20140106 xnew

SWIMMER REACHES OUT FOR HELP

news

the most decorated olympian of all time, Swimmer michael Phelps to go for rehab after drunk driving charge P.2

eXtra.sharp Monday 06.010.2014 | www.x-news.co.ke

SPORT

EDNA Kiplagat wins Great Scottish half marathon | P.13

England guilty of bullying, claims fired Kevin Pietersen | P.15

Police slow to act on terror alerts, says IPOA

The Mpeketoni attacks in which about 100 people died could have been avoided if national security agencies had acted on prior intelligence, the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) have said.

In a report released earlier today, IPOA chairman Macharia Njeru said information of an officer said to have smuggled arms into the area had been given to the National Police Service a month before the attack but no action was taken.

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Give NYS graduates first priority in jobs, Uhuru

Ebola ravaged Sierra Leone on Saturday

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COMMENDATION: President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Director General of Kenya National Youth Service, Dr Nelson Githinji, present an award to one of the best recruits during the recently-held passing-out parade of NYS recruits at their college in Gilgil. The President has urged employers to favourably consider NYS volunteered.

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Farmers make a killing from backyard ponds

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NEWS

MONday, october 6, 2014

Police accused over Mpeketoni From Page 1 “The arms were brought in from Liboi under the protection and escort of the officer,” Njeru said.

The officer belongs to the AntiTerrorism Unit and is said to have transported the arms into Witu town.

The agency accused security personnel of failure to act on the intelligence.

“It displays lack of appreciation of the gravity of the matter on part of the security agencies,” Njeru told a news conference in Nairobi.

About 20 to 30 attackers descended on Mpeketoni town on June 15 killing 49 people. Another attack

carried out the following day left nine more deaths.

The report dubbed IPOA report following Mpeketoni Attacks says intelligence on the impending attack had heightened by early 2014 due to groupings of militia at Panda Nguo forest in Lamu County.

Similar information was received until early June 2014 but nothing was done, the authority says.

Their claim is in tandem with that of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), which said they had issued warnings of the attack.

NPS have, however, said

intelligence report they received was too general to act on.

But IPOA accused the police of failing to prevent the attack or being prepared to respond despite the early warnings.

Even after the attack, IPOA claims, there was slow response from the police service to counter the terrorists.

IPOA says there were disjointed operations since officers on the ground did not operate from a central command.

“The administration Police Rapid Deployment Unit who arrived at Mpeketoni at midnight did not act

until around 5am when guns of the attackers had gone silent,” the report says.

The same case occurred when the General Service Unit officers arrived at around 3.30am but remained inactive.

The authority said national police headquarters ignored commanders on the ground.

Junior officers at county level were demoralised when they realised their commanders could no longer give then directives in what the authority says threw the whole operation into confusion.

IPOA wants future NIS warnings

interrogated and acted on efficiently and promptly. They have also recommended that officers receive regular fresher weapon usage to boost confidence in such responses.

IPOA has also criticised pronouncements of interdiction of officers as the operation progfressed and termed it unprofessional.

It has also called for a review of deployment of police officers to non-core functions such as guarding financial institutions.

Swimmer Phelps to go for rehab after drink drive charge

After his second Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrest in 10 years, swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has vowed to turn to rehab.

The 22-time Olympic medallist, 29, was arrested on September 30 after an eight-hour gambling binge at a casino last week. Back in 2004, he was arrested for DUI in 2004 in Maryland.

He did not say whether he will also receive treatment for gambling.

“I am extremely disappointed with myself. I’m going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself,” he tweeted.

Phelps added: “Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual, and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future.”

binge problems: Michael Phelps, the two-time Olympic medallist, was arrested on September 30 after an eight-hour gambling binge at a casino last week.

Trial of UK tycoon accused of killing wife opens in SA The trial of a millionaire British businessman accused of hiring hit men to kill his newly wedded wife during their honeymoon in South Africa started today in Cape Town.

Shrien Dewani, 34, has denied orchestrating the killing of his wife, Anni, in Cape Town in November 2010.

The murder occurred during a taxi ride through a township on the edge of the South African city, just over two weeks after the couple’s

wedding.

The taxi driver, Zola Tongo, confessed within weeks of the bride’s death that he had hired two men to kill her. In a plea deal with South African authorities, he said he was paid by Dewani to carry out the murder and make it look as though the couple were victims of a carjacking.

Tongo was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his part in the killing.

His two accomplices are also

serving lengthy sentences for their role in the crime.

The victim’s family say they are relieved that Dewani is going on trial in Cape Town.

“Hopefully, we will get all the answers we want,” her uncle Ashok Hindocha said Sunday, according to local media reports.

Dewani, a care home owner, had returned to UK after his wife’s death. He avoided extradition to South Africa on mental health

grounds during a three-year court battle, but was eventually sent back in April to face the trial.

Psychiatric experts had said he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and that he had tried to take his life.

Before his extradition, he was held at a secure mental health unit in southwest England.

But in August, he was declared fit to stand trial after undergoing psychiatric observation, South

African media reported.

An indictment in the case said he faces charges including conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder and kidnapping, according to reports in the South African media.

Dewani, from Bristol in southwest England, has said his wife was the victim of a carjacking and denies any involvement in the killing.

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NEWS | 3

MONDAY OctOber 6, 2014

Wajir, Mandera leaders in pact to end clan wars

NASA’s ‘moustronauts’ sent to space in study of muscle aging A group of mice with remarkable abilities was last week launched into space. Scientists hope that by studying the mice in space, an environment with little gravity, they can create drugs to to prevent muscle loss in humans. The 10 mice are the first mammals, excluding humans, to spend a month in space. The typical stay for mice in space has been two weeks. What makes these mice special is that they lack a gene that normal mice have called Muscle Ring Finger 1, which causes muscles to weaken with age. Muscle Ring Finger 1 makes proteins that destroy both human and mouse muscles. It also plays a key role in muscle loss through

Wajir and Mandera county leaders have signed an agreement to end the Degodia and Garre clan conflicts. The pact was witnessed by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Chairman Francis ole Kaparo, who said for peace to be achieved, the two communities required the goodwill of the entire leadership in two counties and the support of the national government.

ageing and other chronic diseases.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has created special homes for the mice to live in on the space station, which include systems to stop their food and water from floating around.

Scientists have started referring to the creatures as ‘moustronauts’ “By flying a mouse, whose typical lifespan is much shorter than humans’, you can follow the course of bone and muscle loss over a much greater percentage of the mouse lifespan than you can in humans,” Michael Roberts, the Centre for the Advancement of Science in Space’s senior research manager, said after the launch.

Robbery suspect killed by police A suspected thug was last night killed in a botched robbery in Korogocho.

Police say the suspect was in the company of three others who were robbing locals when an alarm was raised. Police, who were on patrol, responded and killed one and recovered a homemade gun. The others managed to escape on foot.

NGO calls for disolution of Makueni govt

AtteNtioN : Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, Anne Waiguru, poses with some recruits of the rebranded National Youth Service.

Give NYS graduates first priority in jobs, Uhuru says President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday said he is not looking to, “militarise the youth,” through the National Youth Service (NYS) rebranding campaign.

President Kenyatta, who was speaking when he hosted 800 high school students graduating under the President’s Award Scheme,

said the goal of the NYS rebranding and the five-fold increase in the number of recruits from 4,000, is to constructively engage the youth for the benefit of the country.

“I am not militarising the youth. What they are doing is good for them and the country,” he said.

He gave, as an example, the clean-up the current NYS recruits are undertaking in the Kibera, a slum he said had been neglected by previous leaders.

He urged employers to look favourably upon those who have volunteered in the NYS. “Those who volunteer to work for a better Kenya

should be given first priority when it comes to getting jobs that pay,” he said.

He also called on the private sector to supplement his government’s youth empowering efforts like the NYS, the Uwezo Fund and the policy of preserving 30 per cent of all government contracts for the youth.

“The private sector has many wonderful statements of corporate social responsibility goals.

They would be even more wonderful if they recorded achievements for our youth,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NYS has said dates for the next recruitment will be announced soon.

Civil society groups have supported calls to have the Makueni County government dissolved, as it is no longer serving the interests of its residents.

The National Civil Society Congress said endless wrangles amongst county leaders have derailed development plans.

Hong Kong protesters defy quit order Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong ignored a deadline given by the government to disperse although they allowed city workers to enter offices that had been blocked last week.

There were no apparent signs of any police action against the demonstrators.

IMF urges government to improve security and strengthen business environment The International Monetary Fund has called for the improvement of security in the country saying it will help boost Kenya’s current favorable economic status. An assessment report by the IMF board has also recommended an improvement in business climate, the ensuring

of fiscal discipline and increased control of the public wage bill.

“To mitigate downside risks, directors encouraged stronger policy buffers and further structural reforms, including the strengthening of the business climate and improvement of security conditions,”

the assessment report said.

Meanwhile traders in East Africa can now easily access the regional market duty-free after the region lowered the bar for them by allowing the cost of delivery to be included in determining how much value has been added in a member state.

The revised regulations will see finished products have at least 30 per cent of the ex-works, a reduction from 35 per cent of the ex-factory price.

Experts have said the new regulation will ensure there is uniformity among partner states in the

application of Rules of Origin.

They, however, warned that more needs to be done to ensure there is smooth flow of trade within the region, including elimination of nontariff barriers by the partner states and harmonisation of domestic tax/ VAT/excise duty.

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NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

Matatus bid to block hiked parking fees fails

Matatu owners have suffered a major blow after the Court of Appeal on Friday upheld an earlier High Court ruling that ordered them to pay higher parking fees to the Nairobi County government.

The government increased the charges early this year from Sh150 to Sh300, sparking court action by motorists and matatu operators.

A total of 26 licensed Public Service Vehicle operators challenged the constitutionality of the County’s Finance Act which allowed for the increase of charges that had earlier been passed by the assembly members last year.

But the High Court dismissed the application, saying the government was within its mandate to regulate parking fees.

But the petitioners challenged the ruling in the appellate court where judges backed City Hall.

While dismissing the case, Justice Agnes Murgor

order stays:Matatu owners have suffered a major blow after the Court of appeal on Friday upheld an earlier High Court ruling that ordered them to pay higher parking fees to the Nairobi County government.

said the government was within the law to review levies and regulate them depending on the prevailing circumstances.

She said the Traffic Act gives the government powers to regulate parking fees and traffic flow in the city.

“The county government

can use any method to calculate any levies or rates to be charged to the residents,” she said.

Motorists will have to

continue paying the new charges as the decision by the Court of Appeal puts to rest legal contests on the matter.

Woman gives birth to baby Ebola killed 121 boy using transplanted womb in Sierra Leone on Saturday alone Sierra Leone recorded one of its worst days on Saturday after health officials registered 121 deaths and scores of new infections from Ebola in a day. It was one of the deadliest days since the Epidemic was discovered in the West African nation six months ago.

Saturday’s data puts the total number of those who have been killed by the deadly virus at 678 according to statistics by the country’s emergency operations centre. The centre said 81 new cases were also discovered on Saturday.

A total of 3,439 people have been killed by the outbreak in West Africa out of the 7,492 cases reported, figures

by the World Health Organisation show.

Although international assistance is pouring into the region, an initial slow response has been blamed for the spread of the virus which has ravaged Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

The US is deploying around 4,000 military staff to the region to support efforts to combat the outbreak in Liberia which is the worst hit country.

Britain and China have sent personnel to Sierra Leone while Cuba dispatched a 165-member medical team, including specialists and nurses, to Sierra Leone last week.

A woman in Sweden has given birth to a baby boy using a transplanted womb in a medical first, doctors have announced.

The 36-year-old mother, who was born without a uterus, received a donated womb from a friend in her 60s.

The British medical journal The Lancet says the baby was born prematurely in September weighing 1.8kg.

The father said his son was “amazing”. Cancer treatment and birth defects are the main reasons women are left without a functioning womb.

If they want a child of their own, the only option is surrogacy. Although the identity of the couple in Sweden has not been released, it is known that the mother still had functioning ovaries. The couple went through IVF to produce 11 embryos, which were frozen.

Doctors at the University of Gothenburg then performed

a First:a woman in sweden has given birth to a baby boy using a transplanted womb in a pioneer medical operation.

the womb transplant.

The donor was a 61-year-old family friend who had gone through the menopause seven years earlier.

Drugs to suppress the immune system were needed to prevent the womb from being rejected. A year after the transplant, doctors decided they were ready to implant one of the frozen embryos before a pregnancy ensued.

The baby was prematurely

born almost 32 weeks into the pregnancy after the mother developed preeclampsia and the baby’s heart rate became abnormal.

Both baby and mum are said to be doing well.

In an anonymous interview with AP news agency, the father said: “It was a pretty tough journey over the years, but we now have the most amazing baby. “He’s no different from any other child, but he will have a

Judge fails to stop civil servants registration Interim court orders barring the biometric registration of civil servants in six counties in Western Kenya remains in force as the case failed to kick off on Monday.

Kisumu Industrial Court Judge Hellen Wasilwa extended the order after the defendants’ lawyer said he was not ready to proceed.

Justice Wasilwa has set November 4 as the hearing date of the petition.

Wasilwa also gave five days to the petitioners’ lawyer Geoffrey Yogo to amend his papers, and 14 days for defendants’ lawyers to respond.

Yogo says he plans to add more counties to the petition but did not reveal the number he plans to enjoin to the initial six.

He said the petition is only targeting county government staff and not their national conterparts.

Speaking in Kisumu after the court session, Yogo said the national government can proceed with the exercise.

The judge on Wednesday last week stopped the exercise in Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Trans Nzoia and Migori counties until a case filed by the Kenya County Workers Union is heard and determined.

good story to tell.’’ In two previous attempts at womb transplants, the organ became diseased and had to be removed after just three months while the other case resulted in miscarriages.

Prof Mats Brannstrom, who led the transplant team, described the birth in Sweden as a joyous moment.

“That was a fantastic happiness for me and the whole team, but it was an unreal sensation also because we really could not believe we had reached this moment.

“Our success is based on more than 10 years of intensive animal research and surgical training by our team and opens up the possibility of treating many young females worldwide that suffer from uterine infertility.” Liza Johannesson, a gynaecological surgeon in the team, said: “It gives hope to those women and men that thought they would never have a child, that thought they were out of hope.” But there are still doubts about the safety and effectiveness of the invasive procedure.

NEWS| 5

MONDAY, OctOber 6, 2014

Al Shabaab stronghold of Barawe falls Somalia’s militant Islamist group al-Shabaab has abandoned its last major stronghold of Barawe after an assault by Somali and African Union forces.

Military officials say the terrorists pulled out of the city on Saturday night after Amisom and Somali forces camped for three days on the outskirts of the port city some 200km south of Mogadishu.

“The army is in full control of the port of Barawe now,” said Abdikadir Nur, the Governor of Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region.

Run-off due in Brazil with no outright winner of poll

Voters in Brazil will have to cast their ballots again this month as two main presidential rivals face off in a run-off.

The first ballot failed to produce an outright winner.

Incumbent Dilma Rousseff won most votes in the country’s presidential election, but she fell short of outright victory.

She received about 42 per cent of the vote and faces a run-off against centre-right

rival Aecio Neves, who got 34 per cent. Analysts now predict a potentially tight second round on 26 October.

Ms Rousseff said people had expressed their rejection of “the ghosts of the past, recession and unemployment”, and vowed to continue to work for change. The Socialist Party candidate, prominent environmentalist, Marina Silva, finished third with 21 per cent and is out of the

inothernews Jailed for killing friend who ‘poked’ his girl A British court has sentenced a man to four years imprisonment for killing a friend who ‘poked’ his girlfriend on social media.

Scott Humphrey was found guilty of repeatedly striking Richard Rovetto accusing him of poking his girlfriend on Facebook. The social media incident infuriated Humphrey, 27, who felt betrayed by Rovetto, a father of one. During the argument Humphrey said: “If you’re such a good friend why did you poke my missus?” The Mirror says the two were traveling in a taxi, in Nottingham, central England, when they argued before the punching, which killed Rovetto, 29, hours later.

The accused pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges and his lawyers said their client regretted the act. Rovetto’s family however was not satisfied with the verdict saying it was not the justice they sought for their departed one.

race. Mr Neves called on Ms Silva’s supporters to back him, saying he represented “hope for change”.

Ms Silva said she and other Socialist leaders would meet in the coming days to discuss any endorsements for the run-off.

More than 142 million people were eligible to vote on Sunday. Turnout was 80 per cent. Voting is mandatory for those aged between 18 and 70. Brazilians also

elected members of congress and regional governors on Sunday.

Early in the campaign, incumbent Ms Rousseff from the left-wing Workers’ Party (PT) - had been expected to win.

Most people voted for traditional parties - the PT and Mr Neves’ Social Democrats (PSDB). Mr Rousseff adds that the main issue now is who can be trusted to revive

the economy. During Ms Rousseff ’s tenure as president, unemployment has been lower than under any of her predecessors, at about 5 per cent. The minimum wage has also risen and the number of undernourished Brazilians has been falling.

But the past 18 months have been marred by recession and corruption scandals, and protests over poor public services and the World Cup costs.

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What others said today...

Cord plots boycot of Uhuru speech in Parliament: President Uhuru Kenyatta’s address to the bicameral Parliament this afternoon will be centred around his ICC case, with the Head of State expected to present his reasons for taking the historic trip to The Hague. This emerged as the Opposition Cord vowed to snub today’s joint special sitting, insisting that the ICC nightmare is Uhuru’s “personal matter”...

Decision day-Uhuru to brief MPs on ICC: President Uhuru Kenyatta’s defence team has flown to The Hague, signalling that he is likely to tell a special session of Parliament Monday that he will honour the summons to attend Wednesday’s status conference at the International Criminal Court in person.

The Opposition alliance, Cord, Sunday said its MPs and senators will boycott the joint session...

Kenya awaits Uhuru move over Hague summons today: President Uhuru Kenyatta will this afternoon address an emergency session of Parliament where his summons to appear before the International Criminal Court ( ICC) in the Netherlands is likely to feature.

The special sitting of Parliament comes days after ICC judges ruled he must be present, in person, on Wednesday during a status conference...

Has Bensouda got secret agenda?: The Africa Union resolution that sitting Heads of State and Government should not be tried while in office by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to feature in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s address to Parliament this afternoon, as fears abound among his supporters that the Prosecution may be harbouring a hidden agenda against him...

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BUSiness

Kenya rates high on investment potential MONday, october 6, 2014

Local and foreign investors have a reason to smile after a new audit report ranked Kenya’s economy as vibrant and conducive for business.

The report comes despite widespread security concerns in the recent past.

The audit released by Brand Kenya shows that 94 per cent of investors rate the country as one with great economic exploits. Another rates the potential at 63 per cent for those who are satisfied with the right technological facilities that make it conducive to conduct business.

Speaking during the report launch, Brand Kenya Chief Executive Officer Mary Kimonye said the positive reviews from investors were signs that the economy is vibrant and ready for business.

“The purpose of the survey was to establish the perceived image of the Kenyan brand by the public and stakeholders,” she said.

Another indicator that boosts investor confidence is the attractive regulatory framework with about 49 per cent of those sampled saying it was easy to

acquire relevant permits for conducting business in Kenya.

On the flipside, poor leadership, resource management, transport facilities and property rights were the deemed to be unfavourable for investment.

The survey sampled a total of 1,320 local and international investors and Kenyans aged 18 years and above.

The survey recorded a 99.3 per cent response rate.

businessdiary Youth Alliance to host global summit 1. Africa Emerging Leaders summit at Strathmore University The World Youth Alliance will host an event dubbed ‘Africa Emerging Leaders Conference’ from October 9-10 at Strathmore University.

The theme for the annual event will be ‘Economic Development and the Family: The Role Youth Play’ The World Youth Alliance is a global coalition of youth committed to building solidarity from developed and developing nations.

The event groups youth from across Africa to interact with leaders and policy makers on current global issues through lectures and discussions.

Those planning to attend can visit ‘wya.net/ elcafrica’ for details.

2.Youth Entrepreneurial Forum at Hilton Hotel Goldmax Events and Communication will host this year’s ‘Youth Entrepreneurial Forum’ at Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, on Friday October 10, 2014.

Organisers have invited entrepreneurs and those planning on starting own business to meet Bidco Group CEO, Mr Vimal Shah, as he talks on “The Art of the Deal”.

The forum will teach youth how to master the art of making deals that can turn a small company into a business empire.

Dr James Mageria, Chairman of the Karen Hospital, will talk about “Plugging into Unlimited Wealth”.

Those planning to attend can contact Goldmax Events on 0701 282760 for details.

citywallet

Wealthy Kenyans spend 10 times more on car fuel than commuters

The poorest paid Kenyans walk to work as the wealthiest spend 10 times more than those who earn an average salary.

Francis Karin, a senior researcher at the Tegemeo Institute of Agriculture and Policy Development, has discovered that in Nairobi, the difference in income is so wide that some people cannot afford public transport as others splurge on fuel for private cars.

CONFIDENT: Brand Kenya CEO Mary Kimonye speaking during a previous event. Kimonye says that positive reviews from investors are signs that the economy is vibrant and ready for business.

Hackers break into 76m JB Morgan bank accounts The largest bank in US says it suffered massive cyber-attack that put customers’ information at risk.

JP Morgan Chase revealed that 76 million private and seven million business customers’ accounts were hacked. They had initially reported only a million accounts had been affected.

The hackers are believed to have obtained a list of applications and programmes that run on JP Morgan’s computers before gaining access to names, addresses, phone numbers and emails of account holders.

The bank, however, said there was no evidence that critical information, such as account

information, passwords or Social Security numbers, had been taken. They said customers whose accounts had been hacked are not liable for un-authorised transactions on their account they promptly alert the bank to.

The attack was the first on a US firm.

Last year, Home Depot, a home improvement and construction products company, was breached affecting 56 million payment cards.

Another retailing company had its credit card data for 40 million customers stolen along with personal and identification information for 70 million other customers.

Karin and his team sampled monthly incomes of the city residents and discovered that the average salary stands at Sh29,223. Household incomes range from Sh1,200 to Sh2,184,000 per month.

Karin’s study on regular income earners found out that the lowest paid worker earns Sh4,000 a month.

The individuals, he says, are usually watchmen or vegetable sellers in Kibera.

Those working as watchmen have a basic school education, wife and two children.

Vegetable sellers are usually single mothers with four children. Given the lack of funds, workers are forced to walk to work and back every day.

Middle-income earners make Sh13,000 a month. The individuals include mechanics, tailors and carpenters.

Those surveyed live in Eastleigh or Huruma and spend Sh40 daily on transport.

The highest earners, Karin says, make at least Sh70,000 a month.

The individuals are often professionals with postgraduate qualifications and include doctors and senior civil servants. They have teenage children, a house help and one or two relatives staying with them.

They have an 80 per cent chance of owning a car, live in resident areas such as Buru Buru or Highridge and spend Sh300 daily on fuel alone.

BUSINESS | 7

smartmove

MONday, octoBER 6, 2014

bizbriefs

Backyard ponds bring good tidings to fisherman Maurice Okoth has fished in Lake Victoria for the last three decades.

But dwindling stocks and strict fishing rules by the government have caused his earnings to dip over the last few months.

As a result, Okoth decided to start a fish farm at the back of his house, a model he has sold to over 200 others who now earn about Sh15, 000 a month from fish sales alone.

Okoth’s setup consists of a large

water filtration tank, hatching containers, and 10 fish ponds holding about three tonnes of fish. The whole facility measures 5,000sq metres.

He makes at least Sh20, 000 a month from the ponds, which supplements earnings from his other business ventures.

The venture ensures that Okoth’s family has enough to feed on while the surplus is sold.

His 10 ponds hold carp, tilapia, and

African catfish. Last year, using his savings from the fish sales, he bought two bicycles and a computer for his children.

However, it hasn’t been an easy ride for Okoth. He struggles with rats, which invade the facility at night and chew away at the net that forms the fence around the ponds to keep the fish from escaping during floods.

“The plan is to have many cats now,” Okoth said.

Rwanda to tax cross-border calls by 30 pc

Kenyans making cross border calls have been hit with a little bit of whiplash as a deal with Safaricom to lower cost went sour.

The Rwandese government has imposed a 30 per cent tax on cross-border call charges in what appears to be a case of going back on a promise made to scrap levies on roaming subscribers in the region. Analysts at financial research group, African Alliance told X News that this has led Safaricom to announce a reversal to Sh25 per minute in roaming charges.

Industry players have been supporting such initiatives as a way of increasing nutrition for families while helping them earning decent income.

Fish farming has been cited by institutions like the Food and Agriculture Organisation as an important practice capable of giving smallholder farmers a sustainable living.

Comesa: No more sugar deals for Kenya The Common Market for Eastern and Sothern Africa (COMESA) will cancel Kenya’s sugar import privileges in the coming months in a move that may be good for consumers but devastating to sugar millers.

Officials have said Kenya will not be given another extension to protect its sugar imports once the current one expire next March.

This means local millers will have to grapple with the flooding of low cost sugar from COMESA countries, making Kenyan sugar uncompetitive in the market while driving down the cost for local consumers, analysts say.

FISHY BUSINESS: A fish farmer releases young tilapia into his pond as his neighbours watch.

Barclays Africa wins award for best Domestic Cash Management House Barclays Africa has won an award for ‘best Domestic Cash Management House’ in a competition that pitted several banks across six African countries against each other.

Barclays Africa received the award from the global news publication, Euromoney, beating a host of other banks from Kenya Botswana, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Commenting on the award, Chief Executive of the Corporate and Investment Banking division of Barclays Africa, Stephen Van Coller, said Barclays’ unique cash management capabilities, combined with financing, risk management, advisory

and investment banking services played a role in winning the award.

“We are honoured to be recognised by our clients as the best domestic cash house in six African markets, this is a clear testament to the benefit that our clients are gaining through the combination of local presence and global expertise that only Barclays can provide on the African continent,” Coller said.

The Euromoney Cash Management Survey is the most comprehensive guide to the cash management field in the market, recognising leadership in cash management across a range of markets and criteria.

thefall

therise

Mumias Sugar

Eveready Eveready East Africa Limited, a Kenya-based company active in the manufacture and sale of dry cell D size batteries and accessories, was last week’s stock winner with a 49.09 per cent rise in stock prices from Sh2.75 to Sh4.10.

The company recently announced plans to branch into real estate after shutting down its Nakuru battery production factory, which has, for decades, been a premium employer in the

Rift Valley town. Eveready will now shift its focus from manufacturing to distribution by sourcing all its products, including batteries, from its affiliate, Energizer Egypt, which has lower production costs tied to cheap electricity.

The imports from Egypt will eliminate expenses of running the Nakuru plant besides boosting the firm’s competitiveness in terms of pricing. In terms of activities, the company will now only be exclusively involved in distribution of readymade goods.

Mumias Sugar, a Kenyabased company, engaged in the production and sale of sugar, ethanol and water and the generation and sale of electricity, was last week’s stock loser with a 4.76 per cent stock price decrease from Sh2.10 to Sh2.00.

Mumias is currently facing corporate governance issues, which has threatened the firm’s cash flow and revenue, critical to servicing its heavy debt burden.

Mumias has experienced a drop in revenues due to increased sugar imports, including claims of illegal

Analysis by Amana Capital info@amanacapital.co.ke

shipments by top management (costing the company more than Sh1 billion), forcing down prices, hurting its margins and causing the slide of its share.

Mumias is also among the several companies in the local sugar industry that will face stiffer competition from March 2015 when the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) protection measure from cheaper imports ends..

8|

WEDDINGS

MONDAY, OctOber 6, 2014

Janet Ogega and Shem Okottah met in June 2002 through a mutual friend. After dating for one year and nine months, the couple walked down the aisle on March 02, 2014.

Their wedding was held before their families and friends at Botanical Gardens in Karen.

“We planned the wedding for two months because we were avoiding the rainy season in March and we had to start planning after doing the traditional formalities in December,” says Janet. Up to this day, Janet confesses that Okottah’s humility to God and deep love for her astounds her. “He brings out my best self and makes me a better person every day,” she intimates. She attributes the success of their Sh1.5 million wedding to God, family and friends who gave them unwavering support throughout.

Shem takes Janet’s hand prewedding

Picking the perfect bridal gown needs patience, time From when they are little girls, women fantasise about their wedding day and the gown they will wear on that great day.

For that matter, shopping for the wedding dress is an exhilarating and an exhausting experience.

If you have watched “Say Yes To The Dress” on TLC channel, or been part of a wedding committee, you must have a rough idea how difficult it is to shop for a wedding dress. Buying or getting one tailor-made needs careful planning.

The first thing is to set the budget. This is just to give a rough estimate of how much one is willing to spend on it but chances are that it can go up to 20 per cent above the set budget.

Once the budget is set, do your research. Find out what style best suits you.

The venue of the wedding can also help narrow down your choices. If it is a beach wedding, a flowing gown would be a good option. Also find out what silhouettes best suits your body shape.

It is advisable to start shopping at least eight months to the wedding day.

If you are going to have one fitted, you need time to find the right tailor that will incorporate your style and preferences. If you are going to be buy one, the search for that perfect dress may be long. When going shopping, choose your shopping mates carefully.

They have to be people whose opinions you trust, but limit it to two people.

Too many opinions can make it more difficult.

theproposal While the thought of facing her father may be uncomfortable, a man has to do what he has to

Ask her parents for her hand in marriage before you propose You have found the girl you want to spend the rest of your life with. Now you want to take things to the next level and propose.

But you have to ask for her father’s blessing first before asking her. Though nobody will fault you for not doing that, it is a nice gesture that your father-in-law will always remember. We all know how important it is to start on the right footing with your in-laws. Asking for her father’s permission is obviously daunting and old school. Old school in that, it is 2014 and nobody cares about asking

the father. However, you would be wrong to think this way because it matters to seek your girl’s parent’s permission. They will feel assured that their daughter is in safe hands because her prospective husband respected them enough to ask for their blessings first. While the thought of facing her parents may be uncomfortable, a man has to do what a man has to do.

Asking permission for their permission is not a, “So, can I marry your daughter” talk.

It is supposed to be well thought out and prepared for. No matter how well you

get on with her parents, you will have butterflies in your stomach so preparation here is key.

When you finally pop the question to your girlfriend and she learns that you asked her parents first, she will be touched that you thought her important to ask her parents first.

However, before going to ask her old man, make sure that you and her are on the same page regarding marriage.

You might ask him and he agrees then when you pop the question to her she says no.

LOVE | 9

MONDAY, OctOber 6, 2014

Would you date them if they had history with your friends?

Dating someone who was once linked to a friend can be messy. There is always an unspoken code among friends: “Do not get involved with people whom your friends have dated.”

When you date your friend’s exes, they view you as a traitor. Because you are dating someone that caused them heartache; you are supposed to dislike because he or she did them wrong.

“I would not date my friend’s ex that would mean the end of our friendship,” says Christine Akinyi.

“I value our friendship to break their trust in that way,’’ she says.

“Never date your friend’s ex, you will be breaking the bro code and things can get ugly,” says Samuel Mwajuma.

“Imagine telling your friend that you started seeing his ex, how do you continue being friends?”

“It would be a bit awkward if I dated a friend’s ex,” says Pauline Wekesa. “It would not feel right especially when they had problems with the said ex she would confide in me,” she says.

The ideal time to have a child

Financial stability dictates most when to have a child

Partners must discuss and agree when to start the first child and indeed the rest. If one decides, the other is likely to abdicate responsibility saying, ‘you decided to have the baby.

My twin sister is messing around with a married man. She usually introduces me to her boyfriends but not this time. We always confide in each other but lately she has been sneaking around. So out of curiosity, I snooped around her room. I went through her phone messages and photos she has exchanged with the man and it bothers me to see her go down this road because the man is only using her. I doubt she is doing it

for the money because she has a well-paying job. Besides, we had a good life since our childhood although our dad died when we were seven years old.

I do not want her to get hurt.

How can I dissuade her from the toxic relationship?

Reply It is understandable for you to be concerned but going through someone’s stuff without their consent is invasion of privacy. It

destiny by reminding you of the biological clock as if they will take part in raising the children.

Ironically, once you bear the first one, they will ask when the second will be coming. Partners must discuss and agree when to start the first child and indeed the rest. If one decides, the other is likely to abdicate responsibility saying, ‘you decided to have the baby.

Take care of it’.

The counsellor says this leads to ‘quite rejection’ of the child, which will affect their overall development.

But if it was a common decision, it will be collaboration from the two.

An irresponsible partner soon after moving in is not likely to change when the child comes. A spouse who cannot help in basic chores, petty and major expenses unless squeezed may bring more stressful life when the child comes.

But since couples are not meant to agree on all matters, seeking help from older and experienced spouses, close friends and professional counsellors will give better insight flash out fears before penning down for the baby.

opportunity. She has pursued and grabbed it. Her first shot was at the internet, which was being embraced in the East African region in the 2000’s.

She never wanted to be part of it, but be the conveyor.

This is how she worked with other like-minded people to co-found Wananchi Online, currently known as Wananchi Group Holdings. It has turned to be the region’s leading cable broadband and internet data provider. Business does not stand on one foot.

Consultancy is key. That idea of training and consultancy

does not matter how close you are.

She is old enough to make her decisions and if she is entangled with a married man, she definitely knows what she is doing.

But if you still want to rebuke her actions, go ahead but you must explain to her how you found out. Talk to her without sounding judgemental in order to understand her actions.

It is true their affair is a mere sham but you have no proof she

is being used. Maybe they have a mutual agreement.

Sometimes a void left by the absence of a father in children’s lives haunts them forever. Girls may seek solace by dating elderly men or desperately clinging to boyfriends.

But without much speculation, you can only get answers from her.

Whatever you say to her remember she is in charge of her own life.

— cM

gogirl

Trusting in self can make women successful too Men are not better than women. The difference is the planning and following the strategy whole heartedly, but with flexibility.

These are the word that have spurred the co-founder of Wananchi Online, Njeri Rionge since she was 20, selling yoghurt to Loreto Convent Msongari High School students. In an interview with Forbes, she told women learning is like riding a bike or car, where one must first believe in themselves. Rionge has never closed an eye to any passing

Eric Macakiage’s gesture of welcoming home baby Jayden Otieno in a convoy of limousines threw the mainstream and social media into a prolonged discourse last week. Many comments on social media felt it was too much to spend just on the arrival of a baby.

Mackiage and his wife must have agreed when to have their child. The decision on when to have children in marriage must be carefully thought through or else stress may accompany the baby’s entrance sending love to exile.

Edwin Mobe, a Nairobi therapist, says children come with financial implications. He says most of the spousal cases they attend to are linked to money.

A baby brings more financial responsibilities, which can be burden-some if the couple hardly has sufficient.

They must be ready financially.

Mobe says a couple must determine the motive of bearing children.

They cannot start having children because parents and the significant others in their lives want them to.

The society cannot discern your

My sister is dating someone’s husband tellmeaboutit

touchspot

later ballooned to another company, Ignite Consulting.

But consultancy has to be done on ideas that have been conceptualised. That was another gaping gap that was filled by her Business Lounge, an incubator company for young entrepreneurial ideas.

Good health is behind thriving business.

And since she is techoriented, she needed not go to medical jargon. She gave it a tech side shot, giving rise to Ignite Lifestyle to take care to health concerns.

That idea of training and consultancy later ballooned to another company, Ignite Consulting

10 |

FUN

MONday, october 6, 2014

funtimes

The Big Brother party Multichoice Kenya ushered in Big Brother Africa Hotshots with a party yesterday at Ebony Lounge in Westlands. The ninth season of the continent’s popular reality show was launched yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The launch party was hosted by DNG and music by DJ Joe Mfalme. It was a glamour filled affair, celebrity studded and attended by Big Brother Africa fans.

4

2

toptrack

stylestar

Rabbit’s spiritual alter ego revealed

speakstome

Rabbit, aka Kaka Sungura, discloses his humble and spiritual side in this amazing track called Kafiri, which translates to pagan.

He features Kanana, who perfectly complements his lyrical rap. In supplication, Rabbit wants God to stay by his side despite being labelled a pagan.

He is grateful for everything he has achieved, his mother’s successful surgery and his family. Although he is not church devotee, he promises to keep God in his life.

Going by his deep emotions in this somewhat gospel tune, he seems to mean every single word. Kanana closes in with a sultry melodious voice. This collaboration is an A plus and possibly one Rabbit’s best songs.

Rabbit refers to himself as the Swahili Shakespeare. He is amongst Kenya’s young successful rappers. He stepped into the Kenyan hip hop scene in 2006 and has progressed over time. Kaka owns a clothing line called Niko Kwa Jam Nakam.

The curvacious Grace Msalame’s elegant style Grace Msalame is considered one of the most fashionable women in the Kenyan entertainment industry She hosts her own show called “Graced” on a local television station.

The curvy beauty loves fashion and says she prefers a comfortable and elegant look.

Msalame tends to lean more on the side of dresses and skirts when it comes to clothing.

She is hardly seen in wearing trousers or trouser jeans even when not on television.

She also prefers 4-6 inch heels.

On the accessories side, she loves a statement neck-pieces.

In an interview, she admitted that since becoming a mother, her fashion sense had become more mature.

Lies never last in relationships When people are in love with each other, they do not think even for a second that their partners can be living lies.

But falsehoods do not stay long before they show up. When they do, they shred relationships into tatters.

Giselle Knowles-Carter Beyoncé says in her track, Best Thing I Never Had, that she had overwhelming love for a guy to a point she thought she was going insane.

She never knew his other side. She says things that go around come around, to mean lies never last. It was at this peak of love that she realised the guy has been living a lie.

Although the singer does not point out the exact negatives, she says it is good enough for her to walk out and not regret it ever.

She calls him the best thing she never had

because of the pretence he had assumed at the beginning. She is the best thing he has missed too.

Beyoncé can see the guy hurting and crying, but she can nether pity nor go back to him.

She is optimistic somebody better will come around sometime later. She does not regret leaving happily instead of overstaying only to regret more.

PLAY |11

forecast

MONday, octoBER 6, 2014

HOROSCOPES capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

Engage more of your rational mind today, Capricorn. If your mind continues on its track into a fantasy world, you might consider enlisting the help of people who can help you bring some discipline to your situation. For you, the general feeling of the day is likely to be that the mind is willing but the flesh is weak.

aquarius Jan 20 - Feb

cancer Jun 22 - Jul 22

You must be aware of a lot before you commit yourself one way or another.

The people around you are apt to get annoyed with your narrow-mindedness, for this is how you will be viewed unless you stop and take a considered look at the whole picture.

leo Jul 23 - Aug 22

Suppose you were someone else for a day, Aquarius. How would it feel to be treated the way you normally treat other people? This is a good time to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and experience life through their eyes.

Stretch your body and get the blood flowing through all of your limbs. Once your blood is flowing, your mind will get moving. Before it gets too far into its noisy routine, take the opportunity to maintain a quiet, serene state while you clear out the static and set forth your goals for the day.

pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

virgo Aug 23 -Sep 22

Today your thoughts may turn to fashion and the different ways in which you can improve your wardrobe. Don’t be afraid to create a look that reflects your true inner spirit. Deck yourself in external splendor to illustrate the many different colors and layers that you carry on the inside.

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

The amazing thing about your nature is that, like a good politician, you have just the right tone of voice and catch phrase for every situation. You can put on your smile and charm and talk your way out of just about any pickle you get into.

taurus Apr 20 - May 20

1

2

libra Sep 23 - Oct 22

They key for you is to break things down into smaller chunks, analyze them, and figure out their role within the greater whole. You will find that by taking things one step at a time, any problem you encounter will be infinitely easier to overcome than you may have thought at first.

s y’ to dapho r e st ing e Y nn i w

ng s i n n in tio W p ca

scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

Don’t compare yourself to other people and make judgments based on outside appearances. The truth of the matter is that they’re most likely only looking at the immediate future and experiencing short-term pleasures. You, however, have your sights set on the long-term and will probably be much better off.

gemini May 21 - Jun 21

sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

Imagination and fantasy play a big part in your thinking today, Sagittarius, and you shouldn’t hesitate to embrace this frame of mind. There’s a great deal of power to be drawn from your sense of freedom to explore and dream. Your thinking is more of a higher consciousness now.

1. Send a caption for the photo above to news@x-news. co.ke. The winning caption gets published on this page.

1. I bet this story ends with the family carrying the donkey - Josephine, Nairobi.

2. Chilling with the wife and kid in my Ass-ton Martin - Meredith Wanja, Lavington.

3. This was the first time the Kimiti family posed for a photo - Francis, Kasarani.

sudoku Friday’s solution Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeated.

yoursay

3

Do something for the community today, Virgo, and really consider how your talents and skills can best be put to work. Consider volunteering at a school or library. Donate blood or help the elderly. Whatever you do, smile knowing that you’re making direct contact with friends who need your assistance.

You’re apt to get the feeling that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence today, Taurus. Try not to get too hung up on this. Either make the effort to go where the landscape looks richer and more fruitful or stay where you are. The key to true happiness is to make sure that regardless of where you end up, you enjoy the spot where you are.

Your mind may wander to a fantasyland full of castles, wizards, and magic dragons today, Gemini.

You could find that you’re putting yourself in the robes of a beautiful or handsome figure in a tall tower who’s waiting for the perfect mate to come along.

Vote for your winning pick of today’s top three instamoments (below) by sending an email with the picture number to news@x-news.co.ke

Saving Grace — by Jane Green Grace and Ted Chapman have been married for 20 years. Ted is a successful author while the wife Grace is a beautiful housewife who is her husband’s biggest champion.

On the surface, the couple may be having it smooth but things are not as velvety as they look.

Ted has rages and mood swings that affect the people around him. His wife has to tread carefully when she approaches lest she triggers him. The last straw comes when Ted’s long-time assistant quits and everything starts crumbling. Grace finds herself in desperate need of help until the perfect new assistant, Beth, appears. Beth is competent, has great organisational skills and can handle Ted’s tantrums without a blink. It soon becomes clear to Grace that Beth is not as great as she portrays. Beth might be the

mustread

biggest threat that could cost Grace her marriage and Ted his career.

Grace has to find a solution before things spill out of hand.

Blame yourself for Middle East tribulations

It is commendable that at last Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi revoked 930 licenses of hiring agencies that have been blamed for the suffering tales from the Middle East.

But it is disheartening that

Kenyans still insist they want to go to these places in the name of desperation (Kenyans defy Kambi jobs warning September 03, 2014).

The Kenyans want to learn from experience claiming rampant

joblessness leads them to volunteer as slaves.

These are the same people who will cry foul saying Kenyan embassies in the Middle East do not care about their plight.

Why should they jump into the

fire against the loud warnings and then blame the Government for the scars?

If you want to go there, do it at your peril.

Do not blame the Government for your tribulations; blame yourself,

your greed and the so called ‘I am desperate‘ excuses.

As you defy Kambi’s warning, remember you may not learn from your experience; you may be long dead and too late to learn.

Monday, october 6, 2014

Sport

Kiplagat wins Great Scottish half marathon Two-time IAAF World Championships marathon gold medallist Edna Kiplagat has won the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run in Glasgow.

Kiplagat led home a Kenyan 1-2 over the half marathon distance at the IAAF Gold Label Road Race on Sunday.

The 34-year-old, who is preparing for next month’s New York Marathon, pulled away from three-time event

winner Caroline Kilel after the halfway point. She finished in a course record 1:07:57, 56 seconds ahead of her compatriot.

“I started picking up from five kilometres and that’s when I found my rhythm,” she said. “Then I pushed it faster towards the closing miles. My body responded well and my training is on track.”

London 2012 Olympic

Games champion Tiki Gelana came third in 1:10:37 as local Scottish star Susan Partridge, 10th in World Championships marathon last year, was the first Briton home at fifth place in 1:12:12.

“It’s been a long season,” said Partridge, who also picked up a national title.

“I was hoping there might be a little more left but there just wasn’t.”

TOP CLASS: Edna Kiplagat wins 2014 Great Scottish Run in course record.

Ronaldo scoring boot nets 14th goal of season Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his 14th consecutive home game as Real Madrid made light work of Athletic Bilbao.

Ronaldo also made it 22 league hat-tricks to equal the record held by Alfredo di Stefano and Telmo Zarra.

The 5-0 victory was a BBC production with Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo too much for the visitors.

Bale set up two of Ronaldo’s goals while Benzema scored twice as Ronaldo took another ball home.

“We are still getting better, this is still the start of the season,” said Ronaldo. “The BBC is working well. We are used to playing together and we keep scoring goals.

If Ronaldo makes it 15 straight home matches

scoring, Barcelona will be the victims with the season’s first EL Clasico the next Santiago Bernabeu fixture. Real will play Liverpool on either side of the Barça game. And with 17 goals in 11 games this season, Ronaldo is in splendid form. On Saturday, Barcelona defeated Rayo as Valencia crashed title holders Atletico Madrid 3-1.

14 |

SPORT

MONDAY, OctOber 6, 2014

Gor inch closer to title after Stars rout, Sofapaka falter

Champions Gor Mahia made a huge stride in their bid to retain the Kenyan Premier League with a resounding 4-1 thrashing of City Stars on Saturday at the Nyayo National Stadium. The result saw Gor open a four-point gap at the top of the table on 51 points with four matches to go.

Sofapaka, the main rivals for the title, dropped valuable points when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Sony Sugar at Awendo Green Stadium on yesterday Sofapaka were

under pressure to win the match and stay on the heels of the leaders. But things got thick for them when Sony took a two-goal lead in just under 40 minutes of play with goals from Kennedy Oduor and Samuel Onyango.

‘Batoto ba Mungu’ got back into the match just on the stroke of half time when stocky forward Enock Agwanda pulled one back for his ninth goal of the season.

Burundian national Abdul Fiston spared the visitors the

blushes with an equalizer shortly after the hour mark.

The result moved Sofapaka to 47 points from 26 matches behind leaders Gor Mahia.

Tusker are third on 45 points.

In Nakuru, league debutants Top Fry All Stars’ troubles deepened after they felled by 2-0 by AFC Leopards with goals from Humphrey Mieno in the first half and Jacob Keli in stoppage time leaving the Nakuru side stuck at the bottom of the table on 16 points behind fellow strugglers, City

Stars (20 points), both now almost sure candidates for relegation as the domestic season draws a close. In the day’s other match, a brace from David King’atua and another goal from skipper gave hosts Thika United a 3-1 win over Bandari whose consolation was scored by Shaban Kenga.

However, the outcome of the match bore no significance on the table with Thika United staying sixth on 37 points while the Dockers are

also non-movers on 13th spot with 27 points. On Saturday, former champions Tusker kept their title hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Mathare United. Andrew Tololwa scored the all-important goal midway through the first half to move the brewers to 45 points, five adrift of the leaders. In Kisumu, Western Stima and KCB shared the spoils in a match that ended 1-1 while Muhoroni Youth hit the fast fading KRA 3-1 in Muhoroni.

FAST ACTION: Gor Mahia’s Musa Mohammed (in green) clears the ball under pressure from George Abege of City Stars during their league match played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday. The match ended 4-1 in favour of Gor.

Kimetto, Birech shortlisted for IAAF prize World marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto (pictured right) and African 3, 000m Steeplechase champion Jairus Birech have more reasons to smile after being shortlisted for the IAAF for the 2014 World Athlete of the Year Award.

Kimetto and Birech are the only Kenyans in the running for the prestigious award that also includes the Commonwealth Games champion Nijel Amos of

Bostwana’s and Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba, the world indoor champion, the other African runners on the list. It’s welcome news for Kimetto, barely rested from his 2:02.57 world record run in Berlin last Sunday, and still on a victory parade around his home county.

The 30-year will be hoping to make the top three finalists after the voting process which opened on Friday close on

October 16.

“My season has been great, hopefully I will make it to the final three and probably win the coveted awards,” said the world record holder.

This year was Birech’s breakthrough season. He started with back-to-back wins in Rome and in the US Bislett games where he ran a world lead of 8:02.37 that ensured he topped the 2014 Diamond race.

The 21-year old was equally impressive in the championship runs following up on the silver medal from the Commonwealth games with the African crown and the Continental cup gold in Morocco. The other African who may have scored one better than Birech is 20-year-old Amos, winner of the Diamond Race 800m winner who is also a world leader and a Continental Cup, and African champion.

Bianchi crash ruins Hamilton’s win in wet Japan GP A serious accident involving Marussia’s Jules Bianchi overshadowed Lewis Hamilton’s victory in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Bianchi suffered a “severe” head injury in a crash that caused the race to be stopped early, and is due to be put into intensive care after surgery Hamilton took his eighth win of the season after passing team-mate and title rival Nico Roberg for the lead around the outside of the fast Turn One. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel was third ahead of teammate Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren’s Jenson Button.

The race result paled into insignificance in the context of Bianchi’s injuries, but Hamilton’s eighth victory this season will surely be remembered as one of the greatest drives of his career.

It extends his championship lead to 10 points with four races to go and 125 available The race was held in treacherous wet conditions as storms that preceded the approaching typhoon Phanfone hit Suzuka.

After a stuttering attempt to get the race under way, including a safety car start, a red flag after two laps, and a further eight laps under the safety car, it evolved into a duel between Hamilton and Rosberg.

Hamilton then pulled away quickly, sometimes extending his lead by more than two seconds a lap, until he was 16 seconds ahead when the race was red flagged again, and then declared over, after 44 laps.

SPORT| 15

Juve hammer Roma to take Serie A lead

Juventus beat Roma 3-2 in a fiery clash to take lead of Serie A on Sunday as the latter dropped the first points of the season.

Leonardo Bonucci scored the winner four minutes to time with a screamer although teammate Arturo Vidal was in a clear offside position.

“It’s certainly my best and most important goal,” Bonucci said.

“It’s worth three very valuable points ... We made very few mistakes and they punished us with the only chance we allowed them. But at the end we reaffirmed that, in Italy, Juve is the strongest.”

Roma defender Kostas Manolas

and Juventus striker Alvaro Morata were sent off after a brawl shortly after Bonucci’s strike.

Juventus’ early goals were controversial as Carlos Tevez converted two debatable firsthalf penalties. Juan Iturbe had given Roma the lead after Francesco Totti levelled from the spot.

Roma coach Rudi Garcia was sent to the stands for pretending to play a violin after the first penalty.

“I prefer to talk about the game,” Garcia said. “There were so many incidents, but we lost partly through our own fault.

MONday, octoBER 6, 2014

We had two great chances which we didn’t score with. I don’t feel beaten, it’s a shame that here they make the penalty area slightly larger.”

Juventus became the first Serie A side to win 22 consecutive home matches. The team goes into the international break three points ahead of Roma, with Sampdoria a point further back after a 1-0 win over Atalanta.

In the evening matches, Inter Milan lost by three goals for the second successive match after losing 3-0 to Fiorentina. Napoli came from behind to win 2-1 against Torino.

IN CLOUD NINE: Juventus’ players can hardly hide their relief after overcoming Roma on Sunday with a 3-2 win at Turin. win over Roma.

England guilty of bullying, claims fired Kevin Pietersen Kevin Pietersen has accused England of having a bullying culture. In an autobiography that will become public today, Pietersen has portrayed himself as a victim.

Pietersen, who was shown the door by England when they finally had enough of his maverick ways after their humiliation in Australia, reserves his stinging criticism for Matt Prior and Andy Flower in an extraordinary attack on England.

It has long been known that Pietersen would aim his guns on Prior who tried to broker a peace deal after Pietersen had sent derogatory texts about Andrew Strauss to South African rivals. Pietersen has been accused of leading a concerted regime of bullying within the team.

“Hugely disturbing,” Pietersen says of the culture in the England team when they rose to become the world’s best.

“I brought it up on numerous occasions. I told Andrew Strauss about it. I told Alastair Cook about it. It was a huge thing.

“I could give you telephone numbers of international players around the world. You ring them and ask how the England team have conducted themselves over the last three or four years. People would say to me, “I can’t believe you could play with these guys?”

Bayern go four points clear as Dortmund fall Bayern Munich went four points clear in the Bundesliga with a 4-0 thumping of Hanover 96 on Saturday. Elsewhere, Schalke, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen suffered Champions League hangovers.

Bayern were rarely troubled at home as striker Robert Lewandowski (pictured) and Arjen Robben netted twice even with Thomas Mueller and World Cup winner Mario Goetze on the bench and Bastian Schweinsteiger injured.

“We’re happy with the result,” said Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, whose side have won the two opening Champions League matches.

“Hanover were third or fourth in the table and played with five at the back, which wasn’t easy. We scored four, but it could have been more.

“The important thing is that every game we’re playing a little better than before. We’re playing more and running less.”

Munich were 2-0 up after just 13 minutes as Lewandowski chested down a long ball and drilled his shot into the bottom corner.

Robben added a second after a trademark run through the heart

of the Hanover defence.

Lewandowski netted again seven minutes before the break after controlling a Juan Bernat pass and scoring into the left corner.

Bayern kept up the pressure in the second-half as Robben fired home his second with 11 minutes left.

Dortmund are winless in their last four league games after their 1-0 fall at home to Hamburg left them 13th.

Djokovic, Sharapova crush rivals to lift China Open titles World number one Novak Djokovic crushed Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday to lift the China Open.

The victory maintained a remarkable 100 per cent record for the Serbian at the

Beijing tournament.

Meanwhile, French Open champion Maria Sharapova battled hard to floor Petra Kvitova 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in the women’s final. The win moves her into second place

in the World Tour rankings.

Djokovic went 5-0 ahead in the second set, one game from serving up an incredible “double bagel” as he tore through his Czech rival with a brilliant serving

display. As he stared at an embarrassing loss, a stunned Berdych laughed as he pretended to hand his racket to a ball-girl, suggesting she may be able to take on his opponent.

“Beijing is definitely my lucky place, I enjoy coming here,” Djokovic said.

In the women’s draw, current world number four Sharapova handed Kvitova her first loss in nine games.

The fourth seed Russian appeared to have carried into the match the determination she showed in her 6-0, 6-4 semi-final win over Serbia world number nine Ana Ivanovic.

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SPORT

MONDAY, OctOber 6, 2014

Wenger still no match for Jose Chelsea consolidated its lead in the Premier League by beating London rival Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday in a feisty encounter that may be best remembered for Wenger losing his normal cool and giving Mourinho a shove in the chest on the side-line.

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas set up the second goal for Diego Costa in the 78th minute to make sure Chelsea remained five points clear of defending champion Manchester City atop the standings. Arsenal is now nine points behind in eighth place, having failed to avenge a 6-0 drubbing at Stamford Bridge last season.

Manchester United and Tottenham climbed above Arsenal with wins.

United beat Everton 2-1 to climb to fourth after goalkeeper David de Gea saved a penalty and made two crucial stops to deny the visitors a late equalizer at Old Trafford. Tottenham is sixth after Christian Eriksen scored in the 40th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Southampton.

Also Sunday, Queens Park Rangers dropped to the bottom of the standings after losing 2-0 to West Ham. The Chelsea-Arsenal game was always going to be emotional given Wenger’s humiliation at Stamford

pAT oN ThE bACK: Chelsea players celeberate a goal. They continued their dominance of Arsenal with 2-0 win yesterday.

Bridge in his 1,000th game in charge last season along with Fabregas facing his former team. It even turned physical in the dugout after a hard foul on Alexis Sanchez, with an angry Wenger squaring up against Mourinho and

then giving the Portuguese manager a shove in the chest before being separated by the fourth official.

Both coaches downplayed the incident after the game, after Mourinho’s side once again had the better of Wenger’s

on the pitch. Arsenal’s title push may not be quite over yet, but a nine-point gap is looking rather large even this early in the season given Chelsea’s strong form. Eden Hazard weaved in between defenders in the 27th minute

All set for Kiamburing TT after testing The popularity of motor sports in Kenya and the region went a notch higher with the second edition of the Super car Timed Trial racing event to be held in Kiambu in two weeks’ time.

Yesterday participants and spectators in the serene highlands of Kiambu turned up for the car testing ahead of the October 19 race.

The event brought together more than 15 high performance cars to compete in a timed race on the 18km Kiambu-Ndumberi road.

The race will coincide with Mashujaa Day celebrations.

The cars were fast enough to set quick times on the hill climb which has several hairpin bends.

The participants spent their day enjoying the great view of the tea plantations through which the road meanders, not to mention the cool and quiet environment.

Commenting on the event, Jack Bir, one one of the drivers during the road test, said this event was organized to give motor-racing fans a first-hand

experience on what super car racing is all about.

“We have quite a number of supercars in Kenya and the owners and lovers of supercar

racing have for a long time yearned for an event that will let the beast out of their cars in a safe and controlled environment,” said Bir.

SCENIC: A section of the Kiambu Ndumberi on which the Kiamburing Super Car Time Trial race will be held.

before being tripped by Laurent Koscielny in the area, and then converted the ensuing penalty himself to put Chelsea ahead. With Arsenal pushing for an equalizer, Fabregas picked the defence apart in the 78th

with a pinpoint long ball up to Costa, who lobbed the ball into the net with one touch.

Radamel Falcao scored his first goal f as the Red Devils won consecutive league games for the first time under manager Louis Van Gaal.

Non-league side Cheadle Town get hammered 22-0

by Russia’s U19s Non-league Cheadle Town took a lot of positives from their 22-0 thumping by Russia U19s - they trended on Twitter, their goalkeeper did not make any gaffes and the re-match has been cancelled. As the goals rained in, the interest on social media grew on the back of the match which was serving as a warm-up for the Russians before a European Championships minitournament in Northern Ireland this week.

“I can’t even say that any of their goals were flukes or should have been disallowed.

In fact, every one was from inside the box, and they just about walked them all into the net. Our lads couldn’t get anywhere near them at

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times,” Cheadle secretary Stuart Crawford said.

“We played our first-team goalkeeper Steve Piggott, but he didn’t make any gaffes and, in fact, saved further embarrassment with a few saves.” The Russians were 9-0 up at the break and despite making wholesale changes added 13 more in the second half.

“We were supposed to play them twice, but I’m relieved to say the second game was cancelled,” Crawford said.

The Russians took the lead on four minutes and when the visitors were 6-0 up in 33 minutes, Cheadle’s Twitter account at least saw the funny side when it proclaimed: “We’ve won a corner!”