PRISON BREAKS

  It was only like a fortnight ago when the Prisons' Department commomerated the Afrcan Correctional Week through games between the Prison Warders and Inmates.

It seems this contact was to close for contact since it triggered another reaction.This is cause it seems the freedom spirit rubbed off on the inmates.

Whereas the Police Department is trying to keep criminals off the streets by sucessfully arresting them and putting them behind bars.The Justice system then takes over and subsequently sentences them to prisons so that they can make up for their mistakes to society.The Prisons' Department is not holding up to its name.

Prison Breaks have occurred many at times within the Prison Department but to note are last weekends. Where a total of 13 inmates escaped prison custody just within the weekend.

The said group escaped in The Busia Prison via a tunnel.To note ,is that only one person had been caught by Monday evening.The Busia Prison Department defended itself by saying that the group might have passed through the border to Uganda and it will be very difficult to catch up with them.The group is also said to be made up of hard core criminals.So if you live in Busia or near the border you better watch out.

PRISON BREAKS

When Singer Dynamic came to East Africa and Kenya specifically during his tour there was much speculation about his career .This was due to his inability to deliver to his fans low crowd turn out during his shows.


In the website his viability in the music industry was questioned .After he went back to the States i sought to find out what he really thinks through an online interview.Below is the interview word for word between us.


Q1.Overally how were your shows in East Africa?
A.1 - well,l didnt expect them to be good shows from the promoters ideas & views,but l made the best of the time l was in east africa,l had great shows in meru and mombasa,and also in the clubs where l suprised lots of fans by showing up...

Q2.How did you feel while performing for the old crowd back in Kenya?was there a change?
A2 - l will always love & respect the kenyan crowd,they were the 1st to show me love by loving my music since back in 1996. the vybe was great and they all sang along to my songs which showed me that they truely follow my music.

Q3.What was the response from your fans?
A3 - the responce was great but mostly they wanted to show me that they truely love and appriciate the fact l didnt change my identity from ever since l left and went to the other side of the world.
Q4Was it to your expectations?(the fans response)
A4 - well,l dont go by expectations,l go with vybes,the vybes was nice.

Q5.How has the industry changed in Kenya since you relocated?
A5 - well,its more of a fast pace and more dancehall,l have nothing agaisnt change at all,l think change is good and it comes with a sense of growth. but l think the reggae ferternity in kenya needs to be more united.

Q6There are rumors that you are only a riddim artiste what is your opinion on that?
A6 - well,from my knowledge l have only recorded on about 5 different riddims,honestly l dont like recording on riddims,but l just go for what the riddim l listen to gives me,like my songs that are big in kenya,my fans in europe dont even know them,plus l dont only sing reggae,l sing afro-beat and r & b. l sing in 3 different languages,english,arabic and swahili,my songs in arabic and swahili are very very big in sudan,but you have never heard them played in kenya,so thats how l carry my self,this is why you see my touring from italy,germany,australia and back to the states.

Q7What are your recommendations for the Kenyan industry?
A7 - kenyan industry needs to concentrate more on developing the art of music than making money,l personally never came to kenya to make money,l dont need to come to kenya to make money,l feel like people concentrate more of other issues and leave a little percentate to the growth of ideas and ways to improve our own,there are so many talented artists in kenya who are only known in the east african community,thats kenya,uganda and tanzania,whenever they go to the western world to perform,its only east africans in the crowd,thats just not right,lets not hold back our artists & lets push them as much as we can,but also the artists need to produce good quality music that the people can be happy pushing,so its a way thing,help them to help you....

Q8What should your fans expect next?
A8 - well,now am working on alot of things,l got signed to a major lable and am trying to work on further materials,am getting in to acting and am already going to be in a big movie about sudan,so the sky is the limit for me,l do as much as l can because we only live once.

Q9When should we expect you back in Kenya?
A9 - well,a trip to kenya is not anytime soon for music,but for other things like family & my foundation called Yal Deh Foundation,l will be coming to east africa alot to work with kids and developing their skills in various ways.....

EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY

Broadway better watch out, because one of Kenya’s finest musicians is coming to ruffle its feathers.

The musician known for her dramatic attics is Karen Lucas better known as KAZ.Unlike other years she is now making headlines for the right reasons. This 27 year old is heading to AMDA (THE AMERICAN MUSICAL &DRAMATIC ACADEMY) in Broadway New York. Her farewell bash dubbed “Kwaheri Kaz”was held on 24^th September at the Tribe Hotel at the Village Market.”The course will take two years and after that I will have huge prospects at Broadway,” said the excited artiste.

The musician has several tittles under her belt which include “one of the youngest people to win a Kora Award in Durban, S.A.She also has three albums Somin, K-A-Z AND THE Naked Truth. This artiste has previously hosted The Affrodizia Show on Citizen TV. She has also been a karaoke host at the Intercontinental Hotel and Zanze Bar. Her recent project is ASAP at The Karen Country Lodge which is geared towards recognizing local talent in all areas.

Kaz came under fire in Kenya after she badmouthed fellow artiste ,Didge in South Africa during the 2004 Project Fame. By out rightly voting him out of the competition by declaring it on tv.In 2007 the celebrated artiste had some nude photos of her circulating in the internet. Although it was rumored to be a campaign to push her album sales, Kaz claimed that they were from a jilted lover. Recently she noted in an interview that, “There will always be people around trying to bring me down. “Well it seems that her luck has now changed.

G4S

THE BEST MAN ALWAYS WINS

The hatchet was finally  buried yesterday when various polling stations hosted three major by- elections.

The constituencies whose previous mps were removed from their seats after court cases included the Juja, Makadara and Starehe seats.These are also very vital areas in Nairobi,especially since Starehe hosts the CBD, Makadara the Industrial Area and Juja a host of very many industries.This withstanding the elections had a very smooth sailing but with astonishing results.

For instance in Makadara its Mike Mbuvi aka Sonko who got the majority votes.Mbuvi managed to beat Ruben Ndolo who was in foreseat in the case which ousted the former Mp Dick Wathika.On the other hand Wathika had no worries as he claimed he has been in this seat twice and a mayor too and that he was planning to quit politics.Mbuvi had been bombarded with many issues especially towards the end of the campaign period to the extent that his bank account was blocked.It will be remembered in history that Makadara voters always stand their ground as they were NO votes in the recently held constitution referundum.This withstanding i thought that typically ODM will rule the day but i guess the shock was on me.

In Starehe Bishop Margeret Wanjiru the former Mp managed to regain her seat.Then why were they removing her in the firts place i asked myself.In the Starehe court case Maina Kamanda her biggest contender claimed that she had stolen some of her votes but i guess the joke is in him now.

In Juja William Kabogo managed to carry the baton as he got the Mps seat.

So the best man always wins right?

IF WISHES WERE HORSES

Sir Henry with the Hounarable Raila Odinga

Just like boys will always be boys the rich will always be the rich.

This is why Sir Henry Otiende has been heard in all circles congratulating Patricia Kihoro of TPF3 on her new job at Radio One.This came naturally as he was being tagged as one of the station's top management.This came as rude shock to the station's owners Media Stream Limited who claim that he didn't have any links to them.

In a statement the station owners revealed that Sir Henry was lying.When contacted the entrepreneur said that he was vacationing with his family and that he will comment when he returns.Sir Henry is the owner of Sir Henry's male clothing shop,he also has shares at Homeboyz and a host of other businesses.

Radio One is said to be a blessing to the youth as it caters entirely to this market.In the wake of very many stations catering to this age bracket we can only wait in baited breath ,for the station to survive in this competitive market.

GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE

Ever heard of Mawezere music?I bet you have but you don't know that you have.

Okay let me not make it more complicated.Let me just let the cat out of the bag.Mawezere music is Bobby Mapesa style of music or at least that's what he wants it to be called.The artiste with very many aka's(chuani,mawinchi e.t.c..) claimed  that P-UNIT has been copying his style of music without acknowledging him.This has gone as far as some of his fans in some concerts outside Nairobi coaxing him to sing some of Frasha's lines.

The clearly agitated Mapesa claimed in the Hot source show that what P-UNIT does is clearly Genge and that they should stick to it and not muddle in his affairs.

Bobby also revealed to his fans that his fellow artiste VBO who they have done several collabos with, is still in rehab.He continued to say that it is only a matter of time before he is up and running again.

SOME CAMEL A DAY!

In North Eastern Kenya camels are basically the bread and butter for the inhabitants.

But it seems they are pushing their love for these noble animals too far as they are now not using it wisely.

It has emerged that they use the camels’ milk, urine and hump fat as cures for typhoid, malaria and even HIV.

This has led to a high prevalence of the virus in this area and subsequent deaths in the other illnesses. This is because when they take the camel remedies, the inhabitants think they are good to go. This in turn makes them to continue living normally oblivious of the clinical medicines that they should take for the illnesses

August has already come to a close but it has had more than its fair share of dramas.

The one that i have never quite actually gotten over is the Swaziland Annual Reed Dance.(Umhlanga)

This dance is performed in form of a parade.Where virgin girls get to dance in front of King Mswati 2,the king of Swaziland.Then he gets to choose if he can take one of them to add to his already many wives.

Ironically Swaziland has one of the highest levels of HIV infections in the world.Nearly a half of its adult population has the virus.The dance is performed amid a festival which signifies the chastity of the girls.The royal family is not an exception as the princess also gets to participate.

I agree that Kenya also has its circumcision period which is also in  in August more-so in the Western province.In particular The Bukusu sub tribe of the Luhya practice it with in-grained traditions.But is the reed dance going to far as in regards of tradition?

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

Change is always inevitable and it always comes with a price tag.

Africa is fast changing from being a third world country to developing one. Now you can see skyscrapers in almost all major cities of the continent. Its infrastructure is also fast developing. A good example is the by-pass fad to ease congestion in city roads. This move came with hue and cry.

This is because property worth millions of shillings especially in Nairobi up market estates had to be destroyed. I thought the move will only affect the affluent in Nairobi but I was in for a rude shock when I got wind that in Tanzania the by-pass will affect The Serengeti.

Do you what this means? That the much favored Mara migration that takes place around this time will be compromised.To add insult to injury this migration has been placed among the wonders of the world.So do we need to lose Africa's space in the world map in expense of this development?

ONE MAN'S MEAT...

Kenyans always have something bizarre under their sleeves.First it was the albino trade,then human trafiking then there were the vampires(blood sucking Onyancha and his crew).

Then yesterday a shock beyond shocks.Mortuary attendants in cohorts with funeral services for the sale of human genitalia.This incident was exposed under the Citizen TV expose' team and it is an investigation which has spanned for almost two months.It is only yesterday when a City Motury attendant agreed to sale a dead man's genitalia for Kshs50,000.Take note that before the transaction the attendant even had the guts to inquire whether it is female or male genitalia that was needed and how much the buyer was willing to part with.

Transport of the said parts was carried out by Lona Funeral Services.However,the owner of this funeral services denied any ties linking her to this illegal and beastly trade.

When two of the major players were asked where the said pieces were mostly taken.The terrified and flabbergasted backstreet bussinessmen disclosed that these parts were mostly used for whitchcraft.

Just a word of caution,next time you are going to bury someone please check their vitals just to be sure.

WHO IS THE BEST ROCKER

Fans at Hornbill Umoja were spoilt for choice when two of their favourite rock Djs were at loggerheads at the venue.

The bone of contention being who is the best rocker between them.The arguement started when Dj Jack of Choices Baricho Road proclaimed that,'there is no rock you can teach me."To Dj Collo of The Dream Team DJS.

This prompted Collo to provoke Jack to sample his skills on the turntable.They eventually settled the matter by agreeing that they will both wait patiently for the Rocktoberfest to sample their skills.The rock event will be held at Carnivore on October 2nd.May the best rocker win!

THE MATTER IS ALL IN YOUR HANDS

I have always viewed the wash you hands campaign with skepticism and thought that it is a bit over exaggerated. 

This has led me to be washing my hands only after visiting the toilet and when I want to eat in the house or at a hotel. Not on the road when I am traveling or even on the roadside when I snack.  Well this week end I changed my mind and I decided to be soapaholic.

The reason being that a guy passed away just because he didn’t wash his hands before having just a bite of tasty nyama choma(roasted meat).  The said guy was on his way to Nairobi from Maasai Mara when he got a puncture. Without knowing that a poisonous snake was the cause of it, he changed it and he was soon on his way. He had no knowledge that he had carried the venom in his hands. 

When he reached the Mai Mahiu area and he wanted to buy some meat, he didn’t mind tasting just a bite before he settled to eat the lion’s share. Before reaching the sink he collapsed.  When he was rushed to hospital he died on the way and doctors confirmed the venom in his blood stream was present in his hands and the bust tire.  So guys wash wash wash your hands, or use wipes or sanitizers when you are traveling before consuming anything

BEAUTY LIES IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER.

On Saturday the 21st of August ,The Braeburn Auditorium saw the crowning of the most beautiful woman in Kenya-as in the eyes of the present judges.

This came in the face of  20 year old Natasha Meto.She not only won the coveted price she also managed to bag a brand new IST Toyota.She was speechless after beating 11 other contestants.The judges who included the franchise holder for Miss World,Terry Mungai,Former Survivor contestant, Derrick Aseto,Tracy Ombajo among others claimed that beside being beautiful Natasha is intelligent and has poise.

In addition to being a part time model the beauty is a Cabin crew student at one of the city's colleges.She was previously residing in Eldoret before she relocated to Nairobi.This year Kenyans got to view the training and elimination rounds on TV courtesy of Citizen TV.I think that you will agree with me that the judges made a pretty wise choice.

We wish Natasha all the best as she heads to China for the Miss World Beauty Pageant to be held on 31st,October.

ALL THAT GLITTERS...

Kenyan artistes are now under fire as Daddy Owen also has problems with his new album.

Although his has been released,100 of this copies have been found to be faulty.The gospel star confessed that he found this out when his clients and fans called him and told him about the blunder.

The said album has some of his best hits which include,"System ya Kapungala" and "Tobina" .Daddy Owen apologized to everyone as he said,"I take full responsibility for the mistake and i hope people understand that mistakes happen.I am really sorry for any inconvenience..."

The star continued to add that any faulty albums can be returned to him for replacement provided that they are original.Any copies out there?The problem is that he didn't indicate his number or where he can be found.A word of advice to anyone with any of the faulty albums,just trace him to Roughtone's Lampstand Studio in Buruburu.

Which goes to show that the hit songs in this album are not all gold because they have been packaged in a different type of case.

WHO IS THE CHICKEN NOW?

It seems that Redsan doesn't tire with collabos and joint concerts.This time he is planning a collabo concert with Keri Hilson.

It is not only a concert in the making but also a collabo single is in the plate between the kenyan dancehall star and Keri Hilson.

The funny thing is that last year's Versatlity Album which was launched during a rather wanting concert with Brick and Lace has not even been released let alone been distributed.On his defence Redsan claimed that this was not his fault and that it is the management and distributors who have let him down.

The concert date has not been released yet and i pray that this time it will actually be worth attending and that we will actually get to listen to it.