THE NEWSROOM

More than 700 tourists arrived at the Port of Mombasa on Tuesday aboard the MV Viking  Yidun cruise ship, boosting Kenya's growing cruise tourism sector. The 717 visitors are expected to tour various attractions across the country before the vessel departs for Zanzibar on Wednesday. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director, Captain William Ruto, who received the ship, described the visit as a milestone, noting that MV Vikin g is the first cruise ship from Asia to call at the Port of Mombasa. The vessel began its voyage from the Port of Shanghai on June 4 and is scheduled to visit 27 ports in 16 countries across Asia and Africa during its cruise. "The ship arrived with 717 guests and 489 crew members, who will spend their one-day stay exploring the city through organized tours, excursions and game drives," said Ruto. Meanwhile, Pollman's Tours and Safaris Group Operations Manager, Mohammed Hersi, expressed confidence that Kenya remains on course to achieve its ta...

The government has raised alarm over the growing threat of synthetic drugs, warning that traffickers are adopting sophisticated methods to manufacture and distribute illicit substances within the country. Speaking during the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADA) 2026 commemorations, Interior permanent secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo said Kenya is facing new drug trends, including the emergence of locally manufactured synthetic drugs. Dr. Omollo noted that while authorities have traditionally focused on cannabis and alcohol abuse, traffickers are now exploiting technology to produce synthetic drugs locally, making detection more difficult. He cited data from National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), which estimates that about 4.7 million Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 use at least one drug or substance of abuse. "Behind these numbers are broken families, disrupted education, lost economic opportunities, increas...

The draw for the 7th edition of the Rashid Abdalla Super Cup was held in Kwale County on Tuesday, with 44 teams officially confirmed for the tournament. Organizers said this year's competition has recorded significant growth, with the number of participating teams increasing from 32 in the sixth edition to 44. Speaking during the draw, tournament founder Rashid Abdalla said the competition continues to expand in line with global football trends. "We follow the FIFA World Cup format. Previously, the World Cup had 32 participating teams and now it has expanded to 48. Similarly, we have increased the number of teams in our tournament to 44," he said. Abdalla announced that the winner of this year's tournament will receive a cash prize of KSh 2.5 million and a fully sponsored trip to Nairobi. He also appealed to corporate organizations and well-wishers to support the competition by sponsoring teams. "It is not a must for sponsors to give us money. Companies can suppo...

Police have arrested a robbery suspect  following an intelligence-led operation in Likoni, Mombasa County. The arrest followed a tip-off from members of the public about a suspicious individual in the area, according to police. "Acting swiftly, officers apprehended him and a search revealed a panga concealed in his waistband" Further investigations established that he had allegedly been involved in a robbery at Maweni, where the victim was robbed off a mobile phone. The suspect was positively identified by the complainant. "He was escorted to Likoni Police Station, where he was booked and placed in custody pending further investigations and arraignment in court"

The Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) has launched the Blue Economy Multi-Agency Action Plan (JKP-BEMAP) 2026–2030 in Mombasa, an ambitious regional framework estimated to cost KSh 168 billion to implement. According to the organizers, the plan is designed to unlock the full potential of the Blue Economy across the six coastal and coastal-influenced counties under the JKP umbrella. The framework seeks to address key structural challenges, including inadequate value addition, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation, fragmented governance, and skills mismatches. Speaking during the launch at the headquarters of Kenya Maritime Authority in Mombasa, JKP Forum Chairperson and Tana River Governor, Dhadho Godhana , underscored the urgency of implementing the action plan to unlock the region’s investment-ready blue economy opportunities and spur sustainable growth across the coastal counties. “It is now time to act firmly and decisively so that we can deliver for our people,” he sai...

Bajuni elders from Lamu County have given the government a seven-day ultimatum to reopen the Lamu Highway, citing a court order that directed authorities to lift night travel ban along the route. Addressing the media in Mombasa on 16th June,2026, the elders, led by Bajuni Sultan Omar Sharif, accused the government of defying the court ruling and disregarding the rights of Lamu residents by maintaining what they described as an unlawful night curfew. The leaders said the continued restrictions have disrupted daily life and crippled economic activities, making it difficult for residents to travel freely and conduct business. “If the government does not open the road within seven days, we will take to the streets. On Sunday, we will block the road. Whether they open it or not, they will know who we are,” warned Sharif. The elders argued that despite several court directives ordering the reopening of the highway 24/7, security agencies have continued to enforce restrictions, causin...

Police in Marsabit County have arrested three male suspects and recovered 13 pieces of Elephant tusks. The trio, Wario Ali Halo, Umuro Afani Duba, and Alkano Elema Galgalo were ambushed by police in their hideout in their residential house at Majengo area. According to a police report, security officers acted on a tip off before swarming the trio’s hideout.   thought they were safe behind closed doors. However, Officers breached the hideout, catching the trio completely off guard. “A rapid, thorough search of the premises led officers to a suspicious green sack sitting innocently on the floor. But inside was a grim harvest of greed: 13 pieces of freshly poached elephant tusks, representing the senseless slaughter of Kenya's heritage”, said DCI. The three suspects, alongside the recovered contraband, are being held at Marsabit Police Station awaiting arraignment in court.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has challenged alcohol licensing boards to strike a balance between revenue collection and sustainable urban development, saying licensing decisions should positively contribute to society. The governor called for stricter regulation of the number of bars and liquor outlets in Mombasa and other counties, noting that despite the revenue generated from liquor licenses, alcohol-related social problems continue to rise. Speaking during the 2 nd annual caucus of liquor licensing and control board conference 2026 held in Mombasa, Nassir revealed that Mombasa has more bars than churches and mosques combined, describing the trend as a growing concern that requires urgent intervention from regulators and stakeholders. “ If you look at the number of Mosques, Churches and schools and combine them together, we still have more bars than all these institutions combined”, he stated. The governor urged society to support efforts aimed at promoting res...

  Dr Gilbert Shanga ( in White cap) The Equitable Party (TEP) has urged the Ministry of Education to release capitation funds to schools on time to improve the quality of education for Kenyan learners. Speaking during the annual meeting at Muhudu Secondary School in Hamisi Constituency, Western Kenya, TEP leader Dr. Gilbert Shanga said delays in the disbursement of the funds have significantly affected learning in schools across the country. “Capitation going directly to schools will help even in monitoring how that money is used. It is important to show there is no favouritism in disbursing the money,” he said. Dr. Shanga noted that timely release of the funds would enable schools to run their programmes effectively and reduce disruptions to learning. He also called on the government to lower the cost of living, arguing that the high cost of goods and services has negatively affected transportation and travel expenses for schools and families. The TEP leader further advocated for...

  Five Universities in Kenya have joined East Africa's first EU academic corridor in an agreement signed with Danubius international university from Romania. The Universities include; Amref International University, Moi University, Pwani University, Kabarak University and Strathmore University. The agreement will create a framework connecting Kenyan students to EU accredited Masters Degree programmes. ‎Danubius international university president and CEO Steve Michael said the cross border university framework will deliver sustainable academic growth. “Kenya's academic institutions are among the most dynamic in Africa. This corridor is a genuine partnership between equals — built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to student outcomes that change lives.” Said Steve. AspiraPath LLC founder Cynthia Kropac on her part, said initiative will reshape how African learners access international academic capital. “We are building bridges between African ambition and Europe...