PWANI MEDIA NETWORK (K)

By PETER KOMBE A section of county activists in Mombasa have vowed to embrace the Building Bridges Initiative should it address youth matters According to the lobbyists youth form the larger part of the Kenyan population and there is need to factor in their concerns. Speaking to the media in Mombasa Tuesday, Mombasa Youth Activist Ibrahim Jey says he will only embrace the report that will unite Kenyans and not catalyst of division. “Tunataka BBI inayotoa nafasi kwa viajana n haitakuwa na maana kama tripoti hiyo haitawaunganisha wakenya. We want a BBI that will factor in youth concerns. It will be a furtile document if it does not unite Kenyans,” said the activist. He further asked politicians to avoid hyping the political mood by fuelling political hatred amongst Kenyans He instead wants the political elites to focus more on their development agenda rather that engaging in early 2022 campaigns. “Peace is paramount. We want to see our leaders concentrating on development and n

By PETER KOMBE Youths in Kilifi County have asked the county government to develop clear guidelines on menstrual hygiene terming it a critical challenge to most of the youths. They youths are also calling on for the domestication of the menstrual hygiene in a bid to address the challenges facing young and adolescent girls within the county. Among the challenges cited include among other limited county budget to ensure schools have gender friendly WASH facilities. “There I inadequate or no menstrual waste disposal options such as bins or incinerators, one of the youths who spoke on condition of anonymity said. The source further states that there is need for the county government to engage youths fully and meaningfully At the same time Connect to retain programs officer Kenfaith Karuta says a recent finding indicates that Kilifi County has witnessed an upsurge of sexually active young girls aged 9 years and above. “As an organisation we are coming up with evidence based interven

By PETER KOMBE Tunaweza persons with disability in partnership with affordable and Accessible Sanitation for Women have donated over 500 Reusable sanitary towels in Baringo County. The initiative is aimed at marking the International Day of the Girl Child this year. Speaking to the media in Mombasa, Tunaweza Persons with Disability Charity Chahasi said the program has targeted young girls aged between 9 -17 years in remote parts of Baringo County. According to Chahasi most of these have fallen victims of defilement and rape due to ravaging poverty. “Their parents can hardly buy them the ordinary sanitary pads. The pads that we give them are durable as they take long over three years,” she noted She adds that some of the girls get pregnant at an early age and therefore the need to assist them. According to her, some of the girls end up committing suicide. Meanwhile, Lucy Chesi the deputy director said lack of sanitary pads to the girls takes away the girls dignity. The hash tag for th

Colllaboration of Women In Development lobbysts Tom Ng'ar at a recent function. Image (Courtesy) By PETER KOMBE Lobbyists in Mombasa county working on gender based violence in Mombasa County have raised concern on the insufficiency of safe houses for victims of sexual gender based violence. SGBV According to the lobbyists of all the 47 counties, only one county has erected ample safe houses for sexually abused victims. Speaking to the media In Mombasa during    a review meeting for Ending Double Tragedy project in a Mombasa hotel, Collaboration on Women in Development Executive Director Batty Sharon said SGBV cases of became rampant during the lockdown period due to the stay at home order by government. According to her the government provide all the essential services during the covid19 period and left out some of the basic including delivery of services to sexually violated victims. “The government concentrated on other essential services such as water, foodstuff among

  Tunaweza CBO Executive director Charity Chahasi (with crutches) flanked by young girls in Mombasa county. Image. MWARANDU KOMBE By VINCENT MANGARO Tunaweza Women With Disability a Mombasa based Community based organization has distributed more than 8000 reusable sanitary towels in various counties throughout the country for the past seven months. Some of these counties include among others Mombasa, Kwale, Nairobi, Migori, Busia, Bungoma, Uasin Gishu and Tana River counties. The initiative is aimed at championing the rights of the rights of the girl child. The PWD’s led CBO also champions for the rights of the disabled community in Mombasa County. According to the organization executive director Charity Chahasi the unique reusable sanitary towels have impacted the lives of thousands of girls in this region by keeping them stay safe from perpetrators. She asked various stakeholders including well-wishers, business people activists to join the CBO in supporting our girls in th

  By PETER KOMBE A section of Mombasa county locals have urged the government to create job opportunities for hundreds of families risking starvation due to lack of jobs. According to the residents, the corona virus precipitated the retrenchment of their kins and relatives leading most of them to depend on donors and well-wishers for their survival. Speaking to the media in Mombasa, Mueni Moraa,  a mother of five hailing from Bombolulu laments that she lost her permanent job immediately after the government imposed lockdown in March this year. She slammed the political leaders on claims of concentrating on their own interests instead of the masses. “I’m going through a harsh economic time. I foot every day to get at least a day’s meal,” she lamented. At the same time, Warda Balozi who hails from Likoni Sub County appealed to well-wishers to come to her aid by assisting her schooling children once schools reopen. “I’m a mother of six and have no job. I do not know what to

  By PETER KOMBE Lobbyists working with people living with human immunodeficiency virus victims have expressed fear of the ongoing allegations of graft saying they risk scaring away donors. The lobbyist pointed that donors may cut short their funding thus curtails the delivery of essential services to HIV victims. Addressing the media in Mombasa during a food distribution exercise to HIV infected victims, Dream Achievers Youth Organization programs coordinator Enos Opiyo said the pandemic has affected all sectors including organizations working with people living with HIV. He lamented an increase of Sexual Transmitted diseases and gender based violence cases coupled with rapid unemployment. “We are afraid that the cases of graft reported in the media risk scaring donors.  And this hinders the delivery of services to people living with HIV,” he noted Meanwhile, Dr Khadija Awadh an Ministry of health official in charge of Mvita Clinic called on parents to ensure their childre

By PETER KOMBE A family in Bamburi Mombasa County has asked the government to investigate a forceful disappearance of their kin allegedly abducted by police officers. The victim, David Tuitumu is alleged to have been forcefully abducted by armed men near Mombasa Primary School on August 14 this year. Speaking to the media in Mombasa on Tuesday, Regina Karimi the victim’s wife there is need for the government to execute justice in the case by investigating his disappearance. She says her husband a businessman operating a legal business has no criminal record or whatsoever. “We reported the matter to the Central Police and Urban Police Station. They have been telling us to wait as they carry on with the investigation but in vain,” she said. According to her the last phone call to him went unanswered as no one picked the call. Ms Karimi notes that the couple have been living together for the past 20 years without any domestic feud. Meanwhile, Emmanuel   Mutethia, a son sai

DAYO staff in one of the glamorous photos. Image; (Courtesy) By PETER KOMBE A section of activists in Mombasa County have called on the county government to set aside a special kitty in a bid to address the rapid unemployment amongst the youths as the nation battles with COVID19 pandemic. The human rights defenders argue that once the kitty is set aside youths will be able to solve some of the critical issues they face during this COVID-19 period. Speaking to the media in Mombasa on Friday dream achievers youth organisation executive director Seif Jira pointed that the impact of the pandemic cannot be overemphasised. “There is need for the county government to allocate a special fund that will cater for the needs of the youths,” he noted. At the same time Jira lauded the county government on the strides taken to combat the spread of the corona virus. He further called on a collaborative approach amongst various stakeholders in the war against the virus.

Charity Chahasi (second from left) and Lucy Chesi (right front row) flanked by other disabled members. Image: (file) By Our Reporter A total of 2500 people with disabilities in Mombasa County will benefit from face masks donated by Tunaweza Women with disability a Mombasa based community based organization. Speaking to the media in Mombasa on Monday Tunaweza Women with Disability executive officer Charity Chahasi said is at high risk of contracting the disease due to their vulnerability.   “It is very difficult for the disabled to walk without coming into contact with someone or something,” she said. Chahasi urged donors to come out and assist the disabled adding that they risk starvation should no one listen to their cry. Johson Nyagaka one of the disabled staff at the facility said the pandemic has led to joblessness. He says the community depend on the sales of the items they produce which he says has drastically reduced.   “I must admit that we got the

BY PWANI MEDIA NEWS TEAM Equity Bank is this Valentine season giving its customers a 10 per cent of their purchases paying using their cards at any Jade Collections outlet countrywide. The customers will enjoy deals on items ranging from ladies blouses and skirts to casual and formal shirts for gents. The offer according to Equity Bank is valid till February. The bank has promised to find innovative ways to encourage cashless transactions in the market in a bid to offer convenience safety and security to its clients. Jade Collections is a fashion store with six operational outlets, spread out across the country in Kisumu, Eldoret, Thika, Westlands, Tom Mboya & Haile Selassie Avenue. The Bank has also partnered with Swahili Beach Hotel to offer Premium Debit Card Holders. The offer is valid from February 1 to 20 th December 2020. An accommodation of Ksh 18,000 for a double  (Kes 33,000, for superior rooms and Ksh 14,000 for a single and Ksh 25 ,