By Francis Ontomwa,

A good man has left us. Former judge of the Court of Appeal Justice (Rtd) Daniel Kennedy Sultan Aganyanya breathed his last on Friday, 17^th January, just a fortnight away from his 82^nd birthday.

To those who knew him, Justice Aganyanya was a man of few words, a kind soul, and a lover of humanity.

He spent half his adult life dispensing justice. Born from a poor background in a small village called Kisasi in Tiriki land, Aganyanya refused to let his physical challenges stop him from advancing to the highest levels of the Kenyan judiciary.

I first met the late Justice Aganyanya five years ago at his Cheptulu home in Vihiga, then as a rookie reporter, just from college. Local journalists had been invited to cover his book launch, ‘The Judicial Purge 2003 that never was’. And as you would expect it, at the launch, there was no fanfare, no hype, but a clique of journalists and a man ready to pour out his heart.

Indeed, today, I have lost memory of most of the things he said during that event, but not this one.

“The world would be a better place for all of us if only everyone said no to corruption" "Do not eat twice," he remarked. “Do not ask for something extra on top of what is legally yours."

And this is precisely what Justice Aganyanya explores at length in his 55-page book ‘The Judicial Purge 2003 that never was’. The chronicles of a man sacrificed on the very altar of fighting graft.

Even way before the formation of the Ringera commission that was tasked to clean Kenya’s judiciary, Justice Aganyanya had already gone public about the rot in the judiciary.

He wanted someone to crack the whip. And he knew how, he approached three different chief justices of his time to discuss how to end corruption within the judiciary, sadly as he recounts in the book, his efforts went west.

To his shocker, however, it would turn out that he had just backed up the wrong horse! Instead, he was branded a black sheep by the cartels who wanted him hounded out of the corridors of justice.

In one of the chapters in the book Aganyanya posits how he came to learn of his name in the Ringera list.

“I looked quite foolish when I came to learn that my name was on the list of corrupt judges through an announcement on the radio and televisions."

Justice Aganyanya, however, refused to go down without putting up a spirited fight. He knew he was innocent.

For almost a year, Justice Aganyanya religiously appeared before the tribunal, which was headed by retired Chief Justice Majid Cockar. 

The tribunal dismissed all the 11 charges filed against Justice Aganyanya. His accusations were found baseless, hearsays and rumors!

Unlike some of his colleagues who cringed and walked away from the harsh indictment by the Ringera report, Justice Aganyanya was determined to face the bull by its horns!

Today, he is no more, he has finished his race, but the fight is far from over! Corruption is still rife in our lives, not just in the judiciary but in all other arms of government. Deeply entrenched!

Such incredible lessons from Aganyanya’s trodden path in the judiciary.

He came out of the judicial service on 1^st February 2012 after attaining the mandatory age of 74.

He served in the Court of Appeal for four years, High court for over 20 years, and several years as a magistrate. He remained faithful to the course even when junior judges came and bypassed him in the hierarchy.

He spoke truth to power from his vantage point of knowledge and wisdom. He wanted a world that would allow every child to dream and achieve their ambitions. A world that would not despise the physically challenged but support them!

Throughout his tenure on the bench, Justice Aganyanya endeavored to help the less fortunate and to train those who cared to follow his footsteps.

His tormentors got it all wrong!

In the sands of our time, Justice Aganyanya has left an indelible mark! Let us not cry for him but instead let’s cry for ourselves, let’s shed tears every time it hits us that we have moved away from the ethos espoused by Justice Aganyanya! We must never allow the good jurist to turn in his grave! Fare thee well fighter! Adieu Justice Aganyanya!

The writer is a Broadcast Journalist at BBC Africa.

International DJ, producer & promoter Fully Focus just released a new single to kick off 2020! Dubbed RUSH (Unani), the all East-African collabo features three music heavyweights; Nyashinski (Kenya), Fik Fameica (Uganda) & Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania).

RUSH is co-produced by Focus alongside Uganda’s hit maker Nessim & brings a new and different sound to the scene. A blend of the artists’ unique musical styles, the catchy banger is an up-tempo jam about the tingly feeling you get when you’re with that special someone.

RUSH (Lyric Video) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb6nDQMQfEE

Speaking on the release, Focus says, “I spent the last decade curating & breaking African music to the world. Now I’m spending the next decade also making it. I hope Kenya & East Africa can finally get the shine they deserve on the global music scene with the music project I am doing, hence the need to unite the region.”

Adding, “It’s a numbers game & we’re far outweighed by West Africa, so we have to play it smart to be able to win; strength by numbers is the only way in my opinion”.

Following this release, Focus is now working on releasing more new singles in 2020. Having moved to Kenya a year ago, he has remained on top of his game having released an Afrobeats mixtape with international group Major Lazer.

He also launched his monthly event & annual conference ‘Passport Experience’ which brought Netflix & Roc Nation to Kenya. In 2019, he headlined an African Tour with shows in Ghana, Angola, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania & Burundi.

The Real Labour of Love Tour by legendary award winning British band and one of the most successful reggae acts of all time, UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell and Astro, will be coming to Kenya on the 1st of February, 2020 at Carnivore Gardens.

Speaking on their upcoming show, the duo said, “Our Kenyan fans should expect nothing short of a good time from us. We promise to make the Valentine’s month worth every penny. We are looking forward to entertaining our fans doing what we love best, and have been doing for the last 40 years.”

Ali Campbell and Astro enjoyed massive success from live touring gigs and even recorded music over the last five years, including top ten albums, Silhouette and Unplugged.

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro in 2018 reached number two in the charts with their critically acclaimed A Real Labour of Love – that inspired their worldwide tour that has seen performances in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii before UK and Europe.

The duo will perform alongside Nairobi's hottest funk soul band – The Beathogs, among other local acts and legendary DJs  to be confirmed in due course.

The legends are both part of the founding members of the UB40, the award winning British Band, and have sold over 70 million records internationally throughout their 40+ year-long career.

The two will be jetting into the country later this month ahead of their much anticipated show slated for 1st of February 2020.

Tickets are available at www.ticketsasa.com and www.mtickets.com. There will be no regular tickets as the event seeks to give the fans a VIP experience with rates ranging from Regular Kshs 5,000, VIP Kshs 10,000 and VVIP Kshs 20,000.

The concert is brought to you by The Academy of Dance and Arts and is proudly sponsored by Citizen, Hot96fm, Ole-Sereni, Ministry of Sports and Culture, Ngoma Tucheze, Carnivore, G4S, Venture Risk Management, DSL, RFH, Mtickets, Ticketsasa, Myuzik, The Beathogs, among others.

Kenyan singer and Diamond Platnumz girlfriend Tanasha Donna released her first song 'La Vie' off her upcoming EP 'Donna Tella' on Monday.

She has featured Mbosso in the love ballad.

In the song Tanasha sings in three different languages English, Swahili and French while Mbosso expresses himself in Swahili.

In the video Mbosso plays alongside a different vixen and not Tanasha as many would expect.

Well, Mbosso has come out to explain why they had to use another video vixen and not Tanasha.

Through a humorous post in his instagram page, Mbosso posted 'Sheria namba 1 kutoka kifungu cha kifamilia 'SHEMEJI AGUSWI WALA HAPAPASWI, itifaki imezingatiwa 'Rule number 1 from the value vaues is never play around or get intimate with your in- law. Protocol considered"

Mbosso is a member of the WCB family which is being headed by Diamond Platnumz who also happens to be the boss.

The post by Mbosso prompted Diamond to respond.

He jokingly commented 'Fala wewe(You are a fool)"

http://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/1376-tanasha-releases-first-song-off-her-upcoming-ep-donna-tella-features-mbosso

President Uhuru Kenyatta has officially banished the collection of artist royalties by CMOs Skiza tune and Viusasa deaming it an exploitation of the artists. 

Mombasa based NGO Mashinani watch organisation has welcomed the move by president Uhuru Kenyatta to suspend the new rules that had been set by the national health insurance fund (NHIF).

Addressing the nation from Mombasa, Uhuru ordered for the suspension of the rules to pave way for consultations.

“Given my administration’s commitment to provide affordable health, I am today directing the Ministry of Health to immediately halt the implementation of these proposals to allow for further consultations,” he said in his speech.

According to Mashinani watch Chairman Moffat Mutero the president has acted in the interest of the local mwananchi who have been complaining about the new rules.

"We were even thinking of going to the court as an organisation to sue NHIF" said Mutero.

Adding "This is the best gift for the new year that the president has given us".

Some of the contentious rules included all married individuals would only be allowed to enlist a single spouse and a maximum of five children as beneficiaries,  requiring individuals who voluntarily join the scheme to wait for three months before accessing scheme benefits..

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) had also come out to oppose the rules.

When a man is presented with only two choices, to die or to serve a deity to which he stood against, it is only a heart of dire courage that will still stand firm against that deity and this is the life story of gospel artist Dennis Nyongesa, aka Pastor Dennis.

Kenyan singer and Diamond Platnumz's current girlfriend Tanasha Donna has just released the first song off her upcoming EP 'Donna Tella'.

In the love ballad titled 'La Vie' , the sultry singer features Mbosso from WCB.

The audio has been recorded by renowned music producer S2KIZZY while video directed by  Kenny from Zoom Extra Tanzania.

The EP 'Donna Tella' is set to be launched end of this month (January) in Nairobi and among those who have so far confirm attendance is Diamond Platnumz.

The EP was to be launched last month (12th December) but had to be postponed upon Diamond's request since he wanted to be part of the launch but had another show on the said date.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/1353-tanasha-postpones-ep-listening-party-for-diamond

After dropping her new album – 12 Beats of Christmas; the multi-talented Ivlyn Mutua has dropped a new party song video dubbed ‘Whine your body’ off her 12 Beats of Christmas album.

As the name suggests, the song produced by Vicky Pondis is about dancing and partying.

Ivlyn’s voice and dance moves in the song increases the levels liveliness and energy for this  fiery party song. Whine your body carries a sultry yet pure vibe to it from the lyricism to the groove of the tune.

I bet you will have this song forced on you in whatever club setting you experience this year.

There is still a lot more to come from Ivlyn Mutua. 

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/l0i-DKq1Ub8