ANGELINA JOLIE’S CINEMA MESSAGE TO KENYANS

Kenyan cinemagoers will be able to see the special message recorded by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie for World Refugee Day when they visit a Fox Cinema from June 17.
The 30-second message, specially recorded for World Refugee Day (WRD), will be screened before all movies in every Fox cinema in the run up to WRD on Monday 20 June and in the days after the global event and officially launches UNHCR’s “1” global media campaign ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20. In the message, UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie is asking Kenyans to do 1 thing to help refugees.



To mark the occasion and this year's 60th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention, UNHCR is launching a six-month campaign aimed at promoting public awareness of the stories of individual refugees and other forcibly displaced people. The campaign will feature a number of media products including a video by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, a new online video experience called “1 Life, 1 Story” in which refugees tell their own stories, and related publicity materials inviting members of the public to get involved and Do 1 Thing to help refugees, such as follow UNHCR on Facebook and Twitter.



UNHCR is also inviting members of the public and media organizations alike to engage and support the campaign via their news and blog sites. For interested media organizations, online digital banners are available for this purpose. Join us in letting others know that even one person forced to flee war or persecution, is one too many.

JOSE MOURINHO GETS HIS KENYAN BRACELET, FINALLY!

The ‘Special One' a.k.a Jose Mourinho, finally got the Sh500, 000 Tanzanite gold bracelet that he ordered made to his specifications during his holiday in Kenya's coastal town, Mombasa.
The Real Madrid boss left the South Coast’s Ukunda airstrip on July 10 on a private plane to Wilson airport to fly back to Europe after a three-week holiday in the country, with his family in Diani's Alamanara Cottage, left before the customized bracelet was completed.
Now, according to reports, he finally had the bracelet sent to him by the manager of Diani Jeweler.

TALIA OYANDO IN SECRET WEDDING

Singer and radio personality Talia Oyando tied the knot on Monday evening at a secret ceremony at the Attorney General Chambers to fiance Ezekiel Onyango.
The newlywed, who is currently nursing a cold, was tight-lipped and only offered a “No comment” in the midst of ooohs and uuuhs.
The hush hush ceremony involved a handful of people. Our source says, “In as much as they held the private ceremony they plan on having a formal wedding where there will invite their friends and family as well as have an after party.”
Talia’s hubby who also said that having a secret marriage ceremony was their “choice” confirmed that with time, “There will be another ceremony for their family and friends.”
The groom is a jack-of-all-trades and seems to have mastered quite a bit in the filmmaking industry. On the silver screen he has bagged roles in TV series like Maua and Reflections and also played the lead character in the hit TV series Heartbeat FM.
As a model he has worked for several commercials like Coke World Cup Billboards, Strellson AG Menswear, Switzerland, and featured prominently in the posters and billboard promoting Heartbeat FM.
Behind the camera, Ezekiel has worked as an assistant director in a number of successful films like Killer Necklace, From a Whisper, Garden of Eden, Mavuno Worship Project and Ras Star. He has also worked for the Zain Africa Challenge as a stage manager.

ESTHER ARUNGA MARRIES QUINCY AND SUES PARENTS FOR 300 MILLION

Yesterday, former TV news anchor Esther Arunga claimed that she got married to musician Quincy Timberlake – who is currently in police custody - on Wednesday (March 3) at a civil ceremony.
''I am so much in love with Quincy and that’s why I have officially married him, to stop the speculation,'' she told members of the fourth estate who had assembled at Jazz player Joseph Hellon home in Runda.
“I have a certificate of marriage, I’m now Esther Adongo Timberlake.” Esther said. “Just because someone is in jail doesn’t mean you can’t get married,” she said smiling coyly.
Quincy who is now facing charges of absconding court proceedings of a criminal case pending at Makadara law courts has a wife Salome Gideon with whom he has been married to for 11 years and have two sons together. Asked about this and whether she has just wed one of Quincy’s many aliases, Esther responded, “I can’t answer what if’s. That I will leave to you to investigate all I know is that I married Quincy Timberlake.”
Esther who was talking with a noticeable lisp narrated her ordeal after the February 21 arrest when police raided Hellon's house at 2am and arrested the two and other followers of the controversial Finger of God ministry International.
The saxophonist was being held at the Gigiri Police station while Esther was locked up at the Muthaiga police station until 3pm the following day, when she was moved to the CID headquarters on Kiambu road.
She was then released to Dr Frank Njenga custody on a psychiatric evaluation bond. Esther described her five-day experience as “harrowing”.
“I was interrogated and released to Dr Frank Njenga and I was found not medically insane,” she explained but was pained by Njenga’s decision to admit her in his hospital located in Msongari.
“I was heavily sedated, there was a time I wanted to escape and about five people had to hold me down, trap me and forcefully sedate me. That is the kind sedative given to mentally insane patients.
“Once I tried to escape by jumping over an electric fence, luckily they caught me before I could. I was then heavily sedated for two days I was almost comatose.”
Esther continued to explain that she was later transferred to another mental hospital in Chiromo where she was locked up and the only people who could visit where her family members only and she was not allowed the use of phones either.
She was later released to the care of the family, on Monday. But on Tuesday when the parents left her home alone with the domestic help, Esther saw the opportunity to make a clean break. With the help of a well wisher, she hitch hiked and was taken to her lawyer Harun Ndubi.
“I escaped and I don’t plan to go back (home), I’m a married woman now,” She said with finality.


CAPTION: Esther Arunga, Vineyard Hellon and Big Kev's wife Tracy

Yesterday afternoon, with the help of Ndubi, Esther filled a restriction order against her parents Robert Okello Arunga and Petroline Amollo Arunga and the police.
“They cannot arrest me on the basis of where I worship and where I chose to live,” adding, “I’m planning to sue Dr Frank Njenga to the tune of 300 million for unlawful detention and sedation as well as other civil and criminal charges and unfortunately my parents too because they were working on their instruction.”
As a parting shot Esther responded to questions o if she is truly herself. “The way things are happening it is not a form of abnormality. The Esther you saw reading news is not the same one who is now running for office. The one you see now is the full on Esther.”
Meanwhile, the officer in charge of the Industrial remand Prison Pauline Wanja said there was no way the two could have been married in prison because weddings were not allowed in remand prison.
“Quincy is still here and to the best of my knowledge no wedding ceremony has taken place here. In any case such ceremonies are not allowed,” said Wanja.
Esther and Hellon have visited Quincy several times with the latest visit being yesterday.

PHOTOS/DUNCAN NDOTONO

WHERE IS ESTHER ARUNGA?

Television personality Esther Arunga is with her family and undergoing counselling by a well known city pschiatrist, the Star established yesterday.
Family sources who declined to be quoted said: “She is with her family and she is safe.”
They disclosed that Esther visited a city hospital for a check-up after her ordeal in the police station and was immediately released into the custody of her family. The sources said that since her return home, “Esther had changed her attitude” but did not give any further details.
Human rights lawyer Harun Ndubi, who rushed to the aid of Esther, jazz musician and self-confessed leader of the Finger of God church Joseph Hellon, little known music promoter Quincy Timberlake and five other church members when they were arrested had been in contact with Esther.
“I expected to see her in court on Monday together with the others. The last time l was with her was when she recording a statement at the CID headquarters. Since then I have been trying to get a hold of her. The last time I tried to call was Wednesday,” he said.
He said her parents were no longer asking questions about their daughter’s absence anymore. “This may be a broad scheme to which we are all unwitting players to disrupt the activities of The Finger Of God church. This is a case of powerful people using the police in Machiavellian ways and the police agreeing to be used,” he said.
He said the family should seek other means of helping their daughter. “Assuming she needed psychiatric attention, the family would have sought it through the judiciary instead of doing it at the cost of an individual’s freedom.”
Ndubi said it was ‘curious’ that the head of investigation in the serious offences Unit had been assigned to investigate what was a “non-crime.”

HELLON ON K24

Joseph Hellon the jail bird jazz player was on K24 spewing Bible verses and defaming a number of people.
First up was Big Kev whom he says is on his death bed. According to Hellon, Kev's head is filling with blood and is on the verge of dying. Apparently, Big Kev called him on a private line and confessed that he was out to destroy him and that he is sorry.
The saxophonist denied Quincy Timberlake - the dude he endorsed to marry Former KTV news anchor Esther Arunga - has a wife. He claims Quincy's wife, Salome Gideon has been paid to pose as such. Shaking my head.
Another weird statement from the founder of Finger Of God church involved US televangelist Benny Hinn's pending divorce case.
Hellon said with certainty that Suzanne Hinn is planing to come and sue Kenyan media for publishing her divorce story. Hello, unless it's a grand conspiracy, Benny will be a divorcee sooner that Hellon can come up with a manifesto for his 2012 presidential bid.
Just as Jeff Koinange, kept asking Hellon if he is a raving lunatic, Hellon went ahead to say that come 2012, he will be firmly in State House ready to rule Kenya as the president alongside Quincy the as PM and Esther as VP *muffled sniffles* reality TV has never been this good and that he will finance his campaign solo. Thanks to the Pepsi Cola deal coming his way and the December Euro Jazz tour.
Driving an even deeper knife into the strained relationship he has with Esther's parents he said that Esters parents are 'making up for their past mistakes'.
Jesus take the wheel...

CHIDI BENZ IN NAIROBI Y’ALL

Tanzanian rapper Chidi Benz is currently in Nairobi shooting a music video with P Unit.
The hiphop artiste who is the founder member of the group LAFamilia group, based in Ilala district, Dar es Salaam collaborated with P Unit in the latest joint Chaguo Langu.
Chidi Benz is one of the more creative artists in the bongo flava Swahili hip hop genre. He has also collaborated on a long string of hits with many of the leaders in the musical field like Ray C and Lady Jaydee.
Some of his biggest hits to date include DSM Stand Up and Pompom Pishhaah

THE ERIC AND VALERIE SAGA

The very successful run of Mo Faya musical ended on a high but that cannot be said of the marriage between show’s author and creative director Eric Wainania and his wife Sheba Hirst.
Eric and Sheba who have for the long time presented the face of a happily married couple are reported to have gone their separate ways. And now their families are attempting to resolve the differences between the couple in the hopes that they will re-unite. Sheba is said to have moved out of their matrimonial home near State House to live with her parents on Thika Road.
Simon Wainaina, Eric’s only sibling, best man and manager said, “There has been serious family interventions on both sides to try and salvage this union and also safeguard the interest of the children already born.” Eric and Sheba have two daughters — a four year old and the last one who was born just two months ago.
It seems that the successful rehearsals of the musical as well as its very successful run as an off-Broadway production in New York gave rise to reports that the show’s leading actors Eric and Valerie Kimani became romantically linked. Sheba was the executive producer of Mo Faya, a venture that was sponsored by Safaricom to the tune of Sh11.6 million.
This week, Valerie confirmed she is two months pregnant and said she was “looking forward to being a happy mum. I’m not hiding that I’m pregnant. I’m in my first trimester.”
As for her baby’s daddy, Valerie said “I’m not interested in discussing my bedroom issues in public.”
She has no plans to slow down yet as her baby bump is yet to show. “The pregnancy fits in perfectly with my plan to hit the studio to record my second album to be released by Gallo Records.”
The singer who has yet to gain acceptance in the popular music scene since she won the Tusker Project Fame prize three years ago had the parting shot: “I don’t mind that people will be looking at me funny. They have been ever since l won the TPF.”
So there you have it.

BIG BROTHER UK CELEBS TO CLIMB MT KILIMANJARO

Anthony Hutton
Liam Gough

UK Big Brother stars will climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in African.
Former BB housemates Liam McGough and Anthony Hutton, both from County Durham, journeyed to Kenya last year as part of an amazing adventure which saw them help to build a school, teach children how to play football, DJ in Nairobi and join a Maasai village.
The pair spent a week in Kenya for Newcastle-based MAD – Make a Difference Foundation – and since returning from the trip they have both become patrons of the charity.
And in June they’ll travell to Tanzania with fellow BB friends Zach “Ziggy” Lichman and twins Sam and Amanda Marchant, to help local communities and climb the 16,896ft of Tanzanian mountain Kilimanjaro.
The whole trip, due to take place over a week from June 18, is being organised by MAD founder John Lawler, of Corbridge, Northumberland, who runs the foundation alongside Madventure, his company which offers students gap year-style trips across Africa.
John said: “The trip is in the early stages but everyone is dead keen to take part.
“It’s certainly not going to be a “celebrity jolly” either because they’ll all have to raise £2,200 before we go and the climb will be tough. I’ve climbed Mount Kenya but not Kilimanjaro, so it will be a personal first for me too.
“However our mad Tanzanian guide, Jonas, has climbed it more than 250 times and refers to the mountain as his office!”
Anthony and Liam were due to be joined by their good pal Zach Lichman on last July’s trip.
But he was turned away by airline staff at Heathrow Airport because they he looked too ill to board.
John said: “In his words, Zach was ‘gutted’ he couldn’t go last year.
“He was due to get a plane from Heathrow but he had flu and staff at the boarding gate wouldn’t let him on because he was sweating so much. He came so close to joining us but he just missed out.
“A model called Rhian Sugden is also joining us, so in all we’ve got a lively bunch of people who are all keen to take part.”

CON ARTISTE MAKES AWAY WITH CAROLINE MUTOKO’S SH1 MILLION

A shady businessman has been accused of conning Kiss 100 Radio presenter Caroline Mutoko out of Sh1 million during her social campaign to equip secondary schools in rural areas with water tanks was charged on Thursday 12.
George Titi Kadu defrauded the presenter by pretending to be an agent of an international company and that he would supply 16 tanks to schools in Kenya, but with the financial support from the presenter.
Being the torch bearer of the education campaign, she was called Kadu and was informed that he would supply the schools through Otung Limited. But the schools which were to receive the tanks were contacted, administrators said they had received no water tank.
When Caroline contacted Pioneer Water Tanks head offices in Australia, but they disowned Kadu saying they had even told him to stop using their name.
Kadu said has denied the charge before a court in Kibera.
The case will be heard on January 13 next year.

AKON MIGHT SOON BE A LANDOWNER IN KENYA

Senegalese singer Akon met Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga in a blink and miss meeting on Monday (12/10/2009). The meeting held at Raila’s Treasury office saw Akon talking about his visit to Kenya and the just concluded MTV Africa Music Awards.
That said, the I’m So Paid rapper confided that he is planning to buy land in Kenya preferably at the Coast, our source said.
I hear that he might even get it for free from one of his Kenyan handlers if the bureaucracy gets in the way
The late Barry White, you know him, the deep voiced American balladeer made a similar request way back in May 1995. He was in Kenya where he gave a legendary performance at the Nairobi Safari Park hotel.
Akon will join a host of other personalities who own land in Kenya like Italian businessman Flavio Briatore and the powerful Agnelli family who control Juventus Football club through their investment firm.
Flavio owns a resort in Malindi, Lion in the Sun, which is frequented by many celebrities including supermodel Naomi Campbell. Princess Caroline of Monaco and controversial hubby Prince Ernst of Hanover own a house in Lamu. Canadian singer Brian Adams also has a beach house in Lamu.
Stephanie Powers from the TV show Hart to Hart with her late hubby William Holden, actor, once owned Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki.

JOLIE AND PITT HIRED WHOLE CAMP AT THE MARA

A-list hollywood celeb couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were at the Mara from September 10. The couple who are always hounded by paparazzi, quietly entered Kenya with their entourage, and spent a few days at a camp in the Mara.
A source says, “Angelina and Brad hired the whole camp to ensure they had privacy.” The Mr and Mrs Smith stars checked into the Cottars 1920s Safari Camp, which is situated in the Maasai Mara, bordering the Serengeti and Loliondo ecosystem.
They were there to “relax and shop for charity projects in the area,” the source said.
Angelina who is the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) goodwill ambassador spent their Saturday (September 12) with refugees at the Dadaab refugee camp on the Kenya-Somali border.
Apparently her visit was so hush hush even some of the UNHCR officials did not know that the actress was going to visit Daadab, another source intimated.

That aside. Y’all need to know that the Cottars 1920s Safari Camp has also played host to big American stars like Keira Knightley, covered by Vogue and reviewed by the Conde Nast Traveler.
Here is the Vogue article



More Jolie news from Kenya
:: Blu*3 join Angelina Jolie in fight against trafficking

:: Top Sudanese Model: I’m Brad Pitt’s Baby Mama

KENYAN POET FEARS FOR HIS LIFE

Poet, singer and actor Grand Master Masese fears for his life after a series of bizarre phone incidences in the past week.

On Friday night, he received an SMS threatening his life. It read: “Umekua ukijifanya mjanja but mwisho wako umefika” (You think you are clever but your end is here).”

Grand Master said: “I have for a while now, been getting weird numbers calling, when I pick up they say it’s a wrong number. Now after I received the SMS on Saturday I decided to report the matter at the Central police station on Saturday.” The police advised him to ignore the message and that they will follow up with telephone service provider.

Known for his controversial poems, the ‘Obokano’ playing performer says his phone woes began immediately after coming from the UK Hay festival a while back.
“I’d hate to say this but I guess some people in the industry are not happy with my rise,” he said.
Grand Master, who made a debut screen appearance as a cop in the Citizen TV drama series Waridi, has since sent the SMS to a civil rights organisation, Fahamu Kenya, for record keeping.

Top Model Oluchi Refuses To Wear Sylvia Awori’s Dress

Nigerian born model Oluchi Onweagba pulled a Naomi Campbell diva tantrum at the just concluded Arise Africa Fashion Week at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre.
Ugandan Sylvia Owori - who also has a shop in Nairobi - had a taste of Oluchi’s divadom. According to our source, Oluchi refused to walk the runway wearing a Sylvia Owori outfit after a run in with one of the show’s producers.

“Sylvia ended up not showcasing her closing dress considering that she had spent hours making adjustment on the design to fit Oluchi, the previous night,” our source said.
There was also a rampant rumour that Oluchi, who is expected to host the inaugural West Africa’s Next Top Model TV show, earned a total of Sh64 million from the event.

However, Kenyan native Ajuma Nasanyana who is also the face of Vivienne Westwood, saved the day by agreeing to wear Sylvia’s dress for the Look Book, which is a designers portfolio with the products displayed on the runway.
While Angela Angwenyi, the Sylvia’s Kenyan PR representative and Classic 105 radio presenter would not confirm or deny the story but simply commented that Oluchi and Sylvia Owori seemed on good terms at an after party in Johannesburg. “Oluchi’s agency even sent Sylvia flowers after the fashion show,” Angela added.
The event took place from June 12 to June 20 and featured unique designs by 51 African fashion designers from 13 different African nations and models from all over the continent.

Jitu’s Banned Movie Now Showing in Rwanda

The Kenyan horror film “OTTO the Blood Bath” banned in the country will premiered later this month at the Rwanda Film Festival (www.rwandafilmfestival.org). Just to remind you “OTTO the Blood Bath” was banned by Kenya Film Cencorship Board that deemed it “Too Horrific even to an adult…” and “…contains too much blood and dead bodies”.
Anyho, other Jitu Films; Mob Doc, R2 Security and Zeinabu Rudi Nyumbani will also be screened in Kigali, as well. The festival will take place between June 18 and 26. All Jitu films will get two screenings. For OTTO June 20 will be it’s World Premier.
Here are the dates of the screenings:

MOB DOC: 19 & 22/06
R2 Security: 21 & 23/06
Zeinabu Rudi Nyumbani: 21 &22/06
OTTO the Blood Bath: 20 & 23/06

All four Jitu Films also participating at the award competition for the Best East African Film that will be held in Kigali on the 26th of June. This is just a day before the Kenyan Kalasha Awards that will be held on the 27th of June where “Zeinabu Rudi Nyumbani” is nominated for the best short film award.

Jitu Films Arise After Their Horror Film Is Banned!

After the dashing news of “OTTO: The blood bath” ban by the Kenyan Film Censorship Board (KFCB), Jitu Films, the film company that was slapped with the ban have received some good news on another movie they produced.
The romantic tearjerker film “ZEINABU RUDI NYUMBANI” was nominated for the best short film award in the Kalasha Awards. According to a statement sent out to news rooms, they mention the fact that one government body “is banning us and the other is recognizing and promoting our efforts!”
Anyho, ZEINABU RUDI NYUMBANI is Jitu’s top selling film (followed very close by R2 Security and Mob Doc) and amongst others is featuring Eric Wainaina, as himself!
The movie is about DEDAN (Joseph Kamau Kinuthia) and ZEINABU (Josephine Kamwenga) who are happily married, and live a bucolic and simple life on the countryside. But when city man KAVILA (Morris Mwadulo) arrives, asking for help with his broken-down car, he sets about seducing ZEINABU. Initially she resists but when her husband takes her for granted, ZEINABU decides to leave home with KAVILA. Jackie Nyaminde (Who plays Papa Shirandula’s wife) is also appearing as Kavila’s evil mother!
Jitu Films is asking for your support in the soon to be opened voting process on www.kalashaawards.co.ke.

Kenyan Murder Mystery On Cable TV

Thomas Cholmondeley leaving the court was featured on Crime & Investigation Channel

An exclusive one-hour television documentary about the recent court case in Nairobi of The Right Honourable Tom Cholmondeley was shown on the Crime and Investigation Channel on DsTV on May 13.
The programme has been made by Tom’s relation Fiona Cunningham-Reid for the channel with unprecedented access including filming in court in-depth interviews with the Cholmondeley family, Tom’s partner Sally Dudmesh, Mr Njoya’s widow and the legal team.
Mr Cholmondeley was been found guilty of manslaughter for shooting Robert Njoya; a trespasser on his 58,000 acre Rift Valley estate. The incident happened in May 2006 when he was out on his estate and came across a gang of poachers.
It was not the first time he has been accused of killing a person. The court case has taken almost 3 years to reach this finale and the story has been one that has its roots back in the history of colonial Africa.
Audiences are invited not to miss out on the true accounts of what happened on that eventful day on DStv channel 255 on Wednesday, May 13 at 20:30 CAT.
He was sentenced on May 14 to 8 months in jail.

Photo/Courtesy MultiChoice

KTN Dominates the CNN MultiChoice Awards

Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Competition were announced on Tuesday by Azubuike Ishiekwene, Chair of the independent judging panel. The competition is now in its 14th year.
On the list are three KTN journalist; John-Allan Namu, James Moturi Mogaka and John Benson Mwangi. Others are Sammy Muraya of Metro FM, Boniface Mwangi of Expression Today and K24’s Violet Otindo.
The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening at The International Convention
Centre, Durban, South Africa on Saturday 18th July.


Isha Sesay

The hosts for the evening will be Isha Sesay, presenter of CNN weekly programme ‘Inside Africa’, joined on stage by South African eNews Channel presenter Macfarlane Molele.
This year the recipient of the Free Press Africa Award is Nicaise Kibel’bel Oka, of Les Coulisses in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is awarded this prize, for his work in the DRC, and also in recognition of all the journalists in the DRC who have put their lives at risk in telling the story. There are three journalists in particular that we would like to mention who were murdered fulfilling their professional duties:
Pascal Kabungulu (killed 31st July 2005)
Serge Maheshe (killed 13th June, 2007)
Didace Namujimbo (killed 23rd November 2008)

New Safaricom Tunes

Safaricom have come up with a new service whereby if you call me and am busy, you get to listen to music as opposed to other tones. Anyhow, here is the invite. You are welcome.

Proof Obama Is Coming To Kenya

HOT SHOT: Barack Obama

Goss making the round is that United States President Barack Obama could visit Kenya in August for a conference of sorts.
The Son of K’Ogelo might use the Eighth forum of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) to make his first trip to the African continent since he was elected US President.
You know why I think this is true? Well, because the last meeting was held in Arusha, Tanzania, last year and George W. Bush attended it.