Gospel singer Manolo always gets it right with hooks and melodies in his songs. This we can attest by his latest release titled Niwara Nono, in which music producer and singer Wuod Omollo is featured, the man behind Nviiri’s numerous hits including Overdose.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/vW6FWUNY5KQ

Niwara Nono will give you that nostalgic feel, as it’s an urban rendition of a popular Luo gospel song known by the same title. The two artistes gave it a groovy touch where Manolo both sings and raps. The song was produced by Wuod Omollo and then mixed and mastered by So Fresh.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has commended the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) for its commitment to serving beyond its core mandate of defending the country against external aggression.

The President, who was accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, pointed out that as a modern and versatile military, the KDF has embraced unfamiliar nation-building roles and excelled in them.

“Due to your record of delivering superlative results, I have tasked the KDF from time to time to take charge of various strategic national programmes and even to rescue failing institutions.

“You did it with the revival of almost 600 kilometres of the dead Metre Guage in an impressive manner, ahead of schedule and within the budget,” the President said.

President Kenyatta spoke Friday when he presided over the passing out parade of KDF recruits at the Recruits Training School (RTS) in Eldoret, where he congratulated the graduands for completing a rigorous six months basic military training course.

The President also cited the revival of the Kenya Meat Commission into a profit-making enterprise in record time and the Kenya Shipyard Limited that is poised to be the largest shipyard in Sub-Saharan Africa as some of the KDF’s achievements in supporting the country’s development agenda. 

Other KDF achievements include the building of the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in only 22 months instead of 10 years as well as the increased access to basic health services for Nairobi residents done by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

“You also did it for the nation when you anchored our national response to Covid-19 pandemic; and in moments of national disasters and civil emergencies, your efforts saved lives and property,” President Kenyatta said.

He appreciated Chief of Defence Forces Gen Robert Kibochi, Service Commanders and all officers serving in the senior ranks of the military for their outstanding stewardship of the KDF.

Highlighting the steps taken to modernize KDF, the President said the Government has invested heavily in the training of officers, providing ultra-modern equipment, improving healthcare facilities, accommodation, remuneration and the overall terms and conditions of service for the military.

“Over the last nine years, in recognition of the importance of peace and security to the realization of our development agenda, we have undertaken the most consequential and expansive modernization of our military in our nation’s history,” the President said.

In addition, President Kenyatta said the Government enacted a law that creates safeguards for the KDF officers in their retirement and also facilitates the integration of those incapacitated or severely wounded in the course of duties.

“To seal this guarantee, on 15^th of June this year, I had the rare honour and privilege of assenting into law the Military Veterans Act,” he said.

Noting that the political tempo towards the upcoming elections is nearing fever pitch, President Kenyatta urged all Kenyans to reflect on the sacrifice made by KDF officers in their service to and in defence of Kenya by putting the interests of the country first in everything they do.

“Over the last 9 years, some of the most agonizing decisions were the ones that would put our soldiers in harm’s way.

“They were tough decisions because the officers are our children and when they go out for any mission in defence of our borders at home or abroad, I knew too well that they would either return hoisting our national flag; or return wrapped in our national flag,” the President said.

Present at the ceremony were Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Robert Kibochi, Commander Kenya Army Lt Gen Walter R. Koipaton, Commander Kenya Air Force Maj Gen John Omenda, Commander Kenya Navy Maj Gen Jimson Mutai and RTS Commandant Brig Paul Njema.

Others were Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, Governor Jackson Mandago and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos among others.

Earlier when he arrived at the Recruits Training School, the Head of State officially opened the new ultra-modern Eldoret Regional Hospital that will cater for the health needs of officers serving in the North Rift, Western and Nyanza regions.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has rallied Portuguese investors, entrepreneurs and captains of industry to make Nairobi the fulcrum of their business interests and investments in Africa.

He said Kenya's immense commercial potential, in almost all sectors of the country's expanding economy and the cosmopolitan configuration of her population makes Nairobi the ultimate destination for Portuguese investment.

“We are a melting pot where we welcome people from all parts of the world so long as they come in peace. So long as they come in the name of trading, working and working together, we welcome people.

“I was reminded yesterday that Nairobi has been voted as the best city for expatriates to live, find accommodation. You can make you base for your African operations out of Kenya and we are more than willing to work and support you in that endeavor,” he said.

The President spoke on Wednesday in Lisbon when he joined his Portuguese host Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at the official opening of the Kenya-Portugal Business Forum on the last day of his two-day state visit of the Portuguese Republic.

The business meeting was organised by the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) and its Portuguese equivalent, AICEP Portugal Global, to explore business partnership and investment opportunities by Kenyan and Portuguese captains of industry, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

At the meeting, also attended by Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo and his Tourism counterpart Najib Balala, the President regretted that despite the two countries having a long history of bilateral ties, the volume of trade flow between Nairobi and Lisbon remained low.

“I do believe there is still much scope for deeper bilateral works between our two countries. We seek to deepen that because it is unfortunate for two countries with such strong trading and private sector base are only dealing with very minimal amounts. The trade between our two countries, the investment between our two countries is very minimal in comparison with the opportunity that exists,” he said.

President Kenyatta pledged continued Government support to Portuguese investors seeking investment opportunities in Kenya, saying his administration had established a conducive business environment.

On the available investment opportunities in Kenya, President Kenyatta encouraged Portuguese investors to consider tapping into the country's thriving ICT, health and infrastructure sectors.

“You have wide experience, especially in the infrastructure, healthcare and ICT sectors. And I do believe we can do a lot more together. We have very strong ICT credentials.

"We have a very young and technically savvy population and generation. What we need to do is to ensure that these start-ups now become unicorns that are able to compete in the global environment,” he said.

President Kenyatta underscored the importance of the strong Kenya-Portugal partnership, saying the relationship is anchored on “long standing political, cultural and economic ties".

“I believe that there is a lot of opportunities. A chance for us to work strongly together. A chance for us to do great things together. A chance for us to prosper together.

"The opportunities that we lay out will only become real. Will only be converted to prosperity and jobs if we actively engage,” President Kenyatta said.

On his part, President de Sousa assured Kenya of a “forever partnership” with the Government and the people of the Portuguese Republic.

“This is a unique opportunity for us to do more and more, and better and better. For you to help us to do more and more, and better and better but also for you to invest more in Portugal.

"We must have more tourism coming from Kenya. We must have your investment here and share this investment with Portuguese partners,” the Portuguese leader said.

The Kenyan business delegation at the  forum, also attended by Principal Secretaries Johnson Weru (Trade), Nancy Karigithu (Shipping) and Chris Kiptoo (Environment), was led by KEPSA CEO Carole Kariuki.

The Forest Sector is key to Kenya’s social and economic wellbeing as most of the country’s economic sectors rely on environmental-based resources for their sustenance.

The sector contributes about 7 billion shillings to the economy and employs over 50,000 people directly and another 300,000 indirectly.

Forest ecosystems also enhance landscape resilience to climate change.

In the country’s water towers, forests provide environmental services that include water quality and quantity, reduction of soil erosion, and creation of micro-climatic conditions that maintain or improve productivity.

Forests are also known to be among the most effective sinks of greenhouse gases, which cause climate change, and hence they are important in contributing to climate change mitigation.

Kenya’s forest cover is estimated to be about 7.4 percent of the total land area, which is a far cry from the recommended global minimum of 10 percent.

Kenya’s closed canopy forest cover currently stands at about 2 percent of the total land area, compared to the African average of 9.3 percent and a world average of 21.4 percent.

Most of the closed-canopy forests in Kenya are montane forests that are also the nation’s water towers.

In recent years, Kenya’s forests have been depleted at an alarming rate of about 5,000 hectares per annum. This is estimated to lead to an annual reduction in water availability of approximately 62 million cubic meters, translating to an economic loss to the economy of over USD 19 million.

At the same time, the overall annual rainfall remains low, the long rains have been continuously declining in recent decades, and the proportion of rainfall that occurs from heavy events is expected to decrease.

The frequency of rainfall events causing floods has increased in East Africa from an average of less than three events per year in the 1980s to over seven events per year in the 1990s and 10 events per year from 2000 to 2006.

It is because of the call to conserve the earth, preserve water catchment areas through the planting of trees that the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company Limited (ELDOWAS) has been leading others within and without the sector in response to global calls for water conservation.

“Droughts have intensified in terms of frequency, severity, and coverage over the past few decades. Kenyans are feeling the impacts of climate change and higher temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, increased incidence of droughts and floods, and rising sea levels are impacting people across the country,” said Peter Biwott, Managing Director, ELDOWAS.

To help catapult them to the next level, ELDOWAS has joined and integrated the UN Global Compact principles that are anchored on human rights, sustainability, environmental conservation, good working conditions for their team and a practice of good governance.

So far, ELDOWAS has two tree nurseries with about 1.2 million tree seedlings and hopes to increase to 2 million by next year.

At the same time, the company has adopted over 20 community tree nurseries with a view to increase its conservation efforts to over 2 million tree seedlings to be planted every year to push the agenda of water and sanitation for all, climate action, afforestation & reforestation, sustainable cities and communities.

"In 2022, we have committed to planting at least 650 trees in every learning institution in the county, translating to about 55,000 trees.

ELDOWAS will be providing the seedlings for free. We are trying to deal more with the indigenous trees," said Andrew Chelogoi, Chairman of ELDOWAS.

Multi-talented Ghanaian star Kofi Jamar is set to release his latest single Dangerous featuring Kenya's Hip Hop sensation and heavyweight Khaligraph 

The track which is available for pre-save at https://onerpm.link/Kofi-Dangerous has been produced by Trino a Ghanaian producer and the visuals by renowned Kenyan video director Ricky Becko. 

This will be Kofi Jamar’s first official song of the year 2022, and the second song in which he has featured the Kenyan Superstar. 

In 2020, Kofi teamed up with Khaligraph and Ice Prince from Nigeria in yet another banger that went viral during the pandemic and earned him lots of Kenyan fans. 

Dangerous is a collaboration of two talented superstars whose love for the Hip Hip culture in the African continent is unexplainable and are keen to push the vibe beyond the continent.

It is no doubt, with Jamar’s successful musical career that the new song would smash records and pave the way for new and upcoming artists, collaborations and a fusion of the different cultural styles across the many countries in Africa under the banner of hip hop. 

This would truly make way to globalize the talents and push the message out there; Africa has what it takes to shake the musical arena.

Police in Mombasa have launched investigations into a raid incident at Nyali CDF office by unknown individuals.

The incident took place on Sunday night.

Nyali Sub county police commander Daniel Mumasaba said that two robbers broke into the offices on Sunday Night and stole a Tv set and other valuable properties.

The matter attracted condemnation from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leaders led by Mombasa governor aspirant Hassan Omar who have called on police to heighten security for the area Mp, Mohammed Ali.

Omar castigated the local administration for laxity and now believes that the move was planned in search of some documents Ali holds relating to port matters.

The UDA team has been taking on the government for what it termed as taking away of port services to Naivasha and Nairobi Inland Depot as the region continues to suffer economic turmoil.

"We know this is a deliberate effort to intimidate Ali for his tough stand about port transfer affairs, we know it's a planned event to cause panic, and this must stop,” claimed Omar.

Ali has since claimed his life is in danger. He alleges that he is being targeted after raising an issue with recent developments of port operations transferred to Naivasha and Nairobi ICD.

"This attack comes a day after the Tononoka rally where we unleashed port documents and explained how the port operations were transfered, so we believe this is a planned motive,” claimed Ali.

Speaking to journalists during a UDA press briefing on Mondat,  Ali claimed the men were allegedly targeting his office because of a case he raised at the transfer of port service to Naivasha.

The office is manned by two police officers during night and two during the day.

"If anything happens to me, just know it's because of my political stand, I feel unprotected, if they don't give me security,  I will protect myself,” said Ali.

But while addressing the media at his office, Mumasaba said police treat it as a normal crime. He said they will produce more information once investigations are done.

Confirming the incident Mumasaba said police were forced to shoot in the air when they discovered a man escaping from the office compound while holding a bag and a Tv set.

“We trust it’s a normal theft because what was stolen was a Tv set. Our officers who were manning the facility shot in the air when they discovered a man loitering in the compound, he then jumped over the wall and ran away with his colleagues,” claimed Mumasaba.

Currently with an expanded offering across multiple categories, including food, groceries, alcohol, beauty and wellness, and more, Uber Eats first launched in Nairobi four years ago and is now also available in Nakuru and Mombasa.

To mark its fourth anniversary, Uber Eats has revealed what makes for the most popular orders and delivery items in Kenya. 

Business growth has taken off, in fact, orders grew by 5.2% year-on-year (YoY), with gross bookings growing by 20.7% YoY.

This was largely driven by a steady increase in first-time consumers, but also by deliberate upscaling and diversification of the Uber Eats platform through working with key restaurant partners and the addition and expansion of grocery and convenience orders.

Since 2013, Uber and Uber Eats have collectively reached over 30 million riders and eaters in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

“We are excited to be celebrating four years in Kenya. It has been phenomenal to see the impact that we have had on consumers, delivery people and restaurants. We initially began by having only restaurants in 2018 but have since expanded this to new categories with the goal of increasing engagement and loyalty with our platform.” says Kui Mbugua, General Manager, Uber Eats Kenya.

Adding “Our category selection currently has multiple key restaurant players in the industry, supermarkets such as Chandarana, pharmacies such as Good Life, flower vendors, gas shops, water delivery shops and - even pet food delivery, while working with a range of partners that cater to every pocket.”

The latest consumer trends from Uber Eats trends have shown that consumers use the platform to order a variety of items to their doorstep ranging from cauliflower, and aluminium foil all the way through to hot wings and baking flour. 

In 2021, the smallest order was one banana, while our largest grocery order was over 12 items which included flavoured milk, long-life milk, chocolate, energy drinks, and coffee, to name a few. 

Having delivered the most expensive food order worth KES 28,520 containing Avocado Burger, Bacon Avocado Cheeseburger, Beef Burger, Crispy Chicken Strips, Hot Wings and Masala Fries, Uber Eats has proven that people are able to find diverse food options on the app to suit their evolving tastes. 

Since its launch, the number of partners signing up for Uber Eats has grown day by day. As a testament to the diversity of cuisines available on the app, Uber Eats trends indicate that the top four most frequented cuisines in Kenya include: American, Indian and Burgers and Pizza (Fast food). 

Besides positively impacting the ordering habits of an increasing number of customers, Uber Eats has also made a striking change at eateries across the country with the increasing growth of "dark kitchens".

Uber Eats has also witnessed entrepreneurs making use of the app in building their businesses to reach new customers and to get data on which items to focus on, and other information to improve their in-store and delivery operations.  

Kui Mbugua concludes: “As we look to the future we want to continue to provide our partners with the means to innovate their businesses and reach more customers, continue to offer economic opportunities to Kenya’s residents, and provide consumers with more options at the tap of a button.  We’re proud to play our role in Kenya’s diverse environment and look forward to creating more impact.“

President Uhuru Kenyatta has lauded the World Rally Championship (WRC), terming it a great motor sporting event that positively impacted the country’s economy.

President Kenyatta said since its return last year, the international motor sporting event has raised the country's profile by attracting renowned motor sports giants.

The President spoke on Sunday afternoon when he awarded winners of this year’s Safari Rally in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

“Thank you very much for your partnership and your cooperation, and to the people of Kenya you will see this is an event that is in our blood. Let me also remind you that it is not only an event that is in our blood because of our history but it is also an event that impacts us economically and positions us globally,” President Kenyatta said.

At the same time, the President called on Kenyans to continue supporting the event not only as a sporting activity but also an economic one as well.

“An event like this is not just about the drivers and the crews, it's also about every single person who is a participant from the hotels that are occupied, to the waiters who serve them, from those that do traffic management to those who are spectators, and those who are vendors for various items. It is an event that brings money to the pockets of wananchi.

“As we promote it, we promote not just the sport, we also promote our own economic wellbeing and that is how I would want Kenyans to view it. Don’t look at the event with small lens but rather see it in a bigger picture. Lets see it as an event which will help us prosper,” said the President.

The Head of State thanked all stakeholders who helped in bringing back the WRC to Kenya and congratulated the winners for demonstrating the true spirit of sportsmanship.

“We are here today to really celebrate the second year that we have hosted the return of the Safari Rally back on the WRC circuit. We are here to say how happy and proud we are to be together with all our partners and racing lovers across the globe as we celebrate our drivers, as we celebrate their cruise across the globe.

“Mine is to congratulate every single participant and as I said when we started, the prize is not in winning, the prize is in how you win. I want to believe that all our competitors for this year's Safari Rally have shown us the need and the great desire for competing vigorously but acknowledging competition is not enmity and that is why we are here. To celebrate not just the winners but every single entrant, congratulations to each and everyone of you,” he said.

The President, who is also the Patron of the Safari Rally, thanked the Federation International de I’Automobile (FIA) and the World Rally Championship for partnering with the Government in ensuring the event was brought back and that it is well managed.

“I want to extend my gratitude to the FIA team and the World Rally Championship team for the manner in which we have collaborated.  Bringing back the Safari Rally required keen working together and a willingness to partner together to deal with the issues that resulted in the rally leaving Kenya in the first place. And I want to thank them for that partnership we have walked the journey together and we are back together,” he said.

The President also commended Maxine Wahome, the only Kenyan woman who participated in this year’s Safari Rally for winning category 3 of the 2022 World Rally Championship.

Others who spoke during the event, which was also attended by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, were Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage Amina Mohammed, Vice President for the   Federation International de I’Automobile Rodrigo Rocha and the Kenya Motor Sports Federation Chairman Phineas Kimathi.

Earlier, at a scenic vantage point at the famous Hells Gate National Park in Naivasha, the President and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, accompanied by senior Government and rally officials, joined other rally enthusiasts to watch the drivers cruise past as they tackled one of the most ardours but thrilling sections of the WRC Safari Rally.

The winners of this year’s WRC were Kalle Rovanpera followed by Elfyn Evans who took the second position while Takamoto Katsuta took the third position.

Mombasa businessman and former Jubilee party Coast co-ordinator Farid Swaleh is dead.

According to reports, Swaleh died on Sunday morning at his home in Nyali.

Swaleh vied for the Mombasa Senator seat during the 2017 general election on a Jubilee ticket but lost to the current Senator Mohammed Faki.

He was appointed as a board member of the Kenya Marine and fisheries research institute in 2019, before that he also served as the director of Kenya Shipping Line Agencies.

Swaleh also served in key positions in several political outfits in the country since the KANU era in 1990’s where he was the KANU Youth Wing mobilizer, Mombasa.

In business, Swaleh was an astute businessman with interests in Transport and Logistics and building and construction.

He will be laid to rest today (Sunday) evening. 

Deputy president William Ruto has said he will return port operations to Mombasa if elected president in the August polls.

Ruto claimed that the transfer of port operations from Mombasa to Naivasha was carried by few individuals and businessmen for selfish reasons.

Speaking at the Tononoka grounds on Saturday, Ruto said he will sign an executive order to return the operations to Mombasa once he takes over the next government.

"To those who took away port operations from Mombasa causing our youth to be jobless, I want to tell you that your days are numbered" said Ruto.

Adding "The handshake government is the one that took away port operations from Mombasa affecting the economy of the entire Coast region."

Ruto accused Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga of hoodwinking Coast residents by promising to return the port operations.

Ruto charged "He is part of the problem, let him not fool you, he is part of the handshake government that is behind this problem so he cannot get out of it."

Speaking at the same time UDA Mombasa county governor candidate Hassan Omar called on the residents to make sure they elect leaders who will safeguard their resources in the August polls.

"Let us be very careful and make sure that you vote for people who will not take away your jobs" said Omar.