Nairobi News

Why USD, GBP, EUR dominate Kenyan forex portfolios

Steve Omondi — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:52:48 +0000

Walk into any Kenyan trading community, whether online or in a small WhatsApp group swapping chart screenshots late at night, and you’ll notice a clear pattern. Most traders gravitate toward the same three currencies: the US dollar, the British pound and the Euro. This approach is a mixture of opportunity and lived economic reality affecting how Kenyan traders approach the forex market.

Global power meets local relevance

The US dollar sits at the center of global trade, and Kenya feels that influence daily. Fuel prices, import costs and even agricultural inputs often track dollar movements, which means USD forex pairs don’t feel abstract but familiar. When the dollar strengthens or weakens, traders can often connect the move to real-world headlines that already affect their cost of living. The euro and pound carry similar weight. Europe and the UK remain key trade partners for Kenya, while development funding, remittances and tourism flows frequently reference these currencies. As a result, EUR and GBP price movements tend to resonate more clearly than those of smaller or less visible economies.

Liquidity that supports confidence

Liquidity is one of the background forces moulding Kenyan forex portfolios. USD, GBP and EUR pairs offer deep liquidity, meaning trades enter and exit smoothly while spreads remain tight even during busy sessions. For traders still refining risk management, this matters. High liquidity also brings cleaner price action. Support and resistance levels tend to behave more predictably, while sudden spikes feel less random. For many Kenyan traders balancing trading with full-time work or business, this stability builds confidence and reduces unnecessary stress.

Education, media, and market access

Most forex education available in Kenya revolves around major currency pairs. From YouTube tutorials to broker webinars, examples almost always reference EUR/USD, GBP/USD or USD/JPY. Over time, this builds familiarity as well as trust. Broker platforms reinforce the pattern. Major pairs often come with lower margin requirements, better execution and more analytical tools. Traders naturally follow the path of least friction, especially when capital is limited and consistency matters more than experimentation.

Volatility that creates opportunity

While stability is important, Kenyan traders also value movement. GBP and EUR pairs offer volatility without tipping into chaos. They respond sharply to economic data as well as central bank decisions and political developments, which create opportunities for both short-term trades and longer swing positions. This balance is vital. Too little movement stalls progress, while excessive volatility can erase gains quickly. Major currencies sit comfortably in the middle, offering momentum that feels tradable rather than overwhelming.

The personal aspect of currency choice

Portfolio construction is essentially personal. Kenyan traders often choose currencies that feel understandable and relevant. USD, GBP and EUR fit neatly into that mental framework. They dominate the news cycle to influence everyday prices and anchor most global financial conversations. As Kenyan traders grow in experience, some branch out into crosses or emerging market currencies. Still, the foundation usually remains the same. These three currencies provide liquidity and narrative clarity, making them a natural starting point and a long-term anchor for many portfolios.

Actress Dorea Chege stands by DJ Dibul

Tomas Matiko — Tue, 20 May 2025 10:31:11 +0000

Actress Dorea Chege has vowed to stick by his fiancé, DJ Dibul, despite a cheating scandal that has rocked the popular Kikuyu songs Deejay. DJ Dibul has been accused of cheating on his fiancée with multiple women, allegedly in his car and on Airbnb while Dorea was pregnant. The scandal hit the roof just a few weeks after Dorea welcomed their first child, with several women coming out to claim they had been having an affair with the DJ behind Dorea’s back. When the scandal first broke, an infuriated Dorea declined to comment on the matter, saying she was not the one who cheated and, as such, she did not have any comments. However, that appears to have changed now with the Pink Ladies and Maria actress saying she is standing by her man. “There is nobody in this world who will ever come between us. It's us against the world until the wheels fall off.” Dorea said, addressing her fiancé on their YouTube Channel. Dorea has also accused one of the alleged DJ Dibul’s side chicks of saying she was obsessed with her man, and the claims that she had an affair are not true. The actress who is in love both on and off the script has been able to build a healthy relationship that they are never shy to parade on social media for their over half a million followers to see. And even with the cheating scandal, Dorea isn't shy to keep the flame going by choosing to stand by her man. In a past interview, she confessed that being in a serious love relationship with a fellow entertainer is not for the faint-hearted. To make it work for both of them, Dorea says they have set each other boundaries, and one of those is not touching each other’s phones. “He is a DJ, I’m and I'm an actress, and there have to be certain boundaries to make it work. Looking at it pragmatically and logically, practically, when he is out there deejaying, he will have to interact with a lot of women, it’s just part of his job. On my end, when I’m on set, there are men too, and men will always be men, you know. So, without setting boundaries for ourselves on how we conduct ourselves when together and in our creative spaces, then the relationship can be really hard to keep up with,” Dorea says. The actress also observes that, having made their relationship public, they have to deal with the immense pressure of being a celebrity couple. “With fame, you can’t be yourself; society forces you to be somebody you are not. We can’t do normal stuff other couples do publicly lest we end up on blogs. For instance, we can’t board a matatu, I haven’t boarded one in 10 years.” She says.

Why Yvonne is managing Savara

Tomas Matiko — Tue, 20 May 2025 10:11:45 +0000

Sauti Sol’s instrumentalist, producer, and vocalist Savara Mudigi has explained why he picked his longtime girlfriend Yvonne Endo to be his manager. The singer says by virtue of Yvonne being the closest person to him, it only made sense to have her as part of his management team. “Yvonne is part of my management team. Of all those in my team, she is the one who is closest to me, and I felt she is better placed to disseminate information to other people. She is the bridge to all my communications to other people because she understands me probably better than anybody else.” Savara explains. Whereas many creatives do not prefer being managed by their spouses to avoid situations such as conflict of interests or emotions in decision-making processes, Savara sees it differently. “I am of the view that family has to come first in everything. I also think it’s good to have yourself surrounded by people you know that they genuinely love you and would mean no harm, people who can take a bullet for you. They will always have your best interests at heart; you will always feel secure surrounded by such people.” He adds. Savara also argues that he assumption of one being managed by a spouse is a bad idea, isn’t right. “Nothing is cast in stone. Teams are built differently, but the most important thing is to have a team that you can trust.” The couple have been together for seven years now and are yet to formally marry. “Look, whether we are married or dating, the public can define it however they want. I am not interested in this nonsense of over-defining things, that’s on the public, not on me,” noted Savara in a past interview. During the interview, Savara noted that the most important aspect in a relationship is how one chooses to love. “The way someone chooses to love someone is what matters. How I want to love someone should be on my own terms, and not what society or the public perceives to be the ideal way. Choose who to love, how to love, and where to love,” Savara adds. The couple first met in 2018 at the Africa Nouveou Festival in Nairobi, where Sauti Sol were performing and Endo and her sister were attending. The ladies were leaving the event when they bumped into Savara, who introduced himself as a stripper and asked for Yvonne’s phone number, which she didn’t hesitate to give. When they began their romance, they chose to keep it under wraps from the public eye, and after a few years, went public with their union. “Yvonne is my girl, my lover, my rock, and my best friend,d so fat. That day I spotted two beautiful ladies, and because I was tipsy, I approached them and asked for her number. ” Savara revealed on their first encounter.

Blankets & Wine to debut in UK this September

Tomas Matiko — Fri, 16 May 2025 07:44:19 +0000

Blankets & Wine, the premier Pan-African music festival, is thrilled to announce its 16th anniversary, marked by a spectacular first-ever international show in Bradford City, UK! For sixteen years, Blankets & Wine has been a beacon of African music, culture, and lifestyle, showcasing both emerging and established artists from across the continent. Known for its dynamic programming across 2 stages, curated food, fashion, and crafts market, artistic installations, branded experiences, and overall high standard of production, the festival has become a beloved quarterly Sunday ritual, fostering discovery and community. In a landmark moment, Blankets & Wine is expanding its reach and bringing the magic of African music to the UK! The festival will host its first-ever show in Bradford City, UK, on September 6th, 2025, at Lister Park, marking a significant milestone in its 16-year journey in partnership with the British Council for the UK/Kenya Season 2025. “This is a dream come true. Since 2008, we've been passionate about showcasing the incredible talent of African musicians, building a real community of fans, vendors, and sponsors, and scaling opportunities across the live music value chain. Taking Blankets & Wine to the UK is the next step in exporting our music and culture, and is a testament to the power of Blankets in transcending borders and connecting people from all walks of life,” says rapper and entrepreneur Muthoni The Drummer Queen, Founder of Blankets & Wine. The Bradford City show will feature a curated lineup of African artists, bringing the authentic Blankets & Wine experience to the UK. Artist announcement will be made towards the end of June 2025. This historic event will not only celebrate African music but also foster cultural exchange and collaboration. More details about the event will be announced in the coming days.

‘Nation’ appoints Pamela Sittoni as new Public Editor

Tomas Matiko — Thu, 15 May 2025 07:35:20 +0000

Pamela Sittoni, an independent consultant-editor, communication and partnerships specialist, has landed a new role at Nation Media Group (NMG), months after her exit. In a notice dated Thursday, May 15, the company announced her appointment as Public Editor, effective May 1, 2025. She takes over from Peter Mwaura, who retired in December 2024 after serving in the role for several years. Her new role will be to act as a bridge between the media house and the public, ensuring that NMG maintains high standards of journalism and remains open to criticism. As Public Editor, Sittoni will independently handle complaints from the public concerning accuracy, fairness, and ethical issues in NMG’s reporting across its newspapers, digital platforms, and broadcast stations. She will also monitor the media house’s adherence to its editorial guidelines and Kenya’s Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism. In light of these challenges, Sittoni will also be expected to educate the public on journalism practices and help them better understand how news is gathered and reported. Until June 30, 2024, Mrs Sittoni served as the Group Managing Editor at NMG, overseeing the output of all the group’s platforms. She made history as the first woman to hold the positions of Executive Editor and Managing Editor of the Daily Nation at NMG, having been appointed in January 2019. Previously, she held various roles, including Executive Editor in charge of Partnerships and Managing Editor at both the Daily Nation and The EastAfrican. Pamela also worked as a Managing Editor at Standard Media Group from November 2003 to July 2006 and as a Communications Specialist for UNICEF from July 2006 to July 2012. She holds a master’s degree in New Media, Democracy, and Governance from the University of Leicester. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Literature and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Nairobi.

Spotify’s AI DJ now takes real-time voice requests

Tomas Matiko — Wed, 14 May 2025 11:30:43 +0000

Spotify has just handed the aux cord back to its users, albeit virtually. In a major update announced on Tuesday, Spotify Premium subscribers across 60 markets can now make real-time music requests according to mood changes using voice commands. This has been made possible by Spotify upgrading its AI DJ feature. This interactive update enhances user experience, with Spotify reporting doubled engagement since launch. Previously, users could only enjoy the AI DJ's curated mix with commentary between songs. Now, with the latest update, listeners can curate their sessions on the fly, adjusting the music to their mood or preferences. “Listeners asked for more ways to interact with DJ and enjoy more control over their listening sessions – and now you can!” said Spotify in the announcement.

To make a request, users need only head to the search tab on Spotify, type ‘DJ’, hit play—and the music maestro is at your service. Want to shake off the blues with some upbeat bangers? Craving indie deep cuts that sound like the soundtrack to your mysterious main character energy? All you need is press and hold the DJ button, wait for a beep, and speak your musical desires into existence.

Here’s how to request music:

Open Spotify and search “DJ”
Tap play to start your personalised mix with commentary
To switch songs, press and hold the DJ button in the corner until you hear a beep
Use your voice to request a specific style or mood, and the AI DJ will update the session

Visual artist Allan Kioko to compete for Sh2.6 million in Scotland

Tomas Matiko — Tue, 13 May 2025 05:54:42 +0000

Kenya's visual artist, illustrator, and muralist Allan Kioko has been selected to compete at the prestigious Glenfiddich Artist in Residence 2025, where the winner will walk away with a prize money of £15,000 (Sh2.6 million). The 31-year-old has grown famous for his expressive thought thought-provoking, humorous, and sometimes controversial artwork around Nairobi and low-income areas of Mathare, Korogocho, Baba Dogo, and other slums of the capital. He says he draws inspiration from his own life experiences and places he's been to. Kioko's artwork is done using acrylic on canvas and watercolor on paper, and is known for his love of bold strokes, color, and texture in his art. “Allan’s ability to blend traditional narratives with contemporary visual styles made him a standout for this year’s selection. We’re excited to see how his time in Dufftown will shape his next evolution as an artist—and how he’ll bring that experience back to inspire the Kenyan art scene,” said Andy Fairgrieve, Artist In Residence Coordinator at Glenfiddich, when Showbuzz sought clarification on the selection process. Kioko will travel to Glenfiddich's headquarters in Dufftown, Scotland, where he will team up with other creatives selected around the world, and for three months, they will compete for the top prize by developing a body of artwork that will be selected and judged. As part of the Residency brief, Kioko and fellow competitors will be required to employ the historic setting found deep in the highlands of Scotland to create original pieces of art. The artists will also have an opportunity to collaborate. On its official website, Glenfiddich Whisky states it began the program in 2002 with the aim to nurture, inspire, motivate, and incentivize storytelling and innovative talents that are keen to bring out a blend of luxury and culture through art. For all the competitors, the Residency is an all-expenses-paid program which, at the end of the stay, will award the winning artist with three months of income, all-inclusive travel and accommodations, project materials, and the opportunity to foster cross-disciplinary ideas with an art community from across the globe. Canadian Julie Forgues emerged as the winner of the 2024 Glenfiddich AIR for her photographic research about how a space can be transformed into a place but can also fluctuate between both states. “These in-betweens in landscapes are fluctuating states that I then render into photographic images. At every site I have photographed, I think of what was there, what is there now, and what will be there in the future: spaces that are now places, but mostly places-spaces that are in limbo-ing states. My work, therefore, makes this process of fluctuation visible.” Forgues stated in her proposal. Other winning mediums of work from the past have spanned blown glass, painting, sculpture, sound art, video, performance, and installation.

Court backs KFCB to regulate social media video upload

Tomas Matiko — Fri, 09 May 2025 07:24:00 +0000

A case filed by Eldoret-based singer William Getumbe against the Kenya Films Classification Board (KFCB) for banning the song and demanding he pay Sh243,200 has been dismissed by the High Court. The High Court failed to stop KFCB from banning Mr Getumbe's two controversial Yesu Ninyandue videos from circulation on social media platforms as well as YouTube, as Mr Getumbe had sought. The judge stated that the board had acted accordingly in its mandate to ban the videos. However, the court also noted that KFCB misinterpreted its mandate in demanding Sh243,200 from the singer as licensing fees. Mr Getumbe wanted the court to issue an order prohibiting the KFCB and its CEO from engaging YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to pull down his social media post or from banning his content. "This prayer was neither pleaded in the petition that the respondent (KFCB ) has taken action in that regard, nor was any evidence presented to this effect. That player is not supported by evidence or pleadings. In any event, given that the petitioner has not discharged the burden of demonstrating that the finding of the video was offensive content is unreasonable. I do not see why the court should stop the respondent from discharging its mandate of ensuring that inappropriate content is removed from the public circulation using every available law means at its disposal, including partnering with the platforms the petitioner listed. By parity of reasoning, the prayer to declare the administrative process employed by the first respondent unconstitutional cannot therefore ensue," said Justice Lawrence Mugambi, reading his judgment on Friday, 9th. The court, however, ruled that KFCB had erred in demanding payments from the singer, as it has no power to demand licensing payment fees for video content uploaded on social media platforms and YouTube. "Although I concur with the petitioner that the respondents misread the provisions of the Films and Stage Plays Act when they purported to apply them to demand license fees from the petitioner for recording his music video without a license and uploading it in his social media YouTube account; I do not think it was improper for the 1st Respondent in exercise of its mandate to protect the vulnerable from harmful/ inappropriate audiovisual by demanding that the offending video be pulled down. The duty to examine, classify, and rate audio-visual content on any public display to protect the vulnerable members of society, such as children, remains vested in the 1st Respondent and can enforce it regardless of the means of transmission adopted." Mr Getumbe filed the case in March 2024, days after he was arrested in his Eldoret home and later released, after he failed to remit to KFCB the Sh243,200 in filming and licensing fees for uploading two controversial viral Yesu Ninyandue videos titled Yesu Ninyandue-Imejaa and Yesu Ninyandue-Nyonga. without the board's approval. The singer had on February 29th, 2024 received a demand letter and a sales invoice from KFCB, , stating that he had uploaded the videos on his YouTube as they had not been approved and a license issued after payment. ."The letter dated 29th February 2024, to the extent it was issued to the petitioner with the sales invoice of Sh243,200 demanding licenses for uploading the video, is null and void as the current legal procedures section 4, 12, and 15 manifestly exchange the fulfillment of conditions applicable to conventional film studios and audivisuals recording by OTT, VOD or those posted on social media platforms are not covered. Any attempts to enforce those licensing requirements with the new trends without undertaking the changes in law will bring arbitrariness. The demand for payment of the said licenses is thus rejected as null and void," stated Justice Mugambi. The judge found the requirement by KFCB to have videos undergo prior inspection before being uploaded to be ludicrous in this modern digital era. "In this day and age, where any person who has access to a smartphone that can generate an audiovisual recording and upload it on any social media platform at any time, the requirement that all Persons desiring to record any audio-visual film for public display must obtain a licence from the 1st Respondent is ludicrous. Such a condition can only be implemented more in breach than in compliance. The requirement that all audio-visual videos intended for public display must first be submitted to the 1st Respondent, who will examine them and approve before they are exhibited is also impractical and an unwarranted intrusion of one’s privacy if all persons are required to be submitting all the videos, they want to share on social media to the 1st Respondent for censorship first. Such requirements for the license and prior inspection before publication have been overtaken by events unless the Respondent can demonstrate that it is capable of implementing those provisions before uploading all audio-visual recordings on social media, because failure to do so will be discriminatory, arbitrary, and unlawful. Such an interpretation would thus lead to unreasonable or illogical results and is rejected," he stated. Mr. Getumbe had also challenged the 1962 Film and Stage Plays Act, Cap 222, praying for the court to declare it unconstitutional owing to the fact that it had been overtaken by events, a prayer which was overruled by the judge. "The requirement to pull down what the respondents considered an offensive music video was a matter within the scope of authority of the 1st respondent (KFCB) in line with the underlying purposes of the Film and Stage Plays Act. The fast-growing technology has brought about challenges of effective regulations, but that has not taken away the mandate of the 1st respondent. The act is thus not unconstitutional."

Sykpe shuts down: How ads ended its dominance

Tomas Matiko — Tue, 06 May 2025 14:08:10 +0000

After nearly 22 years of operations, the once popular social media App, Skype, has been discontinued. Skype shut down on May 5, marking the end of an era for one of the pioneers of internet communications. Launched in 2003, Skype quickly became a revolutionary tool for free voice and video calls over the internet, amassing more than 300 million monthly users at its peak in the mid-2010s. The free platform changed how people communicated across borders, long before Zoom or FaceTime. Before services like Skype, the only affordable way to communicate with friends and family overseas was by post or email. International voice calls were and often still are prohibitively expensive. The emergence of Skype in 2003 changed that. It let people connect across continents, not just cheaply but for free, as long as both sides had an internet connection. Two years after its launch, online e-commerce platform eBay bought Skype for $2.6 billion. In May 2011, former Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer made an uncharacteristically splashy bet, paying $8.5 billion, a 40% premium to Skype’s internal valuation. After the acquisition, Microsoft aimed to make Skype a central part of its communications strategy. In September 2011, Microsoft infamously started inserting ads into Skype. That didn’t pan out as Ballmer had hoped, becoming a nuisance to most users. With the emergence of Ad-free competitors like WhatsApp, Zoom, and eventually Microsoft’s own Teams, which gained traction, Skype’s popularity faded. In addition, these upstarts solved problems that Skype didn’t. Skype was made the default messaging app for Windows 8.1 in 2013 and came pre-installed on every device shipped with or upgraded to the operating system. Skype users would then start to complain that elements of the core experience had started to break down. They cited missed or phantom calls and failures to sync information on different devices. The company worked to improve the service’s reliability, but some loyal users were p

Alikiba says he and his ex-wife are now on good terms

Tomas Matiko — Sun, 04 May 2025 12:10:16 +0000

Bongo Flava singer Ali Kiba says his relationship with his Kenyan ex-wife has never been better after a nasty split that culminated in a divorce in 2022. "I'm in another relationship now. As far as my ex-wife and I are concerned, we have finalized our divorce in harmony, and she is happy. We're both in a very good place right now; there's no bad blood between us. We are both happy," says Alikiba. The musician and his then fiancée Amina Khaleef tied the knot in April 2018 in an extravagant, invitation-only ceremony in Mombasa that was reportedly heavily bankrolled by former Governor Ali Hassan Joho, who is currently the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. The ceremony, which was held early in the morning at the Masjid Ummul mosque in Mombasa to avoid 'gate crashers' with journalists barred from covering it, became the talk of the town. The wedding presided over a similarly colorful ceremony held in Dar es Salaam a few days later, which was broadcast on Tanzania's Azam TV. For three years, the couple lived happily. However, on January 8, 2021, Amina filed for divorce at the Chief Kadhi's Court in Mombasa, seeking to compel the singer to pay her Sh200,000 monthly maintenance for their two children. In court papers, Amina said the marriage was irretrievably broken, and her prayer was to have it dissolved as there was nothing left to fight for in the union. She cited constant arguments with the singer, his friend, and family members who lived with them in their matrimonial home in Dar es Salaam during their marriage. In addition, Amina constantly accused the singer of disrespecting her, with allegations of infidelity on his part coming up each time. Before filing for divorce, Amina is said to have given the singer a chance to work things out, but he did not. But it was after she filed for divorce that Ali Kiba began making frantic efforts to save the marriage, which included several trips to Mombasa to try and work things out. When the divorce was finally granted in 2022, Amina was at it again, taking to her Instagram stories to vent her frustrations, accusing Ali Kiba of holding her to ransom by refusing to sign the divorce papers. Ali Kiba later defended himself, claiming he had no problem signing the papers. Weeks later, Amina shared a picture of a dove flying out of a cage as she celebrated the end of the union, captioning the image "officially free.

Weezdom on rehab and Kenyan celebrities silent battle with addiction

Tomas Matiko — Sun, 04 May 2025 06:25:59 +0000

Kenyan gospel star Weezdom says he will not be releasing any more music after coming back to life after months of battling alcohol addiction. Weezdom, who has been open about his battle with depression, addiction, and his rehabilitation journey, says his chapter of releasing music is closed. "I don't think I'll be releasing any more music after all these years. I am going into artist management, which I think I can do well. I did it for Bahati, and I have done it for many other artists. That is what I will be focusing on more. Weezdom told Nation, Showbuzz. Reflecting on his journey to alcohol rehabilitation, the singer maintains that it is a journey that only he can get out of. "Nobody can get you out of any kind of addiction. This is something you have to realize on your own. Going to rehab doesn't get you out of it; you've got to have the mental strength to decide to quit on your own, otherwise, people wouldn't suffer from relapse once out of rehab. I made the bold decision to quit alcohol, it wasn't easy, but I realized while in rehab that if I can't save myself, nobody is going to save me," the singer says. Weezdom went on to add that many celebrities are currently battling various addictions in silence. "I know a number who are deep into cocaine, and I can tell you it is a time bomb. Some of the celebrities that we see setting the standard on social media are on that time bomb, two, three years from now, if they don't change, I'm sure we'll be telling a different story. Betting is another addiction that has taken a toll on celebrities. I know a gospel artist who even sold his television set to gamble. His gambling addiction has cost him millions. He even sold his car and used all the proceeds to gamble. Various forms of addiction are quite a menace among Kenyan celebrities at the moment.

Apple Music selects DJ Grauchi for Sound of Africa

Tomas Matiko — Thu, 01 May 2025 07:39:31 +0000

Apple Music has launched a new global initiative dubbed The Sounds of Africa, celebrating five of Africa's most influential music capitals: Nairobi, Accra, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, and Johannesburg. According to Apple Music, the celebration is in recognition of the fact that Africa's influence on the global music industry has never been stronger. In an effort to highlight the incredible efforts and achievements of African rhythms, five playlists have been specially curated by a selection of artists, music executives, tastemakers and media personalities who embody the sounds of their cities, featuring a selection of new and catalog tracks that celebrate the unique and diverse spirit of African music. In addition to the five playlists - The Sounds of Nairobi, The Sounds of Accra, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, and Johannesburg - Apple Music has also created a series of exclusive DJ mixes in collaboration with renowned DJs from each country. For The Sounds of Nairobi, DJ Grauchi got the nod to curate the one-hour, 13-minute playlist, which features a mix of 54 Kenyan songs from genge to gengetone to arbantone. Described as a city where genres collide and innovation thrives, The Sounds of Nairobi is spearheaded by voices like Xenia Manasseh, Nikita Kering, and Njerae, who each contributed to the playlist. Speaking about the playlist, DJ Grauchi said; "This mix features the best artists Nairobi has to offer right now and a touch of the classic acts from back then, whose music is timeless and still banging in Nairobi. As for Manasseh, she describes The Sounds of Nairobi as rebellious. “There’s a rebellious & conversely free nature of the people in Nairobi that is revealed through our art and specifically our music. Our music is spiritual, revolutionary, fun, and experimental, and doesn’t conform to any set of rules. I just wanted to select music that showed that we can and have always been able to do anything.” She says.

Davido had no idea his convicted friend Hushpuppi was a fraudster

Tomas Matiko — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:25:16 +0000

Afrobeat star Davido has opened up about his close friendship with convicted Instagram influencer and international fraudster, Hushpuppi. During a recent podcast while in the United States, Davido opened up about his relationship with the convicted felon, who is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence in the United States for cyber crimes. The Nigerian socialite, whose real name is Ramon Abbas, was arrested in Dubai in June 2020 and extradited to America, where he was eventually sentenced to federal prison in 2022. Speaking on the Bagfuel podcast, Davido revealed that although Hushpuppi is his friend, he never really knew what he was into or what he did for a living. Hushpuppi was known for documenting his flamboyant and opulent lifestyle on social media, an act that earned him over two million followers on Instagram. Davido acknowledged that the convicted felon lived a good life, claiming he never knew his friend was a fraud. "My prayers go out to him, he's my friend. I just used to see him around, and I never really knew what he was doing, but he lived a good life." Davido said on the podcast. Davido added that Hushpuppi may have felt the urge to parade his life of opulence to the public without much care, probably because of a tough upbringing he may have had growing up. "Some people are happy to play ball for five years and that's it. In Nigeria, we say e get suffer wey you go suffer, that is you go through some hardships (to the point) that you say 'let me ball for two years and I'm good'. Hushpuppi's cyber heists cost his victims millions of dollars. He began his criminal activities in Oworonshoki, a poor coastal area northeast of Lagos, Nigeria, as a "Yahoo Boy" - the Nigerian term for men who commit romance scams by stealing other people's identities online and swindling their unsuspecting lovers out of money. The Yahoo Boys took their name from the first free email available in Nigeria. At his sentencing in 2022, Hushpuppi was also ordered to pay $1,732,841 (Sh222 million) in restitution to two victims. He pleaded guilty to money laundering, admitting that he attempted to steal more than $1.1 million from an investor in Qatar. He also admitted to several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses. Two weeks before his arrest by the FBI, Hushpuppi renewed his lease for another year at the exclusive Palazzo Versace apartments in Dubai. "Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings in my life. Continue to shame those waiting for me to be shamed," he captioned an Instagram photo of a Rolls-Royce just two weeks before his arrest.

Sofyia Nzau, Idd Aziz rule as Kenya’s music export soars on Spotify

Tomas Matiko — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:00:59 +0000

Kenya is witnessing a steady increase in the export of its music, this is according to the latest data from the audio streaming platform Spotify. Spotify, which has over 600 million active users worldwide, says Kenyan music has seen significant global growth over the past three years, representing a 94 percent increase in exports. In 2024 alone, Kenyan artists were discovered over 95 million times by first-time listeners. Global listeners have also increased and now spend an average of over 120,000 hours enjoying Kenyan music. These global users have created more than 16 million playlists featuring Kenyan artists to date. Local consumption of Kenyan music has also grown by an impressive 277 percent over the past three years. Streams of female Kenyan artists from markets outside of Kenya grew by 98 percent in 2024. "These figures show that Kenyan music is no longer just a regional phenomenon, but a major player on the global stage. The growth, both domestically and internationally, is creating opportunities for Kenyan artists and the broader cultural economy. What we are seeing is the result of incredible talent combined with digital accessibility that allows these unique sounds to reach audiences around the world," said Phiona Okumu, Spotify Head of Music for Africa. The data reveals a balanced ecosystem where domestic cultural pride works in tandem with international recognition, creating sustainable pathways for Kenyan artists to reach global audiences while maintaining strong connections to their roots. This growth reflects broader trends in the globalization of music, where streaming platforms have democratized access to diverse cultural expression. Notable Kenyan artists contributing to this expansion include both established acts and emerging talent, collectively representing the rich musical heritage and contemporary innovation of Kenya's vibrant scene. According to a Spotify spokesperson, alté' musician Njerae is currently the most-streamed Kenyan artist on the platform, according to data fetched from the last 90 days. Significant streams of Njerae's music come from outside Kenya. Njerae currently has 229,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Another Kenyan artist enjoying success on the platform is Alté musician Idd Aziz, who recently became the third Kenyan artist to reach one million monthly listeners on Spotify, just days after making history as the first known Kenyan musician to perform at Coachella. He joins Sofiya Nzau, who leads the pack with 9.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, followed by Barbara Wangui, who has 1.3 million monthly listeners. As of December 2024, Barbara had only 978,000 monthly listeners, attracting 13 million streams on Spotify last year. Her music was streamed from 178 countries, with the most streams coming from Atlanta, USA. Meanwhile, Sofyia's streams on Spotify soared to 299 million in 2024, with her music attracting listenership from 183 countries

Radio icon Edward Kwach dies of meningitis

Tomas Matiko — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 05:09:46 +0000

Veteran radio presenter Edward Carey Kwach is dead. Family spokesman Michael Okwiri said the beloved radio host died Monday night while undergoing treatment for meningitis. "It is with deep sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved son and brother, Carey, which occurred on the night of April 28, 2025," Okwiri said. Earlier this month, Kwach was admitted to Coptic Hospital in a critical condition. He had been receiving medical attention recently and appealed for blood donations, prompting an outpouring of support from fans and fellow media personalities alike. Until his death, Kwach was a radio presenter on Standard Media Group's Spice FM. Known for his charismatic voice, sharp wit, and deep love for music, Kwach rose to fame in the early 2000s, captivating audiences with his laid-back style and rich musical taste on radio stations like Capital FM and later Homeboyz Radio. His shows featured a unique blend of soulful music, pop culture commentary, and humorous banter that endeared him to a cross-generational audience. Kwach initially studied law before transitioning to media, working for Capital FM, Homeboyz Radio, Kiss FM, EA FM, and Nation FM. Kwach was open about the challenges he faced throughout his career, including issues related to fame, entitlement, and alcohol. In a letter to his younger self in 2021, he acknowledged that these factors contributed to job losses and personal struggles. Kwach was engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Dee Muigai, a former model and entrepreneur. They announced their engagement in 2014.