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.

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`

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.

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.

Faheem Riyamy, the Grandson of former Senior District commissioner of Turkana district , Rift valley province , Mr Rashid Riyamy Snr who enjoyed such a storied public service career, has joined politics.

The soft spoken businessman is set to vie for the Old Town MCA seat through the UDA party, a political party associated with Deputy President William Ruto.

The 34- year-old widely regarded as the one to have displayed the same aura as his late Grandfather Mr Rashid Riyamy both on and off screen till date has been traversing the sprawling alleys of the native native Old Town  to try to revive the fortunes of this historic town which has dwindled down  with lack of security and the rise of illicit drugs usage .

According to Faheem youth empowerement is part of his agenda.

"Education is very important to our youth, this will help them stay away from issues like drug abuse and other vices. Through education our youths will also be able to secure jobs. " said Faheem.

Adding " Once elected I will make sure that I talk to my friends and other stakeholders to see how we can sponspor our youths in terms of education and secure bursaries for them.

He further promised to support smale sacle traders and businesses.

"Old Town is known for fishing, we have alot of fishermen in Old Town, I will make sure that we empower them through getting them modern fishing boats and help them in securing ready market for their product not only locally but nationally and internationally.

Mombasa parliamentarians have asked the government to provide answers on the abduction and release of Abdulhakim Saggar who last month was taken away by people said to be police attached to the ATPU unit.

Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki and Mvita legislature Abdulswamad Nassir questioned the motive behind his arrest given that nobody knew Saggar’s whereabouts and neither was he produced before court to answer to any charges against him.

Saggar was set free at around 2 am Saturday night in a thicket he later discovered to be around Voi area with Sh.2000 in his pockets that he used as bus fare back home to reunite with his family.

Senator Faki stated that they were glad he returned home safely, but they demanded to know who was behind his disappearance and what the motive behind it was.

“We demand to know why Saggar was arrested and where he was kept for the last one month, the government must tell Kenyans who was behind the arrests and the motive behind it all,” said Faki.

Faki questioned why he was released at the wee hours of the night in a thicket a factor that further threatened Saggar’s safety.

He further questioned why the police were taking Saggar’s family and lawyer in circles at one point accepting then later denying to have him in custody.

“The law stipulates that an arrested person must be presented in court within 24 hours, why was Saggar kept in unknown location for more than a month without being produced in court?” asked Faki.

Faki added that he was going to write to the senate minority leader Senator James Orengo to compel the government to provide answers on a number of individuals who have disappeared mysteriously after being arrested by police adding that the state was violating human rights with the arrests and disappearances.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir stated that the government must respect the rights of every Kenyan as enshrined in the constitution.

He warned the police against religious profiling insisting that no religion condones crime and as such the law must follow its due course when one is in the wrong.

“Crime cannot be correlated to a tribe or religion, harshness and badness cannot be correlated to just an institute, for this reason we want to say that it is impossible to say that an individual is taken away without the family or lawyers knowing his whereabouts,” said Nassir.

Nassir confirmed he had visited Saggar on Sunday morning to see how he was fairing, he called on the media to respect the family’s wish of allowing him to rest and spend time with his family.

The legislature also called on members of the public to remain resilient in pointing out any state aggression against its citizens without looking at their tribe or religion.

“When the process of trying to seek justice you yourself do an injustice, that in itself is wrong, the aspect of humanity is that when you are oppressed you need to speak against the person doing the oppressing, today it might be you and tomorrow another,” said Nassir.

The executive director of Human rights group Haki Africa Hussein Khalid added that they were closely monitoring what the DCI would do in the next following weeks stating that there was enough video evidence to implicate the said officer for wrongful detention.

“We are watching very keenly what the government and in particular the DCI will do moving forward, every evidence is available so those responsible must be brought to book, Kenya is not a jungle country, we have laws that must be folled,” said Khalid.

Saggar’s brother Faris Saggar confirmed to the media that he was home but currently undergoing medical examinations to ascertain is health status.

Saggar was arrested on August 18 at Mlango wa papa area within Old Town on his way to the mosque before being released on September 19.

Coincidentally, a missing Kenyan researcher of Somali origin Prof. Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad was also released by his captors on Sunday night in an undisclosed place in Nairobi.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday said Kenya had made commendable progress towards the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In a recorded video address to a side meeting on SDGs convened by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guteress at the ongoing 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76), President Kenyatta reiterated Kenya’s commitment to SDGs saying, the country will not lose momentum on the subject.

“I want today to reaffirm Kenya's commitment to the SDGs, and to ensuring that we maintain the implementation momentum that we started with,” the President said.

Despite the socio-economic challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, the President said Kenya had made good progress in education, gender, and climate change among other SDG sectors.

He said two voluntary reporting assessments undertaken by Kenya had returned positive results adding that the country's 2016 SDG roadmap had been fully integrated into the national development agenda.

The President said Kenya had prioritized SDG sectors with the highest socio-economic impact as outlined in the country's Big 4 development blueprint.

 “Additionally, my administration has sharpened the economic policy by prioritizing action in sectors with the greatest multiplier effect on the economy, namely affordable housing; manufacturing; universal health coverage; and food security and nutrition," he said.

The Head of State pointed out that Kenya's push towards attaining food and nutrition security was being held by climate change among other salient factors.

He said the country had embarked on an aggressive afforestation programme, and development of its renewable energy resources as part of its broad climate change mitigation strategy.

On housing, the President said Kenya had taken steps to promote sustainable cities and human settlements by implementing affordable housing programmes so as to end the expansion of informal settlements.

President Kenyatta called for greater international solidarity in post-Covid-19 recovery so as to support developing countries to “build back better, build back stronger and regain the momentum on achieving SDGs".

In his address, Antonio Guteress said challenges facing the world such as climate change, conflicts and Covid-19 had slowed down global efforts towards the attainment of SDGs.

The UN Secretary General called on governments and non-state actors to collaborate more in Covid-19 recovery efforts by investing more in vaccination and socioeconomic systems that support revival of education, social protection, health care and employment creation.

“I call on the world to mobilize behind a global vaccination plan that doubles vaccine production, to reach 70 percent of the world’s population by the middle of next year.

“Second, we need to get down to the business of a sustainable and equitable recovery for all, so that we stay on track to end poverty by 2030,” Secretary-General Guteress said. 

Pupils from schools in rural areas emerged tops in an essay writing contest where over 23,000 pupils from 11,300 public primary schools across the 47 counties participated.

Mwongeli Mulwa from Makueni, Denise Nguhi (Machakos), Mitchele Rono (Elgeyo Marakwet), Melvin Koech (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Emmanuel Okinyi (Migori) emerged the top five winners nationally.  

The five were feted at a ceremony held in Mombasa today and attended by representatives of schools from across the country at an event presided over by Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha and also graced by his Tourism counterpart, Najib Balala.  

The essay contest was sponsored by Pwani Oil Products Limited, through its Sawa soap brand, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, and the Kenya Primary School Headteachers Association (KEPSHA).

The competition dubbed “Colors in Life” aimed at sharpening creative writing and thinking skills among pupils in Standard 6 and 7 and ran from July 1 to 31.

Mwongeli from ACK Mtito Andei School, Denise (Machakos Primary School), Mitchele (Chepketeret Primary School) and Melvin (Moi Tambach Primary School), and Emmanuel (Milimani Primary School) proved the creative writing mettle of learners from schools in remote parts of the country.

Five essays were shortlisted from each of the 47 counties and the best five nationally picked by a panel of 20 judges drawn from Pwani Oil, KEPSHA, Shujaaz Inc., and two external judges, Shiko Nguru, a children’s author and popular musician Vivian Wambui also known as Vivian Kenya.

Prof. Magoha hailed the initiative saying it will help sharpen creative writing and critical thinking skills among learners.

“Shaping responsible citizens of the future must begin with producing learners who can think critically and express themselves in creative, innovative ways. This is the only way we can become a Nation of innovators and problem solvers,” said Prof Magoha.

Pwani Oil Commercial Director Rajul Malde says the competition’s primary aim was to offer a platform for the pupils to portray the best side of life creatively. 

“Creative writing is one way of helping children understand the world we live in by giving them a voice to express their ideas and thoughts, a platform to explore their talents and imagine limitless life’s possibilities, even during these tough times,” said Malde during the ceremony to announce the winners. 

He cited research conducted by the National Literacy Trust in the UK singling out creative writing as playing an important role in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We aspired through this competition, to inspire our children to recreate the world the world they live in through written expression. This was not just a writing competition but also an opportunity for participants to share their ideas and personal journeys with the world,” said Malde. 

KEPSHA National Chairman Johnson Nzioka hailed the initiative saying it would go a long way in improving the education standards in Kenya.

“The contest not only helped strengthen the value of accumulating knowledge to improve writing skills and creative thinking, but also earn the participants recognition beyond the classroom. This is what the new learning curriculum is all about, that is, teaching children to be all around especially in their areas of God-given talents,” said Nzioka.  

Pwani Oil supported the initiative while KEPSHA assisted with mobilizing participation across all the counties and overseeing the adjudication process.

The five winners will be rewarded with an educational tour of the coastal region including a first-hand experience of Pwani Oil’s Kikambala Plant, the largest soap and edible oil manufacturing facility in East and Central Africa. They also received certificates, trophies and assorted gifts. 

Creative expression is seen as an important aspect of nurturing responsible citizens capable of contributing positive ideas to society. Malde disclosed the essay writing competition will be held annually to appreciate the writing talents of pupils across the country.

Malde said the competition theme is based on the Sawa brand philosophy of “Bringing colors to life” which is about inspiring positive elements in people’s lives. Launched in 2008, Sawa has since grown to be the second most popular bathing soap brand in Kenya, also available as hand wash and body wash.

KEPSHA is the representative body for over 26,000 head teachers in all the public primary schools in Kenya.

Tanzanian singer Rayvanny real name Shaban Mwakyusa has unveiled the first artiste signed under his Record Label, Next Level Music in a bid to expand his empire. 

Through his instagram page, the singer introduced Macvoice Tz as his first signee.

"#NLM MY FIRST BORN. welcome to the Big Family". he posted

The 27-year-old singer also revealed that the new artist will sooon be releasing his first song under the label.

Rayvanny who is also under Wasafi music label (WCB) launched his Next Level Music label early this year maintaining that he is still a member of WCB.

"Before I even say a word, Vanny Boy and Wasafi are for life. I want to first thank my management, WCB Wasafi; I greatly thank Diamond Platnumz for the far I have come. If I decide to have a label, I can even have about five of them. So, there is no way that I am leaving Wasafi to go to another label. Maybe I own about 10 labels under my name," he said.