Kenya Tourist Visa Extension Guide

First, you need to register on the portal https://fns.immigration.go.ke
This applies even if you already have an e-citizen account (the one you used to get your visa online, for example). Although the portal asks you if you want to log in with that, it is better to create a new username and password by logging in with Efns.
Once the account is created, you will need to do this.
Click on “Submit Application”.
Select “Extension of visitors pass”.
Fill out the application form (Apply now)
Fill in the required data (name, address etc…)
Upload a copy of your passport data page
Sign the online application
Download and print the application form to keep
As soon as your visa has been extended by Kenyan Immigration, a notification will appear in the account you created, in the “My Application” section.
Click on the printer icon, print and carry the notification in your passport indicating the duration of validity of the visa.
To be more precise and secure, you can go to the immigration office and have the extension stamped in your passport, at no extra charge.
If you have difficulty accessing the portal https://fns.immigration.go.ke you can contact the Kenyan Immigration Office at the following numbers:
Permit Section – 0707 65 79 91
Permanent Residence – 0707 65 87 55;
Or call the Nairobi Immigration switchboard on 020 2222022.
Obviously, the language spoken is English.

KFC denies stealing South African local dish idea from local entrepreneur

KFC has lashed out at an entrepreneur who accused them of stealing his chicken kota “idea”, saying it was not a secret that kota is a famous South African dish.

Romeo Malepe of Sharpeville, in the Vaal, took to social media this week to blast the fast-food outlet for allegedly stealing the brainchild he developed four years ago after making a presentation to brand managing company Yum! at their offices in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

The outlet is currently launching their (Sphatlho) kota flavour at limited pop-up shops in Gauteng.

KFC said: “We are aware of the posts by Mr Malepe currently circulating on social media and refute these claims. “It is no secret that kota is a famous South African meal and the limited-edition KFC Sphatlho is a result of an internal product development process.”

“For more than 50 years, KFC has been inspired by the South African heritage and culture and has regularly brought local innovation like the Streetwise Chow, Masala Crunch and Mrs Ball’s Chutney burger to our menu. “We will continue to use South Africa food trends as inspiration to bring relevant products to our fans across South Africa.”

Malepe told Sowetan that his idea of Streetwise Kota was stolen while looking for a partnership with the outlet.

“I did my research and realised that KFC in other parts of the world features that country’s popular food in its menu. “I looked at their menu in India and Russia. Because I wanted them to partner with me, I created a kota concept that features chicken. “I got a team of photographers and creatives together. With my advertising background, we created this concept that included merchandise like sneakers and T-shirts. We consulted Yum!, a KFC holding company in Bryanston.

“We met the brand manager, but our plan was to meet the big bosses who can buy into the idea. The manager kept wanting us to meet her instead of the bosses. “So, I started a Facebook page of Streetwise Kota. It went viral and people began demanding the Streetwise Kota [at] KFC outlets. “In the same year, I received lawyers’ letter that I must take down the page and delete pictures.”

Malepe, who was already selling the Streetwise Kota at different kota festivals, had to change the name to Kota Culture.

“When I got a letter from their lawyers, I realised that there was no chance of us getting into a partnership. My heart is bleeding after seeing their adverts. “I just want them to acknowledge that I came up with the idea. Since they are using it already, they can just buy it officially. I cannot take on these guys … they are big.”

Top 10 Guinness World Records held by Africans

Africa is a continent rich in diversity, culture, and tradition. It is also home to many talented individuals who have set remarkable world records in different fields.

From the longest distance walked on fire to the largest gathering of people dressed as Nelson Mandela, Africans have achieved some incredible feats that have earned them a place in the Guinness World Records.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most impressive world record holders from Africa and their incredible achievements.

Wayde Van Niekerk

The fastest 400 metres run by a male athlete is 43.03 seconds, achieved by Wayde van Niekerk (South Africa) at the 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 14 August 2016

The previous record set by Michael Johnson had stood since 1999.

Wayde won gold in the event with the new world record achieved in the final.

Fela Kuti

Fela Kuti recorded 46 albums as a solo artist over the course of a solo career spanning 23 years. The first solo album was recorded in 1969 and the last in 1992.

Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge

The world’s oldest person to begin primary school was aged 84. Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge (Kenya) enrolled into Standard One at Kapkenduiyo Primary School, Eldoret, Kenya, on 12 January 2004.

He even wore the school uniform and hoped to reach Standard Eight. On 6 April 2004, it was reported that Ng’ang’a passed his first end-of-term exams with straight A’s in English, Kiswahili and math, making him among the top five students in the class. The headmistress, Mrs Jane Obinchu (Kenya) made him a senior head boy as a reward.

Wizkid

Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid has a Guinness World Record for being the artist with the first track to reach one billion streams on Spotify. Wizkid achieved this with One Dance by Drake (Canada) which featured him and Kyla, on December 16, 2016.

Chinonso Eche

The most consecutive football (soccer) touches in one minute while balancing a football on the head is 133, and was achieved by Chinonso Eche (Nigeria), on the set of Lo Show Dei Record, in Milan, Italy, on 1 February 2023.

Chinonso Eche beat his own record by 22 and dreams one day of being a professional footballer.

Stephen Keshi

The youngest person to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach is Stephen Keshi (b. 31 January 1961, Nigeria) who was 52 years and 10 days old when he won the tournament as head coach of Nigeria at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 10 February 2013.

Keshi was captain of the Nigeria national team when he won the tournament as a player in 1994, beating Zambia 2-1 in the final. As a manager, Keshi lead his team to glory after a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in the final.

Tuedon Morgan

The fastest time to run a half marathon on each continent and the North Pole (female) is 62 days 12 hr 58 min 49 sec and was achieved by Tuedon Morgan (Nigeria), from 8 February 2015 to 12 April 2015.

Percy Mailela

The largest coffee grounds mosaic (image) measures 25.96 m² (279 ft² 62 in²), achieved by BrainFarm (PTY) Ltd and Percy Maimela (both South Africa), in Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa, on 12 September 2019.

The image depicted in the coffee grounds mosaic is the face of DJ Black Coffee, a South African DJ and record producer.

Paul Kehinde

The heaviest para power lift by a male in the -65 kg category is 221 kg (487 lb 3.5 oz), achieved by Paul Kehinde (Nigeria) at the 9th Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 19 February 2018. Kehinde broke his own world record of 220.5 kg, set at the World Championship in December 2017.

Para powerlifters compete in just one discipline, the bench press, and are categorized according to their weight.

Rema

Signed under Nigerian record label Mavin, the young rapper Rema topped the charts worldwide with his hit single “Calm Down”.

The singer has been steadily on the rise ever since his debut, counting on an ever-growing fanbase and racking up international fame.

At the moment of writing, “Calm Down” stands at almost 388,000,000 streams on Spotify, while its viral remix with US artist Selena Gomez achieved a whopping 717,512,920 streams on the same music platform.

The 2022 international hit made history when it skyrocketed to the top of The Official MENA Chart, shortly after the launch of the chart itself.

How to Travel Between Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda by Bus

Travelling between Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda by bus is pretty straightforward. One bus takes you all the way. No transfers are required. The trip takes 12-14 hours. Day and night buses are available. In this guide, I outline buying tickets, pricing, bus schedules, ticketing office locations, luggage, safety, and more. I will also explain how to get the Uganda visa as it is not available at the border.

How to Buy Bus Tickets Between Nairobi and Kampala

I recommend you go down to the bus station at least a day in advance to buy your ticket. This route is pretty popular so the buses do fill up. The bus I was on was fully booked so I was glad that I already had my ticket. Remember to bring your passport with you when you go to buy your ticket. It is required for booking.

Tickets for this route can be purchased in cash at the ticket offices in Nairobi and Kampala. It may be possible to buy tickets online from some bus companies. If you’re buying your ticket in Kenya, you’ll probably have to pay with M-Pesa. This involves creating an account. If you’re purchasing your ticket in Uganda, you may be able to pay with MTN Mobile Money. 

Which Bus Company to Go With?

This is a popular route. Several companies offering bus service between Nairobi and Kampala. Really, they are all more or less the same. If one has a more convenient departure time or a better price, go with them. From what I saw, prices are all about the same. Bus companies include:

There are probably more companies as well but these are the main four. I made the trip with Mash Bus. I was happy with the service. Their buses are new and comfortable. The service is safe and reliable. I can recommend them. 

Where To buy Bus Tickets In Nairobi

Nairobi doesn’t really have a central bus station. Each company has an office where you buy your ticket and catch the bus. Unfortunately, these offices are located all over the city. Most are found within the CBD. Some are in Eastleigh. It is possible to walk around a bit and check pricing and departure times because most offices are within the same general area.

For the exact location of the ticket offices either click the following Google Maps links or copy and paste the plus code into Google Maps.

You can get to the bus ticketing office in Nairobi by taxi, Uber, matatu shared bus, or on foot if you’re staying downtown.

Where to Buy Bus Tickets in Kampala

All of the bus ticket offices are conveniently located in the same general area on De Winton Street in central Kampala. When you go to buy your ticket, you can easily check the departure times and prices for each of the following companies and choose the most convenient and best value bus.

For the exact location of the ticket offices either click the following Google Maps links or copy and paste the plus code into Google Maps.

You can get to the bus ticketing office in Kampala by taxi, boda boda motorcycle taxi, rideshare, or on foot.

Bus Ticket Prices Between Nairobi and Kampala

The average price for this trip is about $20-$25 depending on the company and class that you choose. The more expensive buses offer air conditioning. VIP seats are also available. These seats are larger and recline further which makes sleeping a bit easier.

The air-conditioned version of MASH bus is called MASH COOL. The non AC bus is called MASH POA.

Nairobi to Kampala Busses

Mash Bus offers this route two times every day. One leaves at 5:00 pm and one leaves at 6:30 pm. There are 3 ticket options for the 5 pm MASH POA bus:

  • VIP class costs 2,600 KES
  • Business class costs 2,400 KES
  • Regular economy class costs 2000 KES.

There are 2 ticket options for the 6:30 pm MASH COOL bus.

  • VIP class costs 3,500 KES
  • Business class costs 2,500 KES.

I went with business class on the 6:30 pm bus. All of the seats looked exactly the same to me. I don’t know if different classes actually exist or they are just trying to upsell tickets for more money. Who knows? Next time, I’d just buy an economy class ticket. 

I went with business class on the 6:30 pm bus. All of the seats looked exactly the same to me. I don’t know if different classes actually exist or they are just trying to upsell tickets for more money. Who knows? Next time, I’d just buy an economy class ticket. 

Facilities and Bathrooms on the Bus

Most of the buses don’t have bathrooms. The drivers don’t make many bathroom stops either. Sometimes only once every 6 hours or so. I recommend you try to limit your liquid intake during the ride. You may not have many opportunities to use the bathroom after the journey gets started.

Most of the buses have electrical outlets for charging your devices. In my experience, these usually don’t work. If you want to use your phone during the trip, consider bringing a power bank. 

Arriving in Kampala

The bus arrived at around 7 am. We sat in traffic for a couple of hours before making it to the center of the city. The Mash Bus station is located on De Winton Street kind of near Said Barre Avenue.

It is just a block off Jinja Road which is a main road in Kampala. From there, minibusses and taxis are available which can take you anywhere in the city or if your destination is in the city center, you can just walk. You’ll also find ATMs, restaurants, and hotels within walking distance of the bus station. 

Arriving in Nairobi

The bus will drop you off in the CBD. If you’re arriving early in the morning or late at night, you’ll probably want to take a taxi or Uber to your hotel or hostel. The area isn’t particularly dangerous but it’s probably best not to walk around with all of your travel gear just in case. Within walking distance of the bus stations, you can find ATMs and restaurants. 

What to Expect Traveling from Nairobi to Kampala by Bus: My Experience

The bus leaves from the same place you bought the ticket. Most bus companies offer a small waiting room where you can sit if you arrive early. I recommend you just camp out in there until the bus arrives as the street is quite busy with people who will try to sell you stuff or potentially run scams.

If someone on the street approaches you and tries to tell you that the tickets are sold out, don’t believe them. Go into the ticketing office and see for yourself. These guys are just trying to sell you a ticket on a lower class bus and earn a commission. 

The buses I rode was air-conditioned and was overall in decent condition. It was surprisingly comfortable. You may want to bring a sweatshirt as the AC got cold at night. It was probably one of the best buses that I rode in Africa.

The bus left Nairobi on time and Arrived in Kampala at around 7 the following morning. It was around a 12-hour ride from Nairobi to Kampala.

Final Thoughts- Nairobi to Kampala by Bus

Overall this trip is pretty hassle-free and comfortable by African bus standards. The bus was in good condition, had AC, and arrived on time. Everyone I encountered along the way acted professionally including the immigration officials and bus company employees. 

If you’re trying to decide between flying and taking the bus, I recommend you save the money and take the bus. Flying between the two cities will cost $200-$300. The bus ticket costs as little as $20

Fela Kuti: The Birthplace of Afrobeat and Its Revolutionary Impact

Introduction:

Fela Kuti, the legendary Nigerian musician and activist, holds a prominent place in the history of music and social change. Known as the pioneer of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti revolutionized the music scene with his unique fusion of traditional African rhythms, jazz, funk, and highlife music. In this article, we explore why Fela Kuti is considered the birthplace of Afrobeat and delve into the groundbreaking elements that define this influential genre.

The Cultural Landscape of 1970s Nigeria:

To understand Fela Kuti’s role as the birthplace of Afrobeat, it is crucial to consider the sociopolitical context of 1970s Nigeria. Nigeria had just gained independence from colonial rule, and the nation was grappling with complex challenges of corruption, political instability, and social inequality. Against this backdrop, Fela Kuti emerged as a revolutionary force, using his music as a platform to address these pressing issues.

The Fusion of Musical Influences:

Fela Kuti’s genius lay in his ability to blend diverse musical influences into a cohesive and distinctive sound. Drawing inspiration from traditional West African music, jazz, and American funk, he created a fusion that was uniquely Nigerian and yet resonated with global audiences. By infusing intricate African rhythms with elements of Western music, Fela Kuti pioneered a genre that transcended cultural boundaries and became the sound of resistance and liberation.

The Birth of Afrobeat:

Fela Kuti’s creation of Afrobeat can be traced back to his experiences in the United States during the late 1960s. While studying music in Los Angeles, he was exposed to the works of prominent African-American musicians, such as James Brown and Miles Davis. These encounters inspired him to incorporate the soulful energy of funk and jazz into his music, while staying true to his African roots.

Political Commentary and Activism:

What sets Afrobeat apart from other genres is its potent blend of music and activism. Fela Kuti used his lyrics as a powerful tool to criticize political corruption, advocate for human rights, and denounce social injustice. Through songs like “Zombie,” “Sorrow, Tears, and Blood,” and “Gentleman,” he fearlessly spoke truth to power, challenging oppressive regimes and calling for societal change. Fela Kuti’s lyrics and performances served as a rallying cry for Nigerians and Africans across the continent who yearned for liberation and equality.

Legacy and Global Influence:

Fela Kuti’s impact extends far beyond Nigeria’s borders. His music and message resonated with people worldwide, particularly those who had experienced or were fighting against social and political oppression. Afrobeat, with its infectious grooves and thought-provoking lyrics, became a voice of resistance and a symbol of cultural identity for marginalized communities. Today, artists from diverse backgrounds continue to be inspired by Fela Kuti’s legacy, incorporating Afrobeat elements into their music and carrying forward his message of social consciousness.

Conclusion:

Fela Kuti’s status as the birthplace of Afrobeat is a testament to his artistic genius, musical innovation, and unwavering commitment to social change. By fusing traditional African rhythms with global influences, he created a genre that transcended borders and became a powerful vehicle for activism and cultural expression. Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat legacy continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, reminding us of the transformative power of music in challenging injustice and shaping a better future.

Msc Orchestra
The MSC Orchestra: A Perfect Blend of Modernity and Culture

From bustling cities with towering skyscrapers to traditional housing in remote areas, Africa is home to a vibrant mix of old and new, tradition and modernity. Nowhere is this more evident than on board the MSC Orchestra, South Africa’s largest and most advanced cruise ship. 

As one of the largest and most advanced cruise ships in South Africa, the MSC Orchestra is a true marvel of modern engineering. From its state-of-the-art amenities and luxurious accommodations to its dazzling entertainment and dining options, the ship is a beacon of sophistication and elegance. But beyond its impressive features and amenities, the MSC Orchestra also represents a unique fusion of modernity and tradition, where Africa’s rich cultural heritage is celebrated and cherished.

One of the highlights of the MSC Orchestra is its African-inspired décor, which pays tribute to the continent’s vibrant and diverse culture. The ship’s interiors feature a blend of contemporary and traditional elements, with intricate wood carvings, tribal motifs, and African art adorning the walls and public spaces. The result is a warm and inviting atmosphere that reflects the spirit of Africa.

Msc cruise ship cabin

In addition to its cultural décor, the MSC Orchestra also offers a range of activities and experiences that showcase Africa’s unique heritage. Guests can enjoy African-themed performances and live music, sample traditional African cuisine, and participate in cultural workshops and events. 

Of course, the MSC Orchestra also boasts all the modern amenities and conveniences that guests expect from a luxury cruise ship. From its world-class dining options to its top-of-the-line spa and fitness facilities, the ship offers a truly indulgent experience. Guests can choose from a variety of staterooms and suites, each designed with comfort and style in mind. 

Overall, the MSC Orchestra offers a remarkable blend of contemporary luxury and traditional culture, providing a unique and unforgettable cruise experience. Whether you’re seeking luxury and indulgence, cultural enrichment, or a little bit of both, the MSC Orchestra is the perfect choice for your next cruise adventure!