Author: Coast Times Digital

By Nuru Salim Kenya’s record Ksh4.2 trillion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year has stirred debate among coast leaders, with a call to channel more government attention and resources toward indigenous crops that drive rural livelihoods in Kwale County. Speaking during a public participation session on the Finance Bill at the Kwale Cultural Centre, Matuga MP Kassim Sawa Tandaza urged the National Treasury to zero-rate agricultural inputs and outputs for crops such as cashew nuts, coconut, and Bixa. He said that supporting these other indigenous crops from the coastal region would directly improve household incomes and unlock agro-industrial potential in…

By Nuru Salim Over 3,000 mangrove trees were planted in Chale and tonnes of plastic waste collected along Diani in Kwale County on Wednesday, as NCBA Bank led a high-impact environmental campaign to mark World Environment Day 2025. The event, held on June 5 at Chale, brought together government agencies, private sector partners, and local communities in a large-scale effort to restore fragile marine ecosystems and curb plastic pollution under this year’s global theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution.” Spearheaded by NCBA Bank in partnership with the Boreka Group, Kenya Forest Service KFS, the National Environment Management Authority NEMA, the Kwale County Government…

By Nuru Salim The national government has begun collecting feedback from citizens across the country on how well government programs and projects are being implemented, with a team from the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary currently conducting a public engagement exercise in Kwale County. Led by the Secretary for Government Programs and Projects Delivery, Musa Machoka, the delegation emphasized the importance of hearing directly from the people in order to better align national projects with the needs and realities on the ground. Machoka said the government was keen to strengthen public participation, noting that it was no longer enough…

Civil society groups in Lamu have expressed concerns over the continued push by Amu Power Plant to establish a coal plant within Kwasasi area despite a 2019 National Environmental Tribunal  revoking the project over environmental concerns. Amu Power on its part had this year begun the appeal process, to which environmentalists within Lamu have staged demonstrations and sit ins demanding the High Court’s intervention in quashing the project from proceeding. So far a court ruling is expected later in September 3rd 2025 following repeated delays in delivering judgement over the issue Speaking during a demonstration held in Lamu today Amu Beach…

By Alloys Musyoka Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has directed all 10 County devolved functions, including Health services, Agriculture, Education, Social Services, and Roads, to award development project contracts exclusively to women and youth registered companies in a move that aims to tackle unemployment and reduce poverty levels across the County. These contracts cover projects such as the construction of dispensaries, Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers, expansion of water pipelines, and cleaning of urban areas, including Diani, Kwale, Kinango, and LungaLunga. Achani says that over 300 women- and youth-led companies have been registered, with 105 receiving contracts for various County…

BY SHABAN OMAR Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW), formerly known as the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), in collaboration with the County government department of health, has intensified menstrual hygiene management awareness campaigns in grassroots areas of Lunga-Lunga and Msambweni sub-counties in Kwale County. The new development comes against the backdrop of the 2025 Menstrual Hygiene Day campaign, themed “Empowering individuals, promoting health, and advocating for sustainable menstrual practices globally.” YSW, through its Connect A Girl Project, organized community dialogues and peer learning sessions to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene management. Additionally, YSW supported Lunga-Lunga Youth CBO to…

By Alloys Musyoka Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani and County Commissioner Stephen Orinde led the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations in the County at the Nzovuni High School grounds in Kinango, with the theme of this year’s day being “blue economy and Maritime Affairs”. Kwale County has so far built 9 fish landing sites  upgraded with refrigerators and other modern equipments for storing fish and other marine products in the areas of Tsunza, Mwaepe, Waa, Tiwi and Vanga, and also provided fishing training to 1,200 women. Addressing Wananchi at Ndzovuni Secondary School in Kinango Subcounty during Madaraka Day Celebration, Kwale County…

Young jobseekers in the Coast region gathered at recruitment points in Kilifi, Mombasa concluding at Diani, Ukunda for a government-backed overseas employment drive, marking the final phase of the Kazi Majuu initiative in Kenya’s Coast region. Cabinet Secretary for Labour Dr. Alfred Mutua was keen to oversee that interviews for roles in Dubai and Abu Dhabi set off without a hitch. Positions available include motorcycle drivers, gardeners, cleaners, and construction workers. He was joined by Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga, Msambweni MP Hon. Feisal Bader and Kwale County Officials. Dr. Mutua praised the candidates’ professionalism stating, “I am deeply impressed…

By Alloys Musyoka Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has  laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Mwache Health Center, situated in the Mazeras area of Kasemeni Ward, Samburu Sub-County. The construction of the health center, which will also include three staff houses, is being undertaken as part of the Ksh 20 billion Mwache Dam project component, expected to offer a significant solution to healthcare challenges faced by residents in the area. Speaking during the launch of the project, Governor Achani emphasized the County Government of Kwale’s commitment to continued collaboration with the National Government to ensure all proposed projects…

By Lamu reporter Hundreds of residents in Baragoni, Lamu Central Sub-County, received free healthcare services today during a medical outreach camp organized by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). Speaking today during the rollout programme which is aimed at providing healthcare services to marginalized communities within Lamu’s mainland area KPA Communications Manager Jones Bochere stated that the initiative is aimed at delivering,vital medical care to a communities facing significant barriers to healthcare access. The one-day camp, held at Baragoni Primary School, was attended by residents from Baragoni and surrounding villages, including Bobo, Magumba, Milimani, and Bodhai Junction. KPA on its part…