Members of African Tea Trade Association and Fairtrade Africa during a forum in Mombasa./Kibamba Victor
Tea Traders now want the government to review law that makes it mandatory to auction tea in Mombasa before exporting.
Speaking during a forum in Mombasa to discuss the trading of sustainable teas from East and Central Africa, East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) and Fairtrade Africa asked the government to reverse the law that makes it mandatory for all tea to pass through the Mombasa auction market before reaching the buyers.
The traders want the government to allow sellers to sell directly to the buyers saying the law has restricted the product from reaching the buyers in time.
According to Fairtrade Africa Senior Tea Program Officer Bernard Njoroge, more than six million kilograms of tea have not been sold because of that law.
“Farmers have not yet sold in fair trade and the income of the premium has decreased,” said Njoroge.
However, Njoroge thanked the government for reducing the price of fertilizers saying that some tea farmers have already received the Fertilizers and they are using it in their various farms.
American rapper, record producer and fashion designer Ye formerly known as Kanye West has been the center of controversies in recent weeks.
The rapper’s series of remarks in different platforms has made him lose partnership with giant companies he was collaborating with and even lost his billionaire status.
But what did he exactly say or do to make him on the L side?
It all started in France during Paris Fashion week where he together with other black models wore t-shirts with the phrase ‘White Lives Matter’,a hate speech term used by white supremacists to counter the Black Lives Matter movement fighting against police brutality.
The t-shirt had a photo of Pope John Paul II on the front. This incident created a storm on social media with celebrities and key figures quickly condemning the move.
The 45 year old rapper had posted comments on Instagram that were considered by many to be “anti-Jewish,” and the social media platform restricted his account as a violation of company’s rules and guidelines.
He then took to twitter where he aired his grievances with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the suspension.
He posted saying; “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE. The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”
Despite the tweet being taken down by twitter ‘death con 3’ was a likely reference to US military term Defcon 3, a defence readiness condition alert system used by US armed forces and West was accused of misusing the term to “declare metaphorical war on Jewish people.”
In a podcast episode the rapper boasted that he could make hateful remarks without any repercussions as well as insinuating Gorge Floyd was not killed by the police but rather a drug overdose.
Sportswear maker Adidas, fashion brand Balenciaga, Vogue, The Gap have cut ties with the 24 times Grammy winner and consequently making him lose the billionaire status.
Forbes magazine said it had valued Ye’s share of the Adidas deal at $1.5bn (Ksh.181.7) The end of that partnership deal means his net worth shrank to $400m equivalent to sh.48.4 billion.
His financial streams now come from real estate, liquid cash, his music catalog and a less than 5% stake in his ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s skims brand.
Former Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua./COURTESY
BY>> YAYRA MIGYIKRA
Former Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua has officially handed over authority to his replacement Felix Kosgei.
During the Cabinet Secretaries swearing-in ceremony on Thursday at State House, Kinyua gave Kosgei the reins as the first item of business, allowing him to direct the day’s schedule.
Kinyua delivered the oath of office to the new chief of staff Kosgei.
Kinyua served in multiple administrations including the late Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Moi’s eras.
“I thank you and your predecessors for according me privilege to serve in four successful administrations. It has been a profound honour and humbling journey. I’m immensely grateful to be accorded the rare opportunity to serve Kenyans and the great men chosen to be president,” he said.
On October 14, 2022, Kosgei was appointed to serve as a member of President Ruto’s Executive Office.
The event was presided over by President William Ruto.
EU Go Blue Maritime Security project to strengthen capacity of Kenya Coast Guard in maritime security./COURTESY
The European Union has launched a Go Blue Maritime Security project that aims to improve Kenya’s Blue Economy.
Speaking in Mombasa during the opening of Go Blue and Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani offices, Irene Giribaldi, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Kenya, said the €5m (sh.603m) project will help in dealing with maritime security challenges.
“Kenya’s waters provide significant economic opportunities, such as fishing, aquaculture, coastal and marine tourism, as well as research activities,” Irene Giribaldi said.
However, she says these prospects are undermined by a wide range of challenges including marine pollution and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
“While focusing on the Blue Economy growth, Kenya is seeking to ensure optimal use of its resources to prevent over-exploitation of maritime resources with a view to ensure new wealth creation opportunities and possibilities for the coastal communities,” she added.
Coast governors with the EU partners and Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani CEO during the opening of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani offices in Mombasa./COURTESY
The project is part of the overall Go Blue program that is funded by the EU with implementing partners from Germany, Italy, Portugal, and France, and two United Nations agencies i.e UN-Habitat and UNEP.
“Fighting against illicit activities at sea requires a multi-stakeholder approach,” said Rima Le Coguic, the Deputy CEO in charge of operations at Expertise France.
Other activities will also be set as part of the Go Blue project, such as a community on water watch program including fishermen safety courses and the development of a mobile phone application to enhance safety and security at sea, as well as support and improve the search and rescue chain across the coastal counties.
“A safe and secure Kenyan maritime territory is key for the further development and expansion of our thriving Blue Economy,” said Brigadier (rtd) Loonena Naisho, Director General at the Coast Guard Service.
Kilifi Governor elected JKP Chair
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro is the new Chair of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) Economic Bloc.
Mung’aro became the third Chairperson of the bloc, taking over from former Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja.
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro giving a speech during the official opening of the Go Blue Secretariat Office in Nyali, Mombasa County./COURTESY
“I am humbled and honored for the trust and faith that my colleagues have in me, thus allowing me to serve the @JumuiyaBloc as The Chairperson. Together we will make this leg of devolution an astounding and transformative success to the coastal people,” said Governor Mung’aro.
The Kilifi Governor was elected to the position following the official opening of JKP offices in Nyali, Mombasa County.
Pirates beach clean-up that took place on Wednesday./JOYCE JURA
Close to two tonnes of plastic and glass waste were collected at the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach in on Wednesday.
The 1.7 tonnes of waste were collected by members of the public during a beach clean-up exercise organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Go Blue team in conjunction with Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) and the Kenya Wildlife Service at Pirates beach.
Speaking before launching the clean-up exercise, Oumar Sylla from the UN-Habitat said the cleaning exercise will be carried out across all the coastal counties in order to boost Blue Economy.
“It aims to raise awareness on plastic pollution and to stimulate debate and collaboration between stakeholders and the wider ocean community to act against marine litter,” said Oumar.
Members of thE Go Blue team and UNEP during the clean-up exercise at Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach in Mombasa./JOYCE JURA
Mombasa Marine Park Deputy Park Warden Salim Makomba said the clean-up activity was one way to ensure that the oceans are healthy for animals and the health of people using them.
“When we dump things in the oceans, it affects the creatures that live in the ocean like turtles, fish, and coral. Turtles end up eating plastic and fish end up eating gum wrappers thinking they are food. Such items do not get digested and later end up killing them,” said Salim.
Salim urged those going to the beach to relax and have fun not to carry along single-use plastics as they are among the contributors to the pollution witnessed in the ocean.
Pupils from Nyota Ing’arayo primary school take part in clean-up exerciseClimate care team that took part in the cleaning exercise./JOYCE JURA
“We will make this clean-up activity a daily thing. We have scouts who do the cleaning and later on the waste is collected and taken to the main dumping site in Kibarani,” the Deputy Warden said.
Sacks of trash collected during the beach clean up exercise at the Jomo Kenyatta public beach./COURTESY
“Let those coming to beach find the beach clean and ensure that when they are leaving, they leave the ocean and beach as clean as they found them,” he added.
Different stakeholders were involved in the Wednesday morning exercise.
A section of Ganahola village. Image used for illustrations only. photo :courtesy
More than 10 families in Ganahola village in Jomvu Constituency, Mombasa County are crying for justice after the Methodist Church allegedly claimed the land they live in.
Led by Ganahola village elder Mr. Chai Jefa, they said the area MCA Jacton Madialo and deputy county commissioner for Jomvu informed them of an impending eviction.
According to Jefa, the two leaders warned them that the Methodist church wants the land as it has its title deed.
“For three days, we have received threats at night from our MCA that people from Methodist church in Meru want us out of this land because they are the bona fide owners. We appeal to the government to come to our aid”, he said.
The residents have now asked the leadership of the church and the local MP’s office to intervene.
“We urge our Mp Badi Twalib to help us. Where will we go with our children?” they posed.
The said area has seen massive developments in recent times despite the tussle between the Methodist church and locals.
“The law says that if you stay on a particular land for 12 years, that land belongs to you and you should not be evicted”, said another resident.
However, the area MCA could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing this story.
Former Real Madrid tactician Zinedine Zidane has hinted that he is willing to return in managerial career after his long-term break.
The 50-year old has been out of active football for 17 months but he said the wait is over and he will be back soon.
Speaking after revealing his own statue at the Grévin museum in Paris, the French man said the plans are set for him to take a new position soon.
Zidane was recently linked with PSG and the French national team manager job but he denied the rumours saying he was happy to wait for the right job at the right time and it seems like a moment may have come based on what he stated.
The Real Madrid legend is one of the modern successful managers having won three consecutive Champions League trophies with the Spanish giants from 2015-2018.
In May 2021, Zidane left his role as Los Blancos head coach for the second time after claiming that there was a disconnection between the club’s board and himself.
His next step may land in Italy following his heavy links with Juventus who were eliminated from Champions League in group stage on Tuesday.
English Premier League side Aston villa on Monday announced the appointment of former Arsenal boss Unai Emery as their new Head Coach following the departure of Steven Gerrard.
The Spanish tactician will join the club in November and leave his post at Villarreal, despite helping the La Liga side win the Europa league two years ago as well as reaching the Champions League semi final last season.
Emery, who spent two years with Arsenal from 2018 to 2019 will hold a farewell press conference with Villarreal on Tuesday before making his return to the Premier League.
The 50-year-old also managed PSG where he won Ligue 1 with the French giants and two league cups before making his way to the EPL.
Emery’s fast task will be at Villa Park against Manchester United on November 6th.
Villa sacked Steven Gerrard after just 11 months in charge following unwanted results having won just 1 match in his last five, leaving the club at a relegation zone.
Elsewhere, former Manchester United and England midfielder Michael Carrick has accepted his first permanent job to manage Middlesbrough.
Carrick replaces Chris Wilder, who was shown an exit door early this month following the poor results in the second tier of English football league.
The 41-year-old had a temporary job at Old Trafford when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked last season. The ex-Three Lions star said he is really excited to manage Middlesbrough where he started his professional career in his first interview with the club.
Residents look at a carcass of a cow that died due to drought./FILE
BY>> YAYRA MIGYIKRA
As several parts of the country face drought and hunger, Kenya’s Second Lady Dorcas Gachagua is optimistic that God will intervene to end the drought.
While giving emergency food to Laikipia East villagers in Laikipia County on Monday, the Second Lady expressed her confidence that God would intervene and provide rain to put an end to the drought that has affected several areas of the nation.
“No one can be a victim of hunger. In the past, people have thought of it as a problem of only the North Eastern region, but now when you go to Mount Kenya and the Rift Valley, data shows that everyone is in a problem,” she said.
Dorcas Gachagua stated that the Kenya Kwanza administration of President William Ruto is committed to addressing the drought situation and eliminating relief food.
The Second Lady advised citizens to plant trees and safeguard the forest cover in order to battle the catastrophe while attributing the drought to a lack of focus on solving climate change.
“The only people who will change the climate and bring the rains back to their schedule are me and you. So as we give out food today, I would also like to ask the National and County government to join hands towards a tree-planting initiative,” she said.
Currently 4.35 million people lack access to food, and this number is expected to grow over the next few months.
Weather and drought specialists are urging a redesign of the drought response systems as the issue has developed into a vicious annual cycle.
As the Horn of Africa enters its sixth season of below average rainfall, Kenya is one of the three nations in the region experiencing the worst drought in decades.
