Kenya has today recorded eight new cases of coronavirus putting the country's total number to 50.

According to Health CS Mutahi Kagwe the new cases are spread across the country with Nairobi county still leading with 37 cases.

Kilifi follows next with  6 cases while Mombasa with 4 , Kwale 1 and Kitui county recording its 1st case.

Kagwe also revealed that the government is currently tracing individuals who came into contact with those who have tested positive.

Kagwe charged ""From the 2,050 people in mandatory quarantine, we have in the last 24 hours tested 172 samples, 84 samples have so far been analyzed and have received confirmation of 1 person who has tested positive for coronavirus,"

The CS urged those living in Nairobi to stop going upcountry during this period since a majority of the elderly people living there are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Kagwe called on employers to make sure they release their workers early enough at 4 Pm in order to avoid the curfew. Other new measures that the government has also put in place is to ensure that all boda boda operators only carry one passenger at a time and make sure they put on face masks.

Prudential will offer its customers cash benefits in addition to what is covered by their existing policies should they be diagnosed with COVID-19.

Customers who test positive for COVID-19, will be entitled to a lump sum cash payment of Ksh10,000.

Moreover, if a customer is placed under mandatory quarantine in an approved government facility, they will be eligible for a daily cash benefit of Ksh2,500.

Upon admission to hospital as a result of COVID-19, Kshs 2,500 is payable for every night spent in hospital. 

If a customer is then admitted in ICU, Kshs 5,000 per night will be payable.

However, if a customer self-quarantines at home or is directed by the government to do so, they will not be entitled to claim the prescribed cash benefits.

The extended cover benefits will be available to Prudential customers from April 1, 2020. 

Extended cover benefits are included on all  existing products. 

Customers eligible for this benefit include individuals who have Prudential policies through individual sales agents, group life policies through brokers, agents or those whose loans are insured through Prudential. 

Prudential Kenya CEO Raxit Soni, says the company has taken the unprecedented step of ensuring that Prudential is a partner in our clients’ time of need. 

“We care deeply about the well-being of our customers and in line with our philosophy of being the Right People for Life, we are providing these extra benefits at no additional cost,” said Mr. Soni.

Prudential Africa CEO Matt Lilley said ““We realize this is a worrying time for everyone and we want to reassure you that protecting the health and wellness of our customers, employees and partners is our primary concern”. 

Effective immediately, Prudential is:

• Providing customers, staff and agents with a range of additional COVID-19 insurance cover at no cost.
• Waiving ‘pandemic’ exclusions written into policy language
• Simplifying claims procedures and enabling claims to be made via WhatsApp
• Setting up dedicated claims teams that function even if the physical offices are shut
• Enabling customers to buy insurance without need to meet face to face with an agent

Prudential Life Assurance Kenya Limited is a subsidiary of Prudential Plc, a multinational life insurance and financial services company headquartered in Asia.

Founded in 1848, Prudential  is one of the oldest and most prominent insurance companies in the world and renowned for settling thousands of claims to families during both World Wars, after the sinking of the Titanic, and even during the Spanish Flu of 1918.  

Prudential Plc is currently listed on the London, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York stock exchanges.

In Africa, Prudential also operates in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Togo and Zambia.

Nigerian musician, Adeleke David, aka, Davido has announced that his girlfriend Chioma, has tested positive for novel Coronavirus.

The ' I Milli' hitmaker made the announcement through his official Instagram handle.

He revealed that they decided to go for a test after a trip abroad and his girlfriend tested positive while him tested negative.

“Hey everyone ! I came back recently from America after cancelling tour. My fiancé Chioma also came back from London recently with our baby. We had no symptoms and still both feel perfectly fine but because of our recent travel history we decided to take ourselves and our all close associates we’ve come in recent contact with for the COVID-19 test on the 25th of March. Unfortunately, my fiancé’s results came back positive while all 31 others tested have come back negative including our baby"posted Davido

Adding "“We are however doing perfectly fine and she is even still yet to show any symptoms whatsoever. She is now being quarantined and I have also gone into full self isolation for the minimum 14 days. I want to use this opportunity to thank you all for your endless love and prayers in advance and to urge everyone to please stay at home as we control the spread of this virus! Together we can beat this!”

Mombasa based artist Susumila has postponed the release of his new video 'Mpaka Chee' featuring Ommy Dimpoz. 

According to the 'Sonona' hitmaker the move is due to the guidelines set by the government to prevent spread of coronavirus in the country.

"This song is basically about clubbing and following the guidelines set by the government to prevent spread of coronavirus which includes avoiding clubs and bars we decided to postpone the release until the whole situation is contained" said Susumila.

Adding "I know my fans were really waiting for this video but they will have to forgive me and understand the situation, we are in this situation together and need to help the government avoid the spread of coronavirus"

The video was to be released on Thursday, March 26.

Kenya has so far recorded first death from coronavirus a 66-year-old man who arrived in the country from South Africa, via Swaziland.  

The announcement was made Thursday night by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, hours after his office announced an additional 3 positive cases raising the total number of infected people in the country to 31.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/1373-susumila-shifts-focus-to-east-africa-market

Nasty C, the #1 most-streamed South African artist on Apple Music for four years in a row, has signed an exclusive contract with Def Jam Recordings through a joint venture with Universal Music Africa. 

Nasty C makes his official U.S. debut with “There They Go,” his brand new single premier­ing Thursday, March 26^th at 4:30 p.m. (ET) with Ebro on Apple Music Beats1.

“There They Go,” with producer Cxdy at the controls, is the first advance track from ZULU MAN WITH SOME POWER, Nasty C’s forthcoming album.

“Nasty C is a unique and forward-thinking artist who is at the forefront of a new generation of rappers emerging from Africa,” said Jeff Harleston, interim Chairman & CEO, Def Jam Recordings. 

Adding “Def Jam is a globally recognized brand synonymous with excellence in hip-hop, and we are excited to welcome Nasty C - an international star with real vision and talent - into the family.”

On his part, Nasty C said “It’s powerful to be a part of the Def Jam family, It’s an iconic record label and has made the careers of many of the artists I look up to.”

The video for “There They Go” was shot on location in Nasty C’s hometown of Durban, South Africa.  Director Andrew Sandler (who has worked with Lil Wayne, Chris Brown and others) has focused a new lens on the region, where Nasty C’s most recent (second) multi-platinum album Strings And Bling was #1 for three consecutive weeks. 

With over 120 million streams, Strings And Bling was far and away the most streamed South African and African album on the Apple Music streaming platform in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The album spawned three multi-platinum singles: “King,” “Jungle,” and the radio smash, “SMA,” as well as the platinum title track, “Strings And Bling.”  A further 14 songs off Strings And Bling were certified gold.

An unstoppable force of nature, 23-year old youth phenom Nasty C’s profile earned him a berth on the Forbes “Africa Under 30” list, and the prestigious Musician Of the Year accolade from GQ magazine. 

He boasts brand endorsement affiliations with top-shelf companies Puma, Red Bull, and Mercedes. 

Nasty C has always sought to make the globe even smaller through his music. He has toured Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America. 

He has brought his own live performance headline package, the Ivyson Tour, to Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia and more.

The most recent six-city Ivyson Tour last year was a sold-out smash with over 16,000 attendees in each of the four cities in which it was held (Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Namibia).  

ABOUT NASTY C:

For nearly a decade, Nasty C (Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo) has had a singular focus: to push the boundaries of his own potential. 

He has been pursuing his hip-hop dreams since childhood when, legend has it, he began rapping and learning to lay down tracks at age nine under the tutelage of his older brother. 

At just fifteen years of age, Nasty released his debut mixtape,One Kid, A Thousand Coffins (2012). 

He shot to stardom in 2014, with his boundary-breaking second mixtape, Price City, and “Juice Back,” a continent-wide instant classic smash.  The “Juice Back” remix featured Nigerian muso, Davido and South African rapper Cassper Nyovest.

This early success won Nasty C the Best Freshman prize at the highly competitive South African Hip-Hop Awards.   

Nasty C’s popularity detonated with his 2016 debut album Bad Hair, which hit #1 on the iTunes local chart and was the country’s most-streamed album within 24 hours of release. 

Its re-release, Bad Hair Extensions featured French Montana.

The seminal album earned him Nasty C four Metro FM Music Awards, a South African Music Award and a BET Awards nomination.

The momentum surged with Strings And Bling in 2018, named one of South Africa’s greatest hip-hop albums by such influential local outlets as TimesLive and IOL. 

Nasty C was the only South African nominated for a BET Hip- Hop Award in the Best International Flow category in 2019, and was also nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award that year. 

Strings and Bling won him two South African Music Awards and two AFRIMMAs (All African Muzik Magazine Awards). 

Mombasa-based edible oil and soap maker Pwani Oil has provided 122 handwashing kits and 70 cartons of soap to be distributed to medical personnel in eleven counties in the ongoing effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The health facilities set to benefit from this initiative include Kenyatta National Hospital, Mama Lucy Hospital and Mathari Referral Hospital in Nairobi.

Others are Coast General Hospital in Mombasa, Nakuru Provincial General Hospital and the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.

Various county referral hospitals in Meru, Kirinyaga, Garissa, Kisii, Kakamega and Tana River counties will also receive a total of 122 handwashing kits.

Five sub-county hospitals in Kwale will get 20 handwashing kits combined. 

The donation was handed over to the Kenya Progressive Nurses Association (KPNA) officials at the Coast General Hospital by Pwani Oil Commercial Director Rajul Malde.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Malde said Pwani Oil is committed to partnering with various stakeholders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 disease in Kenya.

Twenty-eight cases of COVID-19 have so far been confirmed in the country.

“We recognize that our health workers including nurses are at the frontline of providing care to patients and therefore need all the support they can get during this critical period,” said Mr. Malde.

Mr. Malde further revealed that as part of Pwani Oil’s contribution to the ongoing effort to tame COVID, the company has donated 20 hand washing kits to police in Kilifi County.

The kits were officially handed over to Kilifi County police Mohammed Wako in Kikambala town today.

Speaking on behalf of the nurses’ association, National Secretary Mrs Triza Ireri thanked Pwani Oil for the gesture saying it will help improve the working conditions of its members.

“This is a difficult and challenging period for all of us and the gesture by Pwani Oil is therefore timely. I urge all Kenyans to embrace personal hygiene as a powerful weapon against the deadly virus and also exercise social distancing at all times,” said Mrs. Ireri

Last week, Pwani Oil donated 150 handwashing kits to be used by the public in various major urban areas in the country.

It has also partnered with the Kenya Ferry Services to provide soap at strategic entry points for use by thousands of commuters who use the ferry service daily.

Commuters in Mombasa will now be forced to dig deep into their pockets as matatu owners hike fares due to the new regulations set by government on the public transport system.

The new regulations were aimed at mitigating spread of the coronavirus.

Fares from Bamburi to Ferry and Docks will now be Sh100, up from the Sh80. Tudor-Ferry/Docks route will now charge Sh50, up from Sh40.

Those plying the Mtwapa route will pay Sh120 to posta ( GPO), up from Sh100.

According to Matatu Owners Association Coast coordinator Salim Mbarak the new prices are the 'lowest' in the country.

According to the new guidelines, 14-seater matatus are expected to carry a maximum of eight passengers,  25-seater vehicles a maximum of 15 passengers, 30 seater vehicles and above to maintain a sixty per cent maximum of sitting capacity.

Other areas that have also hiked fares are Nairobi, Central and Nyanza.

This comes just few days after matatu owners called on the government to reduce fuel prices and also provide them with sanitizers or ensure they are affordable.