Top-notch rapper, musician, mogul, poet and philanthropist King Kaka has been on the road, literally, for 6 days.

On August 19^th, he embarked on a week long trek all the way to Nairobi from Nakuru.

The walk which was dubbed The Menstrual Walk is a part of his initiative Sanitary Bank Campaign which seeks to end period poverty in marginalized areas.

King Kaka has a target to keep at least 100,000 girls in school by providing them will sanitary towels. 

According to the initiative’s BankonMe website, 88% of girls in remote areas have no access to menstrual hygiene products such as sanitary towels, affecting their school attendance ultimately resulting in a poor academic performance for these young girls.

The program hopes to see fewer girls miss out on school due to lack of sanitary products.

King together with his indomitable team set out at the beginning of last week, making sure they cover at least 27kms per day to keep track of their goal of 154kms. What followed next were 6 long days of walking from sunrise to sunsets.

They endured extreme weather, around Limuru, Naivasha and Giligil areas; it was truly blood and sweat but it wouldn’t weaken his nor his teams’ spirits.

The program has partnered with various corporate such as Coca Cola, Skyward Express, Symatech Labs, Confidence Pads, iQ Marketing, House of Major, iPay and Enda( who provided sports gear for the team).

Some of the  public figures who support the initiative include Janet Mbugua, Sharon Mundia, Terrence Creative, Nameless, Nick Mutuma, Lulu Hassan, Kalekye Mumo, Julius Yego, Michelle Ntalami, Annerlisa Mungai among others. 

To donate or be part of King Kaka’s BankOnMe initiative, visit the website to donate and help provide a glimmer of hope to the thousands of young women facing menstrual poverty in Kenya.

Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi is lending a hand to people in need with the launch of its 2019 ‘Kilo of Kindness’ global charity campaign.

Now in its fifth year, the ‘Kilo of Kindness’ campaign which honours the United Nations International Day of Charity on 5 September, calls on guests to donate at least one kilo of food, clothing and educational supplies to disadvantaged communities around the world, with a focus on underprivileged young people. 

This year more than 50 Mövenpick hotels across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East are supporting the campaign, which runs from 1-15 September.

Guests and visitors are invited to drop off at least one kilo of supplies at the hotel during this period, which will be distributed to Angels of Hope - a community-based organisation in Kenya’s slums of Kibera that started in 2010 to support poor orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV/AIDS.

Angels of Hope aims to achieve community development as well as eliminate hunger, homelessness and illiteracy.

High-priority items include books, notebooks and stationery such as pens, pencils, rulers and erasers, canned foods such as tuna, soup, fruit, vegetables and concentrated milk.

Other priorities are dry foods like rice, beans, oats, pasta, cereals, flour, powdered milk, baby formula, tea and coffee; and clothing for adults and children. 

Last year, a staggering 12,700 kilograms of supplies were donated via the participating hotels – a figure Mövenpick hopes to surpass with its 2019 campaign. While each guest is encouraged to donate a ‘Kilo of Kindness.

“Our Kilo of Kindness campaign has grown immensely since its inception and in 2019 we are rallying support worldwide across all channels, within our hotels and local communities, in the hope to make this year the most successful yet,” said Nick Bosworth,  Vice President Brand Management, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

Adding “This corporate social responsibility initiative is at the heart of the Mövenpick brand and reflects our values and commitment to the local communities in which we operate"

Bosworth further noted "We are encouraging all guests to join us this September to support a ‘Kilo of Kindness’, so together we can collectively make a difference in the lives of many.” 

The following post is by one of our readers.

Another tribute for Hussein Mohamed, the ‘shareholder’

The Government will move the Kenya Copyright Board from the Office of the Attorney General to the Ministry of ICT as part of measures to protect musicians from exploitation.

The announcement was made by President Uhuru Kenyatta when he led thousands of mourners in sending off Benga music icon, John Mwangi Ng’ang’a well known as John De’Mathew in Gatanga, Murang'a County today.

The announcement on copyright board is part of several measures the President revealed that are aimed at protecting the rights of artistes.

The President said the right home ministry for the copyright board is ICT because that is where it can have the ability to monitor broadcasters, telecoms and other entities that use productions by artistes.

He said the Ministry of ICT is under firm instructions to ensure that artistes get their dues such as royalties.

“I have instructed the ICT Ministry to ensure that before renewal of licenses for broadcasters and telecoms they must pay what they owe artistes,” said the President when he spoke at the funeral service of the late musician held at Githambia Primary School grounds in Muranga County.

He said broadcasters and telecoms should pay for music they play because they are using it to make money.

The President who was accompanied by Deputy President Dr William Ruto said he has also instructed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to probe organisations that collect money on behalf of musicians to see if they are embezzling what they collect.

“The music industry has a problem that needs to be fixed. Recently we were told that an organisation collected around Shs 200 million on behalf of musicians and then claimed that they spent 60 percent of that money as expenses for the collection,” said the President.

He also encouraged Members of Parliament to push through an amendment to the copyright laws that is pending in parliament and which is aimed at protecting the interests of artistes.

President Kenyatta said De’Mathew was his personal friend who loved peace and who liked to unite people and not to divide them.

In the late musician's honour and to support upcoming talented artistes, the President announced that the government will set up a Shs 10 million studio at Kirwarwa within Gatanga Constituency.

DP Ruto said De’Mathew has been a prominent champion of the interests of musicians especially through Tamko Sacco where he was chairman. The Sacco was established so as to support local musicians to save and access loans for their collective and individual prosperity.

Dr Ruto assured Tamko Sacco members of government's support in completing a commercial building the group plans to construct at their parcel of land in Kenol town off Thika-Nyeri highway.

The funeral was attended by several Cabinet Secretaries including James Macharia (Transport), Amina Mohamed (Sports), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Agriculture) and Joe Mucheru (ICT).

Local leaders led by Governor Mwangi wa Iria, Senator Irungu Kangata and County Woman MP Sabina Chege said De’Mathew was more than just a prominent musician to the people of Muranga.

Ommy Dimpoz teams up with his fellow superstar and longtime friend rapper and lyrical gifted Mwanafal to bring you HELLO.

The gentlemen slow in down to describe a lost love - as Ommy pleads for his love back, Mwanafa takes on a whole new attitude to express his emotions.

Watch the video below

Two Human rights lobby groups in Mombasa toady differed over Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's directive to have bars and pubs closed early on Saturday and Sunday due to the census exercise expected to kick off tomorrow.

According to Haki na Usawa Social Justice Centre executive director Salim Suleiman the directive is unconstitutional since it curtails the freedom of movement.

Suleiman charged "We respect this census, but it is wrong to deny people their right of association. Let the enumerators go into the bars and count the people in there,"

He further pointed out that as an organisation they have had a meeting with the officer commanding in charge of Changamwe Police station to discuss the issue and see how residents of Changamwe can go on with their business without being 'Intefered'