EDDIE GATHEGI AT IT AGAIN!!!

Kenyan actor based in the US, Edi Gathegi, known for his role in the ridiculously popular Twilight series bas bagged a role in a new action/shooter video game web series titled ‘Hawken.’   Edi played the dread-locked vampire Laurent in the first two sequels of Twilight will now play a fighter pilot in the video game.

According to MTV, the live-action series follows a “squad of mechanical pilots tasked with seeking out a missing VIP who has the secret to curing the Hawken virus which has decimated the planet with crystalline structures.” The series also stars Gonzalo Menendez, Dameon Clark, and Hannah Hall, and is directed by Gears of War art director Jeremiah O'Flaherty, his first live-action credit. Hawken is a multiplayer mech combat game. The focus is on creating an intense and enjoyable battle experience that captures the feeling of piloting a heavy war machine while keeping the action fast-paced and strategic.

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP CLUB SCRAMBLE FOR KENYAN SOCCER STAR'S SIGNATURE

Arsenal are about to make a £10 million (Sh1.3 billion) bid for Kenyan international Victor Mugubi Wanyama in order to thwart interest in him from English champions Manchester City, sources say.

Manchester United are also said to be eyeing the star central midfielder, who was a key part of Scottish champions Celtic’s league success last season. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is said to have had the 21-year-old watched for the third time in eight days as Celtic met Inter Milan on Saturday as part of the Scottish side’s 125th anniversary celebrations. The Gunners have had challenges at the back over the past two seasons and Wanyama is seen as a potential answer to the problem, particularly as he can play as a defensive midfielder as well. Wanyama is tried and tested in European competition, which will be vital for Arsenal in the Champions League this year.Wanyama has already indicated his desire to play in the Barclays Premier League.

TOBIKO DECLARES LOUIS OTIENO INNOCENT OF MURDER

A Kenya Power employee found dead on Valentine’s Day was murdered, the Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko has said. Mr Tobiko concluded that Careen Chepchumba was strangled. According to Mr Tobiko, the evidence “does not connect any identified person or group of persons” including former TV anchor Louis Otieno, to the death of Chepchumba. Sources had linked the former celebrated news anchor to the muder of the Kenya Power employee. Louis had been interrogated by police on several occasions.

TOP SOUTH AFRICAN SINGER SHOCKS NATION

Top South African musician Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse drew presidential praise on Monday for finishing high school aged 60, after quitting the classroom as a teenager in the 1960s. The "Burn Out" hit maker had signed up for government-run adult education classes last year at a school near his home in Soweto township outside Johannesburg. "I needed my #matric to feel complete even with all my musical success .45 years out of class is no childs play," he wrote on Twitter on Monday. Earning his nickname from early drumming skills, the multi-instrumentalist Mabuse has performed with the likes of Paul Simon and Percy Sledge.

President Jacob Zuma praised his pass as an "amazing milestone at his age". "You are indeed an inspiration to all of us by showing us that one is never too old for education. We admire your tenacity, discipline and your zeal to succeed and wish you well in all your future endeavours," Zuma said in a statement.

After being informed of his results on Friday, Mabuse is now eyeing further studies in anthropology and is drawing interest from universities from around the country. "Now he's being inundated by universities who want him as a student," his manager Martin Myers told AFP.

WHY DR. ASHA ROSE MIGIRO'S CONTRACT WAS NOT RENEWED

Barely a week after the immediate former Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Asha Rose Migiro returned to Tanzania after serving a five-year term at the helm of the world body, sources within the UN have hinted that poor performance and failure to fit “in the diverse and complicated body” were some of the reasons she was refused a contract renewal.  “The position of the Deputy Secretary-General is complicated and demanding; it requires somebody who is experienced to efficiently run the Secretariat. Her biggest challenge was not understanding the politics at the world body and creating alliances,” the source told Vox Media in a telephone conversation. Dr. Migiro is understood to have approached the African Group, the largest regional group comprising of 28 percent of all UN members, to ask for help in lobbying for her re-appointment, but her quest was rejected. “She wasn’t popular amongst diplomats; so nobody listened to her. You should also recall that her appointment was widely criticized.” In Dar es Salaam, a former senior ruling party secretariat member who worked closely with her in the same team before she assumed the UN post said her appointment was influenced by her personal relationship with President Jakaya Kikwete. It is understood that President Kikwete and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cultivated a close relationship when serving as foreign ministers for their respective governments. When it came for Ban Ki-moon to canvass for votes toward his UN bid, Tanzania’s vote was predominant; Dr. Migiro was apparently battered with Kikwete’s vote. But when Ban Ki-Moon recently decided to review his entire team in a bid to control growing criticism of his team, Dr. Migiro had to go for “poor performance and lack of experience required of staff with the top UN mandate.” Mr Ban appointed Dr Migiro in 2007 upon his election to succeed Dr Kofi Annan.  The exit of the former law lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam has been put down to the fact that Mr Ban is lining up a new team to carry forward his agenda after he was re-appointed in 2011 for a second and final five-year term. The US-based Inner City Press has named Ms Susan Malcorra as Dr Migiro’s possible successor. Ms Malcorra is currently head of the UN Department of Field Support.  Dr Migiro was the third holder of the prestigious post that was established by the General Assembly at the end of 1997 as part of reforms in the United Nations to help manage secretariat operations and ensure coherence of activities and programmes. The position was also meant to elevate the organisation’s profile and leadership in the economic and social spheres. Her return home has sparked fresh speculation on who will emerge victorious in the hotly-contested slot of CCM candidate in the 2015 presidential election. Dr Migiro’s name has cropped up in the list of prospective presidential candidates in 2015, when President Jakaya Kikwete’s second and constitutionally last five-year term comes to an end. The race is likely to be tough, with party primaries expected to be heated following political divisions in the ruling party and candidates who attack each other openly.  Dr Migiro appears to have an edge, however, with some analysts speculating that CCM’s top brass may decide to go with a high profile member of her calibre to become the next president and the first woman to hold the seat.  Though she has not openly indicated an interest in the presidency, there is still time for the diplomat to weigh her chances and possibly tip the balance in the dominant party.

ARSENAL POSTPONES GAME AGAINST SUPER-EAGLES

Arsenal Football Club has announced it is reluctantly postponing its proposed trip to Nigeria this summer. The Club has taken the decision as a res

ult of complexities linked to the planned game against Nigeria on Saturday, August 5 in Abuja. Arsenal marketing director Angus Kinnear said: "Bringing a top-level club to an international market is always complicated and logistically challenging. With the proposed match in Nigeria planned for early August, we could not get comfortable on everything needed to satisfy our requirements, so we have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone the team’s visit."

ETOO'S ASHTON MARTIN BREAKS DOWN IN PARIS

Africa's highest paid footballer Samuel Et'o got an embarrassment of the week when his monster Ashton Martin car broke down in Paris. The soccer star had to come out and hustle.While in Paris, the footballer's 1.4 million dollars Aston Martin One-77 refused to start. And because it was raining, they had to tape over the open window with plastic sheets.

AMERICAN ACTOR ARRIVES IN TANZANIA FOR MOVIE PREMIER

Mario and son Mandela at Dar es salaam airport

American actor Mario Van Peebles arrived in Dar es Salaam yesterday to launch his latest movie 'We are the Party' and to be guest at the ongoing Zanzibar Film Festival. He is to premier his movie on July 13 at Century Cinema in Mlimani City in Dar es salaam. Mario Van Peebles got his first break acting opposite Clint Eastwood in the 1986 war film "Heartbreak Ridge" and parlayed that success into a prolific career both acting and directing. Van Peebles' latest acting and directing project, "We The Party," is a raucous, multi-cultural comedy about a group of teenagers coming of age during America's first black presidency. In the U.S., it is rated "R," restricting kids under 17-years-old from seeing it without a parent or guardian. In theaters this Friday, April 6, the film is a real family affair and co-stars Van Peebles, several of his children, his famous father, director Melvin Van Peebles (the subject of Mario's 2003 movie "Baadasssss!"). Rapper Snoop Dogg also puts in an appearance

Kenyan Rapper-Breaks New Ground With Historic Deal

Sony Music Entertainment Africa is proud to announce the signing of rising African rapper, Xtatic, to a multi-album and full management deal.The deal marks a first for a Kenyan artist and sees the hotshot rapper, songwriter and performer (born Gloria Edna Mecheo) join a global roster of artists on Sony’s RCA label that includes the likes of Usher, Chris Brown, R Kelly and Pink.The 21-year-old was recently in Johannesburg, recording tracks for her debut full-length album with hot new producers ‘The Fahrenheitz’. The record will be released later in 2012 as part of the multi-album recording deal Xtatic has inked with Sony and is being preceded by the first single, ‘WILD!’ due to hit the airways in the next two weeks. Xtatic has also signed a full services management deal with Sony Music and ROCKSTAR4000, and worldwide Music Publishing deal with ROCKSTAR PUBLISHING, positioning her for a full assault on the South African, Nigerian, Kenyan, Pan African and, ultimately, global music scene.

TANZANIAN UN BOSS RETIRES

Dr. Asha Rose Migiro who served as Assistant Secretary General for UN has finally retired.

CHAMELEONE ROCKS TANZANIA

The Ugandan artiste was in Dar es salamm recently and he brought the stadium down,dropping hit after hit. He thrilled the crowd that wanted more and more of him.

ORLANDO PIRATES STAR ACCUSED OF RAPE

FORMER Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana midfielder Steve "Chippa" Lekoelea is accused of dribbling his way to sexual pleasure - without the lady's consent. ACCUSED: Steve 'Chippa' Lekoelea allegedly didn't play ball in the sex game. Picture by Veli Nhlapo Lekoelea allegedly raped a 20-year-old Vereeniging woman after an all night drinking match in Sharpeville, south of Gauteng, last month.

The once popular footie was arrested then released on R2000 bail when he appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrates' Court on June 11. According to the indictment, Lekoelea, an alleged shifting dice gambler, picked up the woman from an unknown spot on Friday June 8 and went with her to a friend's party in the township's Zone 14 section. "They went there and drank until the wee hours of Saturday June 9," says our deep throat, who asked not to be named. After their gallivanting, the 33-year-old dribbling wizard drove the woman to her house in Sonlandpark, Vereeniging. It is understood that upon their arrival, the girl got out of Lekoelea's car and walked into her room with the former soccer star in tow. It is alleged that Lekoelea then took out a condom and forced himself on the victim. "She was raped in her house," says the source. The woman, who did not want to speak to the media, went to lay a charge of rape against Lekoelea at Vereeniging Police Station. The police took her to a local district surgeon for treatment and a medical examination. "The police are still waiting for the results and will take the matter from there," says our mole. Vereeniging police spokesperson Shado Mashobane confirms that Lekoelea was arrested for rape and released on bail. He will appear again at the same court on July 16.

Mashobane declines to provide further details of the case, citing the sub-judice rule.
Lekoelea couldn't be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
Chippa, who was formerly known as Steve Motsiri, began his career at 16 at Moroka Swallows before joining Pirates and becoming a household name

WIZKID AND SARKODIE SHINE AT BET AWARDS

They had been nominated for Best International Act-Africa in the Black Entertainment Television (BET) 2012 Awards.The Nigerian pop star Wiz Kid and Ghanaian hip-hop sensation Sarkodie also beat South Africa’s Lira, Mali’s Mokobe and Nigeria’s Ice Prince and Wiz Kid, who were all nominated in the same category to emerge the cream of the continent.This is the second time for two African musicians to get a tie in this category after Nigerian stars D'Banj and 2Face Idibia got a tie last year. Meanwhile, American rappers Jay Z and Kanye West emerged as the biggest winners in the awards after winning the Video of the Year award in the song ‘Ótis’ and also the Best Group for their collaboration on the "Watch The Throne" album. Jay Z’s wife Beyonce won two awards as well as R n’ B singer Chris Brown.Other winners included Drake, Wale, Big Sean, Common, Nicki Minaj, Kevin Durant, among others.The show was hosted by ‘The Avengers’ actor Samuel L Jackson and performances were by Nicki Minaj, Usher, Brown, Wale, G.O.O.D. Music, Y'Anna Crawley, Amber Bullock, Jessica Reedy, Melanie Fiona and 2 Chainz. Fallen musician Whitney Houston was also given a tribute with performances by Chaka Khan, Brandy, Monica and Whitney’s mother Cissy Houston.

TANZANIAN NBA STAR TO JOIN OKLAHOMA CITY

The Oklahoma City Thunder made their first move of the 2012 offseason and agreed to a deal with center Hasheem Thabeet on July 4.The signing is a minor one that could pay dividends down the line.

The Oklahoma City Thunder made their first move of the 2012 offseason and agreed to a deal with center Hasheem Thabeet on July 4. The signing is a minor one that could pay dividends down the line. The Thunder wanted Thabeet when he came out in the 2009 NBA Draft but the Memphis Grizzlies drafted him one spot ahead of the Thunder. Instead, the Thunder grabbed James Harden with their pick. Meanwhile, Thabeet ended up a disappointment in the NBA. Standing 7-3, Thabeet has drifted through the league, leanding on three different teams before making it to Oklahoma City. Memphis traded him to the Houston Rockets for Shane Battier. After playing only seven games in Houston, they traded him to the Portland Trailblazers for Marcus Camby. Over his career, Thabeet has only averaged 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks a game. The contract is a two-year deal for league minimum. This means if he suddenly reaches his potential, it is a steal for the Thunder. If he does not, it costs very little. “Playing in that environment is positive,” Thabeet’s agent, Bill Duffy said. “Sam Presti has done a great job of not only building a winning organization but a culture that's conditioned to developing and nurturing. So we think it's a really good fit. So now the onus is on Hasheem to buy into that and to develop and to reach his potential.” The signing also means that Nazr Mohammed will not return after watching his contract expire. It is expected that Cole Aldrich will move into the immediate backup role behind Kendrick Perkins and Thabeet will take Aldrich’s spot as a third stringer.
The signing was cheap, so that helps leave some leverage open for the three players that Oklahoma City needs to re-sign before 2013, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Eric Maynor. Maynor should come at a discount following his ACL injury but both Harden and Ibaka will not come cheap.

NOW 2FACE VENTURES INTO REAL ESTATE

Tuface Idibia is now investing big. The 'African queen' star is following in the steps of D'banj and P-Square who are becoming the fastest growing investors. 2face has entered into real estate acquisitions. The singer,sometime ago acquired former La Cachette club located at 15 Oduduwa Way, GRA, Ikeja. He refurbished the place and renamed it Club Rumours. That's not enough, Idibia has also bought another night club in Festac where he's based and plans are underway to launch the joint.

NAIVA'S SUPERMARKET TO OPEN BRANCH IN MOMBASA

Kenya's fastest rising supermarket Naiva's ,has entered the Coast region. The supermarket which already has over seven chains is set to open to the public this Thursday 4/07/2012. They are located at the upmarket Nyali estate-along Mombasa-Malindi highway at Kenol at the new Shopping Mall. The supermarket is known for it's fair prices.Another supermarket set to open in Mombasa is Budget Stores.

BALOTELLI'S EX PREGNANT

Exiled Ghanaian soccer star Mario Balotelli will be a father soon. The 21 year old footballer is expecting a child with his 24 year old ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico who is a model. His ex Raffaella revealed this week that she is pregnant, and she did it in May just one month after they broke up. Raffaella and Mario dated for over a year but broke up in April 2012 because of the footballer's alleged promiscuity. Raffaella herself once dated Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. Raffaella told reporters that Mario is excited about being a dad and they might reconcile for the sake of their child.