MP Badi Twalib leads Coast, lauds TUM for milestone

MPs Badi Twalib and Babu Owino at the Superchoice awards in Nairobi on Thursday / BRIAN OTIENO

MPs Babu Owino and Badi Twalib at the Superchoice awards in Nairobi on Thursday / BRIAN OTIENO

MPs Babu Owino, Badi Twalib, Ruth Odinga and Didimus Baraza at the Superchoice awards in Nairobi on Thursday/ BRIAN OTIENO

Although the launch of medical courses at the Technical University of Mombasa was long overdue, it is encouraging that the government is giving the institution the recognition it deserves, a Mombasa MP said on Thursday.

Jomvu MP Badi Twalib said Mombasa has great minds, but more often than not, these great minds have to be donated to other places because of lack of commensurate infrastructure.

“I have asked this question in Parliament several times. Why was TUM not being allowed to offer medical courses yet they are competent in that field? Today, I am glad we are launching a medical course at TUM, which is our pride as Mombasa leaders,” Twalib told the Star on phone.

TUM officially launched its School of Medicine and Health Sciences on Friday with pomp and fanfare.

Twalib said Mombasa leaders are hardworking, pushing the national government for better infrastructure and development in the county.

He spoke hours after being recognized as the second-best-performing MP nationally and first in the Coast region by Superchoice Awards in Nairobi.

Superchoice Awards recognised Embakasi East MP Babu Owino as the best-performing MP nationally and the first in the Nairobi region.

The award came a month after Mizani Africa also placed Twalib as the 10^th best performing MP nationally and the first at the Coast region.

Buoyed by the recognition he received on Thursday, Twalib pledged to work even harder not only for Jomvu people but also for Mombasa people as a whole.

“This award is not for me but for my Jomvu people and the people of Mombasa. Without the Jomvu people, who are always in my heart, there would be no Badi Twalib,” he said.

Twalib said Mombasa, which is coded 001, must set an example in all it does.

“That is why we are the number one in the country in registration of people in SHA. My governor, Abdulswamad Nassir, is setting the pace for others to follow, because we know what it means to work for the people,” Twalib said.

He revealed that he was always miffed that TUM was yet to be allowed to offer medical courses, yet Pwani University in Kilifi, which came into being more recently, is offering such courses.

“It bothered me. That is why I had to make noise in Parliament,” he said.

He noted that a lot of great brains in Jomvu have had to travel all the way to Nairobi and other regions to study medicine, yet there is TUM, which can equally offer the courses.

“It is a form of brain drain to take the brilliant minds away from Jomvu and Mombasa just to get an education. In most cases, these brains are then seduced to remain in Nairobi and the other places,” Twalib said.

His words were echoed by Mombasa countywoman representative Zamzam Mohamed, who was also awarded as the best-performing woman representative in the country by Superchoice Awards.

Mohamed said the recognition was a victory for Mombasa and called on all leaders in the county to work together for a better Mombasa.

“In as much as we sometimes face criticism and challenges, I am deeply humbled to be recognized with the Superchoice Award as the Best Woman Representative in Kenya,” Mohamed said.

“This recognition is not mine alone, but a testament to the great work we continue to do together for the people of Mombasa County and beyond,” she said.

“I also take this moment to congratulate my brother, Hon Badi Twalib for being recognized among the Best Performing Member of Parliament. Indeed, Mombasa is shining.

“Let us keep working together for a greater Mombasa and a greater Kenya,” she said.

Instant Analysis:

Participation in the Superchoice Awards is by invitation only and is offered to the most outstanding brands and personalities in their different fields. Apart from strengthening brands, attaining a SuperChoice award improves one’s image and standing among peers.