Month: September 2013

Radio Africa is one of the biggest media entities in Kenya and second only to RMS in impact and audience. The late Ruhila Adatia worked for one of it’s subsidiaries -East FM. Her life and that of her unborn daughter was sadly cut short by human parasites that prey on innocence and fear in the name of a God they have no understanding of. Ruhila was one of the victims of the dogs of war that attacked Westgate on Saturday and she perished on her way to hospital in a tragic conclusion to an otherwise promising life. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

Her colleagues from radio Africa had been pouring out their hearts and subsequently their pain at her loss. They however came together and did a tribute in her memory. And what an emotional and moving tribute it was. And everyone, high and mighty to the lowest had something positive to say about her. Many described her as bubbly and jovial and talked fondly about how she used to call everyone boo-boo.

Others described horror and disbelieve at losing her saying they cannot imagine not seeing her bounce through the corridors. Watch the video of the tribute below and do not forget to say a prayer for her soul and for her unborn child tonight.

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Ghafla! has just learnt that Anne Kiguta is clearing her desk in readiness to depart from KTN. According to our source who sought anonymity, the dynamic and bold screen siren is headed to its main rival on Denis Pritt Road, Citizen TV.

Her departure from ‘your authoritative channel’ will greatly impact the news desk as she’s one of the strongest pillars that has propped the desk. This, in essence means that KTN will have to hastily look for her replacement on CheckPoint or subsequently terminate it.

Kiguta has aptly managed the show making it not the number one show on Sunday prime time on KTN, but across the country, something that made Citizen TV to swiftly recall Julie Gichuru back on Sunday Live.

Concurrently, Moses Kuria, a regular on CheckPoint has had his contract with the media giant prematurely terminated after he penned a critical article on Makau Mutua, the new Standard Managing Editor who moved from Sunday Nation most recently.

This has made the Co-host, Professor Kisangi to point out that he cannot do the show without Moses Kuria on board; which raises suspicion that Anne Kiguta gladly grabbed the carrot that Citizen dangled after the realization that the show was headed for a stalemate.

Meanwhile, Kiguta officially moves to Citizen on 1st October. 

Bogonko Bosire, the man behind Jackal News, has been missing in Nairobi since the Westgate attacks that occurred on Saturday afternoon according to his friends and colleagues.

According to one of his close friends Martin Gitau, “the renowned controversial blogger Bogonko Bosire is missing.”

He went on to add that the situation is “Very serious,” (via Twitter) “He is missing … not in office or home.”

Another friend said via Twitter that he had tried to contact Bosire two days ago but Bosire’s phone was off. 

Several other journalists, including Richard Bosire and Barasa S.Paul, are looking for Bosire.

According to Bosire’s Twitter profile, he is the chief editor of Jackal News. He is also a former AFP journalist. His last tweet is on September 19.

“Deafening silence with his Jackal stuff,” said one Kenyan on Twitter.

The attack on Westgate mall, which has left at least 72 dead and hundreds of other wounded, began on September 21. 

Director Digital, New Media & Diaspora, Dennis Itumbi otherwise known as ‘The Government Blogger’ has just had his Twitter account verified by Twitter. Itumbi whose task is to deliver the digital promise and connecting Kenyans to the presidency, is one of the most followed individuals on Twitter.

Itumbi now joins the likes of President Uhuru Kenyatta, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Martha Karua, Raila Odinga and Larry Madowo who also brag of verified Twitter accounts.

Other Twitter handles that have been verified include;

@InteriorKE – the official handle of for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National;

@PoliceKE, the official Kenya police handle and;

@KenyaRedCross, the official Kenya Red Cross handle.

A verified Twitter account has a blue badge with a white tick on their Twitter profile is a verified account. 

Verification is currently used to establish authenticity of identities of key individuals and brands on Twitter.

Twitter proactively verifies accounts on an ongoing basis to make it easier for users to find who they’re looking for. It concentrates on highly sought users in music, acting, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, advertising, business, and other key interest areas.

Twitter verifies business partners from time to time and individuals at high risk of impersonation.

Twitter constantly updates its requirements for verification. Note, verification does not factor in follower count or Tweet count.

This morning we woke up to the shocking news of the sudden demise of coder and blogger Idd Salim. The twitterati has just been laid to rest at Kariokor Muslim Cemetery according to Islam burial rituals.

The burial was attended by friends, family and fellow KOT. Among the mourners was ex-socialite and business lady Huddah Monroe (Alhuddah Njoroge) who donned a hijab with a matching body-hugging dress.

A memorial for the departed KOT will be held this evening at the NaiLab.Join the rest in celebrating the life of a Ninja coder, a beautiful soul, techie, friend and father.

May his soul rest in peace.

The goings-on inside the Westgate Shopping Mall have just remained a hear-say with both the mainstream media and the Government giving conflicting information. However, one Joseph Mathenge, a brave photojournalist was inside the mall doing what he does best as the military combed the building.

Mathenge managed to capture a clip in which a policeman bravely crawled on his stomach to rescue a woman who lied still on the floor as if dead shielding her children behind a counter inside Westgate Mall.

While she lay there, a brave police officer came to their rescue and ensured they were out of the building safely.

Here’s that video by Citizen TV;

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Photos: Reuters

With all the news about the bravery of the men in blue and the rest of Kenya’s disciplined forces, it would seem we are forgetting the ordinary citizens: Kenyans like you and I who left what they were doing to help with the rescue efforts.

And it now appears that in their zeal to apprehend the terrorism suspects, the security forces might have been heavy handed and have arrested a man by the name Omu Paul who has worked for KTN previously and was helping with rescue efforts because he didn’t have an national identity card.

This is one of the sets he has worked on for KTN. And I was informed of his past working relationship with the media entity by a Ghafla enthusiast on twitter with this tweet:

  Dj Kamjo ‏@DeejayKamjo

@GhaflaKenya #FreeOmuPaul he’s part of showbiz, join the cause – a lighting set up he did @KTNKenya studios on sato pic.twitter.com/8M0Pbqq9WW

I am hoping for a quick solution to this small setback.

Last night the internets rend the news that twitter bigwig and blogger Idd Salim had passed on in a hospital from T.B (tuberculosis) and I couldn’t believe what I was reading. While I do not know Idd salim personally, I knew he was full of life and he was a huge Ghafla reader, quick to share his disdain whenever he felt the writers had let him down by making what he considered to be school boy errors.

And we clashed on several occasions because i did not necessarily agree with the way he chose to air his sentiments but I dare say there was mutual respect between us which he often told Baba Ghafla about.

And even without meeting him I have been saddened by his death. We at Ghafla wish to express our sincerest condolences to his family and friends. may his soul rest in eternal peace.

It would seem that the cowardly terrorist attacks on Westgate Shopping complex has backfired in the face of the al-Shabaab clowns who thought they would break the Kenyan spirit and cow her people only for Kenyans of every walk of life to stand up and be counted in solidarity with the victims.

And then east africans stood up to be counted with their Kenyan brothers and sisters and now Africa is standing up with Kenya. Nigeria’s Uti Nwachukwu sent a message to Kenyans a couple of days ago and this is what he had to say:

Uti Nwachukwu ‏@SirUTI

Please keep praying for Kenya.God pls intervene and deliver UR people! Pls lets pray for the Grace of God to visit Kenya #WestgateAttack

The new season of Churchill Show brought new life as comic Churchill (Daniel Ndambuki) tapped into raw talent and that hasn’t disappointed. One such ‘raw talent’ is Kreative Generations Entertainers duo, Mchungaji & Mtumishi (Josephat Mchasia & Gilbert Baraza).

Having played for some time on Churchill Live and Laugh Festival this was probably their year of break-through as they get airplay each and every Sunday. The duo stirs viewers on Churchill show with their musical comics that leave the audience not only in stitches but also asking for more.

And now, thanks to the exposure they have received, Mchungaji & Mtumishi have landed themselves new roles in ‘Hekaya za Likobe’, a TV show on Nation Media Group’s QTV.

The show which is currently on its first season has been rated as the number one show on QTV and its producer, Jirongo Luyali, confirms that the duo is set to attend its first shoot in a week’s time. He has also revealed that many big artistes have been expressing their interest to join the first growing show.

‘Hekaya za Likobe’ runs every Monday at 7pm and is produced by Luyali Media.

Do not ask for whom the bell tolls for it tolls for thee! Words spoken to Ebenezer Scrooge and it is an apt way to start an article that will give you details about an arrest warrant issued for a journalist who displayed incredible irresponsibility by revealing the name of an I.C.C witness contravening some I.C.c laws and statutes.

The international Criminal Court (ICC) has issued warrant of arrest for journalist Walter Barasa for allegedly coercing witnesses in the ongoing cases of Deputy President William to withdraw from giving evidence.

Barasa who wrote for Daily Nation for eight years before moving on to writting for The People confirmed that the warrant of arrest against him has been issued terming it “of no consequence” since he has no hand in the withdrawal of the witnesses at The Hague.

And in what seems like an attempt at spiting the I.C.C, Barasa narrated how an ICC investigator, Paul Irani had unsuccessfully tried to coerce him to assist him get witnesses from Eldoret to testify against Deputy President William Ruto.

“The said ICC investigator has been telling me to help him fix the Deputy President since he has no evidence against him after failing to get witnesses from Eldoret. I have severally turned him down,” Barasa said.
 
According to Barasa, Irani has been threatening him that if he does not co-operate to help fix Ruto, he will issue arrest warrant and send him to jailed for five years. Barasa is being accused by the ICC of being behind the sporadic withdrawal of witnesses at the ongoing cases facing Ruto and former Journalist, Joshua Arap Sang.

“I respect the court,I respect the rights of the accused persons to a fair trial,and the victims right to get justice but I do not accept coercion and unorthodox means of implicating accused persons and conducting investigations with a prefixed end,” Barasa said. ICC has also accused Barasa of being behind the delay of witnesses travel to The Hague to adduce evidence against Ruto, an allegation which he resolutely denies. “I have no power to cause any witness not to travel abroad,” he said.

“How can I cause the delay of the witnesses yet the witnesses are abroad and in the custody of ICC,”posed Barasa. He denied that he has been making frantic efforts to ensure witness p536 at The Hague withdraws from giving her evidence. Barasa said the Witness p536 had told him she was coerced to testify that he was a cook and prepared meals for the warriors who torched the Kiambaa church. Barasa charged that the witness was coerced to give evidence.

“She has moved to three different countries, Uganda,Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo before finally being flown to The Hague to give evidence,” he added. Barasa added that the witness made several calls to him to assist her to get out as a witness and return to Kenya because there exists peace and she no longer was interested in testifying.

He denied that he has been making frantic efforts to ensure witness p536 at The Hague withdraws from giving her evidence

One of the texts messages allegedly sent by her to Barasa read:

“Hey wamenitumia ujumbe wakisema kuwa watanikujia jumatatu coz washapeana majina ya washaidi na mimi ni mmoja wao…. so jaribu kuja kati ya leo na ju- mapili…tafadhali niambie day ya kufika huku nipe majibu” Barasa said he is ready to cooperate with ICC and is willing to face Irani at The Hague since he has all the evidence that no investigations were done and the witness was coerced and coached.

“I have already instructed my advocate Nick Kaufmann to appear for me and bring everything to the court,”he said.

Question is, “is Willis Raburu off the hook?”

Dillish Mathews made her home country Namibia and Kenya proud when she bagged the coveted number one spot in this year’s Big brother Dubbed the Chase.

The 23 year old together with  fellow Namibian BBA contestant Maria Nepembe accompanied police officers on a routine Friday night patrol  last weekend.

They experienced a night in the  life of a law enforcer in the capital Windhoek which involved controlling the behaviour of a  large number of drunk youngsters and the maintenance of law and order

Dillish Prepares For Her Shift

Superintendent Helena Mootseng speaking to New Era Newspaper Namibia said the whole idea for Mathews and Nepembe to join in the patrol was for them to experience firsthand what the situation on the ground is and to maybe use their new found stardom to influence the youth to change their ways or to act more responsibly

The two ladies promised to behave responsibly as role models.

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Photo Courtesy Of New Era.Com

Love is in the air!Emmy Kosgei wedded her clergyman late last month and now two popular Papa Shirandula actors has decided to tie the knot.

Gerald Langiri who plays Mr Araka smart in Papa Shirandula has wedded Naliaka from the same show.Here are the photos from the wedding:

Well they did not get married in real life just their characters Mr Araka Smart and Naliaka in a recent episode of  Papa Shirandula!

“Nyong’o doesn’t have the same name recognition as Oprah, but if you were to compare the two performances it’s quite obvious, to me at least, who gives the better performance.” These were the words of Hollywood movie critic last week.

This was after her sterling performance in 12 years a slave.Hollywood has faith in Lupita’s ability to bag and Oscar and hopefully an Oscar but does her home country Kenya believe in her?

Yesterday we ran a pall to find out if you have faith in Lupita Nyongo’s ability to bag an Oscar Nomination  and the results reflect the true Kenyan spirit.We root for our own

There is never a dull moment where Nigeria’s BBA Rep 2013 Beverly Osu is involved.

From her  monkey business with South African hunk Angelo Collins to her riveting albeit chilling  tales about her struggles with a violent boyfriend,abortions and selling her body to provide for her family this girl gets your attention.

She is 21 but she looks more mature  probably due to the  the heart wrenching things she had to endure.I stumbled upon a picture  the luscious vixen in her earlier days:

Many of you may or may not remember her from Changing Times where she played Betty, but her character, Mama Boi, on the soap opera Lies that Bind can’t be ignored. Olympia Owira or Double O as her friends and colleagues refer ther, is a stage and screen actress and also doubles up as an assistant director in Lies that Bind.

Olympia also featured in the “Mamili Chap Chap” NTV promotion where she played Mama Cindy. She has also appeared in Sauti Sol and P unit’s Gentleman video. With all this fame trailing her, you can’t help noticing her presence at public events.

Over the weekend, she was kicking it with her friends and fellow celebs at the 2013 Safaricom 7s rugby tournament;

The news of the untimely demise of Radio Africa Group’s Ruhila Adatia – Sood left many shocked and in utter disbelief and are yet to come to terms with her departure. Since Saturday, fans and friends have been sending their commiserations to the family of the late ‘gossip queen’.

In the same breath, colleagues and former colleagues have been sharing the moments they spent with Ruhila before death plucked her from them. The latest to share is comedian Jalang’o who revealed the relationship he had with Ruhila;

“Finally I get the strength to write. When I joined Kiss100 the company car picked me every single morning at 4AM to work. From my house we would go to Parklands to pick Ruhila. Every single morning we would work together and be dropped again by the company car.

Ruhila had something to say all the time, her joyful smile would always take the morning cold away. She was the first Asian woman I had come that close to because she had crossed over…moved past race…tribe…religion etc.

I have lost a friend, and a dear sister…..Ruhila in my heart you live…May the almighty rest your soul in
peace…

On her part, Kiss 100’s mid-morning show presenter, Adelle Onyango, also eulogized the fallen celebrated TV/radio personality;

We were always meeting at the babyshop at sarit and she’d scold me for shopping before a baby arrives and I’d scold her for over spending! She had such a great soul! So much to learn from this angel’s legacy. #RIPRuhila #ShockWearingOff