Author: Coast Times Digital

By Shaban Omar Tension is rising in Nikaphu Village, Lunga-Lunga in Kwale County, as some residents reject the government’s plan to allocate a quarter-acre to each household under the squatters’ settlement programme. The residents, led by Ali Siaka Vuya, claim the distribution of the 270-acre parcel, which is expected to benefit 137 families, is being undertaken without adequate public participation and consultation. Vuya said they fear the allocation process could be manipulated to favour individuals who are not the rightful beneficiaries of the programme. “The whole affair is a total fraud. A quarter-acre is not enough for families like ours,…

By Shaban Omar The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered a 1.14-acre beach access road reserve worth Sh45 million in Kwale County after the land was declared public property by the High Court. Speaking in Diani on Thursday, EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said the parcel had been unlawfully allocated to a private company through a 99-year lease issued in 1994. “The land was illegally grabbed in 1994. However, on July 14, 2026, the High Court in Kwale ruled that it is public land and ordered that it be returned to the people,” Mohamud said. He reaffirmed the…

By Alloys Musyoka The Government has launched an ambitious plan to revive the troubled Kwale International Sugar Company Limited (KISCOL), a move expected to restore thousands of jobs, revive sugarcane farming across the Coast region and inject billions of shillings into the local economy. Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has announced the formation of a high-level multi-stakeholder revival committee that will spearhead the reopening of the factory after years of operational challenges that have left farmers without a reliable market and stalled one of Kenya’s largest private sugar investments. Speaking during an inspection tour of the…

By Shaban Omar A new programme to help civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kwale County achieve financial sustainability has been launched to effectively dispense their duties. The initiative comes amid a shrinking civic space as many CSOs face dwindling donor funding, intimidation of human rights defenders and financial challenges that threaten their operations. Dubbed the Enterprise Development Programme, the initiative is being implemented by Inuka Kenya, Ni Sisi in partnership with the Kwale Civil Society Consortium (KCSC). Speaking during an engagement forum in Mvindeni, Inuka Kenya Programme Officer Eunice Wanjiko said the programme will equip CSOs and community-based organisations (CBOs)…

By Shaban Omar   For decades, the old Marere Bridge stood like a silent guardian between Kwale and Kinango, faithfully carrying thousands of travellers, traders, schoolchildren and farmers across the river.   It weathered raging floods, scorching sunshine and powerful winds, asking for nothing in return but the chance to keep serving the people who depended on it.   Year after year, it bore the weight of buses, lorries, motorcycles and pedestrians. It connected families, sustained businesses and kept the local economy alive.    The bridge links Kwale with Mombasa via Kinango-Samburu road opening up the area’s economy.   In…

By reporter Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining operations by Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited over alleged failure to comply with key legal and regulatory requirements governing Kenya’s mining sector. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Joho said the suspension will remain in force until the company fully complies with the Mining Act, its regulations and all other applicable laws. The CS said the action followed years of engagement between the State Department for Mining and the company over its statutory obligations under the Mining Act, Cap. 306, the Mining (Licence and Permit)…

By Alloys Musyoka Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, has called on political leaders to shield the country’s investment climate from domestic political disputes, saying investor confidence is critical to economic growth and job creation. Speaking during an investment review visit to the Dongo Kundu special economic zone and vipingo special economic zone, CS Kinyanjui said Kenya’s investor-friendly policies continue to attract capital from across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. He warned that political statements capable of undermining investor confidence could jeopardize opportunities that benefit all Kenyans, regardless of political affiliation. At the same time,…

By Shaban Omar The government has begun the process of reopening the Hillo Gold Mines in Marsabit County after Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho constituted a multi-agency team to oversee the exercise. The move follows a directive by President William Ruto aimed at fast-tracking the resumption of mining activities at the site. Speaking after chairing a high-level consultative meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday, Joho said the team has been given seven working days from July 23 to conduct a comprehensive field assessment. Its mandate includes verifying the demarcated artisanal mining areas, confirming registered mining cooperatives…

By Reporter The opening of the modern Kwale Stadium by President William Ruto two years ago during the Mashujaa Day celebrations hosted in Kwale County marked a new chapter for sportsmen, sportswomen, and fans in the county. The state-of-the-art Kwale Stadium, the first of its kind in the Coast region, has a seating capacity of approximately 13,000 spectators. It was constructed through a partnership between the Kwale County Government and the National Government. According to Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, the stadium has elevated Kwale County’s status in Kenyan sports, as it has become a preferred venue for national football clubs…

By Alloys Musyoka Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has announced that the Kwale County Government will join the Mbuguni Scheme case as an interested party in the court case filed by residents of Mbuguni in Tsimba Golini Ward, Matuga Sub-County, challenging the alleged unlawful issuance of land title deeds. Achani announcement follows complaints from residents that land title deeds in the Mbuguni Settlement Scheme were issued to influential individuals and non-residents, raising fears of land dispossession. The Mbuguni Settlement Scheme comprises approximately 756 plots spread across five villages of Bang’a,Mteza,Mrera,Mbuguni and Lunguma.Residents say the disputed title deeds threaten the livelihoods…