Vroom Issue 1: the Launch Issue

Lifestyle

Issue 1. September 2018

free copy

CAR REVIEW VW Amarok

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE Roadtrip to Kisumu

RESTAURANT REVIEW A Taste of France

FAC I A L T I S S U E

Designer accessories for every ride

AVAILABLE AT ALL LEADING RETAIL OUTLETS COUNTRYWIDE

Publisher’s Note

W

e’re delighted to bring you the launch issue of Vroom.

It is a great honour to finally present to you this magazine, which started out as just an idea, and is now a reality.

Vroom is all about YOU, and YOUR car/s, and the stuff you’re into. It is the only free distribution auto/lifestyle magazine in Kenya which brings you original and unique coverage of motoring events, test-driven car reviews written by enthusiastic and experienced reviewers, and plenty of lifestyle content to keep you entertained and informed.

Vroom is brought to by SaveKubwa, an aggregator of motor insurance online.

Through its website www.savekubwa.com, the company helps you compare and find the best motor insurance quote which you can then purchase...all without leaving the comfort of your home! It is our greatest intention to make the process of finding motor insurance as easy as possible by bringing transparency, efficiency and education to the industry.

We’re looking to partner with businesses, especially those in the automotive industry.

We offer competitive advertising rates, have a classified section for smaller businesses, and we’re in the process of creating a vibrant online community of motoring enthusiasts. If you’re looking to partner with us, drop us a line and we’ll get back to you promptly.

Vroom operates on a free distribution model. It will be given out in malls (in Nairobi and Mombasa), in rush-hour traffic, in motoring events, and other motor-related outlets. If you own or run a business/event with which we can partner on this, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Enjoy your copy of the magazine.

Regards, Sagar Shah Publisher

PUBLISHER: Savekubwa

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Pauline Muindi

DESIGN AND LAYOUT: Alexander Ngaira

WRITERS: Joe Murai Steve Mbuthi Mark Muhoro Cash Mandi Feizal Ahmed Winnie Okoth Thorn Mulli Charles Chanchori

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Naomi Ng’ang’a

special consultant Baraza JM

Get published!

Would you like to be published

by Vroom? We are accepting submissions of both articles and photographs for our next issue. Email Vroom editor at paulinemuindi@ gmail.com and copy the publisher sagar@savekubwa.com

Editor’s note

I

’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Launch Edition of Vroom magazine! Like the name suggests, Vroom is the premier Kenyan lifestyle magazine with a unique focus on everything automotive.

In this issue, we took a look at SUVs-which are growing in popularity among car lovers.

SUVs are the new “cool” as they have extra capability, extra ground clearance, and brawny, expressive styling. But one quality will make SUVs an excellent purchase for anyone: the great performance. Even basic, entry level SUVs are exciting to drive.

Cash Mandi, one of our reviewers, went down to South Africa to test-drive an SUV that will especially delight female driversthe Jaguar E-pace (also fondly known as “The Cub”). Steve Mbuthi tested the MU-X, ISUZU’s new offering in the SUV market.

At Vroom, we’re always on the hunt for a new adventure. Thorn Mulli took a testdriving trip to the port city of Kisumu. Find out which car he drove and its performance on the road, where he stayed in Kisumu, and the highlights of his trip. We also featured The Great Run, an annual motoring event which combines fun and philanthropy.

If you are a new car owner, you’ll be excited with our DIY section where we give you a 101 guide on battery maintenance. You will also learn more about getting the best insurance for your car. Talking about insurance, Vroom is an off-shoot of Save Kubwa- a website and app which allows you to compare different motor insurance offerings in the Kenyan market. Go to www.savekubwa.com to learn more.

In our other pages, we bring you features on lifestyle topics such as health and fitness, decor, and technology. I hope you thoroughly enjoy reading our debut issue. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Yours truly, Pauline Muindi Editor-in-chief

4.

table of contents

8 MOTORING NEWS-

Round-up of what’s up in the automotive industry

9 CAR REVIEW-

Double Diesel Clout- Meet the Amarok Double Cab Pickup

14 DIY CAR MAINTENANCEBattle of the Battery

18 TRAVEL-

Road trip to Kisumu Dala

22 RESTAURANT –

Le Grenier à Pain brings France to Nairobi

24 RECIPES-

BBQ Chicken Wings/ Carrot & Ginger Soup

26 TECH REVIEWGalaxy Note 9

27 COLUMNIST-

You Get What You Pay For

28 FITNESS-

Get a Kick-ass Anterior

32 MONEY ADVICE-

101 of Motor Insurance in Kenya

35 DECOR-

Invite the Outdoors In

36 MY TOYS-

Meet the Heartbreaker

38 LADY VIEW-

Driving Jaguar E-Pace in South Africa

For Advertising Enquiries please contact: vroom@savekubwa.com • sagar@savekubwa.com Tel (+254) 0732641705 • Tel (+254) 0729638151 Save Kubwa Nairobi, Kenya Tel (+254) 0732641705 • Tel (+254) 0729638151 The cover and content of VROOM Magazine are fully protected by Savekubwa and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in these pages are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of VROOM Magazine, Savekubwa or any of its advertisers and collaborators.

savekubwa

6.

@savekubwa

@savekubwakenya

Loved Cars, Love Us Your car has warning signs and you are sure something is amiss with either of its parts. So you head down to a fitment centre with all hopes of solving the problem. Sometimes you could be successful but sometimes you may not; either because you cannot get quality parts or worse off the repair shop lacks expertise to point out and solve the problem. In other instances, you go ahead and fix the problem but later find out the parts were too pricy compared to the market price. Such experiences can be very frustrating.

As a proudly East African company, AutoXpress is the market leader in the auto parts and accessories business with the largest chain of 40 wellequipped auto parts sales and fitment centres in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. AutoXpress has collaborated with the best in class suppliers from around the world to exceed expectations of customers seeking professional advice, high quality products, convenience and quick service at an affordable price. It represents some of the best-known global brands in the automotive sector ranging from Pirelli, Bridgestone and Goodyear in the tyre sector to Bosch, Ferodo, NGK and KYB in the auto parts and service sector.

In East Africa, consumers are becoming ever more sophisticated and are demanding better service, use of the latest technology and expecting products of the highest quality backed by warranties. By exceeding the expectations of these increasingly demanding customers, AutoXpress has world class fitment centres that are undoubtedly amongst the most modern and technically advanced facilities of its kind in the region. The fitment centres have fully equipped working bays, each one specializing in a particular product or service and are manned by a team of specialized technicians, trained on the latest technology, and equipped with the best tools and equipment.

AutoXpress carries the widest product range and the largest stocks in the region commanding a large share of the auto parts market specializing in tyres, wheels, batteries, suspension parts, lubricants, service parts and car accessories. It sells its products and services to a wide selection of customers ranging from retail motorists to dealers, garages, corporates, transporters, government and non-government organizations.

to its customers. Simba Corporation followed suit shortly thereafter by announcing a partnership with AutoXpress in 2016 thereby authorizing AutoXpress to service Mitsubishi and Fuso vehicles using genuine parts through its network. This year, AutoXpress has signed its partnership with Honda as an authorized parts and vehicle service dealer using Honda genuine parts.

In another first, in 2016, AutoXpress Limited in partnership with APA Insurance launched the XtraSure Tyre Damage Guarantee. This is a product that protects vehicle owners from paying for any unwarranted repairs or unplanned replacement of tyres damaged by road hazards. These include but are not limited to rocks, broken glass, nails, kerbs and potholes. XtraSure Tyre Damage Guarantee (XSTDG) covers all brands of passenger and SUV tyres that are purchased and fitted at any AutoXpress Fitment Centre across Kenya provided that the vehicle that the tyres are fitted on is used for private or personal use. This guarantee is free of charge for the first year and can be extended for a second year at a small cost.

AutoXpress Limited has been recognised as a Superbrand for the third time in 2017. However, this time round, it was ranked as the number one brand in the category of automotive - parts and accessories, a recognition of AutoXpress’ consistent delivery of exceptionally superior service hinged on the highest quality products and services delivered by highly trained industry professionals.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AutoXpress has grown its network presence within the four countries to bring its products and services closer to its customers. With already 40 branches under its belt and a strong plan to still grow its footprint, AutoXpress is highly likely to achieve its aim of having 60 branches by the end of 2020.

HISTORY AutoXpress boasts of a long and rich heritage – 60 years since its inception in Kisumu in 1958. It was founded by Mr. Gosar Raishi Shah and was initially known as Nyanza Petroleum Dealers to distribute products in the greater Nyanza Region for Ozo East Africa, a French oil company which was subsequently acquired by Total Oil. The greater Nyanza region in those days comprised of a large area that included everything west of Kedowa in Western Kenya, large areas of Eastern Uganda and the lake area of Northern Tanzania including the towns of Tarime and Shirati.

Over the years, the company grew tremendously increasing the range of products. Although it was initially incorporated to distribute only petroleum products, it added tyres (1965), batteries (1977), wheels (1998), suspension parts (2005), service parts (2014) and accessories (2014) to its product offering by partnering with world class automotive brands.

In addition to widening the product range that it offered, it ventured into many different geographies across East Africa from being present only in Kisumu in 1997 to having 40 branches across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda this year.

ACHIEVEMENTS Although AutoXpress started as a family business, in 2014, it sold a 36% stake to Actis, one of the largest private equity groups operating in Africa with almost $8 billion in funds invested across the emerging markets. The investment by Actis significantly increased the ability and appetite for AutoXpress to grow both organically and by acquisition.

On a different note, in 2015, AutoXpress was appointed by General Motors East Africa to be a parts and service operator enabling it to service Isuzu and Chevrolet vehicles in its network and also to offer genuine parts

BRAND VALUES While AutoXpress has grown tremendously over the last 60 years, its core values remain close to its heart and continue to form the foundation on which it conducts its business. Where you see the yellow, red and white AutoXpress logo, you can expect the following: • 1) Modern, fresh and clean facilities equipped with the very best tools and equipment • 2) Knowledgeable staff who are well trained and customer focused • 3) An ISO 9001:2015 certified organization • 4) Quality Products - It chooses its partners carefully to ensure that its customers receive the highest quality product at every price point • 5) Fair, transparent pricing and a warranty on everything that it sells, across all branches.

• 6) A good network of branches so that you don’t have to travel far for your vehicle to be looked after by AutoXpress • 7) Trust – it has been around for 60 years and has built a strong foundation for all partners, be it customers, suppliers or staff

motoring news

Revealed: 2019 BMW Series

BMW finally ended the tease and revealed the anticipated new 8Series ahead of Australian arrival in 2018. Being the second 8 Series in existence and the first in the 21st Century, the release is a big deal. It’s also the first without pop-up headlights. The 8Series is in keeping with the new BMW design language seen in the latest X2, X5, and upcoming X7.

Honda readies Pilot plug-in hybrid

Honda is creating a plug-in hybrid version of the Pilot crossover. This has been revealed by images from spy photographers. It will be the fourth electrified vehicle in the Honda lineup after the Accord, Clarity and Insight.

Kenyan solar-powered car

Revealed: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

The succession of new Aston Martin models continues with the introduction of the halo DB- the 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera.

Named using two of the Gaydon firm’s previous badges, the DBS Superleggera is set to be a ‘super-GT’ flagship for Aston. As its design would suggest, the DBS shares a platform with the DB11, as well as the bonded aluminium structure, but its body panels are carbon fibre and therefore 72kg lighter than on the DB11.A new ZF 8-speed automatic has a shorter final drive than the DB11. This means a 0-100km/h sprint in a brisk 3.4 seconds, and to 160km/h in 6.4 seconds. It’ll then soldier on to a top speed nudging 340km/h.

Lamborghini resurrects ’72 Miura SVR

One of the most iconic supercars cars ever built, the Lamborghini Miura, has been given a new lease of life! Only 763 of its kind were made, but the regular Miura isn’t the most exclusive example of the breed. That honour goes to the Miura SVR, which was created as a race evolution of the super-exclusive Miura SV Jota/SVJ. The SVR has a cult following thanks to its role in the Japanese manga Circuit Wolf, making it highly sought after by model car collectors. Just one of them was ever made.

It was sold to a Japanese customer, where it served as the model for the comic book and Kyosho toy version. The original conversion to SVR specification took 18 months of work and, according to Lamborghini, the modern restoration took 19 months. Engine and performance specifications weren't detailed, but we know the Miura SV Jota (and likely the SVR too) was powered by an upgraded version of the 'standard' Miura's 4.0-litre V12, allegedly tuned to deliver up to 440hp (328kW).

Digital number plates, anyone?

Traditional number plates are on their way out. That is, if an American company called River Auto’s idea of digital plates catches on. The digital number plates, called the Rplate, will not only display registration details- it will also make it easier to track cars, pay tolls, and even settle parking fees.

The traditional metal number plate dates back to 1893, when it was produced in Paris to comply with a local police ordinance.

8.

Samuel Karumbo, an innovator from Langas, Uasin Gishu County made the news in June 2018 with his solar-powered car. Karumbo, who holds a Diploma in Electrical Installation from the Kitale National Polytechnic, worked on the invention for four months by piecing together pieces of scrap metal. He hopes to showcase it next year at the annual Eldoret ASK Show and later commercialise it. The car can carry two people and exclusively uses solar energy to run. It can also charge mobile phones and provide home lighting.

UK dealer takes over Range Rover, Jaguar sales in Kenya

Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Kenya has been taken over by London-based car dealership, Inchcape Plc. This is after the luxury dealership bought out the operation from RMA Group, which has now exited the market. RMA is exiting the Kenyan market after five years, having taken over the JLR franchise from CMC Holdings in 2013.

Inchcape, which already sells JLR brands in the UK, will inherit the most valuable and one of the fastest-selling portfolios of luxury cars in Kenya including Ranger Rover and Jaguar models.

Volkswagen: Made in Rwanda

In June, Volkswagen launched their first car made in Rwanda. The German carmaker rolled off a Polo from its new assembly plant in Kigali, their fourth operation in Africa after South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Algeria. The Kigali factory will build Polo, Passat, Teramont, Tiguan and Amarok pickup models.

car reviews

DT Dobie turns up the volume with Volkswagen’s updated Amarok Double-Cab Pickup

W

hen DT Dobie announced that it had a new Amarok truck in their inventory, I am pretty sure a lot of us invited guests wondered what they were on about. What we were looking at looked exactly the same as what we had seen before?

So what was so new about it? Well, to tell the differences, we had to dig deeper.

The Updates

Double-

Diesel Clout

First off, the front fascia got new headlamps, are probably new air dams, but these were not immediately noticeable. The notables appeared just slightly behind the grille: the famous 2.0 litre diesel engine now comes with two turbochargers, instead of one.

Now, really keen followers of the doublecab segment would say “Hold on a minute, the previous car was also available with two turbos!”. Aah, but not at Dobie. Dobie only sold the single turbo model initially, and introduced the bi-turbo with the new/facelifted/updated/ whatever-you-want-to-callnew-headlamps model.

Behind the engine sits the gearbox and this too was refreshed. The automatic now comes with eight ratios that will not go into first unless you are really loading the engine.

This speaks two things to the user: how much torque that little engine actually develops, and how wide the ratio band between rest and top speed is. The latter also explains the numerous ratios - eight - relative to what used to impress us a mere five years ago - six. Yes, first gear is extremely low to the point where it is unnecessary 90% of the time, but eighth gear is tall enough to wind the pickup up to 200km/h if you have the trousers for that kind of shenanigan.

The Good Stuff

• First up are the updates, starting with the engine. Its hatchback dimensions do not mean it is a weak thing, from behind the wheel it feels the exact opposite.

It pulls with the most authority among the available double cab pickups in our market. The previous single turbo once battled a previous-generation Navara in an impromptu drag race across the Savannah grassland of Lukenya and the Navara lost decisively despite a 25% superiority in cubic inches (2.5 versus 2.0). The bi-turbo takes this baton and runs with it, quite literally.

9.

car review

It does not take its time to think about whether or not the gear change is prudent, it just follows instructions with alacrity.

• The gearbox doesn’t get left behind in this quest for glory. Its numerous ratios do everything from providing sufficient low end torque for low speed loadlugging to quiet and restrained poise during high velocity highway runs. While at it, the self-shifting characteristics are extremely smooth to the point of being unnoticeable, and that includes on downshifts where most automatics “surge” due to the surfeit of torque. This one doesn’t. In fact, unless you eyeball the instrument cluster periodically, it will be hard to tell exactly what gear you are in (This is how we came to notice that it takes off in second gear like a lorry, not first) • You could do the shifting yourself via the Tiptronic-style override at the gear lever (no paddles) and this brings another revelation: the responsiveness of the transmission. It is not a DSG but it damn near acts like one. Shift and it happens, immediately. Up or down. It does not take its time to think about whether or not the gear change is prudent, it just follows instructions with alacrity.

• The looks are not half bad. Since inception, the Amarok has maintained the staid but elegant simple lines that Germans seem to love and eschewed the swoopy, marine cues that the Asians quickly embraced (and in the case of

10.

Toyota, ditched equally fast). We like how the VW looks: butch, strong, robust, unpretentious, real.

• Then there is the interior. There is no escaping the fact that despite its utility intentions, this is a luxury pickup. It feels like a Passat in here, what with the ergonomics, design and use of materials. Rivals from the Orient have a long game of catch-up to play before they boast magnificence of this level in their commercial vehicle, but we all know there is no such thing as a free lunch. This magnificence comes at a price...

means robust - read stiff - suspension.

• 3. The sweet spot of the updated model - the 3.0 V6 engine - is unavailable for this market due to fuel quality setbacks. We still have to make do with the 2.0 litre four. Ironically, DT Dobie has recently started marketing the Touareg with a version of this same 3.0 TDV6, so what gives? Can we just have the big engine and tow combine harvesters with a pickup for fun already?

• 4. Speaking of updates: it has been 8 years since the Amarok came into existence and... it looks exactly the same.

The Not-So-Good-Stuff

• 1. That price is a hair short of 7 million, at KES 6,550,000 (rounded out to the nearest ten grand); or what is known globally as “sixty-five thousand dollars”.

And this is the Trendline version that we drove. The more trendy Highline ups the financial ante to 6.8 mill on the table before you see the keys (Disclaimer: finance options for the VW Amarok are available upon request at DT Dobie. You don’t have to buy it cash as implied) • 2. The vehicle rides a bit hard at times, but a lot better than the previous one.

This is not so much a unique trait than an inherent characteristic of almost all double-cabs; they are load luggers so they have to have the stilts for such, which

Vroom Verdict

The car passes with flying colours. Avoid discussing engine capacities with fellow double cab owners and your pride will stay intact. Try not to focus too much on what you paid for it, since elegance comes at a price - German elegance, to be exact. Then, its outright abilities aside, the Amarok was and still is a lifestyle vehicle. The small engine may do the work of one that half as much more powerful again but we understand engineering to the point that we know squeezing this kind of output from small displacements comes at the expense of engine life.

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the great run

12.

Petrol Heads with a Cause How The Great Run 2018 brought together motoring enthusiasts for a long weekend of fun and philanthropy.

W

hat do you do if you like driving or travelling - sightseeing too, come to think of it - and have a generous heart with a burning need to help out the less fortunate? You sign up for the Great Run, of course.

There are a few things to know about the Great Run. First off, it has spawned a whole raft of imitation events but who's complaining? It's not a competition for kindness. At the end of the day everybody wins, mostly the destitute that are the target of this philanthropic bent.

Secondly, livery aside, the Great Run is not a race; despite some of the high-powered hardware you may spot in the line-up.

Having cleared that up, let us look at what happened with the 13th edition, cleverly labelled "The Long Weekend" by its directors.

THE GREAT RUN XIII THE LONG WEEKEND

As the name implies, this edition of the Great Run took place over the long Madaraka Day weekend that started on Friday July 1st. For the first time in their history, the Great Run took part over three days. It started off as a single day event, transformed into a two-day episode just around Great Run IV which took them to Malindi via Tsavo East National Park, and has since stuck to the two day format, with two exceptions, the Great Run V which was to Bomet, and which retained the singleday format; and this, the latest instalment: the Great Run XIII: The Long Weekend.

Friday June 1st was a holiday, and this is the day the Great Run took off for Kitale from Nairobi via the A104 past Eldoret up to the Soi junction where they turned right and powered on to Kenya's bread basket. Saturday was the day of festivities and philanthropy at the children's home, Sunday was the drive back, through the scenic Kerio Valley in Iten, past Kabarnet and Kabarak, into Nakuru and back up to Nairobi.

As attendances go, this was just about a regular Great Run: approximately 50-60 vehicles, in convoy. But not all Great Runs are the same: as usual this one opened up a new, hitherto unvisited corner of the country to the kind hearts who had probably

not been to that side of the nation before.

Besides philanthropy, the Great Run promotes camaraderie and local tourism. Only once did they visit the same location twice, in a manner of speaking: Malindi in 2013 and in 2015. The locations are always different.

The Faces Behind The Great Run

One of the more interesting aspects of the Great Run are the pre-event updates; which we have established are written by the car guru himself, Baraza JM of Daily Nation's Car Clinic fame. These treatises are cheeky without being offensive, funny without descending into jest and heartfelt without being emotionally manipulative. The wording is beautiful - head over to the Great Run's Facebook page and click on any of the 13 events they have had so far and scroll through the posts, you'll see these "updates". Little wonder, then, that the Great Run has such a faithful and dedicated entry list.

Further investigations reveal that Mr. Baraza's colleagues have their own less visible but no less vital roles to play in running the affairs. Joseph Murai of Motor Trader magazine is the liaison officer between the Great Run and the authorities: be it administrative or otherwise. He is the man behind vital successes such as the county government's resounding welcome of the Great Run into Eldoret town back in 2015 for the Great Run VII, in which the governor himself took part (however briefly).

And then there is "Superwoman", Baraza's description of the third cog in this well oiled machine: Mrs. Shelina Mohamed. She plays a pivotal role in ensuring things go according to plan, and Baraza confesses that they'd be lost without her. She is the glue that keeps the organization committee together. She took over as the one of the directors from her late brother, Amir Mohamed, who just happened to be the brains behind this whole enterprise.

For a deeper insight into what the Great Run really is, visit the Facebook page (facebook.cpm/TheGreatRun) and their website www.thegreatrun.org

13.

DIY Car Maintenance

Battle of the Battery

How to keep your car battery in tip-top shape.

Words by Mark Muhoro

There are few things as frustrating as having a car that won’t start when you need to get to a job interview or a crucial business meeting. Another equally frustrating scenario (which many of us have probably seen on our way to work during rush hour in Nairobi) is when vehicles just go dead on the road in the slow-moving traffic jams that feed into the city. Both situations, in most cases, are caused by weak or dead car batteries. To avoid such eventualities, you must do your best to maintain your car’s battery.

Here are some insights on how to do it.

Know your battery

Check your car’s manual to know its battery specifications. If you are the one who bought the car battery, then you probably already know something about it. However, if your car still has the battery that it had when you bought it locally or when you imported it, you need to check it out. Most vehicles in Kenya feature either valve-regulated leadacid batteries or wet cell (flooded) car batteries.

Valve-regulated lead-acid batteries (also called maintenance-free batteries) are fully sealed batteries that do not require significant maintenance except keeping the terminals clean. If you have this kind of battery, then good for you! Wet cell (flooded) car batteries, on the other hand, are the old fashioned lead-acid batteries that we are used to. These require regular maintenance. You should also check the date of manufacture of the battery. Most car batteries last 5-6 years, so if your battery is older than that, you need to replace it to avoid unpleasant surprises.

14.

Clean cables

You have probably noticed the white powdery buildup around the terminals of your car’s battery.

This is normal. The process of electrolysis through dissimilar metals causes car battery terminals to corrode, hence the powdery buildup. You need to clean the terminals of your car battery every two to three months because the powdery buildup can interfere with the battery’s connection to the car.

When cleaning the terminals, put a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water and use a non-metallic brush to brush off the buildup. After that, you should disconnect both battery cables, starting with the one on the negative terminal, and do some more cleaning to remove all the corrosion from the cables and the terminals. After cleaning the terminals, coat them with grease that can withstand higher temperatures. If you don’t have such grease, just use petroleum jelly. You can then reconnect the battery cables to the battery terminals.

Check fluid levels The cells of your car’s wet cell battery all contain lead plates and a certain quantity of an electrolyte (an acid and water mixture).

Because of the high operation temperatures in the car, the water in the electrolyte slowly evaporates over time. Therefore, you need to keep checking the electrolyte level in the cells of your battery, at least every two months. If you notice that the electrolyte level is below the lead plates, you need to add distilled water (not tap water!) to restore electrolyte to its required level. Do not overfill.

Inspect voltage

Another thing that you need to do periodically is inspect the voltage in each cell of your car’s battery. However, before you do so, you need to fully recharge the battery. This is because when you check the voltage when the battery is not fully recharged, the hydrometer or battery tester is likely to show that the battery is bad when it really isn’t. One way in which you can recharge the battery is by using a trickle charger that has two jumper cables, a cord, and a plug. A trickle charger is designed to recharge a car battery from a 240volt power outlet slowly and steadily. When fully charged, you can then check the voltage of each cell. The best way to do this is by visiting a nearby reputable auto shop or service center and asking them to check the battery voltage for you. Ideally, your car’s battery should have a charge of 12.5 12.6 volts at full charge. If it goes below 12 volts at full charge, you should start thinking about replacing that battery.

15.

Car review

ISUZU MU-X a SUV you can’t resist

By Steve Mbuthi

16.

T

he best car in the world must be an SUV because they’re simply more practical than their ground scrapping counterparts. Ford earlier this year announced they were redirecting USD 7 billion from cars to SUVs. If you visited this year’s Total Motorshow you’ll no doubt have noticed that the SUVs outnumbered the saloon cars. The world is currently obsessed with the commanding ride height and Kenyans especially can’t get enough of them.

Until quite recently the region’s largest mover of new vehicles by an obscene margin, ISUZU, didn’t have an SUV on offer. Look around and chances are the lorry, bus and pick-up around you is an ISUZU. While ISUZU has to contend with other brands aggressively muscling in on its commercial vehicle territory, it didn’t until now have a counterpunch to hit them where it hurts, the mid-size SUV segment.

The MU-X is the spiritual successor to the Trooper, that 90’s icon of bare knuckle manliness. Trooper production stopped in 2002 and locally the only ISUZU badged vehicles have been aimed at farmers, construction workers and wholesalers. ISUZU recons that in that time business has been so good that their clients might want something with the same values they like in their work machines but refined enough to make an entrance in the snazziest establishments.

Design

While its front facia may not be the prettiest, it’s more aerodynamic than the competition, with the distinctly wedged snout and LED browed projector headlights reminding me of an angry bull. Apoplectic as it may seem though, the MUX is a gentle giant, making use of collapsible composite materials for the bumper, headlights and bonnet to cushion pedestrians in case of an impact.

Themesomorphic frame sits a class-leading 230mm off the ground atop 18’’ six spoke alloys designed to cool the brakes. It looks positively intimidating and yet elegant. Like a hulking rhinocerous in a tailored suit.

To take on the competition, and I suspect diverge sharply from the utilitarian cockpits of its commercial offerings, ISUZU went all in on the interior. The seven seats are firm and comfortable, with about 4 inches of headroom when I sat third row. The most comfortable is the middle row having more legroom than even the first to further accentuate the swanky direction ISUZU takes with the MUX. They are all covered in quilted leather and the cabin finished in a mix of soft touch surfaces on the dash, chrome inserts and piano black accents for a tastefully urbane finish.

A 7 inch screen takes care of infotainment for the front passengers while a 10’ roof mounted screen complete with remote takes care of the rear. Rich crisp tunes flowed from the 8 surround speakers as we set off for the

Nairobi National Park for a thorough test.

The Drive

Under the bonnet lives a 2.5 litre turbocharged diesel unit good for 100Kw of power and more importantly, 320Nm of torque kicking in at 1,800rpm. This means that when you put your foot down from standstill there’s a noticeable delay as the turbo spools and torque kicks in. Once going progress is effortlessly sedate and as impressive as those little tugboats pulling ocean liners into port. With tunes turned down its surprisingly quiet with the distant thrum of the engine masked by what the instructor said were 5 layers of sound deadening. It shifts weight fast considering its hulking presence on the highway and the steering is nicely balanced between being too light and too heavy.

Off the tarmac I kept the Terrain Command on RWD hoping for some “accidental” sideways opportunities in the wet murram, on road tyres. Unfortunately Nairobi National park offered none so I switched to 4WD. The rain had doused the grass which had brought out all the grazers, birds and butterflies. It was a spectacle to see nature in her magnificent best but an absolute nightmare to navigate.

The roads were little more than intermittent patches of sticky mud, flooded rivers and rocky climbs.

I cringed every time we came across some seemingly insurmountable obstacle but not once did we scrape the bottom. To boot we saved a 4WD tour van on knobbly mud tyres stuck in what looked like elephant steps and then went ahead to pass our three MU-X convoy effortlessly on the same. Remember, all three vehicles were still on road tyres and only four times did we engage 4-Low on the three hour excursion.

Verdict

I don’t know why they didn’t just go with the name Turbo-Trooper which is much cooler than Multi Use Xtra. Because ISUZU don’t make any soft cars like saloons and hatchbacks you get the feeling the MU-X has that true grit found in commercial vehicles. This was evident in the way it handled the knackering terrain ofa flooded Nairobi National Park.

And yet all along, I was comfortable, listening to my tunes and questioning not only the mid-sized competition, but the relevance of full size SUVs.

17.

travel

ROAD TRIP TO KISUMU DALA

Courtesy of Simba Corporation, the local subsidiary of French manufacturer Renault, Thorn Mulli takes a testdriving road trip to Kisumu.

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I

have been to the inland port city Kisumu severally. Fate, however, ensured that I flew there in all the instances. This meant that I never experienced what the journey, at least 300 kilometres, westward from the capital held. Well, not anymore.

It all started with me giving up a VIP invitation to a club opening so I could make the 5:30am meeting time at Aspire Centre for a road trip sponsored by Simba Corporation, the local subsidiary of French manufacturer Renault.

In the company of 24 other adventurers, I would be test-driving seven models selling domestically to the largest city in Western Kenya sitting on a bay on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria at an altitude of 3,711 feet.

I was slated to drive in the Kadjar model but a last minute change landed me in the Duster model, which was a good thing. While the former is a beautiful car by all standards, I liken it to your flashy cousin who schooled abroad and has returned on vacation and is characteristically full of surprises. I mean, the Kadjar can park itself and has an intelligent onboard computer that can among other things tell your and tyre pressure. But like it is with most showoffs, well, it seemingly overcompensates for its lack of actual brute required on Kenyan roads.

The Duster, on the other hand, was flawless throughout the journey thanks to its incomparable pulling power brought on by its six-speed tiptronic transmission gear option.

Not only was it good, nay great, at overtaking but I did not fear taking it off-road because it literally flattened bad roads.

So in the harmonious company of 24 other influencers we set off to Port Florence. I was the designated driver in my team, which meant that I was awake and alert all the way and not miss a thing; not that anyone did anyway. I, however, did miss our first pit stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint going the wrong way for the point on the old Naivasha Road rather than the one on the A104.

It wasn’t a complete miss, nonetheless as we had time to savour the smallest church in East Africa. I am sure you have noticed, but probably never bothered to enter, the small Catholic Church just as you approach the floor of the Rift Valley on the scenic escarpment.

The sanctuary was built in 1942 by Italian POW’s during WW2 under strict supervision

by British colonial officers. The latter were building the B3 whose construction took seven years commencing in 1939. Being Catholics, unlike their Anglican capturers, the POW’s needed a place to worship. The quaint pentagon shaped church whose interior measures about fifteen by eight feet was the answer. It has four small wooden pews that can sit twelve.

Our second stop was at the gripping green tea fields of Kericho before the final leg through Awasi and Ahero arriving in Kisumu just in time for late lunch and the start of first

World Cup quarter-final. Meriam Webster Dictionary explains that the adjective ‘premier’ indicates first in position, rank, or importance and Acacia Premier has in the recent times held the overall crown of top hospitality property in the whole of Western.

Getting a room here, especially, during weekends can be hectic so you need to book early to avoid inconveniences. I reckon it has to do with its prime location situated on the fringes of the Kisumu’s most coveted address, Milimani, that straddles the shores of the fresh-water lake and overlooks the port city’s CBD. That and the fact that the contemporary property can host a multitude comfortably; what with its grand ball room that can host 700 and 93 rooms inclusive of a presidential suite and two disabled-friendly rooms. My chamber was on the fourth floor with view of both the town and the fresh-water lake.

Kisumu weather mimics that of the coast so a climate-controlled room was quite the relief and devoid of what one my travelling party had cautioned as ‘gangster’ mosquitoes.

Should the proximity of the lake be a concern to you, nonetheless, kindly consider malaria prophylaxis. The amenities contained therein were standard of what you can expect for a world-class business hotel. Everything was above board, the bed especially cosy, save for the missing bath slippers to accompany the robe provided.

Being football season, however, the focus was at the Aqua Pool Bar on the second floor where a giant has been erected to screen live matches even as a live band serenaded the crowd in between play. This perch provides the perfect backdrop to enjoy a sundowner drink or delight in the famed tilapia fish dinner, under starlight, that the city is famed for. While Aqua Bar is where most guests frequent, the hotel’s centre piece, in my opinion, is its lobby area that hosts Barista coffee lounge. Tastefully furnished with a stair-way that leads to the hotel’s Cafe’ Acacia restaurant, its modern touch and sweets on display are rather welcoming.

With only a day to spare, ours was a jampacked trip that took us to Impala sanctuary, the equator point a stone’s throw away from the Maseno University, as well as the legendary Abindu Prayer Caves at Nyahera village and Kit Mikayi rock in Seme hamlet.

Kindly look up the deep-rooted history of these two touristic draws when you can. The hotel organises this trip for its residents at no extra charge.

The undisputed highlight of the trip for most, however, was cruising the lake on luxury boats. Note that these two boats stationed at Kiboko Bay cost KSh15, 000 to hire but if booked through Acacia Premier set you back only Sh8, 000. And so, as the golden rays of the sun kissed us and the bobbing heads of hippos matched the rhythm of our clicking

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travel

champagne flutes, we floated away on the voluminous calm waters blocking out any thought that this must-repeat trip came to an end. On our way home, the following morning, after we opted for the scenic Muhoroni- Mau route whose spectacular scenery you have to witness for yourself.

Explore Kisumu and its beautiful environs.

Discover the thrill of adventure with a variety of exciting activities to choose from whether you are seeking nature, wildlife, culture or relaxation.

1.Hippo Point

Hippo Point is a 600-acre open viewing area on Lake Victoria. It is better known as a viewing point for its unobstructed sunsets over the lake than for its occasional hippos.

Located near the village of Dunga, it is a few kilometers South West of Kisumu town. The village also has a fishing port and a camping site. Enjoy a peaceful boat ride as you observe hippos and birds in their natural habitat or go out fishing and enjoy the scenery of Kisumu city straight from the deep.

2.The Kisumu Museum

Kisumu Museum is a small yet comprehensive exhibition gallery and display of the material culture of the people of the Western Rift Valley and Nyanza Province. This includes traditional clothing and adornment, basketry, fishing gear, agricultural tools and hunting weaponry. Also on display are several dioramas, including a lion, De Brazza monkey, and the largest Nile Perch ever caught in Kenya.

3.Kit Mikayi

Kit Mikayi, a large rock (Tor) with three rocks on top, is situated about 29 km west of Kisumu, and located about one kilometre from the Kisumu-Bondo road. It stands tall above many surrounding rocks in Kangeso village. The 70 ft. to 80 ft. stone is also a weeping rock. It poses like a woman with a load on her back.

Climb the rocks and observe the breadths and span of Lake Victoria, Kisumu City and the Kisumu International Airport as well as the rolling plains as you are entertained with the many stories and myths of this sight.

4.Impala Sanctuary

The Kisumu Impala Sanctuary spans about 38 hectares. It was created to provide a home for threatened Impalas within Kisumu city and its environs. The sanctuary is one of Kenya’s smallest wildlife reserves. It also provides a safe grazing area for hippos from the lake.

1.Koleos, which I liken to a father, was the biggest of the fleet and seemed to have everything for everyone.

2.Kwid Climber is that awkward classmate who continually impresses during break on the school field with their dexterity despite their lean frame. This in my opinion is the

ultimate town car.

3.Logan is your regular Joe who does what is expected of them but from whom you do not expect too much. It is in essence the ideal family car for its reliability.

4.Megane Sedan is that sophisticated lady from the third floor whom you can never muster strength to approach and when you do, slips away gracefully leaving you crushed.

When you compose yourself and eventually catch up, the cycle repeats itself all over again as you gawk at her beauty. This elegant saloon car is the perfect ride for an elegant driver.

5.Kadjar is your flashy cousin who schooled abroad and has returned on vacation. Quite the showoff, it characteristically is full of surprises like its Park Assist option and intelligent onboard computer that can among other things tell your average fuel consumption and tyre pressure. But like it

is with most showoffs, well, it seemingly overcompensates for its like of actual brute force required on Kenyan roads. This brings us to the two brothers SanderoStepway and Duster.

6.Sandero Stepway, just the name suggests, is the eccentric of the group who looks up to and imitates his older brother, the Duster.

7.It is the latter that I was randomly picked to drive. While it might seem like a case of he who pays the piper calls the tune I really commend the Duster’s prowess for its pulling power brought on by its six speed gear manual box that flanks the automatic gear option. Not only was it good, nay great, for overtaking but with The Duster you don’t fear taking it offroad because it literally flattens bad roads.

- the writer is an editor at The Standard

21.

restaurant review

A Taste of France

Le Grenier à Pain bakery promises to bring a sweet taste of French cuisine to Nairobi. But does it deliver?

L

by Feizal Ahmed

ocated in Riverside Drive on 9 Riverside Building, Le Grenier à Pain is a French bakery that brings the taste of Paris to Nairobi. The bakery, which boasts a minimalistic décor, welcomes you with the decadent fragrance of fresh pastries. On display behind a glass counter, you can see some of these pastries- from the simplest to the most complex.

Being a bakery, Le Grenier à Pain, mainly serves pastries and bread, and a few other

meals.

Le Grenier à Pain is a French bakery chain which has over 30 branches worldwide. The Nairobi outlet, opened in 2017, is the first in Africa. A quick search on Google informed me that the bakery’s production team is Kenyan and the chefs have been specially trained in France.

The service was ok, although I was rather disappointed that the waitress didn’t speak French which I thought would make the experience more authentic. But her friendliness made up for that and I enjoyed our interaction. I ordered a three course meal; Carrot and Ginger Soup, Toast au Poullet barbeque, and Le Pain au Chocolat.

The soup was delicious, perfectly meeting the expectations of my trained pallet. The bread accompanying the soup didn’t disappoint either; leavened to perfection and baked with appreciation of a French grand-mère. However, it took long to be served- which I didn’t enjoy.

As for the Toast au Poullet Barbeque, which is a combination of chicken and sour bread, I was rather disappointed. The presentation was simple and the flavors were more Nouvelle Cuisine than French. The bread, although palatable, was quite dry.

I capped the experience with Le Pain au Chocolat, which proved to be 100% French. It was delightful; from the choux pastry’s fluffy but crunchy nature to the chocolate cream filled in the inside to mirror chocolate glaze that manifested the immaculate tempering of the chocolate.

Located in Riverside Drive on 9 Riverside Building, Le Grenier à Pain is a French bakery that brings the taste of Paris to Nairobi. The bakery, which boasts a minimalistic décor, welcomes you with the decadent fragrance of fresh pastries. On display behind a glass counter, you can see some of these pastries- from the simplest to the most complex. Being a bakery, Le Grenier à Pain, mainly serves pastries and bread, and a few other meals.

Le Grenier à Pain is a French bakery chain which has over 30 branches worldwide. The Nairobi outlet, opened in 2017, is the first in Africa. A quick search on Google informed me that the bakery’s production team is Kenyan and the chefs have been specially trained in France.

The service was ok, although I was rather disappointed that the waitress didn’t speak French which I thought would make the experience more authentic. But her friendliness made up for that and I enjoyed our interaction. I ordered a three course meal; Carrot and Ginger Soup, Toast au Poullet barbeque, and Le Pain au Chocolat.

The soup was delicious, perfectly meeting the expectations of my trained pallet. The bread accompanying the soup didn’t disappoint either; leavened to perfection and baked with appreciation of a French grand-mère. However, it took long to be served- which I didn’t enjoy.

As for the Toast au Poullet Barbeque, which is a combination of chicken and sour bread, I was rather disappointed. The presentation was simple and the flavors were more Nouvelle Cuisine than French. The bread, although palatable, was quite dry.

I capped the experience with Le Pain au Chocolat, which proved to be 100% French. It was delightful; from the choux pastry’s fluffy but crunchy nature to the chocolate cream filled in the inside to mirror chocolate glaze that manifested the immaculate tempering of the chocolate.

22.

THE PERFECT MELT Handcrafted for an extraordinary cooking experience

Everyday Cheese | Cheddar | Mature Cheddar | Feta | Gouda | Halloumi | Mozzarella | Paneer Freshly stocked at Nairobi | Carrefour, Chandarana, Karen Provision Store, Montys, Naivas, Royal Snacks, Spring Valley Supermarket, Tuskys and Zucchini Green Grocers.

Mombasa | Blue Marmalade Watamu, Café Mocha Nyali, Fosters Bakery Town, Garden Fresh Town, Kings Fruits & Veg Nyali, Naivas Bamburi / Nyali, Shree Green Grocers Diani and Spice Hub Nyali.

SirimonCheese

www.sirimon.co.ke

recipes

BBQ Chicken Wings Ingredients

• 1kg chicken wings • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon sugar • 1 ginger node • 4 cloves of garlic • 1 onion

The Sauce:

• ½ cup of ketchup • ½ cup of light soy sauce • 1 ½ teaspoons ginger puree • 1 teaspoons garlic puree • 3 tablespoons Worceshetire sauce • ½ a lemon juice • Freshly chopped Coriander

Step 1:

• Place chicken wings in a pot to boil • Add teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of sugar • Add a node of ginger, 4 garlic cloves and the onion roughly chopped • Bring to boil until done and the water is reduced.

Step 2:

• Combine all the sauces ingredients and set on low.

• Remove the chicken wings from the water allow to drip dry .

• Add the chicken wings and let them cook down untill the sauce has coateed them generously.

• Sprinkle some coriander on top.

• You can also add nicely toasted seasame seeds for an extra crunch or bacon bits.

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Carrot And Ginger soup Ingredients

• 2 lbs or 1 Kilo or 8 large carrots, peeled and washed • 2 medium onions • 1 clove garlic • 1-2 Tablespoons minced fresh ginger (or 2 teaspoons ginger powder) • 2 T olive oil • 6 cups water • 2 bouillon cubes • 1 T orange juice • ½ t paprika • ½ t nutmeg • 1 cup heavy cream • ½ t salt (optional) • 1 t sugar (optional)

Instructions

• Chop up onions, garlic, ginger and sauté in oil until browned.

• Add the chopped carrots.

• Add the water, bouillon, juice and spices.

• Boil, then bring to simmer and cover - cook for 1 hour.

• Add the cream.

• Blend the soup • Add the salt and sugar if you wish.

25.

tech review

Anticipating

Galaxy Note 9

Positioned at the bottom-right edge, the button would be perfectly placed to trigger the camera shutter. Of course, this could just be an early mock-up of a possible Note 9 redesign, but it’s an odd addition if there aren’t at least rumors that an extra key is possible.

The same leaked image shows the phone may place the fingerprint sensor under the camera lenses rather than alongside. It’s a small change, but one that will make a big difference to its usability, just as it did on the Galaxy S9 Plus. The camera lenses will remain in a horizontal formation, central on the rear panel.

S Pen functionality

Launching in August, Galaxy Note 9 carries so much promise. Will it deliver?

Words By Joe Murai

W

e know the Galaxy Note 9 will be a big phone, but will its design be much different from the Note 8? Rumours surrounding the Note 9 suggest it will essentially be a carbon copy of its predecessor and have most of the features still.

The phone might be a standard blue, while the S Pen stylus is a vibrant yellow — an unusual combination. And while it is a bit bold, we’re pretty confident this will be at least one colour option since it’s featured in all its canary yellow glory on the invitation for the Unpacked event in August.

New Note devices are always big news because it’s an Android phone with a large screen, handy S Pen and a heap of power, although rumors of an in-screen fingerprint sensor may be premature, especially as it’s now due to arrive earlier than expected.

Here’s everything we know about Samsung’s extra-big Android phone so far.

An older rumour suggests the Note 9 will come with an additional button on the side. A leaked image of a Note 9 case shows a button cover for a fifth button, close to the bottom of the phone’s right-hand side, below the power button. This button may have some form of camera functionality and may be used to take photos or screenshots.

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What will make the Note 9 special? Samsung say it’s investigating “signature Note features” to upgrade on the Note 9. That would include the S Pen stylus for sure, and it’s looking ever more likely that Samsung has thrown hard into the S Pen for the Note 9.

The latest from Ice Universe claims that the S Pen will function as a separate Bluetooth device, and will be able to work as a longrange camera timer/clicker, will feature music controls, and will have other Bluetooth functionality built in.

Battery and charging

The Galaxy Note brand is typically framed as Samsung’s productivity phone, and we’d expect the Note 9 to have battery size to keep up with such use. While we’re yet to see official specs from Samsung, we believe Samsung will use a 4,000mAh battery to keep the Note 9 up and running.

Software

While we can’t be entirely sure, it’s a pretty safe bet to assume the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo. A Samsung executive has also confirmed the upcoming Note 9 will ship with the latest version of Samsung’s A.I. assistant, Bixby 2.0. While Samsung is a little behind on its A.I. assistant, its Bixby 2.0 update will bring enhanced natural language processes, improved noise resistance capability, and quicker response times..

Vroom Verdict

That’s all we know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 for now. We’ll continue to update as we learn more. We can’t wait to have look at it when it hits the Kenyan market. We are still not sure of how much the phone might go for but we don’t think it will be cheaper than the iPhone 10.

light note

You get What You

Pay For

By Charles Chanchori

I

am on the ground floor of this building waiting for the lifts to come down and well, lift me to the thirteenth floor where I will be meeting a couple of friends for drinks and hopefully a stress relieving banter. Then these two ladies stand behind me and start chattering away.

First I smell them. They smell expensive. Their deep voices are very well polished and ooze out as if from well oiled throats. In short, they sound expensive.

When the lift finally comes and we all get in, I finally see them and they look exactly as I imagined they would look. Expensive.

Expensive weaves on their heads, jewelry everywhere, designer clothes, handbags and shoes and, oh boy. I really need to stop staring.

“Press number thirteen for us honey, will you please?” One of them requests with her rich voice, because I guess you don’t press your own lift buttons when your nails are so well done.

It is a long but well scented journey to the thirteenth floor.

Especially because the lift keeps stopping every two floors like demons sent to this building by Lucifer himself to waste everyone’s time and test people’s patience. I hope they are having a good laugh.

“So you hear my dear,” only women of a certain age group refer to each other as my dear. “This guy took his Range to Grogan. I mean, how do you even start to do that? Do you have a normal breakfast on the morning you wake up and tell yourself, ‘today I am taking my Range to Grogan’ or do you eat nails and charcoals instead?”

She goes on and on, her deep voice rebuking this young but famous and rich (new money) Nairobi musician in his absentia.

“What was wrong with the car?” the second lady asks.

“It had a problem starting.” She replies. “And instead of taking it to a Land Rover Approved body shop, he takes it to Grogan. Wewe ushaiona Range Rover Grogan? Hmm? Have you ever seen a Range Rover in Grogan?”

The second lady folds her brow and shakes her head and covers her mouth and basically offers any response she deems appropriate as she salts everything with the just the right amount of oh no’s and dear Lord’s.

“Next thing you know,” the woman concludes, “They are telling him that he is going to have to replace the engine.”

“Oh no.” Comes the other woman’s obligatory response complete with the appropriate hand gestures and face frowns to boot.

The elevator door opens again at the seventh floor. There is nobody either leaving or entering. Must be some joker trying to waste everybody’s time. I press the “close” button and the sweet scented journey to Drinksville continues.

As does the lecture on how we get what we pay for.

“Some people just don’t understand. You walk into a quiet restaurant where there is soft music playing from seemingly invisible speakers, the service is fast and you’re served with a smile, the food is really good and there is no Maasai guy coming to sell you leather wallets or sandals or belts. You have your meal in peace. Yet you catch yourself saying, ‘lo! But the food there is expensive!’ What you forget is that you weren’t only paying for the food. You were paying for class too.”

Ninth floor, lift doors slide open again. The woman who seems to be the alpha in this pack cranes her neck out, looks both ways, clicks her tongue and comes back inside. “Why is this thing stopping after every floor?” she wondered and clicked her tongue. “Some buildings!”

Then her face collapses into an angelic smile with the whitest and best aligned teeth I have ever seen as she says to me, “Press the close button, will you darling?”

“Darling” does as asked. Journey continues.

“Woi,” says the one who is not the Alpha. “Sasa si if you can’t take care of a Range si you just buy a Vitz. Aki some people!”

fitness

KICK-ASS ANTERIOR A truly bad-ass bod is both functional and balanced. Olympic Weightlifter and Crossfit coach, Winnie Okoth shows us moves to help build a strong chest, core, and quads for an anterior that is athletic and aesthetically pleasing.

Y

ou can deadlift more than your body weight easy peasy! But the idea of getting down for a single push makes you break out in sweat. If this is you, chances are that you’re neglecting a key area in your strength training; your anterior chain.

Anterior chain is a term used to describe the muscles on the front side of the body; more specifically your pecs, quads, and core. Many people, especially women, focus on building strong glutes and a sculpted back and put anterior chain in the back burner. The result is a growing population of women who can deadlift like champs but are intimidated by the thought of a proper push-up.

Our bodies function best when in balance.

So if you’re truly looking to have your ultimate body, you can’t afford to skip your anterior chain anymore. The following workout will strengthen your anterior chain.

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fitness

The Workout

To kick off, start with the front squat- a heavy technical movement that will get your body ready for an invigorating workout session.

You will then move on to a series of unilateral supersets. Complete this workout 1-2 times per week for 4-6 weeks.

To warm up, begin with a few minutes of foam rolling exercises focusing on quad, IT band, glutes, calves, and low back.

FRONT SQUATS

• Feet about shoulder width apart and slightly toed out • Bar rests on chest and shoulder with lose grip • Keep midsection very tight • Send your butt back and down • Stop when the food to the hip is below the knees and break parallel with the thighs • Return to exact same path as you descended • Do 3 warm reps (light weight) and 6-8 working reps (heavy weight).

90/90 HIP MOBILITY DRILL

• Sit tall on the ground to form 90 degree angle with both legs.

• Knees should be pointing the same direction.

• Keeping your heels grounded, raise both knees off the ground and bring them to the floor on opposite side.

• Continue rotating back and forth for all reps • Do 5 reps (each side)

BANDED SQUATS

• Place the sports performance band above your knees • Feet about shoulder width apart and slightly toed out • Keep midsection very tight • Send your but back and down • Lift your arms out and up as you descend • Stop when the fold of the hip is below the knees and break parallel with the thighs • Return to exact same path as you descended • Do 15 reps

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PULL UPS

• Grip the bar just hands outside shoulder width • Hang with the arms extended • Pull until the chin is higher than the bar • Return to full hip extension • Do 10 reps

RING ROWS

• Rings set approximately shoulder width apart • Hang with arms extended • Keep your body straight and pull your chest up toward the rings as high as you can • Pause briefly at the top of the exercise and then slowly lower yourself back down to the starting position • Do 15 reps

KETTLE BELL PUSH UPS

• Place a kettlebell on the floor • Place yourself in push up position with both hands holding the kettlebell and elbows extended • Begin by lowering yourself as low as you can keeping back straight • Push yourself up • Do 5 reps

KETTLE BELL CLEANS

• Start with the kettlebell on the floor slightly in front of you and between your feet, which should be shoulder-width apart.

• Bending slightly at the knees but hingeing mainly at the hips, grasp the kettlebell and pull it back between your legs with one hand (with your thumb pointing backwards) to create momentum.

• Drive your hips forwards and straighten your back to initiate the upwards movement of the kettlebell.

• Once the kettlebell passes bellybutton height, gently pull it back and slide your fist around and under the bell so it nestles softly on the back of your wrist. This is known as the rack position.

• Dip your body by bending the knees, keeping your torso upright.

• Immediately reverse direction, driving through the heels, in essence jumping to create momentum. As you do so, press the kettlebell overhead to lockout by extending the arms, using your body's momentum to move the weight.

• Do 5 reps (each side)

31.

money advice

101: Motor insurance in Kenya

By Save Kubwa (www.savekubwa.com)

I

f you’re like most people, your car is among your top most expensive and valuable assets. Unlike most assets-such as landa car comes with added risk of accidents when on the road. With the rise of road accidents in the country, it’s therefore only prudent that you take out the best motor insurance you can to cover any damages to your car, to those riding it, and damage caused to others by your car.

There are various types of motor insurance in Kenya. The three main covers are: Comprehensive, Third Party, Fire & Theft, and Third Party Only. In Kenya, the minimum legal

32.

requirement for car owners is TPO (Third Party Only). This will only covers the liability arising damage your vehicle causes to others. This is the most common insurance claim and it ranges from small claims- such as when you cause dents and scratches to another car- to bodily harm.

If you buy Third Party, Fire, & Theft, it will compensate losses you incur incase your car is stolen or burnt as well as third party liability.

As the name suggests, the Comprehensive cover offers the widest scope- including third party liability and loss or damage to the vehicle and its accessories- subject to the

policy’s terms, conditions, and exclusions.

In today’s competitive market, many insurers have innovatively come up with enticing covers which include extras such as personal accident cover, compensation for forced ATM withdrawals, replacement car in case of accidents, road rescue and towing services, and so on.

For most new car owners, the decision on which insurance to buy is often based on friends’ recommendations and whichever advert they happened to come across. But as easy as it seems, there’s a lot to consider before deciding which insurance to purchase.

Here are some of the considerations: Benefits included If you’re a new car owner, you might be tempted to go with the cheapest cover you can find. But as we all know, cheap can end up being expensive in the long run. Take a look at the benefits included and excluded by the cover, which tend to vary from one insurer to another. For instance, some insurer might include coverage against political riots and terrorism, civil commission, and towing services at no added costs. Look at the level of compensation offered in the cover because at the end of the day, insurance is about what will be compensated in case calamity strikes.

Insurer’s reputation An aggressive marketer or a friend’s recommendation can be very convincing when you’re looking for an insurance cover.

But it’s important to do your own research on an insurer’s reputation and their financial standing. How many claims do they pay out? How quickly do they handle claims? What is the percentage of their clients who renew their insurance covers?

Are they doing well financially or on the brink of collapse? You can find out a lot of relevant information from the insurance regulatory authority of Kenya- it releases quarterly reports on the insurance industry.

Terms and conditions Like any other contract, an insurance cover is bound by certain terms and conditions. Make sure you read these carefully and understand them, including the small print. Note if there are any excess charges, the geographical limits, under what circumstances your claim might be rejected, and so on. Don’t sign the dotted line without fully understanding these. If you there’s something you don’t understand, ask for clarification from the insurance broker or salesperson.

Premium rates The basic cost of your insurance cover will be pegged on the premium rate. The higher the rate of premiums, the more you have to fork out. Consider going for annual premium payments instead of monthly- you will end up spending less this way.

Although extensions- such as courtesy cars and road rescueare attractive, you don’t have to pay for them if you feel like you won’t need them.

Factors affecting cost of motor insurance: • Make of the Car - Some car makes - especially the popular entry level ones tend to attract lower premiums because they’re cheaper to maintain.

• Age of the Car- As a car depreciates, its insurance premium also tends to go down.

• Driver’s Age – Younger drivers are deemed risky by insurers and hence are slapped with higher premiums.

• Driving Experience – If you are highly skilled and experienced on the road, insurers are likely to see you as reliable and less risky, which might attract lower premiums Compare insurance prices through Save Kubwa at www.savekubwa.com

The Italian Luxury Furniture Collection.

Victoria Courts Building, 9 Parklands Road, Westlands.

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decor

Invite the outdoors in

By Pauline Muindi

W

ith 9-5 jobs and long commutes, most of us rarely get an opportunity to be in nature. Being cooped up indoors all day, we miss out on the elements of nature that keep us refreshed, energized, and calm. We can, however, invite nature’s elements into our living spaces. From natural materials, earthy colours, and light- here are easypeasy tips to make your home more outdoorsy:

Indoor plants

Having indoor plants in your house is an obvious way to bring nature into your home. However, this vital step is often overlooked by many homeowners. Not only are house plants beautiful to look at, they also come with therapeutic benefits which can boost your physical health, emotional wellbeing, and brainpower. Plants such as peace lily, chrysanthemums, aloe vera, and Boston fern have well-documented air-purifying and healing properties. You can also create an indoor herb garden in your kitchen- this is bound to also inspire the chef in you!

Light, light, light!

Without good natural lighting, your home will feel claustrophobic and dull. Instead of covering your windows with heavy curtains, opt for light and airy fabrics or sheers to let the light pour in. Keep your windows open or install screens to let in fresh air with the light. In rooms where natural light is wanting, creatively layer artificial lighting to give it a natural look. If you are artsy and up for a challenge, you can create your own unique lamps and if not, scour the shops for unique designs which suit your style.

Colours of nature

A simple way to make your home feel and look outdoorsy is to go for earthy colours inspired by the outdoors. Green will remind you of

forests and grass, blue will bring in water and the sky, yellow and orange will evoke the sun’s warmth, while browns will reflect the softness of the earth. Don’t go overboard by trying to incorporate all these elements- choose one or two to be your dominant themes on a neutral background.

Natural fibres and textures

Picture a rustic wicker lounge resting on a beautiful hand-woven sea grass rug. Notice a naked wood beams overhead and natural cut wood countertops. This immediately evokes a homey yet outdoorsy feel, right? Adding nature’s fibres, textures, and patterns cleverly invites the outdoors into your home without making it feel overdone. You don’t have to go for big changes to achieve this feel- choose furniture, baskets, lamps, and rugs in natural material such as hemp, bamboo, or rattan. You can also incorporate elements found in nature such as shells, rocks, a jar of beach sand, or twigs into your indoor decoration.

Let water flow

The babbling of water is one of nature’s most soothing sounds. In feng shui, water is revered as one of the most powerful forces in nature- it can be a powerful healer as well as the ultimate destroyer. Water is essential to life and incorporating it into your decor will immediately bring life to your home. You can install an indoor fountain, have an aquarium or goldfish in a bowl.

Nature in artwork

Not everyone can wake up to great views of nature right outside our windows. But by hanging stunning paintings of nature by your favourite artist is the next best thing. Still life paintings or photographs of nature scenes and wildlife bring a feel of the outdoors into your home.

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my toys

The

Heartbreaker George Bett, a car enthusiast tells us about his love for cars, especially his 2008 Subaru Impreza STI nicknamed “The Heartbreaker”.

Who is George Bett?

I am a lover of life, probably one of the most rational thinkers I know of when it comes to most things other than cars. Else I am also a transporter, a strategist and a critical analyst of the goings-on.

How did you discover your love for cars?

I loved cars as a young kid and would draw them and ogle at any beautiful vehicle whenever I had the chance. Then as an adult when it came to getting my own ride, I knew the family sedan wasn’t for me.

Performance had moved up the list of things to look out for, more so than just practicality.

Which was our first car?

It was a 1997 Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback. I first saw it in the parking lot at Bandari plaza in Westlands and left a note on the windscreen asking whether the owner was interested in selling it. A couple of weeks later we sealed a deal! I had taken good care of it for about a year before a friend good friend convinced me to sell it to him.

Thereafter, I moved on to another Subaru this time the newer and more powerful STI version.

Which cars make do you drive now?

I have three cars; the most common of which is the 2008 Subaru Impreza STI model that we nick named The Heart Breaker. I also own a rare Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution which is a collector's car; only 2500 of them were ever produced. The third one is a Mitsubishi Evolution X.

How did you go about buying your cars?

I feel that cars are extravagances that need to be paid for in cash. Being a sole owner gives more flexibility when it comes to disposal, and also allows you to breathe in peace should anything go wrong. Also for notorious motorists like who like modification, it gives you more leeway unlike when you know it can be repossessed if you miss an instalment. Basically, you have to save up enough to afford the initial purchase price plus some of the immediate extras that are needed with registering, insuring and restoring the said vehicle.

They say that the cars we choose reflect some part of the owner.

Do you think this is true?

It's hard to generalize, but to some extent it’s true. However, I believe more in how a person treats their car is more descriptive of the owner.

A machine tasked with some heavy responsibilities such as to take you on your bread and butter errands, move your family and kids around, safeguard your life and so on has to be treated as a the valuable asset it is. Not doing so tells you the kind of person the owner is.

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What kind of adventures do you go with your car?

Generally race cars aren’t meant to be used as shopping carts. So on that note, I rarely take The Heartbreaker out on errand runs, however once in a while I do. Generally it’s reserved for races. However, I use it for weekend drives when I want to unwind. We go on scenic drives to Kitengela or Kajiado and enjoy some nyama choma.

Sometimes, especially on Sundays, we also take it to Limuru through the famous Kiambu Ring for some fresh air. Also once a year I take The Heartbreaker out on a charity drive called The Great Run. Usually the destination changes but generally it is an endurance drive, all for charity.

Why did you name your car The Heartbreaker?

When we decided to build it, we said “Let’s build a car that’s going to break hearts.” We wanted to build a car to a level not done before in Nairobi...or at least to a level I hadn’t seen done here before.

Do you believe in DIY or professional maintenance for your cars?

Well, if it was just regular maintenance I'd say your best bet is having a professional work on it since they know exactly what to look out for. However, when it gets to modifications and power/performance enhancement then a lot of DIY is involved to ensure the correct aftermarket choices are made for your ideal goals. Thereafter, whether you choose to do the heavy lifting or not is up to you. Personally, I would do anything that doesn’t require power tools or jacking up the car. Beyond that, enter my able mechanic Hassan Manase and his fully kitted garage- HAC Automotives.

Which kind of music do you like when driving?

I used to be a DJ in my previous life and played in several arenas and events. The point here is, being a DJ makes you a jack of all trades when it comes to music choice. Generally, I listen to radio because I get to keep up with the trend and having someone else do the music selection, you will have that one or two songs that you didn’t expect to hear, and that is what makes it memorable. When I'm not listening to radio, you'll most probably find me listening to other DJs mixes for the same reasons.

Let’s say you have a dream 3-car garage, which cars do we find in it?

Mercedes G65 AMG, Lamborghini Avendtador, and Nissan Skyline GTR R34.

Your next car will probably be a...

BMW 135 sedan. Because I have done several Japanese builds and now I want to do something different. The 135 has been built successfully in the recent past around the world with very promising results. Otherwise, my next daily car will be a Range Rover Sport (2015+ model).

If you have children, how do you share your love for cars with them?

One day when that time comes, I wish to do a vintage restoration in the house garage with my kids- all done in-house over a couple of years.

What advice would you give a new car owner?

Buy a car you can afford to maintain. The purchase price is nothing compared to regular maintenance fees. Also note that there are lots of hidden costs that go with the initial purchase price. As a rule of thumb, set aside 10% over and above the purchase price to cater for these costs, which include insurance, unforeseen immediate maintenance, transfer fees, and basic clean up.

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lady view

Jaguar E-Pace

the Jaguar Cub

By Cash Mandi

Fondly known as “the cub” this car drives just as smoothly and powerfully as its stable-mates.

A

t the OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, we were met by a bevy of gorgeous baby Jaguars who are the latest addition to the Pace ’Ingenium’ family. I was given a day to spend with this beauty in the jostling streets of Johannesburg, through its posh suburbs, and into a nature reserve away from the bustle of the city.

With a sports car design where the cub sits on powerful haunches, this SUV is quite pretty. It’s huge, lovely eyes pull back to the front of the wheel- and you can customize to feature advanced matrix so at night the adaptive driving beam feature adjusts the LED light beam patterns to prevent dazzling oncoming vehicles.

It is the first of?to have standard AV technology and tail lights for better visibility. The honeycomb grill gives a bit of an edge to the front.

The Jaguar E Pace has several graphics of a jaguar and her cub hidden in different areas of the car, some of which you’d have to keenly look for to discover.

I slid into the luxurious leather seats that have support, glad that I started out with the most powerful of this crossover lot, the P300, which is top of the range. In the segment of vehicles that the Cub lies in, this smooth ride is a leader and has very little competition. Other than the X3 and GLA, it is an obvious hit.

With 300 horse power and 220 KW, the E-Pace is an absolute winner and will go up in showrooms. The choice is yours from 3 diesel with 110Kw, 132 and 177Kw output and petrol engines with 183 and 221Kw outputs.

Space wise, the Cub is huge with ample leg room and the boot- with 577 litres stowage- is large enough to comfortably fit six travel cases. If your hands are full, no need to fumble in your pocket for keys because the power gesture feature allows you to open it with the foot sensor.

The seats adjust easily and driving into the Johannesburg traffic, I was pleased to note that the steering wheel is comfy to the touch and

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its middle control paddles make everything easier. The rear suspension allows for all surface capabilities. I engaged the sports gear shifter and the change in sound and power was amazing. It was a powerful roar.

Compared to the more expensive F-Pace that I had previously tested in Nairobi, The Cub felt stronger, heavier and kicked that speedometer higher with not much urge. This is probably because Jaguar chose to use steel on this vehicle as opposed to aluminium.

The five split spoke 21-inch, diamond-turned satin-grey rims are a first amongst the Jaguars. It is beautiful inside as it looked out and I enjoyed fiddling around with the different gadgets to see what this baby can do.

This Jag has 12 volt charging points, five USB connectors, and 4G WIFi hotspots- keeping you connected all day. The center console compartment can be removed to hold four one liter bottles. With speed limits and cameras within the city, the navigation reminders and lane assist warnings on side mirrors came in handy and kept us in check.

The E-Pace is fuel efficient and held on as we meandered through the turns and bends in the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg to a lovely lunch. Park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and 360 degrees parking came in handy here as we parked the vehicles in tight little spots. Jaguar is well known for putting safety first and won the Euro five star rating. This car has drowsiness monitoring that alerts you when you start dosing off.

Being a sporty person, I was glad to hear that the E-Pace has a wearable activity key- allowing you to lock the main key in the car when you go out to jog, swim or do other water activities. All in all Jaguar have done well with this much cheaper, sporty, compact SUV that will do well as a family or individual car.

PRICE: Around KES 5million