Ommy Dallah
Netflix Announces 46 Beneficiaries Of It's creative Scholarship Fund In East Africa
Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service, announced the East Africa recipients of the Netflix Creative Equity Scholarship Fund (CESF) providing financial support to African creatives to access quality tertiary education in film and TV-focused disciplines.
The scholarship fund for sub-Saharan students is part of Netflix’s global Netflix Creative Equity Fund launched in 2021 with the goal of developing a strong, diverse pipeline of creatives around the world.
The Netflix Creative Equity Scholarship Fund celebrated the inaugural cohort of 46 beneficiaries from five East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan) at a ceremony held at Nairobi’s KCA University.
Meet the 46 Beneficiaries:
Recipients for Certificate in Film Studies include: from Kenya - Victor Odhiambo Tindi, Saidi Mohamed Mujibu, Pauline Wanjiru Mwangi, Mwavaga Shadrine Lumonye, Bobson Fadhili Mwamburi, Simon Njogu Wacira, Felix Otieno Odhiambo, Derrick Bosire, Dorcas Kelly Katunge, Teresia Wanjiru Mbugua, Kelvin Mbuvi Ngatta, Clinton Aguma, Martha Muthoni Mutiso and Jeffither Murimi Kariuki.
Recipients for Certificate in Film & Television include: from Kenya - Martin Toroi Walucho and Steve Gitau Ng’ang’a.
Recipients in Film Production include: Cynthia Wanjiku Muniu, Fortune Wise Chege and Augustine Ondera Alfred from South Sudan.
Recipients in Diploma in Film & Television Production include: from Kenya - Denis Musungu, Memusa Christopher Lesikito, Nyokabi Gitonga Jackline, Jonathan Efwaine Anyange, Lucky Wanja Wangari, Ebenyo William Eloto, Solomon Ewoi Emuria and Jerry Mokua Sakwa. Yvan King Mukunzi from Rwanda, Belone Irakoze from Burundi, Joyce Isaac Cleto Alimu from South Sudan and Amisha Janat Mukasa.
All the beneficiaries are eligible to receive a full scholarship which includes - tuition, accommodation, living stipend and education supplies. The inaugural cohort of awardees have enrolled for certificate, diploma and degree courses as follows: 19 have enrolled in certificate programs, 22 in diploma programs and 5 in degree programs. Furthermore, the largest group of beneficiaries are between the ages of 18-25 years.
The program is currently being administered by HEVA Fund in partnership with Africa Digital Media Institute (ADMI); Kenya Film School (KFS); KCA University; Kenyatta University and United States International University Africa (USIU). The five institutions of higher learning in Kenya will support the formal qualification and training of aspiring creatives from the region.
The ‘Class of 2022 Roll Call’ event served as an informal ceremony to bring together students, partner institutions and key stakeholders together to celebrate the scholarship’s recipients and the program at large.
In attendance were various government agency representatives, the CEO of the Kenya Film Commission Timothy Owase, Pascal Opiyo - AG, Chief Manager Corporate Services at KFCB; Mrs Emily Njeru - Deputy Director at Kenya National Commission for UNESCO and Eugene Mbugua - founder and Managing director OF young Rich Television Limited. Also present at the event were members of the partner institutions including Dr. Rachel Diang’a, Chair of the department of cinematic arts in USIU; Mr. Kelvin Ogutu, Deputy Principal and Head of Academics in ADMI; Mr. Victor Ouma, Head of Academics in KFS; Prof. Isaiah Wakindiki, Vice Chancellor and CEO of KCA University and Dr. Beneah Shapaya, Lecturer at the Department of Communications, Media, Film and Theatre Studies in Kenyatta University.
In keeping with the theme of spotlighting storytellers, some of Kenya’s acclaimed TV & Film stars were present including cast members of the first Netflix series from Kenya, Country Queen - Blessing Lung’aho, Melissa Kiplagat and Melvin Alusa alongside Disconnect actress Catherine (Kate) Kamau and Tosh Gitonga, who directed Disconnect and co-directed Country Queen, The Brave Ones and Nairobi Half Life.
Mombasa Businessman Abubakar Talib Finally Sworn In As Nominated MP
Mombasa businessman Abubakar Ahmed Talib has finally been sworn in as a Nominated Member of Parliament (MP).
Talib was sworn in today (Thursday) by the National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei.
This follows a court order following a row over the nomination slot within Wiper Party by ordering the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to gazette the name of Talib.
Talib ,who was number one on the nomination list, had challenged the decision by Wiper to replace his name.
The court quashed the revised list that was issued to IEBC by the party, which replaced Talib’s name with that of Lucas Mulinge, saying the new list is illegal, null and void.
The court ruled the National Assembly party list submitted to and received by IEBC from Wiper on July 21 bearing the name of Talib as a nominee to the National Assembly is legal and valid.
In the case, Talib claimed that his name was unlawfully omitted from the Wiper party list.
He further said that without any consultation, Wiper put his name in the list of nominees for MCA Mombasa county, a position he never applied for.
Kilifi Women Defend Choice Of Aisha Jumwa As CS
A section of Women in Kilifi county have come out to defend the nomination of former Malindi Mp Aisha Jumwa as the Cabinet Secretary, ministry of Public Service and Gender.
The women led by Priscilla Zawadi, Christine Akinyi and Bendera Charo castigated Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leaders for discrediting Jumwa's nomination.
The Women said that the utterances by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Edwin Sifuna who is also Nairobi senator bordered on disrespect to women leadership.
“We want respect for women in Kilifi County and Asha Jumwa should be respected and we issue a warning that this is the last time we will entertain such attacks on her character. If she has cases in court, let the courts decide but not you Kalonzo,” said Ms. Zawadi.
“If I was William Ruto, I'd withdraw some of these cabinet nominees to avoid national and international shame. We shall direct our MPs to withhold approval of those who do not meet the Chapter Six threshold of our Constitution," said Musyoka in a press briefing last week.
On Thursday, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei on Thursday accused his Nairobi counterpart Edwin Sifuna of being against women for opposing the nomination of Aisha Jumwa.
"Aisha Jumwa is competent enough. If Senator Sifuna has a problem, he should bring it before the appointment committee,” Cherargei said.
Earlier this week, Sifuna termed her nomination a big joke.
"There are people in Kenya Kwanza like Kithure Kindiki who are competent for any government position but Aisha Jumwa is a big joke. She is not competent or suitable for any position,” he said.
KPA To Introduce Smart Gate Technology Payment System At The Likoni Ferry
The Kenya Ports authority (KPA) is planning to introduce the smart gate technology payment system at the Likoni ferry crossing channel.
There will also be four lanes to approach the ramps.
Drivers will be required to have a card that they will load (with) money, allowing them to use the ferry service without stopping along to pay with cash.
The process flow of making ferry toll charges session begins when a user requests a USSD code from their mobile phone.
As soon as the initial request is sent, the USSD gateway sends it on to a USSD application. The application calculates a response to the request and sends it back to the gateway, which prompts the motorists to the category charges of the vehicle and receives a message on their mobile phone screen.
According to the authority this will help in improving services at the ferry hence do away with the traffic usually experienced at the channel.
KPA is currently holding a stakeholders meeting to discuss the planned changes. among the partners attending the meeting are as the Kenya transport association (KTA), Kenya national chamber of commerce, Matatu welfare association, Kenya tour operators’ association, and other key business communities.
The Kenya ferry services (KFS) was dissolved in 2020 with KPA taking over its operations.
Before KFS was set up, ferry services used to be under KPA, which took them from the Kenya Bus Services, which ran the services until 1989 when it decided to pull out.
Mombasa Filmmakers Push For Policy To Develop The Industry
Mombasa film makers are pushing for the introduction of the Mombasa Film Policy which they say will aid the growth and development of the industry.
Over the last six months, the film makers have been convening under the Global Opportunity Youth Network Mombasa to draft the policy with the aid of partners and a number of people from the legal fraternity.
John Kamau, the creative pathway associate at the network said that they have so far held four working group engagements with the film makers.
“The first convening for the working group was last year and the other three were held this year, we have been meeting in after two months. The next meeting will be next month,” said Kamau.
Kamau said that they have already they are in the process of formulating the third and final draft which will undergo a public participation before they present it to the county government of Mombasa for adoption
“We have so far done the first and second draft, we are now going to the third draft which will entail a public participation forum in our next engagement”
“This will involve presenting the proposed draft Mombasa film policy document to the public so that they can analyze it and give us pointers on what they feel is right and what they feel needs to be adjusted,” he said.
Kamau said that it was important to have the policy in place to help grow the film industry in Mombasa.
He said, currently Mombasa film makers experience a myriad of challenges that would have been properly addressed if they had a policy in place to help and protect them.
According to him, the issue of licensing needs to be centralized because for one to film in Mombasa, they have to acquire a number of licenses from different offices.
“Local film makers are also being charged very high fees as if they are foreigners, in Mcahakos county for instance, you pay only Sh1,000 to do a film there so long as you mention Machakos in your film. You can’t do that in Mombasa,” he said.
“We are trying to find ways that will make it easy for film makers in Mombasa to do business and create job opportunities,” he added.
Kamau said that they have partnered with the Coast Film Assocition, IP Garage, Alliance Francaise Mombasa, Swahili pot hub, Little Theatre Club Mombasa and the Technical university of Mombasa among others in the push to have the policy in place.
During his campaign trail, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir promised to scrap off charges imposed on film makers for them to film in Mombasa.
“One of the greatest hindrances of the creative economy is this unnecessary charges that we have. My argument is very simple, if someone takes a video and posts it that person is selling Mombasa as a preferred destination,” he said then.
“We will not hinder, but we will encourage those doing TV series to come onboard so that it is easier for them to tap in to local talents than saying they have to bring in talents from outside” he said.
He also promised to introduce the Mombasa Film festival which he said would bring in renowned film makers and producers and film making companies from all over the world to come and sample Mombasa and the local talents available.
“We have the Zanzibar Film festival taking place annually, we want to have a similar thing here where we get in foreign producers and directors to come in and notice our local talents. The startup capital you would have won will be the seed capital for you to fully venture into the industry,” he said.
Mutua Meets Uganda High Commissioner To Kenya Hassan Galiwango To Quell Uganda Kenya Simmering Diplomatic Row
Kenya Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary nominee Dr Alfred Mutua on Tuesday held a meeting with Uganda High Commissioner to Kenya Hassan Galiwango amid disturbing tweets made by President Yoweri Museveni's son currently serving as the commander of the land forces of the Uganda People's Defence Force.
Mutua met the commissioner in the wake of social media condemnation over remarks made by the commander of Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Muhoozi, who is President Yoweri Museveni's son, had Monday issued a veiled threat suggesting a possible incursion into the Kenyan territory, a move that sparked condemnation by Kenyans.
Some of the legislators led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon Uganda's ambassador to Kenya over the matter.
But on Tuesday,Mutua posted on his social media having met with the Kenyan commissioner and assured that all was well. In his first hard-hitting tweet that whipped up an uproar, Muhoozi said it wouldn't take the Ugandan army two weeks to capture Nairobi.
“This morning I shared a social cup of tea with Amb. Dr Hassan Galiwango - Uganda High Commissioner to Kenya. We discussed interesting matters. All is well,” Mutua said.
Cherargei said the sensational statements made by President Yoweri Museveni's son currently serving as the commander of the land forces of the Uganda People's Defence Force threatened the unity of the East Africa Community.
“I expect by morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon the Ugandan ambassador to shed light on Gen. Muhoozi's social media outbursts and subsequent apology. This is undermining the spirit of unity of EAC," Cherargei said.
Muhoozi, 49, rose to his current rank following his appointment in June 2021. It was the second time Museveni was promoting his son in the hierarchy of the army in six months.
The controversial commander of Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has said he has no plans to attack Kenya after his father advised him against making such an ill move.
Photos: President Ruto Gets New ADC
The new ADC is Colonel Fabian Lengusuranga from the Kenya Army.
Col. Lengusuranga takes over from Stelu Lekolool who has been promoted to Brigadier and redeployed to the Department of Defence headquarters.
Lekolool was Uhuru's ADC until September 13, when William Ruto ascended to power.
Col. Lengusuranga was commissioned in 1999.
The new ADC is deputised by Lt. Col. Damaris Agnetta also from the Kenya Army. She takes over from Racheal Nduta Kamui who has also been promoted to a full Colonel and deployed to DoD.
The former ADC and his deputy were from the Kenya Navy.
The ADC is the military officer who stands behind the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces during official functions.
Two Femcee Greats Come Together: Femi One Features Wangechi For Lip Service
Friday marked an important day for Hip-hop in Kenya;especially female hip hop.
After eight years since their last collaboration, Greatness album hitmaker Femi One teamed up with the super dope Wangechi to deliver pure heat on Lip Service .
Just as the song title suggests, the two have used their signature flow and punchlines to pass their message across. In the year 2014, Femi One and Wangechi met on the set of the King Kaka megahit Lig Soo, since then they have both had numerous successes on their individual paths
"It is a great thing to see two female greats coming together to create such a dope song, we needed to do this for our fans and I know you will all love it. Big up to Wangechi, it is always a pleasure creating magic with you!" Femi One on Lip Service.
Watch the visuals
GSU Unit Wins Discpline Forces Title In Mombasa Shooting Competition
General Service Unit won the discipline forces title at the Kenya Shooting Sports Federation and Bamburi Rifle club 2022 league level 3 championship in Mombasa County.
At the national competition, the team garnered 195 points and was awarded sh 150,000 after scoping the title followed by the Prison team on the second position with 156.8 points and Kenya Police service with 122.1 points.
The Prisons received sh 100,000 while Kenya Police Service received sh 50,000 from Bamburi Rifle club who sponsored the awards.
During the Chalbi industries Ltd sponsored knockouts contested with a newly Kenya manufactured gun –Duma with an award of USD 500, the Kenya Police Service under the team leader inspector Mohammed Aden scoped the top prize.
In the championship, 7 teams participated among them Chalbi, Kenya Defence Force, Directorate of Criminal investigation (DCI),Kenya Police Services , Administration Police, National Gun Owners Association (NGao) and host Bamburi Rifle Club (BRC).
During the BRC International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) level 3 handgun match production category, the 2021 overall winner of the IPSC shooter Master Ibrahim Ndungu scored 1123.57 points to win the match. Inspector of Police Mohamed Aden scored 981.35 points to score the second position while the third position went to Issa Issa with 968.60 points.
The ladies’ production division was won by Agatha Muchiri with 545.11 points, second position went to Alice Njuguna with 500.58 points and Sharon Waruru 283.71 points respectively.
In the senior production division, Memba Muriuki won with 953.50 points followed by James Thuo and Gikonyo Mwangi with 691.44 and 646.41 points respectively.
Moreover, in the super senior Mahamad Ramadhan sailed to win with 455.62 points as the sole competitor.
Likewise, in the standard division, Sammy Onyango shot to win with 1073.77 points. Behind him was Mahir Omar and Mohammed Omar with 985.03 and 877.76 points respectively.
On the part of the ladies, Josephine Matoi emerged the winner with 617.21 points closely followed by Grace Wanjiku 478.85 points and the third position was won by Grace Kitinya 476.56 points.
The senior standard division competition went to Sammy Onyango with 1073.77 points ,second was Samuel Chacha with 936.38 points and Daniel Mutiso 909.72 points.
Under the open category, Sunny Syan won with 1097.46 points. The second and third positions went to Mahir Omar with 985.03 points and Mohamed Omar with 877.76 points.
For the ladies open, Irene Ndunda was the victor with 428.59 points and Pauline Gatitu with 114.80 points to emerge second position.
Super senior position, Sunny Syan won with 1097.46 points as the sole competitor in the open division.
Also, in the production optics division, Samier Muravvej earned 717.58 points to lead followed by Moosa Khan with 510.58 points.
In conclusion, in revolver division the front runner was Joel Warei with 193.13 points. Distant second was Robert Kabukuki with 103.28 points and Mark Aziz third with 0.765 pints respectively.
Other winners, in the BRC IPSS level 3 PCC match, Geoffrey Pesa became the overall winner to beat Simon Sunkuyia to the second position and Catherine Kavana to the third position.
The ladies in the same category saw Catherine Kavana taking the first slot leaving the second and third slot to Teresia Kathikwa and Eddah Chepwegon.
Chairman Kenya Sports Shooting Federation (KSSF) Mohamed Shoaib Vayani said there will be an upcoming event the Jamhuri shot in December 2-3, 2022 at Stone Athi.
The Chairman lauded the Bamburi Rifle Club for modernizing their range and bases to world-class standards in readiness for level 4 and 5 competitions in the future.
Mombasa Residents Urge Governor Nassir To Prioritize Health
Mombasa county residents have asked the county governor Abdulswamad Nassir to enhance health services and ensure proper functionality of all public healthcare facilities in the county.
The residents led by Capital Youth Caucus Association secretary general Evans Momanyi, said the health department has been facing various challenges that need urgent intervention.
Momanyi urged the governor to make this as a priority during his first 100 days in office.
"I know the governor is a man who will save the situation, he has already given us hope since he took over especially with how he has been handling the garbage issue, we urge him to now also focus on health" said Momanyi.
Momanyi also urged the governor to make sure that he retains the current chief officer health department Pauline Odinga saying she has been spearheading some changes in the department.
Momanyi charged "We have faith in madam Odinga, she has been working hard to ensure that service delivery is improved and we believe if she works closely with the governor then we will see alot of changes in the department"
On her part Amina Suleiman, a resident from Likoni sub county called on the governor to ensure that he tackles the maternity services in county facilities saying they need an overhaul.
"As mothers we have been facing alot of challenges when delivering to an extend that we feel like giving up, some of the nurses are nude, some facilities lack medication and this are the things we want our governor together with madam Odinga address" said Suleiman.
Adding "Some of us cannot afford the services offered in other facilities and that is why we have no option but to seek services at the county facilities, what we can only ask from our governor is to please help us have better services."
Last week governor Nassir formed a taskforce on Healthcare Systems in the county.
The taskforce chaired by Dr Chibanzi Mwachonda is expected to audit and give back recommendations within two months.
“The Healthcare Task Force will provide a longtime strategic plan, suggesting ways of improving the health coverage and revealing what ails Mombasa’s healthcare system,” the governor said during the unveiling of the taskforce.
The task force consists of a representative from the Kenya Medical Associations, Mombasa Civil Society Organisations, the National Health Insurance Fund and six Community Health Volunteers representing each subcounty, the chief officer from public medical services and public health and the county Secretary.
The team is also expected to audit the current public healthcare human resource deployed and make recommendations to address skills gap, assess and recommend on addressing disease patterns and also formulate lasting solutions towards achieving universal health care that is affordable and accessible.
