The United Green Movement [UGM] will field a candidate for the Nairobi gubernatorial by election slated for February 18 following the impeachment of embattled Mike Mbivi Sonko.

Party Secretary General Hamisa Maalim Zaja confirmed during a telephone interview that the party was impressed by their candidate Dr Khamis Mwakaonje Liganje’s performance during the just concluded Msambweni parliamentary by-election.

Liganje came position four in the by election with 230 votes

She said the move prompted the party to take the acid test during the forthcoming Nairobi county mini poll early next year.

“I wish to disclose the party will unveil its candidate after Christmas celebrations at the party headquarters in Nairobi,” she pointed out.

The UGM party spokesperson said apart from the battle to succeed Sonko they will also field a candidate for the Matungu Constituency and Kabuchai by-elections set for March 4, 2021.

In a gazette notice, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati directed political parties intending to participate in the by-election to submit the names of the persons contesting in party primaries and the dates of the nominations on or before December 28, 2020.

The electoral agency said that the campaign period will run between January 18, 2021 and February 15, 2021.

Several people have thrown their hats in the ring, they include Former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru and businesswoman Agnes Kagure

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday at State House, Nairobi, signed into law the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2020 which was passed on Tuesday by Members of the National Assembly.

Also signed into law is the Tea Bill of 2018, which contains several reforms among them, the re-engineering of the Tea Board of Kenya to oversee the development, promotion and regulation of Kenya’s tea sector.

The bills were presented to the President for signature by Solicitor General Ken Ogeto at the brief ceremony attended by Agriculture CS Peter Munya, Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka and Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Amos Kimunya.

Also present were Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua, State House Deputy Chief of Staff Njee Muturi, Clerk of the National Assembly Michael Sialai and his Senate counterpart Jeremiah Nyengenye.

Tanasha Donna has just dropped the visuals to her latest song ft Khaligraph Jones and Motif - Kalypso.

Kalypso is a blend of Latin & East African sound.

Tanasha Donna & Khaligraph Jones and produced by Mixed & Mastered by Motif Di Don.

The video has been directed Jordan Hoechlin.

Check out the video below.

Kenyan team Jasiri has maintained their superiority in the Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship.

Jasiri bagged a total of 104 points to win the title for the eighth year running durng the two day tournament held at  the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa.

The team secured 32 gold, 31 silver and 41 bronze medals. Philippines finished a distance second having got total of 27 medals with 13 gold, 11 silver and three bronze medals.

Iran came third with five medal, four gold and another silver. while DR Congo were fourth taking home six medals, one gold, two silver and three bronze.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/sports/item/1902-kenya-shines-on-first-day-of-mombasa-open-tong-il-moo-do-tournament

Ivory Coast finished fourth with three medals, a gold, a silver and a bronze with Japan which managed a gold and a silver taking the fifth position.

Thailand and Turkey were jointly in sixth place, each with a silver medal as Congo Brazaville in eighth position having seven bronze medals.

Tanzania crooner Alikiba is set to release his new album.

Without giving more information, the singer revealed that the song will be out early next year.

"The last time I released an album was 2008. In 2021 I will release my next album" he told Clouds fm.

Adding " It will be out by July 2021".

Multi award-winning producer, Sun-EL Musician, has just released his most significant work to date: a staggering 31-track, two-disc album featuring 26 collaborators titled To The World And Beyond.

Stream the album HERE  

The album in both sound and concept seeks to draw on the fusing of the traditional with the futuristic, with both cosmic and traditional visuals. Sun-EL Musician’s sophomore offering follows his critically acclaimed debut album, Africa To The World, which debuted on the Top 200 Electronic Albums worldwide on Apple Music, and earned him over 50 million streams across various digital platforms.

“This album is a continuation of my debut album Africa To The World and is focused on telling a story of healing and hope through dance music,” shares Sun-EL Musician.

Pegged as the most anticipated album in South Africa for 2020, Sun-EL Musician’s To The World And Beyond album was sitting at well over 7.5 million streams before its release at midnight.

The notable 26 collaborators on the album feature a star studded line-up of South Africa’s award-winning top talent among them Platoon artists, members of the El-World Label and some African heavy weights such as Niniola (Nigeria), Sauti Sol (Kenya) and from South Africa—Kwesta, Black Motion, Ami Faku, Bongeziwe Mabandla, Simmy and Msaki.

If you missed the album’s one-of-a-kind, magical virtual concert, watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5aPZ6-I71Y

Join Sun-El Musician To The World And Beyond today by streaming his album HERE   

President Uhuru Kenyatta today joined other regional leaders for the 38th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held in Djibouti.

The meeting was convened by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of Sudan who is the current Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly and attended by Presidents Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Mohamed Abdullahi (Somalia) and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia.

At the meeting, also attended by the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Moussa Faki Mahamat, South Sudan and Uganda were represented by Vice President Rebecca Garang and Amb Rebecca Otengo, the country's envoy to Djibouti respectively.

In his welcoming remarks, host President Ismail Guelleh applauded the progress made in the search for sustainable peace and stability in the region despite disruptions posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and other set backs such as floods and the desert locust invasion.

In his address, AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said the diplomatic tension between Kenya and Somalia was a concern for the African Union.

Mr Mahamat called for dialogue in de-escalating the tension saying the two countries share a long history of good neighbourliness and cited Kenya's contribution of troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and its hosting of a large population of Somali refugees as key reference points.

On Ethiopia, the AUC Chairperson urged IGAD member states to assist the country in dealing with the humanitarian crisis arising out of the conflict in its Tigray region.

Speaking just before the leaders retreated into a closed door session, Prime Minister Hamdok said the meeting was called to discuss ongoing regional peace and security processes in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia.

President Kenyatta, who arrived in Djibouti on Sunday morning, was accompanied to the summit by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo.

The Kenyan Jasiri national team started the Mombasa Open Tong IL- Moo Do international championships on a high note  after bagging 12 medals.

In the first day of the competition, the players emerged winners in the first four events of the day scoping 4gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze respectively.

In a competition that is contested by 10 countries, the seven time defending champions at the Aga Khan Multipurpose hall clinched the medals despite the high turnout of foreign players.

In the junior girls, competing in forms category, Kyla Nyambura clinched Gold, Catherine Mayaz (Silver) and Precious Mayar (Bronze).

In the same category, the boys Jotham Banda won gold, Harun Gatogo (silver) and Samuel Njaga (bronze).

Under 18 girls, Hope Christine emerged with the gold, silver went to Nina Inan and the bronze went to Lavender Mmbone. 

In the male white belt, over 18 years Athman Bakari won gold,Twalib  Kashid (silver)  and Wycliffe Wabukala (Bronze).

The countries participating in the two day championships include Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, Cote D’Voire, Phillipines,Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Iran and Turkey.

The event was officially opened by the World Tong Il Moo Do Federation President Grandmaster Takamistu Hoshiko who lauded Kenyan government for allowing the event to take place.

Former Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch and African Tong Il Moo Do Federation President Clarence Mwakio were also present.

“On behalf of the World Tong Il Moo Do Federation, I would like to commend Kenyan government for its support towards the promotion of the sport in the country. We have seen tremendous improvement of Tong Il Moo Do in Kenya, which cannot go unnoticed, “said Hoshiko who has been the Vice President of the federation before he took over the helm this year.

“Many sports were cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic but we are happy the Mombasa Open international championships is here with us. The participation of several nations clearly shows that players were looking forward to the resumption of sports globally,” said the world President.

Hoshiko said he was impressed with the covid-19 health measures put in place by the organisers of the Mombasa Open event. “The World Health Organization, the Ministry of health and the Ministry of sports, culture and heritage Covid 19 protocols have been observed to the latter,” said the President.

Mwakio said his federation was privileged to host the world event after many championships were locally cancelled due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

Mwakio lauded the government for its effort to promote Tong-IL-Moo Do and singled out  the Ministry of Sports Culture and the Arts for playing a pivotal role to ensure the event is hosted in Mombasa despite uncertainties.

The late, American country music singer Kenny Rodgers is among the ten most googled musicians in Kenya for 2020, according to google trends.

According to Google, searches for Kenny Rogers spiked in March, with the most queries being conducted between 15th and 21st, around the time of his death. Related search topics included inquiries about his death, country music and his hits among them Coward of the County, Vows Go Unbroken and Lady.

Kenyan singer and former TPF contestant Ruth Matete also featured in the list. Most queries about Matete were as a result of the death of her Nigerian husband John Apewajoye who died on April 12.  The Searches also rose three months later in July during his Apewajoye's  on 23 with Kenyans searching more information about his life, cause of death and burial.

According to Google’s year in search 2020, most Kenyans’ queries on musicians were prompted by tragedy.

Only three out of the ten were not as a result of tragedy, they include Willis Raburu, Tanzanian fast rising singer Zuchu and popular ohangla singer Otieno Aloka famous for the hit song 'Kanungo'.

Others who were also featured in the list includes, the late gospel singer Papa Dennis who died on February 7 after allegedly falling from a building in Nairobi, Kalenjin Singer Rhino Kaboom, Lady Maureen, late Ohangla musician Abenny Jachiga, and Aurlus Mabele.

The Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do international martial arts championship 2020 will start today (Sunday)with about 200 players participating from 12 countries.

The two days’ event sponsored by the Kenyan government will take place at the Aga khan academy multipurpose hall and will include the defending champions Jasiri of Kenya.

The tournament in the World Federation calendar is open to all Martial Arts and Federations from all the countries.

The teams participating in the 8th championship in Mombasa include Kenya, Zambia, Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, Zambia, Cote D’Voire, Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Philippines, Iran and Turkey.

This year’s tournament will have both seasoned and experienced international players with black belts in the men and women categories.

In the sparring categories, special techniques and forms, the men will feature in the following weights fin weight, bantam weight, feather weight, light weight, middle weight, light weight, heavy weight and super heavy weight.

The men aged between 18 years to 49years will participate in the individuals and team categories. Similarly, in the women categories for the individuals and teams, participants aged between 18 years to 49 years will fight in fly weight, middle weight up to super heavy weight.

The tournament events will be scored through the digital scoring system. In individual categories, the players will be expected to display their skills in forms, sparring, special techniques in both the colour and black belts.

 The annual event will be graced by the executive President World Tong IL Moo Do Federation Grandmaster Takamistu Hoshiko.

The event will be held while following the World Health Organization, the Ministry of health and the Ministry of sports, culture and heritage Covid 19 protocols.