The 65^th Grammy Awards is set to unveil its nominations list this November and KiKisumu-based musician, Gabiro Mtu Necessary is the first Kenyan musician to receive consideration for the same.

Gabiro’s debut album; Saint John and another single dubbed Pok Alando have both been added to the voting list categories of Best Global Music Album and Best Global Music Performance respectively.

This comes days after he hit the 2 million streams mark with his album across all digital streaming platforms with Boomplay leading with the highest number of streams at 520,000 streams at the time.

Last year, Mtu Necessary had his 3 track EP, JENESIS recognized by the Recording Academy in the annual Behind the Records project and later got considered for a Grammy nomination as the Best Global Music album alongside two other Kenyan musicians; Octopizzo and Victoria Kimani.

He recently got admitted to the Recording Academy as a member with voting rights.

All these came up at a time when the self-proclaimed Kisumu President had given up on music and had gone ahead to open a barbershop and venture into poultry farming.

He is a clear indication that strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle and this is more evident with the fact that he is a native of Kisumu city where he dwells and creates his music with very little at his disposal.

In another post on his Facebook page, Gabiro wrote; “Is it not appropriate to now say I am the first rapper to take Luo rap to the Grammys? We are bringing this to Kisumu one day, it's close and I can feel it...”

With the Grammys being the world's most prestigious award, it is not an effortless feat to have a musician’s work featured on their platform and for this, we give up to musicians like Gabiro who keep applying pressure to the necessary points.

Stream Gabiro’s debut album below:

https://youtu.be/2QYMw_IJ4Ro

https://www.boomplay.com/albums/45510120

Coast Accredited recruitment agencies have demanded immediate arrest of the person behind an online viral video of a Kenyan Migrant worker allegedly breastfeeding dogs in Saudi Arabia.

They claim the video was edited and infused with misleading content to blackmail recruitment agencies and employers in Saudi Arabia. They now accuse COTU boss Francs Atwoli for propagating lies.

Speaking at a media briefing in Mombasa on Thursday, led by the Kenya Association of private employment Agencies, national chairman Mwalimu Mwaguzo claimed the video was allegedly retrieved from a pornographic site, edited with a voice with misleading content infused in it.

“We want to ask the DCI to investigate and arrest the person behind the edited video of the lady who was captured breastfeeding puppies, the person put a voice to taint the image of that country,” said Mwaguzo.

The Agencies flanked by other organizations like Haki Africa say the message was done in bad faith to taint the image of recruitment Agencies, saying since it circulated online; it has caused anxiety between recruitment Agencies employees, employers and Saudi Government.

 “We can confirm that this photo was retrieved in a pornographic site, and edited to meet a certain agenda, so we want the government to apprehend the person who posted it, and be charged for blackmail,” said Mathia Shipeta,Haki Africa Human rights Rapid Response officer.

Shipeta has condemned the remarks by COTU boss Francis Atwoli when he called on the government to blacklist agencies, saying this has raised a lot of anxiety among agents and employers in Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday, Atwoli said he received a disturbing video from a woman in Saudi Arabia, who alleged that her employer forced her to breastfeed their dogs.

Atwoli urged the government to ban all employment agencies brokering job opportunities in foreign countries.

He said there is a need to protect migrant workers from Kenya and that can be achieved by banning the agencies promoting domestic jobs, especially in Saudi Arabia.

“We took time to research, but we blame Atwoli for the remarks he made, demanding agencies to be blacklisted, his move has raised a lot of anxiety among agents and employers in Saudi Arabia, we should retract his remarks,” said Shipeta.

They have now called on the government to sign the pending bilateral agreements with Saudi Arabia as a measure to reduce cases of mistreatment of Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia.

The Agencies want the government to reign in rogue agencies transporting Kenyans to Saudi Arabia saying they are to blame for the rising violation of rights.

The organizations have vowed to continue agitating for the rights of Kenyans working in the gulf countries.

The organizations say the person who infused the voice in the video should be arrested for misleading and blackmailing genuine recruitment.

The agents say the image of genuine operators has been tainted by a few who operate illegally, therefore making the sector become one of the Entrusted sectors.

"We know there are people who are now colluding with some of us to ruin the sector, we have followed all the regulations required so we will name and shame them," he added.

About 300,000 agents in Kenya have played a part in transportation of Kenyans to Work in the Middle East and other parts of the world. 

According to the agents, revenues from foreign domestic workers pumped into the country stands at 113 Billion annually, and this is as a result of government partnership with Saudi Arabia.

The county government of Mombasa is set to partner with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation  and Global Development Incubator to set up a job database that will help the county match young people with prospective employers.

The partnership will also see the county setting up ICT innovation hubs at ward level.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir revealed this on Wednesday after hosting a delegation from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation  and Global Development Incubator at his office.

The delegation was in Mombasa for a fact finding mission to the county to explore and map out stakeholders and critical areas of collaboration geared towards addressing youth unemployment.

"These hubs will provide our young people with a platform to engage in the global technology economy as a way of creating jobs." said Nassir.

Nassir said that Mombasa has been grappling with the challenge of youth unemployment that skyrocketed in the past two years owing to the vivid pandemic and the decision to remove Port Services from Mombasa. 

He further said that the hubs will provide the young people in Mombasa with a platform to engage in the global technology economy as a way of creating jobs. 

"I was elected on the back on my promise to find innovative ways to revive the economy of our great county and create meaningful jobs for our youth," Nassir said.

He said that the county will work together with stakeholder such as the Swahilipot Hub who he said have a proven track record in this regard.

"My focus in particular is on Opportunity youth who are young people between the ages of 16 to 24 years old and are disconnected from school and work"

"This developmental time period of emerging adulthood has great potential for individual growth through exploring independence and life opportunities," he said.

Nissan Africa managing director Mike Whitfield has hailed the company’s inaugural corporate communications masterclass session as a resounding success.

Attended by 25 high level communicators from Nissan dealerships in seven African countries; the key markets of Angola, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the three masterclasses blended cutting edge practical learning with hands on experience of the award winning all new built of more Nissan Navara.

“We have the best people and the best products,” says Whitfield, “but we also have to be the best in telling our story too – both within the company and across the continent.”

Katherine Zachary, Nissan’s regional vice president for communications, agrees. Opening the masterclass from Paris, France, where she is based, she told the delegates that corporate communication was not a ‘nice-to-have’ but a ‘must have’.

“We do more than just tell stories, we analyse other news, we see potential problems and we identify opportunities.”

The masterclass, conceptualised by Nissan Africa’s head of communications Ramy Mohareb and Nthabiseng Motsepe was facilitated by former newspaper editor Kevin Ritchie and former motoring journalist and automotive industry specialist Leo Kok.

“The brief was to cover everything from understanding how newsrooms work and effective communication with the media all the way to crisis management, hosting press releases and preparing executives to be interviewed by journalists, whether in person, in studio or, as is becoming more commonplace, virtually via Zoom,” said Motsepe.

“We achieved what we set out to do and a lot more,” said Mohareb, “it provided us with the opportunity to get together, to put faces to names after the COVID 19 lockdown, to brush up our skills and also learn more about Nissan.

“We were able to take the Navara off road, understand the cutting-edge Nissan Qashqai and hear from our marketing experts what their plans are for the years ahead as well as receive a top-level briefing on the very exciting Nissan Customer Experience programme that is being rolled out.”

Africa, said Whitfield, comprised 54 very different markets, which was precisely why the company had set up its unique Regional business Unit at the end of 2020 with its dual headquarters in Cairo and Pretoria.

“Telling the Nissan Africa story can’t be effectively done from just one country on the continent any more than it can be done outside the continent. As Africans, we know that if you want to go fast, you go alone, but if you want to go far, you go together. Bringing in our partners from these markets for this pilot project is part of that philosophy.”

Bongo star Harmonize has officially parted ways with singers Cheed and Killy.

In a statement released by Konde music management, Cheed and Killy are no longer under the management.

"The management of Konde Music worldwide wishes to inform the public that we have reached a decision with Cheed and Killy to terminate their contracts due to reasons beyond our control" reads the statement.

Adding " The said artists are now independent and are free to work with any other party and the Konde Music management will not transact any business on behalf of them".

The two singers who were previously under AliKiba's music label King's Music joined Harmonize's Konde Music label in 2020.

Early this year another singer Country Boy also parted ways with the management.

Konde music has now remained with three signees, Harmonize, Ibrah and Anjelah.

Mombasa based female singer Sai Kenya is set to walk down the aisle this Saturday.

The talented singer currently signed under producer Shirko will walk down the aisle with her fiance Hassan at an invite only ceremony set to take place at a hotel in Nyali.

Last year, the singer announced that she had converted to Islam from Christianity and changed her name to Ayla.

"I have always wanted to become a Muslim it's just that I was not ready."  she told this blog.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/2184-mombasa-singer-converts-to-islam

Sai is a granddaughter of legendary Kenyan musician, the late Abel Kifoto, a pioneer member of the Maroon Commandos.

Muslims in Mombasa joined their counterparts from a round the World to celebrate Maulid Un Nabii, the birth of the holy Prophet Muhammad.

Led by several Muslim scholars, teachers and politicians including county governor Abdulswamad Nassir, thousands of Muslim faithfuls held a special procession (Zefe) within the city centre before converging at the Makadara grounds.

Speaking during the celebrations, Governor Nassir called on the Muslim community to remain united and avoid divisions.

"It is good to see people coming together in beautiful spirits as witnessed today. We might have small differences but our unity is our strength, let us focus on what brings us together as brothers and sisters and follow the teachings of our holy prophet Mohammed". said Nassir.

His sentiments were echoed by Mvita Mp Mohammed Machele who insisted on tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

"We might be from different sects but we are all Muslims and that is the most important thing, so we should learn to live together as one and avoid divisions. Let us accommodate each other" said machele.

Prophet Muhammad’s birthday provides a unique opportunity for Muslims to foster unity, love and understanding and to address the myriad of problems facing them.

Kisumu-based rapper Gabiro Mtu Necessary released his debut album “Saint John” in April 29th, 2022 exclusively on Boomplay and is now making it available everywhere after hitting the 500,000 streams mark on Boomplay.

The debut album follows the successful release of his two EPs “Mpito” and “Jenesis” which bagged him a Grammy recognition.

This is his third biggest project and a first full album project from the talented musician.

Taking after his late dad, Saint John is a mirror to the life teachings, good times and experiences he went through with his father before his demise in 2019. His father was his manager at the time.

The 12-track dancehall and drill album contains every element that leaves the listener reminiscing and having it on replay.

The vocals and instrumentation work seamlessly together in every track to give room for a must-listen record with the engaging melody and beats of each track giving the vocals an intimate and euphoric feeling.

Saint John Tracklist

1.      Saint John
2.      Pok Alando
3.      Drill ya Odhumo
4.      I Swear
5.      Pesa Oluoro Koko
6.      Kula Bata
7.      Dear Son
8.      Free ft Blakangel
9.      Okay
10.     Happy
11.     Rotterdam
12.     Kus Kus remix ft Javada

Streaming Link - http://li.sten.to/saintjohnalbum

Album download link - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sorgu5tkra4pk54/AAB89S6_zwiknjtwOWKri7iba?dl=0

Netflix, the world’s leading streaming service collaborated with Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism, the Kenya Tourism Board and Kenya Wildlife Services to participate in this year’s Magical Kenya Expo which took place at the Bomas of Kenya between 5 - 7 October.

At the event on Friday, October 7, Netflix screened a short video that showcases its sustainability efforts through its support of The Wildlife Works Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project located in South Eastern Kenya, between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks.

The video also showcases the Netflix documentary - Our Great National Parks - which dedicates one of the episodes to the Tsavo National Park. 

The screening was kicked off with opening remarks by Kenya Wildlife Service’s Director General - John Waweru - who thanked Netflix Team by stating: "For the last two years, Netflix has been filming within Tsavo; and Kenya Wildlife Services sees this continuing into the future.”

He added, “  What this documentary showcases is an example of transformation happening in conservation. The transformation has been made possible by engaging the community in many ways including providing resources which transforms the livelihoods of community members.”

His remarks were followed by Netflix’s Director of Public Policy, Shola Sanni, who iterated Netflix’s Net Zero + Nature commitment - announced in March 2021 - to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2022, and every year afterwards. We have since shared an update that we’re on track to meet our science-based climate targets and while we’ve made progress this year, we still have a long way to go.

“At Netflix, we strive to contribute positively to local economies, culture, and creative communities, and thereby are dedicated to understanding and minimizing our environmental impact wherever we operate, across the globe, and many of our top creators see sustainability as a source for creative excellence and authentic storytelling that attracts vast audiences - particularly young audiences,” said Sanni. 

Sanni added; “With all that in mind, we have ambitious climate targets, in particular in terms of scope and urgency and investing in operational changes to reduce our direct emissions while partnering with suppliers such as Wildlife Works and technology partners in our value chain to tackle indirect emissions. 

A panel featuring the Wildlife Works Kasigau Corridor REDD+ representatives; Captain Kenneth Ochieng, Senior Assistant Head Director at Tsavo National Park, Jane Okoth- Media and Communications Officer, Joseph Mwakima - Community Relations Officer,  Constance Mwandaa - Ranger and Head of Training, explored the impact of the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project and shared updates and progress since filming of video.

A key takeaway from the panelists was the importance of educating and sensitizing the local communities on the need to protect the environment and wildlife, with Captain Kenneth Ochieng assuring the attendees that KWS is working well under structured engagements and has signed various joint MOUs to bolster the safety and security of wildlife.

Ranger Constance Mwandaa was glad to share that the local community at Kasigau Corridor now recognises female rangers and accords them the same treatment with their male counterparts. Joseph Mwakima - Community Relations Officer reiterated that without the community involvement and inclusivity among key stakeholders, the conservation efforts of the Wildlife Works Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project wouldn't have been successful, adding, “The documentary represents the uniqueness of our project and how we work. It included everyone –they are the people who come up with ideas and make decisions.”