The Mombasa County Assembly has cleared the County Transport and Infrastructure Executive Member Taufiq Balala of allegations raised against him by some members of the assembly, MCAs.

Majority of the  MCAs led by Jomvu Ward MCA Shebe Athuman (motion mover ) passed a motion to impeach Balala last month on grounds of incompetency, misuse of abuse and arrogancy.

The County Speaker then formed a special committee to look into the claims, the members included Fadhili Mwalimu Makarani (Port Reitz ward MCA and Deputy Speaker), Athman Rama Mwamwiri(Likoni ward MCA)  , Milka Moraa Ngare (Nominated), Ali Omar Shariff(Tononoka Ward MCA)  and Faith Boniface Mwende(Kipevu ward MCA).

The Committee yesterday cleared Balala arguing the claims lack proof.

Balala took to social media to welcome the move by the assembly saying he will continue working with the MCAs.

I would like the thank the Mombasa County Assembly for clearing me for all charges against me. I was given a chance to explain myself and the county assembly found me innocent on all the allegations against me" said Balala

Adding "The county assembly of #Mombasa have played their role of oversight as required by law. I will continue to respect their role and cooperate with them as they continue to serve the people of #Mombasa. To all my family, friends and supporters - Thank You for your prayers and support. Let’s now continue to build our beautiful Mombasa".

Pine Creek Records has announced the signing of a new act, her name is Shiphie. 

This was made known through an unveiling event that was held last Thursday, the 4th of April 2019 at The Alchemist Lounge, Westlands.

The event was well attended by Kenya's top djs, media personalities and brand managers including Pine Creek Records founder Mr. Peter Nduati, Coke Studio Africa's Project Manager Andrew Alovi, Arthur K, Fakii Liwali and many more. 

Shiphie, real name Shiphrah Mkamburi Kitulah, is an afro jazz, afro pop/afrosoul vocalist and songwriter born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya.

While growing up, her family gatherings always involved melodious singing as her talent is hereditary - she got it from her grandmother who is the sole singer of the family and partly a writer then also from her mother.

She was spotted by Peter Nduati in a live music event in Nairobi and as they say all is now part of her beautiful history.

On what inspires her music, Shiphie says it’s her passion for expression and the freedom and joy she experiences while at it. Her first song is called “Everything” and it’s simply a love story of appreciation to the significant other in her life.

She has just released her first video Everything'

Mombasa based radio station Pili Pili fm is currently in the process of reinvesting, this move has left all the presenters in a very tricky situation as they have been declared redundant.

According to a source the station will soon be turned into a vernacular station, a mijikenda station.

"The initial plan was to have this station as a vernacular radio station, a mijikenda station, that was the plan since media max took over from its previous owner" said the source.

Media Max which also owns K24 and Milele Fm took over the station from the current Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secreatry Najib Balala four years ago.

"The board recently sat and found it fit to go back to that plan that's why some changes have started being experienced" added the source.

A crisis meeting was held yesterday where the presenters were informed of the new changes, however some staff especially those conversant with the mijikenda language are on the safe side as they might be retained.

The station which is currently on automation  has already started poaching presenters from Kwale based Radio Kaya and Pwani fm. 

Several presenters have since taken to social media to 

"It's has been real..... So thankful to the media max &Pilipili fm family my loyal fans who turned to be a family and everyone who has been supporting Gates mgenge as a brand. It's time for another Journey will miss you guys " posted Gates Mgenge

"It's has been real, Since 2012...So thankful to the mediamax family my loyal fans and everyone who has been supporting #ChrisNaChigz as a brand. It's time for another Journey.." said Chris Da Bass

On her part Mamama Madikodiko posted " It's has been real..... So thankful to the media max family my loyal fans and everyone who has been supporting Mamaa Madikodiko as a brand. It's time for another Journey"

His closeness to former Miss Tanzania Wema Sepetu has left many tongues wagging, some suggesting that they are dating, am talking about Danzak.

Danzak, real name Hamdan Zakwani is East Africa born, Omani national singer, songwriter and airline pilot.

He recently released a song titled 'Loco' which has received alot of support from top celebrities includiing Wema Sepetu and Ali Kiba.

His other songs include 'Kichaa' and 'Fallin'.

In an exclusive interview with Ommy Dallah, Danzak opens up on his career as a pilot  and singer, and his relationship with Wema Sepetu.

Straight from humanitarian work to the studio, that is Akothee.

The Kenyan singer who has been in the media for the good reasons of late after mobilizing funds and support to feed Kenyans dying of hunger in Turkana, has just release a new song featuring Tanzania's Linex.

The song titled 'Baraka' talks about the blessings that come with having a baby.

Watch the video below

Tanzanian artist Harmonize could soon tie the knot with his Italian girlfriend Sarah if things go well as per the renet happenings.

The artists who is currently in Italy meeting his in-laws and Sarah's family members took to his knees to propose to her infront of family members.

Sarah did not turn down his request, she said yes.

Harmonize took to instagram to share the video of him going down o his knees to propose, Sarah was not left behind she posted "u are my only one (sic).”

Several celebrities took to social media to congratulate him.

burnaboygram Ok. It’s like dat? ????

aytanzania Congratulations and all the best @harmonize_tz

professorjaytz Wow Congratulations Young Bro na Mungu awalinde @harmonize_tz

rayvanny Bwana Harusi

iam_kcee Congrats my brother

Meanwhile his colleagues from WCB led by their president Diamond Platnumz today left for Muscat, Oman for the Wasafi festival set for this weekend.

Mzee Abdul Juma, the father to Bongo Fleva crooner Diamond Platnumz has surprised many by his recent move.

He has ventured into music, the same field with his celebrity son.

He has released  a collabo with upcoming Tanzanian artistes Sungura Madini, Promis Nyota and Blod Gaz in a new song titled 'Mwewe'.

He now has three stage ages or a.k.as 'Babu Tiffah', 'Big Lion' and 'Mzee Mondi'.

In the song, Mzee Juma raps with a husky voice.

It is not yet still clear why he decided to take that route.

His son Diamond has however showed support, he took to instagram story to post part of the interview with he caption 'Big Lion, Kill Dem Sha!'

On Sunday Coke Studio Africa 2019 season hosted an exclusive viewing party at Golden Ice Bistro Nairobi, in the marking of its celebrated all-women finale episode of the 2019 edition of the Pan-African music show.

 Coke Studio artists: Khaligraph Jones, Naiboi, Moji Shortbabaa, music producer Majic Mike and Nadia Mukami who also represented Kenya on the show’s Big Break segment this year, joined a host of guests including Coca Cola Executives, celebrities and influencers among Kenya's top media at the finale event.

In its six seasons since inception, this is the first time in the history of Coke Studio Africa to feature an all-female episode that included all female singers, rappers, music producers, studio engineers and a full band—a strong commitment to empowering women involved in all aspects of the music and entertainment scene. 

Currently, approximately 60% of all the professionals that work on Coke Studio Africa comprise of women. Coke Studio Africa will continue to give more meaningful and competitive opportunities to women in the field of arts and music, through the platform.

On the finale episode, Kenya’s Viola Karuri produced remixes to Uganda’s Sheebah Karungi and Mozambique’s Lourena Nhate songs and the power packed track “African Woman (Yelele Mama)” featuring 11 top talents including Mozambique’s Shellsy Baronet, Tanzania’s Nandy and Keisha alongside their sister on the rise Mimi Mars; Kenya’s Nazizi,  Namibia’s Lioness and Boity from South Africa as well Kenya’s sweetheart Nadia Mukami and Tamy Moyo from Zimbabwe.

Representing a variety of sista-soundscapes from zouk, bongo flava and kizomba to afrobeats, dancehall and hip hop: “African Woman” was also produced by Viola with female studio engineer Muna in the mix. 

On the last performance, Nazizi (Kenya), Lioness (Namibia) and Boity (South Africa) delivered on an all female hip-hop power track “Switch it up” marking the ending of the 2019 season of Coke Studio Africa—themed on “Pride” and “Celebration”.

Coke Studio Africa 2019 featured more than 25 talented stars drawn from drawn from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria and other countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.

President Uhuru Kenyatta today presided over the national launch of the new Huduma Namba, a project that seeks to identify all Kenyan residents through a unique primary identifier.
 
The President kicked-off the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) by signing up for his own Huduma Namba and flagging off the registration kits to all the 47 counties.
 
He rolled out the NIIMS project at the Masii Public Grounds in Machakos County while Sports, Culture and Heritage CS, Ambassador Amina Mohammed represented Deputy President William Ruto in Kakamega County where the exercise was launched simultaneously.
 
In a historic demonstration of national unity and common purpose, key opposition leaders trooped to three other launch sites to witness the roll out of the 45-day Huduma Namba registration drive which they all hailed as an important exercise.
 
Former Premier Raila Odinga witnessed the roll out in Mombasa, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka in Murang’a, and Nasa co-principal Musalia Mudavadi in Kajiado.
 
With the historic launch of the NIIMS project, Kenya now joins other developed nations such as the US, Europe, United Arabs Emirates, India and Australia  which have successfully used integrated data systems to manage their citizens information. 
 
President Kenyatta said the NIIMS exercise will not only transform civil registration and data management in the country but also tame corruption and fast-track the implementation of the Big 4 development agenda.
 
“Huduma Namba will reduce delays and corruption in the delivery of services such as cash transfers for elderly persons and vulnerable children, issuance of passports and border control,” he  said. 
 
He added: “ NIIMS  will facilitate faster and more effective implementation of the Big4 agenda.”
 
The President said the NIIMS registration exercise will be able to verify the actual number of government employees including civil servants that include teachers and other cadres.
 
He said an audit of the Kenya Police Service undertaken last year had discovered about 5,000 ghost officers who were receiving a monthly salary of over Shs 148 million.
 
President Kenyatta said NIIMS aims to establish and maintain a master digital national population register that will serve as the only single source of identification for everybody resident in Kenya.
 
“It will integrate personal and functional data that is scattered in many government agencies into one single identity,” said the president adding that the number will be used at all stages of one’s life from birth to death.
 
NIIMS is used to save biometric (fingerprints and facials only), demographic and physical details of Kenyans and registered foreigners, an exercise that also aims at enhancing national security.
 
The new Huduma Namba will not invalidate, instead it will harmonize other national registration processes like the sign up for Identity Cards, National Hospital Insurance  Fund (NHIF) , National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Birth and Death certificates or the Personal Identification Number (PIN) among others.
 
NIIMS will assist in issuing persons resident in Kenya with a primary identifier that will consolidate the other registration numbers in one digital wallet. The other numbers will become secondary identifiers.
 
The new Huduma number is aimed at enhancing the speed and efficiency of service delivery to all residents of Kenya.
 
Calling on Kenyans to take advantage of the next 45 days to register, President Kenyatta said there are several reasons why the government is making the extraordinary effort to undertake the biometric registration for everybody living in Kenya.
 
"The need for accurate data as a key enabler for national planning, issuance of birth and death certificates and associated rights of nationality, schooling, passport and property ownership are all valid reasons for the registration," said the President.
 
He said Biometric identification and registration of farmers will facilitate fairer allocation of subsidized farm inputs including seeds and fertlizers.
 
“It will also improve accountability and transparency in the management of National Health Insurance Fund and inform planning, investment and allocation of affordable housing units,” the President said.

He said the NIIMS exercise will also facilitate and monitor capitation in schools adding that Kenyans will no longer be required to carry multiple IDs and, pensioners and widows will receive their dues with much ease.
 
Besides reducing transaction costs for Kenyans, said the Head of State, the new Namba will significantly reduce cases of identity theft and make financial and property transactions more secure.
 
President Kenyatta said a bill is currently being drafted to address concerns raised by Kenyans about security of the NIIMS DATA. 
 
“Once passed by PARLIAMENT, the law will give you (the individual) a right to obtain a copy of the particulars of your personal data in the NIIMS database, restrict data sharing, and ensure security of the data against unauthorised access,” he said. 
 
President Kenyatta criticised some church leaders for spreading lies and misleading Kenyans about the intentions of the biometric registration exercise. 

Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’I  , under whose docket the new initiative is being co-ordinated assured the President of precision and efficiency in  the registration exercise.

He also promised to update the President on a daily basis about the status of the exercise.
 
Others who spoke at the launch ceremony included   the three governors from the lower Eastern counties including the host Dr Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Charity Ngilu (Kitui) ,Prof. Kivutha Kibwana of Makueni and  the local MP (Mwala) Engineer Vincent  Musyoka (Kawaya).

Femi One just released the video for her highly anticipated single, Hiyo One.

 The track which was recorded by Provoke, will remind her fans why she is truly the undisputed Femcee Queen.

The song displays her lyrical prowess and delivers some dope bars that will leave peoples’ tongues wagging.

The visually expressive video was directed by Ricky Bekko.

It is the perfect hip-hop video with visuals showcasing Femi’s die-hard side that her fans love.

"The entire vision that I had for this video has come to reality. I delivered well on the bars so I am sure the song will leave my fans pleased.  I won’t describe it more for y’all, you simply have to watch it and see what I am talking about” Femi One said on creating the video.