Sh16 million Big Brother hunt starts Friday

By Stevens Muendo

You might have heard that the new season of Mnet-sponsored continental reality TV show, Big Brother Africa (BBA) will start in September.

The Kenyan auditions will take place on Friday and Saturday at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) before moving to Mombasa’s Aga Khan Hall on Sunday. This is the first time the auditions will be done outside Nairobi. It is also the first time that participants will not be required to carry a Kenyan passport.

"We want to get as many participants as possible and that is why our search has gone beyond Nairobi. That way, we believe we will get a strong contestant to represent the country," said Stella Ondimu.

No pASSPORT

"It’s time people stopped looking at Big Brother auditions as a reserve for the elite, crazy and wild. If the eventual winner does not have a passport, then they can have one processed before September," said our source.

The casting will be held on a first come, first served basis. To qualify for entry, one must be over 21, fluent in English and a Kenyan citizen. The qualifier will then head into a revolutionised Big Brother Africa house on September 6.

It was a world-first when Mnet launched BBA on DStv, the first continental Big Brother ever to be screened. The big news about the new season is that prize money has been doubled and now stands at a phenomenal $200 000 (Sh16 million).

In addition, the old rules banning conspiracy in the house have been lifted and contestants will be free to forge alliances, discuss strategy openly and play the game in an entirely different way.

Even voting is set to undergo a transformation. This year, audiences will be asked to vote for the housemates they want to see remain in the series rather than the housemates they want to see leave the house.