Ommy Dallah
Raila Returns To Coast In Vote Hunt Ahead Of August Election
ODM leader Raila Odinga returns to the Coast region for a one day visit to hunt for votes ahead of the August 9 election.
The former Prime Minister is expected to tour Taita Taveta county on Friday.
According to his itinerary, Odinga is scheduled to hold a meeting at Kwamnengwa before heading to Maktau to commission the Sh98.6 million Nyangoro water project funded by the local county government and the World Bank.
He is finally expected to hold a political rally at Mwatate town, together with his host Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samoja and other ODM leaders from the region.
The last time Odinga visited Taita Taveta county was March 2021 where he held several meetings with local leaders and a series of rallies in Mwatate and Voi town.
In a recent interview with with Nam Lolwe FM , Raila's campaign board chair Ndiritu Muriithi disclosed they are putting everything in place to ensure that Odinga wins the August elections.
“This is a campaign like no other. It is only comparable to the National Rainbow campaign of 2002,” said Nderitu.
Adding "Traditional Raila supporters are intact, he has also gained many supporters in North Eastern, Rift Valley especially Nakuru and Laikipia. Supporters should feel very encouraged”
Six Journalists Among 14 Killed In Grisly Road Accident
Fourteen (14) people including six journalists died on Tuesday morning after a horrific road accident in Simiyu, Tanzania.
The accident involved a personal car and a public service vehicle (PSV).
The six journalists travelling on the personal vehicle,a Toyota Land Cruiser were among a team heading to Bunda to cover an event by the Mwanza Regional Commissioner Eng. Robert Gabriel.
The Land Cruiser transporting the journalists rammed an oncoming PSV, killing five of the journalists on the spot. The sixth journalist died while receiving treatment at a local hospital.
The journalists who died have been identified as Van Charles from Icon TV, Abel Ngapemba, Husna Mlanzi from ITV, Anthony Chuwa from Habari Leo Digital, Regional communication officer, Steven Msengi, Ukerewe Communications officer and Paul Silanga, the driver.
The accident also claimed the lives of eight passengers who were aboard the PSV. Six died at the scene, the two succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu was forced to cut short her speech in Zanzibar where she was presiding over an official function, to break the news to the public and called for a moment of silence for the victims.
"Nimeshtushwa na vifo vya Watu 14 wakiwemo Wanahabari 6 vilivyotokea leo asubuhi baada ya gari lililokuwa katika msafara wa Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Mwanza kugonga na Daladala. Poleni Wafiwa, Wanahabari na jamaa wote. Mungu aziweke mahali pema roho za Marehemu na Majeruhi wapone haraka." she said.
Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) Chairman who is also the Secretary Congress of African Journalists (CAJ), William Janak termed the deaths as big loss to Tanzania's media fraternity.
"On behalf of KCA and Congres of African Journalists "CAJ) wish to send our deepest condolences to JOWUTA and all journalists in Tanzania following the death of six journalists in an accident in Tanzania's Northern City of Mwanza. Poleni sana." said Janak
KPA Acquires New Modern Multipurpose Tugboat For Sh. 1.9 Billion
The Kenya Ports Authority has acquired a new modern, state-of-the-art tugboat to help boost it's operations.
The new tugboat christened 'Mkombozi' 2, RAstar 4200 built in Turkey at a cost of 1.9 billion shillings.
The high-performance Azimuth Stern Driven (ASD) , joins KPA fleet of tugboats to primarily offer salvage and harbour operations as well as complement other marine crafts crucial for tuggage services at the port.
Equipped with excellent maneuverability and packing a hefty 120 tonnes of bollard pull, the vessel with a length overall of 42 metres and maximum draft of 7.2 metres will deliver enhanced towing and ship handling services for vessels stuck at sea/ or with mechanical problems.
KPA General Manager Operation and Harbour Sudi Mwasingo who represented KPA acting Managing Director John Mwangemi said the newly acquired tug-boat will open new markets for port operators.
Sudi said the tug-boat will not only assist in salvage operations at sea but will also open a new market.
He was addressing the media during the reception of the new tug-boat at the new dockyard tug jetty along the port of Mombasa.
He said the minimal charge for a single mission to salvage a vessel in distress is Sh 300 million.
"The amount of money paid for one salvage mission is Sh 300 million," he pointed out.
He said the weather was favorable to them all the way from Turkey up to the point of delivery of the tug.
'You Want To Chill With The Big Boys' Hitmaker Set To Perform In Mombasa
Nigerian singer Goya Menor is set to visit Kenya for two major performances.
The ‘You want to bamba’ hitmaker through a video posted on Instagram on Sunday, announced that he will be performing at the B- Club Nairobi on January 16, 2022.
"On the 16th of January if you really want to chill with the big boys come to B Club Nairobi because I'm going to be there," Menor announced.
According to a poster shared by B- Club on their social media handles, the singer who has just concluded his Tanzania tour is also set to perform at the B- Club Mombasa club on January 14th.
The Amapiano remix has gotten massive airplay, while also receiving a lot of playbacks from TikTok users who are keen non chilling with the big boys.
Among those who turned out to be a fan of the song is Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho who recently recorded himself jamming to the song and shared it on social media.
The visit by Goya Menor has however not gone down well with Kenyan comedian Eric Omondi who expressed his disappointment arguing that Kenyans are being taken as a joke for allowing foreign acts to continue performing in the country, adding that the trend of sidelining local artistes must end in 2022.
"This nonsense will end this year! We are becoming a joke," he wrote.
Kenya Railways Runs First Trial Train On New Mombasa- Malaba Line
Kenya Railways has today (Monday) run the first trial train with cargo from Mombasa which arrived via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line and was transhipped onto the Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) line for onward transportation to Malaba.
The cargo which was loaded at the Port of Mombasa and transported via SGR was seamlessly transhipped onto the MG line at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (NICD), and is destined for Malaba.
The SGR/MGR paves way for seamless transportation of cargo to the Great Lakes Region including neighbouring countries of Uganda, Burundi, DR Congo, South Sudan, parts of Tanzania and Rwand.
According to Kenya Railways, Mombasa to the Malaba Railway Railway Yard, via Naivasha ICD, cargo will take 36 hours compared to road transport which takes 96 hours. Similarly, it will cost $860 per TEU compared to road which costs $ 2032 per TEU
According to Kenya Rilways Managing Director Philip Mainga, this will further enhance efficiencies and ease the transshipment process.
Mainga noted “We will have regular, speedy, and reliable delivery of cargo through well-organized trains schedules with strict timetables for the evacuation of cargo and empty container repatriation from the Inland Container Terminals.
This comes just days after Kenya Railways and the tea development agency launched their partnership to transport tea via the SGR from Nairobi to the port of Mombasa.
Under the partnership, tea from KTDA-managed factories will be transported from the tea growing counties to the Nairobi Freight Terminal.
KTDA transported 31 containers of packed tea on their maiden trip from the partnership.
Former Long- Serving Mombasa Councillor Dies
Former Mombasa councillor Kombo Juma Mzee has died.
Mr. Kombo who served as Mikindani Ward councillor between 1992 to 2012 died on Monday morning at his home after a long illness.
He was laid to rest on Monday evening at the Kwashee muslim cemetry, Mikindani.
Several leaders led by Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki, Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib attended the burial.
In his condolence message, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho described him as a charismatic leader.
"I receive the news of the demise of Hon. Kombo Juma Mzee the former Mikindani ward councillor. He was a charismatic leader who served the people of Mikindani and Mombasa at large with utmost rigour and enthusiasm" said Joho.
On his part Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib said the late politician was a mentor and father figure to many young politians.
"It was a honor for me to serve with him way back at the municipal council of Mombasa as councillors. Surely death has robbed Mombasa county one of his gallant sons." said Twalib.
South Africa's Leading Acts Turn Up For The Volume At The Amapiano Festival In Ghana
South met West Africa for the first annual cross boarder music festival which took place over the festive season for The Amapiano Festival in Ghana.
Joining some of Ghana’s leading artists - Amapiano royalty DBN Gogo, Kamo Mphela, Uncle Waffles, Focalistic, Bontle Smith, Felo Le Tee and Ntosh took to the stage in Ghana this past December for the first Amapiano Festival.
Over the past couple of years, South Africans in the entertainment industry have vastly enjoyed the dance type that has taken the world and the African continent by storm. The sound and amapiano culture have received recognition in parts the world and has proudly represented South Africa within afro pop culture.
To celebrate this incredible music milestone, D Global Entertainment hosted the first music festival, purely dedicated to the genre.
Hosting some of the leading artists from South Africa, D Global Entertainment brought amapiano to life in Ghana for a unique music showcase that also featured Major League and Uncle Vinny as guests at the festival.
Ensuring the first of an annual celebration of Amapiano in Ghana, the festival saw thousands of music fans in attendance at Garage Lounge in East Legon – which also kicked off the December Festivities in West Africa.
He’s a look at what went down at The Amapiano Festival in Ghana here.
Mombasa Artists Defend Joho Over New Year Concert Expenditure
Mombasa artists have come to the defense of the county governor Hassan Joho over the New Year fireworks concert expenditure that has come under criticism.
This is after Mombasa health workers, who have threatened to down tools tomorrow over an impending two months’ salary arrears, accused Joho over his exorbitant expenditure in the concert at the expense of unpaid staff.
Last week during a media briefing, the Mombasa county health workers questioned why the county had to spend an unidentified sum of money in a new year concert while employees of the county have two months unpaid salaries.
Governor led locals in ushering the New Year in style at the Mama Ngina Waterfront where an array of artists entertained the mammoth crowd who had thronged the grounds for the governor’s final fireworks concert.
Speaking during a media Briefing at the Mama Ngina Water front in Mombasa on Monday, the artists drawn from singers, producers, MCs acknowledged the governor Joho’s contribution towards supporting the industry.
“We have a big contribution to the economy of this country and we should not be understated, we respect the doctors but we ask them to respect our professionals as well,” said Peter Siku Karisa alias P-DAY.
Among the artists who took part in the new year eve concert include Stephanie Khatiera alias Tiera Gee,Ali Hamisi alias Ally B,Esther Mwangala alias Adasa,Peter Siku Karisa alias P-DAY,Yusuf Kombo also known as Susumila among others.
“People should stop thinking being an artist is a simple thing, we are perturbed by these sentiments by our fellow professionals who have underrated the creative industry by making the sentiments against us,” said Stepahie Khattiera alias Tiera Gee.
Yusuf Kombo also known as Susumila , said what has angered them most is that the artists are still awaiting the balance of their payments while they are being regarded as highly paid.
"Everyone was paid half of the amount according to their market rate, therefore it pains us seeing people say we were exorbitantly paid by the county government at the expense of other employees who are also agitating for their rights,” said Susumila.
Ali Hamisi, alias Ally B thanked the Mombasa governor for his continued support to the music industry, saying the industry is still struggling due to covid-19 disease thus needs much support.
“The job we do is like another job in any profession, we deserve better and not condemnation since we are still feeling the heat from the disruptions of the coronavirus,” lamented. Ally B.
The coastal stretch showed off a spectacular display of fireworks as the hospitality sector reaped bountifully as it recorded a hundred percent occupancy after two years of incurring losses owing to the covid-19 pandemic pandemic.
Rotimi Postpones Music Tour, Including Kenya
American singer and actor Rotimi has postponed his World music tour.
Last year, the 'In My bed' hitmaker and Vanessa Mdee's lover revealed that he was a planning a world tour dubbed 'All Or Nothing World Tour' citing Nairobi as one of the places he would be visiting.
http://ommydalla.co.ke/gossip/item/2466-power-star-rotimi-to-visit-kenya
In a statement, Rotimi revealed that he has postponed the tour due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"Due to the recent surge in covid cases amid the Omnicron variant, my team and I have made the tough decision to postpone the tour. We feel it is best for the safety of my fans and crew." he said.
Adding " All tickets purchased will remain fully valid and available to be used at the new dates. If you wish to have your tickets refunded that is possible as well. We are working diligently alongside our tour partners to finalize an updated tour schedule which will be announced soon. I appreciate your love and support. Please stay safe and I’ll see you soon."
President Kenyatta Inspects Shs 40 billion New Kipevu Oil Terminal
![Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] head of projects development Kennedy Nyaga [left] shares notes with his colleagues head of port electrical Eng Mathew Amuti [centre] and KPA head of Civil Engineering Eng Samuel Mwaura [right] at the new Sh 40 billion ultra-modern Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT) facility at the port of Mombasa in Mombasa county. They were awaiting the arrival of President Uhuru Kenyatta who was accompanied by visiting Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi to carry out the inspection of the facility.](/media/k2/items/cache/d58b452714c2b4589168f99f82630695_Generic.jpg)
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday inspected the ongoing construction of the Shs 40 billion offshore Kipevu Oil Terminal, the largest of its kind in Africa.
The construction of the 770-metre long jetty, currently at 96% complete, is wholly funded by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and implemented by China Communications Construction Company.
When complete in April this year, the offshore facility will be able to load and offload very large sea tankers of up to 200,000 DWT carrying all categories of petroleum products including crude oil, white oils and LPG.
Speaking during the inspection, President Kenyatta, who was accompanied by visiting Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Wang Yi, said the new jetty will enhance supply and ensure price stability of petroleum products in Kenya and the region by replacing the 50-year old onshore Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT).
When operational, President Kenyatta noted that the new offshore jetty will save the country in excess of Shs 2 billion annually in demurrage costs incurred by oil shippers thereby contributing to a significant reduction in fuel pump prices.
“Once complete the new facility will be able to reduce not only the cost of fuel but also to ensure that Kenya is able to consistently have an adequate supply of fuel for our needs and development needs that of our people.
“This terminal once commissioned in a few weeks time will result in the saving of almost Shs 2 billion that we are currently paying every year because of demurrage occasioned by the long queues of vessels parked outside our harbour waiting to discharge their product,” he said.
The President hailed Kenya's development partnership with China saying the arrangement had helped deliver key infrastructure projects, adding that the populous Asian nation was progressively opening up its expansive domestic market to Kenyan exports.
“Our partnership with China is not a partnership based on China telling us what to do. It is a partnership of friends, working together to meet Kenya’s socio-economic agenda.
“The old Kipevu Oil Terminal which for many years we have struggled with, was not able to meet the demands of increasing population, to meet the demands of the growing economy.
"We needed this facility to be able to cater for those demands and China was there when we asked for partnership in developing it," the President said.
He added: “They were there ready to work and walk with us hand-in-hand and that indeed is what we call a friend. We do not need lectures about what we need, we need partners to help us achieve what we require".
The Head of State said the various infrastructural projects implemented with the support of China had strengthened Kenya's economy.
He noted that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) had kept the Kenyan economy ticking during the slowdown occasioned by the global Coronavirus pandemic.
The President noted that SGR had significantly lowered the cost of cargo freight saying the price of transporting a container of tea from Nairobi to Mombasa had reduced from Shs 60,000 by road to Shs 17,000 on the modern railway line.
“Many said there was no need to improve the railway linking Mombasa to Nairobi and ultimate to Kisumu, Malaba and our neighbouring countries. Today millions and millions of Kenyans have benefited through the reduction in cost of travel between Nairobi and Mombasa.
“During this Covid-19 period thousands of Kenyans were able to take advantage of the SGR to travel to Mombasa and to ensure that atleast our hotels down here were not closed and our people were kept in employment,” President Kenyatta said.
Earlier at State House, Mombasa, President Kenyatta met visiting State Counsellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Mr Wang Yi who paid him a courtesy visit.
The Head of State and the Chinese Minister discussed a wide array of bilateral and multilateral subjects of mutual interest to Kenya and China among them the two countries development cooperation framework, regional peace and security as well as the global fight against Covid-19.
The President reiterated Kenya’s commitment to its development partnership with China saying the cooperation had contributed greatly to the country's transformation in recent years.
“Let me say as a country we strongly value the partnership between our two countries. Our political cooperation, our economic cooperation, our cultural engagement is something that we value and something that we look forward to deepening as we move forward.
“Kenya I can clearly say would not have been able to achieve many of our social economic development agendas without the support of China. And this is something that not only we as a government appreciate but also the people of Kenya appreciate,” the President said.
He expressed optimism that the continued opening up of the Chinese domestic market to Kenyan agricultural exports will help bridge the huge balance of trade gap that exists between the two economies.
“I am very appreciative especially as a farmer, on the movement we are making towards the opening up of market in China to Kenya’s agricultural products, am very keen myself to see that develop because the basis of success is if we are able to balance our trade,” President Kenyatta said.
Minister Wang Yi, who was accompanied by Qian Keming (Vice Minister, Minister of Commerce), Wu Jianghao (Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and his country's Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjiang assured President Kenyatta of China's continued commitment to supporting Kenya's development agenda.
Cabinet Secretaries Raychelle Omamo (Foreign Affairs), Joe Mucheru (ICT), Ukur Yatani (National Treasury), John Munyes (Petroleum), James Macharia (Infrastructure), Peter Munya (Agriculture), Mutahi Kagwe (Health) and Betty Maina (Trade) attended the State House, Mombasa meeting.
Others were Principal Secretaries Macharia Kamau (Foreign Affairs), Kirimi Kaberia (Industrialization) and Johnson Weru (Trade) as well as Comptroller of State House Mr Kinuthia Mbugua among other Senior Government officials.
