 Good morning to you and happy new year. It's 20 to 24 and we are so excited to be here today after a long break. I hope you've missed us as much as we've missed you. Yes, in case you're just joining us, you're new. My name is Stephanie Ayeta and this is why in the morning the hottest breakfast show in town and the hashtag that we usually use is 1 in the morning at Y254 channel. My personal handle is at Stephanie Ayeta and as I said, I am not alone. I'm joined by two incredible people that you have missed. Let's start with Valentine. I hope you hear a rumor or something. Did you see her on the news and Stephanie is a newsmaker, by the way. Trophy. Congratulations to the Gamer Coffee Barn. Congratulations. I expected her to highlight. You know, I'm on a one-guard journalist. I won winning. Happy new year. But you didn't. She's humble. Let us toot her horn for her. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you for everyone who voted for me. I really, really appreciate it because of you that I won the Media Posteriority of the year last year to 2023 December. And we need to do better this year. And thanks to these amazing people that I also work with. So guys, you're the best. Thank you. In short, you're an award. You should change your title. Like if I was you, that would be everywhere. Award-winning. And then I test people at Google Updates. You know, when people type your name. An award-winning journalist from Nairobi, Kenya. And those people who hated me, you see where you can see now. You see where you can see. Wow. That's incredible. That's big. That's not something small. Clearly, we can see what's going to happen. And we are so proud of you. Personally, I'm so proud of you. And I know so many people. Actually, I was actually, there's a place where I shared and I'll show you some of the conversations and they even gave me feedback to vote for you. I'm so proud of you. And personally, I feel inspired as well. It's so humbling. Thank you. Where is the word? Where is it? I didn't get it. No, Aki. I didn't get it. I didn't get it. I didn't get it. One knows the story. But anyway, we will carry the award. It's a letter to all the workers. Tomorrow, we will have it here. We will have it here because it's our win. How do you volunteer? Sorry, just on that same note, let me just congratulate Nick, the president, who is the organizer of the actual family series. So this was the edition four last year, 2023. Yes, so I happened to be on the team. So I see a lot of amazing things and sacrifices that he makes. So thank you so very much to everyone who is a member of that particular committee. Congratulations for your job well done. My name is Valentine, we're at Kalamiva on everything and Minas Keapua. Sineos like you, Steph, but Ndafikaapua to Sai Sai Sai. Yes, Sakwa, on to your studio. Alright, happy new year everyone. We are so happy to be here from the awards to now being back. I think 2024 is going to be a banger. And like we always say, be ready for an amazing ride. Today being our first live show for the morning. By morning it really means a lot. It's actually page one of 2024 for RSC, especially wide in the morning crew. And I'm glad that we are back, both of us. It's definitely bound to be an incredible journey. And last year was really incredible as well. Some of the things we did out here on this show is to us, I think towards mid-December, it was my birthday and I really received a lot of love. How did that go by the way? I wanted to celebrate my birthday for the first time. You did? Yes, I did. Where, what did you do? Well, there's a couple of friends and some of my family who took me out. And then we made a cake. And then there's a birthday surprise as well. So I didn't expect all that because somehow used to hit birthdays. But this time round I received that affirmation of finally celebrating my birthday. I didn't go out at a club or at a social event, but we went out to an eatery, had the cake, and it was just a celebration. That's my favorite kind. That's my favorite kind. Yeah, those chicken kumbuk and agal. Hey! I'm a Zoom. Yeah, so it was really incredible. We also had one of the guys from Saoutisar who came here to perform for us. And also perform for me for the birthday. He's an instrumentalist on the team. He's a good friend called Ricky. I think we did a Christmas recording with him. He came here? Yes, yes, yes, in one of my episodes. Probably it aired during Christmas Day, I don't know, hopefully it did. So that was my highlight for the show as we ended last year. And I'm so happy we are here again 2024. Yes, a couple of weeks in between. And good to see you two guys as well. You still look powerful and positive. Thank you so much for inviting me to work. Guys, come on. So far, I can't see the cheekbones. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. We will revise this story. Thank you so much for your credit where it's due. Alright. Thank you very much. Alright. Thank you so much for coming to 2024. From me, Sakwa, to you and the team behind the scenes as well. Happy New Year. When you're back on Christmas Street, let's talk about it. Okay. Yeah. Now, I'm going to check up on you. So, we have the decorations. I've seen you. How was your Christmas first of season? My Christmas. I think... Okay, how was your Christmas? My Christmas was awesome. I've honestly had, I think, the best holiday from December. I think it's the best holiday. I think it's the best holiday. I think it's the best holiday. Anyway, continue. Yeah, I enjoyed it. Since day one. Oh, it's the best holiday. I've been on holiday. Okay. Yeah. So, I've been on holiday. I've really enjoyed it. The first of season was incredible. I had family over Christmas. We had family and we celebrated together. For us, we usually are Christmas. You know how when your sisters are married, we celebrate together. So now, our tradition is they usually come to us. We are that close with our in-laws. So, whether my sisters are there or not, they come. So, yeah, some of my sisters are there. My in-laws came. My parents are there. My, you know, everyone who was there came. We started cooking in the morning. We would do it because we have... How Africans would do it? We would eat around three. What? No Christmas in Africa. So, we were cooking breakfast. We would dance and all that stuff. We would go to the Jingle Bell. And then, you know, he would give us something to eat. Now, we started enjoying Christmas. We would eat, take photos. We had a good time. We were crossing over the year into the new year. It wasn't much for me, really. But, yeah, I'm still grateful, you know? Seeing the new year as a big thing, 2024, who would have thought? I know. Yeah, so, thank God for that. How was your festivity? Who, eh? My December started off... I was thinking smart, guys. By the time I was finishing doing in-year leave, I was just... I couldn't wait to go to Kyrgyzstan. They were like, I can't take this anymore! That's how it felt. That's how it felt. Eh, eh, I could not wait for that. So, I spent a couple... I really... Usually, okay, not usually, but if I'm not working over the holidays, I go, I travel to see my grandmother. But... So, I couldn't really travel, but it was amazing. Things just kind of happened. I was afraid I was not going to wake up, by the way. But we're here. It's been too long. It's been too long. It's been too long. SOS, I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed. Guys, I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed. And you never really saw how. When you're not going to take a moment. No, it's easy. And I'm not going to complain. It's okay. It is fine. But it was quite something. Yes, it was outside my norm, and it was amazing. Awesome. So, I get that. All of us had a good time. Yes. Actually, towards the end of last year, I kept on telling, because at some point I was hosting all alone, and it was I and Grace, so we were alternating. So, I kept on telling guys, our main, the vacation. And Steph, it's true. Steph, I look for a vacation. Because it's a deep vacation. And then, finally, Val disappeared. So, I was like the predominant host. And until Pidoga Pidoga, then Steph Ocarudia, I think two weeks later. So, I was like, I was a common figure on this show. But last year was also incredible for me. I think I also traveled just to Dogon then. But Christmas found me in the city. I did not live in Nairobi. So, I was in and out. But I'm married to see some two, three people that I've never seen in like years. And it was nice reconnecting. You know, some of those people in your family are like, they're telling you that. And I used to say this to your mother. Yeah. And that time, you were a goober. You're not even aware of what was going on. So, it was really incredible to see. It was nice to see those two. I was like, oh, I am going to die for you. Oh my goodness. We're the aunts and uncles now. We are the aunts and uncles now. You're just going to be a die for us. We are not ours. Napkin. But now, we're the ones. We want to pay him. Oh. I am going to pay him. I want to pay him. I'm not a diaper. What's the difference? The other one can be recycled or the other one is not. We forgive you. Shout out to all the mothers. That's 2024. What was your highlight, by the way, for that year? I remember in one of the morning episodes we did a recording where we talked about the things that made a mark individually to my guests and also in the political sphere and in the entertainment and sports as well. So what was used that actually caught your attention as media personalities as well as just common people. Wow, that's a tough one. What did you say for you? I was doing an interview. So what was your take? I had a nice time sitting behind and asking the questions and waiting for them. Actually for me there was a lot that actually caught my eye especially individually for me. Before I get spiritual, I just say being aware, being mentally and spiritually aware. For a very long time I hadn't thought of considering myself like getting grounded in God. And I think last year was a time that I found that you just need to get grounded. And that is like expressing my spiritual part of me. I connect a lot with my pastors. There's a youth group at our church where I attend and I'm part of the youth lead or something. You know those things that later on lead to being MCA or governor. So it's your church? No way. Not exactly though, but just being part of that crew of people who are spiritual, they attend services, they pray, they fast. That's the biggest highlight for me. I had never done that like deeply. So last year I managed to actually heart that and I will maintain. So the spiritual part of me was actually the biggest. And then journalism-wise, was there any strong personality that I interviewed that I feel was a highlight? Yeah, making friends with Tracy Wangeer, she's a former NTVT in Republic host. We actually connected after so many years like I had met some way back. She accepted to come on the show and just support me. So that was incredible for me, especially for entrepreneurship use. There were sometimes a host, afterless and personal. So that was like some of the two highlights. The other one that made international headlines I think was when King Charles, is it King Charles and Queen Elizabeth when they visited, I think that was a good one. You actually shared. Exactly. Even though I'm too big, I was very close. Absolutely. That one also caught my eye. And I remember at some point was having a conversation with Marie Ambo. She's one of them. I think you guys know her. Shout out since I've mentioned her. We argued about stories of Africans feeling that their colonizers need to apologize to them for their atrocities they committed. And then I remember Marie telling me, yeah, Africans actually should demand that, but the person she was with also said, no, right now you guys are able, you are on your feet, no need to demand for an apology from the people who actually gave you an education, English. They claimed they gave us English, education system, political systems. That's what the Britons claimed they did. So that was incredible. It actually caught my eye. We are still resentful to white people till today. I mean, well, it's what they did to us, but we also have a lot of racist still now, but not many are racist. I think the population, the majority of the population have accepted that blacks, Africans are just like them and people are truly appreciate us until you go to some countries that are very racist. I've heard at least. So, well, I mean, we'll get there when we get there. We'll forgive them, but we are just healing as a country. We are healing. Yeah. So what was your highlight, Val? I was hoping you were going to go on. I was hoping you were going to go on. I was hoping you were going to go on. I don't know. When Saka was talking, I kept having flashbacks of by the way to listen to music first, by the way to listen to music first, but I've just been remembering how all these amazing times that I have had at, yeah, yes, but the highlight at one particular guest, I don't know, but I have met a lot of beautiful people this, eh, this year then, last year. Yeah, people are still connected. See, right? See, like, see at it, nonana, nonana Maswali, by C.U. Spenreal, we're still actually communicating. Yeah, so that was kind of cool. As a person, eh, see, do we wanna? I don't know, it's just been a really was a really good year, I guess. Not without its downs, but the ups were good. Okay. It's pretty nice. So I'm lost now, I don't know, to work on my highlights, to answer now, what? You know, Stefa's for me to mean to Stefa Kona PDF, to ask him that I have a PowerPoint presentation. At need time, she has. I'll be dropping them gems here. One by one. If anything, my 2024 has been bittersweet. 2023. 2023. Oh, oh, guy. This is the one I want. The one I want. Before, we were just... Yeah, mix up, but my 2023 was a mix of everything. Bittersweet, so the year started off pretty well. I woke up to Kati, it went pretty bad, I got to my lowest, when I lost my friend. And then, at the very end, then it's it's hit some highs, you know. I got I got the media personality of the year, that's fine. I got, I got, what did I get? I got to, to go to COP28. In Dubai. In Dubai, in Dubai. She told you, she told you, she told you, if Steph goes humble, I go proud. I'm here to drop. I don't want to be so jazzed. All right. So, yeah. I went to COP28 to target us, such an amazing international platform. Seeing what countries are doing in terms of managing the climate change, the efforts that are being put in, the different industry, different sectors, my highlight and that was what Saudi Arabia was doing. I can't start explaining, but they're doing some awesome stuff. You should check out Saudi Arabia initiatives. Saudi Arabia initiative, yes. They're doing amazing stuff. Dubai is doing great. You know, when you see the countries that have deserts, they're more like the better part of them are deserts. They're doing so much, so much in terms of managing climate change. Although Dubai, we can argue that, you know, with oil it's not so much, you know, good for the climate, but there's a lot that they're also doing. Different countries interact with different people. You get to see their perspective on life, not just climate change. So that was also quite a highlight and Kula McDonald's for the first time. Oh my goodness. See, now she's also dropping. Let me tell you. Let me tell you, McDonald's are the bomb. Just teach Kula McDonald's. I was wondering, why are they in Kenya? They're in the same country. I was wondering, why are McDonald's in the same country? I don't know, bro. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. McDonald's are the chicken. It's called that kind of package. But it's very nice. Very interesting. I had a lot of first time tryouts. The Arab food, the Masao that I forgot most of the things. How dare you. How dare you forget still. This whole week is for recapping. But I have it on my socials. When I was there, I was posting. Oh. You're not ready. We're not ready. We better. But how is the climate? The temperatures are here, they're like way up there. Yeah, so interestingly in Dubai, when I went, it was December. So December was winter. The winter is our normal kawaiida weather here. Only a little bit much. Wow. Not too much coast, but we have coast. Like the winter is like coast. Yeah, yeah. The good thing about it is I, everywhere there is a sea. You can find the metro buses A.C. When you go to the malls, A.C. So you can see the water. And then when you're outside, you can enjoy some hot heat. You love it. So I was, apparently when I went it was the good time of the year to go because it's winter and still hot but it's not hot. So we're just working around. Without any stress. But when you go around June July. Summer. So I think you're supposed to visit when it's good. And then one thing about Dubai also, it's coming together of different countries. So to turn and to turn in Arabic. Arabic is very rich there. And they Arab money for a reason. They protect their own. They are a country that loves their own. Before you get a citizenship in an Arab country we'll have to have married an Arab person. And before you marry an Arab person it is one something. It's hard. It's really hard. I'm not saying nothing. Come on, come on. I'm not saying nothing. So you get to meet everyone different countries Pakistan Ireland people from US Indians My God. It's amazing. Indian food is also good. And then when you think Dubai is all very good and beautiful. There are places that are not so much beautiful. There are places that are not so much beautiful. So there's a place it's called Deira. So Deira is a place for shopping. It's only a little bit worse in terms of how you would let me take you to some Gushi bags. Gushi bags are fake bags. They have fake Gushi stores Gushi. They have fake Gushi bags. And most of them are Nigerians. They don't have papers. So what they do is they want to promote the shops that are there. Basically what happens in Kenya also what we are inviting is stalls and stuff. So that's what they do in Dubai It doesn't look like Dubai that side. Downtown. Dubai looks like Dubai. But yeah it was actually nice. The infrastructure is perfect. The architecture out of this world they have amazing stuff. They are really invested. There are places of adventure, fun, really awesome. So I really recommend it. Refu. Sibuji. If you are connected to Dubai mall Dubai mall is the largest mall. The mall is big. Dubai is very tall. And then in Dubai mall there is a journey from around 7. Some dancing fountains. It's beautiful. If you remember me next to you. It's so beautiful. The scenes there. The fountains there are also buildings. Yeah it's beautiful. I happen to watch the Christmas. Is it the New Year's Lighting? They are comparing it to the I think it is something else. We are trying. When you compare the lighting of the New York City we are trying to contrast and compare the Christmas lighting and the facility. Wow. Kenya we still have a lot to do. But at the end of the day it's still lighting anyways. It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything much. It's just marking the New Year with color and poem. Shout out to Kenya. We are trying. Kenya my country. My motherland. Speak about life. It's also a city of life. Right. Right from the sky you see life everywhere. The nightlife is so alive. It will be 3 a.m. in Akanikama it's 7 a.m. The city is so alive. It's so amazing. It's so amazing. It has so much. We are so respectful. I think there are a lot of Filipinos. The number of times I've been called to come. I'm not a right. We should step up by that. Could you say Rihanna and Moutu? Rihanna. Everyone who is black and beautiful is Rihanna. Rihanna. We will revisit next year. Why are you talking about such a fetish? I am not. So what do you dream of this nation? What is your dream of this nation? I hold it in this nation country. Even Kenya anyway. Where? My dream to stay. For the longest time I have been in Maldives. I have been in Maldives. I know. But I have also seen when I was in Dubai I used to have a backstate here. I used to have a backstate in Maldives. So I went to Maswali. But anyway with beautiful water. But anyway with beautiful water. I think I also love Maldives. One day. I think I like Bahamas. But in East Africa and in Tecaconda there is Zanzibar. Here they have very good sandy beaches. And beach E-A-C-E-H-E-S. Please. We got it. Exactly. That was very clear. There is this beach in Kostine. I think it was being cleaned recently. But I managed to see one of my friends who was there during the holidays. I will remember them. There are so many places in Kenya. You might think you have been everywhere. But you have not. I would like to be at the place. I will find out. In Kost. For follow-up altruism Kost is great. South Kost. Diani. Diani has been there before. Many times. It's boring for me. I think Diani to me is boring. Different experiences for different people. Yes. For me, Diani is good. For me, Niali is good. I think most of the places I have visited are in the coastal region. I have gone to Kunda as well. Do you live in Shakahola? Shakahola? No. Do they have a beach? Altruism. It's a beach. Actually, the main reason a lot of people go to the Kost is to enjoy the sandy beaches and the water. It's hot. The Kost is hot. But the good thing about it if you stay in water that's it. Did you manage to visit the sands in Dubai? What are they called? That's the one place I did not go to. Time ran out. Time ran out. They are revisiting. This year, for me, we have to spare some. We revisit that. Away from that. Welcome back to Kenya. Welcome back to Kenya. What stood out for you? Politically, the political thing last year for me it was Mandamano. Mandamano because not because of the bad thing that happened because people lost lives and that's the sad bit of it. But the fact that we could see the opposition active and fighting for people's rights and they came to an agreement and then later on some people not for Mandamano think people actually call for Mandamano wanting Mandamano even now it's something that I don't know it's something that has stood out because people have seen the hardships that is there actually and I think if people were to go for Mandamano again or that I'm calling for it it will be a peaceful one because now it's the same cause because we want to actually spoil businesses and the other downsides of Mandamano but yeah they think only one of the things that stood out last year I don't know if this is very okay I don't know if I'm going to learn with your question but things that have stood out for me in the country is seeing the current president always very ready to talk to the media that's not something I've experienced before See, I'm the owner of water I have not been alive for all of them but that stood out for me also how a country a whole country not once not twice three times had the airport the protest team that stood out for me this one bothered me the implementation of the housing levy that actually just developed into many other mini taxes and now we have like 10 taxes that have been implemented some of them are being fought it was crazy for me and that affected everyone who is in the employment sector especially if you have a contract and you're paying an HIF and NSSF and the rest I think right now you can just call it a statutory deduction cause it's now mandatory so that one was so annoying for me personally I don't know about you and the rest but yeah you can express I think it was so annoying because the little that you get now it's deducted like three times and remember you have needs you have things to cater for you have to show up as well so that was annoying for me 2020 before the year ended there was also a lot of things that happened in between I remember there was a scandal that TDJX was involved in and it went viral it actually shook me by surprise Oprah Winfrey launched another episode of the Kala Papu the Kala Papu it's a movie you should watch it's intense boy go prepared please go watch it called Kala Papu it means something but they did it the first I think in the late 2000s and then they now have another new edition and it has now this new faces of Hollywood who some of them are singers and just syndicated people in media and entertainment in general at some point she was mentioned into something but I remember in one of the recordings we did we were actually trying to argue with the guest maybe it's also time that people start speaking up and we saw so many people that were sexually abused coming up to file for lawsuits including the R&B star Cassie Ventura who used to follow way way back when I was a kid she actually created a movement to come up and speak up on sexual abuse while they were building their careers in Hollywood and the people that were mentioned the names were heartbreaking from the rest of Tyler Perry's to the rest of the grids that you know in Hollywood to PDD and the rest of that is also shocking and then I just think this week no last week ending there's an Alaska airplane that was taking off from Oregon and one of the windows blew out and passengers were holding their hearts in their hands here and it was a big story but they survived 171 passengers on board with a blown out window you can imagine the pressure in the air, 20 minutes in to take off you can imagine you are up there everybody was holding their hearts in their hands but the good news is everybody was holding their hearts in their hands but the good news is everybody survived apart from I think it was a kid who the shot was blown away you can imagine the pressure it's your reaction the pressure the pressure that was really shocking really shocking just as we ended the year so many things started happening to never saw I mean that's something I didn't hear about that I'm only imagining how scary that experience is it was scary to see the story headlining it headlining it and I was like dear me there's a story of was it the attendant the hostess who was blown out completely from an airplane you know a similar one to that one and then so everybody was there apart from her and then it was discovered that she was blown out I think she was in the ocean if I'm not wrong I'm not wrong and it's scary when you get to that so the machines were there and it's only got that's how we play before we move that's why we move anywhere I remember my grandma praying and she used to say that a lot one end up to me a garrie and I wonder if there's anyone who knows how to read I think every parent that's a powerful prayer I'll never forget wow it's true and in the plane it's just too much pressure for many months 16,000 feet above the sky and the plane itself is a pressure machine so everywhere there's pressure now outside pressure coming to you directly so in that plane what happened everybody was given a breathing machine so if you check out the clip I think I was checking the CNN Highlight they showed every passenger was given a breathing machine so you have to hold on to it you'll check out it about tragedy even on Al Jazeera like our machines being dropped from the roof too so that was scary and it's a blessing that everyone survived everyone survived 20 minutes into takeoff you say you'll never use the plane again and you say you'll never use the plane again I will never do any wrong I will never use the plane again I will never do any wrong I will never do any wrong I will never use the plane again I'll be nicer to Nani I will be nicer to Nani you'll be nicer to Nani you'll be nicer to Nani you'll be nicer to Nani you'll be nicer to Nani but also in Lantra as we wrap it up the power of technology from that because the passengers seated in the CNN Highlight the journalists were delighted the passengers who sit next to the window did not turn up to see it did not turn up to travel so the seat that that was next to the window that was blown away was actually empty mm-hmm yeah wow so it's it's miraculous and mysterious how just that happened you know one of those things you're supposed to travel at 10 and then you you got stuck on traffic so you've the flight took off one of those anyway now uh we'll come to talk about um oh i don't know if we'll get into politics or our new year resolutions so probably new year resolutions before it gets to politics we're taking a short break we'll be right back remember the hashtag is what in the morning