The National Police Service (NPS) has released a statement on violence during the Deputy President William Ruto's tour to Kondele, Kisumu.

In the statement signed by police spokesperson Bruno Isohi, police had earlier warned Ruto against visiting the area after receiving intelligence report of tension in the area.

"Based on inteligence gathered, there was tension within Kondele owing to alledged distribution of campaign logistical funds amongst local groups." says the statement.

Adding " This inteligence was promptly shared by police with H.E Depurt President's team with reccomendation to skip the affected area during the tour".

According to the police, the violence was between the agitated groups who engaged in stone throwing and other unruly behaviour.

During the violence police engaged the youth in running battles, with teargas hurled to disperse the crowd. Some of the youth were chanting pro-ODM leader Raila Odinga slogans.

Some youth pelted his convoy with stones.

Through his twitter handle, Deputy President William Ruto castigated leaders and political groupings that use violence to advance their selfish cause after his rally in Kondele was disrupted and his motorcade pelted with stones, forcing police officers to lob tear-gas at the rowdy crowd. 

"The Hustler Nation disassociates with leaders and political groupings that use violence to advance their selfish cause." the Dp tweeted.

Adding "Our plans and programmes will ensure that the youth are liberated from regressive stone-throwing culture by engaging them in gainful activities that will better their lives through the Bottom-Up Economic Model,"

Have you listened to Mbosso and Zuchu new song 'For your love?, well the duo have been accused of stealing the melody.

According to Kenyan singer Otile Brown, the melody of the song belongs to his hit song 'Baby Love'.

Taking to social media, Otile Brown blasted the two Tanzanian singers for stealing his melody.

"Punguzeni mazoea basi..Hio ni melody nzima ya baby love, if you know you know" said Otile.

Adding " Mnabahati sina utoto na roho mbaya".

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has thanked well-wishers and partners of Ghetto Classics for supporting the musical group in its efforts to improve the lives of underprivileged children.

The First Lady, who is the Patron of the Art of Music Foundation that runs the Ghetto Classics music education programme, said the support from well-wishers and partners has helped the group to expand the music education programme.

Ghetto Classics, a flagship programme of the Art of Music Foundation founded by Ms Elizabeth Njoroge in 2007, has to date benefitted 1500 children and youth from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds as well as the lives of Korogocho and other satellite communities.

“The theme of this evening is gratitude. The story of Ghetto Classics, and the impact it has made on thousands of boys and girls is truly a special story.

“Many of you here who have worked hard to make this programme a success, I extend my deepest appreciation for your sustaining the vision,” the First Lady said.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta spoke on Tuesday evening in Nairobi during the Ghetto Classics thanksgiving concert attended by Sports, Culture and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa among other dignitaries.

The First Lady noted that the scholarships provided by well-wishers and partners of Ghetto Classics have expanded opportunities for many more children, enabling them to participate in the music education programme or pursue further education.

She added that the financial grants from well-wishers and partners have ensured sustainability of the music education programme by helping in the purchase of music equipment as well as provision of learning spaces for underprivileged children who express their creativity and diversity through music.

“United with one voice, you have embraced your civic responsibility and shown that we can help change lives of people who have less opportunities or face challenges. You have contributed in creating opportunities for many many boys and girls,” the First Lady said.

At the same time, the First Lady commended the Ghetto Classics family for embracing innovation that enabled them to offer concerts online at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

She also applauded Ghetto Classics for caring for the elderly through food, masks and clothing donations during the pandemic.

“This demonstrates the impact this programme has had in nurturing the spirit of teamwork to produce change. It demonstrates the power we all have, despite our circumstances, to improve lives.

“I congratulate the entire Ghetto Classics family for your solidarity and admire you for the love that you have shown for one another and for your community,” the First Lady said.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said his company’s direct contribution towards supporting Ghetto Classics currently stands at Kshs 90 million.

Mr Ndegwa thanked First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for being the Patron of a great cause, the  Ghetto Classics, which he said is transforming the lives of vulnerable children in some of Nairobi's informal settlements.

Other speakers at the colorful celebrations were the Art of Music Foundation Chairperson Rachel Mbai as well as the foundation’s founder and Executive Director Ms Elizabeth Njoroge.

Award winning Kenyan Gospel singer and song-writer  Manolo presents his new music video titled 'Tawala', a straight banger.

Check out "TAWALA" Video Here: https://youtu.be/jlv WN6 PhWg

ABOUT THE SONG - TAWALA

It's been three years since Manolo ventured out as a solo artiste, after 6 years in the urban gospel group Recapp.

Within this period Manolo has reinvented himself both as a great songwriter and singer. His music has transitioned from the urban gospel sound into a mainstream sound that endears to a wider audience.

The quality music videos that accompany his singles have also played a part in the massive airplay he has been receiving especially in the year 2020.

Tawala the song is how God reigns over everything. How overwhelming it is that HE exists in and out of time. How everything is HIS. It's a joyful song because God reigning means everything is in good hands and under control.

Manolo has had an impactful music career; having began his professional music career in 2012 as the lead member of Recapp, an urban gospel group, together for 6 years before going solo. As part of Recapp; they released a total of 2 albums – Ambition and Proud to Be a Christian.

Manolo’s won in the Afro-Pop Song of the year category in the 2020 Verse 5ve Awards and his song Testimony was nominated and won in the 2021 Rhema Awards. 

He is the founder of Siko Solo; An initiative aimed at creating and sustaining a platform to address mental health issues.

Kenya’s Men’s and Women’s 3 x 3 Basketball teams have qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Both teams booked automatic slots by virtue of being ranked second best teams in the continent since Egypt is not a member of the Commonwealth Country.

The games will be held in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

This is Basketball 3×3’s first ever appearance at the Commonwealth Games with the more familiar 5 x 5 version of the game being contested twice at the Commonwealth Games, first in Melbourne in 2006 and Gold Coast in 2018.

The men’s team comprises of Fidel Akoth, Ronald Gundo and Martin Buluma while the women are Oluoch Taudencia, Melissa Akinyi, Natali Mwangale and Christine Akinyi.

In 2019, the team participated at the All-African Games and came in fourth then took part in the African Cup Games in Kampala where they finished sixth last year.

The African King of Bald Men, Bien-Aime, has released his first solo EP titled - ‘Bald Men Love Better’ in collaboration with well-known Kenyan jazz maestro, Aaron Rimbui. \

This follows the success of the project’s lead single “Bald Men Anthem” that has surpassed 1 million streams across all digital platforms since its release 3 weeks ago.

Bien-Aime and Aaron have today released the second music video of the EP titled “Mbwe Mbwe”.

“Mbwe Mbwe is undoubtedly my best song in the EP, “It’s a song about making merry and enjoying the spoils of your hard work" Bien said.

It was a very beautiful challenge from Aaron to Bensol and I to write a Rhumba song that resonates with the 80s. 

“Mbwe Mbwe” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL9yXKjhWXY 

 Stream ‘Bald Men Love Better’ EP

At a press conference held on Friday, 5th November 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya - Sauti Sol’s creative enterprise also announced Bien’s signing to Sol Generation Records as a solo artist.

The three year deal worth 50 million Kenya shilling will see him record and release his solo music and albums under the Sol Generations outfit. Bien-Aime's project ‘Bald Men Love Better’ is the first release under Sol Generation Records through a joint venture with Exodus Entertainment.

The 5-track EP features the newly released single “Mbwe Mbwe”, “Bald Men Anthem”, “Stamina”, “Coming Home” and “Reset Rewind”. 

Aaron says of their collaborative project, “Bien and I will always make art and music when we meet. We did a live recording for the whole album. It was a project of fast executions but you can feel the timelessness of it and I love it for that.”

Bien adds, “When we started making the project, I didn’t know what to expect. We were not trying to exist in any genre and the music we made is not in any genre. I did not expect it to be that beautiful and I hope our fans, old and new, will feel the same.” 

“Bald Men Anthem” is a song about self love and self worth.

The anthem echoes the EP’s concept of self-love and accepting yourself for who you are. For a long time around the world bald people were made to feel like they did not belong; it was embarrassing to be a bald man.

This is an anthem to make bald men feel secure within themselves and reflect positively on how they live their everyday lives.

This is also an anthem for those who are not bald - it’s an ode to make you feel confident and have more self-worth. Co-written with Bensol, “Stamina” expounds on the experience of the evolution from a boy to a man, and the challenges men go through in their lives in this transition. 

Bien says, “It's  a reminder to make hay when the sun shines and use your youth  wisely and dance when you still have stamina”. “Coming Home” is an interlude and a jazzy version of one of Sauti sol’s classic hits, inspired by the duo’s deep love for the original song.

Written by Bien-Aime and Chiki during the pandemic in hope for better days; “Reset Rewind” is a song about uncertainty - penned during the pandemic at a time when we didn’t know when we would have our lives back in order. “Mbwe Mbwe” as Bien fondly says, takes him back to his younger days, being a child listening to Rhumba music and playing with his uncle's radio.

“It reminds me of places I ate fish in town like a place called Abondas and Ronalo, among many others. They would always play Rhumba.” he says.

Bien-Aime and Aaron Rimbui might seem like world’s apart but the longtime collaborators are a perfect show for soul meets jazz. Their first collaboration “Say Mama” was released in 2016. Aaron also collaborated with Sauti Sol on the original “Kuliko Jana”.

Bien says, “We have always made music when we had the chance to break bread. He’s in Kenya right now visiting from New York where he lives and I am sure that for the 8 weeks he’s around we will be making music. Bald men love better tunes on the way.”

Jomvu Member of Parliament Badi Twalib has pledged to support budding cinematographers in his constituency as a way of empowering the youth to explore their talents.

Speaking during the launch of 'Siwema', a film by Big Shark Youth Group, the MP stated that he was ready to offer the youth support through the Jomvu NG-CDF kitty and the Uwezo Fund to assist them cover production costs.

He stated that the film industry at the Coast and the country was growing at a fast rate hence the need to invest into the industry adding that the industry has the ability to create job opportunities for the youth to help tackle the challenge of high unemployment rate bedeviling the youth across the country.

The Sunday event was graced by representatives from the Kenya Film Commission and a number of renowned coast based artists and film producers.

 "As an MP I want to assure you my total support, we shall knock every government office that deals with the film industry to ensure that you receive the much needed help you require from equipment to technical support and even marketing and distribution," said Twalib.

 "I want to tell you that the film industry pays, just like Hollywood(US), Bollywood (India) and Nollywood (Nigeria). Let us have hope that we can get to those heights. I believe that if we partner with government film agencies we shall be able to make you go far and make money for yourselves," said Twalib.

He further stated that he was going to do more in nurturing other talents like football promising to come up with a trial program that will see youths have the opportunity to go for trials in coastal based teams like premier league tier Bandari FC.

The MP further asked the youth to put effort in the academics even as they explore their talents while cautioning to shun drugs and gangs.

"I want to beseech you to shun violence especially as we approach the next general elections, democracy allows you to support a candidate of your choice, but don't fight because of politicians, politics will come and go," he added. 

Also present at the event was Stephen Konde, a renowned coast-based film production manager for the Swahili series 'Pete' who promised to offer technical support to the budding cinematographers. 

"I am here today with part of my crew to offer these young lads support, we shall give them technical know how by exposing them on the best equipment and on how to produce standard films, we shall organize a workshop for them to improve their skills," said Konde.

He added that they were wiling to sponsor one of their film to propel them to international standards. 

The Nest Collective is proud to share the long awaited premiere dates for “The More Things Change”, as well as the new screening details, so that everyone can finally watch it! TMTC will be watched for the very first time at the NBO Film Festival, on Friday 12th November 2021.

Thereafter, it will be available to all, for absolutely FREE viewing, on The Nest Collective's Youtube Channel from its online premiere on Wednesday 17th November 2021, from 10AM!

Catch TMTC’s short teaser here

Watch the longer, much more juicy trailer here! 

“The More Things Change”, or TMTC for short, is a fiction anthology feature film from the Nest Collective 2 years in the making, slated for release this very month! The film was made in partnership with Forum Civ, as part of the Wajibu Wetu program.

TMTC has been described as a slow-burn, cerebral, dramatic thriller.

It boasts the unique narrative of looking back into Kenya’s political past, and then exploring the present, as well as imagining an exciting potential speculative future, to explore resistance by individuals and communities.

Co-directed by Collective members Akati Khasiani and Mars Maasai, the film explores what happens when an ordinary girl takes on a powerful adversary at great personal cost.

TMTC is proud to present leading talent Nyawara Ndambia as its star. A fiery performer of great flexibility and power, Nyawara was most recently seen in the highly acclaimed Kenyan comedic drama Supa Modo, where she starred as the beautiful, determined and assertive Mwix.

TMTC also features several other Kenyan stage, TV and film actors of note! These include Melvin Alusa (Mission To Rescue, Crime and Justice, The First Grader, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind), Bryan Ngatia (Too Early For Birds), Emmanuel Mugo (Sense8, Pillow Talk, This Is Life) and young luminary Stycie Waweru (Supa Modo, Just In Time, Lusala).

 “We’re really happy to be so close to the release, after many months of work from so many talented people. We can’t wait to see how folks will react!” said Njeri Gitungo, the Nest’s head producer.