When a “strange” disease was discovered in Wuhan, China, the World never anticipated that the said disease would bring the world to a standstill.

But when the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic, it was evident that the world was about to take a break from its “busy schedule”.

One by one, countries started locking down their borders and putting restrictions on its citizens.

With borders closed, first casualties to suffer the effects of the newly declared pandemic were international airlines and the tourism sector.

Here in Kenya, as the government put up a strong face against fears of importation of the virus by guests arriving in the country, Kenyans remained prayerful that the virus will not make its way to the country.

On March 12, all fears were confirmed as the Kenya announced its first case.

The confirmation came with fairly restrictions but as the cases rose, stringent measures were put in place.

Effects on Kenya’s tourism industry

Kenya like most countries in the world suspended international air-travel, and due to the interlinking nature of sectors, freezing of international travel led to mass cancelations of hotel bookings.

Most of the industry players could not keep their businesses open and preferred shutting down thus rendering thousands of their employees jobless.

Some opted to downsizing its staff and remain with the most critical staff as a way of cutting down their cost.

Venant Ndambo, the proprietor of Keron tours and safaris had to send home his entire team of staff as he could not sustain the wage bill.

Ndambo said that their situation was worsened by the fact that they had to either refund their clients while few guests requested the postponement of the safaris instead of refund.

“For close to 10 years I have been in this business, we have withered all the challenges. But Coronavirus brought us to our knees and it will take years to rise to where we are,” he said.

Ndambo however said that 2021 looks promising and is hopeful that the government will complement tourist’s stakeholder’s efforts to ensure normalcy returns to the industry.

Several World class hotels such as Intercontinental hotel closed down their hotels and were even considering permanently closing business in Kenya.

Fairmont hotels also closed its Norfolk and Mara Safari club hotels and fired all their employees.

According to tourism minister Najib Balala, by July, the sector had lost some 81.8 billion shillings (about 770 million U.S. dollars) since March, which is about 50 percent of its average annual revenue.

The pandemic had literally grounded the industry to a halt, with over 2.3 million employees sent home, a majority on unpaid leave while the lucky ones on half-pay.

Kenya’s tourism sector is not only a major employer but also linked to others sectors such as energy, agriculture and manufacturing.

Suppliers of services and goods used within the tourism industry experienced low demand for services such as travel and food.

The reduction in tourism had a spatial unemployment effect because major tourism sites are at the coast of Kenya and a few other areas.

Journey to recovery

Some of the hotels have recalled their staffs, while some opted to permanently downsize its staffs meaning the hotels are operating on half of its staff.

However, the just concluded festive season came as a booster as most of the hotels recorded at least 65 percent bed occupancy.

The hotels have to adhere to the measures put in place by the ministry of government.

Hotels and tour companies have put in strategies to compliment government’s efforts in luring back international tourists.

The stakeholders are also packaging themselves to attract local tourists and guests from neighboring countries.

However, Sam Ikwaya of Kenya association of hotel keepers and caterers said the situation is still unpredictable due to the ongoing pandemic.

Ikwaya said the situation is also worse due to lockdown of Kenya’s source market such as United Kingdom.

He further said that the political temperature which are already high due to BBI and the oncoming general elections is also scaring tourists

“Investors are also afraid of pumping their money to the industry due to such uncertainties,” he said.

Ikwaya said that the political class needs to tone down the political temperature or the sector risks counting more loses.

He further noted that the  government needs to support investors and ease some of the business restrictions in order to attract more investors.

Kenyan singer Victoria Kimani has for a very long time now been complaining that her fellow compatriots aren’t supportive of her and her musical talents.

The singer has been taking to social media especially twitter to express her anger.

Just last week she publicly disowned Kenya for Ghana.

"Kenyans will never cease to amaze me in every possible way. F*k it, I’m from Ghana now … from the Ashanti region." She tweeted.

Adding "What part of support your own don't you mofo's get? Gademmit! Ooh yay. Kenyan's silver lining.''

She has also been sharing photos of herself having some good times while visiting some tourist attraction sites in Ghana and enjoying game drives and safari.

Victoria has always insisted that she receives alot of support from West Africa countries than in Kenya, stating that the fact she cannot speak swahili is the reason why her songs are in english.

“I think a lot of Kenyans don't do that (migrate to overseas). And so having to go back and explain this is the reason why I don't speak Swahili. This is the reason why I identify so much with West Africa because they are an English-speaking country,” she said in a previous interview.

In the interview Victoria also revealed that her family left the US when she was 14 and went to live in Nigeria where she was introduced to African music.

Some of the hits she has released so far includes China Love, Mtoto, Sexy and Prokoto ft Ommy Dimpoz and Diamond Platnmuz among others.

Some of her albums includes Safari released in 2016, Afropolitan (2018) and Afreaka (2020)

An inspirational, emotion-tinged electro-acoustic jam with a signature Black Coffee groove, ‘Never Gonna Forget’ pairs delicate guitar strings with the soaring, pitch-perfect vocals of Grammy-nominee Elderbrook.

It marks the sixth and final single release from Black Coffee’s highly anticipated forthcoming album, following collaborations with musical superstar Pharrell Williams, UK singer-songwriter Celeste, chart-topper Sabrina Claudio and R&B icon Usher.

Titled Subconsciously, the 12-track LP is set for release on February 5th, with pre-orders now available here.

Establishing himself as one of the biggest stars of the global electronic music scene, Black Coffee’s diverse production style has gained him recognition across the world.

His penchant for production and vast musical knowledge jump-started the South African DJ scene and brought his cultural perspective to clubs and festivals around the globe.

After releasing his multi-award winning debut album Pieces Of Me, his profile continued to grow as he found himself collaborating with the likes of Drake, Alicia Keys and Usher.

Over the years, Black Coffee has also asserted himself as a proud philanthropist and businessman, recently sharing his Africa Is Not A Jungle initiative on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

Born Thomas Wesley Pentz, Diplo is one of the most dynamic forces in music today, having worked with the likes of Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Turnstile and many more.

With six total Grammy nominations including a 2021 nod for his recent SIDEPIECE collaboration “On My Mind”released via Higher Ground, a house imprint on his celebrated record label Mad Decent Diplo is a founding member of the legendary Major Lazer, psychedelic supergroup LSD with Sia and Labrinth whose debut album has been streamed over 1 billion times, and Silk City with Mark Ronson whose Platinum-certified ‘Electricity’ with Dua Lipa topped charts worldwide and won a Grammy Award for ‘Best Dance Recording.’

In 2020, Diplo further expanded his multi-genre influence, releasing his first official country album, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley Chapter 1: Snake Oil, as well as his first ambient album, MMXX.

A live phenomenon, self-taught multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter, Elderbrook arrived on the global stage in 2017, lending his vocals and co-writing the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling smash ‘Cola’ with Camelphat.

Other collaborations with Rudimental, Martin Garrix and Diplo himself soon followed. In September, he dropped his debut album Why Do We Shake In The Cold? which has already amassed over 100 million streams.

The sixth star-studded Black Coffee single in quick succession, ‘Never Gonna Forget’ is the final track to be released ahead of the long-awaited Subconsciously drop on February 5th.

Showmax on Wednesday released the teaser for Monica S3, premiering on Showmax on 21 January 2021.

Picked up by Showmax for a third season in October 2020, the Kenyan drama series follows Brenda Wairimu (Subira, Disconnect) in the titular role of Monica, an ambitious social climber from the ghetto who will do anything to become part of the elite.

The teaser offers a sneak-peek into Monica’s ‘perfect’ life as a woman on top of the world, juggling two romances, before her love life and career begins to crumble. 

Also returning for the new season alongside Brenda is Raymond Ofula (Queen Sono, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind), Fidel Maithya (Selina, A Beautiful Disaster), Ephy Saint (Tahidi High), Joyce Maina (Aisha, Neophobia), Sam Komora (Aziza), Rosemary Waweru (Tabasamu, Pray and Prey), and Kauthar Kang’ethe (Midlife Crisis, Machachari). 

Monica is the third collaboration between producer Scolly Cheruto and director Neil Schell, who’ve worked together on another Kenyan drama, Twisted, and Kenya’s first animated superhero series, Machismo.

Schell has also previously directed other local favourites like Saints, which was Kenya’s first medical drama series, High Learning, and Rush.

Watch the teaser below..

Apple Music just announced the latest featured artist in its Africa Rising artist development program as Ghanian singer-songwriter and producer, Amaarae (real name Ama Serwah Genfi).

“It’s amazing to be selected by Apple Music as their Africa Rising artist. The love and support the album has received from the Apple Music family has been incredible to say the least." she said.

Adding "I am truly honored and can’t wait to share this milestone with my Angel Army, who I know, will be just as elated as I am. I look forward to a successful campaign!” 

Raised between Ghana, Georgia, and New Jersey, Amaarae’s cross-cultural experience is the driving force behind her deeply experimental ethos and emotive writing style, with her West African heritage at the core of the music she makes.

 After dropping her scene-changing, self-released EP, Passionfruit Summers (2017), Amaarae capitalised on her burgeoning success with the rip-roaring “Spend Some Time” which featured Wande Coal and the sleeper hit “Like It”, that established her as a social media trendsetter.

Her recently released 14-track debut album, THE ANGEL YOU DON’T KNOW draws on a myriad of genres from Afro-fusion to pop-punk to progressive house to neo-R&B, and garnered global recognition from publications like Pitchfork, The Guardian, The New Yorker and CLASH Magazine because of its unique vision.

The latest music from Amaarae, along with the next generation of African superstars is available now on the Apple Music Africa Rising playlist https://apple.co/3bhTtwT Apple Music’s Africa Rising, is an exclusive artist development programme and companion playlist geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent and introducing the next generation of African superstars.

Africa Rising will see Apple Music select six artists every year who will each receive a minimum of two months of editorial support across the Apple Music platform including the new Apple Music 1 radio station.

Previous Africa Rising artists are Omah Lay, Manu WorldStar and Tems. Africa Rising is the latest of many Apple Music initiatives aimed at taking African talent to the world.

Now available in 33 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Apple Music 1 is home to Africa Now Radio with host Cuppy which has featured interviews with some of the continent’s hottest artists such as Tiwa Savage, Davido, Sho Madjozi, Yemi Alade, Cassper Nyovest, Fireboy DML, Omah Lay, Mr Eazi, Patoranking, Rayvanny, Adekunle Gold and Master KG.

Apple Music also selected Nigerian Afro-popstar Rema as one of it’s 2020 Up Next artists, following the addition of Burna Boy to the roster in 2019 and Mr Eazi back in 2017. Up Next is Apple Music’s global emerging artist program.

The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has announced the appointment of English supermodel Naomi Campbell to become Magical Kenya International Ambassador. 

The appointment was agreed upon following a meeting between Campbell and Najib Balala, the Cabinet Secretary of the ministry.

“We welcome the exciting news that Naomi Campbell will advocate for tourism and travel internationally for the magical Kenya brand,” Balala said in the statement.

Commenting on her appointment, Campbell commended the government for the improvement of infrastructure at the Coast including the upgrading of Malindi Airport to international standards.

“I am also impressed with the world-class standard facilities at the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Baobab course located in Vipingo Ridge, the only golf course credited by the PGA in the whole of Africa. I invite gold professionals globally to visit the course to enjoy the experience,” she said.

Naomi Campbell has been a frequent visitor of Kenya especially Malindi during December holidays, spending her time at the exclusive Lion in the Sun resort owned by her ex-boyfriend and billionaire Flavio Briatore. The superstar also usually visits the Children of the Rising Sun, an orphanage she is supporting in Malindi.

The news of her appointment has however not gone down well with some Kenyans who questioned why the ministry could not appoint a Kenyan for the position.

The concerns from Kenyans forced Tourism cabinet secretary Najib Balala to explain the decision.

In a tweet Balala said Ms Campbell’s appointment to promote Kenyan tourism abroad is meant to strengthen the domestic market and not take away anything from it.

“Naomi Campbell will be Magical Kenya’s International Tourism Ambassador. That doesn’t take away from our domestic market, it only strengthens it. #MagicalKenya,” reads the tweet.

The fastest world growing smartphone manufacturer realme has promised to sustain its growth in the Kenyan market with new product releases for this year as it targets to strengthen its roots in Kenya’s smartphone market share.

The company says as the year 2021 kicks off, it has placed in the pipeline smartphones tailored towards the needs of Kenyan millennials that will not only give them value for their money but give them a breakthrough hack in terms of technology.

In 2020, the smartphone maker took over the Kenyan market by storm by introducing new phones and other AIoT products in a span of four months including realme C3, realme C11, realme C15, realme C12, realme 6, and realme 7i, realme band realme Buds Q, and realme Buds Air Neo.

The phones introduced by realme in the Kenyan market during the year that just melted away became a hit for most Kenyan consumers given their affordability for their advanced features including mega batteries with some featuring a capacity as high as 6000mAh that charges faster and takes longer to discharge.

In terms of performance and sales the realme 6 from the number series was picked quite well in the market while the C3 bagged the coveted single-day sales champion award on Jumia during a flash sale campaign.

As 2020 was snailing on, realme, despite the economic challenges that the majority of Kenyans were facing, carried out campaigns like Black Friday and Christmas by offering amazing discounts on most of their phones including realme 7i, realme C15, and realme 6.

In 2020, the brand became the world’s fastest brand to hit 50 million shipments since its inception. Notably, 50 million units were shipped during the third quarter of 2020 with Kenya forming part of the destination.

In a bid to continue connecting with customers, realme has also extended its festive season offer to January which will see very purchase of the realme 7i come with free realme Buds Q while the realme 6 will come with a free realme band and the realme C15 will come with a customized pillow all available on all online and offline shops.

Diamond Platnumz's half sister Esma Platnumz  has come out and admitted that she terminated her pregnancy with ex- husband Msizwa.

The two got married at a fancy wedding held last year in Daresalaam, only for things to change after three months with Msizwa going back to his first wife in South Africa.

Speaking during an Instagram live session on Sunday, Esma said she was aware of the claims and admitted that she aborted.

"The answer is Yes because I can't sire with a man whom I don't have feelings for. So this means if I had given birth to that baby, I wouldn't have loved it. You need to sire with someone you love. Why would you give birth to a being that you know you will hate on?" she said.

She went on to state " For all those who say that he left me you are all wrong, no man has ever left me in my life, I'm the one who leaves".

She also stated that she married the tycoon to enjoy life together and not reproduce.

"Stop attacking me with the fact that I aborted the pregnancy. I married him to enjoy the lap of luxury shortly like one week and we separate, so tried to be with him for months," she said.

In an interview with Wasafi online Tv, Msizwa confirmed that Esma indeed aborted criticising the act saying it unacceptable. 

"This is an act that is not accepted in our religion and even under the Tanzanian laws and it is very surprising that one goes out and start bragging about it. The government needs to take action on this now that she has also admitted it" said Msizwa.

In November last year through Wasafi Tv, Esma accused Msizwa of being addicted to fame and instagram.

"I stopped posting him on Instagram and he started DMing bloggers to post him. He disappointed me. It means he is inboxing many other people.I wanted my marriage to be private, not out there. I want to live my life and publicise my business. I have spoken to him many times about this but he didn’t listen. That is what he loves. I don’t want him to be fighting with people on social media." said Esmma 

In an earlier interview with this blog, Esma's close friend Juma Lokole that he warned her about Msizwa even before they got married syaing he was just after fame and not marriage.

Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir has called on his opponents to stop making him the issue in their campaigns.

Speaking in a meeting with Women groups at the Mbaraki hall, Nassir who has made public his intention to succeed Hassan Joho as the next governor of Mombasa county accused his opponents of always attacking and insulting him whenever addressing a gathering.

"Some people have made it a habit of mentioning my name with all manner of accusations and insults in their meetings" said Nassir.

Adding "If it's my name that you are in love with, I pray to God to bless you with a son and name him after me".

He told the politicians to sell their policies to the people of Mombasa and not insults.

The Mp also assured the opponents that he will be in the ballot in 2022 for the Mombasa gubernatorial post.

Nassir argued '"To all the doubting Thomases, be rest assured that when 2022 comes we will meet in the ballot and I will win"

The Mp called on his team and supporters to ignore the opponents and avoid insulting them back.

"For every insult towards me, my late father Shariff Nassir and my mother let's remind them that we are humble people and we are still one and that politics will not divide us" he charged.

Among those who are also keen to take over from Hassan Joho is Kisauni Mp Ali Mbogo and businessman Suleiman Shahbal.