Celebs, charity and fun

By Stevens Muendo

Some minutes to 2am that Thursday night, the rains came pouring, putting off the bonfire and forcing a host of local celebrities to scamper to their tents.

Dark rain clouds covered the open skies as hyenas began their night patrol, laughing in the thickets surrounding Oloilalei Hills. Someone claimed to have heard a cheetah wailing.

What had been an adventurous night of singing, dancing, meat roasting and mchongoano around a big blazing bonfire suddenly transformed into a night of awe as chilling cold, silence and trembling engulfed the air.

Earlier in the day during a celebrity charity venture at Oloilalet village, over 30 kilometres into the wild, from Kajiado town, Big Ted and Banda Emmanuel of Ogopa managed to marshal a bunch of secular and gospel artistes to take part in community activities, .

The celebs who included Colonel Moustapha, DNA (Dennis Kaggia), the MOG trio, Daddy Owen Mutulele, Bandilika DJs, Alpha Fakoly, Kenzo, Trapee and Neema Ntalel managed to put together a football team which dismantled the home side by a slim 3:2 win.

Lazy ones such as Cynthia Kuto, Marya Wanjiru, Sleek Willy, Avril, Neema, Wanja Mworia (actress), Diana Daniel, Lesley Choge and Big Ted himself a spirited cheering squad, which screamed and yelled for the 90 minutes of play.

Winning hat-trick

Celebs join hands for charity.

Alpha scored the first goal, Moustapha scored the second and I still think I scored the third goal even though Moustapha argues his right leg had a mightier touch on the ball during that combined winning hat-kick.

By sunset, we were back at Mzee Ntalel’s (Neema’s father who was our host) farm, helping in milking and getting the sheep and goats into their mud walled shelter before the night of fun begun.

And now, here was darkness, rain and hyenas baying for our blood. Alas!

The mystery of the night was a humbling experience, which brought us face to face with the harsh realities the residents of Oloilalet encounter everyday.

It was the second adventure by celebrities — the first of its kind — who having buried their showbiz differences broke religious barriers to form a charity movement with a common front — assist the community through identified projects.

The sight of starving children who have to walk to school, 16 kilometres away, to open roofed classrooms with no books to write on was disturbing. The school, whose sole motivation is the hope of finding some meal for every pupil humbled the celebrities used to hype and lavish city lifestyles.

It all started when Moustapha awoke in the middle of the night after dreaming of these helpless children crying, beckoning for someone to save their lives. And with this, the Celebs for Oloilalet Charity Movement started!

Engineered by Moustapha’s dream, the team put together their finances, bought foodstuff worth thousands and left the beautiful capital city on Wednesday morning for the two-day charity venture in the forgotten Kajiado village.

"We can claim to be celebs. We can boast of living the good life. But what does it count to enjoy all these goodness while these destitute are crying for help," exclaimed Daddy Owen.

Cheering crowds

"There is no better fulfilment that one gets when he or she gives back to the community," echoed Big Ted as the statement received support from all.

Away from the cheering crowds, financially rewarding gigs and beaming cameras, the artistes entertained children at Oloilalet Primary School all Thursday morning.

The unlikely fans had enjoyed the free show, dancing to the musicians’ leading city hits with Daddy Owen, Moustapha, Kenzo and MOG leading the rare celebrations.

The celebs later joined in a community dam building project and even helped in castrating bulls at Mzee Ntalel’s farm.

But it wasn’t all work and no fun. Not with two goats and a sheep having suffered the butcher’s knife for the celebrity feast.

And above all, what a bonding forum this trip provided for all, as music makers and journalists criticised each other openly and constructively. Both groups advised each another on how to get the music industry to the next level.

And in advancing this worthy cause, the group is now calling on willing artistes, other stakeholders and fans to join in with a major celebrity football and fun day being slotted for the city in August.

All this in the name of charity for the residents of Oloilalet. So why not take part and touch somebody’s life?