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Anne Wughanga, 21, from Taita Taveta County bested 41 other contestants to emerge this year’s Miss Tourism Kenya at the grand finale held on the southwest shores of the Indian Ocean in Mombasa last Friday night.
Amid the chaos and favoritism allegations that surrounded the county-to-county competition, the culmination ceremony was a glitzy and glamorous affair attended by governors, senators and Members of Parliament, who came in support of the cause and rooted for their favorite contestants. “The pageant has brought together communities and has played a big part in the ongoing reconciliation exercise in the country,” said Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho during the ceremony.
However, it was notable that six counties - Lamu, Isiolo, Mandera, Garissa, Moyale and Kilifi - did not have representatives at the competition. Though Kilifi County was not represented after its queen, Catherine Mage, was stripped off her crown, Governor Amason Kingi and Senator Stewart Madzayo attended the occasion. Despite several technical glitches, thousands thronged the place and witnessed the contestants battling it out in various categories all night.
However, the night belonged to United States International University (USIU) business administration student, Anne Wughanga. Other winners on the night included Kajiado’s Marion Kisoso, 23, also a USIU student and Marsabit’s Qabale Duba, who both bagged awards - the Love and Peace and Culture and Investment awards respectively. Mombasa County’s Aisha Habiba, 23, shared the spoils with Machakos’ Elizabeth Matia, Marion Kisoso and Narok’s Marley Sianto in the environment categories.
The beauty pageant, the first of its kind, was launched to promote the 47 countys as investment and tourism destinations. Alice Kamunge, Miss Tourism Kenya Ltd’s national executive director and founder urged the county governments to partner with her to make the event more successive next year. Coast based comedian Kasuku bin Kicheko also graced the event along with Mombasa based musicians Ali B and Susumila.
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