Author: Coast Times Digital

By ALLOYS MUSYOKA In a bid to enhance transparency, accountability and citizen participation which are essential elements of good governance in many countries InformAction Kenya organization has launched a project dubbed shifting the power to people in Kwale. Access to information is a fundamental right that empowers citizens to hold public officials accountable and actively participate in democratic processes. The three years project funded by Bread for the Word (BFTW) a German church-based organization and InformAction Kenya is aimed at promoting access to information for better accountability and governance in Kenya. Locals will be enabled to actively engage in governance, demand accountability…

BY REPORTER Kwale County Commissioner Michael Mwangi Meru has cautioned residents to be extra careful as heavy rains continue to pound in most parts of the country. On Thursday floods had affected most areas in Kwale as several rivers burst their banks. Some of the flooded rivers include Perani, Ramisi, Umba, Mkurumudzi, Mwena and Mbadi among others. Some areas in Ukunda were also affected by the clogged water that flooded villages and roads. Mwangi said transport activities were hampered for several hours in various areas as overflowing water rivers swallowed bridges. The most affected areas were Kinango and Lunga-Lunga sub-counties.…

BY REPORTER The Principal Secretary for Tourism John Ololtua has said the government is committed to strengthening partnerships and close relationships with Uganda to promote tourism. Ololtua said the government is working to streamline border restrictions to facilitate the smooth movement of tourists between the two countries. He said the Kenya government has embarked on opening transport infrastructure, upgrading airports and entering into bilateral talks with Uganda geared towards improving trade and tourism activities across their borders. “We are determined to address the shortcomings arising from our borders as far as security is concerned and travel permits so that our…

By Reporter Green-Tech manufacturing company, Agilitee, has rolled out its electric scooters Loadex in four provinces out of the 9 provinces of the country in South Africa. The continent’s EV leader is expanding to the fifth province this week and intends to have its vehicles on the road in all provinces of South Africa by the end of December. African tech giant who has been supported much in its own country is seeing a big shift as it’s vehicles demand has skyrocketed in the third quarter of 2023. These demands are driven by consumers especially in Southern and Eastern Africa…

The Australian mining firm Base Titanium has emphasized that the company is closing for lack of mineral resources and not because a section of the community opposed the exploration exercise. The company’s External Affairs General Manager Simon Wall said the exploration work was done successfully in the hope of expanding mining life. He, however, said intensive study was conducted, but the minerals found proved not to be economically viable. He said both the grade and volume were low and hence could not sustain mining operations. “Let it be clear, the decision of closing is clearly technical and is not an…

By Mwanaharusi Rashid The Association of Insurance Brokers of Kenya (AIBK) has called for the establishment of special courts to resolve insurance cases. AIBK CEO Eliud Adiedo said the current system is choking the sector due to a backlog of numerous cases in courts which leads to prolonged legal battles. Adiedo said the judiciary should give insurance cases a priority and come up with special courts to expedite the settlement of disputes and the processing of claims.  “The government should create insurance courts just like they did to land, labour and others,” he said.Adiedo made the remarks during the marking…

By Primrose Omoto Base Titanium, a world-class mineral sands operator, has announced that it will decommission its mining operations in Kwale East and effectively end all mining operations in December 2024. Base Titanium is Kenya’s largest mine, celebrated for the safety practices of its flagship operation, the Kwale Project, a part of Kenya’s Vision 2030. The company has been exporting minerals abroad. It successfully determined that current mineral reserves in the Kinondo Kwale Mine have a limited operational life. At the end of 2024, the reserves will be depleted, products sold and the mine will close. Base Titanium will continue…

The Malindi Children’s Court Users Association has raised a red flag over concerns that there are rising cases of sexual offences against children in Malindi and Magarini Sub Counties, Kilifi County. Malindi Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Usui said they are worried that the number of cases on sexual injustice against children could rise during the festive season and urged parents to be alert and ensure their children are protected. The committee members and other stakeholders staged a road show in Malindi town and several trading centres in Magarini Sub County in which messages concerning children’s rights were spread to residents. Usui,…

By Mwanaharusi Rashid  Cabinet Secretary in charge of Health Susan Nakumincha has put on notice contractors managing the Managed Equipment Service (MES) scheme. Nakumicha sent a stern warning to the contractors saying they risk having their contracts withdrawn if equipment under their care is found not functioning properly. “For contractors overseeing the leased medical equipment, it is absolutely imperative that you keep them in peak condition. Failure to do so could lead to contract terminations if the equipment falls short in our hospitals,” she said.  Nakhumicha’s resounding call to action reverberated through the audience, highlighting the critical need to maintain…

By Primerose Omoto Kwale County government has launched five new development projects at the Msambweni County Referral Hospital in a bid to uplift the hospital’s status The referral hospital now has a functioning oxygen-making plant, drug store, reverse osmosis water treatment plant, a 60-bed new maternity wing, and a renovated mortuary complete with a new waiting bay. The projects have been constructed under Governor Fatuma Achani’s tenure since she came into office in September 2022. The hospital provides healthcare services to approximately 2200 outpatients and 205 inpatients with a previous capacity of 155 beds. With the new drug store, the…