
Ommy Dallah
I'm Not Quitting Mombasa Governor Race, Declares Nassir
Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir has dismissed reports that he is quitting the Mombasa county 2022 gubernatorial race.
Speaking On Sunday at Kaa Chonjo, Tudor, Nassir insisted that he is still in the race accusing his political opponents of spreading political propaganda.
There have been claims that Nassir intends to quit the race and instead vie for the county senator seat.
"It is so unfortunate that some individuals have run out of ideas and are now spreading false propaganda that i'm not vying for the governor seat. My friend, I'm in this race." said Nassir.
Adding " You continue spreading propagands, as we continue working for our people, continue demolishing houses for our people as we continue constructing houses for them".
Nassir distanced himself from a post making rounds on social media stating that he held a meeting with his ODM party boss Raila Odinga and Deputy Hassan Joho and agreed that he vie for the Senate seat, terming the psot as fake.
LOMIJOH Shares Stunning R&B Ep 'Sensitive Savage'
Fast-rising singer, rapper, and songwriter, LOMIJOH has released her debut EP titled Sensitive Savage. The project is a 6-track tour de force on the ambivalence of personality and emotions.
LOMIJOH’s theory is that there are two sides to every human – the sensitive side and the savage side.
Through Sensitive Savage, she embraces both sides. Her sensitive side comes out to play on “Love is a Gun,” “Next To Me,” “For Life,” and “Fiction” while she switches to the savage side on “Lil Bossy” and “Flying Around.”
On the opening single, “Love is a Gun” her poetic words are wrapped in a blanket of her silky voice.
Guitar riffs introduce “Next To Me” as she expresses her desire for an ex-lover.
She sings in chorus, “they all want my number but I can’t sleep cause you’re not next to me." Electronic music producer, Ecologyk is featured on “For Life” and “Fiction”.
On the former, her love for Hip-hop and R&B are put in a test tube and the result of the combination is an attention-grabbing tune.
Previously released “Lil Bossy” and “Flying Around” remain a delight to listen to on the extended play.
“Lil Bossy” is an empowering record for all women around the world. LOMIJOH radiates confidence and approaches the beat savagely as confidence exudes in her lyrics, voice, and rhythm.
The EP ends on a savage note as she goes Afropop on the danceable and repeat-worthy “Flying Around.”
Speaking on the debut EP, LOMIJOH said, “Sensitive Savage is about someone who is looking for their true self and struggling whether to choose between being sensitive by embracing the softness love emotions, the pains, disillusionment and being savage by embracing the strength, independence, confidence.”
Mombasa To Host Foodies Festival To Mark World Tourism Day
The County Government of Mombasa will over the weekend host the Mombasa Foodies Festival aimed at showcasing the different cuisines Mombasa has to offer in a bid to revive the tourism industry within the county.
The festival, a pre-commemoration of the World Tourism Day expected to be observed on Monday under the theme ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’, will bring together over 70 small and micro food vendors in the county who have confirmed their participation.
The two day event will be hosted at the Mama Ngina Water Front Park from Saturday where food lovers will have the opportunity to sample sumptuous coastal delicacies that will be on display.
During a media briefing at the county Mama Ngina waterfront attended by county officials led by county secretary Joab Tumbo and the tourism stakeholders led by Kenya Coast Tourism Association chair Victor Shitakha, they called on residents and visitors to turn up in large numbers for the event.
“We remain cognizant of the fact that tourism is the backbone of our economy in the county, the sector has been adversely affected by the pandemic, however the governor is committed to see that the sector is revived,” said Tumbo
Mombasa’s chief officer in the department of Tourism Asha Abdi said that the county was ready and prepared to host the festival as they prepare to mark the tourism day.
“We want to use this event as an opportunity to take stalk of the challenges the sector has faced during the pandemic period but at the same time recognize the accomplishment we’ve been able to do with stakeholders in a bid to revive the industry,” said Abdi.
She added that the event was focused on small and micro enterprises operating within the food sub-sector within the tourism industry that she says were hardly affected with some forced to close down.
“We are focusing on the lower tier that is the food vendors whom most have had to close down their operations with most not having the capital to bounce back to business, they will come to display their food products to keep alive the culture of food in our county,” said Abdi.
On Monday, the county will join the Technical University of Mombasa and the Kenya Coast Tourism Association to witness the graduation ceremony of about 300 beach operators trained by the county in a bid to enhance the beach experience.
“The training is a partnership between the county and the stakeholders focused on delivering a comprehensive curriculum for all beach operators in Mombasa,” said Abdi.
The county is also expected to use the day to officially launch the Mombasa County Tourism Revitalization Task Force recently formed by governor Ali Hassan Joho that will spear head recovery of the industry in Mombasa.
The task force will particularly look at implementing interventions that will aid in tourism recovery and sustainability in the future.
KCTA char Victor shitaka lauded the county for coming up with the taskforce stating that it is a first in the country and will be a game changer in reviving the industry.
“This is the first County that has come up with a team that will join the county to revive the sector, it is actually the first time for private sector to partner with a county for such a course,” said Shitakha.
Shitakha also announced that as from Monday all hotels in Mombasa will be giving out special offers on meals and swimming for the whole week adding that hotels were now witnessing 60 percent occupancy occasioned by increased Meeting Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) taking place in mombasa.
Public Health chief officer Pauline Oginga assured all who wished to attend the event that all ministry of health protocols would be adhered to ensure their safety.
“We are going to have officers stationed at all entrances to ensure people going in wear masks and sanitise, we will also have others around the grounds to monitor that all adhere to other protocols as advised,” said Oginga.
Oginga added that they will have a vaccination center at the ground for food enthusiasts wishing to get vaccinated.
Krizbeatz Enlists Terri & Victony On 'Time & Place'
One year ago, Krizbeatz assembled some of Africa’s finest musicians for a showcase on the album titled African Time.
Whether creating with Teni, Mr. Eazi, or Vanessa Mdee, the superproducer drew on influences from several places on the continent to paint a mosaic of the African experience in its totality capturing the depth and breadth of culture from his home country onward.
The project arrived at a time when unity on the continent was at its most needed, solidifying Krizbeatz musical credentials.
After keeping a low profile for the most part of 2021, Krizbeatz has returned with a new song.
His latest offering, “Time & Place,” is a tender collaboration between the auteur and a variety of singers like Terri, Fave, and Victony.
A pithy ballad at its core, “Time & Place” refects on the actions love can inspire from people with Terri leading with a tender verse about always being there for a love interest.
After a brief interlude, Victony adds a melodic dimension to the song that is rounded up by rising singer, Fave. Gliding over a minimalist instrumental, all singers ft within each other’s soundscape, perfecting a flickering aesthetic that compliments the song’s thematic focus.
Listen here https://krizbeatz.ffm.to/time-and-place
Bandari FC Releases Five Players, Signs Four
Coast side Bandari Fc have reinforced their squad by signing four new players ahead of the new season.
Among the latest signings are Rogers Aloro ,Whyvone Isuza, Joseph Okoth and Boniface Mwangemi. Okoth and Aloro are both from Tusker FC.
Bandari who finished third in the last premier league season have also dropped five players, namely Dan Guya who has joined Sofapaka Fc,Yema Mwana ànd Dan Otewa.Others are goalkeeper Matano Abdalla and midfielder Hamisi Mwinyi.
The new players were unveiled during a brief ceremony held on Thursday morning at the KPA Mbaraki sports club.
"We are ready for the season. We would like to thank the management for the support and are looking forward for more wins" said head coach Andre Casa Mbungo.
Adding " We have played several frienldy matches in preparation for the season. Just expect good results from us.
Bandari will kick-start the season against Mathare at home this weekend.
Mombasa County Signs MoU With Stanbic Bank To Support Digital Literacy, SMEs And Cancer Screening
Stanbic Bank Kenya and the Stanbic Kenya Foundation have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the County Government of Mombasa that will see the bank support digital literacy, SMEs and cancer screening in Mombasa, in line with the bank’s purpose to drive Kenya’s growth.
In the spirit of the partnership the bank aims to catalyze inclusive social economic growth specifically for youth, women and SME’s and promote environmental and climate awareness as avenues to create sustainable businesses in Kenya.
The partnership also looks at addressing issues around the Blue Economy.
Empowering the community is an integral function of the Stanbic Kenya Foundation which sits under the Accelerate Program. The program’s main objective is to position Kenyan businesses for success. It addresses a significant skills gap in the country by boosting entrepreneurship and the employability of citizens through digital literacy and upskilling, career development, and providing funding (grants) and access to job markets.
Speaking on behalf of the County Government of Mombasa, H.E Hon. Deputy Governor, Dr. William Kingi commended the bank and the Stanbic Kenya Foundation for their continuous support in helping the government achieve its objective.
He said, “Our partnership will empower our youth and allow them to participate productively in the economy. This will indeed play a big role in eradicating youth unemployment and transforming them into entrepreneurs.”
In line with the banks purpose of driving Kenya’s economic growth, the Stanbic Kenya Foundation seeks to fast track and boost the growth of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country by providing access to resources and knowledge that will elevate businesses and individuals and empower them to achieve their dreams.
Many enterprises in the country are still struggling to recover from the effects of the global pandemic, and it is evident that having digital skills is key to survival.
Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony, the Chief Executive for Stanbic Bank Kenya, Charles Mudiwa said, “Since we launched the partnership with the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade and Enterprise Development and Microsoft, we continue to engage the counties in support of the SME’s, youth and women. To this end we have made great strides in rolling the ‘Future ni Digital’skills program that will see us train 1000 trainers and reach at least 500,000 Kenyans in the next 3 years."
Adding "We are honored to work closely with the County Government of Mombasa to help drive the county’s economic growth and are making deliberate efforts to grow and empower our people. As a bank we will continue to rally the private sector to partner and work with government to advance their development agenda. “
The Stanbic Kenya Foundation has already implemented different interventions to support MSMEs. These include capacity building through offering digital skills and entrepreneurial training programs as part of the banks Future Ni Digital campaign launched in partnership with the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development.
The initiative aims to build the capacity ofindividuals and business in digital skills and marks yet another significant milestone for the Foundation under its strategic pillars of Job creation, Enterprise Development and Education. The Foundation is working closely with government’s Biashara Training Centres to roll this out.
The Stanbic Kenya Foundation plans to distribute over 400 computers and laptops to facilitate the learning program which seeks to equip 50,000 MSE’s with digital skills by the end of the year 2021.
In addition to the MoU signing ceremony, the Stanbic Kenya Foundation carried out cancer screenings in partnership with Tunza Clinic in different parts of Mombasa including, Kongowea market, Likoni and Changamwe.
The Stanbic Foundation has initiated this exercise in Laikipia, Kericho, Nairobi and Nakuru.
Over and above the digital skills program, the Stanbic Kenya Foundation has made great strides in its contribution to strengthening the country’s healthcare system. On the healthcare front, the Foundation partnered with strategic private sector partners as a COVID-19 response, and successfully donated192 Ventilators worth Kshs.147 million to the Ministry of Health and were distributed countrywide including Mombasa County.
In addition, the Foundation had partnered with the Kenya Health Federation to address different issues related to health such as COVID-19 response and has rolled out a number of cancer screening initiatives, distributed PPEs and hand-washing stations to underserved populations.
Usiku Games Develops Mobile Sign Language Game To Help Kenyan Children Learn Sign Language
Mobile games development company Usiku Games has developed a new game to help school-going children learn sign language and help them to communicate and connect with friends with hearing impairment.
Dubbed Tizi Sign language, the edutainment games target children from grade 1 to 6 in primary schools to teach them the basics of sign language through fun and interactive gaming mechanics.
The sign language game has been unveiled as the world celebrates the International Week of Deaf People 2021 and International Day of Sign Languages 2021 that started on 20th September 2021 and ends on 26th September 2021.
The theme this year is “Celebrating Thriving Deaf Communities” and “We Sign for Human Rights” respectively.
According to Jay Shapiro, CEO and Founder, Usiku Games, the sign language game includes a set of minigames to teach Kenyan sign language (alphabet and numbers).
"It is so important that education in Kenya be inclusive of children of all abilities. To that end, we wanted to be sure that Tizi Games play a role in bringing hearing and deaf children closer together. We developed this game to equip school-going children basic understanding of sign language which is now a core part of the Kenya CBC. "
The sign language games include snap, pairs, guess signs, and raining characters.
For the Snap game, a player is assigned a number. Different signs will change randomly and rapidly on the screen. The player has to hit the buzzer when their character appears.
In the Pairs game, Players click to flip the face down cards on the screen, finding pairs of letters and signs.
In the Guess the Signs game, a player has to guess the letter or number of the sign that appears from the multiple-choice answers available.
While the Raining Signs game, signs are represented in raindrop form. The player has to dodge the wrong raindrop signs and collect the correct ones.
"There is a Kenyan sign language library of both numbers and alphabet in the games as a reference for children to review and learn. The player will start with learning the sign language alphabet and progress towards learning the significant numbers. In each step, the player will unlock more minigames to keep them motivated and learning," emphasizes Mr. Shapiro.
According to WHO statistics, over 5% of the world's population – 360 million people – have a disabling hearing loss (328 million adults and 32 million children).
Disabling hearing loss refers to hearing loss greater than 40 decibels (dB) in the better hearing ear in adults and a hearing loss greater than 30 dB in the better hearing ear in children.
The majority of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO suggests that the prevalence of hearing impairment (defined as Hearing loss >35 dB) for adults aged >15 years old is 15.7% in sub‐Saharan Africa vs. 4.9% in high‐income countries.
For children aged between 5 and 14 years, the prevalence is estimated at 1.9% in sub‐Saharan Africa vs. 0.4% in high‐income countries.
Therefore, 360 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss, and 32 million of these are children.
Hearing loss may result from genetic causes, complications at birth, certain infectious diseases, chronic ear infections, the use of particular drugs, exposure to excessive noise, and aging.
60% of childhood hearing loss is due to preventable causes.
WHO, via their website, notes that unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of 750 billion international dollars. Interventions to prevent, identify and address hearing loss are cost-effective and can bring great benefit to individuals.
In developing countries, children with hearing loss and deafness rarely receive any schooling. Adults with hearing loss also have a much higher unemployment rate. Among those employed, a higher percentage of people with hearing loss are in the lower grades of employment compared with the general workforce.
About Usiku Games
Usiku Games is the parent company and creator of educational games platform: Tizi Games. Usiku Games is dedicated to making games that make a difference. The company harnesses the power of gamification to create joy and create a positive social impact for our players and their communities across Africa. With more than 350 million connected smartphones already active in Africa (more than in all of the United States, Canada, and Mexico combined), we believe that games on mobile phones are the best way to reach today's youth. Some of our top Made in Africa, For Africa games include: Okoa Simba, Mama Mboga, Maasai Mkali, and Age of Asante. Dry mission-driven NGO communication programs rarely move the needle with today's youth. By adding fun and creating incentives for positive behavioral nudges, Usiku Games aims to transform education on the continent. (www.Usiku.Games)
Industry Newbie March Bravens Drops #SioSawa
Music industry newbie March Bravens has released his fourth release since he made a debut in the game in early 2020. The song is called SIO SAWA and it's now available on YouTube and all digital platforms.
Watch "Sio Sawa" here: https://youtu.be/O-sqqqMPdEY
Shot in a rural setting by Director Richie G, the music video depicts a guy from a poor family hitting on a girl from a poor family, which doesn't go well when he meets the girl's parents for the the first time, the parents look forward to their daughter falling in love and marrying from a rich family so that their fortunes can change.
About 'Sio Sawa' in March Braven's own words
"Sio sawa is a song based on our societal differences, that is the rich versus the poor and even the poor versus the poor when it comes to matters to do with love. It's about societal expectations that a girl from a poor family has to be married to a rich family and nothing else but that. I wanted to highlight how love and a vision to grow together and be better is a non factor when seeking parents' approval in marriage nowadays." - March Bravens`
Richard Chacha Among Candidates Shortlised For EACC Commissioner Job
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has shortlisted 21 candidates for the positions of commissioners of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The positions fell vacant after two Commissioners Dabar Abdi Maalim and Rose Mghoi Macharia resigned on September 1.
Among those shortlisted for interviews is Richard Chacha, currently the Director public communication health services department, Mombasa County.
The interviews are scheduled to start on Tuesday and conclude on Thursday, September 30.
Other candidates shortlisted for the interviews are John Kiplelei Kirui, Joan Andisi Machayo, Lawrence Nyalle, Halima Abdi Omar Shuria, Enock Osoro Kinara, Rukia Atikiya, Elizabeth Njambi Munene-Muchane, Nancy Karimi, Abdiaziz Sheikh Maad, Faith Waguthi Waigwa, Adan Wachu Bulle, Mary Mwongeli Mutuku Ndeto, Florence Muinde, Lucy Wanja Kinuthia, Ricahrd Okoth Odour, Monica Wanjiru Muiru, Paul Sakana Lenkume, Stellah Ibongia Onyiego, Alfred Mtuweta Mshimba and Abdihafid Abdullahi Yarrow.
Upon completion of the interviews, names of the succesful candidates will be forwarded to parliament within twenty-one days for vetting, upon approval the names will then be forwarded to President Uhuru Kenyatta for appointments, within seven days.
The Commission is required to have five commissioners who are appointed for a single term of six years on part time basis, and are not eligible for reappointment.
Kenyan Artistes Resort To Performing Abroad As Industry Is Hit By COVID-19 Rules At Home
With the Covid-19 protocols and restrictions put in place by the government still being observed in the country, Kenyan artistes seems to have opted for music performances beyond the boarders, abroad.
Several Kenyan artistes have so far been visiting several countries which have eased Covid-19 restrictions, for music performances as one way to continue earning income from their craft considering the ban on public gatherings, concerts and restrictions on night clubs back at home
The entertainment industry and entire creative sector is among the most affected sectors in the country with industry players calling on the government to consider easing the restrictions and open up the country.
Popular female singer Nadia Mukami has been in US since last month for several music shows and performances in the states of Minnesota, Kansas and Houston.
Another artiste who has also visited other countries to seek green pastures is Otile Brown.
The 'Chaguo Langu' has staged performances in several countries during this period, he has visited Dubai, South Sudan and he is currently in Bujumbura Burundi for yet another music show.
Dancehall king, Redsan is currently on a tour in US, he was among the African artistes who performed during the five day Afrobeats festival in the sate of Houston. Fena Gitu was also part of the performers.
Redsan is also expected to have another music show in Seattle, US on September 25th.