Author: Coast Times Digital

By  FLORA AWINJA Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has held its coast REGIONAL 1 games competition at the Msambweni Campus in Kwale County. The tournament involved all the 9 campuses within the coast region. The campuses include, Msambweni, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Port Reitz, Voi, Lamu, Tana River, Kwale and Mombasa. The competitions were organized to cover both indoor and outdoor games. Kilifi campus principal Alex Ndeche said that the Regional 1 games were organized for the students to keep physical fitness and good health. According to Ndeche the games were put on a halt due to the COVID 19 pandemic that caused the seizure of normal activities worldwide. Ndeche said that apart from physical fitness and good health the games…

By Hellen Awino Indigenous trees play a big role in the environment and the ecosystem. However, cutting them down for various uses has led to serious repercussions including climate change which is now a menace globally. A group of women in Majimboni village, Kilifi County have been depending on the indigenous trees from Kaya forests for the production of their herbal medicines. Naomi Katana is a beneficiary of herbal medicines produced by the group. She says had been on medication for a very long time since she could not bear a child. “After I consumed these herbal medicines, I gave…

By FLORA AWINJA Religious leaders in Kwale County have sharply opposed the Supreme Court ruling that gave a nod for the registration of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer persons (LGBTQ) as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). The Evangelical Association of Kenya (EAK) Kwale chapter chairman Reverend Zakayo Musomba said the move to allow them associate freely will negatively affect the community. “We will not know what they are talking in their meetings. If allowed to have associations, they might resolve to recruit our children into their groups” he said. He requested the Court to reconsider it’s ruling and uphold…

By Flora Awinja The Kenya Commercial bank (KCB) is seeking to partner with Kwale bar and restaurant owners’ association in Kwale County. The partnership will involve loan and credit facilities to the operators. According to the KCB’s Ukunda branch management, this will enhance and strengthen their customer relations in a bid to improve their offers and services. The manager in charge of online banking Mwanahamisi Hussein said the institution is working on ensuring that the operators get new swiping machines and an online till system that will enable them to acquire loans. She added that the bank is willing to…

By Johnson Chengo The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has suffered a major blow after a high court nullified the election of Harrison Kombe as Member of Parliament for Magarini Constituency. The Malindi high court nullified his election sitting some irregularities. Justice Alfred Mabeya on Friday 3rd March ruled that Kombe who emerged winner in last year’s August election on an ODM ticket engage in ballot stuffing and altering of election results. The court ruled that a by- election should be conducted. Kombe defeated Stanley Kenga of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party by only 21 votes. He got 11,946 votes…

The new investment opportunities in Lamu County include the construction of a cashew nut processing factory. Governor Issa Timamy, during his campaign promised to open investment opportunities to investors, a promise that he has upheld. The plans for the construction of the new cashew nut factory were discussed in a meeting where the governor hosted Equatorial Nut processors and SUED investors when they paid him a courtesy call in his office to discuss how they would collaborate towards ensuring the processing plant works seamlessly and revives the abeyant crop in Lamu. “We are currently in the final stages of setting…

Kwale governor Fatuma Achani has emphasized various contractors in the region to consider delivering quality work and up to the county standards. Achani said substandard work would be unacceptable adding that the county has heavily invested in them and taxpayers’ money must be accountable. She warned that any contractor who produces shoddy work risks being terminated and blacklisted from doing any county undertakings. “There is no bargain to quality work, you must do what it takes to meet our expectations,” she said. Since Achani took an oath of office last year, she has been rushing to complete and commission new…

By HELLEN AWINO With its white and soft sands, Diani beach in Kwale County has been a tourism hub for many years. Many who visit the place to rejuvenate may not know that one of the oldest Mosques in East Africa is on the shores of the most voted beach destination in the world. Kongo Mosque, built in the 14th Century, still stands strong on the beach front adjacent to beautiful scenery where river Mwachema meets the Indian Ocean. Persian Arabs merchants from Turkey were on their normal tour of business in Africa cruising the Indian Ocean when they docked at…

By FLORA AWINJA Fishing is one of the economic mainstays that of the coast region residents depend on. Residents in the region who engage in the business as fishermen and fish mongers have been receiving civic education on how to plan their families. This is in a bid to enable them to fend for smaller family units from the income generated by the business which earns them little income. At the Kilifi Central fish landing site, we find Elina Tatu and her colleague fish mongers preparing some fish they have just got from the fishermen ready to take to the…

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy has threatened to withdraw scholarships to students who will fail to get quality grades. The governor has already started issuance of scholarships to all continuing students. He said his administration is aiming at supporting needy but bright students to pursue their secondary school education. The governor has issued cheques worth Ksh. 4.9 million to Lamu Girls Secondary School which will cater for over 200 continuing students that are already enrolled under the scholarship program. Timamy has further reiterated his commitment to improving the standards of education in Lamu and congratulated the outstanding students under the scholarship…