Author: Coast Times Digital

Kwale residents have welcomed the exploration program by Base Titanium as they seek to reap significant employment opportunities that will change their lives.  At least over 800 locals comprising the youth, women and elders have been employed in various areas earning a living. The Australian firm commenced the exploration exercise in several areas last year in a bid to extend the mining life. The current minerals are expected to be depleted by December 2024. Since the exercise began the area youth, women and elders have secured jobs and reported to have changed lives. A resident, Ali Kasim Mwakazi said locals…

English and Literacy program is changing the lives of hundreds of students in Kwale County. The project dubbed Intellectual Literacy and Leadership program was introduced in schools to assist learners in skillfully speaking and writing in English. Most learners in the region are reported to have no proper command of the English language because of excessive use of vernacular and Kiswahili language resulting in poor academic performances. So far the program has reached over 700 hundred students from around 10 schools both in high school and primary learning institutions. It is managed by a coastal-based youth affairs non-governmental organization Samba…

By Johnson Chengo Kaloleni Member of Parliament Paul Katana has challenged Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to unite the nation instead of dividing it. Speaking in Mnazimmwenga Primary school when he led the groundbreaking ceremony of two classrooms, Katana accused the deputy president serving the interests of the Mt Kenya region. “The Presidency which Gachagua is part of is a symbol of unity for the country and not mt. Kenya only. Whenever he speaks it’s about mt Kenya. This is wrong for a leader like him who hold the second highest office in the Country. Am expecting to talk about exclusivity,”…

Australian mining company, Base Titanium in Kwale County has hinted that they have only six weeks left to determine their extended mining life in the region.  The company recently sounded an alarm that its exploration window to find new mineral deposits is closing down as several challenges have slowed the process. Despite government assurance that the company’s licenses will be renewed, the management said if the exercise fails they will shut operations in December 2024. The company’s External Affairs General Manager Simon Wall said some families have refused to give consent for the exploration and some drilling must be done…

The Australian Mining Firm Base Titanium in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross has embarked on training students and the mining-affected communities on matters of safety and first aid. The training program has been rolled out in primary schools, secondary, colleges and universities. Base’s Compliance, Safety and Administration officer Clapaton Nyinge Ngome said the training is part of the company’s commitment to ensuring maximum safety and responsible mining activities. “The company has structures of safety management and emergency preparedness that are key in our mining operations,” he said. Ngome said the mineral sand harvesting firm doesn’t take matters of safety…

By Johnson Chengo Environmental activists in Kilifi County have faulted President William Ruto’s decision saying he would have consulted them before lifting the six years logging ban. The activists led by Gro With Us African managing director Kelly Banda, said the ban has caused a lot of mixed reactions with the majority fearing that the country will not hit its target of 15 billion trees by 2032 as part of the effort to combat climate change. Speaking to the media in Kidundu village after planting more than 10,000 mangrove seedlings, Banda said the president’s move was premature and it will…

By Johnson Chengo A section of Chamari village residents in Magarini Constituency, Kilifi County wants the national government to give them back their land they claimed owned by the Agricultural Development Corporation. The residents led by Jacob Kokani also insisted the boundaries between them and ADC be put open and title deeds issued to them to end the long land tussle. Speaking to journalists at Chamari village, Kokani one of the residents said ADC encroached on community land by extending the boundaries of the Galana and Kulalu ranches through four locations hence annexing thousands of hectares of community land and…

Parents in Kilifi whose children are studying at Chumani secondary school have come out to complain about harassment by the deputy head teacher with assistance from several other teachers. By virtue of the new Constitution of Kenya adopted in 2010, corporal punishment of children is unlawful in all settings, including the family home This is after the school management sent the children home on 30 July 2023 night when they allegedly went on rampage although there has not been any evidence reported of damage caused by students. The students are said to have been angered by the deputy head teacher’s habit…

Parents and guardian with students at Chumani secondary school were shocked on Sunday morning when they saw their children walking home. Students walked as far as 20 kilometers with some going from Chumani secondary school to Kilifi town, Malindi and Watamu using the Malindi-Mombasa Highway. The students are said to have gone on strike on Saturday 30 2023 and were allowed to leave the school compound at around 1 am in the morning without parents notification. Many who spoke to Coast Times Digital said they could not believe seeing their children coming home in the morning around 3 am in…

By Johnson Chengo Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga has initiated forums for engaging students, parents and teachers to curb indiscipline cases that lead to burning of schools. Speaking in his office after disbursing a total of Sh28 million as bursary cheques to 3,000 students drone from Collage and Universities, Chonga said the unrest can only be controlled if parents and teachers change the approaches of addressing students’ wayward behaviours. He said fires and unrest in learning institutions are mainly occasioned by broken communication links. “Sometimes these students have genuine concerns but they are using the wrong channel of addressing it…