Author: Coast Times Digital

By Alloys Musyoka The government has prioritized coconut value addition in the coastal region to unlock new markets, raise farmer incomes, and create industrial jobs for the youth, Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion Abubakar Hassan Abubakar has said. Speaking during a visit to the Kentaste coconut processing factory in Mvindeni, Kwale County, the PS said Kenya’s expanding market access gives local manufacturers duty-free and quota-free entry into major markets, including East Africa, Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and China. He noted that as the government opens new markets, the focus must shift to producing competitive…

By Mwajabe Omar Kinango Boys Senior School has recorded its strongest Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results yet, defying years of academic challenges linked to the harsh climatic conditions that define Kinango Sub-county. The school, located in one of Kwale County’s driest regions, registered a sharp improvement in its 2025 KCSE performance, sending 227 candidates directly to university. This represents 86.6 percent of the class, more than double last year’s 115 students. According to official results released last week, the school also raised its mean score from 6.426 in 2024 to 7.569 this year. Although the institution did not…

By Bilali Hamisi Mwarandu._ The *current exchanges* surrounding *Mrima Hill* do more than *expose disagreement* over a *mining project.* They reveal a deeper *governance crisis.* Across Africa, regions blessed with *extraordinary natural resources* remain trapped in *poverty* not because the *resources are absent,* but because *leadership* often arrives at the *negotiation table unprepared, divided or driven by theatrics rather than strategy.* Mrima Hill, a home to one of the *world’s largest niobium deposits* valued in *trillions of shillings,* is a clear example. Instead of *calm, organized planning* and a *coherent county position,* the conversation has been dominated by *political showmanship*…

By Shaban Omar Mining-affected communities in Kwale County have a reason to smile after the national government announced the completion of long-awaited mining regulations that will finally unlock the disbursement of mineral royalties. Speaking on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Kenya School of Government in Matuga during the signing of the completed regulations, Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said the new regulations will take effect once they are gazetted next week. “We want to announce that the national government is now ready, with proper regulations in place, to begin releasing the 10 percent mineral royalties due to communities,” said…

By Coast Diary Writer Mambrui Private Secondary School in Magarini Constituency, Kilifi County, has recorded excellent performance in the 2025 KCSE national examinations, with the top student scoring an A plain (81 points) while the second-best candidate attained an A minus (77 points). Speaking while celebrating the results, the school principal, Ms. Halima Omar, attributed the success to teamwork, commitment, and discipline within the school. “These results are a product of strong cooperation between our teachers, the school board, and disciplined students. When everyone plays their role, success becomes inevitable,” said Ms. Halima. She noted that the school has maintained…

By Alex Kalama Sandoki FC emerged victorious in the highly anticipated Rose Baraka MCA Sabaki Ward Tournament, defeating Blessed FC 1-0 in a tense final played at Sandoki Grounds in Kwandomo. The decisive goal came in the 53rd minute of the second half, when Sandoki captain Emmanuel Abila broke through Blessed FC’s defense and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. The strike proved enough to secure Sandoki FC the championship title in front of an electrified crowd of nearly 5,000 fans from across Kilifi County. Blessed FC started strongly, dominating much of the first half and forcing Sandoki to…

By Alloys Musyoka There was a stand off today as Residents of Watamu, environmentalists and human rights activists today clashed with police as they demanded construction of a housing project to be stopped as the developer was defying court orders. They claimed police were protecting the contractor who was building against the high court orders. They printed many copies of the court orders and stuck them at the temporary iron sheets fence before attempting to break inside through the gate Activists led by Hussein Khalid CEO of Vocal Africa, walid Skety, Shakira Wafula and local community head Halima Ali engaged…

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…