A section of people with hearing impairment from Mombasa county have benefited from special masks to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus, courtesy of the Coast Association for Persons with Disability [CAPD].

The special transparent masks makes verbal communication easier compared to the normal masks used in the fight against the virus.

They were also given food to cushion them against the economic effects of the deadly virus.

Fatma Mohamed Ngoto a nurse from the Coast General Hospital who is also in charge of sign language was at hand to offer some lesson on how to use the masks and maintain hygiene during a ceremony held in Tudor, Wednesday afternoon.

Fatma said lack of sensitization and civic education is a big challenge in the fight against the spread of the virus.

CAPD  Chief Executive Officer Hamisa Maalim Zaja said her concern is to ensure they defeat the virus blaming the government for neglecting them during this tough times.

"I am doing the program purely on humanitarian principles. The government should also focus on people living with disabilities, they cannot go out and fight for the relief food and masks as it is with other people. ," she said.

Zaja also called on the government to produce special masks saying the masks currently in the market are are not appropriate for the persons living with hearing disabilities.

"It's not possible to communicate in sign language without using lips and making gestures and this is hard with the masks we currently have in the market''. She said

The CAPD boss she  understands the challenges they face in the person and will always champion for their rights.

She promised to extend the program to other counties in the coast region.

"Let me assure you that I will ensure you have enough food supply during these challenging times of the coronavirus," she said.

MTV Base, through their YouTube page will be broadcasting live a mega music concert on the 25^th of May 2020 at 6pm (CAT) AND ON THE MTV Base channel 322 at 9pm (CAT).

The show Dubbed Africa Day Benefit concert is aimed at commemorating the African Day and also raising awareness on the  COVID-19, it also aims to raise funds towards the health and nutritional needs of Children and  families most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa.

The celebrations of the African day commemorates the historic formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963, which is the precursor to the African Union (AU).

The 2-hour virtual cross-continent concert hosted by British actor, Idris Elba will see performance of Elba alongside a host of African music stars.

The star studded line-up for the live YouTube concert includes Grammy-award winning Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo, Kenya’s Afro-pop group Sauti Sol, South African stars Sho Madjozi, AKA and Nasty C, Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade and Teniola Apata.

Others include StoneBwoy & M.anifest from Ghana, Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz, and Congolese star Fally Ipupa.

The celebrity actor and also musician is one of the many celebrities who reported infection by the virus during its early outbreak stages and well recovered in March, hence it is also a platform to give hope and shed share awareness on the same.

“A continent of this size should find a way to dig deep and stand up for one another at a time like this. It’s important for the future and history will not forget,” said Idris ahead of the concert.

This two - hour concert will also do the most for  African art scene and for the benefit of  African nations.

“We’re pleased to be part of the #AfricaDay Benefit concert going down next week Monday, to raise funds for COVID 19,” shared Kenya’s Sauti Sol through their instagram page.

The concert is trending under the hash tags #AloneTogether and #AfricaDay Benefit Concert on all social media platforms.

Several initiatives have been launched to support the efforts of African governments and the World Health Organisation (WHO) since the COVID-19 outbreak.

The benefit concert will also be made available after Africa Day to encourage individuals and organisations to continue pledging towards funds for this ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Medical underwriter AAR Insurance is rolling out a digital transformation strategy that will revamp its distribution channels to attract tech-savvy clientele and empower customers to make critical decisions about their health.   

The company has introduced several digital platforms that not only deliver flexibility and convenience to clients but also enable them track and manage their medical expenses.

The insurer is also banking on the digital model to enhance efficiency, innovation and transparency across its business processes.  

According to AAR Insurance Managing Director Nixon Shigoli, this is part of the company’s strategic direction towards delivering customer experience and innovating new ways of engaging with its clients.

“The AAR brand is on a digital transformation journey to empower our customers and create a delightful experience. Our goal is to create an enabling environment for our clients to enjoy end-to-end services through their mobile phones and other devices,” said Shigoli. 

For instance, AAR has partnered with e-commerce firm Carepay to roll out M-TIBA, a platform that enables customers to manage their medical expenses using their mobile phones. The new service replaced the medical cards previously used by clients to access treatment. Now, they only need to activate through the USSD code (*253#) using a mobile device.

“Mobile-based platforms are crucial in improving health care delivery and increasing uptake of medical insurance. In addition, technology enhances the customer service while lowering the cost of service delivery,” says Mr. Shigoli.

AAR has also introduced an online portal where clients can apply for medical insurance, get quotations, upload the requisite documents and pay for the cover. Customers no longer have to fill out physical forms as they can apply for a medical cover online anytime, anywhere.

Additionally, one can purchase travel insurance, personal accident cover and home insurance online, pay using mobile money payment platforms and get their policy in a matter of minutes.

Using the online portals, clients can manage their policy by checking cover utilization and ensuring personal data is accurate.   

Mr. Shigoli adds that his company is keen on harnessing its digital assets to drive the long-term sustainability of its business and relationships with customers.

The shift to digital is also key in curbing fraud and other malpractices involving medical insurance claims. Bureaucracy and opaque processes have been blamed for client over-billing by some service providers and in some cases fraudulent claims through impersonation.  

“Empowering the consumer and enhancing transparency is a critical factor in tackling fraud and other malpractices. Our clients are able to keep track of their expenses hence reducing opportunities for malpractices,” explains Mr. Shigoli.

Insurance firms have been seen as slow in responding to the digital disruption shaking up the industry and shifting decision-making power to consumers. But this is changing as companies like AAR Insurance ramp up their digital capabilities to grow their business and empower clients.

Following the launch of the Kshs. 100m Artists’ Stimulus Programme on 10^th May 2020 by Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage Amina Mohammed and the unveiling of the “Together at Home” campaign, the government has now announced the call for applications.

All interested artists, musicians and actors are invited to immediately submit their proposals on artistic productions for consideration by the Ministry.

According to the Principal Secretary State department for culture and Heritage Josephta Mukobe the available funding may not be sufficient to cover all artists engaged within the creative economy therefore, this will be a competitive process.

''We are cognizant of the fact that Kenya has over 100,000 creatives and that the available funding may not be sufficient to cover all artists engaged within the creative economy'' said Mukobe.

The programme will be implemented by the following Departments and Agencies who will also be responsible for disbursement of funds to persons selected to engage in the project: the Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC) which will facilitate the participation of musicians, DJs, dancers and Acapella groups in all their categories.

Department of Culture will cover comedians and visual artists; the Kenya Cultural Centre responsible for actors, poets, story-tellers, theatre, including radio theatre and mimes; the National Museums of Kenya which will oversee mural and graffiti artists while the Kenya Film Commission will manage all matters film & content creation.

The application portal domiciled on the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage’s is now open. Creatives across the country are invited to submit their applications. Interested practitioners can now visit www.sportsheritage.go.ke and fill in the provided application forms for consideration. The criteria are spelt out on the website under the various genres.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/1533-government-launches-work-for-pay-kshs-100-million-artists-stimulus-package

In a statement Mukobe noted "The Ministry shall endeavour to guarantee participation reach in all the 47 Counties, ensure gender parity and pay particular emphasis on the 30% reservation for vulnerable groups including Persons Living with Disability''.

Adding ''The Departments and Agencies will be assisted by an academy of professional creatives from different disciplines in the selection process''.

The PS further assured industry practitioners and the general public  that the selection process will be fair, transparent and accountable in the selection of content providers and distribution of funds.

“Banana”, a collaboration by Island pop star Conkarah and Jamaican reggae icon Shaggy’s is going viral on video-sharing platform TikTok clocking over 5 million videos and 120 million accumulated views thanks to the #BananaDropChallenge.

The reggae tune which was released in late 2019 has been remixed multiple times contributing to its rise to iTunes’ #1 and Apple’s #5 reggae track in over 30 countries.

Written by Conkarah, "Banana" is a tongue-in-cheek play on the 1956 hit Jamaican folk song "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" from the legendary Jamaican singer-songwriter Harry Belafonte.

Watch "Banana" Official Music Video - https://bit.ly/3e2ve3R

Watch Shaggy’s TikTok dance - https://bit.ly/3g8xOHl

Watch Conkarah’s TikTok dance - https://bit.ly/2TmjEJa  

Speaking on the collaboration Shaggy says, "'Banana' is a modern re-flip of a timeless, classic melody complete with tongue-in-cheek humor in the true Caribbean tradition. Conkarah has a cool delivery and it was fun to complement that on the song with my tone."

A Jamaican native, Conkarah made global headlines in 2015 when his cover of Adele’s “Hello” featuring recording artist Rosie Delmah went viral hitting the #1 spot on Spotify’s Global Viral chart. The cover’s video on YouTube currently has over 100 million views.

In 2018 he released EXCITA - an album of original songs blending genres including Reggae, Dancehall, and Pop Music featuring collabs with GRAMMY-winning dancehall artist Beenie Man, Jamaican Reggae legend Tanya Stephen, and Nigerian Afrobeats king Ice Prince. On release, the album debuted at #3 on the Billboard Reggae chart.

More About Conkarah

Jamaican artist Conkarah borrows his stage name from the English word ‘conqueror’ which means "a person who conquers a place or people". This definition aptly suits the recording artist who desires to conquer the world by spreading the positive vibes of reggae music wherever he travels. Having grown up in a culturally diverse home with a British mother and Jamaican father, the Kingston, Jamaica native is almost nomadic as he consistently explores the globe. Conkarah's unique covers of Billboard chart-toppers have garnered over 200 million combined views and over 620K YouTube subscribers.

Popular Tanzanian comedian Idris Sultan is being held at a police station in the main city, Dar es Salaam.

The former Big Brother Africa winner was summoned by police on Tuesday afternoon over what is said to be Cybercrime related offence , it is still not yet clear what he did.

His lawyer, Eliya Rioba was busy trying to negotiate with the police for a cash bail for the better of the evening without success. The comedian spent the night behind bars.

In an interview with local media last night, lawyer Rioba said he was also in the process of finding the exact offence his client committed.

This is the second time that Idris has found himself in trouble with the Tanzanian government over the same offence, late last year he was summoned by police after sharing photos of a face swap between him and President John Magufuli.

He had shared a photo of President Magufuli’s head atop his likeness, complete with braces, arms folded and sleeves rolled up. The other photo was his  face on Magufuli’s body, suited and posed on a presidential chair with the national seal with the caption ''"We swapped roles for a day so that he could enjoy his birthday in peace.".

His arrest prompted criticism from Rights activists saying it infringes on freedom of expression.

The offence attracts up to seven years prison sentence.

Sultan enjoys more than five million followers across his social media accounts especially Instagram.

More to follow..

Tanasha Donna has officially launched a community service, which is aimed at giving help to the vulnerable people in the community.

On her official instagram page,Tanasha revealed that together with her new team, they will be visiting various children’s home, people with special needs and other organization, while also inviting any interested party to joining her in this quest.

“I have always believed in giving back and I feel blessed to be surrounded by good people and have the small team that I have who believe in the same. We are not perfect not stinking rich, but the little we can we give back. It starts small, by giving back to your family, friends, mama mboga or even your askari downstairs, to helping children or people with special needs, it’s the little things that matter,” she said on the instagram post.

This new venture is not only in a spirit to give a helping hand to vulnerable and affected families during the corona virus pandemic which has taken great toll on many Kenyans, but it also comes only a month after her  ex-lover and baby daddy Diamond Platinumz revealed that she had converted to Islam and even gained a Muslim name- Aisha.

She has also been recently spotted with KTN Presenter Jamal Gaddafi breaking the fast in observation of the Holy month of Ramadhan, an indication that she might well be officially a practicing Muslim.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/1499-diamond-platnumz-confirms-tanasha-donna-converted-to-islam

The celebrity and new mom said that she will be using the Instagram page to share this new venture and also use the platform to share contacts with her followers to motivate them into doing more to help needy people.

“However small or big, it’s the gesture that counts and I believe more blessings blossom from these small kind acts,” she said.

She has for managed to visit two Children homes , Angel centre Kenya which rescues abandoned babies and giving them a safe place to call home, and the Mama Fatuma Children's home both in Nairobi.

Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali has linked the ouster of Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika from the Senate leadership to President Kenyatta’s succession politics.

The vocal first time Mp accused some unnamed individuals of sitting in boardrooms and deciding who will take over from President Uhuru Kenyatta who is currently serving his last term.

''I want to say that the government is heading to the wrong direction and not the right direction. I want to say that we should not  be busy sitting in the boardroom and planning who will be the next president of Kenya, that choice should be left to the good people of Kenya'' said Ali.

Adding ''Kenyans will vote for whoever they want come 2022, we should not frustrate members of parliament and senators by trying to take them off their committees. We are not blind, we see all that is happening''.

Speaking at his office on Monday morning, during the launch of the distribution of relief food to his constituents, Ali said it's not the right time for the government to play politics but focus on how to address the COVID -19 pandemic, hunger, floods and other disasters currently facing the country.

''Kenyans want to know what measures their government has put in place to solve the issue of COVID- 19 and how they can get food. This is the politics that we all  want to hear for now''. said Ali.

Adding ''Whatever that you are doing to William Ruto will also be done to you, the world is a cycle''

After spending a year in the performance circuit and the release of his E.P ‘Bloom’, the ‘Flawa Boy’ sound has definitely come of Age granted the vocal mastery evident in the new Single release dubbed ‘Jaherana’. Dholuo for ‘My Love’ the song texture is light and pleasing as ‘Kuiyu’ throws in dynamic vocal isms that rhyme and gel with the tracks idiom.

Definitely one for the dancefloor, or in this COVID-19 times, your living room-come-disco floor; ‘JAHERANA’ is an energy-filled magnet that draws you in by the second with honest lyrical confessions through the opening verse and sets your mood to an Afro-House high by the time you reach the catchy chorus and by the time you peak at the climax, chanting to ‘Ikhala Nase’ (Luhya for ‘Stay with Me’) should come easy as you cling on to the final note.

“Blending Swahili, English, Dholuo and even Luhya chants in the song lyric was a deliberate choice. Most of my more popular previous releases have been in my native dialect ‘Kikuyu’. In a bid to understand the world better, I’m especially captured by other languages and cultures, there’s a way language on its own can be very revealing''- Exclaims Kuiyu.

Adding ''In a world where we are constantly consuming overly romanticized western media, there remains a gap to create representative content in which we, Africans, see ourselves, articulate our mannerisms and battle with the discomfort of some of our own nuances.”

Devout followers of ‘Kuiyu’s’ work would instantly recognize the groove in the song as it first appeared on his Debut project ‘Kionjo’ as ‘Timamu’.

A collaborative effort, ‘Jaherana’ includes recording, mixing and mastering credits from ‘Son Of A Beat’ A.K.A Kibby A Freak of www.kibbyafreak.com. The original track was produced at Crystalline Media and features arrangements from Karanja Kiarie.

The Official Music Video, available Here, was directed by PKG. Inc. Shot in the idyllic beaches of Bagamoyo, Tanzania and the towns of Mombasa city, features shots of ‘Kuiyu’ in different scenes colored with his authentic expressions that invite the audience to a fun escapade in the coastal experience highlighting frames of travel and festival activity at the 2019 ‘ONGALA MUSIC FESTIVAL’.