Month: May 2015

 

Most run-down neighbourhoods are associated with insecurity and rowdy thieving bastards. And that’s why you see most VIPs are often flanked by 100s of men in black when they tour ghettos.

However, for singer, philanthropist and recently appointed NACADA board member, Jaguar, he doesn’t need no security when he decided to pay a visit to blighted areas.

Yesterday, the singer made his way to Mathare where Gospel singer Bahati was holding his homecoming concert. To most, they would expect Jaguar to arrive in a convoy and surrounded by security, like he does whenever making a public appearance.

He nonetheless shocked many when he drove himself to Mathare in his latest machine, Range Rover 2014, with an unidentified man; we aren’t sure whether he was security or just a friend.

Upon arrival some bouncers offered to give him security as he walked to the venue but he declined and was overheard saying, “Hawa ni watu sihitaji security hapa” as he smiled away.

His arrival at the concert caused commotion as the crowd surged forward to greet him and even forced Owago, the MC, to pause and recognize Jaguar’s presence saying, “Rais wa watu wa kawaida amefika”.

Contacted, Jaguar said he doesn’t need protection from people who elevated him to where he is. And so there was no need for him to walk with bouncers when he was at Mathare.

After the concert, Jaguar also attended Size 8’s mum fundraiser at CITAM.

 

 

Philanthropic and flamboyant politician Mike Sonko has rendered his support for gospel songstress Size 8 whose mother needs a kidney transplant in India urgently.

Size 8 and other celebrities have been requesting well-wishers to contribute some cash to help raise the medical bill required for the treatment.

According to the singer, the bill stands at more than 2 million shillings, a big burden that the singer cannot raise by herself.

And the Nairobi Senator has seen it better to rally Kenyans to support the singer to raise the much needed money.

Sonko has, however, not revealed his contribution this time round unlike what many are used to.

Here is what the politician said:

Please #SimamaNaMamaSize8 and contribute whatever you can to support her mum Esther Njeri in getting a kidney transplant.

 

Was it a case of absence with apology or a telltale sigh that all isn’t well within the gospel fraternity? Bahati received overwhelming support from his colleagues from across the divide.

Yesterday, Bahati’s thanksgiving gig, Asente Mathere Concert, was dotted with a number of secular musicans, namely; Nameless, Octopizzo, Jaguar, King Kaka, Wyre among others.

One would easily have mistaken Bahati for a secular artist. That begs the question; where were his fellow gospel musicians?

Groove Tour was the excuse given. Word on the street is that most if not all gospel celebrities travelled to Eldoret for the Groove Tour.

Were it not for the popular secular faces in attendance, the Bahati’s concert wouldn’t have notable individual turning up.

But then again, is it justified to say Groove Tour was reason enough for popular gospel names to fail to make an appearance at Bahati’s concert?

Well, one wouldn’t be blamed to say gospel artists turned their back on one of their own. Or can this opinion be interpreted as sheer malevolence?

See photos of some of the secular artists who showed up at Bahati’s concert below:

On the 25^th of April, the media industry suffered a blow when one of their own a thriving radio presenter passed away in a tragic road accident.

The car he was travelling in along with three friends rolled severally and Rhyno was thrown out of the car as he had no seat belt on. He was rushed to Mater hospital but they sadly could not save him.

On May 2^nd I joined the mourners as they went to pay their last respects to the talented and ambitious radio presenter. From the eulogies ranging from heartrending to down-right hilarious, it was clear that the media fraternity and the people of Busia Country has suffered a great loss.

Even the rain which poured with vengeance during the burial did not stop people form burying their loved one.Here are the photos from the burial which was attended by people from all walks of life:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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For a long time, music has taken toll of singer Nameless, husband to celebrated songbird Wahu Kagwi, swaying us away from the reality that apart from singing, Nameless is a professional architect.

The singer studied architecture at the University of Nairobi a decade ago but he really never ventured much into it.

And it is not his architectural skills that catapulted him into the limelight. Rather, he embarked on a musical journey, making his debut with likes of the late E-sir and announcing his arrival in the musical industry in Kenya with a bang.

Nameless has since grown to be among the most feted and revered singers of our generation, something that for many times made us believe that he was never meant to be an architect.

He seems to have known this too well and perhaps this could explain why the singer has embarked on letting his fans get a glimpse of his other side of life.

This time as an architect, Nameless has posted a photo of himself in full architectural gear, with a building probably designed by himself under construction behind him.

Nameless says below the photo that it is better for you and me to know his other side of life. Architecture seems to put food on Nameless’ table just like music does.

Here is what he shared:

namelesskenya Introducing you to the other side of my life… Goodmorning People…tujenge nchi!! wacha pang’ang’a

Gospel singer Bahati courted controversy a few months ago when he launched a scathing attack on his counterpart Willy Paul Msafi by accusing him of stealing his songs.

His rant threatened to tear down the gospel industry in the country were it not for concerned parties that brought them together and asked them to reconcile, something that the two wonder kids did and buried the hatchet.

This, however, contrary to what many thought, did not taint Bahati’s name. Neither did it bring him down as some expected.

This was evident in the number of people who turned up for his Asante Mathare Concert which was held at the Redeemed Church in Huruma over the weekend.

And boy, quite a number of secular music singers turned up for the event. In fact, almost all the secular singers were here to show support to Bahati.

This was an incredible turn up. Here are some photos of celebrities who gathered for the even in the slums where Bahati grew up.

 

Kenzo Matata

 

Rabbit and Octopizzo share a word

Obinna Ike Igwe

Octopizzo

Wyre

Jaguar

Photo Courtesy: Mseto East Africa

 

 

After a series of titillating and jaw-dropping exposes by KTN, there is no way NTV was going to be left behind in the field of investigative journalism, a field that many viewers the world have always admired and used to rate journalists across all the media channels available.

NTV’s Dennis Okari went into depths yesterday evening to unravel the mystery behind the second worst terrorist attack on Kenyan soil after the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi which left 242 Kenyans dead.

The Garissa University attack left 148 Kenyans dead thanks to the infiltration of Al Shabaab militia into the institution’s premises at the crack of dawn, spraying bullets recklessly on students who were enjoying their last rounds of sleep.

What still bombshells and angers many Kenyans in equal measure is the fact that security organs in the country had received an intel that there was an imminent attack but as it stands out, nothing was done to obviate the killings.

This is exactly what Dennis Okari delved into in his investigative piece, showing the despondence with which families of the deceased are living in after losing their loved ones whose main mistake was to follow education to a porous region of the republic.

While others are languishing in abject poverty and were forced to even sell their small parcels of land to educate their loved ones, others recount how their children ones made desperate phones asking for help as the terrorists approached closer and closer and finally shot them at close range.

The government has come under heavy scrutiny for a slow response to the attack, with many believing that a quick response would have saved quite a life.

The expose looked into the failed security apparatus and the ignorance portrayed by security forces even when it was reported that Al Shabaab was planning a deadly attack in one of the learning institutions in Garissa town.

After the expose which NTV called Children of a Lesser God, reactions have come in thick and fast. Even though the country’s sole power provider, KPLC, rendered the country dark last night when the expose was running, many clearly so exactly what happened.

Kenyans are clearly raging. But DJ Pierra Makena is crying, crying for her country and the lives of Kenyans lost and those wounded.

She lamented how we have failed as a nation. She said:

 

 

 

 

Lately, Kenyan comedian-turned-singer Eric Omondi seems to have forged a formidable relationship with celebrities from across the East African region and more especially the Diamond Platinumz family.

It was early this year that Eric Omondi went ahead and did a remix of Shali Martin’s Rafiki Pesa song using beats from the Tanzanian maestro’s Number One hit, a remix that was received well in the region’s confines.

Eric was at hand to welcome Diamond’s wife, socialite Zari Hassan of Uganda, when she jetted into the country for the Art of Luxury event at the prestigious Skylux Lounge early last month.

Then, Zari showered accolades on Eric, exchanging pleasantries at the expense of Chipukeezy who had publicly declared his love for Zari.

And over the weekend and of course the holiday that was on Friday, Zari hosted her Zari All White Party in Tanzania and among those who were invited and of course performed were Eric Omondi.

It was here that Eric shared the stage with East Africa’s all-time hits maker Diamond Platinumz, a close ally to Eric lately.

And boy, Diamond never hesitated to lavish praise on Eric, telling the blissful crowd how the Kenyan celebrity has defied all odds to become one of Africa’s finest comedians.

As Diamond held Eric’s hand high, the crowd roared in appreciation. Eric blushed gently in appreciation too. Receiving such lionizing from one of the continent’s finest singers is no mean feat people.

This is what Damond told the crowd:

 

 

A video posted by Eric Omondi (@ericomondi) on May 3, 2015 at 11:03am PDT

 

Is it just me or had you all thought Sauti Sol had outdone itself with Sura Yako. That they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the expectations after having two mega hits last year?

Fortunately or unfortunately, they have managed to prove us all wrong by releasing what is set to be the biggest song this year. In collaboration with Amosh and Josh, they have managed to drop the jam Nerea which went ahead to tore up the internet.

As usual, it sparked a lot of controversy laying much focus on the topic of abortion which is quite a sensitive issue. Everybody jumped on it from KOT to radio stations and now a popular blogger who couldn’t resist giving his two cents. This he did in a recent interview with Ghafla and I bet his sentiments will go ahead to add more firewood to an already disastrous fire.

An award winning blogger, Magunga Williams is a creative writer and the proprietor of The Real G.Inc which is one of the most popular blogs we have in Kenya’s blogosphere. He’s lined up as a finalist in this year’s BAKE Awards which are going down tomorrow at the Intercontinental Hotel. He’s specifically nominated for the Creative Writing category.

The award ceremony which sets to recognize bloggers across the country is sponsored by Airtel which believes in recognizing and empowering the potential of our youth, Kenyan bloggers have the power to change people’s lives. Their creative contribution to online content generation through different areas of blogging and social media platforms has helped in enhancing knowledge on innovation in the Kenya.

 

Anyway, here are his sentiments: