Author: Coast Times Digital

Lamu East MP Captain Ruweida Obo has issued a direct challenge to parents, urging them to take charge of their children’s education to combat a surge in youth crime and violent panga attacks linked to school dropouts. Speaking in Pate today following a public baraza in which bursaries were also issued to Pate Island residents, the area MP took issue with the increase in crime and violent panga cases among youths whom she noted a large number being those who dropped out of school early. “Crime and violence is quickly becoming the norm among our young people, many of whom…

By Alloys Musyoka As Kenya continues to grapple with recurrent droughts and rising food imports, the government has intensified its push for irrigation-led, large-scale agriculture, warning that rain-fed farming can no longer sustain a growing population under increasingly unpredictable climate conditions. The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, said the country must urgently adopt scientific, technology-driven, and digital farming systems to increase productivity per acre, particularly in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), which make up more than 80 per cent of Kenya’s land mass. At the centre of this strategy is the 1.8 million-acre Galana-Kulalu…

By Amenya Ochieng Residents of Kiangwe in Lamu East have raised the alarm over a surge in defilement and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases, urgently calling on the national government to establish a local police post to improve reporting and access to justice. The appeal was made during a public baraza at the Kiangwe Social Hall, where Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) Lamu coordinator, Umulkheir Ahmed, highlighted the crisis. She linked the high prevalence of violence, particularly within the Boni community villages, directly to the absence of nearby police stations. “The nearest police station where GBV and defilement…

By Reporter Irate members of the public from Miungoni in Lungalunga demonstrated demanding that the national and county government intervene in implementing a parliamentary committee on public petition resolutions made in 2024 to have them get land. The Wayombo community in Kidomaya/Miungoni area in Vanga ward led by Haki yetu organization said that even after the national Parliament officially recognized the ownership of Wayombo land and ordered the implementation of a land allocation plan for the Wayombo community living in accordance with the law no action has been taken, “In November 2024, the Public Petitions Committee of Parliament issued a…

UDA will former Kilifi County Assembly Speaker Jimmy Kahindi as it’s governor candidate in Kilifi county following the exit of former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa from the ruling party, Secretary General Hassan Omar has said. Jumwa defected to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi-led Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) last week. Omar spoke at ACK Holy Trinity, Kericho during the county’s sensitization exercise ahead of the party’s grassroots elections in 20 counties. “He (Jimmy Kahindi) was speaker for Kilifi County Assembly for ten years and now that Aisha (Jumwa) has defected to PAA we will field him as our governor candidate for Kilifi…

By Alex Kalama A community-driven initiative has been launched in Malindi to keep young people active during the long holiday season and steer them away from drug abuse and idleness. The program, organized by Okoa Malindi Community Based Organization (CBO), brings together children, youth, and even elders in a series of outdoor activities ranging from cycling and skating to beach soccer and swimming. According to Mohamed Nassor Clay, Chairperson of Okoa Malindi, the initiative was born out of concern that the November-January school break leaves many young people idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” he said, stressing that…

By Reporter When Mr. Ben Onyango (not his real name) accepted a part-time lecturing position at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), he did so with optimism, dedication, and the deep belief that education remains one of the most powerful tools for change. Like many academicians, he saw the opportunity not just as a job, but as a calling, a chance to equip young minds along Kenya’s coast with the skills and knowledge for the future. He delivered his lectures dutifully and faithfully. He set the exams. He marked the scripts and submitted results on time. Today, the students he…

By Alloys Musyoka Health advocates in Kilifi have intensified efforts to sensitize Kenyans on the benefits of adopting plant-based diets, saying increased awareness is critical for healthy living and for addressing the rising burden of diet-related illnesses across the country. They noted that despite the availability and affordability of plant-based foods, many Kenyans remain misinformed about their nutritional value, often associating such diets with people who cannot afford meat-based meals. Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Vegan Restaurant Week in Kilifi, the advocates led by vegan champion Virginia Ruguru emphasized that a well-balanced plant-based diet is one of the…

By Alloys Musyoka The United Nations is set to roll out a land mark United Nations programme advancing gender-responsive and sustainable Blue Economy development in the coastal region. This is after Kwale governor Fatuma Achani on Monday hosted a high-level delegation from UN Women led by Deputy Country Representative to Kenya, Mr. Dan Bazira. The UN-Women delegation has commended Kwale’s longstanding collaboration with the UN and highlighted successful past initiatives, including the Women, Peace and Security Project with HURIA, World Vision’s SHIELD programme, and NCCK’s Wadada wa Pawa initiative. Putting Kwale county in good books with global partners on matters…

By Alloys Musyoka The judiciary will close down seven children homes in LungaLunga for allegedly participating in child trafficking, Kwale high court judge Lepares Naikuni has said. The seven children homes, he said, are not registered and should be closed as quickly as possible. “Why do you sustain a children’s home which is not registered if you are not doing illegal activities? We are sure they are doing child trafficking by taking them abroad without consent to do illegal activities there,” he added. Naikuni said that the government will not allow child trafficking. Vanga area, he said is among areas…