Bookings Africa is a leading Pan-African marketplace that leverages technology to disrupt and revolutionise how talent in the lifestyle, entertainment & media industries across Africa is sourced.

Founder and CEO, Fade Ogunro has announced the launch of the new mobile app and the successful completion of the company’s latest fundraising round.

Through the app, users can search for a variety of talent, compare their transparent prices, book online, pay securely and provide ratings and reviews for services across Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.

This is in line with Bookings Africa’s mission to unlock the earning potential of young entrepreneurial Africans and monetise their latent skillset.

Currently, Bookings Africa offers over 14 talent categories including make-up artists, photographers, DJs, hair stylists, and social media influencers with plans of increasing to over 40 categories and expand to other countries across Africa by December this year.

Since its launch in April 2019, Bookings Africa has signed up over 2,000 freelancers and served clients such as: Coca-Cola, Anap Jets, May D, Film Factory and The Luxury Lifestyle Market.

Speaking on the new launch, Fadé Ogunro, CEO of Bookings Africa, said, “I believe Africa is the future, yet, the biggest problem we face is unemployment. Bookings Africa tackles this issue by enabling millions of freelancers gain recognition, monetize their talent and build a sustainable career on their own terms"

Addding"This means you can create your personal profile, upload your work portfolio, set your own rates, availability and manage your business better with guaranteed payments all at the tap of a button.”

She further added, “Working in the media industry as a producer for over a decade, I found many limitations when trying to source creatives across the continent. The process is currently expensive, time consuming and extremely inefficient. I have dedicated the last 3 years of my life creating this innovative tech-enabled solution that will reshape Africa’s workforce. This is my vision for Bookings Africa; an Africa that works.”

Mayowa Ayodele, Chief Investment Officer of Unicorn Group said, “We are excited to partner with Fadé and her team who have built a strong technology-led and scalable business that is harnessing and monetising the latent talent of Africans across the continent. We believe that investing in Bookings Africa has the potential to revolutionise a highly fragmented industry and positively impact lives.

Kenya Ferry Services Managing Director Bakari Gowa has summoned all of his staff to an urgent crisis meeting.

According to a source who spoke to Ommy Dallah on condition of anonymity, tension is high among the staff following the move by the MD, the meeting is set for this afternoon at the headquarters.

"We still don't know the reason or the agenda of the meeting, we are waiting to see" said the source.

This comes just days after President Kenyatta fired the entire board of the parastatal including chairman Dan Mwazo.

The President revoked the appointment of the five board members in a Kenya Gazette notice dated October 17.

“In exercise of powers conferred by section 7 (3) of the State Corporations Act, I Uhuru Kenyatta, President and the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya revokes the appointments of Dan Mwazo, Daula Omar, Naima Amir, Phillip Ndolo, and Nasigha Mruttu as Non-Executive Chairperson and Members of Kenya Services Limited, with immediate effect from 16^th October 2019.” reads the gazette notice.

The Kenya Ferry service has been on the receiving end from Kenyans following the September tragedy which saw Miriam Kaghenda and her daughter Amanda Mutheu perish after their vehicle sunk on the Likoni Channel. Their bodies were retrieved 13 days later. 

Kenyans have been talking to social media to complain the poor state of some of the ferries especially the ramps.

Leading chain of hotels Sarova Hotels & Resorts has this year clinched 2 continental awards at the 13th edition of the World Luxury Hotel Awards that took place in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland.

Sarova Stanley which sits in the heart of the city was voted as the best Luxury City Hotel in the continent at the awards ceremony that saw more than 300 guests attend from around the world.

Popularly known as Kenya’s first Hotel, Sarova Stanley has over the years managed to retain its historical charm while at the same time offering all the luxuries and amenities of a five-star hotel.

The Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa also bagged the best Luxury Beach Resort in Africa title at the ceremony.

The hotel which enjoys perhaps the most enviable location right on the edge of the resort, with magnificent panoramic views of the Indian Ocean towards Mombasa Island. World Luxury Hotel Awards recognize establishments for world-class service excellence.

Sarova Hotels & Resorts Managing Director Jimi Kariuki applauded the entire Sarova fraternity for their unequivocal support and dedication in offering quality services saying “The awards are a statement that Sarova has stood the test of time and a true testament of utmost devotion towards sustaining the highest of standards in the industry.”

Awards are presented on a country, regional, continent and global basis. Winners are selected by public vote online, providing true recognition that reflects the hard work and dedication exhibited by staff.

Furthermore, it is the world’s most prestigious and exclusive Awards recognising the best facilities and service quality the hotel industry has to offer, aiming to not only recognise but also maintain overall service excellence by building staff morale.

Winners are purely judged on service delivery and effective management voted for by International tour operators, travel agents and hotel guests who get the opportunity to cast their valuable votes annually.

AU High Representative for Infrastructure Raila Odinga today today  held a meeting with the organisers of the anti SGR weekly protests fast action business movement.

The  meeting which took place at Raila's residence in Nyali was also attended by rights groups, Haki Africa and Muhuri.

According to a source who was present at the meeting,  they resolved that there should be free movement of cargo and that the SGR should compete with local trucks.

"It was also resolved that no shipping line should interfere with the local clearing and forwarding and warehousing business as per the Merchant Shipping Act and that all cargo should be cleared in Mombasa and not Nairobi" said the source.

 Also present at the meeting  were Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir.

At the end of the meeting they resolved that Raila will address a media briefing tomorrow in Nairobi to avert  more demonstrations and seek for a permanent solution which will not sabotage the county's economy.

Raila assured the transport sector the government will have a round table to iron out the teething problems  and chart the way forward.

He told the forum the government will engage them to avert future demonstrations in the coast region.

Fast action business movement together with the rights groups have been organising the protests every Monday to put pressure on the government to revoke an order requesting all cargo from the Mombasa port be transported by the standard gauge railway (SGR).

According to a study done by the University of Nairobi School of Business and published last month, Mombasa has already lost Sh17.4 billion and 2,987 jobs equivalent to 8.4 per cent of its annual earnings since the implementation of government policies requiring mandatory transfer of most import cargo through the SGR.

Early this month, Mombasa leaders led by Governor Hassan Joho met with the Transport CS Jmaes Macharia and his Interior counterpart Fred Matiang'i over the issue where they announced that the order had been suspended.

"The suspension of the directive on compulsory cargo haulage from Mombasa via SGR is still in effect until we find solutions to the issues affecting our freight services. My colleague" said Matiang'i.

Truck drivers have however maintained that the directive has not been implemented.

Tanzanian singer Rajab Abdul Kahali popularly known as Harmonize is set to release his new song dubbed 'Uno' in Nairobi this week.

This is his first song under his label Konde Music worldwide after leaving Wasafi.

The release party will be at the Gosip ultra lounge this Friday.

Meanwhile the artist launched a free feeding programme over the weekend.

The programme ' Konde Boy Mgahawa'  will be supplying free food for the next six months to the needy every Sunday.

Speaking during the launch, Harmonize said the restaurant has been part of his ambitions for quite some time and he is planning to expand it to other parts of Tanzania.

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the National Assembly will on Friday, October 18, hold the Speaker’s Roundtable. 

The annual event brings together the National Assembly and the apex body of the private sector for structured engagements over two days and will be held at the Travellers’ Beach Hotel in Mombasa.

An estimated 300 participants drawn from the National Assembly and the private sector are scheduled to share ideas on the role of the Legislature and the private sector in boosting Kenya’s competitiveness to enable economic growth and the creation of jobs.

Speaking ahead of the event, KEPSA Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Carole Kariuki, said the Speaker’s Roundtable will build on the discussions held last year; when the event raised awareness about the role of Parliament in the creation of a conducive business environment and to set the business legislative agenda for Parliament.

 “The National Assembly plays a critical role in creating the right environment for businesses to thrive. For the private sector to increase investments and create jobs, the policy needs to be right and we are happy that the National Assembly has worked to make this possible over the years. This is a conversation that we need to continue having and that’s why this annual event is important,” Ms. Kariuki noted. 

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi said this year’s event will provide both the business community and the Members of Parliament an opportunity to take stock of the implementation of agreements made last year and to plan for the future.

“The Speaker’s Roundtable is in essence an opportunity for us to deliberate on the legislation that the private sector deems necessary to catalyse economic growth and address Kenya’s social-economic challenges. This is a valuable forum as it informs and enriches the quality of debate on various Bills in which KEPSA has provided input and KEPSA’s involvement in turn represents an important element of public participation,” said Hon Muturi.

A similar meeting is scheduled with the Senate at a later date.

In the past two years, both legislators and the private sector through KEPSA have collaborated on a number of important laws, among them; County Revenue (Raising Process) Bill, 2017; Natural Resources (Benefit Sharing) Bill, 2018; Data Protection Bill, 2019; Tea Bill, 2018; Kenya Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders Management Bill, 2019; Statute Law (Misc. Amendments) Bill (No. 2) 2018 on the Amendments to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (otherwise referred to as Prompt Payment Bill); and National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2019. 

Some of these Bills are expected to have an immediate impact on investors.

With the County Revenue (Raising Process) Bill, county governments are expected to improve their revenue-racing processes. KEPSA hopes that this Bill will help address the multiplicity of taxes, levies and charges and the lack of harmonization of the same. It is also expected to put in place more stringent accountability measured to avoid the arbitrary enforcement of increased rates and levies.

The amendments to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, otherwise known as the Prompt Payment Bill, are expected to help unlock business funds for suppliers, improve the stability of businesses and as a consequence improve GDP growth. The new law is expected to improve businesses’ trust in government, enhance stability in the monetary sector because of the reduction in non-performing loans and reduce non-performing trade-credit related to pending bills.

Trailblazing global act and one of Africa’s most successful artists, Yemi Alade and her record label Effyzie Music Group, hosted an exclusive album release party in Nairobi, Kenya in celebration of her recently released fourth studio album 'Woman of steel' and short film 'Home'.

The party which was held on Tuesday was graced by key media personalities, influencers, celebrities among them: Chimano (of Sauti Sol who also was the host), Victoria Kimani, Naiboi, Hart The Band, Blinky Bill, Patricia Kihoro and Ivlyn Mutua (who translated the Swahili version of “Poverty”—Yemi’s latest Swahili song in #WOSAlbum).

Released through her label Effyzzie Music Group and distributed by Universal Music France, the 13-track WOMAN OF STEEL album garnered over 1 million streams on Spotify in one week of its release.

The album is a huge achievement for the award-winning “Mama Africa”.

The critically acclaimed album follows her previous successful albums: King of Queens (2014), Mama Africa (2016) and Black Magic (2017).

She also released a new single Swahili version of “Poverty” in East Africa.

In the short film 'Home', a single lifted off the album, Yemi makes her official debut as an actress.

The emotive film captures the essence of finding strength, self-love and being your own hero in tough times; boasting stellar performances from the cast and powerful screenplay.

Directed by Clarence A. Peters, the film stars Nollywood icon Clarion Chukwura alongside talented heartthrob Frankincense Eche Ben.