Caroline Mutoko appointment as Chair at tourism firm blocked and declared ILLEGAL!

The High Court has stopped the appointment of radio presenter Caroline Mutoko as the chair of the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation (KTDC).
Justice Cecilia Githua on Tuesday suspended the gazette notice through which Tourism minister Dan Mwazo appointed Mutoko, and members Mr Vincent Watti, Ms Dorah Waruiru, Mr Vincent Mwalenga Mwakia and Mr Nassir Ali Said.
Mutoko was also blocked from becoming a member of the board of Kenya Safari Lodges and Hotels.
A person appointed as chair of KTDC automatically becomes a board member of the government owned Kenya Safari Lodges and Hotels. Mwazo had replaced the whole team that Najib Balala left at KTDC.
KTDC chairman Mohamed Shaiya complained that the minister acted illegally. Shaiya’s lawyer, Hassan Lakicha, told the court that
 Breach of law
“The first respondent is morally and legally obligated to uphold the rule of law which enjoins him to comply with and respect the Constitution, statues as interpreted by the courts. His action against the applicants is a gross transgression of the law,” Lakicha told the court.
He said the minister never informed the complainant that he planned to publish a gazette notice revoking his job.
“This non-disclosure is in breach of the cardinal rules of natural justice which provides that no person is to be condemned unheard,” the lawyer said. He argued the minister’s actions were informed by political ill will and malice.
It is public knowledge that Balala was sacked from the job after disagreements with Prime Minister Raila Odinga and replaced with Mwazo who is a close ally of the PM.
“The revocation of the appointment of the applicant contained in the notice 10231 and 10235 of  July 20, 2012, special issue Vol. CXIV-No. 69 is not based upon any basis of facts or law.” The applicant’s lawyer was ordered to file and serve a substantive motion within 21 days. The case will be mentioned on September 25.

THE GUY WHO ADVOCATED FOR MUTOKO'S SACKING!
His name is Mohamed Shaiya.

He is the current chairman of KTDC. When he saw that Caroline Mutoko had been appointed as chairlady, he raised hell for the minister of Tourism, Dan Mwazo. He complained that the whole appointement had been conducted illegally.
Shaiya's lawyer, Hassan Lakicha, told the High Court, "The first respondent is morally and legally obligated to uphold the rule of law which enjoins him to comply with and respect the Constitution, statues as interpreted by the courts. His action against the applicants is a gross transgression of the law. This non-disclosure is in breach of the cardinal rules of natural justice which provides that no person is to be condemned unheard"

That's a pretty hard case to argue against. Damn.

The judge had to call it. Eventually, Justice Cecilia Githua suspended the gazette notice through which the Tourism minister had appointed Mutoko, and members Mr Vincent Watti, Ms Dorah Waruiru, Mr Vincent Mwalenga Mwakia and Mr Nassir Ali Said.

Source:standardmedia.co.ke/ghafla.co.ke

Its time for Kenya to be counted' Save Prezzo @BBA! VOTE!VOTE!VOTE...

It's time for the Kenyan lion to roar and be heard beyond the Serengeti!

Let Kenya's roar shake more than just Tanzania, it's time Africa heard us roar and what better way to do this than to save Prezzo and that other chap?
Come on people! Let's vote to keep el Prezidente in the house and increase his chances of winning the money. It will also serve as a thumb in the face of all the South Africans who have been talking greasy about not just Prezzo but Kenyans in general.

Prezzo was inspired to enter BigBrother StarGame because he sees it as a great challenge. He says he is looking forward to being on Africa’s TV screens 24/7 because he loves attention. He hasn’t really seen much of previous seasons of the show and says that if he wins the grand prize, he’ll “cross that bridge when we get to it”. He says he hardly watches any TV but enjoys movies like “Scarface” on the big screen, listing Al Pacino and Mos Def as his top actors. He’ll eat just about anything – except pork – and his favourite book is “48 Laws of Power”. He is hugely influenced by his mom because he understands that it’s not easy to be a single parent. The achievement he’s most proud of is his musical career, because of the heights he has attained. Describing himself as cool, calm and collected, Prezzo says his favourite quality is his ability to entertain people around him. He says that respect is the most important trait in another person

Source:http://bigbrotherafrica.dstv.com

Dunford siblings' ready to splash in London

For the second consecutive Olympics the hopes of over 40 million Kenyans for a historic swimming medal will rest on the shoulders of two aptly strong contenders.
They know the drills after their impressive debut at the water cube in Beijing, where Jason Dunford reached the finals of the 100m Butterfly while his younger brother David reached the semi-finals of the Freestyle.
“I am stronger and more experienced than I was two years ago,” David, 24, offered.
“I have a genuine belief that I can progress through the first round and into the finals in London.”
Jason the ‘seven-minute Olympic record holder’ is also very clear on his goals, and is enjoying a burst of form that could peak in London.
“I feel in much better shape and more confident going into my second Olympics. I am bringing with me more experience and coming off a 4th place finish at last year's world championship,” Jason, 26, said of his prospects of winning the country’s first Olympic Swimming medal.
“I can make it onto the medal stand!”
It is not only the confidence levels that are high the pre-requisite conditioning is all there.
Weeks of training at the ADN swim project in Italy, High Altitude endurance training at the in southern Spain for Jason, topped up by a final round of preparations in Bristol where part of the Kenyan Olympics team set camp for two weeks, has got the brothers in the right shape and frame for an incomparable experience at the Olympics Park Aquatic centre when the programme begins in four days time.
The Multiple African champions have also had a chance to test themselves against some of the swimmers they will be facing in London in top level competitions in Paris, Milan with some notable results.
Jason followed up his Orca Cup win in Slovakia in June with another imposing Paris Open title in early July, as he tapped the wall first in 52.55 seconds, his season best.
“I am really happy with the progress. I had also won the same event (100m fly) in Milan some days earlier,” Jason told  sportsnewsarena.com from Bristol before they moved to the Olympic village monday.
Besides the European training camps, David, the Pan-African 100m freestyle champion, had a chance to go even faster in his speciality event, the 50m freestyle, from his yearlong training in his base in the US coupled with practice events against the Russian sprinters.
“In the Paris Open I made the final in a very fast 50m freestyle field and recorded a Season Best time that sets me up very well for the Games,” David explained of his 22.80 timing.
The self confessed water-rats who besides swimming are ardent surfers will each be competing in their speciality event unlike in Beijing where Jason tried out the 100m freestyle.

Beth Mugo says she is cancer free

Minister said she is now well and her doctors at Abramson Cancer Centre have confirmed that there are no cancer cells in her body

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 29 – Public Health Minister Beth Mugo has on Sunday said advocacy and awareness creation would be the key focus areas for the ministry following the coming into law the Cancer Prevention Bill, 2012. The Minister who arrived Sunday morning from the United States where she underwent breast cancer treatment said it was important for Kenyans to be aware of cancer signs and prevention.
She said in the last financial year, the ministry hoped to start screening services at primary health care level but the parliamentary budget committee reallocated the funds available to the Kenyatta National Hospital to buy cancer equipment.
“This is okay because we are doing the same work. This year we got some money although it is not as much as I had requested. I had asked for a billion shillings but I got Sh300 million. The first work we are going to do is to start screening from health centre level and advocacy to inform people especially the women how to detect cervical and breast cancer,” she said.
She added that the President assenting to the Bill goes to show the urgency of cancer prevention, surveillance and treatment.
“With the Act, now we have the framework with which to work with. So we will make many strides although it is not something that we will be able to finish tomorrow or the day after because a journey has to start with one step,” the Minister stated.
On Tuesday, President Mwai Kibaki assented to the Cancer Prevention bill, 2012 that was passed in Parliament a month ago.
The Act seeks to increase access to cancer treatment and care. It also establishes a National Cancer Institute that would encourage and secure establishment of hospitals, vocational treatment and care centers for treatment and care of cancer patients.
The Act will also help decentralise cancer treatment facilities and train more oncologists.
Cancer is rapidly becoming a major epidemic in Kenya often leading to death due to expensive treatment and lack of a proper health system. It ranks third among the main causes of death in Kenya after infectious and heart related diseases with an estimated 82,000 reported cases annually.
Last year, an estimated 22,000 people died of various cancers in the country.
On her treatment, the Minister said she is now well and her doctors at Abramson Cancer Centre have confirmed that there are no cancer cells in her body.
She started treatment in December last year.
“I am very happy to tell Kenyans that I have been completely cured of cancer so I praise God for the healing,” she said upon her return.
Mugo urged Kenyans to keep the environment clean because polluted environment has become a key agent of cancer.
“We should avoid plastics as much as we can, putting food in plastic containers and heating it, it is a big danger. We have to know, what really causes cancer so that people can start preventing themselves, the food we eat, the air we breathe, we keep on talking about planting trees and that is one very important preventive measure to clean the air we breathe,” she advised.
A policy brief on the situational analysis of cancer in Kenya done in 2011 by the department of research, an arm of the Parliamentary Service Commission cites Inadequate facilities, few specialists, high cost of treatment, lack of accessibility to treatment, sedentary lifestyle, lack of cancer awareness, social inequity and unreliable cancer registry as the factors that were backtracking the fight against cancer in Kenya.
It stated that the most common type of cancers in Kenya were breast and cervical for women while men were more affected by the cancer of the oesophagus, neck and prostate.
In children, the commonest were blood cancers-Leukemia and Lymphomas.

Source: CATHERINE KARONGO - Capitalfm

BBA...Prezzo makes it to the Final as Jannette is Evicted!

The small princess became the 8th housemate to be evicted from Upville after being put up for possible eviction for the first time during her time the Big Brother StarGame house.
Jannette was nominated along side strong characters including Lady May, Prezzo and Kyle who were told that they were saved by Africa and thus still had some days in the house.
The small princess could not therefore fight off the stiff competition from the two Upvillers and her former Downville partner Kyle. She was well composed when she was told that she had been evicted and took the moment quite well while the other housemates escorted her to the exit door.
This means that the only StarGame surviving couple is no more thus Uganda is remaining with Kyle as her representative.
Well, Jannette definitely had a spectacular show and the house will surely miss her presence thus we can only wish her all the best there’s.
Source:http://bigbrotherafrica.com

Ruth Matete Wins the TPF5! Halleluyah....!

Ruth, Doreen or Jackson? Who Would You Cast Your Vote For?

As Tusker Project Fame season 5  comes to a culmination this weekend, the battle lines are drawn as the remaining contestants drum up their fanbases to vote for them to win the top prize of Kshs. 5million and a recording deal with Universal Music Group.

Kicked Out of TPF5 But She's The Very First to Release a Track

Lulu Kibaara, also known as TPF Eunice, has become the very first (former) Tusker Project Fame 5 contestant to come up with a brand new single of her own titled 'Sina Majuto'.

Lulu claims that the song, which was released just yesterday, is about being proud of who you love despite their social status. Some would say that the artiste has no regrets whatsoever being nominated out of the Tusker Academy and that may be her motivation. The fact that she's managed to come up with a single barely a month out of eviction from East Africa's largest reality TV talent show is testament to the fact that she is destined for great things.
The track 'Sina Majuto' has a catchy lingala feel to it and clearly Lulu was confident when singing it. Eunice has worked with leading names in the Kenya's music industry on this single including the likes of Collo "King Wa Rap", Bernsoft Productions and Alex of Big Soul Entertainment.
Here's the brand new track 'Sina Majuto' below...

Source:Ghafla news

TPF 5 Premieres, As Juliet Karanja (Make Up Girl) Speaks Out

Kenya's Whitney Houston Acknowledges She Overdid Her Makeup, But Is Still Angry At Judge Ian For Kicking Her Out Of  #tpf5. She Promises To Be Famous Before The Show Ends.

On Sunday night, all TV's were tuned to Citizen TV as Tusker Project Fame 5, premiered. The opening gala night is probably the most anticipated night of TPF, only second to the Final Night. Nothing has changed in terms of the judging panel or the faculty. There was however a judge Gerald who joined the three judges (Ian, Hermes and Juliana), as a representative of Universal Music Group. Mitch Egwang and Sheila Mwanyingha are still hosting the show.

Surprisingly the stage, backgrounds and lighting are not an improvement from last season. This is one aspect that Tusker has continued to fair badly. 

Six contestants were on probation and three of them left the competition. At least five of them sang impressively and the judges must have had a really hard time deciding.

The whole of this week, Kenyans on social media have expressed their support for one Juliet Karanja, a contestant from Naivasha who was eliminated at the last audition. The simple girl, quickly identified for her TV appearance covered in heavy make up especially around her her eyes, earned herself an interview with Sunday Nation. She has promised to be famous before TPF5 ends. Juliet is quick to point out her disappointment with judge Ian, whom she blames for all her woes. She claims she even wrote something on Ian's Facebook wall, just to see people's reaction. 

“I wrote something on Ian’s Facebook page and saw all these comments of people angry that I was rejected and I was shocked but happy that people saw the injustice,” she says.

The 21 year old, christened Kenya's Whitney Houston, acknowledges that she overdid her make up, but says that with time she will bring out a better image. 

“I did go a bit overboard with the make-up and I had to send someone to bring me the clothes. I still believe I looked good but I can improve on my image because, obviously, I have the voice and talent,” she said.

On her choice of clothing, Juliet has no apologies claiming that she had gone to showcase her talent not her body.

She is currently looking for a sponsor to help her achieve her dream. Her main motivation is to prove the judges wrong.

source:nairobiwire

John Atta Mills, Ghana’s President, Has Died

Ghana’s third president John Evans Fifii Atta Mills, Ph.D., died Tuesday afternoon in an Accra hospital after suffering from an unknown illness. According to Reuters, the president’s office sent a statement to the media confirming his passing.
“It is with a heavy heart … that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement read.
Mills was sworn into office in January 2009 and previously served as the nation’s vice president under Jerry John Rawlings from 1997 to 2001.  
Reuters reports President Mills died just hours after taking ill, but no further details have been released. Last month, President Mills left Ghana for the U.S. to seek medical treatment for an unknown cause, but seemed to make a recovery.
President Mills, 68, leaves behind a wife, a son, and a host of mourners in his country.

Mutula's Mini-Turn!

Education Minister, Mutula Kilonzo has come out to defend his remarks on schoolgirls’ skirts.
The Minister on Monday denied he advocated for miniskirts, adding he only talked about skirts the girls would feel comfortable in.“Why would I apologise for something I did not do. I am even against miniskirts at the workplace,” the minister stated.
Mutula announced that he will show Kenyans a sample of a skirt he is advocating for on Thursday.
 “I will show Kenyans the kind of skirt I am talking about and then bishops will tell me whether it undermines morality,” he added.
Mutula further said he certainly will not resign as Education Minister as demanded by religious leaders.
Mutula also warned he would sue media houses that continue to say he is advocating for miniskirts in schools.
“I am watching the media with a sharp lawyer’s eyes. I will certainly sue if this continues,” he threatened.
He made the remarks in Nairobi while opening a workshop on peace building through education.
Mutula sparked off a debate when he reportedly said schoolgirls should be allowed to wear short skirts.
Mutula’s skirt statement came hot on the heels of a school uniform protest that saw students at Rwathia Secondary in Murang’a go on strike.
The students who went on strike three weeks ago had complained that their new purple skirts were too long, ugly and not meant for their age.
On Monday, Mutula said Kenyans should not waste time engaging in the debate arguing that the media misreported him.
“Even in the 1960s and 1970s when mini-skirts were popular, I used to avoid women with short skirts and dresses,” he added.
He reiterated that girls should dress well in school for learning to be easier.
At the same time, the Catholic Church has faulted Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo over his remarks on skirts and told him to stop misleading learners.
Homa Bay Catholic Diocese Bishop, Philp Anyolo and his Kisii counterpart, Joseph Mairura said Mr Mutula is an elderly and respected lawyer who should show exemplary leadership. Addressing faithful at Nyabururu Catholic church on Sunday during a thanksgiving Mass of Bishop Mairura’s 17th anniversary, Anyolo urged parents and teachers to shun Mutula’s statements and mold responsible citizens. Anyolo, who is the Kenya Episcopal Conference vice chairman, told students to disregard the minister’s advise, stressing the?church will not keep quiet when leaders pollute the mind of the youths.
Bishop Mairura said Mutula’s remarks were an embarrassment to lawyers and asked the learned friends to prevail upon him.
“If Mutula’s counsel were heeded, it would make the girl-child vulnerable and lead to erosion of moral values, crimes and conflicts,” he said.