More than 70 medical specialists and health professionals will converge in Lamu County from 25th to 30 January 2027 for a week-long free specialist surgical camp aimed at expanding access to essential surgical care while strengthening the county’s healthcare system.

The initiative, led by Rotary District 9216, the Surgical Society of Kenya (SSK), and the Lamu County Government, will bring together specialists from across Kenya to work alongside county health teams and provide treatment to patients who may otherwise face lengthy waits or significant financial barriers to accessing specialist care.

The organisers expect to screen more than 1,500 people, conduct over 800 specialist assessments and perform approximately 500 surgical procedures during the camp.

The specialist team will include general surgeons, neurosurgeons, ophthalmic surgeons, gynaecologists, paediatric surgeons, urologists, anaesthetists and other healthcare professionals. Procedures are expected to include neurosurgery, cataract and glaucoma surgery, fistula repair, paediatric surgery and other general surgical procedures.

Bringing Specialist Care Closer to Communities

For residents of Lamu County, accessing specialist treatment can involve more than simply reaching a hospital. Transport, accommodation, specialist consultations and treatment costs can place healthcare beyond the reach of families already living on limited incomes

The January camp is intended to reduce these barriers by bringing specialist services closer to communities across the county.

The communities being reached will extend beyond Lamu Island to Lamu East, Mokowe, Mpeketoni, Lamu West, Hindi, Witu and surrounding areas.

Lamu County health teams will support patient identification, community mobilisation and referrals. The county is encouraging residents with surgical conditions, people awaiting surgery and those requiring specialist assessment to come forward, including patients without medical cover.For patients who receive treatment, the impact could extend well beyond the operating theatre. Successful surgery can enable people to return to work, resume caring for their families and reduce the financial and emotional burden associated with untreated conditions.

Strengthening Lamu’s Health Workforce

While providing immediate treatment is a major objective, organisers say the camp is also designed to strengthen Lamu’s healthcare system for the future.

Visiting specialists will work alongside county surgeons, clinicians, nurses and theatre teams. Through mentorship, skills sharing and hands-on learning, local health professionals will gain exposure to specialist surgical techniques and practices.
Medical students and trainees will also have opportunities to learn from the visiting specialists.

Rotarian Mwende Mulinge, Disease Prevention and Treatment Lead for Rotary District 9216, said the initiative is intended to create an impact that continues after the surgical team leaves.

“This camp is about creating lasting impact beyond the operating theatre.”

She said providing surgery to people who might otherwise be unable to afford it can help reduce the anxiety and financial burden associated with waiting for treatment, while enabling patients to return to work, support their families and contribute to their livelihoods.
Fourth Camp Under the Rotary–SSK Partnership

The Lamu camp is the fourth specialist surgical camp delivered through the Rotary–SSK partnership.

Previous camps have been held in Narok in 2023, Makueni in 2024 and Homa Bay in 2025.

In Narok, 385 patients were screened and 281 surgeries were performed. In Makueni, 1,434 people were screened and 511 surgeries undertaken, while Homa Bay recorded 621 people screened and 256 surgeries.

The camps have also provided useful information about community health needs. In Makueni, specialists identified more than 40 patients with thyroid or goitre conditions. The unusually high number prompted the county to investigate the prevalence and possible causes of goitre in the area.

This demonstrates how specialist surgical camps can serve not only as a way of addressing treatment backlogs, but also as an opportunity to generate information that can help counties understand health challenges, strengthen referral systems and identify areas requiring further attention.
Towards a Sustainable Model

Rotary District 9216 and the Surgical Society of Kenya hope to develop a model capable of supporting at least three specialist surgical camps each year in counties where unmet need is greatest.

The long-term goal is to combine specialist treatment with mentorship, health data, skills transfer and county-led follow-up.

For Lamu, the January initiative will provide immediate access to specialist care while contributing to the development of local capacity.

The organisers say the ultimate measure of success will not simply be the number of operations completed. It will also be whether patients are able to live and work more independently, whether healthcare workers gain skills that remain in the county, and whether Lamu has better information and systems to respond to future surgical needs.

The Lamu Specialist Surgical Camp will take place from 25–30 January 2027.

Wine knowledge is increasingly becoming an important component of professional service in Kenya’s hospitality and tourism industry, with industry players calling for greater investment in training to enhance customer experience.

This was the focus of a wine training session held at Kiota Suites in Bamburi, Mombasa, bringing together 25 Crystal Frozen Foods (CFCF) team members who work as Brand Ambassadors across the Coast.

The training was facilitated by renowned wine educator and consultant Wanjiru Mureithi, who is contracted to provide wine education to Crystal Frozen Foods teams and its trade customers.

According to Mureithi, the training was designed to go beyond simply teaching participants about particular wine brands, with a greater focus on improving their overall wine knowledge and ability to engage customers.

“It goes beyond product training. The objective is to elevate the wine experience by giving people the knowledge and confidence to understand, recommend and sell wine better,” said Mureithi.

Crystal Frozen Foods imports South African wine brands including Simonsig, Stellenrust and Nabylegelen. Since July, the company has been conducting trade training for its customers in Nairobi, including establishments such as Carnivore, Four Points Sheraton Airport, Dusit Princess and Muthaiga Country Club, as well as consumer events at ArtCaffe.

Mureithi said the decision to bring the training to Mombasa was aimed at ensuring coastal hospitality establishments and teams also benefit from the growing emphasis on wine education.

“This October, it was important to include coastal establishments such as Tamarind Mombasa, Voyager Resort, Serena Mombasa, Cafesserie and CharChoma,” she said.

The Mombasa session also brought together the Nairobi and Coast teams of Crystal Frozen Foods’ Business Advisors, who were taken through different wines within the company’s portfolio.

The Brand Ambassadors, who are stationed in supermarkets, liquor stores and other retail outlets across the Coast and also support deliveries, were selected because wine knowledge forms part of their core professional competence.

“Training is a critical component of empowering staff to deliver on their targets. If you are selling a product, you need to understand that product,” Mureithi said.

Participants were introduced to different aspects of wine, including producer knowledge, wine styles, grape varieties, regions and the fundamentals of wine tasting.

The training covered South African producers such as Simonsig and Stellenrust, as well as the Stellenbosch wine region and the wider South African wine industry.

Participants also explored different wine styles, including sparkling, red, rosé and white wines, as well as wooded and unwooded wines and the characteristics of different grape varieties.

For Mureithi, wine tasting is a structured process rather than an informal exercise.

“There is a systematic way of doing it; it is not random,” she explained. “You start by looking at the wine, then you assess the aromas and finally you evaluate it on the palate.”

She said the first step involves observing the wine’s colour and appearance, including determining whether it is red, rosé or white and whether it is still or sparkling.

The next stage is assessing the aromas, which can help identify whether the wine is sound and provide clues about the grape variety, winemaking style and age of the wine.

On the palate, participants learn to assess sweetness, body, acidity, tannins, flavours, complexity and the wine’s finish.

Mureithi said wine tasting requires practice and should not be mistaken for simply drinking wine.

“One of the misconceptions is that wine tasting is just sherehe. It is actual work,” she said. “It can be overwhelming at first, particularly because alcohol can affect you, but there is a proper process to follow and, like any skill, it takes practice."

The training also touched on basic principles of wine and food pairing, although Mureithi noted that this was not the primary focus because the Brand Ambassadors are principally involved in sales.

She, however, emphasised the importance of knowledge in improving the customer experience across hotels, restaurants and other hospitality establishments.

“The more knowledgeable a staff member is, the more they can sell and the better they can give customers an elevated experience,” she said.

Mureithi also stressed the importance of proper wine storage, particularly in a warm and humid coastal environment.

“Wine should be stored in a cool, dark place. Temperature variation is a huge consideration in a coastal area,” she said.

With Mombasa remaining and the larger Coast region a major tourism destination attracting both domestic and international visitors, Mureithi believes wine knowledge can create new opportunities for young professionals in the hospitality sector.

“Mombasa is a hot tourism destination with local and international tourists. They expect the same level of diversity of wines and great service as they would find in larger cities or internationally,” she said.

She noted that opportunities exist not only in wine service but also in education, sales and the broader sommelier profession.

Mureithi further pointed to the work of the Sommeliers of Kenya Association (SOKA), an initiative seeking to strengthen the sommelier profession in Kenya and take it beyond basic wine service and stewardship.

“SOKA seeks to grow the sommelier profession beyond wine service and stewardship. The goal is to elevate the skills and knowledge of people working in the trade to international standards,” she said.

She added that continued investment in structured training would be important in ensuring Kenya’s hospitality industry keeps pace with international standards.

For Mureithi, the growing interest in wine education represents an opportunity to build a more knowledgeable workforce while giving customers a better and more sophisticated hospitality experience.

“Wine knowledge is part of the core competence for many people working in this industry. The more we invest in that knowledge, the better the service, the better the sales and ultimately the better the experience for the customer.”

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has announced plans to recruit 447 health professionals on short-term contracts to address a surge in patients following the county government’s decision to provide free health services throughout October.

Nassir said the initiative has received an overwhelming response, with health facilities recording a significant increase in the number of patients, including residents from outside Mombasa County.

“We declared the whole month of October that health services will be free, and I am proud to announce that the response has been overwhelming. We are getting a good response, and we have seen a surge of people from even outside Mombasa,” Nassir said.

The Governor said the increased demand had prompted the county to seek additional personnel to support health facilities experiencing pressure due to the rising number of patients.

“We have received requests for extra personnel, and we are going to be increasing personnel. They will be on short-term contracts, with 447 professionals to be taken on board,” he said.

Nassir said the county would move quickly to fill the staffing gaps rather than undertake a lengthy recruitment process for the short-term positions.

“There is no time for us to say we are going to advertise for this. When the time comes when we are going to take professionals for the long term, we will advertise,” he said.

The Governor also assured residents that the county has adequate supplies of medicines to support the increased number of patients seeking treatment under the initiative.

“We have enough medicines,” Nassir said, while noting that the number of patients being attended to has increased significantly.

“The number of patients we are currently seeing is more than four times,” he added.

Despite the positive response, Nassir acknowledged that the increased demand has created challenges for some health facilities, with some being forced to operate for longer hours to cope with the influx.

“There have been a few challenges, like some facilities working extra hours due to the surge in patients,” he said.

He further identified challenges associated with the Social Health Authority (SHA) system, saying the county was engaging relevant authorities to address the issue and improve service delivery.

“The second challenge is the issue of SHA, and we are currently in discussion with the Digital Authority to help us with more equipment to help cater for all our patients,” Nassir said.

He added that the county was also expecting additional medical equipment, including theatre equipment, to strengthen health facilities and enable them to cope with the increased workload.

“More equipment, like theatre equipment, is to be delivered to help in the situation,” he said.

The free health services programme is part of the county government’s October initiative aimed at increasing access to healthcare for residents while easing the financial burden associated with seeking medical treatment.

Chief Justice Martha Koome joined regional Chief Justices for the opening ceremony of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices’ (SEACJF) Annual Conference in Zanzibar, attended by the President of Zanzibar, H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi.

The conference themed “Transforming Justice Delivery: Innovation, Efficiency and Court Administration Reform.”

Speaking at the conference, CJ Koome called on African Judiciaries and governments to strengthen the relationship between justice systems and the people they serve, even in the face of resource constraints.

She said this could be achieved through institutional reforms, technology, effective case management and prudent use of available resources.

"Financial independence of Judiciaries means the capacity to determine resource needs, receive allocated funds in a timely and predictable manner, manage them according to judicial priorities, and remain free from improper influence while accounting responsibly for public resources,” she said.

Sharing Kenya’s experience, CJ Koome said the people-centred justice model prioritises citizens’ justice needs over physical infrastructure.

She highlighted initiatives including the e-filing system, virtual courts, the Case Tracking System, Mahakama Popote and multi-door pathways to justice, which have helped make justice more accessible, timely and cost-effective.

Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton has been recognized in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards Best of the Best for 2026.

The highest level of Tripadvisor’s awards, the Best of the Best winners are among the top 1% of listings around the world on Tripadvisor.

As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners.

This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travelers’ favorites.

"Being named among Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2026 is incredibly meaningful to us because it reflects the experiences and voices of the people who matter most: our guests. We are deeply grateful to every guest who has chosen Kwetu Nairobi and taken the time to share their experience, and equally proud of our team, whose passion and commitment to genuine hospitality bring our philosophy of Our Place, Your Home to life every day. To be counted among travelers’ favorites is an honor we share with all of them,” says Alexandre Glauser, General Manager, Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton.

"Congratulations to Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton on its Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award: Best of the Best win for 2026,” said Laurel Greatrix, Chief Communications Officer, Tripadvisor Group.

“Earning a place among the top percentage of listings globally is no small feat. It reflects the lasting impression made on travelers who took the time to go online and leave a glowing review about their experience. Travelers look to Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best as a trusted guide to the world’s top destinations and experiences. We hope this recognition helps inspire even more visitors in 2026 and beyond!”

Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton has been recognized in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards Best of the Best for 2026.

The highest level of Tripadvisor’s awards, the Best of the Best winners are among the top 1% of listings around the world on Tripadvisor.

As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners.

This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travelers’ favorites.

“Being named among Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2026 is incredibly meaningful to us because it reflects the experiences and voices of the people who matter most: our guests. We are deeply grateful to every guest who has chosen Kwetu Nairobi and taken the time to share their experience, and equally proud of our team, whose passion and commitment to genuine hospitality bring our philosophy of Our Place, Your Home to life every day. To be counted among travelers’ favorites is an honor we share with all of them,” says Alexandre Glauser, General Manager, Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton.

“Congratulations to Kwetu Nairobi, Curio Collection by Hilton on its Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award: Best of the Best win for 2026,” said Laurel Greatrix, Chief Communications Officer, Tripadvisor Group.

“Earning a place among the top percentage of listings globally is no small feat. It reflects the lasting impression made on travelers who took the time to go online and leave a glowing review about their experience. Travelers look to Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best as a trusted guide to the world’s top destinations and experiences. We hope this recognition helps inspire even more visitors in 2026 and beyond!”

MAFA Academy from Isiolo and MCF Starlets from Machakos have been crowned the new Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Region champions after dominant performances in the boys’ and girls’ finals held at Moi Stadium in Embu.

MAFA Academy claimed their maiden regional title in a spectacular fashion, after overpowering Mikinduri Rock-Star FC 8-0 in a one-sided boys’ final.

Zakar Mohamed opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the seventh minute after Linus Mwirigi was penalised for bringing down Hussein Edin inside the box. Edin doubled MAFA’s advantage in the 18th minute before Abduba Daud added a third two minutes before the break to give the Isiolo side a 3-0 lead at half-time.

MAFA picked up from where they left off in the second half, with Abdizak Ali finding the back of the net in the 56th minute before Mohamed grabbed his second goal of the match in the 68th minute. Wako Dabaso then joined the scoring spree, netting twice in the 71st and 81st minutes to stretch MAFA’s lead to 7-0. Mohamed completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute, capping a superb individual performance and sealing a commanding 8-0 victory for the Isiolo outfit.

Mikinduri Rock-Star FC came close to finding a consolation goal in the 55th minute, but their effort came back off the crossbar as MAFA comfortably saw out the contest.

“This is a big milestone in our football journey as an academy. We have been preparing for this tournament for two years, and today we are very proud of what the boys have achieved. They played good football and made sure we maintained possession as per our game plan. Personally, Chapa Dimba took me to Spain, and now, coming back as a coach and winning the regional title is something I am very happy about. The journey is not yet over. Our focus now immediately shifts to the National Finals,” said Ibrahim Abdisalan, Head Coach, MAFA Academy.

In the girls’ final, MCF Starlets from Machakos denied hosts Manyatta Royal Queens Academy home advantage, overcoming the Embu side 3-1 to lift the regional crown.

MCF Starlets took the lead in the 17th minute before doubling their advantage in the 62nd minute. Royal Queens responded three minutes later, with Justa Mwende pulling one back in the 65th minute to give the hosts hope of a comeback.

However, MCF Starlets remained composed and continued to threaten on the counter. They sealed the victory in the 90th minute when Jacinta Nzuna found the back of the net for a third time, extinguishing Royal Queens’ hopes of a late fightback and securing the Machakos side the Eastern Region title.

“Nothing makes us happier than winning the Chapa Dimba Regional Trophy. It has been our dream, and we are proud to be the first team to take the regional trophy to Machakos. We came well prepared, although it was not an easy game because we were playing the hosts and they had tremendous support from their fans,” said Abednego Matata, Head Coach, MCF Starlets

“We thank Safaricom for giving these young girls a platform to showcase their talent. They are very happy and highly motivated. At the Nationals, we know we will not only be representing Machakos but the entire Eastern Region. We are determined to ensure the Season Five national trophy comes to Eastern.” Added Matata.

In addition to securing a place in the National Finals, both MAFA Academy and MCF Starlets took home Ksh. 250,000 each, alongside individual prizes including smartphones and airtime.

The runners-up, Mikinduri Rock-Star FC and Manyatta Royal Queens Academy, received Ksh. 150,000 each.

The Best Goalkeeper awards went to Redemptah Mutanu of MCF Starlets and Abdullahi Muhammed of MAFA Academy, while the Top Scorer awards were claimed by Justa Mwende of Royal Queens and Zakar Mohammed of MAFA Academy.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards went to Cecilia Wanjiku of MCF Starlets and Hussein Edin of MAFA Academy. Each MVP received Ksh. 30,000, in addition to a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under Safaricom’s Citizens of the Future Programme.

MAFA Academy and MCF Starlets now join Awendo Football Academy and Plateau Queens of the Nyanza Region, St. Joseph Starlets and LYSA from the Central Region, and Vihiga Cranes and Lugari Progressive from the Western Region, who have already secured their places in the National Finals.

The Eastern Region finals were preceded by an exhibition match between Safaricom staff and Embu-based journalists, with the Safaricom team securing a 3-0 victory.

With the Eastern Region finals now concluded, Safaricom Chapa Dimba heads to the Nairobi Region as the nationwide youth football tournament continues its search for the country’s next generation of football stars.

Safaricom Chapa Dimba is a nationwide tournament targeting young people aged 14 to 17 years, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent, compete at the highest level and pursue opportunities both on and off the pitch.

The Parish Priest of St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani, Father Patrick Maingi, has recalled emotional moments involving some of the 16 church members who died in a road accident while travelling to Subukia for the National Prayer Day.

Father Maingi said some of the pilgrims appeared to have had a deep sense of peace in the days leading to their journey, leaving the church community reflecting on their final moments.

“I remember one of them approached me on Wednesday and told me, ‘Father, I am now at peace. I have achieved what I had been longing for,’” Father Maingi recalled.

He also narrated how another church member visited his office shortly before the journey and paid her tithe, explaining that she did not want to “go to God with any debt.”

“There is another one who came to the office and paid her tithe, saying she does not want to go to God with any debt,” he said.

According to Father Maingi, it is a norm at the church for members to pray before embarking on any journey, with the priest blessing them before departure.

“As a norm, before we start any journey, we have to pray and I bless the team. That is what I did on Friday afternoon before they left,” he said.

He said the moments have remained deeply emotional for the church, but added that the faith of the departed members should also give the congregation comfort.

“As a church, we should be proud that our colleagues are now in a better place, resting,” Father Maingi said.

The priest said he received news of the accident at around 12:10am after a traffic officer, who is also a member of the church, contacted him.

“I received the message of the accident at around 12:10am. The traffic officer who called me is a member of this church,” he said.

Father Maingi said the officer was able to identify some of the victims through the scarves they were wearing, which had been branded with the name of St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church.

“He identified the victims from the scarves they were wearing on their heads, which had been branded St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church,” he said.

The priest said the church is now considering holding a special joint service to remember all the departed members.

“We are planning to have a joint service for all our departed colleagues here at the church. That will also depend on the planning team, but that is our wish,” Father Maingi said.

He also expressed gratitude to leaders and well-wishers who have stood with the church and bereaved families during the difficult period.

“We thank our leaders for standing with us during this difficult time,” he said.

The tragedy has plunged the Mikindani Catholic community into mourning, with relatives, friends and fellow worshippers coming to terms with the loss of the pilgrims who were travelling to Subukia for the National Prayer Day.

The church continues to offer prayers and support to the bereaved families as preparations for the final send-off of the victims continue.

President William Ruto has vowed to end the long-standing squatter problem at the Coast region, saying his administration will accelerate the issuance of title deeds to residents who have lived on their land for decades without formal ownership documents.

Speaking on Friday at Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa during the issuance of title deeds to residents, President Ruto said his government was targeting the issuance of 300,000 title deeds as part of efforts to address historical land ownership challenges at the Coast.

“Residents of the Coast region have been living like squatters for a very long time. It is high time that we do away with this,” Ruto said.

The President said the government was determined to ensure residents acquired legal ownership of their land and ended years of uncertainty, court battles and disputes involving land.

“That is why my government has decided to issue title deeds to the residents. We are issuing 300,000 title deeds. The issue of squatters has to stop,” he said.

Ruto acknowledged the challenges faced by Coast residents, including prolonged court cases and alleged land grabbing, saying the government would intervene to protect legitimate landowners.

“I know the challenges you have been facing. Some of you have been suffering from court cases, your land being grabbed by grabbers. This is what we want to finish,” the President said.

He told residents receiving the documents that they would leave the event with their title deeds, describing the move as part of efforts to restore security of land ownership.

“All of you here will leave with your title deeds,” he said.

The President also issued a warning to individuals he accused of illegally acquiring land, saying the government would take action against land grabbing.

“I know we still have many residents who have been going through hell from land grabbers. We are going to deal with the land grabbers. Your time is up,” Ruto said.

He said the government would not allow people to use illegally acquired title deeds to intimidate or displace other Kenyans.

“You cannot continue to let our people suffer because you acquired title deeds illegally. The government is going to stand with the people,” he said.

Ruto further said the government would not tolerate demolitions arising from disputed land ownership and maintained that all Kenyans should be treated equally before the law.

“We will not allow demolitions. No Kenyan is more special than the other,” he said, adding that many of the individuals involved in alleged land grabbing were based in Mombasa.

Joho: Residents waited decades for title deeds

Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho welcomed the issuance of the title deeds, saying many Coast residents had waited for decades to secure formal ownership of their land.

Joho said some residents had reached old age without receiving title deeds for land they had occupied for many years.

“It is very sad that some of our people had to wait until they reached 60 and 70 years to get their titles,” Joho said.

He commended the President for what he described as a significant step towards giving Coast residents security of land ownership.

“President Ruto, you have really dignified our people through issuing these title deeds,” Joho said.

The CS also criticised previous administrations, arguing that they had failed to adequately address the region’s longstanding land ownership challenges.

“The previous governments failed. They were not keen on empowering our people through ensuring they get their title deeds,” Joho said.

The issuance of the title deeds is expected to provide residents with formal documentation of land ownership and help address longstanding disputes and insecurity surrounding land in parts of the Coast region.