The United States (US) ambassador to Kenya Kylie Mc Carter today paid a courtesy call on Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at his office.

The meeting which was also attended by top county government officials including Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi, County assembly speaker Aharub Khatri  and officers from the US embassy in Nairobi mainly focused on areas of Infrastructural development, Countering Violence Extremism, Investment Opportunities and other bilateral interests .

The discussions also covered the yet to be commissioned Mombasa- Nairobi express highway which is set to drastically reduce the travel time between our two cities and contribute immensely in the improvement of the economic terrain.

"As a county we will pull all stops towards the realization of our goals part of which includes a deliberate effort geared towards enhancing the war against corruption and peaceful co existence amongst communities." said Joho.

Ambassador Mc Carter is currently on a tour of Mombasa. Yesterday, he was at the port where he officially handed over a modern server that will be installed at Kenya Ports Authority’s Central Alarm Station and connected to the 11 radiation portal monitors, this is to boost the fight against illicit trade including arms, drugs and countering terrorism.

The US has also built a Central Alarm Station and provided portable monitors to ensure any radiological or nuclear materials are immediately detected and analyzed at the facility.

“Today, what we are seeing here at the port of Mombasa is very costly technology. However, it is not about the technology alone, but the partnership we have created with Kenya,” said McCarter.

The ambassador also held a meeting with the Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Dr Daniel Manduku,  he also met with the Kenya Coast Guard officers and toured the Grain Bulk Handlers limited.

President Uhuru Kenyatta today said Africa has to invest more in its youth for it to become a continent of hope and prosperity.

The President said he was committed to keep up the momentum to create more jobs for the youth in Kenya and would each year host a summit on jobs to engage directly with young people.

“I commit to host an annual Jobs Summit which will engage young people, partners and all stakeholders to take stock of progress and advance action to increase the quality and quantum of jobs available to our young people,” said the President.

The President said this as he launched a public-private partnership program that brings together MasterCard Foundation, Kenyan banks and the Government to support job creation by supporting SME’s to the tune of more than Shs 100 billion.

The Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works Kenya platform aims to work closely with technical colleges and linking the youth to the job market. It will also create jobs by supporting the Small and Medium Enterprises through access to funds and training.

President Kenyatta said the youth are Africa’s biggest asset and governments should focus necessary policy attention on them.

“I urge Africa to invest in the youth and we will become a continent of hope, dignity and prosperity,” said the President when he spoke at the event held at Radison Blu Hotel in Nairobi.

He said the majority of Africa’s population is composed of the youth, persons below 25 years of age and that is why all policy decisions must give them due consideration. In Kenya alone, there are 17 million children in primary and secondary schools, giving a true picture of Africa’s youth bulge.

The President said Africa is on the cusp of an economic transformation with the adoption of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) Agreement which will provide a common marketplace for over 1 billion people.

He said the common market arrangement will create enormous opportunities for Africa’s youth who are full of energy and innovative ideas.

The President called on Africa’s leaders to make continental integration a reality because it will create more avenues for economic growth and social integration.

“Socio-economic integration of the African people is the greatest task of our time and our generation,” said the President who was joined by Cabinet Secretaries George Magoha (Education), Amina Mohamed (Sports, Culture and Heritage) and Joe Mucheru (ICT).

The President said the Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works Kenya program is a strong platform to expand job opportunities for young people in the country.

“We are now seeking to unlock their potential; with this platform being an important avenue to allow them to transform their lives, the country and the world.  The programme we are about to launch today will contribute significantly towards this goal in several ways,” said the President.

He said the program will support TVETs to improve quality of content and instruction, provide 21st century employability skills and demand-driven training. The program will in addition create pathways to work for graduates including internships and apprenticeships. 

The President said the program will also work hand in hand with the Government’s Ajira program to create opportunities for online jobs for the youth.

“Kenya is on the verge of a digital transformation and this programme will catalyze the creation of new and quality jobs across the entire country,” said the President.

The program will also enhance the creation, growth, sustainability and productivity of over 200,000 Micro, Small and Medium Scale enterprises (MSMEs). 

Support for MSMEs will be achieved through a partnership between Equity Group and Equity Bank Foundation and Mastercard Foundation on one hand and KCB Group and KCB Foundation and Mastercard Foundation on the other. 

“Together, these institutions will provide about 100 billion Kenya Shillings in capital, business development services, and market linkages,” the President said.

The organisations participating in the program will also provide financial and digital literacy and entrepreneurship training to MSMEs to support owners to grow and sustain their businesses and to mentor other entrepreneurs in the network.

MasterCard Foundation CEO Reeta Roy said her organization will contribute Shs 10 billion to support the small and medium scale enterprises noting that it aims at enabling 5 million Kenyan youths get employment.

The Kenya National team, Harambee Stars, held their first training session in Egypt on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, ahead of their opening match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations against Algeria.

The team arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

Kenya played two friendly matches in Europe, winning 1-0 against Madagascar and sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw with the DRC, in the run-up to the tourney.

Harambee Stars has been pooled in Group C alongside Algeria, Senegal, and Tanzania, the first match will be against Algeria on June 23. Tanzania will be up next on June 27, before Kenya winds up her group stage matches against Senegal on July 1, 2019.

Sultry singer Mayonde has team up with the talented crooner ElvisWho in a new video titled 'Turn Up'

The banger #TurnUp was produced by VDJ SPACE - one of Kenya’s top DJs turned music producer.

“Turn Up” is the leading single off DJ Spaces’s upcoming debut album titled ‘No Expiration Date’.

Watch the video below

Award winning Kenyan gospel female musician Mercy Masika is the new United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees  (UNHCR) National Goodwill ambassador for Refugees.

This appointment comes after she working with one of UNHCR's campaign dubbed LuQuLuQ which was for protecting people who had been forced to flee.

Breaking the news on twitter UNCHR twitted 

"A very big warm welcome to our newly appointed @Refugees Goodwill Ambassador for Kenya  @MercyMasika!"

On her part the talented singer notes

"Refugees are just like you and me, they could be in-fact be any of us.I believe as an African community we have a responsibility to invoke the spirit of Ubuntu,that we carry each others burdens by showing our warm warm heartedness in the face of refugees struggle."

Jah Prayzah is a Zimbabwean contemporary musician and lead member for the band Third Generation. 

Back in his home country, he is popularly referred to by fans and media as “Musoja” which translates to soldier, this is  because of his signature band uniform of military regalia.

His music has seen him win five awards at the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) including the song of the year award in 2013 . He also won two awards at the Zimbabwe Music Awards( ZIMA)  in 2014.

Some of his hit songs include “Dzamutsana ”, “Maria”, "Chengetedza", “Mdhara Vachauya". He also worked with several starts including Diamond Platnumz  on “Watora Mari”, Yemi Alade "Nziyo Yerudo" and Davido "My Lilly".

He has released several albums including "Sungano", "Rudo neRunyararo", "Ngwarira Kuparara", "Tsviriyo", "Kumbumura Mhute" and "Mdhara Vachauya". 

In a interview with Ommy Dallah, Jah Prayzah revealed more about his music.

1..Who is Jah Prayzah, kindly describe yourself?

Jah Prayzah is a musician from Zimbabwe, born Mukudzeyi Mukombe in a family of five. I am the last child, unfortunately i lost two of my brothers. I grew up in the rural areas of Nyadire under the guardianship of our parents, John and Shirley Mukombe. I began music around 2004, thats when i started using the stage name, Jah Prayzah which is a direct translation of Mukudzeyi, meaning Jah Prayzah.

2..What kind of music do you?

I sing afro beats but its heavily influenced by our traditional music in Zimbabwe. The key instrument in my music is the Mbira.

3..When did you start singing and when was your breakthrough?

I started singing in 2004 back in high school, but my breakthrough only came 5 years later when i released my single titled Sungano. From there i never gave up, i made sure i would make every next year, better than the last one.

4..What inspires your music?

Anything really, from stories we heard whilst growing up, the current situations that people encounter daily or even just my fantasies at times. I must also mention that the late Lucky Dube and Oliver Mtukudzi played a huge role in inspiring me to become the musician i am today.

5..How is the music industry in Zimbabwe compared to other African countries?

Its picking up, it used to be really small a few years back but right now i suppose we can proudly talk about it any where we go. We have various African stars willing to work with us and also visit Zimbabwe for business, which is a good thing.

6...Who is your favourite Kenyan artist?

I cant really say i have one favourite artist as i appreciate most of them, but special mention goes to Sauti Sol, those are my brothers and we have worked together before. I also love Nyashinski, i believe he is really good.

7...Any collabo with a Kenyan artist that we should expect soon?

We have one with Sauti Sol already, titled Special Somebody. Its on my album as well as theirs. Would love to get to make more beautiful music with my Kenyan peers, will update as time goes.

Popular sensational music group Ethic Entertainment unveiled their first song 'Figa' under new record label –AI records last Thursday at Golden Ice Bistro, Nairobi.

Figa is the first single under AI records a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, the song talks about the beauty of a well-endowed woman.

The audio has been produced by super talented producer Motif.

In 2018, the quartet released “Lamba Lolo”, “New Position” featuring The Kansoul and Instagram.

Lamba Lolo became an anthem among the youths and earned them a spot on Coke Studio Africa featuring Award winning artist Mr. Eazi.

Touted as one of the biggest breakout music groups in Kenya’s music scene in 2018, the group comprises of Rekless, Swat, Zilla and Seska as members.

The group has been signed to AI Records an International recording, publishing and distribution music company based in Kenya.

“Figa” is out now and available on all digital platforms.

Kenya’s fastest rising and Coke Studio Africa featured producer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, Mutoriah is set to launch his self-produced debut album ‘Dive In’ in a star-studded live concert on Saturday at the Sands Club (Ad Life Plaza). 

Speaking ahead of the launch, Mutoriah shared,

“Dive In is all about inspiring people, myself included, to stop being afraid, get out of their shells and share their light with the world.”

The live concert promises to showcase Mutoriah in his full element as a performer as he presents his Afro-electric pop-inspired sound to the world.

Guest acts confirmed to perform at the launch include SERRO, Ayrosh, Tha Movement, Bensoul, Njerae as well as Steph Kapela.

Anticipation for the album is already building up after Mutoriah made available a free-to-download acoustic version of the album just to give fans a taste of what to expect.

The acoustic version is available for download on http://bit.ly/DiveIn-Acoustic  

Mutoriah has built an appellation as a multi-instrumentalist having played for a host of top African acts including his current regular - Tha Movement band and Sautisol.

Fans also recently got to discover his production finesse thanks to the#IMadeKenyaChallenge and subsequent recruitment unto Coke Studio Africa 2019 as the first Big Break Producer.

However, ‘Dive In’ encompasses Mutoriah’s musical exploits under the different hats he wears as an all-round creative and aims to marry that with his singer-songwriter persona.

The 10-track album also features the sultry vocals of Xenia Manasseh, rap prowess of Steph Kapela, the raspy mugithi resonance of Ayrosh, heartfelt expressions of Njerae, charming lyrics of the crooner Bensoul and eccentric sounds of Tha Movement Band.

Ace Nigerian music producer and entertainment business executive GospelOnDeBeatz has released his anticipated debut album titled “Flux” (June2019).

The “Flux” album features African music heavyweights.

GospelOnDeBeatz is taking us to East Africa with the album’s second single “Ready” featuring Kenyan hitmaker Naiboi and talented singer Kemunto.

The music video of the mid-tempo Afrobeat jam produced by GospelOnDeBeatz was filmed in Nairobi, Kenya.

“Ready” follows the success of album’s first single “Blessings” which featured Peruzzi, Praiz, Kholi & Alternate Sound.

Other Africa acts featured on “Flux” the album include Sauti Sol, Rayvanny, Skales, Reekado Banks, Victoria Kimani, Mi Casa, Anselmo Ralph, MoonChild Sanelly, Falz, Iyanya, Timaya, Tekno, Stonebwoy, Davido, Okiemute and Kholi. Gospel also collaborates with music producers: DJ Khayleb, Brainz and instrumentalists: Fiokee and Alternate Sound on the album.

GospelOnDeBeatz touts his album as “a life changing and defining moment” for his career, from the time he embarked on its making in 2016.

Featuring 23 celebrated African artistes from Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Angola and Ghana.

“Flux” album shows the power of African collaborations and the strength in diversity of embracing African languages, cultures and sounds.

“Flux” album is exclusively available on Boomplay Music since June 6th and will be available on other digital stores from June 21st 2019.

GospelOnDeBeatz will be embarking on an African media tour of the album and host a listening party in Kenya. He will also be releasing more videos from the album.