The Kwale qualms:Miss Tourism Kwale event gossip

Jubilant and totally overwhelmed by the hundreds who had witnessed her deserved win, Staicy Nzalambi, the new Miss Tourism Kwale County took to the podium to make her maiden speech. The 20-year-old United States International University (USIU) beauty from Lunga Lunga was the girl of the moment. With the tiara glittering over her face, she was honoured with gifts, praise and applause as the stars dazzled over the open sky across the white beaches of Kwale Island, that Friday night. Then out of the blue, the unexpected happened. A middle-aged man sprung from the crowd and charged towards the podium just after the beauty queen was crowned. Like a wounded lion, he jumped onto the stage, setting his eyes on the model whose crown he attempted to grab as he chanted inaudible words. It was a scene of panic as bouncers tried to overpower him with the new Miss Tourism Kwale scrambling for refuge. It had been an eventful three days of spectacular events, fun and romance that sent mixed signals to the top Miss University models who had been transported to Kwale to give colour to the show. Among those who had travelled to Kwale was the current Miss University Kenya Joan Musumba, Doreen Gatwiri, former Miss Catholic University, and Rachael Chebet the current Miss Tourism Kitale among others. Some of the girls flew in and others came by road. After being treated to a tour on the shores of the Indian Ocean that Saturday evening, it is said that the current Miss University Kenya Joan Musumba and a friend left the hotel they were staying at. They did not return to the hotel that day, something that got their manager Leakey Odera perturbed. It is believed that Joan was picked up by a secret date, an influential personality who landed in Mombasa on Saturday afternoon.

Her friend tagged along.

The two returned to their hotel rooms on Sunday afternoon, driven in a Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) taxi. They picked their bags in a rush and left. Their fellow models had no clue what was going on. They then headed to the Moi International Airport and left for Nairobi. On the D-day, the crowd was psyched throughout the event thanks to Eric Omondi’s antics and the stage presence he shared with his co-host Amina. Performances by several dance groups from the county served as great entertainment but it is Wyre’s set, one that had him singing most of his hits and even dancing with a fan on stage, that stole the show for the young revellers. Yusuf and Ally B, renowned taarab musicians from the Coast region had the older generation on their feet dancing to some of their classic taarab hits. The models, drawn from the sub counties of Lunga Lunga, Matuga, Msambweni and Kinango, on the other hand, looked elegant in their varied attire, representing each category. Those who made it to the question and answer session proved to the public that they weren’t just beauties with no brains. As stiff as the competition was, there had to be a winner at the end of the night and the lucky contestant was Staicy Nzalambi, having impressed the seven judge panel with her beauty, grace and intelligence. Some of the dignitaries present included the Kwale County Governor Salim Mvurya, his wife Christine Mvurya, Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani and several Members of the County Assembly.