Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has refuted claims that he has resigned as the ODM deputy party leader.

The vocal Governor and a strong defender of ODM party leader Raila Odinga was responding to a letter making rounds on social media dated 4th October 2020 addressed to Raila Odinga alleging that he has resigned as his deputy.

"I hereby thank you for the opportunity you granted me as a deputy party leader in ODM" reads the letter.

Adding "It has been a learning experience for me and I do hereby tender my resignation as your deputy.”

The ODM party also responded to the letter stating ''Our DPL is firmly, strongly and unwaveringly in the Party... ignore the FAKE news."

Joho is tomorrow expected to lead a host of ODM politicians from the Coast region including Governors to accompany the ODM candidate for the Msambweni by election Omar Boga to present his papers to the independent electoral and boundaries commission (IEBC) in Kwale

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has encouraged Kenyans to go for early screening and treatment as a step towards winning the war against cancer.

The First Lady reaffirmed her support for ongoing efforts to scale up breast cancer awareness to save women’s lives through her Beyond Zero initiative.

“We know the importance of early screening, the benefit of early detection and treatment and how these improve the survival rate and advance our collective efforts of reversing the trend of rising breast cancer incidences among our communities,” the First Lady said.

In her message to commemorate the breast cancer awareness month of October, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta recognised breast cancer survivors and encouraged those battling the disease as she appreciated their families for standing with them.

“It is also the month when we reaffirm our support and stand in solidarity with women, courageous women, who have spoken up and shared stories of their unique journeys.  We thank you because through your voice, we have heard your stories of survival,” she said.

The First Lady stressed that information and advocacy as well as timely health choices help to ease the toll and burden of cancer and ill health in general.

Meanwhile, the breast cancer awareness month was today marked in Makueni County by the launch of a cancer clinic constructed at the Makueni County Referral Hospital through the Empower project of the County First Ladies Association.

The cancer clinic dubbed “Purple Room” takes cancer screening, detection and treatment closer to the people of Makueni.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta was represented at event by Beyond Zero’s Coordinator Angella Langat who underlined the First Lady’s commitment to promote advocacy on breast and cervical cancer for women as well as prostate cancer for men through free cancer screening at the Beyond Zero Medical Safaris.

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, his deputy Adelina Mwau and the County’s Executive Committee Member for Health Dr Andrew Mulwa commended First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for donating a Beyond Zero mobile clinic that has boosted the county’s efforts to fight cancer.

The event was attended by 14 County First Ladies led by host Mrs Nazi Kivutha who is also the outgoing Chairperson of the County First Ladies Association and incoming Chairperson Mrs Maria Mbeneka of Laikipia County.

Prolific songwriter and singer Smart Djaba is at it again. This time he brings us a groovy afro pop track titled Jiji, a song produced by two top Nigerian producers Kel-P Vibes and Ransom.

These two producers are credited with creating bangers for mega stars like Burna Boy and RunTown.

Listen to Jiji here: https://youtu.be/2DhZGNSahf0

About Jiji

"Jiji is a song about my experience when I came to Nairobi for the first time" Smart Djaba says. "I had a very rosy image of the green city in the sun, an image created to the people who haven’t been to the city by the media. When I reached Nairobi, I was struck by the reality that it is a tough place to live in especially if you do not know anyone and you have to start life from scratch" he adds

The song’s melody is soulful and manages to bring out Djaba’s message in an easy manner despite the fact that what he is singing is deep and very personal.

Population Services (PS) Kenya has today announced that it will hold a series of cancer screening events targeting over 2500 women in partnership with Stanbic bank in various areas of the country to mark the Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Women aged 25 years and above in Nairobi, Kisumu, Kiambu, Mombasa and Nakuru will be screened for breast and cervical cancer in a bid to decrease preventable deaths through early detection.

“We are glad to announce our partnership with Stanbic Bank who have funded the screening events that will take place in various parts of the country from Saturday until the end of the month." said Joyce Wanderi, Chief Executive Officer, PS Kenya.

Adding "Our primary goal is to increase detection of breast and cervical cancers in their early stages and hence improve prognosis and reduce the number of preventable deaths,” 

The screening services will be taken to low income areas of Nairobi where the residents tend to stay away from hospitals due to the high cost of healthcare in the country.

From this week until the end of October, PS Kenya in partnership with Stanbic will target to screen about 300 women in each of the eight centers where the activities will take place in the 5 counties 

PS Kenya will work with the Tunza  Health Network providers (a PS Kenya social franchise) to provide breast cancer screening for women while at the same time empowering them to self-screen themselves regularly.

The screening will be integrated with cervical cancer screening which will adopt a “Screen and Treat model” which PS Kenya has previously used in a partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation from 2012-2016.

Here, a Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) is used to detect early changes that are visible when using a speculum to inspect the cervix with the naked eye after applying dilute (3-5%) acetic acid to it.

The positive cases are then treated with a Cryotherapy Machine immediately, hence the “Screen and Treat” terminology.

“This is a cheaper method for detecting early cell changes and has made screening affordable for all women above the age of 25 at an average cost of Shs. 500. We will mobilize the communities around the centers where the events will take place using community health workers to raise awareness about the importance of early screening and its affordability. We will ask those who turn up for screening to tell their relatives and friends,” said Ms. Wanderi.

Besides early detection, diagnosed patients will be referred to leading hospitals for better treatment.

“We are happy to be a part of this project as a funding partner because the cancer burden continues to affect all of us, exerting significant strain on populations and health systems at all income levels" said Pauline Mbaya, Head  Stanbic Bank Foundation. 

Adding "In 2018, there were an estimated 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths globally. In Kenya, cancer is the 3^rd leading cause of death after infectious and cardiovascular diseases. Early screening and detection can save more lives and that is the aim of this partnership,” 

Overall, breast cancer registers 5,985 new cases in Kenya, accounting for 12.5% of all new cancer cases, and 20.9% in women alone (GLOBOCAN, 2018).

In the same period, it accounted for 9.2% of all cancer deaths, making it the third leading cause of all cancer deaths in the country.

Available data shows that majority of breast cancer patients present in late stage, contributing to higher mortality and low overall survival.

In Kenya, cervical cancer contributes 5,250 (12.9%) of the new cancer cases annually and 3,286 (11.84%) of all cancer deaths annually.

It is a leading cause of cancer relat­ed deaths in Kenya and the 2nd most common cancer among females. (GLOBOCAN, 2018). 

According to WHO 2018, 33 per 100,000 women in Kenya have cervical cancer and 22 per 100,000 die from the disease. 

Over seventy per cent of cancer patients in Kenya are diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Schedule of Events;

Tanzanian singer Hamisa Mobetto has just released her new song featuring Nigerian fast rising artist Singah, titled 'Ginger Me'.

According to Hamisa, this is the first song off her upcoming album set for release soon.

Mobetto has released the song after being silent for one year.

"Imekuwa Mwaka Mmoja Tangu Nimeachia Nyimbo! Poleni Sana Kwa Kunivumilia Mashabiki zangu, Leo Nimewaletea nyimbo Mpya  #GINGERME Ft The Melody killer @official_singah Ikiwa nyimbo ya kwanza Kutoka katika Ep yangu Inayotoka Hivi karibuni"she posted on her social media pages.

Watch the video below

President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence and encouragement to Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney and family following the death of her father Mzee Edward Kiprotich Karoney.

Mzee Karoney, 74, passed away Tuesday afternoon at Kapsabet Referral Hospital in Nandi County following a traffic accident along Kapsabet-Eldoret Road.

In his message of comfort, the President mourned Mzee Karoney as a respected elder, a successful farmer and a strong champion for education.

"It is unfortunate that we have lost Mzee Karoney when we still needed his wise counsel as an elder. We have lost a man who cherished and was a strong champion for education in his community as can be seen through his children.

“Mzee Karoney will be remembered by many for his farming exploits and as a mentor for young farmers in Nandi County," the President eulogised.

The Head of State said death had robbed the nation of a warm, outstanding and gifted elder whose legacy will live on for many generations to come.

“It is my prayer that the Almighty God will give you the strength and courage to bear the loss,” the President encouraged CS Farida Karoney and the family.

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for coronavirus, the Portuguese Football Federation (PFF) has said.

According to the statement, Ronaldo is "well, without symptoms, and in isolation."

The 35-year-old Juventus forward played for Portugal against France in the Nations League on Sunday and against Spain in a friendly last week.

He will miss his country's Nations League match against Sweden on Wednesday.

Ronaldo posted a photo of himself on Instagram on Monday which showed him sat around a long dinner table with fellow members of the Portugal team.

However, no further positive tests have been reported in the squad ahead of the Sweden match.

The PFF confirmed in a statement: "Following the positive case, the remaining players underwent new tests this Tuesday morning, all with a negative result, and are available to Fernando Santos for training this afternoon, in Cidade do Futebol.

"The game (against Sweden), counting for the qualification phase of the Nations League, is scheduled for Wednesday, at 19:45, in Alvalade."

Ugandan rapper Navio, East Africa’s biggest rap export, has linked up with legendary Tanzanian rapper Joh Makini and Flex d'Paper, the leader of Ugandan nu school to release the music video of “Abaana Beeka”.

Abaana Beeka in Luganda means children of the soil, Children from Home. It’s a gritty and transcendent beat from Samurae, one of the most revered producers Uganda has ever spawned.

When three juggernauts in African music come together it’s an explosive blend! Directed by Sasha Vybz, the music video of “Abaana Beka” replays scenes from top African cities – an ode to our diversity in sound, language and trends. 

Watch “Abaana Beka” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YTq9U-_jLI

Stream ‘Strength In Numbers: https://equitydistro.ffm.to/rndymb3

“Abaana Beka” isn’t only hailing East Africa but those who represent their hoods and the traditions that brought them to where they are, irrespective of where they are.

From Africa in the East, South to West and beyond –pride in our originality is a global thing.

This is slated to be one of the biggest collaborations in Africa this year, with hard street elements and a freestyle-based godfather writing style that have made these three kings loved by their fans.

In a time when Corona is making artists look inwards, these acts are still pushing the international hustle agenda, still grinding and still putting out great music.

This is the latest release from Navcorp /Icon Studios and Weusi. “Abaana Beka” is a single off Navio’s 2020 album ‘Strength In Numbers’.

“Kyekyo” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX7cKeMrX-k

“Nielewe” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dedsmEapCr8

“Paper” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L98egrYRCA