By Geoffrey Korio and Kevin Oguoko
The red-carpeted but rather narrow runway in the middle of Le Vans Restaurant was well-lit, last Thursday night. Inside the restaurant were an array of celebrities and hundreds of their fans, all anxious for the kick-off to the much-anticipated ceremony.
The event would see top celebrities get ‘auctioned’ off to the highest bidder with all proceeds going to charity. The idea was noble. The actresses, musicians, models and radio personalities would walk down the runway and have a bidder set a date with them at the highest price.
The first group of celebrities to walk down the runway were the male celebrities, with rapper Rabbit aka Kaka Sungura leading the pack. Their female counterparts, dressed impeccably in attires that left the sizeable male audience ogling.
What’s your Worth?
Being the first off the blocks does not necessarily mean having an amazing show as Rabbit found out. The rapper could only manage a Sh2,200 bid — Sh200 shillings above the minimum bid chopping price.
The same was the case for Lexxy. On seeing how thick things were, Trapee, Kenzo and talented actor Ainea Ojiambo aka OJ opted out.
However, flamboyant lawyer Cliff Ombeta proved to be the ladies charm with his bid going up to Sh7,000. Three bidders battled for him with the price rising from Sh2,100 to Sh3,500 before shooting to Sh7,000.
With that, it was game over and the charmed lady had Cliff all to herself.
Long before his bidding began, Anto Neosoul was already pumping his image wooing the ladies to bid more for him. This certainly paid off when his turn came. A lady from the audience more than doubled a Sh7,000 offer on the table with a Sh15,000 bid. That was Emmy, the events socialite beauty. She got him!
Disappointing bit
All the guys in the audience were eager to see the bidding of the ladies hit off. But a rather awkward announcement was made. The beauties were to be auctioned off as one ‘item’, not individually as many had definitely expected.
With the bid starting at Sh7,000, it sluggishly rose to Sh12,000 where it finally settled. Nick tried his best to raise the bar but it seemed the gentlemen were shy to take home three ladies. Not at once, at least.
Sizzling catwalk
To make it a complete runway experience, there was the showcasing of new fashion lines from designers, modelled by none other than the celebrities themselves.
Dressed to kill Sarah Hussein (Tanya), her of the Tahidi High tag fame, Pierra Makena, KTN’s showbiz girl Brenda Mwai and other top celebrities graced the runway with the designer clothes and six-inch heels.
Performances
Upcoming artistes were also not left out of the event. The likes of dancehall artiste Versatile, Vanika, hip-hop group Clique and Air Force Dancers graced the occasion. To the mainstream fan, Rabbit, Trapee and Ala C did not disappoint.
All for a
Good cause
The celebrity auction and catwalk event was a charitable gig that saw celebs give contributions and pledges for the children at Compassionate Hands for the Disabled Foundation Home in Ruai, ran by Ann Njeri.
Media Tulee Mtoto Charity Initiative (MTMCI) organised the auction event in its project dubbed, Mtoto Lala Poa, with Janet Kirina as the overall overseer. The project aims to raise money for blankets, mattresses and beds.
