Author: Coast Times Digital

By NURU SALIM A mass registration exercise in Dzombo Ward, Lunga-Lunga Sub-county, has brought to light a concerning spike in cerebral palsy cases among children and critical shortages in disability care services underscoring the need for targeted government intervention. The mass registration exercise conducted by Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) in collaboration with the Kwale County Disability Council and the County Department of Health has registered more than 300 persons living with Disabilities (PWDs) as part of a wider campaign to bring essential services closer to remote communities. According to Sanga Kabuka, a disability specialist and lead doctor in the exercise, 52 children were assessed, with 20 cases of children confirmed to…

By NURU SALIM A renewed call to recognize and support widows through national legislation echoed at Msambweni Forest during the International Widows Day commemorations. Held under the theme “Rights, Dignity, and Justice for Widows,” the event brought together hundreds of widows, activists, and community leaders who aim to press Parliament to fast-track the long-overdue Widows Bill. According to 2019 census data, Kwale County had 16,953 widows with Msambweni alone accounting for 7,023, Kinango 5,508, and the remaining sub-counties 4,422. However, widow advocates say the numbers have since increased significantly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many…

By Nuru Salim More than 20 pregnant women have died in Kwale County this year, according to figures from the County Health Department. The grim tally has sent shockwaves through health circles and raised serious questions about access to timely and adequate maternal care in the Kwale. The spike comes as Fanikisha Foundation, a reproductive health-focused organization, sounded the alarm this week, warning that if the trend continues unchecked, the 2024/2025 period could end up worse than the already troubling numbers of 2023/2024. “According to statistics we have a challenge of mothers attending the antenatal clinics. Ideally, mothers are expected…

BY SHABAN OMAR  A section of Kwale KUPPET teachers has intensified calls for the resignation of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohamed Amin, and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen following the mysterious death of a Homa Bay school teacher Albert Ojwang while in police custody in Nairobi. This comes just a day after Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat stepped aside to pave the way for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, which has sparked national outrage and widespread condemnation. Speaking during a press briefing at Kwale Baraza Park…

BY SHABAN OMAR Youth in Kwale County have been encouraged to form organized groups to tap into available entrepreneurship opportunities and funding. Lunga-Lunga Youth CBO Program Coordinator Janice Mbingu said there are numerous government and donor-funded programs targeting youth empowerment, but organized groups stand a better chance of benefiting. Mbingu noted that recognized and registered groups offer a more structured pathway to socioeconomic development and self-reliance. “It is easier for the government and other development partners to support people in a group rather than individuals. With the power of unity and shared vision, comes greater success,” she said. She urged…

By Nuru Salim An 11-year-old girl has died after a fire razed down a rental house in Mbuyuni village, Timbwani Ward in Likoni. The tragic incident occurred at around 2am on Saturday, leaving residents devastated and a family grappling with the loss of a child and all their belongings. According to Fatuma Ziki, one of the residents of the six-roomed house, the fire broke out while two children were asleep and quickly engulfed the building. Their mother was reportedly away visiting a sick relative at the time of the incident. Efforts to save the children were hampered by heavy smoke…

BY OMAR SHABAN Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has announced plans to upgrade several vocational training centres (VTCs) into centres of excellence as part of her administration’s effort to empower youth through technical and vocational education. Speaking during the commissioning of a new administration block at Msulwa Vocational Training Centre in Matuga, Achani said the county is working on strategies to transform the facility and others including Manda, Ukunda, Kinango, and Mavirivirini into high-capacity institutions offering specialized training in key trades. “We want to equip our youth with relevant and competitive skills that match the demands of the evolving job market,”…

BY SHABAN OMAR Chief Lady Justice and President of the Supreme Court, Martha Koome, has issued a stern warning to magistrates and court users over involvement in corrupt practices. Koome said that the judiciary is committed to uprooting all forms of misconduct that fuel corruption, in a bid to uphold integrity and reinforce the justice system. “The Judiciary is a corruption-free zone. We are firmly implementing zero-tolerance policies to stamp out this vice from our courts,” she said. The Chief Justice disclosed that there have been reported cases of fraudsters soliciting money from plaintiffs and defendants, falsely claiming to be…

By Alloys Musyoka Two Kenya Air Force officers died on the spot after aircraft accident in Kwale. The accident is said to have taken place at Viramboni village within Ndavaya ward in Kinango. Kwale county commissioner Stephen Orinde told media that security officials were heading to te site qs investigation begins. While confirming the incident Orinde said that the cause is still unknown.

By Alloys Musyoka Hydrocele patients and expectant mothers in need of surgical services in Mkongani, Matuga Sub County, have breathed a sigh of relief following the elevation of Mkongani Health Center to a Level 4 hospital. The upgrade, which was carried out in February of this year by Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani alongside President William Ruto, marked a significant milestone in enhancing access to essential surgical services in the region. In previous years, patients requiring surgery had to travel long distances to access treatment in distant health facilities, such as in Kwale, Kinango, Msambweni, or even Coast General Hospital in…