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Politics

Mombasa Governor Rallies Residents to Register as Voters Ahead of 2027 Polls

By Sitati Reagan | April 1, 2026 | 4 min read

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has strongly urged residents to obtain their voter cards, warning that failing to rhs and a modern container terminal to the Port of Mombasa, transforming the facility into one of East Africa's premier logistics hubs...

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Politics

Coast MCAs Reject Sh4.2 Billion Supplementary Budget, Cite Irregular Allocations to Roads Tender

By Fatuma Ali | 2 hours ago

County assembly members walked out in a dramatic session that exposed deep divisions between the governor's office and elected ward representatives...

Investigation

EXCLUSIVE: Where Did the Sh120 Million Coast Water Project Money Go? A ForwardPressKE Investigation

By David Omondi | Yesterday

Documents obtained by ForwardPressKE reveal that tenders were awarded to companies with no verifiable physical addresses. Part 1 of a 3-part series...

Read investigation →

💡 Just In: DPP files charges against Kilifi county official over Sh18M procurement fraud — click to follow live updates →

Latest News

Breaking

Police Dismantle Major Drug Network Operating Between Mombasa Old Town and Kisauni

By Salim Hassan | 1 hour ago

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations arrested 14 suspects and seized over 40 kilograms of heroin in a coordinated operation...

Business

Dongo Kundu SEZ Attracts Three New Manufacturing Investors as Kenya Positions Coast as Export Hub

By Grace Njeri | 3 hours ago

The Kenya Special Economic Zones Authority has confirmed agreements with investors from China, India and Turkey who will establish operations at the Mombasa free zone...

Sports

Bandari FC Signs Three Coast-Born Players in January Window, Coach Targets KPL Title This Season

By Omar Sharif | 5 hours ago

The Dockers have made history by fielding the most locally-born squad in the club's 40-year history, a move welcomed by Coast football fans...

Politics

Politics

Senate Finance Committee Demands Full Audit of All 47 County Governments Before Next Budget Cycle

By Fatuma Ali | Today, 9:15 AM

The committee chairman said counties have failed to account for over Sh340 billion in the last three financial years...

Politics

Coast Governors Form United Front to Push Back Against Nairobi's Devolution Fund Formula

By Sitati Reagan | Yesterday

The six Coast governors have written to the National Treasury demanding review of the equitable share formula, arguing coastal counties are systematically underfunded...

Politics

Kilifi North By-Election: IEBC Announces June 14 Poll Date After MP's Death

By David Omondi | 2 days ago

In Pictures

BREAKING

Long Rains: 4,000 Families Displaced in Tana River After Flooding

April 1, 2026

LIFESTYLE

Easter Tourism Boom: Mombasa Hotels Report 98% Occupancy Over Long Weekend

April 1, 2025

BUSINESS

SGR Mombasa-Nairobi Service Breaks Annual Passenger Record: 4.2 Million Riders in 2024

March 31, 2025

Opinion

FK

Fatuma Khalid

Political Analyst

Opinion

Coast Leaders Must Stop Crying and Start Legislating: The Case for a Coastal Resources Bill

For twenty years, Coast politicians have delivered speeches at funerals and rallies about marginalisation. Not one private member's bill. Not one...

JO

John Otieno

Business Editor

Opinion

Why the Port of Mombasa Must Be Freed From KPA's Monopoly to Compete With Dar es Salaam

Tanzania's port now handles 40% of Uganda's imports. Three years ago, that figure was under 15%. The reason is not infrastructure. The reason is management structure...

RN

Rose Ndegwa

Health Correspondent

Opinion

The Real Cholera Crisis Is Not the Water — It Is the Silence of Our County Health Department

On the day I visited Likoni Health Centre, 14 patients were being treated for waterborne illness in a ward built for six...

The views expressed in opinion articles are the authors' own and do not represent the editorial position of ForwardPressKE.

Technology

Technology

Safaricom Launches New M-Pesa API for Coast Businesses: What Small Traders Need to Know

By Tech Desk | April 1, 2025

Technology

Cybercrime Unit Warns Mombasa Businesses After String of Online Fraud Attacks Targets Small Hotels

By Grace Njeri | March 30, 2025

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Breaking News

💡 LIVE: Follow our breaking news coverage — stories updated continuously

Breaking

Police Dismantle Major Drug Ring Between Old Town and Kisauni

1 hour ago

Detectives arrested 14 suspects and seized 40kg of heroin in a night operation. Inspector General confirms operation is part of wider national crackdown.

Breaking

Port of Mombasa Phase 3 Expansion Approved: Sh80 Billion Infrastructure Project Begins Q3

3 hours ago

KPA Chairman says ground-breaking ceremony set for July. New berths will increase port capacity by 40% and create over 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Breaking

4,000 Families Displaced as Tana River Bursts Banks Amid Long Rains

5 hours ago

National Disaster Management Unit deploys helicopters and supplies. County government declares state of emergency in Tana Delta and Bura sub-counties.

Politics

Kilifi County Official Arrested Over Sh18 Million Procurement Fraud

6 hours ago

The Director of Public Prosecutions has filed charges against the county director of procurement and three suppliers following a 14-month EACC investigation.

Politics

MCAs Walk Out as Governor Refuses to Appear Before Finance Committee

Yesterday

Assembly members said the governor's failure to appear for a third consecutive summons is a constitutional crisis. Speaker threatens to petition High Court.

Business

SGR Halts Mombasa-Nairobi Service for 6 Hours After Derailment Near Voi

Yesterday

No injuries reported. Kenya Railways says services have resumed. Passengers were offered road transfers and full refunds. Investigation ongoing.

Politics

MCAs Reject Sh4.2 Billion Supplementary Budget Over Irregular Allocations

Fatuma Ali | 2 hours ago

In a session marked by drama and a walkout, the Mombasa County Assembly rejected the supplementary budget for the second time this financial year, citing tenders awarded without following public procurement guidelines.

Politics

Coast Governors Form United Front Against Revenue Formula

James Mwangi | Yesterday

All six Coast county governors signed a joint memorandum to the CRA demanding that the equitable share formula be reviewed to recognise population density, infrastructure deficits and poverty indices specific to the coastal region.

Politics

Kilifi North By-Election Set for June 14 After MP Mwavula's Death

David Omondi | 2 days ago

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati announced the by-election date while confirming that six aspirants have already submitted nomination papers. The seat has been held by the ruling coalition for three terms.

Investigation

EXCLUSIVE: Sh120M Coast Water Project — A ForwardPressKE Investigation

David Omondi | 3 days ago

Part 1: Tenders were awarded to three firms with no verifiable addresses. ForwardPressKE has obtained copies of procurement records and tender evaluation reports that contradict official county government statements.

Read full investigation →

Sports

Football

Bandari Stun Gor Mahia 2-1 in Mombasa — Dockers Close Gap to KPL Leaders

Today

Two second-half goals from Coast-born strikers sealed a historic win at Mbaraki. Bandari now trail Tusker by just four points with six games remaining.

Athletics

Coast Athletics Association to Host National Cross Country Trials at Nguu Tatu on April 20

Yesterday

Over 400 athletes are expected to compete in the Coast regional qualifier for the Kenya national cross country team, which heads to Kampala in May.

Rugby

Mombasa RFC Upsets Homeboyz 22-18 to Reach Kenya Cup Quarter-Finals

2 days ago

The club's best Kenya Cup run in 12 years continues after a pulsating match at RFUEA Ground watched by 3,000 supporters who made the journey from Mombasa.

KPL Standings

Business

Port

Sh80B Port Expansion Gets Cabinet Approval — Phase 3 to Start Q3 2025

Today

The long-awaited expansion will add Berths 22 and 23, a new container terminal and a grain handling facility. Kenya's largest ever port investment.

SEZ

Dongo Kundu SEZ Signs Three New Manufacturing Deals Worth $185M

Yesterday

Investors from China, India and Turkey have committed to establish textile, electronics assembly and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities at the Mombasa SEZ over the next 18 months.

Transport

SGR Passenger Numbers Hit 4.2 Million in 2024 — Record Since Launch

March 31

Kenya Railways CEO says freight revenue grew 34% year-on-year, with Mombasa-Nairobi cargo volumes driven by the port expansion and regional trade recovery.

Technology

Fintech

Safaricom Launches New M-Pesa Merchant API for Coast Tourism and Hospitality Sector

April 1

Hotels, restaurants and tour operators in Mombasa can now accept international M-Pesa payments from visitors from 12 African countries. Rollout starts in May.

Cybercrime

Cybercrime Unit Warns Mombasa Hotels After 47 Online Fraud Cases Reported

March 30

Attackers are using fake booking platforms to steal credit card data from smaller hotels. The DCI's coast cybercrime unit has made 9 arrests since January.

Startups

Mombasa-Based Agritech Startup Farmwise Raises Sh45M to Expand Coastal Smallholder Platform

March 28

The app connects over 3,000 smallholder farmers in Kilifi and Kwale directly to urban markets, cutting out middlemen and increasing farmer incomes by up to 60%.

Lifestyle

Tourism

Easter Boom: Mombasa Hotels Report 98% Occupancy, Best Numbers Since 2019

April 1

Tourism CS says Mombasa received an estimated 180,000 domestic tourists over the four-day Easter holiday, a 22% increase over last year. Revenue hit Sh2.4 billion for the period.

Food

Coast Cuisine Goes Global: Mombasa Chef Wins Pan-African Culinary Prize in Accra

March 29

Chef Zainab Mohammed's biryani and pilau fusion dish beat 28 competitors from 16 countries to win the African Culinary Arts Prize. She credits Swahili coastal food heritage as her inspiration.

Health

Mombasa Launches Free Mental Health Clinic at Coast General — First in Coast Region

March 27

The county says 14,000 residents have been screened for depression and anxiety since the pilot launched in January, with over 2,000 receiving ongoing counselling support.

Opinion & Analysis

The views expressed in all opinion and analysis articles on ForwardPressKE are the authors' own and do not represent the editorial position of ForwardPressKE or its staff.

FK

Fatuma Khalid

Political Analyst, University of Nairobi

Opinion

Coast Leaders Must Stop Crying and Start Legislating

For twenty years, Coast politicians have delivered impassioned speeches about marginalisation. They have delivered zero private member's bills on resource sharing...

Read full article →

JO

John Otieno

Business Editor, ForwardPressKE

Opinion

Free the Port From KPA's Monopoly to Compete With Dar es Salaam

Tanzania's port now handles 40% of Uganda's imports. Three years ago that figure was under 15%. The reason is not infrastructure — it is management structure...

Read full article →

RN

Rose Ndegwa

Health Correspondent

Opinion

The Cholera Crisis Is Not the Water — It Is Our Health Department's Silence

On the day I visited Likoni Health Centre, 14 patients were being treated for waterborne illness in a ward built for six. The health director had not visited in four months...

Read full article →

Coast Focus

🌍 COAST FOCUS: The stories Nairobi forgets — original reporting from Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Taita-Taveta and Tana River

Coast

INVESTIGATION: The Sh120M Water Project That Left 40,000 Coastal Homes Still Without Clean Water

April 1

Part 1 of 3: ForwardPressKE tracked down procurement records, interviewed 23 affected families and confronted the county official responsible. Here is what we found.

Read Part 1 →

Coast

Tana River's Forgotten Flood Victims: The Families Who Have Been Displaced Every Year Since 2015

March 30

No permanent resettlement. No compensation. Just annual displacement and annual promises. ForwardPressKE spent two days in the Tana Delta documenting lives lived in perpetual crisis.

Lamu

Lamu's Old Town UNESCO Status Under Threat as Unplanned Constructions Multiply

March 28

UNESCO has issued a third warning to Kenya. Inspectors found 47 illegal structures that violate the site's preservation protocols within the designated World Heritage zone boundary.

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