Ommy Dallah
Uhuru, Ruto Mourn State House Photographer
President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence to the family, friends, relatives and colleagues of veteran State House photographer Henry Muriithi Nyaga who passed away on Saturday evening.
The award-winning Nyaga, 56, was until his demise a principal State House photographer attached to the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU).
In his message of encouragement and comfort to the family, the President mourned the late Nyaga as a reliable and devoted top professional whose service to the country shall be dearly missed.
“I have received the sad news of the sudden death of Henry this morning with utter shock. Henry was a highly gifted photographer whose award-winning work made him one of the best in his field.
"He was a humble and amiable person whose virtues of hard work and dedication to duty will remain an inspiration to his colleagues and all those that interacted with him,” the President mourned Mr Nyaga who passed quietly in his sleep at his Embu home.
The Head of State said it was due to Henry's commitment to duty and excellent service that he rose through the ranks over the years to become a Principal Photographer at State House.
“Having interacted with him extensively in the course of his duty, Henry exemplified diligence and deep commitment to duty, and always worked hard to exceed the expectations of his assignments.
"It is because of his commitment to duty that he rose through the ranks of the public service to become a principal photographer at State House. Indeed, we will forever be grateful for the excellent service the late Henry rendered to this country over the years," the President eulogised.
The President noted that the late Henry Nyaga contributed immensely to the development of photojournalism in Kenya having won several prestigious international awards and recognitions.
“We appreciate that as a public servant, Henry Nyaga earned our nation great honour by winning several international awards among them the prestigious CNN Africa Photojournalist of the Year Award in 1999 while working with the Kenya News Agency (KNA). A devoted Christian, Henry also won two International Catholic photojournalism awards, which were presented, to him in Bangkok, Thailand and in Switzerland," the Head of State noted.
Mr Henry Nyaga has left behind a widow Mrs Lucy Wanjugu Muriithi and three children.
On his part Deputy President William Ruto described him as a creative, talented and patient with an eye for detail.
"We will fondly remember him as a brilliant storyteller." said Ruto in his condolence message.
Nyota Ndogo Lands Endorsement Deal
Seems like Coast based singer Nyota Ndogo is closing off the year in a big way, by laughing all the way to the bank.
The 'Watu na viatu' hitmaker just landed herself a big endorsement deal with maize meal brand, Raha premium a product of Joy millers limited. She is the new brand ambassador.
The excited singer took to social media to share the news with her fans.
"Kwanza Nichukue Nafasi Hii Kumshukuru MUNGU.. Pili Niwashkuru Nyie Mashabiki Zangu wanaonipenda na wasionipenda nyote ni wangu na Nawapenda sana... Hili Sio Jambo Dogo kwangu Na Nitoe Shukrani za Dhati kwa Joy Millers Limited kwa Kuniamini na Kunichagua.... Kwanzia Sasa Wateja Wangu wa Nyota Ndogo Jikoni hawatalalamika tena kuhusu Ugali maana Natumia Unga Bora Kenya Nzima @raha_premium #Kavaraga Unga huu sasa unapatikana Mombasa na Pwani kwa Ujumla...."
Nyota Ndogo also runs a restaurant in Voi.
Few months ago, celebrity couple Bahati and his wife Diana Marua were also unveiled as brand ambassadors for the brand which seeks to penetrate in the market.
Tiwa Savage Releases Stunning Video For 'Somebody's Son' Ft Brandy
Nigerian superstar TIWA SAVAGE releases the much anticipated accompanying video to the anthem “SOMEBODY’S SON” ft. GRAMMY Award-winning songstress BRANDY. The Mystro produced hit record is taken from Tiwa’s critically acclaimed fifth studio project WATER & GARRI and is released through Motown Records.
The collaboration with Brandy which Tiwa describes “full-circle moment with her all time idol” is an honest and emotional mid-tempo record where the two form the perfect vocal team. The universal yearning for companionship (“Somebody son go love me one day”) carries on the hook. “It’s a message of hope” Tiwa adds.
Directed by Nigerian filmmaker and frequent collaborator MEJI ALABI, the stunning and playful visual channel the songs honesty, emotion and it’s powerful delivery.
Fresh from her critically acclaimed fourth studio album ‘Celia’ - named one of the 10 Best Albums of 2020 by Time Magazine, “WATER & GARRI” sees Tiwa collaborate with musical heavyweights from across the United States and Africa.
The EP opens with “WORK FADA” - a 6:26 minute musical experience featuring rap legend NAS with songwriter and producer RICH KING who also produced the record. Other features include GRAMMY Award singing sensation BRANDY, Nigerian singer-songwriter TAY IWAR, Ghanaian-American artist AMARAAE. “WATER & GARRI” is available on all streaming services.
LISTEN HERE.
Wyre, Graviti Band, Kriss Darling, Dj Moh Among Local Acts Set To Grace Jmaican Superstar Etana Live In Kenya
Jamaican dancehall superstar Etana is set to jet into the country on the 27th October 2021 ahead of her concert dubbed Pamoja at the Waterfront,Ngong Racecourse, Nairobi on 30th October.
Simi Celebrates Womanhood In New Song 'Woman'
Award winning Nigerian artiste Simisola Ogunleye Kosoko aka Simi has released her latest single titled 'Woman'. A song about uplifting and celebrating women and also talking about the institutional barriers women have to go through in society.
Watch : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udnkr-pMRa8
This is the first single from her upcoming project set for release soon.
Speaking about the single, Simi says " I am grateful for every woman that is standing in the gap for all of us. Your vulnerability is courage and I hope that, going forward we are mindful of the words we say and the seeds that we plant".
The Nigerian singer is famed for songs that speak about various issues in the society especially those that directly affect women. In 2020, at the height of lockdowns and Covid 19, Simi released Duduke a song dedicated to women praying to be mothers, she also got to collaborate with other artistes on different projects. Duduke is currently at 46million views on YouTube.
The Afro Soul Artist, Simi, is currently driving a social media campaign tagged #NobodyLikeWoman ahead of the forthcoming single that drops on the 15th of October 2021.
The campaign is targeted to celebrate EVERY WOMAN in the world. This is inline with the recently celebrated Day of the Girl Child and No Bra Day which celebrates women and Breast Cancer awareness respectively in our society.
LISTEN TO Woman https://simi.ffm.to/woman
Music Duo V-Be Release Their EP And Music Video
V-BE, a music duo made up of Spikes Mshairi, a rapper with a great influence of poetry and Tuku Kantu, a seasoned vocalist with an influence of pop and native East African sounds have released their new music video titled Eliza.
Watch "Eliza" Here: https://youtu.be/tAJv3lD3_Ns
About The Song Eliza
'ELIZA' tells the familiar story of love that is not reciprocated. It is a song written based on the real-life experiences of V-Be's Tuku Kantu. It tells a story that he has told one too many times about how this girl he once liked chose to ignore the chemistry they had on the basis that he was not as financially capable as she would have liked.
In the song, V-Be asks the girl, Eliza, to pick between leaving and staying while at the same time telling her that she is loved. The song leaves it to the listener to decide whether Eliza left or stayed. Will they stay together, or will she go?
About The EP
“As young up-and-coming musicians, so much doubt has clouded the vision of our musical future. Truth and reality are two things we have never been able to escape from, which is why we never lie to ourselves about what we must do to realize our dreams. We know that we only get out what we put in. Heartbreakingly, even with this being our philosophy, we have been faced with hurdles along our journey countless times. Our resolve has been challenged, our visions questioned, and our faith tested. Over and over again, we have had to sit together and remember why music is our first love. We are proud to say that our fire has never died out despite burning low a couple of times. This EP (Extended Playlist) comes to us as a gift and solid proof that we are on the right path. Through this EP, it is PROVEN that we were meant to do this. We sincerely hope that you will be entertained and encouraged by our work.” – V-Be.
CNN’s Marketplace Africa Explores Rwanda’s Tourism Industry After The Covid-19 Pandemic
On the latest episode of Marketplace Africa, CNN explores Rwanda’s efforts to diversify its tourism industry as it looks to recover economically from the losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
CNN speaks to Geoffrey Manyara, Kigali Economics Affairs Officer for the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa, who suggests that, “Going beyond the nature-based type tourism to look at other areas of tourism can actually be important.”
“I think prior to this Rwanda was only known for the gorillas, a gorilla type of tourism, but of course, relying on a single product is quite dangerous in the sense that should anything happen then of course you're devastated,” he says.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rwanda’s tourism sector declined by 76% in 2020. Bonita Mutoni, Chairperson for Rwanda Tours and Travel Association, says, “We’re looking at about 19,000 people in Rwanda in the tourism industry that were affected by this.”
With a series of Covid-19 safety measures in place, Rwanda is starting to allow visitors back in the country. “With all the efforts that the government of Rwanda has done to attract tourism, we are seeing more people coming back,” says Singita Rwanda’s General Manager Lydia Nzayo.
Rudy Ghirini, Country Manager of Vintage Rides, discusses ways his business offers a more personal experience to travellers and keeps them in the country longer.
In addition to luxury, the country is looking to expand its sports tourism sector. In 2019, a multi-purpose 10,000 seat arena was built in Kigali, in which large scale sports and entertainment events will take place. “We think Rwanda Kigali Arena plays a critical role and is really starting to expand this circular economy within the eventing space,” says QA Venue Solutions Director Kyle Schofield.
CNN learns that while it will take time for tourism to return to pre-pandemic levels, industry experts say there is an abundance of opportunity in the continent.
“We have strong brands in the market and if we can work together, we can really start to market Rwanda in a big way, but also start to create packages that entice people in the international space to come to Rwanda. The industry is ripe and it's ready,” Schofield tells CNN.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta Calls For Multi-Sectoral Approach To Fight Against SGBV
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has called for an integrated and multi-sectoral approach to tackling the societal challenge of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in the country.
The First Lady said the fight against SGBV will require joint efforts in advocacy and public awareness alongside strict enforcement of the law so that victims feel empowered and safe to report their encounters.
“We are, however, aware that addressing gender based violence is complex, and requires multi-sectoral coordination and support from all sectors, including the courts, prisons, communities, non-governmental organizations and civil society,” the First Lady said.
The First Lady spoke at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi County where she presided over the launch of the National Police Service (NPS) Integrated Response to Gender Based Violence Operational Document (PoliCare).
The First Lady lauded NPS for the policy which she termed as progressive and urged the police and other agencies involved to ensure that the roadmap is fully implemented.
“Your public duty and responsibility in this instance is vital because you are at the frontline; you are at the first point of contact to help victims of gender based violence," the First Lady said, and advised law enforcement agencies to ensure that SGBV victims gain their trust at all times.
Once again, the First Lady reiterated her full backing of the Government's commitment to end all forms of SGBV, saying it will take more than law enforcement for Kenya to fully deal with the retrogressive customs, cultural practises and beliefs that enable the crimes.
“Further, we have committed to end all forms of gender-based violence – including child and forced marriages – by addressing social and cultural norms that propagate the vice whilst providing support to women and girls who have been affected,” the First Lady assured.
Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i, who also spoke at the launch, said PoliCare is part of the ongoing police service reforms saying that the new policy seeks to provide one-stop centres countrywide where SGBV victims will find all the help they require.
In her speech, Gender CS Professor Margaret Kobia said SGBV was related to poverty, and called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to address the underlying enablers of the crimes.
Other speakers at the event, also attended by Interior PS Dr Karanja Kibicho, were Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua and Gender CAS Linah Kilimo.
Ruto To Visit Coast, Meet UDA Aspirants
Deputy President William Ruto is yet again expected to tour the Coast region in a bid to drum up support for his 2022 presidential bid.
Ruto is expected to kick-off his Coast tour on Thursday in Taita Taveta couny where he will be meeting Boda Boda operators and small scale traders to popularise his 'Hustler movement', he will be hosted by Taita Taveta Women representative Lydia Haika.
On Friday, Ruto is expected to visit Kwale and Kilifi counties for a series of rallies and meetings before heading to Mombasa on Saturday.
Speaking to Ommy Dallah, Mombasa UDA activist and Mvita Mp aspirant Mohammed Thenge said they welcome Ruto's visit and are looking forward to fruitful engagements.
"We welcome the Dp's visit and believe that he is going to meet the people of Mvita and speak to us as aspirants." said Thenge.
The Dp is expected to attend a church service in Miritini on Sunday.
"Apart from the meetings and rallies, he is also expected to host different groups for dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Mombasa" said a source.
On Monday the Dp is also expected to meet all Coast UDA aspirants at the Wildwaters, Mombasa before concluding his visit in Lamu on Tuesday.
This will be Ruto's third visit of the region this year, coming just weeks after ODM leader Raila Odinga met ODM Coast delegates at the Wildwaters where they resolved to endorse his candidature for president 2022.
The visit also comes amid wrangles within the party in Mombasa between two separate factions, one being led by Mohammed Thenge while the other by former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar who is also eyeing the Mombasa gubernatorial seat and has always been seen very close to Ruto.
On Tuesday, Omar held a meeting with UDA aspirants and members from Mombasa ahead of Ruto's tour.
King Kaka Opens Up About Life Threatening Illness In New Song 'Manifest'
King Kaka has never been one to shy away from speaking on the realities of life in his signature poetic style. However, this time, the story is more personal.
He just released an emotive song that shows a side that many have never seen before, teaming up with the talented Nviiri The Storyteller in “Manifest”.
The thoughtfully written song gives listeners an insight into how King Kaka was feeling during his challenging illness. He recently opened up to his fans about being sick for three months following a misdiagnosis.
This led to adverse body reactions leaving him fighting for his life. Now on the road to recovery, King is showing the world the thoughts that were in his mind during his ordeal.
On Monday, King Kaka shared details on the ailment that left him hospitalized for over three months.
The singer took to social media to share a picture of himself in an hospital bed where he appeared weak and emaciated adding that doctors performed a surgical procedure on him to get a sample of his bone Marrow.
“That’s me, still can’t believe it. 2days after I was admitted and they had just finished drilling on my hip bone for a bone marrow sample.I was in between worlds fighting to see my family once more. I would force my last smile when Nana & Moms visited but the truth is the nights got darker and I would be back in the ring with life.It’s a feeling and place you can’t put in words nights when the devil threw in a few suggestions but the light got stronger for me to listen,” he said.
‘Manifest’ is a mid-tempo song where Nviiri plays to his signature vocal strengths delivering the perfect poignant chorus for the song. The singer is complemented by King Kaka who delivers thought provoking and poetic bars that take you right into his frame of mind while writing the song.
The track is produced by Wuod Omollo while the video is directed by Steve Mugo. The visuals also feature raw clips that were taken by King Kaka’s wife Nana Owiti during his numerous hospital visits.
Watch “Manifest “on YouTube now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOrtQEtQqdk
