Nyali parliamentary aspirant Said Abdalla has underscored the critical role of faith-based institutions in fostering peace, strengthening families, and driving community development, calling on leaders to deepen their partnership with religious organizations.

Abdalla made the remarks on Sunday while attending a fundraising event in support of the construction of the Nyali Hills Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in Mkomani Ward, where he joined congregants and other well-wishers in raising funds for the church project.

Addressing the congregation, the aspiring legislator praised the spirit of generosity displayed during the fundraiser, saying the event reflected the power of unity in advancing community initiatives.

“I was inspired by the commitment and generosity demonstrated by the congregation and all well-wishers who came together to support this noble cause,” said Abdalla.

He noted that churches remain indispensable partners in promoting moral values, social harmony, and responsible leadership, adding that development goes beyond physical infrastructure to include nurturing strong and cohesive communities.

“As leaders, we must continue partnering with faith-based institutions because they play a vital role in nurturing strong families, promoting peace, and building a compassionate society,” he said.

Abdalla commended the leadership of Nyali Hills SDA Church for spearheading the construction initiative and expressed gratitude for the warm reception accorded to him during the event.

“I sincerely thank the church leadership for the warm reception and congratulate everyone who contributed towards making this fundraising a success,” he said.

He further prayed for God’s blessings upon all those who supported the project and expressed confidence that the church building would be completed successfully.

“May the Almighty God bless your generosity and grant success to the completion of this great project,” Abdalla added.

Calling for continued unity among residents, Abdalla urged the community to embrace collective responsibility in supporting initiatives that uplift society.

“Together, let us continue building not only churches but also stronger, united, and prosperous communities,” he said.

The fundraiser attracted church members, community leaders, residents, and other stakeholders who pledged financial support towards the construction of the new church building, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening places of worship and community service in Nyali.

The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kenya’s media ahead of the 2027 General Election, while raising concerns over election-related violence, impunity and the growing threat of foreign interference and online disinformation.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on journalists’ safety and the electoral environment in Nairobi, Head of Governance, Digital and Macroeconomics at the Delegation of the European Union to Kenya, Matthew Brooke, said the media remains a critical partner in safeguarding democracy despite an increasingly challenging global environment.

“The geopolitics is not in our favour. There are all sorts of threats,” Brooke said. “As the European Union, we recognise the important work that the Kenya Correspondents Association is doing. There is concern about violence during elections and the culture of impunity, and the media plays a central role. That is why we are here.”

He noted that the EU was particularly concerned about foreign interference and manipulation of information, especially through online platforms, saying the trend poses a significant threat to democratic processes.

“We are truly committed to supporting responsible media. The media also needs to act responsibly,” he said. “We are shaping up our electoral support programmes, and the media will be one of the beneficiaries. We will work closely with the media because we rely upon journalists to improve our understanding of what is happening in the country.”

Also speaking at the meeting, French Embassy in Kenya Communications Director Romain France Boyer described the discussions as timely, noting that the country is now one year away from the General Election.

“This is a timely discussion since we have one year to the election. Kenya has a very active media and civic space,” said Boyer.

Meanwhile, Kenya Correspondents Association Director of Programmes William Janak urged journalists to prioritise their safety as political activities intensify across the country.

“There is a need for journalists to stay vigilant and consider their safety as we head to the General Election,” Janak said. “The country has already started experiencing cases of attacks, which is not good. Journalists need a free and secure environment to carry out their work.”

He further called for increased investment in safety training for journalists to equip them with the skills needed to navigate the increasingly complex electoral environment.

“We need journalists to undergo safety training and remain vigilant throughout the election period,” he added.

The meeting, organised by the Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA), brought together stakeholders from the diplomatic community, government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), media organisations and development partners to assess the current electoral environment, discuss emerging risks facing journalists, and explore strategies to promote press freedom, journalists’ safety and responsible reporting ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election. The forum also provided an opportunity for participants to deliberate on measures aimed at ensuring a safe and enabling environment for the media as the country prepares for the polls.

Juve FC made a perfect start to their Sisi ni Dola Cup campaign after defeating Sango Sportiff FC 2-0 in an entertaining Group stage match played at the Mombasa Sports Club.

In-form striker Brian Karisa gave Juve an early advantage, finding the back of the net in the sixth minute before Enoch Lemayian doubled the lead in the 32nd minute. The two first-half goals proved enough to seal all three points as Juve comfortably held on for the win.

Karisa, 18, was named the Man of the Match following his impressive display. Speaking after the game, the young forward said the award had motivated him to work even harder as the team targets the tournament title.

“I’m happy to be named Man of the Match. Our aim is to win the trophy, and this recognition motivates me to keep improving,” said Karisa.

The youngster also revealed his long-term ambitions, expressing his desire to earn a move to a Kenya Premier League side such as Gor Mahia before pursuing his dream of playing for Chelsea FC in the English Premier League.

“This is my first time playing in this tournament, and I’m hoping for the best in the future,” he added.

Elsewhere at the same venue, Legacy FC edged Likoni United 1-0 courtesy of Abdullahi Siraj’s 15th-minute strike.

Juve FC head coach Peter Mayoyo said the tournament provides a valuable platform for young players to showcase their abilities before scouts.

“We have a talented squad this season, and I’m confident several of our players will attract the attention of the scouts who are here,” he said.

Dola Group Sports Director Hassan Kipapa said the competition is achieving its objective of identifying emerging talent while encouraging young people to embrace sports instead of drugs and substance abuse.

“We have deployed scouts to identify outstanding players during the tournament. Beyond football, our goal is to steer young people away from drugs and substance abuse by giving them opportunities to develop their talents through sport,” said Kipapa.

The Sisi ni Dola Cup champions will walk away with KSh 1 million, while the runners-up will receive KSh 500,000, with additional prizes set to be awarded in various individual and team categories.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has pushed back against claims suggesting that public health facilities in the county are struggling with severe shortages of medicines, saying County Government facilities currently record a prescription fill rate of 92 per cent.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital Frontage Redevelopment Project, Nassir said the figures recently cited by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale covered 239 health facilities in Mombasa, including both government and private facilities.

The Governor clarified that only 52 of the facilities captured in the data are operated by the County Government of Mombasa, arguing that it was therefore misleading to use the overall county-wide figures to assess the performance of the devolved government’s health facilities.

“Out of the 239 facilities being referred to, only 52 are County Government facilities. Our prescription fill rate in those facilities stands at 92 per cent,” Nassir said.

The Governor said his administration was prepared to be held accountable for the performance of facilities under its management but insisted that public debate must be based on accurate and properly disaggregated data.

Nassir maintained that the County Government has continued to invest in medicines, healthcare infrastructure and service delivery, with the 92 per cent prescription fill rate demonstrating progress in ensuring patients receive prescribed medicines at public health facilities.

His remarks came as he commissioned the redeveloped frontage of Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, a project undertaken through a partnership between the County Government of Mombasa, Jaffer Foundation and Bulkstream Ltd.

The Governor said his administration would continue working with development partners and the private sector to modernise healthcare infrastructure, improve patient experience and strengthen the quality of healthcare services available to Mombasa residents.

Nassir welcomed scrutiny of his administration’s healthcare record but cautioned against the use of aggregated statistics that fail to distinguish between County Government facilities and privately operated healthcare providers.

Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL) has announced the first winner SH1 million Winner in highly popular "Form Imejipa Na County" consumer promotion that will see prizes worth over Sh35 million shillings awarded to consumers who participate in the campaign. 

Jossy Kioko who received her prize from Ivy Kiarie, KWAL Brand Manager, Brown Spirits is one of the lucky participants who tried their luck by purchasing a bottle of County at a local establishment, scratching the label panel to reveal the entry code and submitting it by dialing the toll free USSD code *459*9# on their mobile phone.

Speaking during the official handover, Jossy expressed her excitement saying “I am very happy. I can now expand my Barbershop business with the prize money and continue to improve our future.”

Jossy was joined by laptop winners Edward Nyaga, Mauryne Mutua and Emmanuel Odhiambo as well as smartphone winners Rael Maseso, Irene Muthuka and Mauryne Mutua to claim their winnings at KWAL.

With just over a month, the Form Imejipa na County campaign has seen over 48,000 winners of diverse prizes from across the country.

The campaign which was officially launched on 3rd June 2026 celebrates the resilience and entrepreneurial outlook of County’s core market segment who are widely regarded as the engine of Kenya’s economic growth and enduring prosperity.

KWAL has rolled out the campaign nationwide with county-level activations spread across its duration.

Through the Promotion, eligible participants stand the chance to win Sh1 million in cash every month, Pool Tables, Phones, Laptops or a Content Creator Kit in monthly draws. On a weekly basis, Motor Bikes, Shopping Vouchers or Instant Cash Rewards of up to Sh10,000 will be available.

Daily instant prizes of airtime will also be available through scratch and win opportunities in the Promotion for County Brandy that is running from 4th June 2026 to 31st August 2026.

"We are celebrating our consumers and have made an effort to provide rewards that match our customer’s lifestyles, such as airtime, cash, motor bikes, pool tables or content creator kits for those who are dedicated to their labour and pursuing progress,” said Alice Mwalimo, Commercial Director, KWAL.

 A section of senior political leaders from the Coast region have intensified their support for President William Ruto, citing development projects, increased government representation, and expanded public services as reasons for backing his re-election in 2027.

Speaking in Likoni, area Mp Mishi Mboko said their decision to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration was informed by what she described as tangible development and national unity.

“We are supporting the President because he has managed to unite the country. Yes, we are in ODM, but we are working with the government. President Ruto has delivered on most of his promises and deserves another term,” Mboko said.

Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya said Coast leaders had collectively agreed that remaining in the opposition had not yielded meaningful benefits for the region.

“We sat together as Coast leaders and agreed that we have always been in the opposition as a region, and that has not been beneficial to us. President Ruto showed us that he has the best interests of the Coast at heart, and that is why we decided to work with him,” Mvurya said.

He credited the President with restoring key port services to Mombasa soon after assuming office and said the government had made unprecedented investments in the region.

“His first assignment after taking over government was bringing back port services to our region. President Ruto has invested heavily in development projects at the Coast. No President has ever accomplished such projects in our region,” he said.

Mvurya also pointed to increased representation of Coast leaders in government.

“Today, we have two Cabinet Secretaries from the region and several Principal Secretaries. The government has also set aside more than Sh300 billion for development projects in the Coast region,” he added.

He accused some opposition politicians of misleading residents ahead of the next General Election.

“There are politicians who are out to deceive and sell lies to the people. They have no agenda for our region. Some even served as Deputy President and never paid attention to the Coast, but today they are referring to us as cousins. President William Ruto deserves two terms,” Mvurya said.

Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho urged Coast residents to treat the 2027 elections as a critical moment for the region’s future.

“Do not take the 2027 elections as a joke or lightly. These elections are very important to us as the people of the Coast region. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past,” Joho said.

He argued that the region stood to benefit from continuity in leadership.

“We must re-elect President William Ruto. He has our best interests at heart, and he has already demonstrated that through the projects his administration has delivered. We will be the losers if we do not re-elect him. You only realize the value of something after you lose it. Let us not get there.”

Joho further cautioned voters to carefully evaluate their choices.

“We must be very careful and tactful when making our decision about the next election. If we get it wrong, then we are done,” he said.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir also defended the government’s record, highlighting improvements in healthcare and access to national identification documents.

“It is only through the government of President William Ruto that our community health workers have started earning monthly. We now have a working health insurance system. Let us not listen to the naysayers,” Nassir said.

He further noted that longstanding challenges affecting sections of the Coast had begun to receive attention.

“Some used to refer to us as radicals and even denied us identification cards. Through President Ruto’s government, our people are now getting IDs,” the governor added.

The leaders maintained that continued collaboration between the Coast region and the national government would accelerate development and improve service delivery, while urging residents to support President Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027.

Kenyan Afro-R&B artist Cara Akello returns with "Sumu," her first release following her artistic rebrand.

The song explores a love so deep and consuming that it may appear toxic from the outside, yet is ultimately rooted in genuine connection, trust and devotion.

Blending Afro-R&B with subtle African influences, warm basslines, and smooth production, Sumu delivers a timeless love story that resonates with radio listeners, streaming audiences, and Afro-pop fans alike.

With Sumu, Cara Akello opens a bold new chapter in her career, offering listeners an authentic sound that is both modern and deeply rooted in African musical influences. The single reflects her artistic growth and signals an exciting future for one of East Africa's emerging voices.

Watch/Listen: https://ziikimedia.ffm.to/sumu

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has raised alarm over a wave of fraudulent claims involving alleged “genital disappearance” after physical contact, warning that criminal syndicates are exploiting public fear to orchestrate robberies and incite deadly mob justice across the Coast region.

In a statement issued by the Regional Criminal Investigation Officer (RCIO)Coast Benson Kasyoki  19 incidents linked to the hoax have been reported across Kwale, Kilifi, and Mombasa counties.

Kilifi recorded the highest number of cases with nine, followed by Kwale with seven and Mombasa with three. Two people have lost their lives after being lynched by mobs in separate incidents in Kwale and Mombasa following false accusations.

Kasyoki said investigations conducted jointly with the Ministry of Health and County Medical Officers found no evidence to support the claims.

“All alleged victims have undergone thorough clinical examinations and forensic medical results conclusively prove zero physical harm, zero anatomical changes, and zero loss of organs,” said Kasyoki.

According to Kasyoki organized criminal syndicates are using the false claims to create panic before carrying out thefts and robberies.

The DCI explained that the criminals stage incidents where one suspect falsely shouts that their organs have disappeared after being touched by an innocent passerby. As members of the public gather and attack the accused, accomplices steal from bystanders, pickpocket victims and rob pedestrians. Police also blamed the rapid spread of unverified information on social media for escalating fear and mob justice.

The RCIO announced a series of enforcement measures to curb the trend, including pursuing murder charges against those involved in the fatal mob attacks.

"Anyone identified participating in, inciting, or cheering mob justice will be arrested and charged with murder,” the RCIO warned.

The DCI further warned that individuals who deliberately raise false alarms claiming their organs have disappeared will face prosecution for incitement to violence and creating a public disturbance.

 Cybercrime officers have also been deployed to identify and arrest those spreading the hoax online, with the agency revealing that 17 of the 19 reported cases are already pending before court.

Appealing for calm, the RCIO urged residents not to fall prey to misinformation or participate in mob justice.

"I urge all residents of Kwale, Kilifi, and Mombasa to remain calm, ignore these malicious hoaxes, and go about their daily businesses without fear. Do not allow criminal gangs to weaponize psychological anxieties to cause bloodshed in our communities,” the RCIO said.

The DCI has advised members of the public to report any attempts to incite crowds or stage similar false alarms to the nearest police station or DCI office instead of taking the law into their own hands.