THE NEWSROOM

Mombasa Governor (right) with Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib(center) ODM deputy party leader Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has challenged politicians linked to Linda Mwananchi led by Senator Edwin Sifuna to leave the party if they are dissatisfied with ODM. ‎ Speaking on Sunday 29th March,20206  during the commissioning of construction of Owino-Uhuru Road in Jomvu, Mombasa, Nassir who is also the Mombasa Governor, said ODM has always been a party of the people. ‎ Nassir vowed that ODM owes allegiance to party leader Dr.  Oburu Odinga whom he said has the best interest of the party. ‎ "Stop abusing and disrespecting Oburu Oginga. If majority have agreed Oburu to be our leader, you as a minority must abide", he added. ‎ Nassir alleged that Sifuna has already formed another political party and that he should leave ODM if he doesn't respect the new leadership. ‎ ‎"Baba left us in ODM and that is where we will stick. Infact we will form the next government or be in one",stated Na...

Ol Kalou Member of Parliament David Njuguna Kiaraho has died while undergoing specialized treatment in India. The Mp died today  Sunday, after a period of illness. Kiaraho was first elected in 2013 and retained his Ol Kalou seat in the 2017 and 2022 General Elections. The late Mp served in key committees, including Transport, Public Works & Housing, and Procedure & House Rules in the national assembly. His death comes a few weeks after the death of another Mp Johanna Ng'eno of Emurua Dikir in a helicopter crash. The deceased death in India reminisce the demise of  opposition leader Raila Odinga who also died in India while undergoing treatment in October, 2025.

The Mombasa County Government has issued an apology to traders at Kongowea Market following delays in garbage collection. ‎ County Executive Committee Member for Tourism, Mohammed Osman, attributed the situation to mechanical breakdowns of garbage collection lorries. ‎ Speaking on the sidelines of an expo workshop, Osman reassured traders that the issue has now been resolved and cleanup efforts are underway. ‎ “We are sorry for not cleaning the market. Our lorries had mechanical issues, but that has since been resolved. As we speak, two lorries are on site,” he said. ‎ Kongowea Market, the largest in the Coast region and a key trading hub serving parts of Uganda and Tanzania, had seen rising frustration among traders, who had threatened to stage demonstrations over the uncollected waste. ‎ Osman added that the county has resumed garbage collection and will also deploy additional dustbins at the market. ‎ He further urged both traders and customers to take responsibility in maintaining ...

Bunge la Wananchi Mombasa chapter has strongly defended the Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Captain William Ruto over the ongoing recruitment controversy. Led by the assembly’s chairperson, Makani Pius, they stated that recruitment process squarely falls under the human resource department. Makani stated that Capt Ruto is not directly involved hence should not be blamed for any alleged mess. “Captain Ruto’s work is overall performance of the port. In fact his performance has been excellent all through”, he said. According to Bunge la Wananchi, the MD is being fought by forces that want to install their own person. The group further opposed the proposal to allocate 70 percent of jobs at KPA to be reserved for coastal natives, arguing that there is no such provision in the Constitution. “Nowhere in our constitution do we have such provision. We are all aware that the port is a national institution serving all Kenyans”, they stated. A section of Coast pol...

  Mvita Member of Parliament Mohamed Soud Machele has urged authorities to remove street families from Mombasa's central business district, citing growing safety concerns for residents and the erosion of the city's reputation. Speaking on Sunday during the Eid Baraza in Mombasa County, Machele described the increasing number of street families—many comprising women and children—as "disheartening." He emphasized that most have identifiable homes in other counties to which they can be returned. "The street families have taken over the town and are now spilling into residential estates," Machele said. "They should be removed humanely. I urge the County Government to return them to their homes. Mombasa is known for its cool ambience, which is slowly being eroded." A spot check by this publication confirms a noticeable rise in street families in the area, with many women and children relying on begging—often using their young ones to solicit money...

Mining and Blue economy cabinet secretary Hassan Joho stressed that he will not be cowed to abandon his dreams of becoming president. ‎ ‎Speaking in Mombasa during Eid Baraza celebrations , Joho said it has always been his dream to be president. ‎ He lashed out at leaders who have been mocking his ambitions, saying a person without  ambition is as good as dead. ‎ Joho said as a political student of the late Raila Odinga , he learnt to have a dream, challenging politicians to have one. ‎ ‎" I had a dream of becoming an Mp and i did, i dreamt of being a minister, i became, i was a Governor. Now am looking ahead as Deputy President and eventually President",  said Joho amid ululations from attendees. ‎ The CS stated that he knows he carries the dreams of many people who want to see him become president. ‎ ‎"You politicians should know that you carry the aspirations of people who believe in you. Iam not dreaming  as Joho, but as hope for my people in Mombasa and the rest ...

Ca binet Secretary for Mining and Blue economy Hassan Joho has announced that Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will field candidates in all elective positions in the 2027 General Election, except for the presidency . Speaking during Eid al-Fitr celebrations at Ummu Khulthum Mosque in Kizingo area, Mombasa County on Friday 20th, March 2026, Joho dismissed growing calls for political zoning, terming them unnecessary. “As ODM, there shall be candidates, and we shall vigorously campaign for our candidates, including myself as a member of the party,” he said. Joho emphasized his commitment to actively campaign for ODM aspirants in the 2027 polls, underscoring his longstanding ties to the party. “That’s our party, and we will do anything to support it and vehemently defend it. I am an ODM member, even if I don’t currently hold an official position. I am a founding member. I served as National Organizing Secretary and as Raila Odinga’s deputy for ten years. This party belongs to us th...

  The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has backed the Kenyan government’s push for health integration , urging the adoption of models that are effective and free from stigmatization. Speaking in Mombasa during a health integration summit on March 18, 2026, AHF’s Regional Policy and Advocacy Manager for East and West Africa, Diana Tibesigwa , emphasized the need for patient-centered approaches. Tibesigwa noted that people living with HIV/AIDS often prefer confidentiality to avoid stigma . She added that AHF prioritizes community involvement, ensuring that patients’ voices remain central in the delivery of health services. “ Safe spaces have been very critical. Some people fear judgment from health workers , while others fear stigma from the community. These spaces have therefore been key, and we believe that even within the integration agenda, such initiatives should be maintained,” she said. Tibesigwa called for the adoption of proven models used by AHF in HIV response t...

More than 700 tourists have arrived in Mombasa aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Viking Sky , marking a boost for Kenya’s coastal tourism sector. The visitors are expected to tour various attractions, including national parks, over the next three days while the vessel remains docked in the coastal city. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) flagged off tourist vans carrying over 400 passengers who disembarked from the vessel for excursions to different parks. In remarks delivered on his behalf, KWS Director General Erastus Kanga said the agency has rolled out a “Cruise to Park” initiative aimed at transforming brief stopovers into meaningful and immersive travel experiences. “We are inviting visitors to go beyond the port and experience the full richness of Kenya. This initiative tells a powerful story of innovation in tourism, sustainability, and destination positioning. It seeks to redefine how cruise tourism contributes to national development by extending visitor experiences beyo...

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has come under pressure from human rights defenders in Mombasa to publish the names of all shortlisted candidates for employment interviews in order to promote transparency. Speaking to the media in Mombasa, Haki Afrika Rapid Response Officer Mathias Shipeta said KPA has been evasive about information regarding the recruitment process, despite it being a matter of public interest. “KPA should put this matter to rest by doing what is right. Publish those names for everyone to see. Make the process free and fair to avoid doubts,” he said. She Rises Executive Director Salma Hemed also urged KPA to ensure that 75 percent of the advertised jobs are reserved for indigenous coastal communities, noting that locals continue to face marginalization despite the port being located in the region. “They are secretly allocating jobs to their own people while our communities remain unemployed. For instance, a larger share of jobs at Lamu Port should be set aside for...

  Detectives from Jomvu, alongside officers from Mikindani Police Station in Mombasa have arrested two alleged notorious suspects linked to a violent robbery, recovering an AK-47 rifle that was snatched from a police officer. According to a DCI report on facebook, the robbery, which occurred on March 14, 2026, in the Maganda area, sparked a relentless manhunt by officers. Police say they acted on a tip-off, whereby they launched a raid in Bangladesh slums, focusing on the prime suspect, 49-year-old Pius Okech Ondijo, alias Pius Philemon Ondicho. “As the officers stormed Ondijo’s hideout, they announced their presence with authority, but he didn’t budge. Instead, the suspect made a desperate bid for freedom by trying to escape, prompting the officers to give chase and subsequently arrest him”, reads the report. Police say the suspect led officers to a second hideout in Narcol area belonging to second accomplice, Kellars Wanyonyi where upon arrival, officers discovered anot...

The government has lauded Aga Khan University Hospital for launching an AI-powered radiotherapy machine for cancer treatment. The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology, Professor Shaukat Abdulrazak, noted that this step strongly supports the national government's commitment to expanding cancer treatment and care centers, with the aim of strengthening collaboration and building greater synergy to advance precision medicine and early detection. Prof Shaukat further stated that Kenya records approximately 42,000 new cancer cases each year, pointing out that access to quality treatment remains a major gap. “We are therefore pleased to see Aga Khan University Hospital playing a critical role in advancing clinical excellence. Through such partnerships, we are steadily positioning Kenya as a regional hub for advanced healthcare, medical research, and innovation,” he added. According to the hospital's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rashid Kha...

  Francis Atwoli has been re-elected Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions. Atwoli will now serve his sixth term as COTU boss, after delegates meeting in Kisumu, voted for him to continue representing the interests of Kenyan workers. He now becomes the longest serving secretary general in the COTU’s history. This renewed mandate is not mine alone, it belongs to the millions of workers whose rights and welfare COTU (K) continues to defend and advance," he stated in his acceptance speech. COTU represents over three million workers in Kenya .

Journalists from the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, and Lamu have undergone training on how to report more effectively on environmental issues, with a special focus on mangrove ecosystem. The initiative aims to improve the quality and accuracy of reporting on mangrove restoration efforts while helping to address misconceptions and misinformation circulating within communities. According to researcher and Director General of the National Mangrove Restoration Committee, Dr. Judith Okello , the growing trend of planting mangroves without following proper ecological guidelines could end up harming the ecosystem.  She noted that mangrove restoration requires careful planning, including identifying suitable areas and understanding the ecological balance of coastal environments. “We should ask ourselves, how did our forefathers harvest mangroves without planting them? So we must seek ways to replenish our forests through restoration and planting being the last resort”, she said. R...

Members of the Bajuni community in Lamu County demand that the national government revokes the appointment of Mohammed Nuno as assistant chief of Ndambwe Sub-location. Addressing the press in Mombasa on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the community claimed that the new administrator is neither a resident nor a local of the area. The community’s chairperson, Sultan Sharif Omar, said the names of three locals had been shortlisted but none of them was picked for the position. According to Sultan Omar, the Bajuni community is facing discrimination from the government in local job appointments. “We only see people who are not Bajuni being given jobs in Lamu, while our children who also qualify for those jobs are sidelined. This must stop,” he said. He added that the Bajuni community, which is a minority, could face extinction in the near future if discrimination and marginalization continue. “We are a minority in this country, and we urge President William Ruto, who loves working with minori...

  Private school principals in Mombasa have raised concerns over unfulfilled bursary promises made by Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir. ‎ ‎Speaking to journalists at Mama Ngina Waterfront Park, the principals — led by the chairperson of the Private Association for Secondary Schools, Dr. Elisha Mwangu — said the county government had promised to pay KSh 5,000 in school fees for every student in day schools across the county, but the funds have yet to be disbursed. ‎ ‎Dr. Mwangu said parents have been visiting schools demanding receipts, claiming the governor had already released the bursary funds, a situation that has created tension between parents and school administrations. ‎ “Let parents know we have not received any money. We can only issue receipts after we get confirmation of payment,” he stated. ‎ ‎The principals also lamented that the delay has placed a heavy financial burden on schools and warned that some students risk dropping out if the situation persists. ‎ ‎ They a...

  Science and Innovation PS Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak Urges Coast Youth to Embrace Research and Innovation, Highlighting President William Ruto's Commitment to allocate 1% GDP for Research Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak has called on young people in the Coast region to prioritize studies in research and innovation. This, he emphasized, will enable them to capitalize on the vast opportunities presented by Kenya's blue economy. Speaking in Mombasa, Prof. Shaukat highlighted that President Ruto's has shown strong commitment to boosting the research sector and also strengthen science, innovation, and related initiatives. This dedicated investment underscores the government's resolve to position research as a key driver of national development and economic transformation. The PS pointed out that Kenya's blue economy is currently valued at approximately Ksh 84 billion, with significant untapped potential to grow to Ksh 150 billion or more through strategic efforts. Despite this ...