Popular KTN TV drama series Lies that Bind, carried the day during the annual Kalasha Awards held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre on Saturday.
The riveting drama emerged the Best TV Drama series, with its lead actress Florence Nduta taking home the Best Lead Actress award and Justin Murichii the Best Supporting Actor gong.
Sharing the glory of the night was Nairobi Half Life, a successful film believed to be the best movie produced in the country this year. The film’s director and cast graced the podium five times and only lost in one of the six Feature Film categories the film had been nominated in.
The other major winner in the Feature Film category was Simiyu Samurai, which took home four awards. The enviable Best Actor and Best Actress in Film awards went to Joseph Wairimu (Nairobi Half Life) and Rita Dominic (Shattered) respectively.
It was also a big night for the old Vioja Mahakamani TV comedy which stunned tipped favourites and took home a number of accolades.
MondayBlues later learned that the event organisers had agreed to encourage the production of Kiswahili films and TV shows, a probable reason why Vioja Mahakamani scored big this year.
Amidst joy and jubilation from the winners and their fans, a gloomy cloud dominated the arena with claims of rigging emerging from some dissatisfied nominees.
The ceremony was poorly co-ordinated. Three times during the awards ceremony, the emcees called out the wrong names for given categories as confusion reigned backstage — forcing an angry Kenya Film Commission chairman Chris Foot, to step in and cover the disgrace. “I’m sorry for the confusion,” he said.
One of the emcees was heavily intoxicated. Thrice, the incoherent emcee failed to get guests’ titles right making a fool of himself before a bemused crowd.
More confusion reigned after the awards presentation was closed with fancy stage fireworks before the winner in the Best Supporting Actress in a Drama was announced. “I can’t believe all these goofs are real,” Caroline Kipsuto of Mheshimiwa — one of the nominees in the category — thundered.
For an event said to have cost Sh14 million to put together, a lot was left to be desired.
Malaika Tribute Awards launched
The inaugural Malaika Tribute Awards — an awards scheme set to celebrate the achievements of remarkable people who have overcome their disabilities — will take place next week, in Nairobi.
The awards are the brainchild of MTV Awards and Groove Awards winner and celebrity gospel icon Daddy Owen, who also runs the Malaika Trust.
“Malaika Trust creates awareness on issues affecting people with disabilities and gives tribute to local individuals and organisations that have contributed to improving the lives of people living with disabilities,” Daddy Owen told MondayBlues yesterday.
“Through this award show, Malaika Trust hopes not only to bring recognition to deserving people bringing positive change within their communities but promote this year’s theme which is advocate for rights of persons living with disabilities,” he added.
The winners in the eight categories will be awarded cash prizes.
Emmy’s Omo advert for billboards
Wearing her new hat as the face of the new Omo commercial, celebrity gospel singer Emmy Kosgei will have her new commercial go on billboards across the country in a few days.
“I am happy about the advert. It is awesome,” the singer told MondayBlues on Saturday.
She, however, declined to disclose how much she had been paid for the advert said to be one of the best deals a local artiste has ever signed with an advertising agency.
“They paid me some good money but it is not for me to disclose. In fact, I would rather talk about the upcoming Peace Concert I am planning to host in Eldoret on New Year’s eve,” she remarked.
