Mombasa - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Kenya and Uganda resolve oil import row, Uganda says

KENYA will allow landlocked Uganda's state oil firm to import petroleum products through its port of Mombasa, Uganda's energy ministry confirmed, to end a row between the two neighbours. Uganda has been seeking alternative ways of importing petroleum products, including through a Tanzanian port after its oil retailers for decades received their cargo through affiliated firms in Kenya. Solomon Muyita, spokesperson for Uganda's Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said the first shipment under the new system was expected in May. "Kenya has agreed to give us a licence, UNOC (Uganda National Oil Company) is now free to import through Mombasa,"…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

Life on an African island can be great when you’re part of the gig economy – just ask this woman photographer

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MONICA Marura spent several years managing her family’s cyber café in Mombasa, along the coast of Kenya. All the while she knew she wanted more out of life. In 2020, Marura met her husband, Robert Mwangi, a professional photographer. This meeting helped Marura discover a talent and passion for telling stories through the camera. Her life changed when the couple was given the chance to move to Lamu Island. Although her first thought was, “Wait, what part of Kenya is Lamu?” Not long after arriving, Mwangi heard about clients seeking a woman to photograph a Muslim bridal celebration. As per…

Jan

2024

By SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Kenyan coastal gem gets a direct link to Middle East as Dubai ties to Africa

NEWS

MOMBASA is set for a surge in tourism after FlyDubai launched direct flights between Dubai, the commercial hub of the United Arab Emirates, and the coastal city. This new direct route, a first for any UAE airline, is also poised to strengthen economic ties and cultural exchange between the two regions. Flydubai will operate four weekly direct flights to Mombasa from January 17, 2024, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The carrier becomes the first national carrier to operate direct flights from Dubai and to the coastal city as it makes a foray into Africa. "We remain committed to opening…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Cargo rail services to Kenya’s Mombasa port resume after flooding

NEWS

CARGO rail services to Kenya's Mombasa port have resumed after floods damaged a section of track over the weekend, Kenya Railways said. Heavy rains linked to the El Nino phenomenon, followed by flash floods, have submerged towns across East Africa, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. In Kenya, the death toll from the floods stood at 52 as of Friday and is expected to rise. The loading and offloading of cargo have restarted, while the passenger service was also operating a normal service, the state-owned rail operator said in a statement posted on the social media platform X. "We…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Deep-sea gear helps Kenyan fishermen ride rough waves of climate change

ENVIRONMENT

WESLEY LANGAT FISHERMAN Ahmed Amir Samir, 35, who works in the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa, feels his job got a lot safer after the county government donated modern boats to locals nearly 18 months ago. "Sometimes in tumultuous waves, we would risk our lives going out into the deep ocean using locally made wooden canoes," he said, describing artisanal fishing as costly and dangerous. As many parts of the world struggle with the effects of climate change, the ocean is warming fast, seas are rising and storms are becoming more powerful, threatening marine ecosystems and communities that rely on…