Month: December 2012

These Kenyan animations are just crazy. Moving over to the next level, that’s what the Kenyan creatives are doing. Though these animations may not be so top notch, you still gotta hand it to them. They sure know how to express emotions and humor through these animations way better than it would be done by actors, which is by the way, a side purpose of animation production.

Anyway, the Recon Digital Video productions just finished their latest animation and it’s all about the approaching Africa’s Next Top Poet.

This right here is an animated character, going for auditions to this contest. The facial and body expressions on this little animated boy are to dye for. Just can’t resist laughing.

Take a look at the video below.

The verdict is out and your dede Chim Tuna has come to keep your informed on which television station is tops and which ones have performed rather impressively and which ones have disappointed.

And to be honest, the most viewed television channel isn’t going to be a shocker. The rest of the channels are because there is a toss up for which will take the 2nd spot. And with that, let me just give you a hint; the channels you think aren’t worth viewing clearly are. Those that you think are, aren’t. Those that you think have good movies don’t and those that you think are shady have quite the reach.

But without further ado, i give to you:

#10. UTV

What? Never heard of it? Well, me neither but according to Adam Wagwau, this channel is run by a lad with iron nads! He started off with a laughable set up and he started out in Buru Buru but he’s now expanded to Githurai. Well, this lad apparently decided to give Kenyans what they’ve been lacking: quality entertainment and the most recent movies.

He has grown his channel to capture 1.40% of the total sample base of surveyed Kenyans. Don’t know how legal his entire operation is though…

#9. Family TV

For those of you not aware of just what Family TV is, they were the first Christian channel in Kenya. When they launched i believe back in 1999, there was alot of hubris and pomp. Fast forward to today and you realize just how fickle Kenya’s Christians are as consumers. Family is struggling for viewership against UTV… Yep, Christians who make up a majority of Kenya don’t watch Family TV. But if you are targeting Christians who are devout, advertise on Family TV!

#8. GBS

These guys rolled out just this year i believe. And they have shown that Kenya is ready for a home shopping network but just to mitigate the risk, they combined it with gospel. So you have a gospel home shopping network all rolled into one. And it is Korean run… And they have bested their rivals for the Kenyan gospel market…

#7. K24

These guys have worked hard for their number 7 spot. They give you locally oriented news about and when it started out, i have to say i was a cynic. How was this format supposed to work? But they made it happen. Then Jeff joined them and the rest is history. I just hope they’ll find an apt replacement for Jeff Koinange.

#6. Kiss TV

Kiss TV started out a little confused but they have found their footing. They are not just a music channel that occasionally has African movies, they are a channel that is about entertainment from word go and they have found a formula. They have even relaunched and rebranded and i for one expect to see them grow their demograph.

#5. Q TV

This is the biggest improvement i have seen. They have grown by an entire 5 point margin and that is no small feat! They aren’t playing around and from the look of things they are targeting Citizen’s demograph!

#4. KBC

The oldest broadcaster in the land has lost the plot! And they should watch out for Q TV. KBC started out with the same demograph as Citizen but they have been overtaken and badly so. They fell and i am lost as to just how they fell off! But all is not lost, they just need to work on their staff’s complaints and get someone who actually knows how to satisfy their “mashinani” demograph!

#3. KTN

These guys were the toast of the ’90s and early to mid 2000’s. Then this year they were rocked by some internal strife and the departure of their top talent. But trust that they are back! And the thing about KTN is that they will be back with a bang!

#2. NTV

These guys gained the most from KTN’s lapse… Literally! They were quick to snatch up their reporters and exploit the new found market advantage they acquired. And that ladies and gentlemen is business savvy at it’s best!

And their ranking shows it. They take the number two slot!

#1. Citizen

Questions? No? Did’t think so! These guys are what Equity is to the banking sector: a movement!

This morning, we reported about blogger Robert Alai alleging that comedian Churchill is a fraud for failing to fulfill his pledge of paying for Conjestina’s rent. Well, somehow Alai has succeeded in trying to push the comedian to action because Churchill has responded to allegations.

However, it appears that there has been a little misunderstanding between Churchill and the committee consisting of Alai, Nonini, Suzanna Owiyo, Amb. Yvonne Khamati among others. Speaking to Ghafla on phone, Churchill’s spokesman, Mr. Ken Waudo, sought to set the record straight about the whole issue. According to Mr.Waudo, Churchill made the pledge to pay Conje’s rent on air and that the payment has not been made because the rent was next year’s. He also added that it was hard on their part to cough up Ksh.180,000 up from the initial Ksh.24,000 for rent for the whole year since Conje has since moved houses from Lucky Summer to Buruburu.

Mr. Waudo also revealed that they are in communication with the landlord as well as Conje’s dad, sister, Caro Atieno, and the boxer herself. He added that half the rent will be paid in form of a cheque today and the rest of the amount settled before the end of next year. The confusion between Churchill and the Alai camp also arose from the fact that when the committee met at Tamasha- Hurlingham, Churchill was not in attendance as he was away on duty meeting a foreign client.

Regarding the allegations that Churchill was not answering calls, Mr. Waudo said that the comedian usually has a very tight schedule but his office line is always open. He insists that they have been in touch with both Amb. Khamati and Conje’s family who have been bringing them up to date with the boxer’s progress.

As a parting shot, Churchill maintained that at no point did he try defrauding anyone and that funds are being raised and the rent will be settled fully.

Citizen is way ahead of the rest of the pack and leaves all the rest scrambling for their scraps.

And how do i know this? Well, i have gotten me mitts on the recently released KARF survey and it’s quite the interesting read. It has shown me just which television channel gives advertisers value for their shilling and adds punch to their marketing drive.

Out the total sample base, Citizen emerged as the popular option for 1,800,203 people in the just concluded 3rd business quarter of the fiscal year. Sound like Greek? Allow your dede to break it down. A financial year is the period when a company runs it’s business and just like the normal calendar, it is divided into 12 months. A financial quarter therefore has 3 months. The first runs from January to March, the second from April to June, the 3rd from July to September and the 4th from October to December.

This is done to allow for a universal accounting period. But while some companies have their year running from January to December, others run from June all year round for 12 months. But i9n this case, that is irrelevant.

So from the 2nd to the 3rd quarter, Citizen was the clear favourite garnering 1.8 million sets of eye balls. So advertisers, there you have it! For two quarters back to back, Citizen has eigned supreme!

So, we have been dying to do this list for the longest time but decided to save it for the end of the year, and now, it is just about that time.

This here are the five most scandalous situations Kenyan public figures have been involved in this year.

5. Camp Mulla’s Miss Karun’s fake naked photos.

First of all, let me just make it clear for those who are still confused and lost in this washed up scandal. The naked lady in the photo, that you can clearly see above, WAS NOT MISS KARUN. Small resemblance, but that’s just it. Malicious individuals just couldn’t resist making a fake story out of it.

4. Gospel artiste A-Star’s alleged alcohol consumption

Pulse went through with this, publishing photos of A-Star standing next to an alcoholic drink in a club, setting off rants from the gospel artists community, even resulting to a letter from A-Star himself, giving the media house his piece of mind.

3. Allegations of Jimmy gait being gay

I have no idea where Nairobi Exposed got this from, but they had a hunch about Jimmy Gait’s sexual orientation and they ran with it. Merciless guys these are. Jimmy Gait went through months of questions and doubt from fans and the media. This wasn’t a really good time for the fellow. Finally, he came out and cleared everything up, even bringing to light his long term girlfriend. Then the gay community was disappointed. Bummer!

2. Robert Alai being beaten up mercilessly at the iHub

This was just epic. I won’t even front. I should know, I was there. The cries that came out of this guy, oh my God! This was like a movie. This is what went down, iHub was having a small event which was going pretty well up until Rober Alai showed up and demanded for entry even after being notified that he was not welcomed at the vicinity. He tried to force his way in but the bouncers couldn’t have it, and so the roughing up commenced setting off a surprise opera performance from Robert Alai.

1. Willy Paul and Pendo’s sex scandal

This happened most recently. Apparently, gospel artiste Willy Paul and aspiring secular artiste, Pendo were caught pants down at the KICC basement getting busy during the 2012 Kisima Awards. Both parties denied these allegations and even visited Ghafla and Tina Kaggia’s One Active Show on 1FM to set things straight.

Radio Maisha’s presenter/DJ and KTN’s “Iz Vipi XL Mashariki” show host, Peter Adamz is not a happy man. The renowned radio personality yesterday has expressed his displeasure with the results of the just concluded Kenya Coast Music Awards.

A seemingly dissatisfied Peter Adamz took to his Facebook page where he expressed his. “Yaaani Hivi Mpaka LEO Hamkitambui Nachofanya” posted the deejay. He however did not let that kill his spirits and kept his head high holding it that God is rewarding him for his efforts, “SINA Tatizo Kwani MUNGU Anani Tuza…”

Peter Adamz had been nominated in three categories; Radio DJ of The Year, Radio Show of The Year -Nairobi (Iz Vipi)and TV Show of the Year (Iz Vipi XL Mashariki). Peter Adamz lost all the three awards to DJ Ken of Baraka FM, Mambo Mseto on Radio Citizen and Mseto East Africa on Citizen TV respectively.

Ipsos Synovate recently released a survey report on the state of television in terms of viewership.

And while most of it makes a rather interest what i found the most interesting is the fact that out of all the major television stations, only KTN and KBC were unable to grow their market share and infact lost some of their market holding to their competitors.

I’m not one to deal in rumours but i heard about trouble brewing at both stations with KBC eventually parting company with Nyambane and KTN losing it’s top rated journalists… Where there’s smoke.. Anne Kiguta even authored an open letter in which she castigated top management for their refusal to adapt and lack of  professionalism.

But in terms of KTN it wasn’t all gloom and doom, they have regained their top rated journalists such as Mohammed Ali and John Allan Namu. And with their current crop of talented journalists and their investigative piece “Jicho Pevu” they are sure to regain alot more of the market share.

For KBC though, the prognosis may not be so sunny… With the explosion of affluence and exposure, Nairobi residents are demanding better TV programming. KBC however have curved for themselves a niche that is “mashinani”. And they have been beaten at that by Royal Media Service’s Citizen TV. Something’s got to give!

The base of this study was some 2.1 million Kenyans.

You remember Larry Asego’s letter to his boss sometime back? If you don’t, read it HERE. So he has written a follow-up letter to the boss reminding him about the Christmas request he and his colleagues made. He also tells him that plans are underway already so that basically leaves the boss with no option than to let them have their way. Take a look;

Dear boss, let’s start by reminding you that you are the illest not as in healthwise but as in the dopest, not as in drugs. Ok. Anyway, it’s December and the preparations for the End of year party are looking promising. Anto came back with good news from Ungem, si you remember that place? Yes. Well the suppliers are still working and say we have to give a down payment so they can supply the murats. So ask Njoro the accountant to sort us out by lunch time today. He’s also the coolest, not as in ice cream, but as in down to earth, not as in in the ground. We need to verify the quality of the murats so we might be late coming back to work, if you don’t see us, please don’t panic, we are in the good hands of Anto. By the way Murats is some other drink that makes you feel rich even when you are broke. Kama has offered to sort out transport, using the office driver before he goes on leave. By the way that dere gives us the creeps, he’s just weird. He lives in Ongwaro. Never go there by the way, unless you are with Johnny, he knows people there. That dere smokes some things that can make you vomit. I suspect he has been giving vomiting Joyce some of that stuff. She’s back to having morning sickness at lunch time sana sana. She needs to see a professional.

As for entertainment Kama’s uncle is a guitar Maestro who has offered to perform for free in exchange for a jerrycan of murats. He has performed in many places and has won many hearts, even Agnes the tea girl likes him. And he performs alone, like Tchaikovsky Concerto Opera, only that he calls himself One Man.

So entertainment is sorted, drinks we are good, as for food we can use your office balcony to burn meat. I know a good burner who won’t charge extra. As for the interns, they are starting their training from today. We will introduce them over time.
And and before i forget, Johnny is asking if you need that bamboo pen case present you got? It’s on your desk and if you don’t need it, he wants to give his girlfriend for Christmas. Thanks, he’s already wrapped it anyway.

PS: As we speak most of the above are already underway, so if you see some people setting up various things in the office, don’t be alarmed or be taken aback. Not aback as in pushed backwards, but as in in awe. Now as in auwesmek, but awe as in mouth agape. Not agape as in religiously. By the way could you hook us up with that advance for Feb so we can buy you a card? There a nice one you will love. If you don’t we will assume you don’t like such things like card and won’t push you. Cheers boss. Not as in we are drinking now, but as in good day.

This is a new segment we’ll be doing here on Ghafla! After our coverage of this year’s Big Brother Africa, we discovered that for various reasons there was a huge number of people who used ghafla.co.ke to follow the series. So we’ve decided to cover ALL the major series in Kenya, for those of you who can’t watch for one reason or another. First up is a review of Inspekta Mwala, one of the top rated shows in Kenya:

So yesterday’s show started with two street urchins(aka chokoras) hiding in the back of an orange Subaru and tell the driver to take them to their destination.

The scene changes to two cops at the station, Abdi and Madam Dorothy, who are talking idly about their children’s school issues. Shortly, they get a man who wants to report a stolen phone. He claims that he gave a man his phone in order to borrow some quick cash, but when he asked for the phone back, the shylock refused.

The cops actually told him that maybe the man with the phone had his own financial issues which he wanted to solve, after which he would return the phone.  The cops inform the man reporting the crime that shylocking is in fact illegal and ask him why he has a need for fast money. The reporting man gets enraged and says that what he is going to do is bring the shylock’s head to the station.

Scene goes to an oppulent mansion belonging to a man aptly named ‘Budda’ where they seemed to be planning a sinister plot. There is an exchange of a lot of money over the phone in question. The men at the mansion celebrate that they have covered a large bill using the money from the stolen phone.

Back to the Subaru next. The Subaru pulls up to a hardware shop. Mwala comes up to the car, telling some of his “mboys” to man the car, while he goes to arrest the Soob driver. Mwala reveals that they have been operating a racket involving the driver, the hardware shop and some fake chokoras. Mwala sits them all down and cuffs them. He demands to be led to the chokoras and that they leave the business. The program abruptly ends here.

All in all, I was left very confused by this episode of Inspekta Mwala. The two plots involving the Subaru and the stolen phone did not connect at any point. The programme also ended very abruptly, and there was only one scene with jokes, making it seem like a hastily cobbled collage of video shots. Honestly though, I don’t think l’ll ever get this show, as I’m not in the target demographic(mashinani folks). HOWEVER, I find it offensive that the executives at Citizen see this sort of incomplete and haphazard programming to be the only thing fit for consumption by guys upcountry. No matter where you are from, you deserve a wholesome, well thought-out TV diet.

Have any thoughts on this new “Yesterday On” segment? Leave your interesting or creative responses in the comment section below:

You all know him for his outstanding investigative pieces that have always left everyone in shock. Someone has noticed his exemplary work; Mohammed Ali has emerged the journalist of the year for the second year running.

Moha was crowned the journalist of the year during this year’s second anniversary of the Annual Media Excellence Awards (AMEA) at a colourful event held at the Sarova Panafric Hotel last Friday. Moha emerged the top journalist with a total score of 78% beating a host of other journalists and winning Sh.200,000. “Thanks to all my fans. Tonight and this year again im the journalist of the year in annual media excellence awards (AMEA-2012)” tweeted an elated Moha.

The awards are designed to reward exemplary journalists whose reporting and/or analysis practically influence national policy formulation and implementation processes. The awards are intended to stimulate positive media competition and enhance media focus on public service delivery issues.

Congratulations are in order Moha.

These are not my words but Robert Alai’s. The blogger alleges that the comedian never honoured his pledge to pay boxer Conjestina’s rent for a whole year even after promising to do so live on air. 

According to Alai, Churchill has not been picking calls from those who have been following up on his pledge. “Churchill of Classic FM PLEDGED on radio to pay Conjestina’s rent for one year, he seems to have refused to honour that. SAD!! Uwizi. He is ever claiming to be busy. So sad!!!” imparted Alai online adding that Churchill was informed when Conjestina moved to her new house and Churchill just said, “No problem”. “These discussions were minuted. Churchill is just a FRAUD,” alleged Alai.

He has even started a trending topic on Twitter, #PayUpChurchill, in a bid to get the comedian fulfill the pledge he made. Take a look;

Churchill is not more busy than everyone in Kenya. Feigning “I am busy” to escape obligations is robbery. #PayUpChurchill

Don’t push me to document these publicity cons in a blog post. Please don’t. #PayUpChurchill

If Churchill was honest, he would pick calls from all those who have been following up on his pledge. He is NOT HONEST. #PayUpChurchill

saw publicity cons in #Kenyans4Kenya. Now we have another case in #PamojaConje. #PayUpChurchill

During the “Pamoja Na Conje” initiative, a host of celebs came to the fore to pledge to support the then ailing boxer to get well.

A Mbusi deh! was recently interviewed by Citizen TV’s Job Mwaura on his “Mgaagaa na upwa” show and the radio king was rocking a pink pair of pyjamas, shown in the image here(click to enlarge). In the interview, it was revealed that Mbusii started off work in Ghetto radio as a tea boy when he was searching for casual labour in the streets of Nairobi. He said:

“Hii mwili yangu pyenga, siwezi enda inda ati kuchukua mawe nianze kufanya kazi ya mjengo. Ilibaki sasa hutu tukazi tudogo tudogo, ka kuuza hiyo supu hivi.”

After his stint selling foodstuffs, he turned to acting to support himself. He recalled an acting audition which he did with the interviewer, where he got a lucky break and met with Maji Maji, the boss at Ghetto Radio:

“Ndio tukapatana na wewe (the interviewer) tukienda interview fulani hapo ya comedy… nikakuwa… huo sonko ame-like, akanitumania. Sa mi kuenda, walinipea slot ya asubuhi hapo Ghetto Radio ya kuleta traffic updates.”

Unfortunately, Mbusi did not impress, even as the traffic updates guy, so he was demoted to being the tea boy at Ghetto Radio. According to him, Maji Maji told him:

“Sasa wee job ile tunaweza kupea juu huna sauti ya radio, labda tukufanye messenger. Kazi yangu ilikuwa tu ni kumkema. Nakaa tu hapo karibu na yeye…”

And then Mbusi began to learn the ways of radio via apprenticeship. The rest, as they say, is history. Check out the full interview in the video below:

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This morning, Maina Kageni revealed on air that he will be leaving Classic 105 in June next year for retirement. Whether it’s true or in jest, the announcement generated a lot of debate from his avid fans who called in overwhelmingly expressing their disappointment and beseeching Maina not leave.

His co-host, Mwalimu King’ang’i was having a “cow and a chicken” (in Maina’s words) and didn’t have much to say the entire time that the debate went on. So perturbed was Maina with the reactions from his fans that he questioned why it’s so hard to let go. Arguing that he has been on radio for 12 years, Maina insisted that it was time to leave despite all the pleas from his listeners. The outspoken radio presenter is said to be heading to Miami and even said, “Next year when I come, I will be a summer-bunny in December.”

As other callers were literally begging Maina to stay, one caller dissented holding it that, “You should even leave tomorrow. Have they advertised for your position? You have been a pace setter, and am ready to take up your position.” The station via its Twitter handle asked its listeners to stay calm as the matter was being handled, “Our dear listeners, no need to panic about @ItsMainaKageni leaving, we are in discussion and his exit will be smooth.We’ll all miss him #KOT“

What do you think guys? Should he leave or stay?

Ian Mugoya was recently out with friends painting the town red and from the pictures he was really having a great time.

And as the night wore on, he and his boyos got around to fooling around and having fun. They enjoyed their bromance and at some point Ian Mugoya kissed his friend on the cheeks. Take a look:

I bet you expected to see him kissing the lad on the lips huh? Nope! Sorry, Ian is straight and they were just fooling around the way lads do.

The inaugural Kenyan Gay & Lesbian Awards were held at City Hall’s Charter Hall. The event was organized by National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Kenya Human Rights Commission. The awards seek to recognize LGBTI Kenyans who work for equality and non-discrimination.

Check out the full winners’ list of the Identity Kenya-sponsored first ever KeGALA Awards below.

SHUJAA – Lifetime Achievement Award – David Kuria Mbote

AFYA – LGBTI Health Provider Award – KIPE-Kenya (Kisumu)

UTUMISHI – LGBTI Community Organization Achievement Award – Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK) – Nairobi

SAUTI – Journalist Of The Year Award – Monica Mwangi (The Star)

DINI – Religion/Faith Award – St. Sebastian – KIPE Kisumu

MSAIDIZI – Civil Society/Corporate Ally Award – Kenya Human Right Commission (KHRC)

Simon Mamicha Award – John Mathenge – HOYMAS

TUKIO – Event of the Year Award – OUT Film Festival 2012 – Goethe Institute

MWAJIRI – Employer of the Year Award – Fahamu Africa

BIASHARA – Business Leader of the Year Award – Rainbow Crafts – Out In Kenya

NGUZO – Pillar of Support Award – UHAI-EASHRI

MWONGOZI – Politician/Public Servant Award – Makau Mutua, KHRC Chairman

Certified screamer Robert Alai is back again; this time attacking one of Africa’s best journalists, Jeff Koinange. It all started when news went round that the celebrated journalist is leaving K24 and heading to South Africa-based Arise Africa, a new international TV station and would be paid close to $1 million salary.

The controversial blogger seemed to have a problem with the remuneration and even alleged that Jeff was fleeing to SA to “avoid future prosecutions in case of election-related violence”. Take a look at the string of tweets by Alai;

After playing propagandist for Uhuru, Jeff Koinange is now avoiding future prosecutions in case of election related violence by moving to SA

nobody will pay Jeff Koinange $1 million to work for him. Do you know what $1 million salary is? You are joking 

If you are believing rumours that anyone is paying #JeffKoinange $1 million salary per month, you are just the most stupid person alive.

I am sure that Jeff Koinange is not going to earn more than 15,000 USD per month. Wacheni ufala. 

However, Jeff did not engage in a tweef and instead chose to be diplomatic in his response to the tech blogger. “@RobertAlai What a SAD individual….Never Happy for anyone…always dehumanizing and denouncing people…So SAD!!!” tweeted Jeff.

It’s normal for human beings to have sexual desires and since the prisoners cannot get women, they turn to each other for sexual satisfaction. In former VP, Moody Awori’s days as Minister of Home Affairs, he introduced reforms to Prison Service which saw prisoners enjoy some luxuries. However, one crucial thing was not factored in the reforms; that of conjugal rights.

Homosexuality is a difficult subject to discuss. But behind prison bars, it’s normal for a man to take another man in order to satisfy his desires. Some accept it willingly; others are forced into it through rape or sodomy, constantly emasculated until it becomes a part of everyday life.

Lulu Hassan visited various prisons in Kenya to bring you this story told through the prisoner’s’ eyes. Watch the video below courtesy of KTN.