What a way to kick off the new year! King Kaka has just officially released his much-anticipated gospel album dubbed '2nd Life' .

The album commemorates the period when the superstar was hospitalized for months; he was forced to take a break from music production after his health deteriorated following a misdiagnosis. The illness brought him close to God.

'2nd Life' album expresses gratitude to God for King Kaka's full recovery and all the blessings God has bestowed upon the rapper and entrepreneur. The title of the album was motivated by the fact that God has given him a second chance in life. Doctors had at the time of his diagnosis predicted that only had 30 days to live.

Twelve out of the seventeen track album are collaborations with top music personalities within and beyond Kenya. Some of the artists who have been featured on the album include; Alpha Mwana Mtule, Femi One, Jadi, Alyn Sano, Kivumbi, Wanavokali, Watendawili, Kanambo Dede, Iyanii, Anastacia Muema, Solomon Mkubwa, Phyllis Mbuthia, Walter Chilambo, and Zamunda among others. 

Why did King Kaka call the project 2nd Life: "I went through a life changing ordeal and I am now experiencing and appreciating every minute of me being able to do what I love; and that is life , family, music and business. I am literally living my 2nd life."

What Does 2nd Life mean to King Kaka: "I was talking to my wife the other day and I declared this album my most honest album, this being my 6th studio project. It’s the most excited I have been while recording an album. Always grateful to the entire team over the one year we have been working on this. It’s very close to my heart."

There is a lot of diversity in the collaborations; from the generations of artists to styles of music.  One can already tell that the album has been tailored for people of all age groups. The songs too, going by the featured artists, will be applicable in almost all registers including church services.

King Kaka has so far released music videos from the album. The released tracks include; 'Umenibariki' featuring Goodluck Gozbert, 'Asante' featuring Kidum, and 'Manifest' featuring Nviiri The Story Teller. The three songs were produced by Sifa and Wuod Omollo.

President William Ruto has led Kenyans in mourning veteran Tv news anchor Catherine Kasavuli.

The President was among political leaders who took to social media to mourn Kasavuli after news broke of her demise at Kenyatta National Hospital.

In his message on Twitter, the president said he was deeply saddened by the news of the passing on of Kasavuli describing her as an intelligent news anchor.

"Catherine was a cheerful, articulate and intelligent news anchor who took to television with unprecedented flair. Her pleasant smile, clear steady voice, and elegance made her a welcome presence and reassuring bearer of news to Kenyan living rooms for decades." said Ruto.

Adding " Let us therefore celebrate the life of a talented pioneer who famously excelled in her profession, entrancing the nation with her talent and extraordinary poise. I pray that God comforts her family in this time of mourning and that her soul rest in eternal peace."

"I join the rest of the nation in mourning the passing of a television icon Ms. Catherine Kasavuli. She has been a legendary newscaster who always performed with great poise and grace. I extend my profound condolences and heartfelt sympathies to her family and friends." said former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho.

Kasavuli died aged 60 at the Kenyatta National Hospital on Thursday night, after battling with cancer.

Kasavuli had been admitted at the facility since October 26.

In November, colleagues and friends in the media industry mobilised people to donate blood for urgent transfusion after she was admitted at KNH.

The county government of Mombasa has deployed seven patrol boats to boost security and safety along all public beaches in the county.

The move comes a day after two people lost their lives after a boat they were in capsized at the Jomo Kenyatta Public beach commonly known us Pirates on Sunday.

The two were among 12 family members who had travelled from Nairobi and had hired a boat for a short trip into the deep seas before their boat capsized.

"We have deployed seven patrol boats along all our public beaches. We shall have four here at pirates because it is the mostly frequented. Another boat will be along the island with the rest deployed across in Likoni," said Nassir.

Nassir was speaking after visiting the Jomo Kenyatta public beach Monday afternoon where he met revellers and also visited the Kenya Red cross emergency stand stationed at the beach.

He said that each boat will have a Kenya Coast Guard officer, a life guard officers as well as youths with diving experience recruited by the county for the festive season.

"Yes accidents do happen but we have everything under control. I want to assure Mombasa residents and all visitors around of their safety and security," he said.

The governor confirmed that he has spoken to families of the deceased and those recuperating in hospital.

He however did not disclose much about their discussions as families prepare to lay their loved ones to rest.

He urged the media to allow them mourn in private.

"Let us not focus on the negativity, but rather focus on the efforts made by the county to beef up safety  and security," Nassir said.

Earlier on Monday, the Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya banned swimming along the beaches of the Indian Ocean past 5 pm following the death of two family members on Sunday.

Mvurya was speaking after touring Diani beach in Kwale county.

He was accompanied by Kenya Maritime Officials led by the chairman Hamisi Mwaguya alongside government officials together with members of the Kenya Redcross Society led by Mombasa chairman Mahmoud Noor.

"We don’t expect to see anyone at the beach past 5:30 pm, and we have made this decision after wide consultations with different stakeholders," Mvurya said.

The CS also said they have directed that all boats operating in the ocean be inspected to ensure safety. 

"We want all the boats to have safety gear such as floaters because we have realised that some have vests that even look like reflector jackets," he said.

Nassir however said that Mombasa county will consult the CS over the ban saying that some functions were devolved.

"Waziri has good reasons for the ban. But we shall have consultations with him to see how we can improve on the safety. I am alive to the fact that the move will affect some businesses, " he said.

Reigning Mombasa Open International Tong IL-Moo do Mombasa Martial Arts champions Jasiri defended and retained the title at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa.

The team won the championship in a successive 10 time after beating it's close rival Phillippines to second position. 

Kenya exhibited that it remains a powerhouse in this category of Martial Arts in Africa and the World.

Though the event ended after 4 days, the government had not committed itself financially to support the event despite assurance.

At the top of the table Kenya won a total of 185 medals ,46 gold, 54 silver,85 bronze respectively.

Phillippines at a distant second bagged 11 gold,5 silver,18 bronze amassing a tally of 34 medals. 

Korea ranked among the world top teams were successful to occupy position 3.They won 6 gold , 2silver and 5 bronze.

Zambia trailed at position 4 with 5gold,5silver and 11bronze.

On their debut, India carried the day at position 6 with 4gold,3silver and 1 bronze.

The USA did not disappoint they stood at position 6 with 2 gold,3 silver and 4 bronze.Position 7 went to Brazil scooping 2 gold and 2 bronze.

 Paraguay and Japan took position 8 and 9 respectively with each winning 1 gold.

However, Paraguay in their basket won 5 silver and 2 bronze. 

Denmark ended at position 10,with 1silver.Dominican Republic  were unlucky to end the championship without any medal at position 11.

In the free style division Kenyan Gordon Wanje beat Karan Pandit from India to win the gold medal.While Brazil Chung IL Ladica Dos Santos won a bronze together with Lucson Miti from Zambia. 

In Freestyle men division 1,Zambian Michael Zulu won gold.Silver went to George Omollo of Kenya and Sanghun Kim of Korea together with Omar Lora of USA won bronze each.

Freestyle women was won by Erica Seguira of India,the silver went to Lona Abiero of Kenya and bronze to Jung Jin Joo of USA.

in the team Category, Team Kenya composed of Lona Abiero and Lizzanne Adhiambo won gold.Their competitor that included Jane Kiarie,Triza Kinyanjui and Eunice Wambugha won a silver medal doubling the Kenyan win.

Zambia team of Nathalie Chitalu,and Simyeon Djimadoum won bronze.

In Novice division 3,it was all a Kenyan affair.Jung Soo Ouda  won gold. The silver and bronze went to Victor Kahindi, Stephen Okeyo and Dickson Liverson respectively. 

The next year event is scheduled to take place at the same venue and more countries are expected to turn to the event that boosts the country sports and tourism.

Rapper, lyricist and singer Kanambo Dede is back with her third official release- Kazi ni Kazi. In what has been a whirlwind year for the 18 year old, this song serves as a refresher of her immense talents.

The song, just as its title suggests, is a track celebrating the common hustler lifestyle which Kanambo would know all too well herself; before King Kaka took her under his wing, she was working jobs just to get by and provide for her young child. 

The songs Kanambo has released so far showcase the sheer determination of the young star, and the ways in which her life has changed given her new found career.   

Watch the official music video for ' Kazi ni kazi' as written and performed by herself, produced by Sifa for Kaka Empire and directed by Johnson Kyalo.

Mombasa based film producer and director Daudi Anguka is mourning the death of his mother.

According to Anguka, the mother passed on Tuesday.

Speaking to Ommy Dallah, Anguka said "She complained of chest pain on Saturday, we took her to hospital where she was treated and discharged, I was even with her on Sunday, we spent sometime together before travelling Monday only to be called on Tuesday to be told that she is no more. It's very unfortunate."

The award winning cinematographer behind several popular local dramas has always attributed his success to the mother.

“I schooled at Unicef Academy and Kajembe High School in Mombasa, where I scored a mean grade of C-plain in my Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Aftre clearing my high school studies, I decided to join my mother in hawking mandazi and samosas in Mikindani just to make ends meet.” said Anguka in one of his previous interviews.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir has called for a human resource audit of all county staff in a move aimed at busting out ghost workers.

The governor was breathing out fire as he said that the exercise to be conducted on Wednesday will entail the capturing of biometrics and pictures of each and every staff.

This he said was non-negotiable adding that Mombasa has very hardworking people, yet there are a few pulling them back.

“The issue of whether your biometrics will be integrated to salaries is secondary, primary is that we know you are not a robot”

“We want to make sure that we are paying humans salaries because humans have finger prints and they have a face, on this one there is no backing off,” said Nassir.

He was speaking during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the county government of Mombasa and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) outside the county assembly building.

The MOU is to cushion the county to pay staff salary on time incase disbursements from the national treasury delay.

The governor said that he will be the first one to get his biometrics and picture taken saying that he cannot allow the sweat of other be equally enjoyed by those who are not there.

“We must know each other, no one will escape from this because Mombasa people need services and that will only happen if we are able to identify all of you. It is just not a matter of paying salaries yet we don’t know where some of you are,” Nassir said.

The governor also called out on those speaking ill of his administration and that of his predecessor Hassan Joho saying that devolution had its fair share of challenges.

During his campaigns, Nassir promised that he will not poke holes into the previous regime, but rather pick the good and where necessary, work with the staff to rectify any wrong.

“We must appreciate the fact that just like others have retired, I will also one day retire. So let us not be people who just talk for the sake of talking, let us look into issues that will take Mombasa  forward”

“In my first 90 days in office, I have already paid three months in full without any areas and delayed statuary deductions,” he said.

The governor also issued orders for the county to pay one month salary immediately adding that he will further negotiate with KCB to allow county government staff are able to access car and house loans.

KCB CEO Paul Russo lauded the signing of the MOU saying that this was the beginning of a partnership between the bank and the county.

Russo alluded to the fact that KCB was the only bank that agreed to pay county staff salaries between April to August as everybody stopped for fear that they were not going to get paid.

“This MOU opens the opportunity for us to deliver meaningful solutions to your staff, whether it is personal banking, whether it is car loans or land and houses, that governor we will partner with your team to deliver on that,” said Russo.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko called on the governor to address the issue of delayed salaries once and for all.

She lauded Nassir’s predecessor Joho saying that he had done his bit in setting up the infrastructure as she called on Nassir to now work on the human capital to ensure their welfare is taken care off.

“I want to advise you that if you want to be a happy man and successfully retain your seat, please solve the salary issue, it will be a smooth ride for you to defend your seat. I served with you in Parliamentary Investment Commitee in parliament, I know you will deliver on this,” said Mboko.

“This is a new dawn, the issue of salary delays and statuary deductions being delayed should also be in the past in this new political dispensation”

Mboko further urged Nassir to ensure that he blocks all corruption loopholes in the county

She also urged the governor to ensure that promotion of county staff is done on merit.  She insisted that it should not be done on the basis of who one knows or is related to who because this will be unfair to others who are not connected but deserve a promotion.

“I have received some scenarios of people saying that their colleagues who came in later have been promoted yet they have stayed in the same position for year. Let us promote according to merit and on an equal basis, the issue of godfathers should neither be here or there,” she said.

The Likoni MP said that if someone has upgraded his academic papers and has been added duties, they need to be promoted and not stagnate in the same job group

The nine Kenya representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly have officially been sworn in.

They took the oath of office on Monday afternoon and are expected to serve for a term of five years were selected from both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza factions in accordance with the EALA constitution. 

They include Kennedy Kalonzo, Winnie Odinga, former Kieni MP Kanini Kega and businessman Suleiman Shahbal who will represent Azimio La Umoja.

Former MP David Sankok, former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar, Mwangi Maina, Kering Zipporah and Iman Falhada were nominated by the Kenya Kwanza camp. 

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Azimio leader Raila Odinga's wife Ida Odinga were present to witness the ceremony held in Arusha.

Raila Odinga congratulated the new members for taking the oath.

"Congratulations to the whole Kenyan EALA team and to you Chogo (my lastborn). Hongera," Raila said.