Kenyans to watch in 2022

Wafula Chebukati

Hardly three months into his appointment as Director General Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and he is already making waves with his notice to cancel 60 radio frequencies for failure to comply with various licensing conditions. Before this, the powerful regulator under Mr Chiloba had also banned Sasa TV, a station owned by controversial Pastor James Ng'ang'a, from live broadcast for six months for airing unfit content. This could just be the beginning. With elections looming and CA a key player in technology side of ensuring there is network to facilitate voting and transmission of results, Mr Chiloba occupies an important place in the country in 2022. Then there is the lingering question on whether or not the regulator will shut down the internet or restrict access as some neighbouring countries have previously done — or even go after broadcasters over elections-related coverage.

As a public-spirited individual and human rights defender, Mr Omtatah has assumed the role of the public defender, instituting several cases against public bodies and government regarding decisions they have taken which fall afoul of the Constitution. In 2022, Mr Omtatah will still carry on with his activism through the courts. He has a case against the nomination of Paul Mutunga Mutungi to be deputy governor of Nairobi County pending in court while an appeal by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) on a decision on MPs’ allowances is also pending. Mr Omtatah was one of the petitioners against a decision by MPs to award themselves huge allowances. Besides, the activist has also petitioned the constitutional court to pronounce itself on whether the 2010 Constitution anticipates digital, manual or hybrid elections.

They are loud, ruthless and unapologetic. They have forced corporates to make knee-jerk decisions, politicians to cave in and government agencies to eat humble pie. They even go to “war” with other countries that dare touch Kenya. This year, they are poised to shape the trajectory of many things because anything is a hashtag away from reaching boiling point. Careless remarks will be amplified and mocked, explosive revelations will be reviewed and put to the test, and reports of waywardness will draw wrath. In election-related conversations, KOT has previously made candidates appear wildly popular online but that didn’t translate to votes, presenting the question of whether the online community has its money where its mouth is. Inevitably, some in this “online army” are guns-for-hire and useful for propaganda wars.

Teenage rap sensation TJ Mario Kasela, who features in the politically loaded ‘Sipangwingi’ hit, is shaping up to be the artiste to look out for in 2022. From the time he grabbed fame on social media as a 15-year-old freestyle rapper at the height of the global lockdown, to the moment he was chosen as Raila Odinga’s influencer for the youthful demography during Azimio la Umoja National Convention, his growth has been immense in just under two years in the limelight. With tracks and collaborations like ‘Cheza Kama Wewe’, ‘Alaa!!!!!!!!!’, ‘No Stress’ and ‘Sipangwingwi’, his lyrical prowess has always been evident and confident, even as the styles of delivery change. He has collaborated with the biggest names in hip hop locally and stood shoulder to shoulder if not towering over them. His presence while performing live on stage is that of a superstar and that is why he is going to be a key player in the music industry.

With her baby just having turned two recently and saying she’s closed the chapter on children, actress Catherine Kamau has all the world of entertainment to conquer. In May 2021, she was featured on Mr Seed’s ‘Ndoa’. In 2020, she won Couture Magazine’s Most Stylish Female Entertainer and Woman of the Year awards. She’s viewed as a style icon, an influential woman with countless endorsements because of it. Add her YouTube channel where she tackles everything from parenthood to running businesses, and she also wears the cap of a hostess. Her bounce back into the world of acting after her maternity break has seen her appear in renowned movies such as ‘Nafsi’ and ‘Kutu’, the latter earning her the best actress award at the 2021 Kalashas. Her versatility as an actress when it comes to comedy and drama, or Swahili, vernacular or English makes her a force to reckon with.

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Kenyans to watch in 2022

Wafula Chebukati

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