Veteran Citizen Tv Swahili news anchor Swaleh Mdoe is mourning the death of his father Mzee Ali Buki.

Speaking to one of the local radio stations, Mdoe revealed that his father who was suffering from throat cancer died today (Sunday) at around 12:40pm.

He also revealed that the late Mzee Buki had been hospitalised at a local hospital in Malindi and was discharged last Tuesday.

"Today at around 12:40 I was called by my aunt to inform me that my dad had passed away" said Mdoe.

The late Mzee Buki will be laid to rest in Malindi.

iWayAfrica Kenya can confirm the conclusion of an agreement that will merge the ISP operations of iWayAfrica Kenya and Echotel International Proprietary Limited (Echo) following approval of the transaction from the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK).

iWayAfrica Kenya provides fixed line services as well as a range of ICT services including wireless internet connectivity services, data storage, support and maintenance services, among others.

 South Africa-based Echo resells Internet connectivity, Virtual Private Network (VPN) and online security services.

It provides services via a multi-carrier converged network, to simplify the complexity of aggregating infrastructure to clients.

Ken Munyi, Country Manager at iWayAfrica Kenya said the deal is a natural fit for both organisations. “This is an exciting opportunity for iWayAfrica Kenya to strengthen and expand our service offering to customers”

Adding“ This is not only a positive development for customers, but also for staff and suppliers who can be assured of continuity as a strong, focused, industry-leading business.”

The Competition Authority of Kenya noted that the transaction qualifies as a merger as per Section 2 and 41 of the Competition Act No.12 of 2010 and would therefore have no negative effect on competition.

 “The transaction met the threshold for full merger analysis as provided in the Merger Threshold Guidelines,” according to the regulator.

The transaction forms part of a deal between Echo and Gondwana International Networks (GIN) announced in October 2018 which saw Echo merge with the internet service provider operations of GIN in markets across Africa.

GIN is a pan-African service provider with its main interests in the Telecommunications and ICT arenas and is the majority shareholder in iWayAfrica.

GIN CEO Mathew Welthagen said the timing of the deal aligned with GIN’s expansion phase of the business. “This is a definitive leap forward on our path to higher growth which will unlock even greater value for shareholders and customers and more opportunity for employees.”

About iWayAfrica

iWayAfrica is a subsidiary of Gondwana International Networks (GIN), a Pan-African communications service company and one of the largest VSAT Operators in Africa through its operating brands, Africa Online and iWayAfrica.

The Group has subsidiaries in 10 countries on the continent and offers services in an additional 34 countries via its distribution and channel partners.

About Gondwana International Networks

Gondwana International Networks is a Pan-African communications service company and one of the largest VSAT Operators in Africa through its operating brands, AfricaOnline and iWayAfrica.

The Group has subsidiaries in 10 countries on the continent and offers services in an additional 34 countries via its distributor channel partners. Its main interests are in the telecommunications and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) arenas.

King Kaka’s Eastlando Royalty rap competition winner Massud Marlik has finally dropped his debut single under popular artiste management label, Kaka Empire.

The 19 year old dancehall sensation is reminiscent of the legendary Shabba Ranks. 

Booty Energy, produced by Magix Enga has classy dancehall vibe with the perfect mix of Kenyan Kapuka.

Shot in Massud’s hood and directed by Johnson Kyalo, the video gives a dope angle of how it truly goes down at the hood. Giving the Odi wave a run for their money, Booty Energy is bound to be an instant banger

Massud Marlik has a unique tone and puts a great twist to his music through offering something different by mixing kapuka, odi and dancehall lyrics.

The graphic design student and part time restaurant cook has been performing at hood shows within Eastlando since completing high school.

This is what got him crowned winner at King Kaka’s Eastlando Royalty Eastlando King and Queen competition in November last year.

"At Kaka Empire we are all about giving back and creating opportunities for great talents, Massud is very talented and working on this project with him was fun. We are sure that the audience will love what he has to offer.” Dennis Njenga, CEO and Artist Manager, Kaka Empire on releasing Massud’s debut song.

Award winning media personality Janet Mbugua has petitioned the Members of Parliament to improve on the Menstrual Health Management (MHM) Policy in Kenya to ensure all women in Kenya are receiving adequate MHM services.

In a statement Mbugua demanded more action ahead of the Menstrual Health Management Day on Tuesday, May 28.

“Every day, women and girls who lack the income and access to afford sanitary products face significant barriers including insufficient education about MHM and inadequate access to quality, low-cost products.”

"There are girls who don’t have access to sanitary products, and as a result, they feel they have no option but to stay home while menstruating” she said

Adding “What’s worse, there are women and girls who are engaging in transnational sex in order to purchase sanitary products,"

Mbugua points out that the current government policy on MHM in Kenya is insufficient.

She noted, "This policy does not give much detail or information regarding how the government provides distribution and disposal of sanitary products or education on sexual reproductive health.

"What’s more, the policy is only directed towards girls enrolled in public schools"

"Extend your policy and ensure that all women in Kenya are receiving adequate MHM services, and follow up that policy with practice," reads her statement.

Boomplay, the largest music streaming and download service in Africa, hosted its first Music Forum on Tuesday, 21st of May, 2019 at Villa Rosa Kempinski, Nairobi on the themes ‘Focus on Digital Music Distribution and The Future is Streaming’.

Speaking at the forum, General Manager Boomplay Kenya, Martha Huro talked about changing trends in Production and Digital Distribution, weighing in on Boomplay’s current and future strategies.

She stated, “Over the past years, Kenyan artistes have been churning out unique sounds but with very low listenership from our people here and in other countries - this is obvious from our weekly and monthly data based Boomplay charts”

Adding “There’s so much work to be done on our part and we hope that by the way of education through forums like these, we are able to eventually get Kenyans to play songs by Kenyan artistes more.”

Huro proceeded to talk about Boomplay’s interest in helping to grow an industry that truly works and highlighted some issues faced by artistes, which affects the expected music release consistency.

Some of the issues highlighted are lack of finances and proper A&R, to which she announced that Boomplay would invest $1 Million US Dollars towards production and distribution of Kenyan Music.

In a statement, she said that ‘’this will help to facilitate collaborations between Kenyan artists and other African acts across different regions and prompt the consistency of music releases in Kenya.”

Amongst other key stakeholders in music business, the Boomplay Artistes Forum was well attended by artistes, music producers, promoters, distributors and Boomplay executives: CEO, Joe He, Head of International Content Acquisition and Partnerships, Phil Choi, Director of Content Admin & Customer Service, Dapo Asekun and Global Head of Public Relations, Ms. Tosin Sorinola & among others.

Speakers at the forum weighed in on topics ranging from What Makes a Good Producer [Eric Musyoka], Intellectual Property, Publishing and Legal Protection [David Katee- IP Lawyer] to the role of Music Labels [John Andrews – GM AI Records Universal Media Group and Sam Mutuku - Digital & Production Manager East Africa].

Kenyan artist, Nameless took on the artistes panel to discuss Music Piracy & Experience as a Kenyan artist, alongside fast-rising songstress Vivian, top gospel music acts, Evelyn Wanjiru & Bahati, with Pacho Entertainment honchos hit makers: Cedo & Naiboi.

The PR & Branding panel discussants, Anyiko Owoko [Founder Anyiko Public Relations] and Elizabeth Karuru [Head of Content Acquisition at Boomplay Kenya] discussed extensively, the importance of presenting a good brand image, as well as guides on how to package your music for digital distribution by ensuring elements such as artworks, promo pictures, metadata and others are of great quality.

The Nairobi edition of Boomplay Artistes Forum, which was hosted by Willy M Tuva, is the start to a series of industry events by Boomplay that will hold across Kenya and beyond the region.

All the forums will have a series of panel discussions integral to improving the music industry.

About Boomplay

 Boomplay (developed and owned by Transsnet Music Limited) is the fastest growing music app in Africa with a huge and expansive catalogue of over 5 million songs and thousands of videos. Boomplay currently has over 4.2 million users in Kenya and 46 million users globally as of April 2019, with a month on month growth of over 2 million users.

Users can stream songs and videos online free of charge, subscribe to one of the daily, weekly or monthly plans to save songs and videos to play whilst offline or purchase content to own it.

The Boomplay app, which won the “Best African App” at the 2017 “AppsAfrica Awards’’ is available on Android, iOS and Web. Boomplay aims to build the largest and most reliable digital music ecosystem for artistes and content creators in Africa.

In the last year, Boomplay has signed deals with label majors; Universal Music Group and Warner Music, giving its users access to an extensive catalogue of music globally.

CO-BE, a Nairobi based fashion brand, has re branded to reflect the brands evolution from a pure leisure look to a life wear look under the new name BOGUK.

Bevern Oguk, founder at Boguk, said, “CO-BE is rebranding due to major changes in the Company aesthetics, systems and products, we are changing from a pure leisure brand to a more life wear brand with more functional pieces"

Adding "We are also looking at reducing delivery time and accessibility through our revamped e-shop.”

Oguk is a young entrepreneur from Kibra who started the fashion brand with an aim of bridging the gap between luxury and mainstream fashion with authentic and unconventional designs that include –clothes, shoes and accessories for the whole family.

"The new look Boguk is aimed at exciting the average Kenyan while at the same time inspiring them to be more conscious about their daily fashion," Oguk said.

Boguk uses culture, creativity and Craftsmanship to inspire people by creating African inspired products with an international touch while paying special attention to producing quality with a unique aesthetic.

The rebranding includes improving our products quality, alongside our current ready to wear, made to measure products, we are also going to offer corporate tailoring and private alterations to our product ranges.

Boguk has worked with brands such a Coke Studio Africa, Samsung, Blankets and Wine.

Some of the personalities, Boguk has dressed include award winning American superstar Jason Derulo, Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Runtown (Nigeria), Sauti Sol, Adelle Onyango, Muthoni Drummer Queen, Shaffie Weru, Octopizzo, Kagwe Mungai, Wanuri, Barack Jacuzzi, Larry Madowo, Anto Neosoul, Nameless, Nazizi, Mwalimu Rachel, Maqbul, Larry Asego.

ABOUT 

Bevern Oguk,  a child of Kibra, discovered his talents and passion was expressing himself through art and design. He found his role model in his neighborhood of Kibra, where art is created beauty by the roadside.

Inspired by their captivating pieces, he began to draw and paint in primary school. In high school he pursued his passion further and his artistic gifts began to be recognised.

While still in high school he was offered opportunities to be involved in exhibitions, art galleries such as Paa ya Paa arts center in Muthaiga.

In 2011, he founded the Kenyan athleisure, fashion brand CO-BE Nairobi aimed at bridging the gap between luxury and mainstream fashion, through authentic and unconventional designs of clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and Kids.

The health needs of young people must be at the core of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programmes for the interventions to be successful, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has said.

The First Lady said the inclusion of the health needs of adolescents in policy formulation would ensure they are not left behind in accessing healthcare services.

She noted that the continued lumping together of adolescents and youth with women and children by global and national health strategies makes many assumptions that fail to address the health needs of this critical segment of the world population.

“Not surprisingly, this has resulted in numerous urgent calls to address adolescents healthcare because while they have been perceived as healthy, they face considerable risks of adverse chronic health issues,” she said.

The First Lady spoke on Monday evening in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 72nd World Health Assembly at an event dubbed ‘Adolescent health – the Missing population in Universal Health Coverage (UHC)’. The event focused on putting the needs of adolescents at the centre of efforts to achieve UHC.

She said the inclusion of young people in the global health agenda would help in harnessing the demographic dividend and maximize the contribution of this important segment of human capital to global growth.

The First Lady expressed concern that available statistics showed higher rates of violence and injuries, addiction, depression and mental health issues among adolescents and the youth in general, an indication that their health needs required more attention.

“We are told that one out of six of the world’s population are adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years. Therefore, recognizing adolescents as key partners in the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets is critical,” the First Lady said.

She said one of the major concerns, especially on the African continent, is the new surge of illnesses facing young people as a result of non-communicable diseases and HIV.

“We must not accept to reverse the gains we have made in health. We must encourage young people to access health services.  Our young people’s priority is not ill-health or disease, it is jobs, relationships and their future,” the First Lady said.

She proposed the use of technology, social networks and peer-to-peer connections as a way of encouraging young people to prioritise their uptake of health services.

While adolescent health is important, the First Lady said it must go beyond focusing on disease or ill-health to include investments that enhance self-esteem, determination and resilience, especially among young women.

“In my experience, interacting with adolescents through the Pupils Reward Scheme (PURES), a mentorship program for children, I have learnt of the importance of listening,” the First Lady said. 

In Kenya, the First Lady said, deliberate efforts have been made to prioritize activities that celebrate young people’s contribution to new ideas in technology that have seen groundbreaking discoveries using the internet, mobile telephony and other technologies for sustainable development. 

“These are talents we must tap to remove barriers that hinder adolescent access to health services,” the First Lady said, adding that Kenya is making progress in advancing youth-led initiatives like Maisha Youth for the promotion of health for young people.

She informed the meeting that adolescents and young people form a key part of her work in Beyond Zero by building better synergies and integrating their voices in advocacy and education dialogue.

“My Beyond Zero Initiative has committed to promoting peer-to-peer learning programmes to develop a cohort of role models and trailblazers,” First Lady Margaret Kenyatta told the meeting.

Speakers at the event that was attended by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed agreed that in order to deliver on every adolescent’s right to health and achieve sustainable growth and development priorities, adolescent-focused actions must be at the centre of the UHC agenda. 

They highlighted the need for a multi-sectoral approach to meeting the health needs of adolescents through UHC interventions. 

Ms Helga Fogstad, the Executive Director of Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), discussed the centrality of multi-sectoral partnerships and meaningful youth engagement while UNICEF Chief of Health Stefan Swartling Peterson covered a topic on opportunities to advance adolescent health. 

Ms Joy Phumaphi, the Co-Chair of UN Secretary General’s Independent Accountability Panel for Every Woman, Every Child, Every Adolescent initiative spoke on the importance of strong accountability to make UHC work for adolescents.

Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa has joined the International Congress and Convention Association(ICCA) to grow its conferencing business.

ICCA is the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry.

The five-star hotel which is known for both international and domestic tourism, is now planning to grow its conferencing business by two folds in 2019, in order to diversify its offerings.

According to Bobby Kamani, the Managing Director, Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa, tapping into the global network of ICCA that is known for organizing international meetings for its members will help increase conferencing business for the facility:

“We have been organizing major conferences that emanate locally but this membership will enable us bring in international conferences to our facility" said Kamani

Adding "This will help market Diani Reef as not only a tourism attraction place but also a conferencing destination. This is part of our diversification plan that will help our business remain sustainable and competitive.”

Mr. Kamani said the business had invested over Ksh.100 million to build an ultra-modern and state of the art conference facility at Diani Reef in order to meet the international conferencing standards:

“Our conference facility is an ultra-modern and state of the art, we can host up to 1000 people at the same time with different break out sessions at the same time"

“Three years ago, Kenya hosted major conferences including TICAD and UNCTAD.Because of the strategic and geographical location of our country this gives an edge to hosting more international conferences" he added

ICCA represents the world's top destinations and most experienced and leading suppliers specialised in handling, transporting and accommodating international meetings and events, and comprises over 1,100 member companies and organisations in almost 100 countries worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1963, ICCA specialises in the international association meetings sector, offering unrivalled data, communication channels, and business development opportunities. 

“International meeting planners like Diani Reef can now rely on the ICCA network to find solutions for all their event objectives" said Esmare Steinhofel, Regional Director Africa, International Congress and Convention Association

ICCA's Head office is based in the Netherlands.

ICCA's Regional Offices are based in Malaysia, South Africa, U.A.E., U.S.A. and Uruguay. ICCA’s area of expertise is in the international association meetings market, but it also assists ICCA members to share knowledge on the other segments.

The association market covers a wide range of meeting types and categories: medical meetings (the largest segment); scientific; other academic; trade organisations; professional bodies; social groupings.

There was drama at the Serani Arab Boys Grounds last evening after a Nominated Member of County Assembly from Mombasa was blocked from attending the Governor's iftar hosted by Governor Hassan Joho.

The MCA Milka Areba was blocked by a female officer from the County Inspectorate Unit who was manning the entrance to the ladies  side at the venue.

Drama started after Milka produced her invitation card to the officer at the gate after arrival, after going through the card the officer informed the MCA that she will not be allowed in since her card did not resemble the cards issued out to other guests, saying it was fake.

Milka's efforts to explain and introduce herself to the officer were futile causing commotion at the gate, attempts by other Members of the county assembly to defend her were also futile, it took the intervention of Likoni Member of Parliament Mishi Mboko to have the MCA allowed into the venue. Mishi ordered everyone at the gate be allowed to get in.

Milka was overheard complaining "Why do you have to embarass me this much yet i have showed you my invitation card and even introduced myself".

A team from the Senator's office had also been blocked but later allowed after Mishi's order.

The event was attended by several leaders including Senate Minority leader and Siaya Senator James Orengo, Suna East Mp Junet Mohammed, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, kwale Senator Juma Boy and elected Mps from Mombasa County, Omar Mwinyi (Changamwe), Ali Mbogo (Kisauni), Abdulswamad Nasir (Mvita), Senator Mohammed Faki and County Women Mp Asha Hussein.

Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib an ally of Deputy President William Ruto was the only leader absent. In a recent interview with a local radio station , Badi admitted to supporting Ruto's 2022 Presidential bid.

"My relationship with the DP is very good, we are very close. We work together in many ways" said Badi.

Badi is currently in Bomet county on parliamentary duties as a member of the budgetary and appropriations committee.