President Uhuru Kenyatta today officially opened MAS Intimates Kenya, a Sri Lankan apparel and textile manufacturer that has employed over 3,000 Kenyans.

Speaking at Athi River in Machakos County during the launch of the factory operating under the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) programme, President Kenyatta said the huge investment is a testament of the decade-long groundwork laid under the manufacturing pillar of the Big 4 Agenda.

“I am pleased that while MAS only begun operations in Kenya in the year 2020, you have already injected over 8.5 million US dollars into our economy, employed over 3,000 Kenyans and shipped garments worth over 24 million US dollars which are affixed with the magical, Made in Kenya tag,” President Kenyatta said.

The President pointed out that the expanding infrastructure, world-class human capital and economic policies have significantly improved Kenya’s business index within the community of nations, making the country the most vibrant investment destination in Africa.

He said the entry of the Sri Lankan apparel and textile manufacturer into Kenya has added to Mas Intimates’ global footprint that presently spans across 17 countries in South Asia, North America, South America and Europe.

The President added that choosing Kenya as an investment destination has accorded MAS Intimates Kenya a strategic geographical location, easy access to Eastern and Central Africa.

“In addition, by choosing Kenya, you have access to top tier financial services and information technology capabilities, a strong intellectual property protection landscape and elaborate networks of supporting infrastructure which are being enhanced day-by-day through investments in a modern new railway, road networks and in modern Sea Ports and Airports, fiber optic and under-sea cables and pipelines,” he said.

He assured both local and international companies that the Government is committed to enhancing the growth of the private sector by fostering high value-added manufacturing, promoting the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and equipping the youth with skill-sets required by a fast-evolving marketplace.

“Indeed, our partnership with Mas Intimates is a good indicator that, as a country, we are on the right path.

“We will also continue to partner with similar industries to create new job opportunities for our people.  For example, this new plant will create thousands of new skilled jobs including scientists, engineers, supply chain specialists and technicians,” President Kenyatta said. 

Noting that Mas Intimates has projected to increase its current employment numbers to 4,200 by end of this year and a further 7,000 by 2025, the President thanked the company for believing in Kenya’s development agenda.

Industrialization and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina said the country has more than Kshs 122 billion worth of investment in EPZs.

“We are very excited about the strides we have made in manufacturing and this is a testament. This is just one of our EPZ zones, there are others around the country. We have more than Kshs 122 billion worth of investments in our EPZs,” CS Maina said.

The CS added that the country’s exports last year stood at more than Kshs 91 billion while employment in the EPZs stood at about 65000 people.

MAS Intimates Kenya Manufacturing Director Chandana Galappathi thanked the Government for creating a conducive environment for investment, saying it has seen his company grow from strength to strength in the last two years.

Mr. Galappathi assured the President that his company is set to create more employment for the country’s youth as it embarks on the implementation of phase two of its expansion programme.

Global popstar Rihanna is set to launch her new skincare and beauty products line  Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin cosmetics in Kenya.

The launch of the products that are backed by French luxury goods group LVMH in Kenya will coincide with similar launches in 7 other African countries namely Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Ghana.

An elated Rihanna broke the news through her social media handles.

"I have been waiting for this moment. Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin are finally dropping in Africa,” she said on her verified Twitter handle. “Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe we are coming at you on May 27,” she said.

The product  known for its broad range of 50 skin tones, including dark shades for women of color, which were rare when it launched in 2017. This made it a leader in inclusivity in the industry catapulting the singer into huge wealth.

Rihanna is currently ranked second behind American media mogul Oprah Winfrey as the richest female entertainer, due to her wildly successful ventures into fashion and beauty.

According to Forbes, the beauty product empire generated more than $550 million (Sh63 billion) in revenue in 2020.

Rihanna is also known as a fashion innovator, and regularly rocks attention-grabbing looks that have been chronicled by luxury fashion publications as well as fan sites and Instagram accounts, like Haus of Rihanna.

Beyond her former Dior ambassadorship (she was the first-ever Black ambassador for the French fashion house, reported Essence) and her high-end fashion partnership with luxury conglomerate LVMH in 2018, Rihanna has also added to her empire with her SAVAGE X FENTY lingerie line.

Forbes reports the brand, which has expanded into men’s undergarments and sleepwear, is valued at nearly $270 million.

ODM leader Raila Odinga is now free to use any music of his choice in his campaigns.

This is after the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate paid Sh562,500 to the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) as licence fees for the music.

The payment was made by Odinga's daughter Winnie Odinga.

"Our Senior Licensing Officer Mr. David Kiragu with @Winnie_Odinga after she made payments of Ksh 562,500/= for local and international music used in the @RailaOdinga Presidential Campaigns." reads a tweet from MCSK.

Adding "We thank  @Winnie_Odinga and the entire @RailaOdinga Presidential team for this gesture and urge other political candidates to emulate them by making payments for the use of copyrighted musical works in their campaigns."

According to Section 38 (c) of the Kenya Copyright Act 2021, any person who causes a literary or musical work, an audio-visual work or a sound recording, to be performed in public at a time when copyright subsists in such work or sound recording and where such performances is an infringement of that copyright, shall be guilty of an offence.

Offenders face a fine not exceeding Sh500,000 or a jail sentence of four years or both.

Sabrina Dhowre Elba, the wife of Hollywood superstar Idris Elba is in Kenya for a special engagement with Kenyan farmers.

The Somalian-American professional model, actress and social media personality will have a chance to interact with farmers from two projects in Embu and Nyeri counties. the projects are supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Sabrina is also the IFAD goodwill ambassador.

"With over 75 per cent of Kenya’s estimated 48 million people living in rural areas, Elba will experience first-hand the impact that IFAD investments are having on the lives of rural communities, especially women and girls,”  reads a statement from IFAD.

Speaking while in Embu county, Sabrina described Kenya as her second home.

“We spent the day on the field with primary in beautiful Kenya which is my second home. It’s been really enlightening to see what I have always believed in, that the rural community in nations and in continents like Africa work really hard if not harder than everywhere else,” she said.

Adding "Climate change is hitting African farmers the hardest of all. Being an IFAD Goodwill Ambassador gives me an important opportunity to amplify the voices of women and girls in rural areas."While they may account for the bulk of the labour force in agriculture, they continue to be left out of decision making and struggle to access finance, land and information. I am excited to meet Kenyan farmers and I want to share their stories of struggle and resilience with the world."

Since 1979, IFAD has financed 20 rural development programmes and projects in Kenya for a total value of US$980.31 million, of which IFAD has contributed US$455.09 million, directly benefiting about 4.6 million rural households.

Iman presents the crispy visuals to Aaliyah - the second single after his rebrand. 

The audio was recorded by Ihaji Made It and the Video was directed by Nezzoh Montana in the leafy suburbs of Karen.

This is a love song, and as depicted in the video, a soldier returns from a mission abroad and is looking forward to taking his relationship to the next level.

The time he has been away has made him miss his girlfriend and it has reaffirmed that the lady is the woman of his dreams and he doesn’t want to spend any minute away from her again.

In the video we see him gifting her a new car which is delivered to their compound, he proposes to her, and then the video ends when they are out in a mall doing shopping.

The song is a masterpiece and it comes with that replay value; from the instrumental, vocals and delivery.  

Speaking about the new song, Iman says, “Aaliyah is that song! I enjoyed the whole process of making it and I look forward to releasing such sing-along songs that resonate with my fans. Love is beautiful.”

Watch Aaliyah here: https://youtu.be/dOX8KO7l1zE  

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir has led an onslaught against Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka accusing him of blackmailing the ODM party leader Raila Odinga to give him the running mate position in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition.

The legislature took a swipe at Kalonzo accusing him of propagating negative and unwarranted attacks towards the existence of a harmonious and cohesive country as envisioned by the Azimio principles.

He said that they were dismayed that despite the level playfield to allow equal participation in the running of the affairs of the coalition, it was apparent that some leaders wanted to make it as if it was a precondition for them to be awarded the position of the running mate as a ticket of joining the Azimio coalition.

“We see this as blackmail of the highest order. As ODM and proud founders of Azimio, we believe our birth was not out of fear but that of respecting others views,” Nassir said.

Nassir was addressing the media at Swahili Pot hub on Sunday after holding a meeting with all ODM aspirants in Mombasa.

He accused Kalonzo of having a hidden agenda in joining the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition.

He added that they were disturbed by the show of recklessness by some unpatriotic leaders within the Azimio family whose main aim seems to be directed at destabilizing the movement from within.

“It is disturbing to see that some leaders within the coalition have reduced themselves into being agents of creating disharmony along tribal and religious lines in the country,”

 “For the avoidance of doubt, we want to categorically state that we shall not condone this kind of behavior considering how far this country has come from,” he said.

Nassir further stated that all these theatrics were only aimed at diluting the major contributions within Azimio by pragmatic leaders like Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and and his Kitui counterpart Charity Ngilu whom he said both stand a very good chance of being picked as possible running mates to Raila.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko on her part reiterated that the Azimio coalition aimed at uniting Kenyans and ensuring there is peace across the country.

This she said was going to be very instrumental to spur growth and development within all sectors in the country.

“It is a pity to see one of the coalition partners uttering words that threaten to split Kenyans along religious and tribal lines, we will not allow leaders within the coalition hell-bent at bringing us down from within.

She added that the coalition was not going to relent on its mission of uniting the over 45 million Kenyans in the country.

“If someone has his own hidden agenda for joining the coalition then let him tell us,” said Mboko.  

Other leaders present include Mombasa county assembly speaker Aharub Khatri, senator Mohammed Faki, Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, former Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba, ODM Mombasa branch chair Mohammed Khamis,Woman rep aspirant Zamzam Mohammed and all ODM MCA aspirants.

Rapper King Kaka has put a smile on his mother's face as he's just finished building a modern house for her.

Taking to Instagram, the rapper shared a photo of the magnificent house sharing with his fans how they were once locked out of their rental house because they could not pay the rent which was ksh 500.

"One day I came home from school and Kanjo had placed a Very Big padlock coz we couldn’t afford to pay Kshs 500 rent, I promised my mom that in the future I’ll buy her a house." posted King Kaka.

Adding" Fast forward 4days ago we just prayed in the living room of this house that I build for her. The Sounds of a testimony and I am happy that she has a place she can call home. Thankyou mom for putting on a brave face over the years even when I knew things were not okay. Asante and Be blessed. To all the believers, It’s possible! And God is Love."

King Kaka has always attributed his success to his mother revealing the tough times he went through while growing up and how hard his mother worked to make sure she put bread on the table. Finally we can put a face to it.

The rapper once wrote on his on facebook page  "‘’I was asked juzi, who is my role model, I said my mother. I mean nani hustler Kama yeye, she raised 3 boys na biashara ya kuuza matunda na most times ni labda kanjo wamemshika but managed. Wacha vile watu wanasema I am the ultimate hustler. I mean Mandela was great with the Leadership, Biko was Wise, Luther King was firm with his leadership, Obama with his words, Maathai with her vision, Ali with his confidence but No One Beats My Mother. And she raised a King. I salute You Mama. Queen Elizabeth. The Real Legend.’’ 

The Coast Top girl in the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary KCPE education smiled her way into Bunyore High school on Thursday, thanks to Jomvu Member of Parliament Badi Twalib’s full scholarship.

Amanya Lisa Adhiambo, 15, who scored 420 in her KCPE exams at Amani Primary school, could not hide her joy, when she arrived at the Moi international airport ready to board a flight to Kisumu where she would reconnect to her secondary school for form one admission.

Speaking to journalists before taking her flight, paid for by the Jomvu Mp,Adhiambo  promised to work hard in her studies and produce good grades so that she can make her parents proud and better her future.

Adhiambo,who had lost her hope of joining secondary school due to lack of fees, expressed her joy to the legislator for coming to her aid.She also expressed her excitement that she will be flying to Kisumu for the first time in lifetime.

Lissa was worried that her mother could not afford to take her to secondary school due to fees problems. She was afraid of following in the footsteps of  her elder sister, who scored 370 marks in KCPE exam but could not join the school she was selected to join for lack of school fees.

“I am very happy for the support I have received from our Mp to pay for my fees and shopping, I am also happy to travel by a flight, I have never thought I will take a flight, but I just want to thank the people who have come to my life,” said Adhiambo.

Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib who had accompanied the girl to Moi international Airport, in Mombasa said she has made him proud for being among the top students in the 2021 KCPE examinations from his backyard.

 “We didn’t  want her to miss the slot in the school she has been selected, therefore we have given her full sponsorship and to motivate her, I have said I will pay her a air ticket to Kisumu for her travel, then we have made arrangements how she will connect to her school.,” said Twalib.

The MP said he will not only cater for the four-year school fees in secondary, but all other requirements including transportation to and from the school she will join. Lisa dreams of becoming an engineer in the future.

“She made me very proud after becoming the best girl in the coastal region and because she comes from the constituency I lead, I feel she raised my face up,” said Twalib.

Twalib said his constituency under the sponsorship kitty has sponsored over 50 needy students to access information. He said he has prioritized education and will continue to give bursaries to needy students.

“I want to say that this girl has become a role model for others, and has shown us that she is able to lead, despite the fact that she comes from.

 Roda Katana deputy head teacher Amani primary school exuded her confidence that the girl will prosper and get good results after her KCSE exams.