Author: Coast Times Digital

By Shaban Omar The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has called on county governments to strengthen their mechanisms against graft in order to safeguard public funds. EACC Deputy deputy chair Dr. Monica Muiru, said counties should put in place corruption prevention committees to detect risks, monitor sensitive areas, and close gaps that allow unethical practices to thrive. “I urge all counties, particularly top leadership organs, to establish corruption prevention committees so that we can effectively seal the loopholes that fuel corruption and misconduct,” she said. Dr. Muiru made the remarks on Thursday at Kwale County Headquarters in Matuga after a…

By Shaban Omar The mountains of uncollected garbage that have long scarred the beauty of Kwale County’s towns might soon be a thing of the past. This follows the launch of two brand-new garbage collection trucks by the Kwale government. For years, piles of waste have dotted streets in Diani, Kwale town, Lungalunga and Kinango, a sight that not only embarrassed residents but also threatened the county’s image as a top tourism destination. The county has repeatedly come under criticism for poor waste management despite being the face of Kenya’s tourism economy. In some instances, the stench from overflowing dumpsites…

By Shaban Omar More than 100 business people operating at Chandarana along Diani Beach Road in Kwale County are seeking government intervention after receiving an eviction notice from a private developer. The traders say they are not opposed to vacating the land but are demanding an alternative place to operate, arguing that they have been running their businesses at the site for over 25 years. Led by Anna Agness, the group said the notice has given them little time to prepare and they now face the risk of losing their livelihoods. “We are not refusing to leave, but the government…

By Faith Muteti A leading mining company Base Titanium has been lauded for doing world standard rehabilitation practice at the area where mining took place before conclusion in 2014 in Kwale. Base Titanium has also been lauded for being environmental champions with people of all walks of life visiting its site to learn more about environment and rehabilitation. Community Empowerment on Environmental Change (CEEC), in partnership with Beacon Teachers Africa, visited the area to learn more about the company’s environmental rehabilitation practices after mining. Their visit aimed to expose participants to sustainable land restoration methods and promote environmental conservation through…

By Reporter A wave of fear and tension has gripped the border township of Kiunga in Lamu County, as community leaders and civil society groups raise the alarm over a surge in enforced disappearances and alleged atrocities committed by security forces. The growing crisis came to a head following demonstrations on Amu Island, spearheaded by human rights organizations Haki Afrika and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI). Residents are now issuing a fervent plea to the national government, demanding that security operations in the designated “Kiunga operation area” be conducted in strict adherence to the rule of law. Mathias Shipeta, Haki…

By Reporter Teachers in Lamu County are putting pressure on the national government to immediately confirm approximately 20,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms, citing crippling staff shortages and overwhelming workloads. Speaking in Lamu today following a Lamu KUPPET branch members meeting held in Mpeketoni Sofia Njagi, a Hindi Town based JSS teacher called on the government to speed up the process of confirming the JSSS intern teachers whom she said have been overloaded work-plans with some going as far as having 37 lessons weekly due to lack of enough teachers. “Apart from fully confirming…

By Faith Muteti The national government has been urged to simplify the process of registering national ID cards and birth certificates in the country, in order to ensure that the essential services are easily accessible to all citizens. The call was made during a two-day Coast Region journalists’ conference organized by Haki Center through NAMATI (Innovation in legal empowerment) and international organization held in Mombasa. Haki center program coordinator Andrew Ochola said that the national government must thoroughly examine the obstacles hindering access to national ID cards and birth certificates. He said that access to the important documents has become…

By Reporter A family in Lamu is crying out for answers following the mysterious disappearance of their loved one who was abducted by masked gunmen last week in Kiunga. According to the family members of Mohammed Mohammed a 41 year old man, was abducted by masked gunmen on September 12 2025 at his residence in Kiunga ward. The family believes the men may have been police officers, but authorities have not confirmed any operation in the area on that day. Mohammed’s whereabouts remain unknown more than a week later, with the trail now cold and his loved ones desperate for…

By Alloys Musyoka A section of small business owners and retailers from Kwale County have opposed the proposed Senate’s Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2025 demanding its withdrawal over what they say is its potential to destroy businesses if passed in its current form. Speaking in Ukunda, the retailers said some provisions of the Bill will encourage increased trade of illicit tobacco products in the market through over-regulation and double taxation. Kwale bar owner’s association chair Richard Onsongo claimed that the Senate failed to conduct adequate public participation on the Bill, saying that its continued debate in parliament is unconstitutional and…

By PPS Kenya has a predictable policy and laws that protect investors in special economic zones, President William Ruto has said. The President pointed out that the Special Economic Zones Act of 2015, the Finance Act of 2023, as well as the Business Laws Amendment 2024 give protection to investors in these economic zones. Speaking during a panel discussion after the groundbreaking ceremony at the Vipingo Special Economic Zone in Kilifi County on Tuesday, President Ruto announced that the law on tax incentives is guaranteed for 10 years. He explained that Kenya guarantees a stable, investor-friendly special economic zones’ regime,…