‘stop these rumors! i love mariah’
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nick cannon finally breaks silence on divorce rumours, goes on twitter rant to declare unending love for mariah carey P.5
eXtra.sharp Thursday 04.09.2014 | www.x-news.co.ke
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midfielder mcdonald mariga returns to serie a’s parma | P.14
US, UK to blow out terrorist networks
argentina end germany’s world cup party after re-match thrashing | P.16
Barack Obama and UK Premier David Cameron are hoping to use a Nato summit that begins today in Wales to engineer a military and political coalition to squeeze out violent Islamic militants as fears grow over the safety of hostages in the hands of extremists. With the beheading of a second US journalist Steven Sotlof early this week, the militants delivered another brutal message to the West by threatening to kill another hostage of British origin. P2
Doctors threaten to join colleagues in downing tools P4
The untapped potential in the furniture sector P6
What you need to become a communication officer P9
Cotu suspicious of staff audit
P3
Ebola scare in Nakuru as Liberian boy is hospitalised A 10-year-old boy has been admitted at the Nakuru Provincial General Hospital (PGH) bearing symptoms similar to those of Ebola. Joshua Saka, a Liberian, was referred to the PGH from private hospital, Valley, where he had been taken to after suffering headache, fever and vomiting at the Greensteds International School, where he is a student, confirmed PGH nursing officer in charge Alphaxard Kemboi. Kemboi also confirmed that samples had been
taken to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) for testing. The minor, and the school nurse who rushed him to Valley hospital have been quarantined at the hospital’s eye unit. More than 1,900 people have now died in the most recent Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. There have been 3,500 confirmed or probable cases in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
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NEWS
THURsday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
US, UK to blow out terror groups
From Page 1
And the western leaders have swung into action to counter the activists who have built an Islamic caliphate stretching across a swath of territory in Syria and northern Iraq. “We will not be intimidated,” Obama said in Estonia on his way to the summit. “Their horrific acts only unite us and stiffen our resolve to take the fight against these terrorists. And those who make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget
Authority proposes stiffer rules to check rogue drivers The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has proposed new stringent measures to tame rogue and lawless motorists. In the fresh proposals for which the agency has allowed 60 days for stakeholders to make suggestions, anyone below the age of 28 will be barred from driving Public Service Vehicles. The proposals to the new driving and licensing curriculum requires that drivers in category D1, who steer light buses with a maximum of 16 passengers, must have attained the age of 28 years before they are allowed on the roads. Drivers of buses carrying more than passengers must be 30 years and above. To become a PSV driver, one will be required to show prior driving experience of at least four years. Drivers in category F, that includes small passenger cars such as taxis, are required to be at least 24 years of age. Those joining driving schools must have at least Standard Eight level of education and be able to read and write. Anyone below 18 years of age will not be allowed to drive even private vehicles in the draft proposals to be presented to Parliament for debate and approval. Driving school owners have protested at some of the proposals and vowed to press for changes.
and that our reach is long and that justice will be served.” British officials have also said their premier is examining every option to protect the British hostage threatened by the jihadist group. The hostage, whose identity has been widely circulated in international media, is a 44-yearold aid worker, David Haines, who was kidnapped in March last year and shown in the video of Sotloff ’s murder. He was taken hostage in the village of Atmeh in Syria’s Idlib province
along with an Italian aid worker and two Syrians who have since been freed. US and UK have since admitted that their attempts to free the hostages failed. President Obama who is under intense domestic pressure to set out his strategy for dealing with Islamic states, pleaded for patience to build support in the region. “It is going to take time for us to form the regional coalition that’s going to be required so that we can reach out to Sunni tribes in some
of the areas that Isis has occupied, and make sure that we have allies on the ground in combination with the air strikes that we’ve already conducted,” he said. ISIS has in recent months emerged as the biggest security threat to the western world, with brutal execution of hostages meant to energise supporters and terrify enemies. Obama’s strategy to build an international coalition against Isis follows in the approach of former president George Bush, who
assembled a broad-based coalition before ejecting Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1991. “We know if we are joined by the international community, we can continue to shrink the ISIS’s sphere of influence, its effectiveness, its financing, its military capabilities to the point where it is a manageable problem. And the question is going to be making sure we’ve got the right strategy, but also making sure we’ve got the international will to do it,” he said.
Here is why ladies should think twice about tall guys Ladies, if you’re looking for a man who’s tall, dark, and handsome, you might want to shift your gaze down a foot. It turns out, short guys make better partners—and if you marry one, your relationship is more likely to last, according to a New York University (NYU) research. For the study, two NYU sociologists examined data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics—which has been collecting info on 5,000 families for almost 50 years—to determine how a man’s height impacts his relationships. They found that shorter men (about 5’7″ or shorter) were less likely to marry than their taller counterparts, but they were 32 per cent less likely to divorce. Why? Researchers aren’t exactly sure, but they believe short men may just make better mates. Case in point: The study found that they do a greater share of housework compared to tall and even averageheight guys. The average short guy performs eight hours and 28 minutes of housework a week—compared to just seven hours 38 minutes for average-height guys, and seven hours 30 minutes for tall men. The researchers indicate that the taller a guy is, the more he thinks he’s “above” those duties. And contrary to the false short-guys-aren’tpowerful stigma, the study reveals that short men are also more likely to bring home the bucks than their taller counterparts.
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NEWS | 3
THURSDAY SepTembeR 4, 2014
Ministry says poaching not a national disaster
1,700 world languages at risk of extinction
The Ministry of Environment has downplayed calls to declare poaching a national disaster. In a report to the National Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee yesterday, Cabinet Secretary Prof Judy Wakhungu and Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe said declaring poaching a national disaster will result in massive losses for tourism and limited access to national parks.
More than 1,700 languages across the world are at risk of becoming extinct, a US-European team of researchers has discovered. Based on the same measures used to determine the risk of extinction faced by animal and plant species, they have concluded that about a quarter of the world’s known 6,909 languages will soon disappear. “Small-population languages remaining in economically developed regions are seriously threatened by continued speaker declines,” the US-European research team wrote in the Royal Society Journal Biology Letters. In Kenya, the Elmolo language, which was common in the Turkana region, the Kore dialect, which was spoken in Lamu and the Omotik language, which was spoken by certain Maasai groups in the Rift Valley region, are all said to be extinct. By 2009, there were only 24 active speakers of the Alaska-based Athabaskan language, which children in the area were no longer learning.
Police recruits reporting date is October 3
Cotu raises suspicions over employee audit The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has read mischief into the biometric registration of public servants launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has accused the government of using it as a “back-door” means of sacking workers given the details of government workers are already entered into a database. “The Kenya government was among the first African governments to computerise records for its employees including their salaries. Consequently, it has been the duty of the personnel officer in charge of individual department to inform the agent Ministry and Treasury on retirements of staff or deaths and immediately such employees are removed from government payroll,” Atwoli said. He accused the government
of using the biometric registration as a ploy to lessen the wage burden, particularly in the counties. “With so many levels of governance, in less than three years the government will not be able to meet its financial obligations,” Atwoli stated. Atwoli said Cotu cannot accept what he described as the, “intimidation, harassment and ill-advised,” the government is making on civil servants, including demanding their letters of appointment. “Most of the Kenyans lost their original documents during the 2007-2008 post-election violence. So let somebody come out openly, transparently and tell Kenyans that the country’s wage bill is too high and the government cannot meet the monthly wages for its employees,” he demanded. When President Kenyatta launched the exercise on Monday, he explained that
Police recruits will now report for training on October 3, subject to the determination of a case pending before the High Court in Nairobi. The 10, 000 recruits were enlisted in July but are yet to begin training because of a court case challenging the nullification of the process in selected centres. The recruits were scheduled to report for training on September 1 but the National Police Service last week indefinitely postponed the date.
Waiguru decries lack of skills in young people
More on this story at
no ghosts here: President Uhuru Kenyatta goes through the bio-
www.capitalfm.co.ke metric registration process.
biometric registration would allow his government to do away with the ghost worker problem that has plagued many an administration.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Karanja Kibichio said it would also allow government to restructure and obtain the expertise so
badly needed. “It’s ironic that we have a bloated workforce but not the expertise needed to run efficiently,” he said.
NTSA suspends Pelican, parent sacco of Narok killer crash bus The National Transport and Safety Authority has suspended the Classic Pelican Sacco after one of its buses was involved in an accident. A Kisii Classic bus that operates under the sacco crashed head on with a saloon car at Longisa on the Narok-Kisii highway over the weekend. Six
people have since died as a result of the accident. NTSA Director General Francis Meja (pictured) in a statement sent to newsrooms said they have suspended the operation licence of the sacco. It means all the other 33 buses in
the sacco’s fleet cannot operate. “The public is hereby advised to avoid using buses belonging to the sacco,” Meja said. The authority said the bus driver attempted to overtake another vehicle occasioning a head on collision at the black-spot.
Lack of skills is the biggest hurdle facing youths in their quest for jobs. Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru said up to 92 per cent of unemployed youths in the country lack skills required in the job market. “They also lack entrepreneurial skills and access to affordable credit,” she said at Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos County where she opened a youth executive’s conference yesterday.
Kenya ranked world’s 4th most corrupt country
Kenya has been ranked among the top four most corrupt countries in the world. Sierra Leone topped the most corrupt country index with 84 per cent corruption levels while Liberia came second at 75 per cent. Yemen was third at 74 per cent with Kenya next with 70 per cent corruption levels according to the Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer 2013.
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NEWS
THURSDAY, SepTembeR 4, 2014
Doctors threaten to join other health staff in strike The ailing health sector may plunge into further national crisis after the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) and Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU) threatened to join striking colleagues. KNUN secretary general Seth Panyako and KMPPDU’s Victor Ng’ani separately issued strike notices to the Government. KNUN has issued a 21-day strike notice as has KMPPDU who have warned that they will down tools if their grievances are not met in seven days. The unions have been at loggerheads with the Government over unpaid salaries, job schemes for health staff and employment of more workers. “We have given the Government until September 22, 2014 to sign the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement or we will go
on strike,’’ Panyako said in Eldoret. Eight people have died at the Coast for lack of medical attention due to the ongoing strike by nurses at the regional medical centre. Similar cases have been reported across the country with another death registered in Homa Bay. On Wednesday, acting health executive for Mombasa, Tendai Lewa, warned that striking health workers will face disciplinary action. He said salaries for June, July and August have been paid. “A letter has been written to the striking workers through the county secretary asking them to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for not reporting to work,’’ said Lewa. In their notice, KNUN has asked the Government to sign the CBA and confirm all nurses on contract into permanent employment.
HEALTH THREAT: Eight people have died at the Coast for lack of medical attention due to the on-going strike by nurses at the regional medical centre.
WHO says West Africa Ebola death toll has climbed to 1,900 The death toll from the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa has risen to more than 1,900, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says. WHO head Margaret Chan says there were 3,500 confirmed or probable cases in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. “The outbreaks are racing ahead of the control efforts in these countries,” she said. The world’s health body is holding a meeting today to examine the most promising treatments and to discuss how to fast track their testing and production. Disease control experts, medical researchers, officials from affected countries, and specialists in medical ethics will all be represented at the meeting in Geneva. The WHO has previously warned that more than 20,000 people could be infected before the outbreak of the virus is brought under control. Ms Chan described the outbreak as “the largest and most severe and most complex we have ever seen”. “No one, even outbreak responders with experience
RAging kiLLER: WHO has warned that more than 20,000 people could be infected before the virus is brought under control.
dating back to 1976, to 1995, people that were directly involved with those outbreaks, none of them have ever seen anything like it,” she said. Forty per cent of the deaths have occurred in three weeks leading to September 3, the WHO says. Nigeria reported two further cases on Wednesday in Port Harcourt city. Only one case had previously been reported outside the city of Lagos, where five people
have died of the virus. “The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Port Harcourt has the potential to grow larger and spread faster than the one in Lagos,” the WHO said. On Tuesday, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres warned that a global military intervention was needed to combat the outbreak. MSF condemned the global response so far as “lethally inadequate” and said the world was “losing the battle” to contain the outbreak.
JKIA frees suspected Ebola carrier A passenger who caused panic at JKIA, Nairobi, over fears of Ebola was released after he tested negative. The passenger had arrived aboard a KQ 550 fight from Lubumbashi in DRC Congo when officials said he had suspicious symptoms, forcing authorities to ground the plane. The man was heading to China and was allowed to continue with his journey. Director of Medical Services Nicholas Muraguri said the passenger, who was suffering from food poisoning, was taken for testing. The man was released after medical personnel at JKIA realised he was not suffering from Ebola. At least 31 people have died of the disease in DR Congo. Experts say the deaths are not related to the strains of the deadly virus as the one in West Africa. On Wednesday, a top US government agency official fighting the Ebola outbreak in Africa, urged Kenya to prepare for the outbreak of the disease.
Why you should remain standing for longer hours The best anti-ageing technique could be standing up, scientists believe, after discovering that spending more time on two feet protects DNA. A study found that too much sitting down shortens telomeres, the protective caps which sit at the end of chromosomes. Short telomeres have been linked to premature ageing, disease and early death. So spending less time on the sofa could help people live longer by preventing their DNA from ageing The research found that people who were frequently on their feet had longer telomeres, which were keeping the genetic code safe from wear and tear. Intriguingly taking part in more exercise did not seem to have an impact on telomere length. Prof MaiLis Hellenius of Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, said: “In many countries formal exercise may be increasing, but at the same time people spend more time sitting.
“There is growing concern that not only low physical activity but probably also sitting and sedentary behaviour is an important and new health hazard of our time. “We hypothesise that a reduction in sitting hours is of greater importance than an increase in exercise time for elderly
risk individuals.” Telomeres stop chromosomes from fraying, clumping together and “scrambling” genetic code. Scientists liken their function to the plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces, and say lifespan is linked to their length. Researchers looked at 49 overweight sedentary adults in their late 60s and measured the length of the telomeres in their blood cells. Half of them had been part of an exercise that lasted six months, while the other half had not. Physical activity levels were assessed using a diary and pedometer to measure the amount of footsteps taken each day. The amount of time spent sitting down was worked out through a questionnaire. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, revealed that although people who did more exercise may be healthier, the most vital factor was how much time they spent sitting down. The lesser time a person spends sitting, the longer their telomeres, and the greater the chance of living longer.
NEWS| 5
THURSDAY, SepTembeR 4, 2014
Outrage as Escabar’s hitman is relased from Bogota prison Pablo Escabar’s hit man, John Jairo Velasquez, has been released from prison after more than two decades behind bars. Relatives of many of his victims angrily protested Velasquez’s release, saying 22 years in prison was not punishment enough for the countless atrocities he committed during the cocaine turf wars of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Velasquez is said to have killed more than 300 people in the ‘80s on behalf of Escobar the
notorious Medellin Cartel drug lord who was killed by Colombian forces in 1993. Velasquez, one of the main perpetrators of what was known in Colombia as the narcoterrorism era, is a free man for the first time in 22 years. The 52-year-old Velasquez, also known as ‘Popeye’ was released Tuesday night from a maximum-security prison in the Colombian province of Boyaca, northeast of the cap-
ital Bogota. He left the prison under heavy police protection. Velasquez surrendered to authorities in 1992, telling a reporter at the time, “I don’t owe anything to anybody. I haven’t done anything wrong.” But in jailhouse interviews, he admitted several times to killing about 300 people, including soldiers, police officers, rival cartel members and civilians. He also confessed to master-
inothernews Nick speaks out on divorce rumours Nick Cannon, 33, has finally broken his silence over rumours of a divorce from his wife, Mariah Carey, 44. “I have personally been absent from social media for the past few months for obvious reasons but I feel the need to finally speak up. “During this challenging time for me and my family it saddens me that the media can be such evil bottom feeders...” he posted on his Twitter account. “Because my family & I haven’t been forthcoming with personal information, people
are quick to paint negative pictures and spread rumours. “For the record I NEVER have, nor will I make a statement regarding my marriage. “So whatever your favourite gossip outlet is reporting has been created within their own imagination... “At this difficult time I would ask all civilized people to please respect my family and this process...” “What infuriates me most is to hear people slander @MariahCarey . I will forever be in debted to her for blessing me with our children.
minding the killings of more than 3,000 other people, most of them civilians. Some of his victims died in car bombings in cities across Colombia including Bogota; Medellin, his cartel’s home base; and Cali. But Colombian authorities said that Velasquez was being freed for good conduct, as any other prisoner would, and that his release complied with the law. Velasquez was also responsible
for a number of high-profile kidnappings, among them that of Attorney General Carlos Mauro Hoyos in January 1988. Velasquez confessed that he killed Hoyos in captivity. “I ask you for forgiveness from the bottom of my heart,” he told Pastrana, “for what the Medellin cartel did, for risking your very important life.” He also told Pastrana he dismembered some of his victims, something he says he deeply regrets as a man who’s
turned his life to God. Velasquez spent 22 years in prison, three-quarters of his sentence for the murder of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galan in 1989, the only murder for which he was convicted. Although the victim’s family has forgiven him, Velasquez told local media that he fears for his life as a free man and that there’s an 80 percent chance that his many enemies will kill him.
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What others said today...
Raila plans Coast visit to counter Jubilee: Cord leader Raila Odinga is moving to consolidate his strongholds in Western Kenya and and at the Coast following a Jubilee onslaught that has made inroads into the two regions previously considered his biggest support base. Raila heads to Busia county this weekend and will be in MP Ababu Namwamba’s Budalang’i backyard to launch the referendum signature collection drive...
Man behind Westagate believed killed in strike: Al-Shabaab boss Ahmed Abdi Godane, who ordered the Westgate mall massacre in Nairobi last year, is believed to have been killed in an American airstrike in Somalia. Godane, along with six other commanders, is believed to have died on Monday in a hail of Hellfire missiles, which witnesses compared to an earthquake. The Pentagon press secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby, told AFP that US special forces launched air strikes ...
Ebola scare on plane rocks JKIA: There was a major scare at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Wednesday night after reports suggested a passenger on a plane from Democratic Republic of Congo had symptoms of Ebola. The Kenya Airways Flight 550 from Lubumbashi landed at JKIA at 6.45pm, causing panic. The flight crew had alerted Ministry of Health officials about the male passenger who had vomited in the aircraft...
Uganda officers decline to hand over stolen escort car: The saga over theft of Kenyan presidential escort car took a strange twist yesterday after it emerged that Ugandan authorities had declined to release it. Security sources said the Ugandans had held the car on grounds that it had become the subject of wider investigation by Interpol and Europol...
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BUSINESS
newsbriefs
THURsday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Kenya Power new online alert tool for customers
exposing the market: A property exhibition in Nairobi. This year’s Property and Home Living Expo will be held at the Sarit Centre between September 4-7.
Expo showcases home owning opportunities The Sarit Centre will host this year’s Property and Home Living Expo. The event will open doors from September 4 to September 7 at Sarit Centre Exhibition hall, in Nairobi. This year’s expo theme is ‘Building networks to foster county real estate growth and home development’. “The free-to-attend exhibition will showcase the vibrant real estate oppor-
tunities in the 47 counties by leading developers,” said organiser Abdi Juma earlier this week. He says the expo will tap into the emergent spending power of the middle economic class keen on avoiding steep prices of similar property in the capital. As incomes of the middle-class continues to rise and the cost of borrowing from banks becomes more
affordable, more Kenyans have funds in form of home loans. The property market has been under-exploited in the past years as only about 20,000 out of roughly 16 million working Kenyans have home loans. “Many developers are confident the government will come up with policies that will unlock the full potential of the sector in counties,”
says Juma. Investors want the government to develop a policy that will release of idle land to ease development of county housing, Juma says. The exhibition will showcase property investment choices in commercial, residential and holiday homes in Kisumu, Eldoret, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kajiado, Kiambu, Voi and Malindi.
1. Kenya Power new online alert tool for customers Kenya Power’s IT experts has developed a website that allows users to keep track of areas facing blackouts. Officially known as PowerAlert, the webpage gives real-time information on blackouts across the country. It divides the country into eight zones from Coast to North Eastern. The website is an upgrade from newspaper ads Kenya Power places to notify customers of looming outages. With PowerAlert, users have an option of signing in via Google, Twitter or Facebook accounts. Those who register their location on the platform get e-mail, SMS or Twitter notifications when an outage occurs in their area. “The PowerAlert service consolidates all planned outages or shutdowns in one portal for customers to effectively plan daily activities. It helps minimise inconveniences that may be caused,” says a statement from Kenya Power.
2. Kendy launches new money transfer service Kendy Money Transfer, a Pan African Remittance Service provider, has launched a new service that will allow users to send money and make payments within Africa and abroad. The company was recently issued with a license by the Central Bank of Kenya that allows it to offer transfer payments between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Other destinations are Mali, Guinea Bissau, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Niger, Mauritania, Ghana and Gambia. General Manager Caroline Rukaria said: “We have established a presence in several locations in Kenya where customers can access our services. This is an ongoing exercise.” The firm plans to partner with licensed financial institutions such as banks, forex bureaus and mobile cash agents. It joins a host of global money transfer services to spur competition and bringing down the cost of sending and receiving money.
theindustry Untapped potential in Kenya’s furniture sector
A Tokyo Electric Power Company official (centre) stands with journalists at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan.
Fukushima nuke plant to sue for hazard allowances Four workers at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant will sue Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) for hazard allowances. The men, who still work in the plant, are demanding a total of 65 million yen $620,000 (Sh54.9 million). They claim they have not been properly compensated for the risks that their
work entails. These include removing contaminated debris and patrolling the plant. TEPCO directly employs only a handful of the 6,000 workers at the plant. There have been allegations that organised crime has had a hand in staffing and other widespread reports of exploitation and abuses.
The lawsuit claims the subcontractors profit from funds allocated for the decommissioning at the expense of worker wages. It is the first time workers still employed at the plant have launched legal action against TEPCO over remuneration and working conditions. In March 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
reactors went into meltdown after a massive earthquake and tsunami knocked out reactor cooling systems. This led to radiation leaks that made the surrounding areas unfit for use. Many people left homes and businesses because of radioactive contamination. A majority are still unable to return home.
Kenya’s furniture sector is not well developed, yet experts at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) say it has a lot of potential. Though many furniture makers operate small-scale businesses, they can grow the enterprises by “using modern technology for increased production.” By using wood cutters and shapers, small-scale enterprises can produce more furniture than by hand. Despite the innovations, the sector has had its fair share of roadblocks. In the past two decades, anti-logging laws, ban on cutting down of trees nearly crippled the industry. But new policies that have been in operation since 2010 have instructed all government ministries and state agencies to buy only locally made furniture. “While we are aware
some components have to be imported, we are only going to consider the firms which import wood as a raw material or special furniture parts that are used to complement a piece that is largely made by local artisans,” said Pamela Dede, the then Deputy Director of Industries. This has provided a major opportunity for furniture makers given the guaranteed demand from the Government. While the sector provides direct and indirect employment to more than 400,000 Kenyans, many enterprises are not registered because owners want to avoid taxation. A UNEP report says small businesses make about Sh33,000 a month. Registered makers like Likoni Quality Furniture can secure Government and private contracts of up to Sh10 million.
Business | 7 THURsday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
business101
Saving and investing not the same thing
From Left: Pricsilla Mbithe, Mark Lisboi, Tray Lixue, Priscilla Njuguna, Alex mwaura.
While the country’s Bureau of Statistics states that there are more than 20 million Kenyan adults, only about 9 million have personal bank accounts. Investment group, Old Mutual told X News that many of them cannot effectively manage their money since they do not know the difference between saving and investing. “Saving and investing are two related but independent processes,” say the agents. “Saving means, putting aside hard cash. This can include savings accounts, short-term certificates of deposit.” Old Mutual investment
experts from say money is often saved “for a rainy day. Your savings should be sufficient to cover all of your personal expenses for at least six months.” “That way, if you lose your job, you will be able to have sufficient time to adjust your life without the extreme pressure that comes from living pay day to pay day.” Saving money is also done for a specific purpose. However, Old Mutual’s experts warn that “any goal you look to achieve in five years or less should be savings-driven and not investment driven.”
infrastructure StarTimes launches Expansion of Outer Ring Road set to satellite TV service begin next month StarTimes Media customers can now enjoy higher quality signal and more channels via the provider’s Direct to Home (DTH) satellite televisions service. Speaking Wednesday during the launch of the StarSat DTH service, StarTimes Kenya Vice President Mark Lisboa said this is a superior signal delivery that will give high quality content with the help of satellite. “We launch the StarSat to broaden the choice for our growing customer base. The DTH is satellite supported. This will cover the areas that could not access our content via terrestrial mode,” said Lisboa. He said viewers will enjoy more than 98 channels, giving the various segments of the market a wide range of
cityscape
programmes to choose from. StarTimes’ usual terrestrial signal delivery mode, owned by the same company, offers about 70 channels. Meanwhile, DTH adds a variety of content that caters to the whole family from entertainment to education including music via Star Times’ audio channels. Among the new channels is ‘Sports 2’, a sports entertainment segment that will air on channel 251. The StarSat set can be used by customers who rely on rechargeable batteries with a voltage of as low as 12+ volts. This High Definition decoder will retail at Sh5,600 and give subscribers access to a free one month service dubbed ‘Super Bouquet’ worth Sh2,500. Alex Maura, StarTimes’ Media Kenya
public relations manager, said with the variety of channels, consumers will enjoy richer content. “The introduction of StarStat gives Kenyans a choice within their preferred pay TV platform to access latest news, entertainment, movies, documentaries, music, children programmes and other enriched content for the entire family. Mwaura said StartStat will provide more job opportunities to Kenyans. “The company expects to create more than 1,000 job opportunities directly and indirectly as it brings on board local talent to drive the growth of StarSat with aftersales service being a key investment,” he said. Lisboa said as the digital migration nears, they are ready to deliver high quality content.
The expansion of Nairobi’s Outer Ring Road is set to begin next month as SinoHydro Tianjin Engineering, the Chinese company that constructed the Thika Super Highway takes charge of the project. The expansion will turn the road into a multi-lane highway as the government seeks to ease traffic congestion in the city. “We believe that this road will not only reduce travel time from the current 45 minutes to 15 minutes, but also transform the socioeconomic welfare of people living along the transport corridor,” said Gabriel Negatu, AfDB’s Regional Director during a recent announcement.
The 13 kilometre stretch from the General Service Unit headquarters at Ruaraka on Thika Road to the Taj Mall on the Eastern Bypass in Embakasi, will be complete by 2017. “The construction will also lead to the creation of over 1,000 jobs through skilled and unskilled labour,” said a statement from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The project will include the construction of 10 foot bridges and four subways to ensure that pedestrians can safely cross the highway. The Sh11 billion project will be funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), which will contribute 88.5 per cent of the money.
Kirubi’s International House prominent in Nairobi’s skyline International Life House is a 17-storey building located along Mama Ngina Street and City Hall Way in Nairobi’s Central Business District. It was built by the Queensway Development Corporation (a Canadian Company) and completed in 1971. In 1985, the house was purchased by the Chris Kirubi owned International House Limited. It hosts high calibre tenants including embassies, international organizations, banks and non-governmental organizations. International life house can be accessed from the GPO, Kencom, Odeon and Ambassadeur bus stops.
MODERN: An architect’s rendering of the soon-to-beexpanded Outer Ring Road.
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education
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Graduate volunteer scheme to cut joblessness Education speaks one language; it knows no ethnic group or race. The graduate voluntary programme launched by the Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi Monday is a laudable step of inculcating national integration. The graduates will be sent to different schools especially those with acute shortage of teachers. The first batch of 200 graduates, who will receive a stipend while teaching, will be inducted for three weeks before they are posted. The voluntary programme will have far reaching
implications in implanting acceptance and appreciation of the diversity of Kenya as a nation. Students learning from people who they do not share a native language will let them understand they can benefit from those who are not from their tribe. The educators, will on the other hand, learn and understand to appreciate the culture of those they are serving. It is a timely programme of arresting talent that could probably have been lost to alcohol or drug abuse due to frustration from joblessness
and idleness. The stipend they will receive will keep them going before they find employment. Employers are currently demanding job experience. Volunteers will for sure have something to show. The government projects aims to raise the number of teachers to 30,000 in the next there years. Besides the stipend offered, the Ministry of Education must consider offering scholarships to the best performing volunteers to pursue higher education. This will nmotivate them to work harder, and encourage more graduates to volunteer.
POWER TO DELIVER: Graduates will now be sent to different schools especially those with acute shortage of teachers.
musthave...
coursesin... ICT diploma will give you a competitive edge
Road trip essentials you must carry Road trips are a great way to have fun and discover new places. Having a few essentials on your trip will make it a whole lot better. A travel buddy: Travelling with a friend makes the trip more fun. You have to choose a friend who you know you will will get along with. Having a travel buddy also gives you the option of having another driver so you can take turns driving. Maps: You’ll always need a map especially if you are going to a place you are not familiar with. Road trips are often times spon-
taneous and you may not have a valid plan of where you are going or if you do, you may want to take a detour to avoid traffic or go exploring. Music: Having a playlist of your favourite tunes would make the journey more enjoyable and the miles will seem to go by faster. It will come in handy when you are travelling through places where the signals of your favourite radio station might be sketchy. Snacks and Food: Pack plenty of snacks and drinks. You might be going to an area
where dining options may be limited thus your snacks will come in handy. Besides, sometimes you just need something to munch on while driving. A Camera: You will need to capture the best memories of your road trip. Places you visited, people you met, food you experienced for the first time and the scenery you encountered on your way there. You will have these memories for years to come reminding you of that time. So document your road trip.
Every organisation has a computer section commonly refereed to as the IT department. Computers need a lot of human support for them to serve their purpose in making service delivery efficient. Taking an Information Technology course will give the skills you need to effectively design, package implement and support information systems in an organisation. It also gives you the skills to develop software. Course category: Diploma in Information Communication Technology College: Pan Africa Christian University Duration: Two years, which are divided into six semesters Admission requirements:
One must have scored a minimum grade of C plain in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams or its equivalent for A-level students. Fees: During the first semester, one will pay Sh36,950. Subsequent semesters will cost Sh35,450. This amounts to Sh214,200 for the two years. Opportunities: One can work as a computer programmer in an organisation, software developer as well as IT technician. One can work as a user support or network administrator. One can also venture into private practice and deliver services to companies on demand.
Working students can improve their understanding by adopting a scenario-based learning model. This model of learning brings the student up to speed with the reality at hand, enabling them have a first-hand interaction with a task. elearning Industry, an online resource centre, says engaging
learners with the content of their course in practical work motivates them. This is because they will encounter an activity which they could not tackle earlier, but the presented scenario gives the solution to that effect. At this point, they will cement the skills and knowledge in their
memory. Scenario learning remains real, not abstract. Reality raises interest to learn and the passion to discover more. It is a double productive method of learning because of the interactivity. While students strive to accomplish their job assignments, they will also be working to fulfil their academic
goals. It will be more fulfilling when they see the knowledge and they find it actually useful in their immediate work. This increases efficiency at work. It is a great way to harness the concentration of the student. This happens because of the excitement it arouses in the student.
online
Scenario-based model more productive to employees
CAREER | 9 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
How to enrich your career skills Manage your time wisely. This will give you a chance to do your assignments in time and even carry out extra tasks. When your job becomes a daily routine with nothing new, you need to find ways to enrich your skills in order to advance. Here are some tips on how to replenish your career skills for satisfaction in your job: Manage your time wisely. This will give you chance to do your assignments in time and carry out the extra tasks. Work on your interpersonal skills. Since you are in constant interaction with your colleagues, you must
find ways to relate well in order to work as a team. Everybody faces certain challenges in their careers but they can take time to address these skill deficiencies. This will improve productivity. Use your skills and knowledge to work in different fields of the company. Ask your boss for chance to meet new people, learn more and gain useful techniques. Volunteer to participate in exercises that improve productivity and brainstorm-
ing skills that help to enrich your skills. Attend career development workshops and seminars that help you earn and build your professional development. If you have a mentor, request him/her to add on to the pre-existing knowledge and skills. Finally, take on more tasks and challenges. This shows your accountability and ability to function under pressure.
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bucketlist
Conquer your biggest fears
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The late Nelson Mandela once said: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” We all have that one thing that scares the pants out of us. Even thinking about it makes you break out into a sweat. How would you begin to even face your fears when the
wantmyjob? Lilian Mugo is a Communication Officer at Elephant Neighbours Centre. She spoke to X News about her job. XN: What does your job entail? LM: Mainly communicating to people on conservation of elephants on social media. Booking media interviews for the Director to talk about the rate of elephant poaching in Kenya and the world, writing conservation articles, photography and organising in-house events. Our aim is to reach out to local communities living outside national parks with conservation messages and teaching them on how to live in harmony with wildlife and elephants in particular. XN: How many hours do you work in a day? LM: As many as possible… I’m always working and sometimes my work goes even into wee hours of the night. XN: How much do you earn? LM: I’m happy with what I earn. XN: What qualifications do you need for the job? LM: The most important is passion for communication and conservation, innovation, creativity, and ability to work at any time, day or place. XN: Was this your dream career? LM: Anything that has communication is what I have always wanted to
do. I also do voice-overs for documentaries and write scripts. XN: Does your job interfere with your social life? LM: Not at all, my job has actually encouraged me to be more social. I get time to relax and have time for sports during free time. XN: The best part of your job? LM: Meeting influential people, travelling to parts of the country to educate people on the importance of wildlife conservation and the New Wildlife Act. I like telling people that if they are caught with wildlife products or found guilty of poaching, the penalty is Sh20million or life in prison. XN: Worst part of your job? LM: I cannot think of any.. if you love what you do, it is difficult to see anything bad about it. XN: Any advice for people who want to venture into your line of work? LM: Most importantly, be passionate about communication. Passion gives you the drive to do your work with diligence and in excellence.
thought of it scares you? Some of us fear heights, speaking in front of people, failure, rejection and many more. Overcoming fear does not just happen instantly; one day it is here the next it’s gone, like magic. It’s a gradual process that takes time and effort. When one conquers fear, they grow because it involves deliberately taking action to face and conquer
your fears. Fear limits you in more ways than one. Have you ever been so excited to do something but chickened out because you got scared? To conquer fear, first acknowledge it and find the root. It may be due to some traumatic experience you had in the past. By owning the fear you have taken a step towards overcoming it. Take control of your fear by
directly confronting it. We are often afraid of something because we do not know anything about it. After you have confronted the fear, celebrate the moment and give yourself a pat on the back. Do not let the moment slide and always use it as a benchmark to conquer all other fears. “Do one thing every day that scares you” Eleanor Roosevelt.
lineofduty Animal training is a rewarding occupation Animal training is a rewarding occupation especially if the trainer loves animals. The job has grown over time across borders as more people engage in animal rearing. Animals are trained for performance, obedience, disability assistance, security and riding. Trainers interact with domestic animals, such as horses and dogs or work with untamed species like leopards, lions and elephants. Animal training requires experience and credentials that certify you to take up the job. As part of the training, repetition and patience must be exercised to reinforce desired behaviour. Marine animals demand that a trainer must hold a credible degree in
zoology, marine biology, animal science and many more. A trainer must also acquire a certificate in scuba diving. Before taking on animal training, experts enrich trainers with tips on how to handle them. Trainers feed, clean and maintain the animals and since some take time to establish trust, they can be aggressive. This is dangerous and trainers must be patient and cautious. The working environment varies from pet stores, homes, parks, animal orphanages, stables, race tracks and marine facilities. Depending on what the job entails, one can work full time or irregularly. Animal training can be fun if one loves the occupation.
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FUN
THURsday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
filmmenu What’s in the cinemas
INTO THE STORM This is a movie that depicts the cruelty of Mother Nature. The town of Silverton in the United States of America, is severely damaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. Storm trackers predict that the worst is yet to come as people seek shelter, while some storm chasers run towards the tornadoes, in order to get that once-in-a-lifetime shot. The film’s special effects are bound to take one directly into the eye of the storm and almost feel the storm like it is next to you. Stars: Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh Watch it at: Century Cinemax Junction today at 5:30 pm, 9:40 pm, and 11:50 pm | Fox Cineplex Sarit Centre today at 4:30 pm and 9 pm | Planet Media Prestige Plaza today at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm
RAJA NATWARLAL Raja Natwarlal is a 2014 Bollywood crime thriller. It tells the story of a small-time con man Raja played by Emraan Hashmi, who goes big time in a bid to marry his lady love. Together with his crime partner, Raghav, they make a grand plan to swindle a billionaire based in Cape Town, Vardha, by selling him a fake cricket team. They are caught out and Raghav is killed by Vardha’s men. Raja takes it upon himself to avenge his death and seeks the help of a seasoned crook Yogi. Stars: Emraan Hashmi, Humaima Malick, Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon, Deepak Tijori Watch it at: Planet Media Prestige Plaza today at 6:30 pm
LUCY It is an action-thriller film directed by Luc Besson of La Femme Nikita. An American woman living in Taiwan, Lucy is tricked into working as a drug mule by her boyfriend. His employer is a Korean mob boss and drug lord named Mr. Jang. She delivers a briefcase to Mr. Jang that contains a valuable synthetic drug called, CPH4. They capture her and forcibly sew the drug into her abdomen so that she can transport it into Europe. Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Min-sik Choi
Trapeze paragliding is airbone acrobatics
Paragliding is the extreme sport of flying using lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched gliders with no rigid primary structure. The sport was invented due to the curiosity and the desire of human beings to fly. But like any other activity, paragliding can get boring and that is why one paraglider collaborated with an acrobat to spice up things in the air, taking the sport to another level and thus trapeze paragliding was invented. Gill Schneider, 29, a French paraglider came up with the idea and had acrobat Roxane Gillard perform while he piloted her 600 meters above ground. They performed their trapeze
paragliding routine over Lake Annecy in the French Alps. It was a precaution so that if something went wrong, she would fall into the waters giving her better chance of surival. It was the first time Giliard had taken to the skies to perform. The daring stunt had been a lifelong ambition of Schneider’s. Before taking to the skies, a test run had to be done to see how Schneider could fly with a trapeze attached to his paraglider. He had to be sure that he could sustain the weight of both the trapeze and Giliard. Giliard was then attached to the bar with a harness and just one safety tie.
killerdancemoves
drinkingcorner
The Wop
Classic Piña Colada Ingredients Light or gold rum, coconut milk, fresh pineapple juice, cherry and pineapple wedge
Watch it at: Century Cinemax Junction today at 3:40 pm, 7:30 pm and 9:40 pm | Fox Cineplex Sarit Centre today at 4:15 pm and 6:30 pm | IMAX 20th Century today at 3:20 pm, 7:30 pm and 11:40 pm |Planet Media Prestige Plaza today at 7:30 pm 9:15 pm
VEVE Veve is the fourth film project of the production team that made Nairobi Half Life. It is an action thriller that is set in the in the town of Maua in Meru. The movie focuses on the trade of Miraa (Veve in sheng’/slang), the politics surrounding it and who really is in control of the lucrative business. Stars: Lowry Odhiambo, Emo Rugene, Conrad Makeni, Lizz Njagah Watch it as it premiers on Friday: at Planet Media Prestige Plaza and Century Cinemax Junction
the hitlist
Step1
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Bend your knees, bend your arms at the elbows and slowly bob your body from side to side.
Keep your arms and your knees bent and sway from left to right at a faster pace.
Lift you right arm and make a waving motion. Place your left arm on your hip. Repeat.
Preparation Add all the ingredients (rum, coconut milk, fresh pineapple juice) to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously then let it settle and pour into a hurricane glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with the cherry and pineapple wedge.
Industrial Area
Thika
Magadi Road
Langata
Baricho Road
Choices Pub
Club Brown Bottle
Rhino Club
Carnivore
X/S Millionares
Thursday Nite Live featuring Taio- Thee MC Africa
DJ Kamaa and Street Bak Enteratinment bring you urban Thursday
Campus night
Safaricom International Jazz Festival
Powerball Thursday
Admission: Free Time: 8pm-11pm
Admission: Free Time: 6pm till dawn
Admission: Free Time: 8pm onwards
Admission: Sh.2000 Time: 6.30pm onwards
Admission: Free Time: 8pm onwards
PLAY |11
forecast
THURsday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
HOROSCOPES capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19
Friends could entice you to join them for a short day trip, perhaps to the country. This is a great day to go on such an outing, Capricorn. You’ve probably been working hard and need to get away for a while. Don’t be surprised if there’s a delay, however. You or one of your friends could be waiting to meet with someone.
aquarius Jan 20 - Feb
You may put in more time than usual. Tempers might flare and co-workers clash, so stay calm and keep going. On the positive side, the financial and recognition payoffs for whatever you accomplish today should prove well worth the effort.
pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20
Today you should feel especially sexy and relationships with romantic partners should go well, Pisces. Your passions are intense, the lines of communication are open, and appreciation of one another is running high. There might be talk of taking a long trip together in the future. Plan a cozy evening for two.
Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19
cancer Jun 22 - Jul 22
This should be a fortunate day for you, Cancer. Everything you try to do should go fairly smoothly. Relations with others are warm, friendly, and congenial. Any chores or other pending work should be completed quickly and efficiently.
leo Jul 23 - Aug 22
A couple you’ve known for a long time could visit you at your home today, Leo. Don’t be surprised if they tell you how wonderful the place looks. Conversation should be lively and entertaining, though you should sidestep any discussion of controversial subjects.
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libra Sep 23 - Oct 22
taurus Apr 20 - May 20
scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21
gemini May 21 - Jun 21
sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21
’s o ayhot d er p st ing e Y nn i w
ng s i n n in tio W p ca
The special someone in your life may be having some trouble with colleagues. Don’t just comfort him or her, Scorpio. It’s unlikely that your sweetie wants sympathy. Solutions are needed. If you don’t have any, just be a good listener.
Today you’re likely to be working hard behind the scenes, perhaps preparing a project for others to make public or coaching people for some kind of performance. You’ll expend a lot of energy in the course of completing this chore, yet you’ll probably feel it was all worth it.
1. Send a caption for the photo above to news@x-news. co.ke. The winning caption gets published on this page. 1. There’s no love like that between a man and his pet-Job Omangi, Eastlands. 2. How the loaded it is the question- Pete Kingoo, Nairobi. 3. Just me, taking my donkey for ride, nothing to see here- Sonya J., Nairobi CBD.
sudoku
Man at The Helm — by Nina Stibbe
Yesterday’s solution
yoursay
3
Today, Virgo, you might spend a great deal of time in the car running errands in the neighborhood. You’re likely to see people you know who have interesting news. New businesses may open nearby. Doctors, dentists, and other professionals could open new offices, making your daily routine more convenient.
Money that you’ve been earning for a long time may finally come your way today, Libra, but don’t be surprised if you have to do a lot of running around in order to get it. Plans for future moneymaking projects could come up, although it’s important to consider everything carefully and not jump in too quickly.
Emotional turmoil on the job could stress you out way too much. Headaches or temporary hypertension could plague you if you aren’t careful. Don’t push too hard. Remember to take breaks, Gemini, and go for walk on your lunch hour. Don’t be afraid to put off nonessential tasks.
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virgo Aug 23 -Sep 22
Money is probably on your mind now, Aries. A desire for increased financial security could force you to look for work or investments that would pay off big. Opportunities for one or both of these are likely to come through friends, perhaps someone with whom you’ve worked before.
Don’t expect to spend a lot of time at home today, Taurus. You’re more likely to be in the car and away from home. There may be errands and social obligations to fulfill. Try to pace yourself in whatever you do or else you might be exhausted by day’s end.
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
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.
Nine-year-old Lizzie Vogel, her sister and little brother are forced to move out to a small hostile village in the English countryside after their parents divorce. The mother feels all alone and soon turns to the bottle to drown her sorrows. Worried about their mother and the possibility of a social worker coming to take them away, the girls start writing letters to men whom they think could be good for their mother. They urgently need a new man in the family so that they are not sent to a children’s home.
mustread
Esther Arunga story really unfortunate I am deeply perturbed to read about the woes that my one-time favourite news anchor Esther Arunga (Australia police
charge Arunga husband with murder, September 2, 2014) is going through. The young lady had a flourishing career and a
bright future and it is really sad to see everything go downhill for her. And this should serve as an example to our young
ladies out there, to always ensure that they make informed decisions about their lives. — Martin Njagi, Nairobi
THURsday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Sport
Arfa hopes to reignite career at Hull City Winger Hatem Ben Arfa has revealed his delight at escaping his Newcastle exile. The French winger admitted he almost wept at the warm welcome at Hull City late on Monday night. Arfa was ousted from Newcastle’s first team squad and faced a season training with the youth side until he was rescued on loan by Steve Bruce. In a remark that hints at
the breakdown of relationship with United boss Alan Pardew, Arfa said: “The manager wants me here and that is very important. “The welcome was amazing. I was almost crying. “I was shocked to see so many people there at midnight waiting for me. It was great and I thank them.” The 27-year-old will try to resurrect his career on Humberside, and look to be a less
controversial figure than he was behind the scenes at Newcastle where Pardew and some players had lost faith in him. “When I woke up on Monday morning, there was nothing on the cards. Then, in the afternoon a call came and everything happened very quickly after that. At 1.00am, everything was complete and I was very happy.”
I’M EXCITED: Winger Hatem Ben Arfa has revealed his delight at escaping his Newcastle exile.
Junior champion wants to emulate stars’ success World junior 800m champion Margaret Nyairera wants to emulate her mentors Pamela Jelimo, Janeth Jepkosgei and Eunice Sum. The trio are world beaters whose records the Tetu High School student wants to improve in years to come. Jelimo is a former Olympic champion, Jepkosgei a former world champion whie
Sum is the reigning 800m champion. Nyairera won two gold medals in 400m and 800m at the just concluded Brookside East African Secondary School Games in Dar-es Salaam. During the school games, 02:07.0 minutes gave Nyairera gold in a two-lap race where she says she stuck to
normal running. “I ran my own race because there was no meaningful opposition to push me. The race was easy,” said the IAAF World Junior Championships winner. Her aspiration is to learn from the best and achieve higher marks when she graduates to the senior arena.
THURsday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
14 |
SPORT
THURSDAY, SepTembeR 4, 2014
Kenya’s journey to Rio begins Kenya’s road to 2016 Rio Olympics starts tomorrow Friday as the much-awaited Hockey World League gets underway at the City Park Stadium. The mens team will step on to the astro artificial turf to take on against neighbours Tanzania in arguably their easiest fixture on paper. The tournament will see four men and three women’s teams battle it out for the two spots each. With the pulling out of Nigeria two weeks ago, hosts Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania will field men and women’s teams while Egypt has sent men’s team. Tanzanian ladies play the opening match of the tournament against Ghana. Egypt, will play against Ghana also on Friday. Kenya goalkeeper Linus Sang says the priority to win all matches with the emphasis on taking all their matches seriously in first leg of their inaugural World league.
“There is nothing like strong or weak team in such competitions. I know all teams are up to task, for Kenya we have to work hard to win all our matches,” said the keeper who moved to United States International University early this season. The Kenyan girls will be seeking revenge as they take on Ghana on day two of the tournament. On Sunday they will play Tanzania in their last round Robin match where, according to Captain Betsy Omala, victory in every match counts. “Victory is very crucial. We can’t afford to lose a single match, which will leave us with any doubts of sailing through,” said Omala. The Kenyan men will tackle Ghana on Saturday and finish their campaign with arch-rivals Egypt on Sunday. Winners after the completion of the World League series will book tickets for the Olympics Games in 2006.
Prisons stars Wacu, Khadambi land pro deals in Europe Champions Kenya Prisons have been left in limbo after three key players landed professional contracts in Europe. Centre blocker Brackcides Khadambi and national team setter Jane Wacu are headed to club Chamalie in France with left attacker Mercy Moim expected to join her new club in Finland. Moim is thrilled with the prospect of turning pro while crediting Kenya’s debut at the Grand Prix in July as the main factor that exposed them to scouts. “To me this signifies the growth of Kenyan volleyball,” said Moim, without disclosing the name of her new club. “Players getting such contracts from Europe is no mean thing. I am happy for my teammates as well.” “And this is not to say that we are the best in the country. What I know there are great players who are not identified yet, but with more international exposure, I am certain many more players will follow suit,” she added. The departure of the trio will leave coach David Lung’aho with an uphill task as he seeks to defend the national title in November. Prisons lost the continental trophy to Petrolier of Algeria in April and their next assignment will be defending the national crown which will give them a chance to make amends in bringing back the continental silverware they have won six times with Lung’aho at the helm.
READY TO GO: The Kenya men’s hockey team starts its qualification run for the Rio Olympics tomorrow.
Williamson’s replacement takes over at Gor
CONFIDENT: Newly-signed Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall.
Scot Frank Nuttall’s duty is to defend Gor Mahia’s Kenya Premier League title after he was unveiled on Wednesday. Nutall fills the post vacated by former coach Bobby Williamson. The Scot has been handed a Sh1.8 million contract lasting three months averaging a monthly wage of Sh600,000. Club chairman Ambrose Rachier said Williamson recommended Nutall to succeed him after the former was appointed Harambee Stars coach. “Nutall was recommended to us by our former coach, so yeah it was a pretty easy task given the relationship we shared with Williamson,” said Rachier “The coach will be in charge for three months. Retaining the Kenyan Premier League title will be his key mandate,” said Rachier whose two-term reign has seen the club hire four coaches. The UEFA PRO Licence holder said he plans to manage pressure which comes with the job.
“The task ahead is not easy… that is what being a coach entails. I want to know my players and get to work immediately,” said the Briton. He has enjoyed stints at former English Premier League side Middlesbrough and Scottish Championship side Rangers as fitness coach. He also worked at Dubaibased side Al Nasr FC as assistant coach in 2006. The 46-year-old Nuttall will be assisted by Gor legend Bobby Ogolla and Frank Ouna. Tom Ogweno will be the physical fitness trainer, while former international Mathews Owino replaces Salim Iddi as goalkeeping trainer. On his association with Williamson, Nuttall had this to say; “We are not very close, though we have have been coaching associates and mutual friends, I respect him as a coach,” he said. Nuttall’s first assignment will be on Saturday when Gor play Tanzania giants Simba in a friendly in Dar-es Salaam. The 26-man squad leaves on Friday and will use the tie as a build-up for the KPL game at hand against Ulinzi Stars in a fortnight.
SPORT| 15
THURsday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Wozniacki strolls into US Open semis Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki (pictured right) strolled into the semi-finals of the US Open with an impressive 6-0 6-1 win over Italy’s 13th seed Sara Errani. Tenth seed Wozniacki, 24, raced through the match in 65 minutes to claim a place in the last four. The former world number one will face China’s Peng Shuai, who reached her first Grand Slam semi-final after beating Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-1. An emotional Peng, 28, said: “It’s a little too exciting.” Wozniacki, in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in three years, said: “It means so much to me. “It has been a pretty up-and-down year for
me and to be here in the semi-final of US Open is an incredible feeling.” Errani, a losing finalist at the 2012 French Open, failed to hold her serve once in the match as Wozniacki powered past the 27-year-old world number 14. World number 39 Peng played a superb opening set against Bencic, breaking the 17 year old twice. And Bencic, the world 59 beat sixth seed Angelique Kerber and ninth seed Jelena Jankovic on her way to the last eight. “It’s an amazing time for me,” said an emotional Peng. “I love tennis but it’s a long time, my career. It’s been tough sometimes. I was thinking about giving up because I don’t know if I can make it.”
Mariga returns to Italian giants Parma
fourth stint: Kenyan international McDonald Mariga is back to Italian club Parma for the fourth time.
Kenyan international McDonald Mariga is back at Italian league club Parma for the fourth time. Mariga, who has not been attached to any club, was spotted training with the squad under coach Roberto Donadoni on Wednesday. Sky Sport Italia reported that Mariga has been training with Parma players at Collecchio. The 27-year-old Kenya international is a free agent after his contract with Inter expired in July. He had several spells at Parma, from July 2008 to January 2010 before returning on loan from Inter in January 2012 for six months and the entire last season. The transfer deadline passed on Tuesday but clubs can are allowed to sign players who are out of contract. Mariga had earlier been linked with Premier league teams Arsenal and Southampton where his young brother Victor Wanyama plays.
Brook, Khan clash in horizon A domestic blockbuster between Kell Brook and Amir Khan at Wembley could be announced within a month. Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn is deep in talks between the two parties over a May fight. Wembley have expressed desire to stage the fight on the back of Carl Froch’s huge rematch against George Groves in May. Hearn, said: “Talks are ongoing over a fight between Kell Brook and Amir Khan. It is going well because I think everyone realises it makes sense. Khan obviously wants a fight with Floyd Mayweather, as does everyone in the division. He knows while the fight may never take place, he would make more
money fighting Kell. “Everything has been straightforward and I am in talks with Wembley over a May date. They want us back there as soon as possible after the success of Froch-Groves – I have no doubt in my mind that we would fill that stadium again. I hope to have this tied up in the next month or so.” Hearn failed with a previous Sh438million offer to Khan to fight Brook. The Sheffield fighter has become a far more attractive rival to Khan since winning the IBF welterweight world title against Shawn Porter last month. Brook will return to the ring in a homecoming clash in Sheffield on December 6.
Hamilton is GQ Sportsman of the Year Lewis Hamilton broke away from a turbulent season to pick up the GQ Sportsman of the Year award at a star-studded event in London. The Mercedes F1 driver arrived at the event at the Royal Opera House along with girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger. After collecting the award, Hamilton said: “I want to receive this for my family and for my team. I’ve been very fortunate to be in F1 for eight years now and I’m extremely grateful.” The 29-year-old lies second in the world drivers’ championship 29 points adrift of team-mate
Narrow escape: Lewis Hamilton (right) and Fernando Alonso (left) crash out of a Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton weathered a turbulent season to pick up the GQ Sportsman of the Year award.
Nico Rosberg. The pair are enduring a testy relationship that culminated in the German deliberately crashing into Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton insists he will continue
to give everything to win a second world championship title. “It’s going to be a tough road from here, but championships have been won from much further back than I am now,” he said.
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SPORT
THURSDAY, SepTembeR 4, 2014
Argentina avenge World Cup defeat
WHATS MY NAME?: Angel Di Maria (Left) celebrates with teammates after scoring Argentina’s fourth goal in their 4-2 beating of World Cup champions Germany.
New Manchester United signing Angel Di Maria set up three goals and scored another as Argentina beat world champions Germany 4-2 in Dusseldorf on Wednesday night. Di Maria, shs8.3billion capture, provided a delightful pass for Sergio Aguero to fire the South American side ahead. Tottenham’s Erik Lamela doubled the lead with a volley before Swansea’s Federico Fernandez made it 3-0. Di Maria made it 4-0 before Chelsea’s Andre Schurrle and an own goal by Fernandez reduced the deficit. Only four members of the Germany starting XI when the two sides met in the World Cup final 52 days earlier started the friendly, as Argentina gained a modicum of revenge for the narrow 1-0 defeat in July. Mario Gomez, who missed the World Cup because of injury, wasted three chances for the hosts and received some boos from the home fans when his best opportunity on the stroke of half-time went begging. By then, Germany were already two goals down because of the vision and precision of Di Maria. Germany coach Joachim Low admitted Argentina was the better side on the night. “We would have beaten Argentina in the final on July 13 even if Di Maria had been playing. “He couldn’t have beaten us on that day.” His counterpart Gerardo Martino praised his side for a dominant performance against the world cup champions. “Di Maria is one of the best four or five players in the world and so his performance didn’t surprise me. “His absence {in the World Cup final] was noticeable”.
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