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a pregnant woman was sentenced to death by a sudanese court for converting to christianity. Her husband blames the us P.3

eXtra.sharp Monday 19.05.2014 | www.x-news.co.ke

SPORT

top fry nakuru coach lauds team after rare double | P.13

Johanna omolo still thrilled by harambee stars goal | P.16

PSV travellers ignore police terror warnings Kenyans continue to ignore safety regulations announced by the government even as threats of terror increase.

After twin explosions hit two buses along Thika Superhighway

a fortnight ago, Police Inspector General David Kimaiyo ordered matatu operators to thoroughly screen passengers before they are allowed to board.

Leaders of Public Ser-

vice Vehicle operators, including the Matatu Awners Association backed the call and told crews to buy the screening gadgets.

But some crews still pick passengers at

undesignated bus stops while commuters ignore vehicles that subject them to the screening.

PSVs that park near the Haile Selassie/Moi Avenue roundabout are particularly notorious

Kampala VC declares Joho’s degree valid

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for the trend with commuters shunning the Railway bus stop.

Onions bring tears of joy to Kieni farmer’s eyes P8

Self-cleaning clothes coming to your line

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Between 1982 and 1998, only 24 teams used to participate in the World Cup finals

24 open gaps: Touts usher commuters into a matatu. Police advice on personal vigilance when in public service vehicles is not being heeded to.

DAYS TO GO

NEWS | 3

MONday, May 19, 2014

Travellers snub state warning on terror threat From Page 1 Travellers scramble for available spaces in PSVs as Boda Boda operators compete for passengers with matatus. Passengers are not frisked by touts who are in a hurry to fill vehicles and dodge traffic officers on patrol.

A driver said they have little time for screening passengers because they must evade paying hiked parking fees. “It is efficient for us because the bus fills up faster allowing us to go several rounds to beat traffic jams,” said George Ngatia.

A tout only identified as Jamoh says passengers encourage PSVs to let them board without screening.

Meanwhile, other PSV operators claim police demand large amounts of cash.

But traffic police officer Samuel Mutunga is agitated by the way Nairobians ignore traffic rules. “It is in such turmoil that terrorists read

our weaknesses and hit us when we least expect,” he says.

“But when you urge people to use bus terminals and take steps to ensure safety for everyone, it becomes a bother,” he says.

“I know it is unsafe to board matatus here but the problem is most Rongai vehicles don’t go to Railways bus stop so it takes centuries and the place is ever congested,” claims Janet Anyika.

Another traffic police officer who refused to reveal his name said the Railways terminus has limited parking space. At Khoja mosque on Tom Mboya Street, passengers going to High Ridge, Aga Khan, Eastleigh and Mamba Village scramble for vehicles instead of using bus stops.

In the ensuing confusion, skilled con men have mastered their art to empty the pockets of passengers as they struggle to enter PSVs.

Standard rail project to create 36,540 jobs A total of 36, 540 jobs will be created in the first phase of the standard gauge railway project, the ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has said.

Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau says the government expects the construction of the railway to yield 60 new jobs per kilometre during the first phase from Mombasa to Nairobi.

“We expect that the construction will create at least 60 new jobs per kilometre of track,” Mr Kamau said.

China Road and Bridge Corporation (CBRC) says it will source material from local suppliers in a move that is expected to create extra opportunities for Kenyans.

“We intend to source inputs as much as possible from local suppliers. We are here to create job opportunities for Kenyans,” said the CRBC Liaison and Corperate Affairs Manager Julius Li. The multi-billion project will require materials such as steel,

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cement, ballast, roofing material, glass, power transmission pylons and aggregate.

Li said involving locals will be necessary to ensure they acquire proper skills in maintaining and managing a modern railway line.

“We shall mobilise local capacity for optimal realisation of the project.

Where it is absent, we shall create it through a deliberate focus on training and technology transfer to Kenyan workers,” he said.

It is estimated that the Sh327 billion deal signed between the National Treasury and Chinese Exim Bank in Nairobi will lead to the employment of more than 400 engineers and other technocrats.

The Chinese bank will provide 90 per cent of the total cost while Kenya will top up the remaining amount from the Railway Development Fund.

The project will start in October and is expected to be completed in five years.

Publisher: Paul Marshall Commercial Director: Neema Wamai Content Editor: Brian Moseti Finance Director: Fred Bunei

sentenced: 28-year-old Mariam Yahya Ibrahim, who is eight months due, was sentenced to death after being found guilty of abandoning Islam, for Christianity. Her husband plans to appeal the sentence.

Spouse of Sudan woman on death row blames US officials The husband of a pregnant Sudanese woman sentenced to hang for converting to Christianity says the US embassy ignored his appeal for help.

The US citizen says embassy staff gave him a cold shoulder as he struggled to rescue his wife.

Mariam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag had been ordered to abandon her newly adopted Christian faith and revert to Islam.

Judge Abbas al Khalifa asked

Ibrahim whether she would return to Islam. After she said “I am a Christian,” the death sentence was pronounced, judicial sources said.

She was also charged with adultery for marrying a Christian man, Daniel Wani, who was pronounced innocent after the marriage was revoked.

“Considering I am an American citizen, I am disappointed with the American Embassy’s position from the beginning of the whole case. I

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reported it to them but they didn’t take much interest, particularly the consulate. They said they didn’t have time. In fact last time, they said they didn’t care much about the case. They came late - they intervened when they saw the issue was getting press attention - but the intervention was late,” he said.

Ishag says she was born to a Sudanese Muslim father, who was absent, and raised by an Ethiopian Christian mother.

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NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014

Youth leader calls for fairness in recruitment of NYS staff Youths have called for a fairness in the recruitment of National Youth Service personnel.

The National Youth Council chairman, Clement Ayungo, said it is important that all interested young people across the country get a fair chance to join the service.

Ayungo said he is impressed by the recent announcement by the government that it will be recruiting about 21 000 youths to the service every year but urged a departure from the biased recruitment practices of the past. He said such a move will ensure many youths are recruited to join the service while quality training is maintained.

He also urged newly appointed director general Nelson Githinji to deliver the institution’s long awaited changes that the youth have been yearning for.

AFRAID OF NEW TECHNOLOGY The National Housing Corporation (NHC) has said that local property developers are reluctant to use new technology. Andrew Saisi, The Corporation’s General Manager said last week that local developers have not adopted the use of prefabricated materials since they have already invested heavily in traditional construction materials. Prefabricated items are manufactured components that are used to build housing units.

“New policies will be key drivers of changing their mind-set since contractors are the ones hampering the uptake of new construction technology,” he said during recent visit to NHC’s prefab factory in Mavoko.

Saisi said as a result of the conventional housing methods, most Kenyans are yet to buy into the new technology.

The corporation has built a factory off Mombasa road to produce Expanded Polystyrene panels at an estimated cost of over Sh700 million. The panels cut the cost of construction by as much as 30 per cent, since using prefabricated materials reduces the time it takes to put up a structure.

New joint effort to fight Boko Haram terrorists Nigeria and the neighbouring countries have agreed to share intelligence and border surveillance in a new strategy aimed at defeating the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The agreement was announced on Saturday at the conclusion of a summit in

Paris, which was hosted by French President Francois Hollande.

Western nations will provide technical expertise and training to the new regional effort, according to the agreement.

Hollande described Boko Haram as a bigger terror threat

than first portrayed beyond Nigeria and even Africa.

“Boko Haram is an organization linked to terrorism in Africa and whose will is to destabilize the north of Nigeria, certainly, and all the neighboring countries of Nigeria and beyond that

region,” he said.

Cameroon President Paul Biya was more forceful in describing how partnering countries will “take stronger measures to eradicate” the extremist islamist group.

“We’re here to declare war on Boko Haram,” Biya said.

As the summit took place on Saturday, reports emerged of the latest apparent Boko Haram attack, this one in Cameroon in which one Cameroonian soldier was killed in a Friday night attack against Chinese nationals in northern Cameroon.

VC: Joho degree valid Ali Hassan Joho legitimately earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Kampala University, the institution’s Vice Chancellor has insisted.

Prof Badru Kateregga yesterday told journalists in Nairobi that Joho was genuinely awarded the degree by the university’s senate after studying at the institution between 2009 and 2012.

“The degree awarded to Mr Ali Hassan Joho is bona fide, lawful and authentic as far as Kampala University is concerned,” he said. The vice chancellor also said the institution’s senate cannot, and will not recall, revoke, or cancel the award because it is deemed to be valid, and genuinely awarded.

“Any statements suggesting that any other body has revoked or is about to recall or cancel Joho’s degree is irresponsible and of no consequence and should be ignored,” he said.

The validity of Mr Joho’s degree had been challenged by his political opponent prompting the Uganda National Council for Higher Education to order an

investigation into the claims.

In its resolution, the council claimed that there was no clear evidence showing that due process from admission to graduation was followed in the award of the degree.

The council further doubted whether Mr Joho could have physically been in Uganda to undertake his studies given that he was a Member of Parliament for Kisauni constituency at the time. But the Vice Chancellor rubbished the claims saying the council has no authority on the matter.

“Awarding degrees is a question of the university senate. The council’s only mandate is to accredit programs the universities offer,” he said.

Prof Kateregga, who also chairs Kampala University’s senate, claimed the issues surrounding the legality of the degree are being fuelled by politics in Kenya.

Mr Joho is currently the Governor for Mombasa County and he stands to lose his position should his degree be revoked.

The law requires a governor to be a degree holder.

I SWEAR: Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho can rest easy after Kampala University VC said his degree is genuine.

NEWS | 5

MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014

Private varsities snub State funding proposal A plan to have State sponsored students admitted to private universities may be derailed after the institutions failed to register with the university admission agency.

The top universities, including Catholic, Mt Kenya and Strathmore, missed the April 19 registration deadline claiming the plans are unclear.

Others like Inoorero and African International University did not meet the deadline.

Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) which replaced the Joint Admissions Board (JAB) had invited all universities and colleges to become members ahead of the planned enrolment of State-sponsored students to private institutions.

Each university was required to deposit Sh100, 000 to KUCCPS bank account as part of the registration process. Colleges are required to pay annual subscription fee of Sh70, 000.

A total of 18 private universities, including Daystar, Africa Nazarene, USIU and Pan African University have registered with the service.

After registration, the universities were to provide the admissions agency with a list of courses they plan to use in the admission of State-sponsored students.

KUCCPS was later expected to provide Form Four leavers with a list of all chartered universities and approved colleges to pick from.

A body which is yet to be formed is due to set the average cost of each degree course to help the State determine funding limits.

Critics say uncertainty over payment of top-up fees had made private varsities claim they did not enrol.

Lenku links foreigners to terror threats Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Lenku has blamed illegal immigrants for the rising cases of terror attacks in Nairobi.

During a meeting with security chiefs from Isiolo, Samburu, Meru and Marsabit counties, ole Lenku said aliens are still sneaking into the country despite a government crackdown.

He said the aliens have been passing through Moyale and Mandera before moving to Nairobi through Isiolo, Samburu and Meru counties.

“Some of the foreigners are behind the attacks in Nairobi,” he said.

Lenku who met heads of security organs in Isiolo on Saturday urged them to be more vigilant.

“Their passage into the country means someone is sleeping on the job,” he told the county commissioners, chiefs and other officials.

SeeKing Knowledge: Students in private universities from poor backgrounds are unlikely to benefit from State funds because their institutions have failed to register with the central registration agency.

Rift, Western Coast scibes under threat from leaders

Journalists working Rift Valley, Coast and Western regions face the highest risk, harassment and threat to life.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) says prominent traders and politicians have been behind the threats.

MCK chief executive Harun Mwangi says the journalists have received threats for exposing politicians and traders’ illegal dealings.

He said 35 journalists have been put on a protection scheme by the council after receiving the threats.

“About 35 journalists in Kenya are on the protection list due to threats from prominent people,” he told a media workshop on safety and security in Mombasa at the weekend.

Mr Mwangi said the rise in investigative journalism has contributed to the rising rate of threats that target the media personnel.

He urged reporters to maintain independence, integrity and transparency in their work.

“They should always alert editors whenever they conduct investigative pieces,” he said.

By-pass to be ready by July, say officials

upgraded: a section of the Southern by-pass.The Kibera-dagoretti section of the bypass is set for opening by July.

The Kibera-Dagoretti section of the Southern bypass will be opened

by July, officials have announced.

China Road and Bridge Corporation, the company constructing the road through lead contractor Yili Shu, said they are on schedule and will deliver in time.

The announcement was made during a tour by Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau and top officials of Chinese Exim Bank. The tour was made during the three-day state visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang two weeks ago.

“We are on schedule and will meet the key thresholds,” Mr Shu told the officials.

Principal Secretaries John Musonik (infrastructure) and Nduva Muli (transport) accompanied Mr Kamau.

The opening of the section

is expected to ease traffic congestion on the southern parts of Nairobi.

The bypass is expected to ease snarl-ups along Uhuru Highway as trailers and cargo hauliers are expected to divert to the route before connecting to the Nairobi-Nakuru highway at Kikuyu.

About 85 per cent of the Sh17 billion project which is expected to be completed next year has been funded by Exim Bank of China. Kenya is funding the remaining 15 per cent.

The Dagoretti-Kikuyu section is also expected to be ready by December.

The road is 55 per cent complete.

The construction of the 28.6 kilometer long dual carriageway is being supervised by the Kenya National Highways Authority.

It includes 12-kilometre slip roads, 8.5 kilometres service roads and four modern inter-changes.

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NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014

Lands ministry open after 10-day closure The lands ministry was today morning re-opened to the public after a 10 day closure for an audit and reorganization of the records.

Unlike in the past when visitors made inquiries inside the offices, several tents were today put up outside for inquiries from the public.

Cabinet Secretary Charity

Ngilu was seen moving from tent to tent making inquiries as to whether her officers were serving the public accordingly.

The ministry had been closed down for the last ten days after the minister ordered an audit and reorganisation of the records. Yesterday, she announced that some 1.3 million files that were missing

have been recovered. The government is said to have spent Sh67 million on the exercise which was conducted by students from Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. During the audit period, all searches, land rent payments, stamp duty and application for valuation had

been stopped. This ignited a dispute between the National Lands Commission and Ms Ngilu with the latter going to court arguing that the process was illegal. The case was however settled out of court last week after the judge ruled that both parties go for arbitration. President Uhuru Kenyatta made a surprise visit

to Ardhi House three days after the audit began and inspected the process before voicing his support. Transactions at the ministry are now expected to take days instead of the three weeks as was the case prior to the audit.

Mrs Ngilu announced that similar audits will also be undertaken in the counties.

globalview Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

What others said today...

Raila team new war: The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy stirred the political arena with a fiery attack on President Uhuru Kenyatta, and a declaration of mass protests against his regime. Despite the absence of their leader, Raila Odinga, the CORD leaders retreated to Kibera Grounds where they roundly criticised Uhuru’s administration...

Counties battle it out for public varsity slots: Nakuru, Nairobi, Kiambu and Kakamega are among counties expected to send the highest number of KCSE candidates to public universities when the selection for the government sponsored regular programme officially starts today. These counties have produced the highest number of candidates with an average grade of B-...

URP plots to impeach Waiguru over Rugut: Deputy President Ruto’s party URP is ploting to introduce a motion to impeach Devolution Secretary Anne Waiguru.

The MPs behind the scheme have been speaking to individual URP MPs as well as some from other parties as they ramp up support before it is tabled in parliament. The move would strain relations between the Jubilee coalition partners. The legislators are furious with the Cabinet Secretary for among other things, sacking Mr Rugut...

BJP supporters dance as they set off firecrackers at the party’s headquartersin Ahmedabad on May 16, 2014. The value of Indian equities has climbed by $332 billion since Sept. 13, when the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party named Narendra Modi as its candidate for prime minister.

Police shoot dead four city robbery suspects Four suspected thugs were shot dead on Monday morning in two separate incidents and stolen property found on them in Nairobi.

Police said two of the suspects were shot dead in Githurai 44 where they had been mugging residents. Some of the stolen items, including mobile phones, were recovered.

Police say the two were part of a gang that had been attacking and robbing residents when an alarm was raised. Nairobi deputy police boss Moses Ombati said three other members of the gang escaped.

“They had attacked a woman and grabbed her bag before she screamed alerting police who were there. The same gang had

been attacking and robbing pedestrians in the area at about 6 am,” Ombati said.

Two other suspected robbers had been shot dead in Embakasi. They had too been attacking pedestrians when police were alerted.

The bodies were taken to the city mortuary. Nairobi is experiencing an upsurge in

crime with most of the attack being staged by muggers who leave their victims with serious injuries. Meanwhile police are looking for a gang that raided private residencies along Rhapta Road, Nairobi and stole property on Sunday night.

The gang also beat up the guards on duty before escaping with a car and the stolen

property. Police say the gang had earlier on taken hostage one of the owners of the compound.

In Dandora, police have arrested a man after he hit and killed his colleague in a fight over money. The victim died in hospital where he had rushed to after being hit by a blunt object.

Rage over insolent Cord language: Majority Leader Aden Duale yesterday told off Cord leaders over their use of foul language in reaction to President Uhuru’s decision to authorise the payment of Shs 1.4 billion Anglo Leasing contracts as well as delegating more powers to the county commissioners.

Duale’s sentiments and disgust were echoed

by Starehe MP Maina Kamanda, Thika’s Alice Ng’ang’a...

BUSiness | 7 MONday, May 19, 2014

businessdiary

Plan for the week ahead

awarded: WorldRemit founder Dr Ismail Ahmed Ismail Ahmed receives an award at the 2010 Somali Achievement awards for his innovative money transfer business. He sayd Western Union and MoneyGram are using anti-competitive practices to gain business advantage.

Cash firm accused of fleecing Africans WorldRemit, a group involved in international cash transfer through the online platform, claims Western Union and MoneyGram are involved in anti-competitive business and lobbying practices. The group has asked regulators to take action against the company.

Dr Ismail Ahmed, WorldRemit CEO, claims the companies’ levies high charges in cross-border cash transactions. Speaking after meeting by members of the 2014 Africa Progress Panel, he claimed Western Union and MoneyGram have been exploiting their positions as monopolies to charge exorbitant fees.

The Panel advocates for equitable and sustainable development services for Africa.

“Prices are so high that as much as 70 per cent of the total transaction can be lost,” he says. “On average, a transfer of $200 (Sh17,500) to sub-Sahara Africa loses $25 (Sh2,187), or 12 per cent of the total transaction. Many sub-Sahara migrants send smaller amounts than $200 (17,500) on regular basis and lose a much higher percentage of the payment,” he said.

WorldRemit which serves 35 countries across the world including Kenya, allows users to send money online from anywhere and at any time. Users can

transfer as little as $1 (Sh87.50) using computers, smartphones or tablet sand pay by debit card, credit card or directly from bank accounts.

“Remittance firms that operate online or mobile-only payment models have much lower operating costs than the traditional agent-based model of Western Union or MoneyGram,” said Ahmed.

“Mobile payments innovations, such as M-Pesa in Kenya and Tanzania, can provide a quick and secure means for unbanked Africans to receive money transfer from friends and family abroad.”

Fast food firms’ workers strike rages The US fast food workers have joined the global protest.

Fast food workers have been on strike since Thursday over low wages and poor working conditions.

Workers from United Kingdom, Indonesia, France and Brazil have been taking part in protests which were planned by International Labour Federation.

ILO consists of 12 million workers across 126 countries who met in New York a week ago to plan the strike. The organisers said they had planned 230 protests in 33 countries.

Targeted establishments include McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC. The National Restaurant Association, which represents fast food businesses said in a statement: “A dramatic increase to labour costs like the one proposed is not the

1. Business idea competition The ALTIS Postgraduate School of Business, the Society of the Catholic University of Milan and Tangaza University College will host a business idea competition. Participants stand to win Sh479,600 (€4,000) full tuition scholarship. Anyone with a powerful business idea or traders can participate.

The event will be held May 22 at iHub at Bishop Magua Plaza on Ngong Road from 8:30 am to 1pm.

Participants can call Louisa Manwari on 0788 463 045 for details. Registration ends at 7:30am on May 22.

Entry is free.

2.Tech firms showcase at Mayfair Hotel Business technology company, Novell Mobility, will showcase ‘GroupWise 2014’, a new business management software, at Southern Sun Mayfair

Hotel in Parklands, Nairobi.

The event will run between 9:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday, May 20.

GroupWise allows staff to access emails and office resources on mobile phone.

The event will be presented

by GroupWise Product Manager Robin Redgrave.

Participants can contact ghallworth@novell.com for details. Entry is free.

3. Firm to hold women’s ‘Hackathon’ Tech company AkiraChix has asked women in the ICT sector to participate in an International Women’s Hackathon. Participants stand a chance to win prizes. The event will be held at the Bishop Magua Centre, off Ngong Road, Nairobi, on May 23 starting 9am and Saturday May 24, 2014 at 4pm.

Participants can contact info@akirachix.com for details.

citywallet

Kenyans puff away 10b cigarettes a year Seventy-five per cent of Kenyans are loyal to a preferred cigarette brand. Due to affordable prices, satisfaction derived from smoking, high quality and taste, smokers are committed to a brand of choice, a study by Dr Jacinta Mwende, a Business Administration professor at the University of Nairobi, shows. Majority of smokers are aged between 31 and 35 years of age with 82 of them male and 18 per cent female.

Smokers first choose a preferred brand based on its image, strength of a ‘kick’, burning rate, flavor, and age of the brand.

While middle to lower income people tend to go for reasonable prices, higher earners pick more expensive brands they associate with success. Dr Mwende says those earning more than Sh50,000 a month chose particular brands for making them look more prominent.

A Kenyan smoker puffs away about eight cigarettes a day at a cost of about Sh60 or Sh1,680 a month. This adds up to 13 per cent of an average Kenyan’s monthly income which a BBC survey pegs at about Sh12,300.

ready food: A protester holds up a sign at a demonstration outside McDonald’s in Times Square in support of the global employees on strike.

comprehensive solution to income inequality - it will only hurt business owners’ ability to create entry level jobs.”

The workers are demanding

a wage of $15 (Sh1, 312) per hour. The federally-mandated minimum wage is $7.25 (Sh634) per hour. In McDonald’s Restaurant, staff earn $8 (Sh700) per

hour. In a statement McDonald’s said: “McDonald’s respects our employees’ right to voice their opinions and to protest lawfully and peacefully.”

The Ministry of Health says Kenyans smoke about 10 billion cigarette sticks a year, equivalent to more than 500 per person each year for every Kenyan adult.

Despite high tax on tobacco products that rises by about Sh5 billion each year, it costs the country over Sh18 billion every year in the burden of treating diseases caused by inhaling tobacco.

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BUSINESS

MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014

bizbriefs KeBS to use App to rid local market of counterfeits The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has invested in mobile technology plan to help rid the local market of counterfeit products.

The quality-control body says technology will give consumers a free mobile app and a free short text messages service which they can use to scan goods they suspect to be fake.

“We will issue an SMS number and a quick response code scanner for smartphones, which will be able to detect the validity of products from our database,” said KEBS Product Certification Manager, Erick Ochieng’.

smartmove

Onions bring tears of joy to Kieni farmer’s eyes Four years ago, Steven Wachira, a plot owner in Kieni West district of Nyeri, did not ever think anything good would come out of his semi arid patch. Now from a price of Sh70,000 per acre, the price of land is Kieni West has risen up to between Sh250,000 and Sh350,000.

The surge in land value is attributed to what experts are calling ‘hybrid onion farming’. Wachira has seen the benefits of this new initiative and has since turned his fortunes around.

“This place was shunned and poverty stricken six years ago,” Wachira recalls. He

took advantage of an onion farming project in the area by agricultural NGO, Farm Concern. Hybrid onion seeds from the NGO raised the production of the crop from two to three tonnes per acre to 12 tonnes from the same size of land.

The new high yield seeds,

which include breeds like Red Passion, Tropicana and Red Pinoy, mature within three months, half the time that other conventional varieties take.

The timing has been a huge marketing bonus, delivering onions to the market during a period in which Wachira

would face a shortage.

From February onwards, the prices of onions range from Sh33 to Sh45 per kilogramme, meaning Wachira, who has 1.2 hectares,can can make up to Sh1.3 million every year.

“Real change has happened here,” he says.

Toyota to build fertiliser factory

Toyota Tsusho East Africa (TTEA), the trading arm of the Toyota Group, will build a fertiliser factory in Kenya in September, Dennis Awori, Special Advisor to TTEA, has said.

The $1billion (Sh87.5 billion) facility is set to provide jobs and boost the country’s agriculture sector through provision of affordable fertiliser.

“We are keen to actualize this plan and produce targeted fertiliser, whose specification matches particular soils in the country and to do it at a lower cost,” Awori said.

HARVEST: Women work on an onion farm. Production of the crop in semi arid Kieni West has increased after introduction of new crop variety.

jobcorner Jobs from Kensalt Ltd You can help add some taste to peoples lives as a casual worker at Kensalt Ltd, the table salt manufacturers, on Lunga Lunga Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. The company takes on casual works at the start of every month.

Candidates must have a KSCE certificate and their national IDs. Casuals work day and night shifts. The wage for the day shift, which starts at 8am and ends at 5pm, is Sh500, and the night shift, which runs from 6pm to 7am pays Sh800. Wages are paid at the end of the month.

Casual jobs from J&K Investment Visit J&K Investment LTD every Monday to give yourself a job opportunity.

The steel door makers on Wundanyi Road in Industrial Area, recruit casual labourers on a first-comefirst-served basis at the company’s entrance once every month. The casuals only work during the day from 8am to 5pm earning Sh600 a day. Payments are made at the end of the month according to the number of days worked.

The only qualification needed is a national Identity card.

therise

Kakuzi

Kakuzi was last week’s winner as its stock prices rose 13.8 per cent from from Sh115.9 to Sh132.

The agribusiness company, which is listed in both Nairobi and London, is engaged in the cultivation, manufacture and marketing of tea, the growing, the packing and marketing of avocados and livestock farming. Market analysts from investment group, Amana Capital said that Kakuzi plans to venture into large-scale sorghum farming, targeting breweries in East Africa. It has already become a major source of raw materials for the breweries.

East African Breweries has a growing demand for sorghum, having gotten 10,000tonnes of it from farmers in 2013. “There is also a growing demand for sorghum among households and relief organizations that has made its cultivation an economically viable use of land,” said Amana.

thefall NIC Bank NIC Bank was, for the second time in a row, the week’s biggest loser as its stock price fell 6.3 per cent to trade at Sh59.50 per share.

The financial services company recorded a Sh277million loss in 2013 from their NIC Bank Tanzania division compared to a Sh103million after-tax profit in 2012 and a Sh109million profit in 2011.

“The loss was the result of a jump in bad loans, which forced the lender to increase its provisions,” Amana said.

The bank has issued loans of Sh4.8billion and collected Sh6billion deposits in the country.

PLAY | 9

forecast

MONday, May 19, 2014

capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

HOROSCOPES

You can interpret the day ahead as an open-ended question about you, Capricorn. You may have noticed certain physical or psychological aspects of yourself that make you uncomfortable.

The day ahead may force you to take action to correct that attitude.

Vote for your winning pick of today’s top three insta moments (below) by sending an email with the picture number to news@x-news.co.ke 1

2

3

aquarius Jan 20 - Feb

Sometimes people might reproach you for being less than tactful in relationships, Aquarius. However, today’s planetary energies are going to help you be more sensitive. You’ll feel as though you suddenly have a much greater capacity for listening.

pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

You have an unusual gift for making a situation seem less dramatic, Pisces. Today, you’ll witness crises of all kinds. You will be the one who reassures people, and the one who can sum up the situation objectively without panicking or exaggerating.

This, coupled with your legendary calm, makes for a great combination!

s y’ to dapho r e st ing e Y nn i w

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

ng s i n n in tio W p ca

Dare to express your ideas without fear of ridicule. This is what the planetary configuration has to say to you today, Aries. And this is exactly what you need to hear, because fear of ridicule is generally your Achilles heel.

taurus Apr 20 - May 20

If you’ve always felt the desire to write, now is the time to take the plunge, Taurus. You certainly don’t lack the imagination! Your problem may be that you have difficulty taking your prose seriously.

gemini May 21 - Jun 21

You might have some strong hesitations during the day, Gemini. You may have to cover up the truth or, on the contrary, say it out loud. If this is the case, say what’s on your mind.

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

The Ocean at End of the Lane

1. Facebook, the hardcore edition-Ben Mokua, Nairobi.

2. This is real addiction— Mary Nyokabi, Ngumo.

3. Some things people smoke..,smh-Patricia Naliantei, Donholm.

Yesterday’s solution

Play the XNews Sudoku and be in with a chance of winning a Sh500 meal voucher everyday.

To participate, send a photo of your completed Sudoku via Whatsapp to +254703208803, or by email to: news@x-news. co.ke.

The first person to send in the correct completed puzzle wins the voucher.

Friday’s winner Nagwana Titie

yoursay

JOBS FOR THE YOUTH So I hear that the National Youth Service is going to hire 21,000 people a year. Can they please publish a list of names because I want to apply for one of their jobs? We hear stories of the government creating jobs but it never seems to be enough.

— Benjamin Lang’at, Kinoo

MANLY MEN What’s this about a man becoming effeminate when he uses beauty products (Trending, Page 10)? I myself use shaving cream and it doesn’t make me any less of a man.

In fact, it’s not make up. It’s common sense. Sometimes I put some Nivea on my face and I get a shampoo wash at the barber shop.

— Danson Ayonga, Thika

A man returns to his childhood home in Sussex, England, where he used to know a girl named Lettie Hempstock.

He hasn’t thought of Lettie for decades but when he goes through her family’s farm, memories flood back.

He recalls that he and Lettie used to call a pond at the farm an ocean and the magic that was unleashed in the night.

He recalls what happened 40 odd years ago when he was seven years: A man committed suicide in a stolen car at the farm.

His death ignited ancient powers that are full of

topblog: Echwalu Photography Echwalu photography is a blog that relays meaning through powerful and touching photographs.

The author, Edward Echwalu tops the list of Uganda’s best bloggers of all time.

His photos touch on various issues affecting

life.The photos are accompanied by precise explanations of the captured events.

Echwalu Photography focuses on health issues, climate, relationships, the environment and many other themes.

Echwalu is a freelance

There are moments when your powers of clear thinking reveal the tremendous amount of maturity that you have, Cancer. You aren’t usually a dreamer, so it’s rather difficult to lead you into ambiguous situations.

leo Jul 23 - Aug 22

You may have felt somewhat frustrated in your initiatives over the past few days, Leo. Either outside obstacles, such as events that caused delays, or inner restraints, such as your own apathy, presented a clear challenge to you.

virgo Aug 23 -Sep 22

It will be a stimulating day for you, Virgo! You’ll feel great and have no trouble channeling all your energy into your activities. But don’t be surprised if you encounter some resistance.

libra Sep 23 - Oct 22

Be careful not to lose your temper today, Libra. You’re chomping at the bit these days, although your daring nature has been reined in by financial and professional constraints. It’s useless to entertain grandiose illusions at the moment.

scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

Today time will stop and might even seem to go backward, Scorpio. Use this pause to reflect on your motivations. The clues from the Zodiac seem to suggest that you’re currently settling questions that concern the fate of another person.

sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

Overall, the climate is tense at work and at home, Sagittarius. You’ll sense a feeling of restlessness and a longing for change, but you’ll also feel a reluctance to make any real moves in that direction. Your judgment tells you that complaints that don’t lead to action are meaningless.

greatread

— by Neil Gaiman

sudoku-Sponsored by The Patio Restaurant

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.

cancer Jun 22 - Jul 22

Journalist working with Reuters and the Observer.

He was the 1st RunnerUp in the Mohammed Amin Photographic Award s category at the CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the Year Awards in 2012.

darkness and evil. Lettie who is wise beyond her years, promises to protect the narrator no matter what.

10 |

TRENDING

MONday, MAY 19, 2014

Self-cleaning clothes coming to your line

Chinese and USA technologists have invented cotton clothes that can clean themselves, and are odour resistant.

Engineers found that cotton material, mixed with a non-toxic and environmentally friendly chemical coating, removes odour and dirt when the garment is exposed to sunlight.

The research was carried out by Chinese engineers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Hubei University for Nationalities, and published in the Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal.

During the study, the researchers created a nanoparticle, an alcohol based compound containing titanium dioxide and nitrogen. Titanium dioxide is a catalyst for degradation of organic pollutants and has been used for long in self-cleaning windows and odour-free socks.

Triethylamine, an acid neutraliser, was added to the mixture which was then stirred for one hour at room temperature, then heated up to 100C for six

itspot

hand wash: Such work may not be necessary when self-cleaning clothes become a reality.

more hours.

Cotton material marked with orange dye was dipped into the mixture and exposed to sunlight for two hours, eliminating 71 per cent of the dirt.

Quoc Truong, of the US army Soldier Research Development and Engineering Centre in Massachusetts, has been

working to realise he dream of an “omniphobic coating” that will keep the attires of the USA soldiers clean while they are in the field.

His team has been able to make clothes that break down the dirt or ‘reject’ it, making it to fall off.

The project is at advance stages,

where it has been able to roll even oil-based particles into beads before they fall off. The challenge has been with mud but further study is likely to resolve it. Truong says when the full dream is actualised, the clothes will not only be available for the military but also for the public.

newboundaries

finder: The XY tracking tag.

Find items with XY tracking tag Finding a misplaced item can take you hours and energy that you could have spent doing something more productive.

XY is a Bluetooth enabled tracking tag that helps you find things you have misplaced.

The tag is synced to a smartphone and the user can attach as many tags as they like to their phone.

The tag is perfect for putting on keys, purse, tablets and luggage. The user can also keep track of their pets by attaching the tag to the pet’s collar.

It has a small stylish design and the server ensures that you control who gets to see your tagged items. The XY tag uses LE Bluetooth technology and is compatible with iOS and Android devices that have Android

4.3 and above. It listens to nearby Bluetooth signals to locate the missing item.

The app has three modes.

By activating the Find-it mode, you can find any tag that is within range of your phone and an indicator will show as you get closer to it.

The Keep-it mode allows users to sync something they always want by their side. The app will alert them when they move away from the tagged item.

Lost-it mode allows the user to tag any item as lost and XY will alert other users with the app when they come across the item. The XY tag received $205,121(Sh7.9 million) worth of pledges on kickstarter.com, $160121 (Shs 14 million) more than their target.

phonejunkie

HTC fights back with the Mini 2 handset

waited service: The Habesha Restaurant has a welcoming feel.

Get a taste of Ethiopia at the Hebesha Restaurants Habesha is an Ethiopian restaurant located at Utalii House, off Uhuru Highway and at United Nations Crescent Gigiri, Nairobi.

It specialises in Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine that is bound to leave your taste buds tingling. The restaurant has a sophisticated ambience and helpful staff. It has outdoor and indoor sitting space so you can choose where you’d like to sit. When it is not cold outside, the outdoors are a

good bet.

The food is affordable and there is a wide range of traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine to choose from. The most popular dish to choose from is the doro wot, kitifo, assa wot and shekla tibs. If you are overwhelmed with the choices, you can always ask for a mixed dish that comes with different spiced meat and vegetables served on naan bread and you will not go wrong. The restaurant

was voted the Best Value for Money Restaurant at the first Taste Awards.

Habesha is good for groups and can host up to 150 people and offers free internet.

The coffee ceremony is an intriguing aspect of the Ethiopian culture. It is served with popcorns and the coffee beans are roasted on site. The coffee, which is called Bunna by Ethiopians is dark, strong and rich sliding down your throat beautifully.

In a bid to revive its dwindling fortunes, HTC is expanding its range of mid-tier smartphones with the launch of a new handset equipped with quite an interesting feature - “the selfie camera”.

The fiercely competitive Android space has seen the phone maker experience massive losses.

The new HTC handset is a more compact and less powerful version of HTC’s current top-of-the-range flagship model, the HTC One M8. It’s also a follow-on to last year’s One Mini, but has a fractionally larger, 4.5 inch display.

But the big flagship feature that HTC is hoping to woo

the mainstream with is a beefed up 5MP front-facing selfie camera.

The device also includes “auto Touch Up software” for what HTC refers to as the “unforgettable selfies”. The auto Touch Up software is for editing and beautifying the pictures. The software is, however, not new because Nokia Lumia 720 already has an airbrushing digital lens called ‘Glam Me Up’.

HTC is bound to make sales from this new gadget as the selfie phenomenon is still catching on.

The One Mini 2 is smaller size and curved back is even being dubbed ‘selfie-friendly’, with the form factor promoting a “natural one-hand fit”.

The price is yet to be announced but with the European version due to launch end of this month, the wait will not be too long.

LOVE | 11

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Steve Harvey wrote in the book ‘Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man,’ that a woman should make a man wait for 90 days before having sex with him.

The idea is for the woman to avoid looking desperate. The infamous rule has been around for a long time but do the women follow it?

“It does not have to be 90 days,” says Maureen Chebet, a 23 year-old student.

“The trick is not to look easy or desperate. If you trust someone and if the timing feels right, why not go ahead with it?

“Holding out on sex for long does not mean it will make the relationship

last or that it will lead to love,” says James Karimi, a businessman. “If I am not going to get it from them. I will just get it from someone else,” he says.

Alice Munyiva, a 30 yearold hairstylist disagrees.

“You have to wait, get to know them better and know if they are worth it because it is something special and cannot be reserved. “You have to test drive the car so that you know if you are going to buy it,” says Samuel Kimani. “The same applies when you are dating someone; you have to test drive before deciding that you want to get in a relationship with them.”

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A ‘traditional’ girl eager to create jobs for others

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Carole Mandi is no stranger to the Kenyan audience with her charm and character hooking many to her shows.

Carole was the host of NTV talk show ‘Sebuleni’ which drew many fans due to her elegance.

With changing career demands, she shifted

from a talk show host to a publisher and ended up as owner of Carole Mandi Media Limited.

The company publishes True Love East Africa, Drum and other lifestyle magazines. With a strong following built on TV over the years, she has enjoyed a large fan base.

12 |

FUN

The evolution of music devices MONday, MAY 19, 2014

Graphic/Jaketeng

Technology has significantly improved the devices used for listening to music. Here are some of the major milestones in the evolution of music technology.

The phonograph pioneered as a device to record and reproduce music. It was invented by Thomas Edison in 1877.

It was later followed by phonograph cylinders or “Records” that were used until 1928. They were cylindrical with an audio recording placed on the outside and sounded through a phonograph.

The gramophone was invented by E Berliner to make recording musical sounds easier through use of discs played on the gramophone.

With the help of Eldridge R. Johnson, they fitted the turntable with a clock-work spring-wound motor to make it faster.

Gramophone discs would later be replaced with analogue vinyl records.

A vinyl record had an inscribed modulated spiral groove.

These records were greatly used into the late 1980s.

Radio was the first longrange sound transmission device that was improved by integrating it with the frequency modulation (FM) in 1933. This led to development of thousands of radio stations around the world. Radio is still popular today because of finer details added to broadcasting programmes.

Cassettes became the preferred mode of recording and listening to music in the 1970s and 80’s. The radio cassette players, popularly referred to as boom boxes, became very popular.

The Walkman was another popular music device. Sony Walkman was the first portable cassette player introduced in 1979. It highly affected listening habits because the music became mobile.

The first modern audio cassette was designed

by Philips in 1962 and then modified to make it favourable.

toptrack

Adelle Onyango’s Faded is the latest hit on the local music scene

Track: Faded Artist: Adelle Onyango Faded is a three minute party track.

The song has wonderful beats that are fast enough to put one in a party mood. Faded is Adelle’s first track and was launched on May 12 followed by the Faded Party that took place on May 16 at Skylux Lounge in Westlands to promote the new hit.

The Kiss 100 radio presenter sounds vibrant and fun in the song. Faded has garnered multiple views on YouTube and has become the latest hit in the Kenyan music scene.

hotspotafrica

Gaborone’s Lizard lounge rocks

Lizard Lounge in Gaborone, the Botswana capital, attracts a livelier crowd of dancers and partyholics. It’s a nice place to start out the evening with a game of pool, and a cocktail while getting entertained by the Best spin DJ’s on spacious dance floors and led low glittering disco lights giving you the space to show your dancing prowess. The

club is well secured as night guards are posted outside, making the party people enjoy the night to the fullest without worrying about their cars.

The comfortable club offers exquisite sitting with classy blue couches for a chilled out date in the VIP section with toned entertaining music systems.

The drinks are sold at pocket friendly prices at their trendy bar that offers a variety of wines and shots as they offer you their African cuisine to go with your drink.

The club is located along the village complex in Gaborone in Botswana it’s the place to be if your pop in Botswana one of Africa’s leading entertainment hot spots.

speakstome

A little persistence is needed to win her over It takes more than one attempt to win a girl’s heart and trust. She may turn you down at first and so some persistence may be helpful.

Often, it is the woman’s physical features that are the initial attraction.

In the lyrics of his song All of Me, John Legend starts by appreciating the beautiful curvature of the mouth of the girl he has fallen in love with. He says the smart mouth draws him closer to her in spite of her rejection.

Her beauty makes his head spin and every part of him loves every bit of her. The man says she may not be perfect, but the ‘imperfection’ is perfect for him.

Legend says she is beautiful even when she cries, to mean he will love her even when she is in sorrow. He will love her because he draws inspiration from her.

She is the inspirational rhythm in his life, which he cannot stop playinfg since it is constantly ringing in his head.

He implores her to give all of herself to him because he has given all of himself to her, that she is his beginning and end.

He ends by saying both of them are playing cards and coincidentally both cards are showing the heart and therefore, they should give all of themselves to the other because they love each other.

Monday, may 19, 2014

Sport

dependable player Asamoah Gyan will play a key role for Ghana in WC P.14

Top Fry Nakuru Coach lauds team after rare double Top Fry Nakuru Rugby Club coach, Dominique Habimana has praised his players for becoming the fifth club to manage a league and cup double after a 20-13 win over KCB. Habimana’s side joined the Nondescripts, Kenya Harlequins, Impala and KCB, as the teams that have managed to pull off the league and cup double. A 20-13 win over the bankers elevated the Nakuru based club to the title.

“It was going to be a big game on Saturday and I am glad we prepared adequately for it,” said the coach “It was a game as close as a final should be, particularly in the first half. I am happy my players came through,” he added KCB drew first blood when Darwin Mukidza slotted home a penalty after 21 minutes. Murayi restored parity with a penalty on 25 minutes.

The game’s turning point came on the stroke of half-time, when KCB flanker Brian Sagara was handed a

yellow card for a shoulder charge on Murayi— an act illegal in the books of Muamba and the laws of the game.

Sagara’s absence saw Nakuru capitalize significantly heavier in the forwards, Isaiah Nyariki barging over as Nakuru took an 8-3 lead into half time.

Darwin Mukidza scored and converted for a 10-8 lead on 52 minutes before converting for a 15-10 lead on 60 minutes. Edwin Okemwa put the champions 20-13 up when he touched down on 65 minutes.

“I salute the team’s effort; they operated as one. The forwards dominated, setting up platforms for us to score. This was a vintage game of rugby from both sides,” he concluded The reigning league champions lifted the knock out Enterprise Cup with an 18-13 win on Saturday 5 April over KCB.

WINNERS: Top Fry Nakuru Rugby Club won both the league and cup titles, a fete that has head Coach Dominique Habimana gleaming with joy.

Wenger relieved after trophy wait ends

THE LONG WAIT: Wenger was proud to open the trophy chest for the first time in nine years.

Arsene Wenger knows that ending the wait for a trophy mattered.

It was all about the wait.

Not for Hull City, with no major prizes to show for 110 years of trying, but for Arsenal or, more specifically according to Wenger, for their supporters.

‘Trophies matter for your fans,’ said Wenger. ‘It is a concrete sign that you win and that’s what we did. I love to win. Fans love to win. Your fans will be happy when you win trophies.”

The Arsenal manager gave the impression he had become weary of the wait.

On Saturday his side came all the way back to erase a 2-0 deficit and down Hull 3-2 to lift the FA Cup in an extra time thriller to win their first trophy since 2005.

It did not come easily as the

heart-attack kids conceded two goals inside the first eight minutes before mounting a grim fight back to finally put the Tigers to the word.

Aaron Ramsey scored the winner with ten minutes of extra time to play, latching on to a back heel from Olivier Giroud to slam home the ball in between keeper Allan McGregor and his near post.

“You win the next game or you lose it,’ said Wenger.

‘If you win it, what do you think?

You think you dance for one week? You think about preparing well for the next season and to win the first game of next season. That’s what it is to be.”

“I will not be dancing on the beach in Rio, believe me,” he concluded

Kenya tennis doubles team appeals for help ahead of World Cup The Kenyan pair of Jane Ndenga and Phoebe Masika intensified training ahead of their departure for World Cup that will be held in Netherlands from May 26 and 2 June.

The duo excelled in the decisive doubles match of the BNP Wheelchair Paribas World Team cup Africa qualifiers held in Nairobi back in March.

Speaking to XSport, Ndenga said they have been preparing for the World Cup immediately after the continental championships “We cannot afford to relax. We want to do well in the World Cup,” said Ndenga Her major concern is that there has not been enough support for the team even as they pre-

pare to leave for the European country on Saturday May 24.

“We are grateful that the government has given us support but we still need some few things here and there that we do not have,” said the top seed.

“We have kits, air tickets, accommodation, allowance of KSh20,000 (which for the w/c is not convincing enough).

But most importantly, we need rackets — at least two per player— and racket bags,” said Ndenga, while narrating the many challenges they face.

Ndenga is calling on well-wishers to come on board and assist the team, who are looking forward to making their debut at the world event.

14 |

SPORT

The countdown is on—24 days to go

Asamoah Gyan will be key for Ghana MONDAY, May 19, 2014

Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan will play a big role as the Black Stars aim to improve on a quarter-final finish at last World Cup. Gyan is one of Africa’s most prolific strikers with 39 goals from 77 internationals — one goal shy of the country’s alltime record.

The 28-year-old is also a part-time music star whose stagename is‘Baby Jet’. He is also a boxing promoter as well as martial arts fighter and classic car collector.

Former Ghana captain CK Akunnor said Gyan is as much a talisman for the Black Stars as Didier Drogba is for Ivory Coast.

“His leadership qualities are there for all to see and his influence on the team is like that of Didier Drogba on the Ivorian team,” said Akunnor.

“His form is imperious with the Stars and will again play a key role if we are to have a good World Cup campaign.”

Four years ago, Ghana became only the third African team

to reach the last eight of the World Cup when they lost on penalties to Uruguay.

Gyan missed a late penalty in extra-time that would have catapulted the Black Stars to the semi-finals.

“We left the last competition with a bang, although under strange circumstances,” the player said.

“And the fans have still not forgotten about it, so I believe that they will still be waiting to see what we can do again this time.”

“The team has been waiting a long time since the 2010 World Cup in which we reached the quarter-finals.

“Being so close to becoming the first African team to reach the semi-final was a great triumph but painful at the same time and we are really motivated to come back and achieve an even better result. I believe that we can only get better this time at the World Cup.” Ghana has USA, Portugal and Germany in the so-called Jubilant: Ghana striker and captain Asamoah Gyan.

Group of Death in Brazil.

Germany first winners of FIFA World Cup Trophy The trophy is 36.8cm high, 6.176kg heavy and has 18-carat gold. It is valued at over Sh850 million.

The base of the trophy bears the names of every winning country since the 1974 World Cup. The current trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga.

The 92-year-old’s design was selected amongst 53 designs submitted from 25 nations worldwide.

The trophy has been stolen twice in the history of the World Cup, first while on display in 1966 just before the World Cup in England but was later recovered by a dog named Pickles who found it buried in a garden. England went on and won that edition of World Cup. The second time was in 1983 in Rio de Janeiro. That trophy has never been recovered and it is widely believed thieves must have melted it. Since Brazil had won the World Cup for the third time and were thus entitled to keep it permanently, the country had a replica

made for them.

German football legend Franz Beckenbauer was the first captain to lift new FIFA World Cup Trophy after leading his team to a 2-1 win over Netherlands in the 1974 final.

The authentic FIFA World Cup trophy is a property of FIFA and cannot be won outright anymore.

Instead, winners of the trophy are presented with gold-plated replicas known as the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy for keeps.

Brazil, Italy, Germany and Argentina have won the FIFA World Cup Trophy, a successor of the Jules Rimet Trophy twice.

Chile’s Vidal passed fit for the World Cup Juventus’ team doctor has confirmed that Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal will be fit for the World Cup despite undergoing surgery just five weeks before his country’s first match of the tournament.

Vidal underwent surgery on his right knee days after his club Juventus had mathematically secured the Italian league title.

On Sunday, club doctor Fabrizio Tencone said: “He will be available for the World Cup. Arturo left Turin with his knee in the best possible condition after the operation. Now the Chile medical staff will evaluate him.”

Tencone also dismissed reports that Vidal’s World Cup is at risk because Juventus delayed the operation.

“There was no delay. It would have been a medical error to operate before. It was right to try and manage it non-surgically at the beginning.”

Vidal has been instrumental in helping Juventus to three successive

Serie A titles since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in 2011.

He played through the pain in his right knee for more than a month until his injury worsened during the second leg of the Europa League semifinal against Benfica last Thursday.

The 26-year-old appeared confident that the surgery would be a success after tweeting from hospital .

Wanyama dreads losing Southampton teammates South Hampton midfielder Victor Wanyama says it will be a big blow to lose key teammates Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana.

The duo have been linked with moves to Manchester United and Liverpool, respectively.

“Such things happen in football. Honestly, I have no idea what will happen next,” he said.

“There is no doubt they will leave a big void if they move,” said the Harambee Stars captain, who confirmed that his first season at the English premier league side has been excellent.

On the inclusion of his teammates, Rickie Lambert, Lallana and Shaw in the Three Lions squad, Wanyama said he has no doubt they deserve it.

“Playing with them week-in, week-out makes me have a better view of them. They are great

MONday, May 19, 2014

players, who will give their team a lot of support if called upon,” he said.

On his relationship with want-away manager Mauricio Pochettino, the Kenyan national team captain said the manager has helped him a lot especially in settling into the team after his move from Celtic FC. “He is a great manager but I am not sure whether he will be with us or not,” said Wanyama, while refusing to be entangled into the conversation of following the manager to Tottenham.

Wanyama was on board as Kenya beat Comoros 1-0 in the first leg of Africa Cup of Nations 2015 qualifiers in Nairobi on EXPECTED TO LEAVE: Southampton Defender Luke Shaw might leave for Manchester United.

Sunday.

Diego Simeone beating Barca and Real will remain special

Beating Barcelona and Real Madrid to the Spanish title is one of the greatest days in Atletico Madrid’s history, says head coach Diego Simeone.

The ex-Argentina midfielder, Sime-

SPORT| 15

one, was a player for Atletico when they last won the La Liga.

Atletico drew 1-1 at nearest rivals Barca to earn the point they needed to become La Liga champions for the first time since 1996.

Proud: Simeone is happy to have beaten Barca and Real to the title.

This came a year after they went to the Santiago Bernabéu and took the Copa del Rey from Real Madrid, they came Nou Camp and took the league title from FC Barcelona. It is their first in 18 years.

Their success ended Barca and Real’s 10-year stranglehold on the title.

“Today will be one of the most important days in the history of the club,” said Simeone.

Atletico became the first club other than Real or Barca to win La Liga since Rafael Benitez’s Valencia in the 2003-2004 season.

Simeone’s men led the table from the end of March and, although they faltered slightly near the end with a defeat at Levante and a home draw against Malaga, they knew a point would suffice in their final-day fixture at Barca’s Nou Camp.

Uruguay centre-back Diego Godin’s thumping second-half header clinched their 10th La Liga title and Simeone said afterwards he never doubted that his side would fight back to earn a draw.

“I never thought for a moment the team would not do it,” he said.

“They always have a response. The bigger the challenge is, the more determined they are to achieve it.

“To become champions against Barcelona is a great feeling.”

“We were calm at half-time as the team had started well although the injuries to Diego and Arda were a problem.”

Mary Wacera targeting the Commonwealth World half marathon silver medalist Mary Wacera is eyeing the July Commonwealth games after excelling in the National Police championships.

The runner was in fine shape dethroning Stacy Ndiwa in the women’s 5000m in the championships held over the weekend.

Wacera, who is the national reigning 5000m champion, had begun her quest to defend the title in July with numerous road races lined up in USA.

“I am planning to run right from the County championships all the way up to the nationals, and if selected for the national trials, I will start thinking of qualifying for the Commonwealth games,” said Wacera, The 25-year-old, who won the 12Km road race, in Washington DC, before finishing second in the New York 10km, will wind up her US tour, with the Utica Boilermaker road race in July 13.

RUNNER: Mary Wacera Ngugi (Second right) hopes to make the Commonwealth team.

SPORT

16 |

Omolo still thrilled by debut goal MONday, MAY 19, 2014

Johannah Omolo spectacular shot from 30 yards, a rare goal on Kenyan soil, gave Harambee Stars a slim advantage to take to Comoros in the return leg of the 2015 African Cup of Nations preliminary qualifier in two weeks’ time.

The player, who turns up for Belgian second-tier league side, Lommel United, said such moments are rare to come by and thanked head coach Adel Amrouche for having faith in him.

“Winning was what we all wanted but the manner in

which victory came made it even sweeter. I have not scored such a goal before and my celebration told it all,” he said.

“Kenya has a very good crop of players and to get a chance to play before home fans is a rare chance.

I am overwhelmed by the kind of support the fans gave us.”

The match also marked the return of Inter Milan midfielder MacDonald Mariga who was thrown into the fray in the last quarter of the match to a rapturous applause from the home fans at the Nyayo

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Mariga, who has not played for Kenya for nearly two years, showed glimpses of the passing and shooting he is known for.

“It is such occasions that keep you going when you are on the verge of giving up,” Mariga said after the match.

“The fans have shown me and the team love I have not witnessed in the past couple of years. It is amazing to be back. It is matches like this that make you want to keep on working hard—to reward the passionate fans.”

thetimeline Arsenal FC @Arsenal “@T_Vermaelen05 on the #FACup: It was all worth it and it was unbelievable after so many years Alex Ox-Chamberlain@Alex_ OxChambo· “These last few days have been an unbelievable experience! Massive thanks to all the fans who came to the parade today and made it so special” Jack Wilshere @JackWilshere “Thanks to all the Gooners out there who made it to the Parade today.... Have to say, one of the best days of my Life!

Lucy Jay @Lucygooner “My rage was out of control but the win in the end made it even sweeter.”

Hull City Official @hullcityteam “I’m proud to play for this football club because it’s a special one and the fans are fantastic.”

Hull City Official @hullcityteam “The Premier League is the best league in the world and we want to make sure we are stabilised in it for years to come.”

Books Everyday ‫@‏‬bookseday “When Tottenham last won the league: André Villas-Boas wasn’t born, Arsene Wenger was still at school, Sir Alex Ferguson was in his 20s.”

the man in action: Johanna Omolo vies for the ball with a Comoros player. Omolo scored the only goal of the match.

Nickolaus Bauer ‫@‏‬NICKolausBAUER “Alright #Arsenal fans...

Thats enough. You’ve won the FA cup. Well done. But its 1 trophy.

Its not like Arsene Wenger cured cancer.”

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