Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir has led an onslaught against Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka accusing him of blackmailing the ODM party leader Raila Odinga to give him the running mate position in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition.

The legislature took a swipe at Kalonzo accusing him of propagating negative and unwarranted attacks towards the existence of a harmonious and cohesive country as envisioned by the Azimio principles.

He said that they were dismayed that despite the level playfield to allow equal participation in the running of the affairs of the coalition, it was apparent that some leaders wanted to make it as if it was a precondition for them to be awarded the position of the running mate as a ticket of joining the Azimio coalition.

“We see this as blackmail of the highest order. As ODM and proud founders of Azimio, we believe our birth was not out of fear but that of respecting others views,” Nassir said.

Nassir was addressing the media at Swahili Pot hub on Sunday after holding a meeting with all ODM aspirants in Mombasa.

He accused Kalonzo of having a hidden agenda in joining the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition.

He added that they were disturbed by the show of recklessness by some unpatriotic leaders within the Azimio family whose main aim seems to be directed at destabilizing the movement from within.

“It is disturbing to see that some leaders within the coalition have reduced themselves into being agents of creating disharmony along tribal and religious lines in the country,”

 “For the avoidance of doubt, we want to categorically state that we shall not condone this kind of behavior considering how far this country has come from,” he said.

Nassir further stated that all these theatrics were only aimed at diluting the major contributions within Azimio by pragmatic leaders like Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and and his Kitui counterpart Charity Ngilu whom he said both stand a very good chance of being picked as possible running mates to Raila.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko on her part reiterated that the Azimio coalition aimed at uniting Kenyans and ensuring there is peace across the country.

This she said was going to be very instrumental to spur growth and development within all sectors in the country.

“It is a pity to see one of the coalition partners uttering words that threaten to split Kenyans along religious and tribal lines, we will not allow leaders within the coalition hell-bent at bringing us down from within.

She added that the coalition was not going to relent on its mission of uniting the over 45 million Kenyans in the country.

“If someone has his own hidden agenda for joining the coalition then let him tell us,” said Mboko.  

Other leaders present include Mombasa county assembly speaker Aharub Khatri, senator Mohammed Faki, Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, former Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba, ODM Mombasa branch chair Mohammed Khamis,Woman rep aspirant Zamzam Mohammed and all ODM MCA aspirants.

Rapper King Kaka has put a smile on his mother's face as he's just finished building a modern house for her.

Taking to Instagram, the rapper shared a photo of the magnificent house sharing with his fans how they were once locked out of their rental house because they could not pay the rent which was ksh 500.

"One day I came home from school and Kanjo had placed a Very Big padlock coz we couldn’t afford to pay Kshs 500 rent, I promised my mom that in the future I’ll buy her a house." posted King Kaka.

Adding" Fast forward 4days ago we just prayed in the living room of this house that I build for her. The Sounds of a testimony and I am happy that she has a place she can call home. Thankyou mom for putting on a brave face over the years even when I knew things were not okay. Asante and Be blessed. To all the believers, It’s possible! And God is Love."

King Kaka has always attributed his success to his mother revealing the tough times he went through while growing up and how hard his mother worked to make sure she put bread on the table. Finally we can put a face to it.

The rapper once wrote on his on facebook page  "‘’I was asked juzi, who is my role model, I said my mother. I mean nani hustler Kama yeye, she raised 3 boys na biashara ya kuuza matunda na most times ni labda kanjo wamemshika but managed. Wacha vile watu wanasema I am the ultimate hustler. I mean Mandela was great with the Leadership, Biko was Wise, Luther King was firm with his leadership, Obama with his words, Maathai with her vision, Ali with his confidence but No One Beats My Mother. And she raised a King. I salute You Mama. Queen Elizabeth. The Real Legend.’’ 

The Coast Top girl in the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary KCPE education smiled her way into Bunyore High school on Thursday, thanks to Jomvu Member of Parliament Badi Twalib’s full scholarship.

Amanya Lisa Adhiambo, 15, who scored 420 in her KCPE exams at Amani Primary school, could not hide her joy, when she arrived at the Moi international airport ready to board a flight to Kisumu where she would reconnect to her secondary school for form one admission.

Speaking to journalists before taking her flight, paid for by the Jomvu Mp,Adhiambo  promised to work hard in her studies and produce good grades so that she can make her parents proud and better her future.

Adhiambo,who had lost her hope of joining secondary school due to lack of fees, expressed her joy to the legislator for coming to her aid.She also expressed her excitement that she will be flying to Kisumu for the first time in lifetime.

Lissa was worried that her mother could not afford to take her to secondary school due to fees problems. She was afraid of following in the footsteps of  her elder sister, who scored 370 marks in KCPE exam but could not join the school she was selected to join for lack of school fees.

“I am very happy for the support I have received from our Mp to pay for my fees and shopping, I am also happy to travel by a flight, I have never thought I will take a flight, but I just want to thank the people who have come to my life,” said Adhiambo.

Jomvu Mp Badi Twalib who had accompanied the girl to Moi international Airport, in Mombasa said she has made him proud for being among the top students in the 2021 KCPE examinations from his backyard.

 “We didn’t  want her to miss the slot in the school she has been selected, therefore we have given her full sponsorship and to motivate her, I have said I will pay her a air ticket to Kisumu for her travel, then we have made arrangements how she will connect to her school.,” said Twalib.

The MP said he will not only cater for the four-year school fees in secondary, but all other requirements including transportation to and from the school she will join. Lisa dreams of becoming an engineer in the future.

“She made me very proud after becoming the best girl in the coastal region and because she comes from the constituency I lead, I feel she raised my face up,” said Twalib.

Twalib said his constituency under the sponsorship kitty has sponsored over 50 needy students to access information. He said he has prioritized education and will continue to give bursaries to needy students.

“I want to say that this girl has become a role model for others, and has shown us that she is able to lead, despite the fact that she comes from.

 Roda Katana deputy head teacher Amani primary school exuded her confidence that the girl will prosper and get good results after her KCSE exams.

Kisumu based rapper Gabiro Mtu Necessary has released his debut album "Saint John" available on digital platforms.

The debut album follows the successful release of his two EPs "MPITO" and "JENESIS which bagged him a Grammy recognition. 

This is his third biggest project and a first full album project from the talented musician.

Taking after his late dad, Saint John is a mirror to the life teachings, good times and experience he went through with his father before his demise in 2019. His father was his manager at the time. 

The 12 track dancehall and drill album was released on the 29th April, 2022 and contains every element that leaves the listener reminiscing and having it on replay. 

"With the story-telling, sayings in between tracks and rapping in my local dialect the album is more of a syllabus that takes me back to my roots, " says Gabiro. 

The vocals and instrumentation work seamlessly together in every track to give room for a must-listen record with the engaging melody and beats of each track giving the vocals an intimate and euphoric feeling.

The album can be streamed on Itunes, Spotify and all other digital platforms. 

Saint John Tracklist

1. Saint John
2. Pok Alando
3. Drill ya Odhumo
4. I Swear
5. Pesa Oluoro Koko
6. Kula Bata
7. Dear Son
8. Free ft Blakangel
9. Okay
10. Happy 
11. Rotterdam 
12. Kus Kus remix ft Javada

Universal Music Group (UMG) label divisions Def Jam Recordings, 0207 Def Jam and Def Jam Africa are thrilled to announce the global signing of Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and beloved reggae musician and pioneer, Stonebwoy to the global Def Jam artist family.

Def Jam Africa will represent his music across Africa, whilst Def Jam Recordings will become his label home in the U.S. with 0207 Def Jam supporting the record in the U.K.

This partnership between labels showcases UMG’s global commitment to introducing Stonebwoy’s eclectic sound and Ghanaian music culture to new audiences around the world. 

Stonebwoy is an award-winning African artist that has been placing the continent firmly on the musical map with international touring, standout collaborations and hugely popular singles since 2012.

One of Ghana’s most pertinent superstars, Stonebwoy will release his brand new single, Therapy on May 3 via Def Jam Recordings, 0207 Def Jam and Def Jam Africa, supported by UMG labels around the world .

Therapy comes off the back of an already illustrious career of four albums, countless hit tracks and movie roles, not to mention his philanthropic work as part of the ‘Livingston Foundation’, educating young Africans and elevating the youth of Ghana.  

The single is the first release for his newly signed record deal with Def Jam, home to some of the biggest names in hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent from the continent, and is the lead single from Stonebwoy’s brand new album due to drop mid-2022. 

Sipho Dlamini, CEO, South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa, Universal Music is excited to add yet another African megastar to the Def Jam roster.

He states, “Stonebwoy is a true African talent. He works to lift the heart and spirit of those around him, whilst producing fresh sounds that keep blowing the world away. We look forward to what 2022 has in store for him.” 

“I’m excited to welcome Stonebwoy to the Def Jam Family in partnership with Sipho and 0207,” said Def Jam chairman and CEO Tunji Balogun.

Adding “The Def Jam brand is recognized all over the world as a stamp of excellence in black music, and as we continue to strengthen our musical bond in important markets like Africa and the UK, it’s dynamic, talented artists like Stonebwoy that will lead the way. This is great music from a special artist who needs to be heard everywhere." 

Alec & Alex Boateng, co-Presidents,  0207 Def Jam added, “Stonebwoy is one of the great Ghanaian based modern music artists and ambassadors. The opportunity to amplify his outstanding talent alongside Sipho, Def Jam Africa and Tunji with Def Jam Recordings is very exciting, especially him becoming a part of our world class Def Jam artist family. Hopefully this is the first of many more collaborative projects to come.” 

The single Therapy, is out on the 3^rd of May across all streaming platforms and its accompanying red-hot video shot in Ghana, is out on 13^th May.

Essentially a love song, the track kicks hard with a driving beat and all the right flavour for dance floors worldwide. 

Stonebwoy, aka Livingston Satekla is no stranger to success. Having been the recipient of multiple acclaimed awards such as Best International Act: Africa at the BET Awards, Artist of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards and two Billboard plaques, he has been described as the king of ragga and dancehallin’ for Africa in his career.

He has duetted with international artists such as Keri Wilson, Sean Paul, Trey Songz, Burna Boy, Alpha Blondie and many more - and has rocked stages from the UK to the USA, Australia, Italy, Puerto Rico and Amsterdam - making his electrifying touring an integral part of his career. 

Stonebwoy is also active and engaging on social media, boasting an impressive 4 million followers on Instagram and a further 3 million on Facebook, making him one of Africa’s most followed performers.

After a rigorous selection process, the Realness Institute, in partnership with Netflix the world’s leading streaming entertainment, is excited to announce the twelve participants selected for the 2022 Episodic Lab (EPL) and Development Executive Traineeship (DET).

Realness Institute is a non-profit organisation which aims to empower Africans to tell their stories from an unapologetically African point of view.

Each of the twelve participants (six per programme), will receive a monthly stipend of USD 2 000 during the incubation period.

This is to cover living expenses as they focus on their concept and professional development.

The successful applicants were drawn from a competitive pool of 200 submissions from an open call, which closed on 21 January 2022.  EPL and DET commenced on 1 May and runs until 31 July 2022, with the last week of the programme consisting of in-person sessions in Gauteng, South Africa.

For the Episodic Lab, selected applicants include: Hussein Kurji with Bushcamp (Kenya), Khanyo Mjamba with Byline (South Africa), Mlilo Mpondo with Bayeti-Visitors (South Africa), Neo Sibiya with Ukushona Kwelanga (The Setting of The Sun) (South Africa), Sandra Madu with From Lagos with Love (Nigeria) and Voline Ogutu with Dilemma (Kenya).

The selected screenwriters will spend 3 months in a virtual lab where they will work on developing their original story ideas, in any genre, alongside the mentorship of Realness Institute Creative Producers.

 Elias Ribeiro and Mehret Mandefro, and Story Consultants, Selina Ukwuoma and Thandeka Zwana. After this stage of mentorship, the lab participants will have the opportunity to pitch their incubated stories to Netflix executives.

“Anxious and excited. It's not every day an opportunity, specifically to showcase African talent, comes around. The Lab will strip our writing bare, and we'll all be better for it. Bring it!” – Hussein Kurji.

"Being selected for the Realness/Netflix Episodic Lab is a giant leap forward in my screenwriting career. I'm absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this gifted group of African professionals and see this programme as an accelerator for us towards the pinnacle of authentic, fearless showrunning. I'm so chuffed!!" – Khanyo Mjamba. 

For the Development Executive Traineeship (DET), selected participants include: Babalwa Baartman (South Africa), Khosie Dali (South Africa), Mona Ombogo (Kenya), Neiloe Whitehead (South Africa), Omotunde Akiode (Nigeria), Pedro Duarte Soulé (Cabo Verde).

These selected participants will gain a deeper understanding of the story development process, working alongside creative producers and story experts.

DET Participants will work in teams to support the development and crafting of the Episodic Lab Participants’ respective projects  and help translate their concepts into pitch decks.

The approach, of the Episodic Lab and DET programmes, is vertical and horizontal learning, using writing rooms as a co-creating collaborative space.

“So wow! Realness Institute and Netflix! There are those moments when you know your life is about to change exponentially.  This is one of them. I’m ecstatic to take this journey with fellow writers and become more… More stories, more truth, more boundaries. Just more!” – Mona Ombogo.

“DET 2022 is an important tool to support building my professional career and help develop the Industry in my country and region."- Pedro Soule.

While there is no guarantee that any proposal will be developed further by Netflix, it is a unique opportunity that affords the participants the space and time to develop their stories and skills with the guidance of international experts, including Netflix Executives.

Swangz Avenues newbie and signee Zafaran has today officially kicked off her music career after dropping her first single and video.

The sensational singer is here to prove to many how her vocals and lyrical maturity is powerful through her song.

The song sweetheart was written by Dokta Brain and Produced by Bomba and the video was directed by Gabriel Kyambadde. Zafaran, real name Josephine Nakyoonyi joined the Music record label Swangz Avenue early last month after signing an undislocsed contract.

In the simple and colourful music video, Zafaran is seen doing moves and gestures of being deeply in love with her long time sweetheart.

In the video are scenes of beautiful choreographers that add sauce to the lyrically rich and good song.

The costumes that are characterised by cultural wears and outfits bring out her real image of a proud African artiste and these too paint an extra picture that’s eye-catching in the video.

The song is defined by good acoustic instruments and beats giving you access to Zafaran’s vocals and her lyricism.

Whereas she sings about her unending love for her intimate handsome sweetheart, the song is also danceable too which will see it hitting lots of airwaves and top countdowns on media platforms.

The lines, “Title ya ma lover kanjikuwe kuba amasanyu ompera mu bandale” are a deliberate jab at the tag- hashing generation that we have become, and an overdue one.

Bomba’s signature production style defines the song, with light synth strings and some gorgeous harmonies.

Another favourite thing about this song is its littered with bridges, interludes and progressions, aspects that define a new generation of musicians that have tones of technical ability to back their creativity.

Throw in the fact that Sweet Heart is surprisingly a catchy tune and better to grudgingly admit that watching this video and listening to the audio is an enjoyable experience.

Sweet Heart is now available on all streaming platforms worldwide

Orange Democratic Movement ODM leaders in Mombasa have asked residents to reject former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko in his quest to succeed Governor Hassan Joho in the August 9 general elections.

The leaders who spoke during the annual Eid Baraza celebrations held at the Mombasa’s Treasury Square grounds on Tuesday, termed Sonko as a failure in Nairobi and therefore, saying Mombasa cannot afford to elect a failure.

They said although Sonko has a right to vie for Mombasa seat, the region is already sealed in ODM and thus there is no space for political intruders. The leaders instead, asked electorates to vote six pieces in the upcoming general elections.

Likoni Mp Mishi Mboko cautioned residents not to be carried by a wave of coming politicians like former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko who has declared to contest for the top seat in the next general elections.

"We are seeing a lot of excitement in Mombasa, because of people who want to come and vie here in Mombasa, we urge our people to stand firm and elect Nassir, if they are brought return to the sender, Mombasa is not a dumping site,” said Mboko.

Read: https://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/2827-video-sonko-entry-in-mombasa-governor-race-continues-to-ruffle-feathers

Mombasa senator Mohamed Faki asked Kalonzo to withdraw his plan to field Former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko in Mombasa.The leaders term the plan a mockery to Mombasa people, saying it's going to fail.

"Here in Mombasa, we have no shortage of leaders, we have leaders who have been tested and have proved to be good leaders,but importing leaders to come and lead us is something we cannot accept,” said Faki.

On his part, Mombasa county speaker Hatub Khatri asked Mombasa residents and especially ODM supporters to remain united so as to win the gubernatorial seat against Governor Sonko.

"Everyday people are coming, being implanted on us, we urge our people to stay united so that they can vote in ODM leadership,” said Khatri.

Jomvu Member of Parliament BadiTwalib slammed Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for planting Sonko in Mombasa, saying it's not done with good intentions except dividing Mombasa electorates.

"There are many leaders in Mombasa who can lead, how can we implement a project here in Mombasa, this is mockery and not in good faith,” said Twalib drumming up support for Nassir.

"Those that are bringing this person, they are the one with bad intentions to divide us, we will do all what it takes to ensure no newcomer takes over leadership in Mombasa, “said Twalib.

On His part, Mombasa governor Hassan Joho reiterated that Mombasa will vote a six piece leadership, so that it can grant its presidential candidate Raila Odinga more votes in the presidency.

“People will make noise, we have seen people saying s that we are blocking them from campaigning, if you are in wiper party you can campaign, you can send a leader to campaign for you, but don’t take away my right to support my ODM candidates in Mombasa because we want all candidates to come from ODM,” said Joho.

Joho drummed up support for Nassir saying he fits the bill to succeed him. Nassir is contesting for Mombasa county governor seat through ODM party ticket.

“I know if Abdulswamad messes, he will be willing to listen to advice, he is someone who can seek guidance, that’s why I want to ask the people of Mombasa to elect Nassir as the governor of Mombasa,” said Joho.