20140826 xnews

the new heights of platitudes

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china president xi jinping hails zimbabwe’s robert mugabe as a renowned African liberation leader P.2

eXtra.sharp Tuesday 26.08.2014 | www.x-news.co.ke

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barca boss enrique considers messi world’s best player | P.14

we wish you well, teammates tell di maria ahead of man utd switch | P.15

Ghost civil servants face axe next week

The on-site biometric registration for public servants that seeks to weed out ghost staff will start next month, Devolution Secretary Anne Waiguru said today.

The two-month exercise will be undertaken as part of Government efforts to crack down on a ballooning wage bill. P2

laying ground: President Uhuru Kenyatta lays the foundation stone for the University of Nairobi Towers at the University grounds this morning.

The 22-floor complex with learning facilities will house the Vice-Chancellor’s suite, Senate boardroom, University Council meeting room and lecture theatres to accommodate 3000 students and a helipad. The 24-hour construction work will take 120 weeks.

Pyramid schemes victims threaten State House camp P3

Pedigree dogs kidnappings rises in Vietnam P5

Nandi beauty plotted Luanda Magere’s fall P9

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NEWS

TUESday, AUGUST 26, 2014

Ghost civil servants face axe From Page 1 Speaking during a morning talk show on Nation FM today, Ms Waiguru said all public servants, both at national and county governments, are required to register at Huduma centres.

“We are heading in a direction that we should not and our wage bill is not sustainable. This trend shouldn’t continue,” she said.

The exercise will start in Nairobi which hosts a majority of the civil servants.

Ms Waiguru said Government

audit has established the existence of ghost workers in many departments and county governments.

In May, Ms Waiguru gazetted a team consisting of Government ministries and other State agencies to spearhead the retrenchment of ghost workers alongside other staff deemed redundant.

A steering committee comprising Ms Waiguru and Cabinet colleagues Henry Rotich (National Treasury) and Kazungu Kambi (Labour) were to steer the reforms.

The team was to be joined by Attorney-General, chairpersons of the Council of Governors, Transition Authority, Public Service Commission, Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Commission on Revenue Allocation, Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution and the Human Resource and Social Welfare Committee of the Council of Governors.

This team was to oversee the assessment and implementation of the government’s “rationalisation

programme” of the civil service.

With about 53 per cent of the national budget taken by the wage bill, the Government has since January announced many austerity measures to curb the spending.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto announced pay cuts in April as part of the efforts. But the focus will now shift to ghost workers said to be taking away millions of shillings from public coffers.

Narok County, for instance, has been losing Sh300 million annually

in salaries to ghost staff, the minister said.

Last month, Nandi County formed a special committee to investigate claims that ghost workers are siphoning Sh18 million in irregular payments from the county health department every month.

In May, the Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi confirmed that they are determined to weed ghost workers from the payroll.

The senate has also urged governors to rid their payrolls of ghost staff.

Chinese leader’s platitudes on Mugabe as Africa liberator China’s President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe - a pariah in the West - as a renowned African liberation leader and an “old friend” of the Chinese people.

The former guerrilla-turned Africa’s longestruling leader, now 90, was on his 13th trip to China, seeking more investment to his nation’s stagnant economy.

“The traditional friendship between China and Zimbabwe was forged in the glorious years when we stood shoulder to shoulder against imperialism, colonialism and hegemony,” Xi told Mugabe at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The southern African leader is subject to sanctions by US and European Union.

“The Chinese people value friendship and we will never forget those good friends and good brothers who have shown mutual understanding and support vis-a-vis China and who have come through thick and thin with us.”

The comments by the head of the world’s second-largest economy were unusually effusive compared to the usual Chinese diplomatic formality.

He referred to Mugabe as a “renowned leader of the African national liberation movement” and “an old friend of the Chinese people whom we respect very much”.

Mugabe said he felt “very much at home” and

strongmen in step: China President Xi Jinping (Left) and his Zimbabwe counterpart Robert Mugabe inspect a guard of honour in Beijing on Monday.

thanked Xi for the invitation which reminded him of the past and “brings our past to the present”.

Zimbabwe’s relations with China and the Chinese Communist Party date back to the liberation struggle of the 1970s, when Beijing provided arms and trained some of the top guerrilla leaders.

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan greeted Mugabe and his wife Grace - dressed in a vivid yellow and brown African-style outfit - with full military honours, with a band playing the two countries’ national anthems as a 21-gun salute was fired and the two presidents inspected a military honour guard.

Zimbabwe’s state-owned Sunday Mail

newspaper at the weekend quoted Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba as saying the five-day state visit was “largely looking for investment of an infrastructure nature”, with the focus on energy and transport. The two leaders watched as officials signed nine agreements, including some on loans and food donations, but no values were given.

Police chiefs to probe Mandera clan violence Top police commanders are due in Rhamu, Mandera County, today to assess the security situation in a town that has experienced deadly clan clashes in the past two days.

The move comes even as police announced the arrest of eight people in connection with the fighting.

Armed militia from the rival

Degodia and Garre clans have engaged in deadly fighting in Rhamu area. The Government says only two people have died in the attacks.

Red Cross which has since suspended operations in the area says three people were killed by Monday and another 43 injured.

Kenya Red Cross Secretary

General Abbas Gullet said they had suspended operations after one of their ambulances was attacked and an operator wounded in the fighting.

Police Spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki told reporters on Monday that five people had been arrested in connection with the clashes.

And today morning, another three

people were arrested and an AK 47 rifle with 28 bullets and a notebook recovered.

The suspect found with the firearm was killed after he refused to surrender to police, county commander Alex Nkonyo said.

Tension started simmering on Thursday before deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, leaving more

than 300 people displaced.

Mboroki said political differences and pasture disputes have sparked the fighting.

“This problem started last year.

There is a political issue in it,” she said.

She asked area leaders and elders to engage clans in peace meetings in order to restore calm.

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NEWS | 3

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Pyramid scheme victims’ cry

Researchers reveal weakness in Android phone apps

Victims of the Pyramid schemes that conned Kenyans of millions of shillings have threatened to camp at State House Nairobi until they are reimbursed their money.

Erastus Njoroge, one of those who lost more than Sh6.6 billion, wants the government to freeze the money in the schemes’ account, which they claim is at the Central bank.

Njoroge said they will call for mass action if the government fails to compensate them.

Researchers have discovered a weakness in the operating systems of Android phones.

A report by research group Tech Times say the researchers were able to hack Gmail accounts with a 92 per cent success at every attempt.

“The operating system of your smartphone may not be as secure as you think and could make your email account susceptible to hacking,” explains Anu Pasari, an expert with research group, Tech Times.

This weakness enabled the researchers to hack several apps like Gmail, Amazon, WebMD and even an app belonging to a major bank. The method was tested on an Android-powered smartphone, but they believe that the technique will be just as effective on Apple’s iOS and Windows as all three systems share a similar feature. “The assumption has always been that apps cannot interfere with each other easily. We show that’s not correct and one app can significantly impact another and result in harmful consequences for the user,” said Zhiyun Qian, an assistant professor at University of California’s Riverside Bourns College.

Putin, Poroshenko to meet over captured soldiers

Ten Russian military personnel who were captured in eastern Ukraine had crossed the border by mistake, officials have said ahead of a crucial meeting between Ukranian and Russian presidents in Belarus.

Ukraine said 10 paratroopers had been captured and has released video interviews of some of the men.

Presidents Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin are at a summit in Minsk in Belarus, where they are expected to hold a meeting today.

A Russian defence ministry source was quoted by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti as saying: “The soldiers really did participate in a patrol of a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, crossed it by accident on an unmarked section, and as far as we understand, showed no resistance to the armed forces of Ukraine when they were detained.”

A Ukrainian television report that carried the interviews with the men said they were from the 331st regiment of the 98th Svirsk airborne division.

It quoted one man, named as Sgt Andrei Generalov, as saying: “Stop sending in our boys. Why? This is not our war. And if we weren’t here, none of this would have happened.”

Another man, named as Ivan Milchakov, says he is based in the Russian town of Kostroma.

“I did not see where we crossed the border. They just told us we were going on a 70km march over three days,” he said.

“Everything is different here, not like they show it on television. We’ve come as cannon fodder.”

Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is supporting the rebels.

Cashless pay of city parking fees rolled out City Hall has stopped cash payments of parking fee along Haile Selassie Avenue starting this morning ahead of the full county switch on Monday next week. This came even as the pilot programme that was scheduled to start yesterday kicked off at a slow pace. Only 30 per cent of motorists paid through the new system for the 133 available public parking slots along the road.

“Today we have been using the two systems in parallel but the instructions from the deputy governor are that we shouldn’t bring our receipt books tomorrow,” said one of the county attendants.

Police shoot suspect in Rongai

ARmed:Russian soldiers in Ukraine. 10 of their comrades captured in Ukraine are sid to have crossed the border by mistake.

A suspected thug was today morning killed in a botched robbery at a home in Ongata Rongai, Nairobi. Police say the suspect was in the company of three others and had tried to rob a motorist of his car when an alarm was raised. Officers who were on patrol rushed to the scene and killed one suspect and recovered part of the stolen property while his accomplices escaped. Police say a hunt for the suspects is ongoing.

WHO says 120 health workers killed by Ebola, scores others infected One hundred and twenty healthcare workers have died in the Ebola outbreak, and twice that number have been infected, the World Health Organization announced today The fact that the disease has killed so many people working to care for infected patients is

making it increasingly hard to combat the disease in western Africa, it added.

“It depletes one of the most vital assets during the control of any outbreak.

WHO estimates that, in the three hardest-hit countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone

and Guinea, only one to two doctors are available to treat 100,000 people, and these doctors are heavily concentrated in urban areas.”

A Liberian doctor treated with an experimental American anti-Ebola drug is the latest to succumb to the virus. The

Ebola outbreak has been termed as one of the worst in the disease’s history with over 1500 people already killed by the virus. Yesterday, 13 new cases were confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid fears of the fast spread of the virus.

RISKY: Health workers face daily dangers of ebola infection.

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NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Child mortality rate too high, says Mrs Kenyatta Kenya loses 27 out of every 1,000 newborns within 48 hours of birth to preventable diseases, such as pneumonia.

Addressing the 10th International Congress of Tropical Paediatrics at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta asked all stakeholders in Kenya and Africa to ensure all Millennium Development Goals related to the welfare of children are achieved.

She said delivery of mobile health clinics to all 47 counties will ensure reduction in maternal and newborn mortality rates.

“It’s unacceptable that mothers in the 21st century still die while giving life. I urge each person here to commit to do their best towards achieving the MGDs. Achieving the MGD is like running a marathon. It can only be run one step at a time; it requires strategy, fortitude and over-arching

commitment to the end,” she said. “As we have just passed the 500th day mark to the countdown on MDGs, it is an opportune moment for us to individually as countries, and collectively as regions, to take stock of our progress towards achieving the MDG targets set just about 15 years ago,” Mrs Kenyatta said. “This conference must not be just one more talk shop where professional colleagues renew contacts, exchange pleasantries and engage in high level medical discussions but leave without firm strategies of how to get us to the finishing line.”

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the ministry will ensure sufficient supply of vaccines to all public hospital to contain preventable diseases among children. Macharia says his office will work with county governments to ensure Kenyans access quality and effective medical services.

Medics say allergy can be cured with stomach bacteria Bacteria which naturally live inside our digestive system can help prevent allergies and become a source of treatment, say US researchers.

A medical team at the University of Chicago has shown that a group of bacteria - Clostridia - could block peanut allergies in mice.

They hope to harness the bacteria in a pill form, or replicate their effects with a drug, in order to treat allergies.

Experts termed the discovery “very exciting”.

For every cell that builds up the human body, there are 10 bacteria living on or in us.

There is an emerging school of thought that this “microbiome” may be helping to fuel a rise in allergies around the world.

The research group performed experiments on mice brought up in perfectly sterile environments, and had no bacteria in their gut.

The animals had a strong

immune response to peanut, an allergy that can be lethal on some people.

The team then investigated whether adding different bacteria to the digestive tract of the animals had any effect.

Only the Clostridia group of bacteria, which includes some disease-causing species such as C. difficle, could prevent the allergic reaction.

“The first step is for an allergen to gain access to the blood stream, the presence of Clostridia prevents the allergens getting into the bloodstream,” said lead researcher Cathryn Nagler.

“Clostridia are known to be closely linked to the intestinal lining… they are spore forming which makes them tricky to work with, but down the road they would be a candidate to put into a pill as they are highly stable,” said Nagler.

Another option researchers are investigating is finding a drug which would have the same effect as the bacteria.

more on this story at

WElcOmE madam: First lady margaret Kenyatta is welcomed by Sheila marima to the Kenyatta International convention centre on monday.

www.capitalfm.co.ke

120 health workers have died of Ebola, says WHO A total of 120 healthcare staff have died of Ebola while twice the number have been infected, the World Health Organisation said today The fact that the disease has killed so many people working to care for infected patients has made it increasingly hard to combat it in western Africa, the UN agency said.

“It depletes one of the most vital assets during the control of any outbreak. WHO estimates that, in the three hardest-hit countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, only one to two doctors are available to treat 100,000 people, and these doctors are heavily concentrated in urban areas.”

A Liberian doctors treated with an experimental US anti-Ebola drug is the latest to succumb to the virus.

The outbreak has been termed as one of the worst in the disease’s history, with more than 1500 people already killed by the virus.

Only on Monday, 13 new cases were confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid fears of the fast spread of the virus.

Igad leaders threaten sanctions on warring South Sudan leaders South Sudan leaders risk sanctions if they fail to honour a new peace deal meant to restore calm in the volatile country.

Africa’s newest nation has been embroiled in an eightmonth conflict which has

led to the killing of more than 1,000 people despite mediation efforts meant to halt the fighting. A fresh ceasefire deal signed on Monday in Ethiopia requires President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek

Machar to forge a unity government in 45 days.

East African leaders under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) which mediated the talks have threatened severe sanctions on the two and

InK On papEr:South Sudan president Salva Kirr, Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam dessalegan, Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta and former vice president riek machar look on as representatives of Kirr and machar sign the matrix on the implementation of cessation of hostilities in addis ababa.

their lieutenants should they fail to honour the deal.

Machar and Kiir have failed to honour three previous deals by resuming deadly fighting hours after signing the agreements.

“We are sending a clear message to the leaders of South Sudan that any party which violates the agreement will face the consequences of mis-behaviour. If they delay in implementing the agreement, the region will take action,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desaglem said at the end of an extraordinary summit the leaders called to discuss the conflict. Thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the war that broke out on December 15, 2013 after an acrimonious fall-out between Kiir and Machar whom he had just sacked as deputy. More than 1.8 million others have been displaced as the civil war rages. Both UN and humanitarian agencies have warned of an imminent food crisis which they said is likely to be the “worst in the world”.

NEWS | 5

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

US targets ISIS in Syria as Obama okays recon flights US President Barack Obama has authorized reconnaissance flights over Syria as ISIS militants continue to gain ground in the war-ravaged nation, officials have said.

The flights, seen as a forerunner of possible US airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, could begin at any point, the official said on Monday.

“In general, when you’re thinking about conducting operations like that, you certainly want to get as much of a view on the ground as you can,” Pentagon spokesman, Rear Adminis-

tration, John Kirby said on Monday in quotes carried by CNN. “Satellites can provide you good visibility, but you always want closer eyes on target if you can,” Kirby added just before Obama’s decision was made public.

Concerns have been intensifying over the threat posed by ISIS after the extremist group posted a video last week showing the beheading of captive American journalist James Foley.

The United States has already been gathering intelligence on the locations

of ISIS leadership and troops in Syria.

US reconnaissance assets are likely to be looking for a variety of sites including “equipment parks, training centres, encampments, the sorts of facilities and buildings where ISIS perhaps has its governing facilities, sources said.

The US military began carrying out airstrikes against ISIS positions in Iraq this month, helping Kurdish and Iraqi forces halt the Islamic extremists’ murderous advance. It has also sent military advisers to Iraq.

inothernews

‘Dog-napping’ rocks Vietnam Dog-napping (the kidnapping of dogs) is becoming an issue of concern in Vietnam.

A June 26 article by Thanh Nien newspaper reported that dog owners across the country not only fear for their animals’ lives but also feel threatened by the violence and intimidation tactics employed by the gangs of canine thieves. With rewards of up to $700 (Sh60,000) being demanded in ransom negotiations, the situation seems to be

worsening by the day. “The majority of dog napping still occur for sale to dog restaurants,” says Marilyn Drinkwater, vice-president of Friends of Happy Pet Clinic, an animal-awareness organization in Hanoi, “but as the popularity of pedigree breeds grows, the frequency of stealing dogs for ransom is becoming increasingly common.

The dog-nappers are desperate for money and the expensive dogs are easy cash.”

FLUFFY: kidnapping of pedigree dogs for ransom is on the rise in Vietnam.

But the area under ISIS’ control straddles the Iraq-Syria border.

Analysts say the US will have to address both sides if they have to defeat the militants because much of their operations are in Syria.

It however, remains unclear whether the US will begin immediate action on the Syrian side of the frontier.

Both US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Martin Dempsey have advocated for going after ISIS in Syria when it presents a direct threat to the US.

EA Interpol boss calls for co-operation in terror war Interpol has called for concerted efforts to curb the rising rate of crime and terrorism in East Africa.

Head of Interpol Eastern Africa regional bureau Francis Rwego also warned that the sophistication of organized criminal gangs is posing a huge threat to security in the region and wants stakeholders to counter it at the earliest opportunity.

He singled out the Al-Shabaab terror group which he said continue to pose the biggest threat despite having been weakened by Amisom troops in Somalia.

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What others said today...

Show Mungiki, Raila link, ICC tells Bensouda: ICC judges have orderd prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to release any information on Mungiki support for Raila Odinga at the December 27,2007 presidential elections. The decision, made public yesterday, followed a confidential request by DP William Ruto and Joshua Sang, who said the information is crucial for their ‘defence trial strategy’...

Throw me out if you wish, says rebel Ruto: Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto yesterday stood his ground, saying he was not afraid to be expelled from the Jubilee Coalition because of his campaign for a referendum to increase money to the counties. He said he was operating independently and that the threats to expel him were baseless. “I will continue fighting for the rights of Kenyans without fear or favour...

Senators jolted in fight with governors: Senators will not chair county meetings to determine spending on development projects just yet, after governors secured court orders as the battle for control of devolved billions raged. The High Court gave temporary orders in favour of governors that restrained senators from convening County Development Board meetings...

Court bars senators from launching county boards: Senators were hit hard yesterday, with some going through embarrassing scenes, as the High Court allowed governors to score two points in the supremacy battle between the two sides. One judge, making two separate rulings, restrained senators from convening county development boards...

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BUSiness

businesstool

TUESday, AUGUST 26, 2014

Firms linking customers with digital world

looming REVOLUTION: Young internet users. The African teleco market is set to be one of the main success stories for the sector in five years.

Consumers to enjoy faster online services Consumers will have access to some of the best services the telecommunications sector can offer. The African teleco market is set to be one of the main success stories for the sector in five years.

A new report entitled ‘SubSaharan Africa telecoms market: trends and forecasts 2013–2018’ has discovered that the telecoms market in Sub-Sahara Africa is changing. Growth revenue from mobile data services is increasingly matching the rise in mobile phone

voice services.

The study covered Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

The report, which was prepared by telecoms specialist Analysys Mason, says telecoms service revenue in Sub Sahara Africa will increase by about 6 per cent between 2013 and 2018. The figures will grow from $49 billion (Sh4.3 trillion) in 2013 to more than $65 billion (Sh5.7 trillion) in 2018. The latter figure is almost

capitalalert Women Fund offers Sh4.4 million grants The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is offering grants of up to $50,000 (Sh4.4 million to organisations working on Women Empowerment in Africa.

The groups can contact AWDF through e-mail grants@awdf.org.

AWDF supports local, national, subregional and regional organisations in Africa with grants to strengthen their capacity.

Founded in 2001, the Fund has provided more than $17 million (Sh1.5 billion) worth grants to women organisations through small and large grants.

It makes grants in two cycles each year and applications can be sent at any time.

Gamala Luitel, a spokesperson for the group, says this year’s themes for those planning to apply include women’s human rights, reproductive health and rights. Others are HIV/Aids, economic empowerment and livelihoods, governance, peace and security, arts, culture and sports.

Grants request can be made for between $5000 (Sh440,000) and $50,000 (Sh4.4 million). Grants of more than $20,000 (Sh1.8 million) will only be given to the organisations operating on regional basis.

six times the amount of funds (Sh1 trillion) sent and received by Kenyans in the first half of 2014.

Says Mason’s regional analyst, Mpho Moyo said: “SSA’s telecoms market is growing faster than any other region and will increase its share of worldwide telecoms revenue over the next five years.

But this will remain small compared with other regions.”

The SSA market accounted for only 2.9 per cent of global telecoms revenue in 2013, and is likely to

increase to 3.6 per cent by 2018.

A similar report by research group, Euromonitor, says majority of Kenyans will have access to the internet by 2020. Access to highspeed broadband services will remain restricted to a minority of users in the next five years.

Alexandra Rehak, the report’s co-author, says: “Affordability, coverage and effective regulatory and market structures remain major challenges for successful telecoms development in Africa.”

Companies are increasingly embracing ways of introducing customers to the digital world.

They have pages on social media to help interaction with customers. Yet, the efforts are not adequate.

To properly engage with clients, tech expert Rahul Sachdev argues that organisations need tools like ‘Get Satisfaction’.

The online customer engagement community platform connects companies with their clients.

“Companies of all sizes and industries rely on Get Satisfaction to modernise customer support, accelerate sales, different their brand, and innovate together with customers,” says a statement from the tool’s developers.

With the head office in San Francisco, it can be accessed through the internet.

The tool powers 70,000 active customer communities that host more than 35 million consumers a month.

Flipboard, a social network that lets users view content in a magazine format, Intuit, a tech company that helps small businesses and Kellogg’s, the food manufacturer, are all among a long list of Get Satisfaction users.

The tool costs Sh1.3 million a year to use and has a variety of support services.

Get Satisfaction helped MindJet, a US-based software company, boost their customer referrals by five per cent.

cityplans

fast-lane investment: A City Lodge V&A Waterfront hotel in Cape Town South Africa developed by City Lodge Hotels. The company plans to build a hotel in Centum’s ‘Two Rivers’ development mall in Runda, Nairobi.

SA firm to open hotel in leafy Runda suburb South African hospitality firm, City Lodge Hotels, plans to build a hotel in Centum’s ‘Two Rivers’ development mall in Runda, Nairobi.

Two Rivers is a mega shopping mall project by the Centum Investment Group that will be located in Runda,

Gigiri, Muthaiga and Nyali neighbourhoods.

City Lodge is a Sh2 billion project that will be located within Two Rivers. The project’s ground-breaking ceremony is set for January.

Clifford Ross, City Lodge’s Chief Executive, said the 170-room

hotel is set to be completed on October 2016.

“It is anticipated that construction will start in the first quarter of 2015 while the hotel will be opened in mid-2016,” said a statement from the group.

Two Rivers is a mixed-used mega project that will also include

residential homes, office blocks and a shopping centre.

It is part of a growing trend by property developers to cash in on Kenya’s mall culture as a new trend of shoppers flock shopping and dining facilities for leisure purposes.

BUSiness | 7 TUESday, AUGUST 26, 2014

GT Bank plans for expansion The Guaranty Trust (GT) Bank Kenya plans to roll out 60 branches in the next four years in all the counties as it seeks to expand its presence in the country.

GT Bank Managing Director, Adekunie Sonola says the bank intends to open 10 branches by June 2015.

Sonola says the bank will buy property to host some of the new branches in counties that include Machakos, Mombasa, and the lake region.

“We will buy property in the counties we set up branches in to affirm our presence in those countries,” he said.

The announcement comes at a time when only half of bank customers in Nairobi and Central Kenya live or work within two kilometres of a bank.

Meanwhile, rural customers and those in the North

Eastern and Coastal regions have to travel up to 10 kilometres to access a bank.

“We are still determining how much we need for the expansion, we are also planning to roll out other new products to boost our presence and customer base in the country,” said Sonola.

He said the company, which came into the Kenyan market by acquiring a 70 per cent stake in Fina Bank group at a cost of Sh8.8 billion, underwent a system upgrade at a cost of Sh800 million in the last six months.

The upgrade, he said, will increase efficiency and lower costs for the lender.

He said the bank roll out other new products and services including a product for Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

EXPANSION PLANS: A GT Bank branch in Ghana. The bank plans to open up 60 branches around the country in the next four years.

exportopp

Pricedriver

Tomato prices double as pests and erratic weather wreak havoc The price of tomatoes has doubled over the past few months.

Following a massive crop failure in source markets due to pests, diseases and poor weather, retail prices have shot up since April, with most traders selling a single tomato at an average of Sh10.

Sources at International Market community, Fresh Plaza, report that traders in middle-income suburbs are three tomatoes at Sh35, while in upper income estates, the same is going for Sh50. In low-income estates, traders are selling each tomato at Sh10.

Prices are, however, fairer in Nairobi compared to other regions. A 64 kg box of tomatoes at Wakulima, the biggest wholesale market in

the city, is going for about Sh6, 800, compared to Sh7, 600 in Kisumu and Sh7,100 in Mombasa.

The same box of tomatoes was going for about Sh3, 000 in April in many parts of the country.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Felix Koskei has said the pest is a huge threat to the tomato sector, which is one of Kenya’s most important horticultural crops.

He said in an earlier announcement that the government is working with farmers to curb the pest.

Inconsistent weather has also contributed to the drop in tomato supply, with many areas experiencing cold weather and heavy rainfall, two conditions that do not support growth of the plant.

Hackers force PlayStation shutdown

Sweet export prospects for local confectionery sector Kenya’s confectionery industry has the potential to grow beyond its borders as demand for cakes, buns, biscuits and other confectionaries is on the rise in

countries like South Korea.

Peterson Nyachwaya, an agent for Kenya’s Export Processing Zones (EPZ) says consumption of imported

POTENTIAL: Pastries on display. The local confectionary industry has great export potential.

An overload on Sony’s PlayStation network by cyber-attackers has forced it to be shut down.

Sony, through a blog said; “The PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network have been impacted by an attempt to overwhelm our network with artificially high traffic in what’s known as a distributed denial of

service attack.”

They said no personal information had been accessed and will continue to work towards fixing the problem and hope to have the services up and running as soon as possible. The group claiming responsibility for closing down the network of 52 million people also posted a notice suggesting that

confectionery products is on an increase.

“Diversification and westernization of Korean diet has resulted in an increased demand for imported bread and cake products,” Nyachwaya says.

This presents an opportunity to many of the country’s pastry makers, who have, in the past, been restricted to selling their goods within the country.

The global confectionery industry is expected to be worth $310 billion (Sh27 trillion) in next one year.

Kenya’s is currently worth Sh2 billion (less than 1 per cent of the world market).

However, the Export Promotional Council says the market has been growing at a rapid rate, creating hundreds of jobs every year.

It already employs more than 100,000 people directly and indirectly.

The council says exporting the goods to a country like South Korea will create more opportunities for many local manufacturers while boosting the country’s foreign exchange revenue.

there was a security threat to an American Airlines flight forcing it to be diverted to Phoenix, Arizona instead of landing in San Diego.

The aeroplane was carrying Sony Online Entertainment President, Mr John Smedley. It was diverted due to a bomb scare.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations are said to be

investigating the security scare over the flight.

Sony had already scheduled routine maintenance work to be done on its PlayStation network this week before the cyber-attacks happened. In 2011, an attack forced the PlayStation Network and online gaming services to shut down.

8|

DIGITAL

newboundaries

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Home vigilance is getting easier even for those without power with the innovation of the Blink surveillance video camera.

Blink camera is a video recorder that relies on a battery that lasts for a year.

Therefore, it does not require electricity back up or connection, and power outages do not compromise your security.

Areas that do not have power remain under the watchful ‘eye’ of this camera, which is mounted on a wall with an angle of view of up to 90 degrees.

Blink technology is a perfect solution to the vast remote areas without security but still need security.

More areas can be brought under surveillance, including those that were traditionally

excluded by the Internet Protocol (IP).

The iOS or android assisted gadget can detect motion both in the light and darkness. It can stream live images to your phone or any other device via SMS, mail or any other customised mode of notification.

Any slight motion triggers the HD video recorder in just five seconds.

Blink can record a video of up to 120 minutes, before it can start transferring further data to an external USB connected storage.

The recorded motion also goes to the Blink server. But still it allows you to store it.

With no cords connecting it to other devices, it does its work discreetly without arousing curiosity or suspicion from intruders.

Blink camera boosts home security itspot

Wine and dine at Serena’s Cafe Maghreb Serena Hotel’s Café Maghreb and Patisserie features an upmarket yet relaxed Moroccan ambience. The interior design has a touch of pan-African art to it. This mode of adornment is drawn from Ethiopia, the Maghreb, West and East Africa.

The menu offers a table d’hôte dinner, with both local and international specialties by resident chefs. The restaurant

INVITING: A Section ofthe Cafe Maghreb’s interior.

has an all-time brasserie (French cuisine), mystical Moroccan cuisine, Indian Ocean seafood and many more international dishes.

Friday is dabbed Seafood Night. The sumptuous delicacy is usually prepared on glowing coals by the poolside. When ready, the seafood is served with sauce on the side.

To whet your appetite, delicious soup with freshly baked bread is served at your request.

As if that is not enough tease of your taste buds, Kenyan light lunches with finger licking buffet specials are available.

Aromatic stir fries in the Wok Corner await to give you a spicy crunch time.

Thursday is themed Kenyan Lunch Day. At the Patisserie, traditional French pastries and gateaux, American muffins and spiced savouries are beautifully displayed.

Besides pastries, there is

a large selection of teas, coffees, sundaes, Italian gelati and milk shakes.

The stirring Maghreb Bar, which bears a Moroccan décor, gives way to an al fresco dining. With a fully stocked liquor cabinet, the bar attendants are ready to take in orders of assorted drinks and cocktails.

Food and drinks can be served indoors, at the terrace next to the pool, at the bar counter, and rooms.

Out with keys, in comes the Noke Many of us have experienced the frustrations of losing our keys or forgetting the combination to our lock. Noke is the answer to all these problems, key and combination free.

It is a waterproof padlock that uses Bluetooth technology.

The padlock by Fuz Designs is unlocked when one gets near the lock, clicks it and the padlock searches for a phone that is nearby and connects to unlock. A user needs to download the Noke app on their android or iOS device first, and then pair it to Noke. The user could chose to name Noke and even add a photo to distinguish it. One can give access to friends and family by assigning them the Noke code. To unlock the padlock, the phone needs to be within 10 feet of it. The user thus does not have to get the phone out of their of bag to connect and unlock.

The device has a replaceable battery that lasts up to a year with normal use. The quick-click feature allows the user to create a custom access code that allows for the padlock to be opened when the phone is unavailable or has gone off.

Noke comes with push notifications that alerts the user when the padlock is being opened and by whom.

The padlock ensures for a secure transmission.

phonejunkie

Windows carves out market niche with small cheap phones In June this year, the Nokia Lumia 630 was released — a small, cheap, Windows 8.1 handset of the type that the company has managed to sell in decent numbers. Not long after, the 635 appeared — another small, cheap Windows 8.1 handset. The difference? Sh3, 000 and 4G connectivity.

What helped Windows Phone build its small market share was this device’s predecessor, the 520. At a reasonable Sh20,000, the 635 handset is certain

to appeal to the bunch of buyers looking for full-fat smartphone experience without the equivalent price tag. One obvious way to keep costs down is with the screen size.

At 4.5 inches, it’s at the smaller end of the smartphone spectrum, and with 854x480 resolution and FGWA, it’s not the sharpest you’ll find at this price point, but decent enough. Put next to the 930’s Full HD 1920 x 1080 screen, for example, it stands up surprisingly well.

art | 9

tuesday, auGust 26, 2014

Changing face of architectural designs Architecture is the process of designing and guiding buildings to be visually appealing and suitable for use. Although not many will agree that architects are artists, they transform spaces into masterpieces. They take a vision, put it on paper and see it come into realisation to a great building.

Architects always work within some parameters, such as state building guidelines. In the traditional sense, architects are not artists because the latter enjoy freedom to create anything of their wish while architects are limited in some areas.

Regardless of the limitations, architects still produce great architectural pieces. Architectural buildings are often regarded as cultural symbols, landmarks or works of art. For example, the

Architectural buildings are often identified as cultural symbols, landmarks and works of art.

TOP 10 LUMIA APPS ACCORDING TO WINDOWS STORE

appdownload

Apps for Android

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is an instant messenger and video telephony application that allows messaging and voice calls between BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone and Android users. It

2ping

Bidorbuy online shop-

The app is for Africa’s largest online marketplace and gives Lumia users full shopping functionality. Its fast, user friendly and responsive interface enables users to browse, search, bid, buy, and manage bids or buy activity.

GT Racing 2: The Real Car Experience The game offers players a real car racing experience in a true-to-life automotive journey that features the most prestigious cars in the world.

3

4Shopping is made more Jumia

ourroots

comfortable and convenient with the online app.

It allows one to shop for the widest selection of electronics, fashion, home appliances, kid’s items and more. The items can be shipped directly to your home or office, 24 /7 from anywhere.

My NSE

investors get personalised information on listed securities.

The information helps them in making decisions while buying and selling securities.

Users also get market data for listed securities and corporate actions that affect their securities holdings.

DreamWorks Dragons Adventure A game full of adventure, it transforms reality into a fantastic world of How to Train Your Dragon 2. One can fly Dragons and explore a Viking version of the real world.

Modern Combat 5: Blackout The shooter game allows one create a shooting squad and test the squad’s skill against rivals.

If a player prefers single rival, they should shoot their way out of a serious situation into another level.

7

Cardboard Floating City

artshock

enables instant chats, picture sharing, voice notes, group chats and photo sharing. BBM for windows phone is specially designed with modern look and feel features that allow one to pin BBM Groups.

5The app helps users and

6

Louvre Museum in Paris France has dominated the city’s landscape since the 12th Century.

In Nairobi, the Kenyatta International Convention Centre is a landmark that has been around for years. Architecture dates back to the time of Egyptian pyramids and has since grown immensely. In 1980s, the industry saw a boost as the complexity of buildings in form of technology was enhanced.

Environmental aspects have also played a role in the growth over the years with clients seeking more environment durable designs. Themes have also played a big role. Clients give architects themes they want their house to reflect. For example, the Sydney Opera House in Sydney Australia was built with shells as the inspiration.

8SmartKid Maths is a SmartKid Maths

game that was developed by psychologists, scientists and teachers specialised in enhancing children’s learning.

Adobe Photoshop Express With the app, one can edit photos using specialised tools.

It features automatic fixes and filters, auto-fix: one-touch adjustment for brightness, exposure and shadows, colour: slider controls for exposure, contrast, clarity, vibrance, the basics: crop, straighten, rotate, and flip your photos.

TicketSasa Brings the easiest way to book and pay for your travel and entertainment needs in East Africa. One gains access to event tickets, holiday package offers, flight and hotel booking facilities, all provided with online payment; M-PESA, Airtel, YuCash, Visa or Master-card.

9

Nina Lindgren is a Stockholm-based artist.

She designed and built a cardboard floating city inspired by a 1927 silent film.

The artist also introduced lights in some of the tiny cardboard houses to make it more realistic.

The cardboard pieces are assembled like puzzle pieces making it lightweight and easy to hang from the ceiling.

10

Nandi beauty tricked Luo warrior Luanda Magere to his fall

Luo legendary Luanda Magere was a warrior who successfully led the community in war against the Nandi and Kipsigis.

Triza Acheing, 62, says he preferred night assaults.

He single-handedly killed experienced warriors no matter how fierce their assault on him were.

No spear or arrow could pierce

or pin him to the ground. Not even weapons that tore his shield; little wonder neighbours never understood his prowess. Achein’g says women used their seductive power to understand him. “It is believed Magere had 25 wives.

One of them was from the Nandi, as a way of reviving and cementing their relationship,” she says.

She was gorgeous. Magere could not resist her even after warning from elders.

Then peace prevailed and Magere fell ill while his eldest wife was away. He asked his youngest wife, who was from the Nandi community, to pierce his shadow and put medicine into the pricked part.

She was mesmerised to see blood

oozing out of a wound in the shadow; he had signed for his death. On that night, the Nandi wife ran back to her people and reported the good news. The following day, the Nandi tickled the Luo into war. Elders warned Magere not to participate but the pride of his past prowess drove him to the battlefield. He did not

return. The Nandi warriors aimed at his shadow and killed him.

The Luo community believe his body turned into a rock, currently at Sidho on Awasi Chemelil Road behind Kopere Songor Junction.

The place is a tourist site where rituals are performed with the belief that this hero’s spirits will intervene for success.

10 |

FUN

Grilling ribs the right way TUESday, AUGUST 26, 2014

The thought of goat ribs or beef ribs roasting over coals, their sweet aroma filling air is one to occasion lot of salivating.

The secret to mouth-watering ribs is to grill them over a slow fire. This not only makes them tender, but very flavourful. You can just roast

them plain or spice them up with some additions.

The main ingredients include dry red wine, soy sauce, vegetable oil, garlic, black pepper, vinegar, salt and spices.

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. The mixture

will be used to marinate the ribs in order to flavour and soften them.

Remove the thin membrane attached to the underside of the ribs and place them in a shallow baking dish and pour the mixture over them. Make sure that both sides of the ribs are evenly coated with the

marinade.

Place each set of ribs in aluminium foil, make sure they are covered tightly then refrigerate them for two to four hours. You can grill them immediately after applying the marinade but for the best flavour and texture, they should be

refrigerated.

Pre-heat the grill put in the ribs, and cook for 90 minutes turning the ribs every 15 minutes to ensure they cook on every side.

Alternatively you can bake them in an oven at 325°F for at least two hours. Enjoy with a cold beverage

oddeat

guilty pleasures

White ant soup a special Thai delicacy Asia is known for its bizarre and crazy foods. They operate on the mantra waste not. Thus almost everything can be turned into a delicacy. White ant soup is one such favourite in Vietnam and Thailand.

The white ant eggs, or Gaeng

Kai Mot Daeng as it is known among the locals, are sold in open air markets. The eggs are harvested from their nests and, to separate the eggs from the soldier ants, both are dumped into a bucket of water. The soldier ants float while the eggs

sink. The ants do not die and are then carefully removed and let free. The ones that die in the water are added into the eggs.

The eggs are then taken out of the water and set aside for the soup which is prepared boiling the eggs together with fish or

beef, tomatoes, green onions, garlic and peppers.

The texture of the eggs has been likened to that of soggy rice.

The eggs pop in the mouth and taste sour. The soup is expensive because the eggs are rare and harvested by hand.

Kat Graham and velvet cup cakes Everybody including celebrities, has a guilty must haves. Things which you crave when you are in the confines of your home, with family or friends.

Katerina Alexandre Hartford “Kat” Graham derives pleasure from delving into red velvet cupcakes. Speaking on Wonderwall’s Tinsel Talk, the Vampire Diaries actress intimated: “Cupcakes. Red velvet cupcakes. Those are my guilty pleasure. And it’s kind of like a kryptonite for me, because I can’t say no.”

She is known as Bonnie Bennett in The Vampire Diaries where she takes on the role of a very powerful witch.

The 24 year old Swiss born American actress is also model, singer, and dancer.

the hitlist

YUMMY? White ants soup ready to serve.

Kimathi Street

Westlands

Buruburu

Kimathi Street

Kitengela

Club Rumourz

Vineyard Bar

Club Winds

I Club

Club 360

Reggea night

Hip Hip karaoke night

Afrobeats with DJ Freddie

Request night for all with resident DJ

DJ Proff plays rock and old skul jams

Admission: Free Time: 6pm onwards

Admission: Free Time: 7pm onwards

Admission: Free Time: 7pm till dawn

Admission: Free Time: 7pm onwards

Admission: Free Time: 6pm onwards

PLAY| 11

forecast capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

HOROSCOPES

The formation of a new business partnership might transform your working life, Capricorn. The benefits may not appear for a while, so don’t quit your day job. Nonetheless, it’s definitely worth considering. Make sure you have all the facts before making any formal commitment.

aquarius Jan 20 - Feb

Unfinished job tasks might have you wanting to pitch in and get them done no matter what it takes, Aquarius. This is likely to earn you a few brownie points with your colleagues, but take care that you don’t stress yourself out.

pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

Today you’re apt to feel very sensual and passionate, Pisces. Sexy clothes, racy novels, and romantic movies could be more appealing than usual.

Don’t be surprised if you attract admiring glances from strangers. This is an excellent day to schedule an evening alone with a lover, although you might not be able to get together tonight.

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

A powerful desire for a current or potential romantic partner might come over you today, Aries. This person could live far away or be on a trip, so you might have to be satisfied with a phone call or email instead of the meeting you’d prefer. Don’t get frustrated.

taurus Apr 20 - May 20

A powerful need to reach someone either for business or personal reasons could have you spending a lot of time on the phone that may come to nothing, Taurus. You might call every place this person could possibly be, and this could prove frustrating. Your friend may be away.

gemini May 21 - Jun 21

TUESday, AUGUST 26, 2014

Money matters could prove obsessive today, Gemini, as you might be trying to make an important purchase and need to revise your budget in order to do so. You’ll be able to do it if you calm down and don’t stress out. Be logical and methodical, and you’ll probably accomplish what you want without too much frustration.

cancer Jun 22 - Jul 22

Today you should be looking especially good and feeling particularly passionate and sensual, Cancer. This is a great day to buy new clothes, as your fashion sense is probably right on target. Racy novels and romantic movies may seem more appealing than usual.

leo Jul 23 - Aug 22

Your imagination should be flying high today, Leo. Words, images, melodies, or whatever your artistic media are probably popping into your head faster than you can keep track of them.

Write them down, record them, or do whatever you can to remember them or you could very easily forget them.

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 1

2

3

virgo Aug 23 -Sep 22

Your financial goals are probably on the verge of becoming reality, Virgo, but it might seem as if the few tasks remaining are too monumental to face right now. Don’t fall into gloom and despair. Try to find some workable ideas to get these obstacles out of your way with minimal effort.

libra Sep 23 - Oct 22

Conversations with a friend whose good sense you trust could open your eyes to new career possibilities, Libra.

You might think about transforming your working life. These opportunities need careful consideration, since you’ve never contemplated them before.

scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

’s o ayhot d er p st ing e Y nn i w

ng s i n n in tio W p ca

Strange dreams, insights, or visions could upend your spiritual orientation, Scorpio. These new ideas could have your mind going a thousand miles an hour and shake up concepts that you’ve embraced for most of your life.

Think about it without making yourself crazy.

sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

A friend you may not have seen for a while could awaken strange new feelings for which you’re unprepared, Sagittarius. You may see this person as a potential romantic partner. What you do about it depends on your situation. It probably isn’t a good idea to pursue this attraction today.

sudoku

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

1. Full course meal-the real definition-Juma Munga, Karen.

2. Who wants to join me for breakfast?- Marion Wakesho, Baba Dogo.

3.Filling up the tank-Joyce Njiraini, Nairobi.

The Matchmaker —by Elin Hilderbrand

Yesterday’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.

mustread

Dabney Kimball Beech is a 48-year-old gifted matchmaker.

She has successfully brought together 42 couples. When Dabney discovers she is dying of pancreatic cancer, she sets about finding love for those close to her: her husband a celebrated economist and her daughter Agnes who is engaged to be married to the wrong man.

Dubney is determined to find matches for those she loves most before she runs out of time.

yoursay The government should learn to listen to workers I would like to remind the Jubilee administration of the danger of contracting the ‘use and dump syndrome’.

This is a deadly disease that infected both the Moi and Kibaki administrations making them indifferent to

worker’ plights.

It is unfortunate that industrial strikes have become part and parcel of the Kenyan society, with successive regimes devising various ways to neutralize them by among other

measures: Threatening to sack protesting workers while promising protection to those willing to work’ betray their colleagues’.

Second, cutting deals with top union officials to call off strikes is just wron.

This divide and rule strategy has rendered workers’ unions toothless bulldogs unable to champion workers’ rights and interests.

Alfred Mosoti- Baraton University

TUESday, AUGUST 26, 2014

Sport

I accept doping test results, says Montosho

Former 400 metre world champion Amantle Montsho has accepted the results of her failed drugs test and waived her right to appeal before the Commonwealth Games Federation Court.

Montsho, 31, had been provisionally suspended after failing her doping test after the 400m finals at the Glasgow Games last month.

The banned stimulant, Methylhexaneamine, was found in her system before she was axed from the race.

Her decision not to appeal means the Botswana athlete’s results from the Commonwealths, where she finished fourth, have been cancelled.

The Commonwealth Games Federation only has power to disqualify an athlete from the Games, and has sent the findings to relevant

international federations where further decision is expected.

If Montsho is found guilty, the case will be referred to the World Anti-Doping Agency, where she could receive a two-year ban.

Heading into the Games in Scotland, Montsho was the defending champion after winning gold in Delhi four years ago. She also took the title at the World Championships in 2011, and silver in 2013, getting pipped on the line by Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu.

She is the second athlete to test positive from the Games after Nigeria’s 16-year-old weightlifter, Chika Amalaha, was stripped of her gold medal after her A and B samples were found to contain banned substances.

cancelled: Botswana’s former 400m world champion Amantle Montsho’s decision not to appeal the Commonwealth Games Federation Court verdict means her race results, where she finished fourth, have been cancelled.

Cuadrado open to Fiorentina exit Juan Cuadrado has refused to rule out the possibility of leaving Fiorentina in the summer.

The attacker has been the subject of speculation after it was revealed that Manchester United for an agreement worth up to €44 million.

Last week, Fiorentina boss

Vincenzo Montella insisted he has not contemplated losing Cuadrado.

«He’s been here in the past, he is here now and he will be here in the future.”

But the player himself does not appear so confident of staying, though he admits any decision

rests on Fiorentina reaching an agreement with an interested club.

When asked about the possibility of a transfer, he replied: “My future does not depend on me, there is still time until the market closes, no? I don’t know...”

14 |

sport

Tuesday, auGusT 26, 2014

Messi is best, says Enrique

ner scored two fine goals during a 3-0 win over Elche but Enrique was more taken with the Argentine’s all-round excellence.

“Messi is the best in the world, even when he is defending,” the Barca boss said after the game. “”We see him day in, day out doing unbelievable things. He’ll be the best in the world as long as he wants to give assists, score goals, press.

“He has been touched by the magic wand for many years now.”

Luis Enrique also lavished praised on 18-year-old debutant Munir El Haddadi, who only broke into the club’s B team earlier this year.

“Munir is tearing through the levels at a terrifying rate,” the Barca coach enthused. He gives us options, he scores goals and he’s competitive.”

Mutai out to defend New York City title

KCB will survive, Kiongera says Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) striker Paul Kiongera is confident the bankers will escape relegation despite a torrid start to the 2014 Kenyan Premier League, player Paul Kiongera.

Kiongera’s solitary goal over Kenya Revenue Authority in a mid-week league match played at City Stadium last Friday ensured the bankers remained on course to avoid the dreaded drop.

“I have faith this team will not be relegated. The fighting spirit and fire within the team is real, they want to play in the premier league next season,” said Kiongera, who is due to join Tanzanian giants Simba SC next month.

“It doesn’t matter whether I will be there or not, the mission and vision remains the same, what I see is renewed spirit that saw the team finish fourth over all last season,” added the man of the match from last week.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique says that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world - even when defending.

The 44-year-old coach took charge of the Blaugrana for the first time in La Liga on Sunday night and, despite the dismissal of Javier Mascherano just before the break, Camp Nou was treated to a Messi masterclass.

The four-time Ballon d’Or win-

winner: new York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai

Reigning New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai has said he is looking forward to defending his title at the 2014 edition on Sunday 2 November. In last year’s race, Mutai outran the men’s field to win by nearly a minute in 2:08:24, women champion Priscah Jeptoo too will be out to defend her title.

“I’ll be back! New York is a very special place for me and I’m very excited to defend my title and go for a third win at the New York City Marathon,” said Mutai.

“With Geoffrey and Priscah headlining the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon, we welcome back two great champions to the streets of New York City,” said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New

York Road Runners. “Last year, both Geoffrey and Priscah were inspirations to us all. This November, when they line up in Staten Island to start their journey through the unique neighbourhoods of the City’s five boroughs, these world-class athletes will be chasing history, as Geoffrey goes for a New York hat trick and Priscah looks to join an elite group of repeat winners.”

Mutai, 32, is the New York course record holder with 2:05:06 and two-time defending champion of the New York City Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.ß In 2012, Mutai, also the reigning 2014NYC Half Marathon champion, captured the 2011–2012 World Major Marathon.

SPORT| 15

We wish you well, teammates tell Di Maria TUESday, AUGUST 26, 2014

closer: Di Maria is edging closer to a Sh8.8billion move to Manchester United after turning down a new contract at the reigning European champions.

Volleyball federation to recover stolen trophies The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has launched a recovery bid for FIVB Volleyball Men’s and Women’s World Championships trophies that were stolen in Rio de Janeiro last Friday.

The effort is being coordinated by Brazilian authorities.

The unique trophies, with a contemporary, inspirational artistic design, took months to design earlier in the year.

They were in Brazil as part of the FIVB Trophy Tour for the pending FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship set for Poland between August 30-September 21.

The FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship is due to take place in Italy from September 23 to October 12. The trophies

were stolen at a mall parking lot near the Confederação Brasileira de Voleibol while in transit back to Europe.

The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Poland 2014 is set to start early next week and the women’s event in one month.

The FIVB will liaise with the Swiss company that created the trophies for their replacement. The trophies were originally planned to be available during this Saturday’s Men’s World Championship opening ceremony in Warsaw.

“This situation is lamentable as the FIVB worked very hard to create a unique trophy for both World Championships,” FIVB President Dr Ary S Graca said.

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has wished has wished his Real Madrid team-mate Angel Di Maria success ahead of the Argentina international’s expected move to Old Trafford.

Di Maria is edging closer to a Sh8.8billion move to United after turning down a new contract at the reigning European champions.

In his tweet, Alonso made reference to Di Maria’s Champions League heroics against Atletico Madrid in May: “Thanks for everything Fideo!

I wish you all the best, even at Manchester Utd :) never forget the zigzag in extra-time in Lisbon.”

Earlier on Monday, Madrid leftback Marcelo also bid farewell to Di Maria on social media.

The Brazil defender took to Twitter to pay tribute to the pacy attacker, who starred for Madrid during their successful Champions League campaign last season.

‘Thank you for everything you have done for Madrid! I love you!’ Marcelo wrote in a touching statement to the winger.

Real manager Carlo Ancelotti has said Di Maria has said goodbye to team-mates as he prepares to join Louis van Gaal’s side.

Real’s asking price for Di Maria has reportedly increased during

talks as it became clear how desperate United were to add quality to their squad.

“Di Maria has said goodbye,’ Ancelotti told a press conference. “We thanked him for everything he has done for the club.

We tried everything possible to keep Di Maria, but he has decided something else. Good luck to him.’

Di Maria is set to be handed the No 7 shirt famously worn by two of the Red Devils biggest-ever stars, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.

The left-side dynamo is expected to earn about Sh29.2million a week at Old Trafford.

Korea’s Ryu holds off rivals for first major victory in two years South Korea’s Ryu SoYeon held off compatriot Choi Na-Yeon on Sunday to capture the Canadian Women`s Open. In the victory, the player ended an LPGA win drought of more than two years.

Ninth-ranked Ryu, is the 2011 US Women`s Open champion whose only other prior LPGA crown came at the 2012 Toledo Classic.

She matched the season-low LPGA 72-hole total of 23-under par, finishing on 265 to defeat Choi by two shots.

Ryu fired a final-round 69, three-under par, to collect a wire-to-wire triumph but only after Choi closed within one stroke with three holes to play.

A final six-foot birdie putt at 16 produced Ryu`s final margin of victory.

“I did trust myself,” Ryu said. “I didn`t care about anybody else. I focused on my game. I wasn`t playing my best game on the back nine but I just kept through it.

“Hole 16 was a really big hole. I was sure if I made (the birdie putt) I was going to win it. I was really happy I made it.”

Ryu, 24, had 27 top-10 finishes since her prior victory, 10 of them last season and nine more this year. Ryu, who will jump from ninth to fifth in the world rankings after the victory, shattered the tournament record low score by five shots.

no turning back: South Korea’s Ryu So-Yeon held off compatriot Choi Na-Yeon on Sunday on her way to the Canadian Women`s Open title.

Kenya submit bid to host Afcon 2017

stolen crown: The International Volleyball Federation has launched a recovery bid for FIVB Volleyball Men’s and Women’s World Championships trophies that were stolen in Rio de Janeiro.

Football Kenya Federation have entered race to host 2017 CAF African Cup of Nations after the withdrawal by Libya.

Libya pulled out of the prestigious tournament due to security concerns.

A statement from Kenya FA signed by President Sam Nyamweya read: “Football Kenya Federation wishes to announce Kenya’s interest in

putting in a bid to host 2017 Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which opened following withdrawal of Libya as host nation.

“We view this as another opportunity to bring Africa’s greatest soccer showpiece to our great nation and coming so soon after Caf handed us rights to host 2018 Orange Caf Africa Nations Championships.

“FKF is consulting stakeholders

and government before submitting our bid before September 30, 2014, deadline.

“We are also alive to exploring possibilities of putting a joint bid with our neighbours Tanzania, who have already showed interest and Uganda as well as Rwanda.

There are no immediate candidates to jump into the 16-nation tournament that takes place in two and half years.

16 |

FUN SPORT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Bobby picks 15 youngsters for Stars’ friendly in Egypt Gor Mahia promising forward Timothy Otieno has expressed his happiness after his first senior national team call up for the friendly match away to Egypt this weekend.

Former FC Talanta player said it is a dream come true to be included in the provisional squad while crediting new head coach Bobby Williamson for his believe in youth.

“Having worked with the coach at Gor Mahia, there is no doubt he has a liking to nurturing young talent, the squad he named shows that,” said Otieno, a former Kakamega High School student

thetimeline

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Williamson yesterday handed invitations to 15 youthful players in the 29-man team ahead of the high profile friendly.

Otieno, alongside Nakuru All Stars trio of John Ndirangu, goalkeeper Shaban Odhoji and Bernard Odhiambo are some of the young fresh faces in the team.

AFC Leopards’ Humphrey Mieno and Jesse Were returned from international wilderness having been ignored by immediate former coach Adel Amrouche.

Noah Wafula, who was missing fromn the initial squad, was included later on Monday.

Usher Komugisha@Pinkett Dear @ManUtd this is exactly when you announce that we have signed Di Maria so that he meets his teammates all day. #MUFC #GGMU

CALLED UP: Gor Mahia’s Timothy Otieno (left), has been called up to Harambee Stars

Nicole!@ifuseekamy_ Wonder what time Di Maria will be announced? @Hleb_Gooner @killah_Dave Oh sh*t, Man Utd signed A. Di

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Rampant City thump Liverpool at Eitihad Champions Manchester City send an ominous message to other Premier League title rivals with a 3-1 win over Liverpool Monday night.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini is delighted to see striker Stevan Jovetic make the most of his fresh start at the club.

The Montenegro international endured a miserable maiden campaign dogged by injury and illness, but after a full preseason he is firing on all cylinders again and scored twice in the 3-1 win over Liverpool.

He has seized the opportunity presented by injuries to Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero, who scored City’s third before Liverpool’s Rickie Lambert forced Pablo Zabaleta into a late own goal.

Asked whether the striker had finally started to deliver Pellegrini said: “Yes and not only on his goals.

“He was working the whole game, without the ball too. He was very unlucky last season but we never had any doubt about this quality.

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