especially on our roads.

"Through news articles, editorials, and public service announcements, media can influence public behavior and encourage adherence to traffic regulations. Understanding the Significance of Road Safety," Omar added.

Mombasa press club and a host of it's members have been among a pool of journalists trained on solution based reporting so as to sensitize the public on the importance of reducing road Carnage in the country.

"Road safety is not just a governmental responsibility but a collective societal duty.

Mombasa Press Club Chairman challenges journalists to take up role of sensitizing members of the club on road safety," he added.

He also called on partners and stakeholders to support the media through award for local journalists and grants for jour Alistair to tell stories.

In the report launched on Tuesday in Mombasa reported number of road traffic deaths increased by 36% in 2023, from 69 in 2022 to 94, while serious injuries rose by 17%, from 161 in 2022 to 188.

Vulnerable road users’ pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists—made up 92% of the reported deaths in 2023, with pedestrians alone accounting for 56% of these deaths.

The findings also showed that deaths were frequently reported from crashes which occurred from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight.

At the report launch event, Rebecca Bavinger of Bloomberg Philanthropies pointed out that it was great to see the work and progress in Mombasa to save lives from road crashes, however, more needs to be done to see a reduction in deaths and injuries.

 "We commend the county's proactive approach to road safety, notably through the establishment of the County Transport and Safety Committee. BP stands ready to offer further technical assistance, while BIGRS will continue to support the Mombasa County government in enhancing road safety for all users”.