After dropping a sneak peak for his long-awaited sophomore album, Chemsha Changanya, Kuiyu follows up with the music video for Butter, shot and directed by PKG INC.

In his signature style, Kuiyu is sharing his story about being free and owning his intimacy, sometimes hard other times soft.

The video finds the Kiambu bred singer in a feel-good chill mood with happy people around him.

The project itself is a dedication to close friendship, individual beauty, freedoms and expressions, motivated by the themes ‘black boy joy’ and ‘black girl magic’.

The tracks’ architecture is an interesting, ear arousing assortment of sounds traditionally referred to as ‘indigenous’ sandwiched in a careful arrangement of Urban elements.

The music is lost in between RnB/Trap sequences and Afro-Soul dynamics making ‘Butter’ a unique contribution to East African Music Making. 

‘Butter’ offers a reintroduction into the portrayal of the masculine and the feminine, the African and the foreign, the pop and the folk.

As audiences evolve in the cosmopolitan environments, the music evolves too. What started out as an alternative experiment is set to become a model and template for future folk, RnB and bilingual creative  expression.

About

Kuiyu’s art draws from multiple influences without leaning on one in particular. A wandering spirit, he exemplifies authentic expression coloring outside the lines in his audio and visual art creations. His work resonates with a vulnerable essence, bold styling and edifying spirit. He hopes to delve deeper Exploring romanticism, identity and orientations, spirituality and the emancipation of the African mind in his upcoming sophomore album and virtual concert.

Worship singer Jescar Karimi is here with her latest musical offering titled “Mungu Mkuu”.

Watch The Video Here: https://youtu.be/FCc1Pf__HrA

ABOUT THE SONG

“I wrote the song 4years ago, from a point of acknowledging that God is great and greater than all other names. In my ups and downs, I choose to exalt His Name. The recording and release of the song couldn't have come at a better time than this. Days preceding the Mungu Mkuu video shoot were interesting. I had worked straight for 12 days and it was during this period while at work in the hospital that I got to launch the song with a patient in the isolation ward. That one particular patient that I ministered to also ministered to me with a word from Psalms 29; which happens to be one of my favorite chapters. “– Jescar Karimi

ABOUT JESCAR

Jescar Karimi is a born-again gospel singer born and raised in Embu. Her genre is Worship music and she fellowships at Deliverance Church - Kimende, where she also serves as a Praise and Worship leader. 

Jescar’s passion in music began while in high school, that is Moi Girls' High School, Eldoret and she got to nurture it all the way to Moi University where she sang in the University Choir. She recorded her first single while back in 2014 through the guidance of music producer Wycliffe who first saw that musical light in her and helped her light it.

Jescar Karimi’s first music video titled Ni Maombi was released in 2016. This was followed by the second one, Mali Bila Daftari, which was released in 2017. The song got considerable airplay both on radio and TV and won her an award in that year’s edition of KEGMA Awards. The win opened for her a lot of doors like enabling her to start interacting with top gospel musicians in Kenya who gave her more insights on how to improve on her music ministry. She later released "Kwaria Nawe" and “Tena Na Tena” in 2018, “Ni Jehovah” in 2019 and finally “Umenipenda” in 2020.

Jescar feels blessed and privileged to be able to serve humanity both as a musician and as a physiotherapist because she gets to do more than what her medica career entails; she gets to share God's Word and her musical gift with her clients whenever possible. She is also an inspirational writer and columnist; she regularly writes for her employer - the referral hospital she works for, in their magazine which highlights the various activities being undertaken to provide better healthcare to Kenyans.

Jescar Karimi has in the past worked with Biblica Kenya in issuing out Bibles to children with terminal illnesses and also with the same organization, at the start of Covid -19 pandemic, she got to share a devotional that was aimed at encouraging people in these tough times.

Quote about her music ministry – “My Music life story will be one of God qualifying the "unqualified" and I am excited about what lies ahead, as the Lord enables me to see the unfolding of the next chapters of my life.”

Nameless is the latest Kenyan celebrity to lose his Instagram account to hackers.

The verified account enjoys more than 1.2 million following, was on Monday taken over by hackers who are suspected to be from Iraq. The hackers have since been posting their own posts.

Taking to his facebook page Nameless updated his followers about the incident.

Hey fam… Just to let you know, my IG account was hacked Jan… We are working with a dedicated team to sort it out, and pray that we will be back in control ASAP . Will keep you updated. For now I will be communicating though here and Twitter, na pia Tiktok , hapo naweza release stress na madance stingo,” he posted on Facebook.

The news was first communicated by  Nameless’s wife Wahu  who posted a short message on her instagram account asking fans to disregard any posts coming from the account and reassured their fans that they are working to resolve the issue.

“Hey, fam. Nameless Instagram Account has been hacked. We are working to resolve the issue but for now please disregard any posts coming from Nameless Kenya account.” She posted on her official Instagram account.

Nameless becomes the latest celebrity from Kenya to fall prey to hackers. Just recently singer Sanaipei Tande also lost her account which had garnered over 230,000 followers. She was forced to open a new account.

Former Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] General Manager Corporate Services Justus Nyarandi is among six candidates shortlisted in the race for the position of KPA Managing Director to take over from  Daniel Manduku who resigned on March  last year (2020).

Nyarandi is the currently Executive Secretary of the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) based in Mombasa.

According to a source KPA General Manager operation and Harbour master Sudi Mwasinago is also among the shortlisted candidates. He will be making his third attempt at the post.

Others are former Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport Corridor chief executive officer Silvester Kasuku, former Principal Secretary at the Gender Ministry Mwanamaka Mabruki who previously worked at the port. 

Alex Odero Kazongo and little known Jim Paul Siro are also among those shortlisted for the fresh interviews for the KPA top post.

Unconfirmed reports claim KPA General Manager in charge of Lamu port Eng Abdullah Samatar has been elevated to Deputy Managing Director’s position awaiting the KPA board’s approval next week.

The KPA board was forced to go back to the drawing board after Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani declared a repeat of the recruitment of a successor to Manduku when the applicants could not beat the required threshold of over 70 percent marks as a qualification to occupy the MD’s seat.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/people/item/2047-kpa-to-re-advertise-md-job

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has mourned the demise of veteran Coast hotelier Kuldip Sondhi.

In his condolence message, Balala described the late Sondhi as a passionate hotelier and very outspoken about sustainable growth of beach tourism in the Coast region.

"Mzee Kuldip was my mentor in the tourism industry. It is a gift to have had a mentor, a friend and a father figure like Mzee Kuldip." said Balala.

On his part Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho described him as charming, always energetic and full of life.

"His passion for literature and poetry was unmatched, testimony to the numerous accolades, awards and adulation he received world over." said Joho.

Adding "He also served with zeal and dedication as a councillor in the defunct Mombasa Municipal Council and stood out as revered pillar of tourism development in Mombasa and the region as whole."

Businessman Suleiman Shahbal said Kuldip's death is a big blow the tourism industry.

Shahbal noted "The Tourism Industry has suffered a major blow following the death of Kuldip Raj Sondhi, a guru in the sector. Mzee Kuldip immensely contributed to the growth of the tourism industry in the Coast region."

Kuldip passed away on Monday morning. According to the family, he died at his Reef hotel facing the gardens he so loved with the Indian ocean breezes over his body.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/people/item/2138-veteran-coast-hotelier-kuldip-sondhi-is-dead?fbclid=IwAR0O50mqLtD-mn7Qim3i1U96htiwYbbVfJ32MHi2fEGB2iuTdJWQuw06HIU

The Coast tourism industry is mourning the loss of veteran hotelier Kuldip Sondhi.

Sondhi was the proprietor of Reef Hotels, Mombasa and Shimoni.

He was also an accomplished writer and poet who has been featured by BBC. He has written several short stories and plays which have been published in various anthologies.

His short story ‘Bad Blood’ was awarded the best East Africa story in the 1960’s and was published by Penguin.

The turning point in his writing career was in 1963 when the Orient Club of Nairobi requested him to write a play for their entry into the Annual National Drama Competition.

Sondhi also served as a nominated councillor for Mombasa during the defunct Mombasa Municipal Council.

Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) Chairman Mohammed Hersi described him as a man who was passionate about the growth of the tourism industry.

"While he was in his 80's he still chose to hold my hand and guide me in matters Tourism leadership." said Hersi.

Adding "This is one man who believed in Kenya and fondly talked about it. He made a case for single gauge railway line way back in the 90s and it came to pass but not exactly as he wished though it moved huge numbers for Tourism."

President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence to the family, relatives and friends of Mama Shariffa El-Maawy who passed away Sunday morning at her Nairobi home.

Mama Shariffa, 89, was the mother of former Public Works Principal Secretary, the late Mariam El-Maawy.

In his message of comfort and encouragement, President Kenyatta described the late Mama Shariffa as a devoted and patriotic Kenyan who served the country for decades with utmost commitment and distinction.

"As a nation, we owe Mama Sharrifa a debt of gratitude for her immense contribution to the development of our country's education and health sectors.

"Mama Sharrifa was among the pioneer group of registered midwives in the country and has, over the years, offered her services to Kenyans across the country, especially in the Counties of Lamu, Garisssa and Kwale where she trained and mentored many health workers," the President recalled.

The President said Mama Shariffa embraced education at a time when few women in Kenya had the opportunity to pursue their educational interests.

“Mama Sharrifa was a trailblazer, a strong and determined woman who embraced education at a time when very few Kenyan women had the opportunity to pursue formal education and training," the President eulogised.

 President Kenyatta prayed to God to give the family of Mama Sharrifa the strength and fortitude to bear the loss of their beloved matriarch.

Tanzanian singer Vanessa Mdee has spoken about being partially blind.

Speaking on her condition on Instagram live, Vanessa revealed that one of her eyes is critically blind. 

"Nilipata tatizo ambalo lilinipofusha Jicho moja, so kwa muda nimekuwa nikitumia jicho moja na hili linguine halioni. So ni ulemavu lakini, is not something naweza sema ni ulemavu kwa Sababu Mungu amenijalia na jicho ambalo linaona, so its fine. (I got a problem that made one of my eyes blind. For some time, I have been using one eye, the other is blind" she said.

On the video she also admitted to having pre-existing conditions that lead to her functioning with only one eye.

She made the revelation after rumors started swirling that she had severe difficulties with her eyesight with some even mocking her.

“Maana nimeona juzi watu wanajairibu kuleta stories ambazo si za kweli. (I have seen recently people try to narrate stories that are not true)” she pointed out.

In 2019, during an episode of East Africa Got Talent. Vanessa also talked about being clinically blind in one eye after being Impressed by a contestant.

“It’s unusual for someone so young to sing so soulfully, you can tell that you’ve been through stuff I’m clinically blind in one eye as well but that hasn’t stopped me from pursuing my biggest dreams. Let that be the fuel for you no matter what happens at the end of this competition to me you are a winner and you’re going to continue winning,” she said.

Clinically blindness is being impaired or having a complete loss of visio. Corrective eyewear such as eyeglasses or contact lenses cannot reverse the effect.

Vanessa has been living in Atlanta with her fiance Rotimi and was proposed to in December last year.   

President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for more trade and investment deals among member countries of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

President Kenyatta, who is the current President-in-Office of the Summit of OACPS Heads of State and Government, said the over one billion people that make up the 79-member multilateral body provides a huge potential for intra-OACPS trade and investments.

"With a combined population of over 1.1 billion people and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about US$ 3.2 trillion, the transition from ACP to OACPS presents enormous opportunities for intra-OACPS trade and investments; and the achievement of greater shared prosperity for all our people," the President said.

President Kenyatta spoke Thursday night at State House, Nairobi when he delivered the opening statement during a virtual townhall meeting of the OACPS. The meeting was convened to commemorate the first anniversary of the revised Georgetown Agreement.

The revised Georgetown Agreement, which came into force on 5th April 2020, was adopted during the OACPS 9th summit held in Nairobi in December 2019 and introduced several reforms among them, the renaming of the bloc from ACP Group of States to OACPS.

In his statement, President Kenyatta outlined his vision for the multilateral institution saying he envisions a transitionary OACPS that is united and progressive.

"We should aim for a transition that supports structural transformation to foster industrialization, diversification of our economies and an increase in value addition of our primary products.

"Secondly, the OACPS of the future should strengthen our solidarity and unity.    Underlying the establishment of the ACP Group was our desire to promote unity and solidarity of the ACP States," the President said.

He said OACPS needs to leverage on its past successes such as the existing Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to become a "more influential actor in the global economic arena".

President Kenyatta also spoke about the impact of Covid-19 on OACPS countries saying member states need to "use creativity and innovation to recover together and build back better".

"Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged our health and economic systems. Livelihoods have been destroyed rendering hundreds of millions of our people into unemployment and poverty. The services sector, in particular the tourism sector, has been crippled with devastating impacts on coastal and island states.

"As I said last June during the 1st Extraordinary Inter-Sessional Summit of Heads of State and Government, our solidarity and commitment to intra-OACPS cooperation has been tested by the pandemic. A key lesson is that we need to synergize our energies and use creativity and innovation to recover together and build back better," the President said.

On financing of development in OACPS, President Kenyatta called for a multi-pronged approach to resource mobilization and welcomed the various debt relief mechanisms.

"Regarding financing, we need to use the various multilateral platforms to mobilize resources for development. In this context, we welcome debt relief measures, which have created the needed fiscal space to reduce the negative effects of the pandemic.

"However, we seek a continuation of the debt suspension initiative; and debt cancellation, for the most severely affected countries. The prolonged pandemic requires continuous mitigation measures," he said.

The President welcomed the completion of a new agreement between OACPS and the European Union (EU) saying the pact will be initialed later this month.

Once again, President Kenyatta thanked the OACPS for backing Kenya's successful bid for the non-permanent UN Security Council seat and assured that Kenya will articulate the bloc's agenda during its tenure.

In his maiden state-of-the-organization address, OACPS Secretary General Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti affirmed the organization's commitment to multilateralism saying it will continue to be a strong advocate of global solidarity.

Mr Chikoti said the OACPS Secretariat fully supports the COVAX Covid-19 vaccine sharing platform, adding that the organization will soon roll-out a five-year strategic plan, 2021 to 2025, to bring on board the provisions of the revised Georgetown Agreement as well as the new OACPS-EU agreement.

Alongside the strategic plan, the Secretary General said the OACPS Secretariat was working of a communications strategy to help reposition the organization among its internal and external stakeholders.

President Kenyatta was joined at the townhall meeting, moderated by Trinidad and Tobago's Minister for Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Dr Amery Brown, by Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo and Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua.

Diamond Platinumz’ record label Wasafi Classic Baby - WCB on the spot after the Controller and  Auditor General (CAG) of Tanzania revealed the music company was illegally awarded a government tender.

Addressing reporters on Thursday 8, 2021 in Dodoma CAG Charles Kichere said Ministry of Tourism awarded Sh140 million to WCB without documentation. The said amount is equivalent to over Ksh 6 million.

The ministry paid the stipulated amount for artists to promote tourism through the Tanzania Heritage Month (Urithi)  festival  in 6 provinces in the Swahili-speaking nation.

The festival is an annual fete that promotes tourism in the country through culture and celebrating Tanzanians heritage.

“The ministry paid Sh140 million to Wasafi company. However, there was no contract signed between the two parties or any accountability of WCB’s services,” said Kichere.

Adding " This is totally against the law governing the  use of public funds"

AG Kichere noted that the transaction was against the Tanzanian law that governs use of public funds.

Wasafi Company are yet to comment on the AG’s observations.

The AG also outlined a deficit that occurred during the inauguration of Urithi festival.

According to the AG, there were no official documents to enhance investigate the usage of funds in the said festival.

The AG revealed that two leading broadcast companies in the country received a total of Sh600 million to air the festival. However, there were no receipts to show the said transactions.

He further disclosed an undocumented transfer of Sh487 million to 7 unnamed institutions that were to facilitate the festival. .

“There are insufficient documents to support the disbursement and usage of Sh585 million aimed at promoting tourism and the ministry has failed to back the legitimacy of the payments,” said AG Kichere.