201501020 xnew

TUESday, JANUARY 20, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

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talent support Slum-based musicians to get funding from Germany

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songs of 2015 we look at the songs released this year to see if they will hit or miss

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wangechi’s new song is out she features lady karun

NEWS

Wanyonyi floors rival in light heavyweight bout

Gabon skipper is hungry for African soccer glory

State apologises to pupils over violence T

he Government has today apologised to pupils of Lang’ata Road Primary School after yesterday’s chaos that saw police officers lob teargas at the young learners.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery visited the school early this morning and gave the developer accused of grabbing the school playground 24 hours to remove the remaining part of the perimeter wall that was brought down by the pupils and other protesters and clear the debris.

The Government, Nkaissery said, will destroy the materials if the developer fails to collect them by tomorrow.

His visit came hot on the heels of national and international condemnation after videos and pictures of the pupils being teargased by police officers went viral on the internet.

Following the chaos, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said they will conduct investigations into the attack on children at the school with the view to prosecuting those found culpable.

“IPOA has received reports of brutal mishandling of pupils and members of the public during a demonstration against an alleged grabbing of the school land.

The authority has launched investigations into the incident with a view to ensuring that appropriate action is taken against the offending officers,” the authority said in a statement signed by Chief Executive Joel Mabonga. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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All about love please forgive us: Interior Cabinet Secretary Gen (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery apologises to Lang’ata Road Primary School pupils earlier today over the violence that occurred in the school yesterday over the grabbing of part of the institution’s land. STORY ON PAGE 2

Taking care of a disabled child is a demanding job but someone has to do it

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NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

State apology to pupils over chaos From Page 1

The lawyers union said they would carry out investigations in liaison with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and IPOA. “The society has therefore constituted a taskforce chaired by Kituo cha Sheria Executive Director Gertrude Angote to spearhead the investigations and subsequent prosecutions,” it said.

Acting Inspector General of Police Samuel Arachi has suspended Langata police chief Elijah Mwangi who is reported to have ordered for Monday’s operation.

He said the suspension will pave way for further investigations into the incident.

Arachi also summoned all commanders in charge of the operation to provide an elaborate account of the confrontation that ensued.

“We take great exception to officers who misuse power and we have summoned commanders of the officers to provide an elaborate report on the occurrence,” he said.

“We will never allow our officers to use force, not only on any citizen, but more so on children whether in demonstrations or otherwise,” he said.

At least five children and a police officer were injured during the melee.

During the incident, officers lobbed tear gas canisters on the children and adults accompanying them, sparking chaotic scenes that spilled over to Lang’ata road.

The injured children were treated at the Lang’ata Prison Dispensary, while two activists Houghton Irungu and Boaz Waruku were arrested.

Kenyans criticised police for using excessive force against children and activists for deliberately exposing innocent minors to violence against armed police officers. A statement signed by Arachi said the police service was disturbed by the action of the officers who lobbed tear gas at children.

do i deserve the pain? A Lang’ata Road Primary School pupil wails in apparent agony after riot police officers lobbed teargas on demonstrating learners who were opposing the alleged grabbing of their playing field. A number of pupils and police officers were injured in the incident.

Uhuru blasts officers over assault on pupils

the decider: Voters in Zambia wait in a queue to cast the ballot to decide whether Edgar Lungu of Patriotic Front or Hakainde Hichilema will succeed the late Michael Sata as president.

Zambians vote to replace sata in peaceful election Voters in Zambia went to the polls in a presidential election caused by the death of Michael Sata last year.

The vote is expected to be a close contest between Edgar Lungu from the governing Patriotic Front and Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development.

Both candidates have vowed to improve the education system and create jobs.

The winner will serve out the remainder of 18 months of Michael Sata’s term. Zambia is due to hold a general election in 2016.

In the Lusaka suburb of Kanyama, a crowd of voters applauded when a presiding officer declared the polling station open.

Local food trader Grace Nyirongo said she was satisfied with the government.

“We want the government to continue with the projects started by Sata. Frankly there’s no

need to start afresh,” she said.

But vegetable seller Matron Siyasiya said her vote was “going to make a difference, we are going to remove this (PF) family”.

The Patriotic Front held its final rally in a suburb of Lusaka on Monday as campaigning drew to a close.

Correspondents said the party has been presenting a united front following bitter infighting among candidates.

Interim President Guy Scott, who was a close ally of the former president, told supporters “Michael Sata is still the spirit behind this party”.

Scott, a white Zambian of Scottish descent, was barred from contesting because his parents were not born in Zambia.

Lungu has portrayed himself as a candidate for continuity and has said he wants to complete

projects initiated by Sata.

His closest rival, the economist and opposition leader Hichilema, says he has the experience necessary to revamp Zambia’s economy.

Observers say the election campaign has been largely peaceful.

But electoral commission chairwoman Irene Mambilima said she had “noted with dismay” some violent incidents.

In a nationwide address on Monday night, Scott vowed to crack down on post-election violence.

Polling stations opened at 6am local time and were expected to close at 6pm The electoral commission said counting of votes should begin shortly after polls close with results due in 48 hours.

Sata, who was Zambia’s fifth president, died in London last October at the age of 77.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has hit out at officials in the Ministry of Lands, the National Land Commission and police following a teargas assault on pupils at Lang’ata Road Primary School.

The President also lashed out at the school head teacher for allowing pupils to demolish a perimetre wall around the contentious plot of land on Monday.

“The headmaster should also answer a couple of questions. How do you allow your students to go and demolish walls… what if that wall fell on the children?” President Kenyatta posed.

He said the Government officials must take responsibility for their actions.

“It is deplorable the manner in which police handled those young children and indeed action will be taken against the officers responsible. But what is more disappointing to me is the fact that we even had to get to that level. Where was the Ministry of Lands… where was the National Land Commission. Why did they not resolve the problem; what were they doing?

He said the issue had been in public domain since last year and wondered why it took until Monday for officials to declare that the land belonged to the school.

The President spoke at Kenyatta International Convention Centre during the launch of the Kenya Foreign and Kenya Diaspora Policy.

He said he had been compelled to speak out on an incident he described as “despicable”.

chief guest0: President Kenyatta and Foreign Affairs Secretary Amina Mohammed during the launch of the Kenya Foreign and Kenya Diaspora Policy at KICC, Nairobi earlier today.

NEWS 3 TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

NEWS BRIEFS

CARTOONSPEAK

Children killed in slum inferno

Fungal diseases are now more deadly than Malaria and TB New figures have shown that fungal diseases kill more people than malaria and tuberculosis (TB) globally.

They also destroy a third of all food crops, affecting global economies while taking hundreds of thousands of lives at the same time due to severe respiratory illness and infections of the blood stream.

A leading microbiologist has warned of the increasing threat that fungi poses to human beings and the environment.

Professor Rosemary Barnes from the School of Medicine’s Institute of Infection and Immunity says: “Fungi kill

Two children were last night killed in a fire incident in Mukuru slums, Nairobi. A third child is admitted in hospital as investigations into the incident continue. Police say the fire began from one of the affected houses before it spread fast to other shanties after a man tried to do an illegal connection. The one admitted in hospital is in stable condition.

more people than malaria and tuberculosis worldwide.” Speaking at Cardiff University’s Science a few weeks ago, she added: “Fungi were on the earth long before plants and other life forms.

They readily adapt to increasing globalisation and climate change and we need to rise to the challenge to deal with the threats posed by these versatile and intriguing organisms.” Scientists have identified more than two million species of fungi, and while only 600 species are known to cause disease, they are incredibly common with approximately one-in-three people infected.

Man stabs wifeto death in Ngong

SRC seeks to end salary disputes with new policy The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has unveiled a new policy to guide in the determination of salaries for public servants in a move aimed at ending all salary related disputes.

The commission’s chairperson Sarah Serem says the policy to be launched in a month’s time, aims at guiding policy decisions with regard to salaries and benefits as well as providing a holistic and strategic roadmap and actions that will enable the country develop an effective public sector remuneration and benefits system.

“We are seeking a fully transparent, fair and equitable public sector remuneration and benefits system and productivity and performance related pay that is the dominant component of the remuneration and benefits package for public service employment,” she said.

Serem says the commission is engaging stakeholders to validate the draft policy as they seek a sustainable and affordable wage bill for the country.

She says the contents of the draft policy are derived from the Kenyan public after a month long participation with stakeholders that include trade unions and public sector employees among others.

Members of an inter-agency task force representing key stakeholders collaborated with a consultant in developing the draft policy framework form which the policy was derived.

“The implementation for this policy will result in a public sector remuneration and benefits system that ensures the public sector attracts and retains the requisite skills, promotes productivity and performance, is fair and equitable and supports career and professional development. To ensure this happens, strong collaboration and support of all the stakeholders including the trade unions and the various service commissions is desired.

As we embark on this exercise of validating the policy I urge you to critically review it to ensure that we do not end up with pain-

MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

Another thug lynched in Githurai 44

NEW MODUS OPERANDI: Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) chairperson Sarah Serem.

The commission has unveiled a new policy to guide in the determination of salaries for public servants in a move aimed at ending all salary related disputes. ful policy mistakes,” she said.

The validation exercise begun on Monday and ends on Wednesday.

She says the policy does not rule

A man killed his wife by stabbing her to death in a quarrel in Ngong. The 50-year-old man was with his wife and two children when they differed over a domestic issue.

Police say the man picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed her in the neck killing her on the spot. The man has since been arrested and is under investigations. Elsewhere in nearby Dagoretti a man committed suicide after setting his house on fire. This was after he differed with the wife who escaped with the children.

out that trade unions can negotiate for Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with their employers.

“The employers can then come to us, so as we see whether it’s practical in the financial year to review salaries,” she said.

A suspected thug was last night lynched in a botched robbery in Githurai. The suspect with three other accomplices had hijacked a vehicle from the city center and went through Juja Road before ending up at Githurai where they were attacked and several mobile phones recovered from them. It is the same spot where four suspects were lynched last week over a robbery incident.

WHAT OTHERS SAID TODAY...

Police tea-gas playground kids: A huge uproar has followed the teargassing of school children as they protested the grabbing of their Lang’ata Road Primary School playground in Nairobi yesterday. Five school children and two journalists were injured and several activists arrested as area MP Ken Okoth led parents, teachers, activists and the pupils in demolishing a peremeter wall errected on the shool’s playfields.

The pupils had just reported for class as the public schools reopened yesterday when the police moved to disperse them...

Police under fire for teargassing children: Five children and a police officer were injured as violence marred demonstrations to save the Lang’ata Road Primary School playgrond from a land grabber yesteday. In scenes , reminiscent of the 1976 South Africa riots under apartheid — when police descended on protesting school children — police officers lobbed tear gas on the children and the adults accompanying them, causing chaotic scenes that spilled over to Lang’ata Raod. The injured school chidren were treated at Lang’ata Prioson Deispensary....

Shame as police unleash brute force on children: Police arrived at the venue of the planned demonstration against illegal acquisition of school land with guns, tear-gas canisters and fierce German Shepherd dogs yelping and snarling, bairing their teeth at all around including young children eager to reclaim their playing ground. Minutes later the children would be crying under clouds of tear gas as all scampered away to safety at Lang’ata Road Primary School with police hot in pursuit. The pupils had returned to school two weeks late because of the teachers’ strike...

Tears, outcry after police teargas pupils over school land grab demo: Widespread outrage greeted the violent action by police who used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, including school children and teachers who were protesting alleged grabbing of land belonging to Lang’ata Pimary School.

Pictures of school children in uniform, choking in tear gas fumes and falling over each other as they fled, drew angry reactions from Kenyans who wondered why police had to resort to such...

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NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

Teachers’ unions insist on salary increase in court arbitration

WE STILL NEED MORE MONEY: (L-R), KNUT secretary general Wilson Sossion, KUPPET secretary general Akelo Misori, KUPPET Chair Omboko Milemba, and KNUT Chairman Mudzo Nzili in a past press conference. Both unions have pleaded with the industrial court to raise their salaries by more than 300 percent as arbitration talks begin.

Teachers unions have pleaded with the industrial court to raise their salaries by more than 300 percent as it begins to arbitrate on the dispute between the instructors and their employer, the Teachers Service Commission.

In a joint memorandum submitted to the court yesterday, both Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education (Kuppet) also pleaded with the court to backdate any benefits they may come out with from the arbitration to July 2013.

“Any awards given by this honourable court should be applied retrospectively to take effect from July 1, 2013. This is so that the teachers may enjoy the full terms of the current 4-year Collective Bargaining Agreement,” they said in the memorandum.

Lowest paid teachers currently earn a minimum of Sh16, 692 and a maximum of Sh24,304 but

the unions propose that the amount be increased to not less than Sh58,863 with the maximum pegged at Sh68,355.

The court which took over the arbitration last week had ordered the teachers to submit their proposals yesterday after calling off a strike that saw schools fail to open for the first two weeks of the year.

TSC is expected to table its submissions on January 26. In the document, the aggrieved parties justified their demands of the increase in basic salary by acknowledging its importance in borrowing and calculation of pension and terminal benefits and in determining one’s earning capacity.

The unions also took issue with the fact that their employer, the Teachers Service Commission had increased pay for its staff while other government institutions had also reviewed staff salaries yet teachers had been ignored.

Three children per family are enough, says Pope Good Roman Catholics do not need to breed like “rabbits”, the Pope has said, but should practice “responsible” parenting instead.

Pope Francis spoke as he returned from the Philippines, where he met former street children abandoned by parents unable to afford to care for them.

Standing firm against artificial birth control, he said new life was “part of the sacrament of marriage”.

But he said population experts advised three children per family.

Speaking to journalists while heading back to Rome from the Philippines on Monday, Pope Francis was asked what he would say to families who had more children than they could afford because the Church forbids artificial contraception.

He replied with an unexpected turn of phrase: “Some people think that - excuse my expression here - that in order to be good Catholics we have to be like rabbits.” “No. Parenthood is about being responsible. This is clear.”

The Pope said he knew many ways allowed by the Catholic Church

that could ensure families only had as many children as they wished.

He cited the case of one woman he had met who had had seven children by Caesarean section and was expecting her eighth - a pregnancy he said was irresponsible.

“She said, ‘I trust in God.’ But God gave us the means to be responsible,” the Pope said.

But he added that for the poorest, a child was a treasure for its mother and father.

To a separate question, the Pope said that most importantly, no outside institution should impose its views on families.

Progressive, Western ideas about birth control and gay rights were increasingly being imposed by groups, institutions or nations there, often as a condition for development aid, he said.

“Every people deserves to conserve its identity without being ideologically colonised,” the Pope said.

During his trip to the Philippines the Pope defended traditional Vatican teaching, which opposes artificial contraception.

MAJESTIC: Pope FrancisAissection flanked President Benigno DANGEROUS SHANTY: ofby thePhilippine Mukuru S;ums in Nairobi.

Aquino III, who broke protocol to welcome the Pontiff to the country.

RAZED DOWN: Police look down on a burnt out army personal carrier following an attack by Boko Haram in Damaturu, Nigeria, October 28, 2013.

24 captives freed from Boko Haram A military operation in northern Cameroon has freed 24 of 80 people kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram militants, according to Cameroonian officials.

On Sunday morning, the militants targeted the villages of Mabass and Makxy in the Mayo-Tsanaga division of Cameroon’s Far North Region, razing more than 80 houses and taking captives.

Three of those abducted were later found dead, state-run media reported.

Mijiyawa Bakary, the regional governor, told CNN on Monday

that soldiers from the Cameroon army’s Mobile Intervention Battalion freed some of the captives during an operation against Boko Haram.

“The 24 people regained their freedom as the soldiers were chasing the Boko Haram militants. The insurgents were fleeing back to Nigeria from whence they came,” he said.

Col. Didier Badjeck, a Cameroonian Defense Ministry spokesman, confirmed the captives had been freed.

Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said Sunday’s mass abduction was the largest

that Boko Haram has conducted inside Cameroon.

The kidnappings came as some 2, 000 Chadian troops arrived in Cameroon to help fight the insurgents.

The deployment followed Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s call for international cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram. Cameroon has already deployed about 7,000 troops across the Far North, where Boko Haram has scaled up attacks over the past six months.

Boko Haram has terrorized northern Nigeria regularly since 2009, attacking police, schools,

churches and civilians, and bombing government buildings.

It has also kidnapped students, including more than 200 schoolgirls who were abducted in April -- and remain missing.

The Islamist group has said its aim is to impose a stricter form of Sharia law across Nigeria, which is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south. Initially, Boko Haram militants crossed the border into neighboring Cameroon to steal food or kidnap foreign nationals, but more recently the group has attacked military installations.

BUSINESS 5

KU introduces campus bus service for students Transport and Infrastructure Principal Secretary John Mosonik has launched two shuttle buses for Kenyatta University to enhance transport services between lecture halls and other areas within campus.

Each bus can carry 109 standing and 19 seated passengers and can cater for persons with disabilities.

Students will board and alight at designated stops along the shuttle

service’s circuit. The services will be rendered during weekdays free of charge between 6am and 7pm.

In a speech read on his behalf, Transport and Infrastructure CS Michael Kamau hailed the launch of the service as a great achievement for the institution. He said commissioning of the service and formulation of a transport policy

by Kenyatta University are in line with Government’s transforma-

tive agenda.

In addition to launching the intra-campus shuttle, he lauded the University’s rapid infrastructural development to meet a growing student population.

KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Olive Mugenda thanked all stakeholders for contributing towards the realisation of the shuttle service.

She said the facility will facilitate student mobility between lecture

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

Business tool

sessions.

She urged all students to be responsible and use of the service to get the best out of the university. captions pic 1 Eng. John Mosonik, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure flags of the inaugural shuttle fleet pic 2 Vice-Chancellor and Chief Guest join students aboard one of the launched shuttle buses.

Rapportive

another first: Transport and Infrastructure Principal Secretary John Mosonik flags of the inaugural shuttle fleet for Kenyatta University at their Thika Superhighway main campus on Monday. The university Vice Chancellor Prof Olive Mugenda (sixth left) and other officials look on.

Forest NGO asks groups to apply for Sh2.7m grant Global Forest Watch (GFW), an NGO dealing in protection and preservation of the world’s forest cover, has asked civil societies around the world to apply for Small Grants Fund (SGF).

GFW offers funds to organisations and groups whose annual budget is more than Sh2.7 million.

Potential applicants can visit ‘globalforestwatch.org’ for details.

The Small Grants Fund provides financial and technical support that empowers civil society organisations to apply Global Forest Watch data

and technology to support their work.

The work is supposed to strengthen forest management and conservation practices.

The group promotes evidence-based campaigns and greater transparency in forest sector management.

Eligibility for the funding is restricted to certified non-profit and nongovernmental organisations. The group also assists organisations implementing projects at regional, national or sub-national level. It deals with groups with annual budget of

CITY pLANS

more than $30,000 (Sh2.7 million).

Those wishing to apply must have computerised financial systems for tracking and recording expenses.

They should be able to fill out an organisational assessment paper in fluent English.

“Special consideration will be given to projects that promote gender equity or benefit women, and to projects that support poverty reduction or social justice,” a spokesperson for GFW has said. Deadline for applications is March 1, 2015.

As technology allows users to access e-mails on handheld devices, it is becoming more difficult to track personal and professional contacts.

As a result, developers have come up with Rapportive, a digital tool that can easily be added to Google’s Gmail service.

By connecting to one’s LinkedIn account, Rapportive allows users to keep track of professional contacts.

The free-to-use tool is especially useful for small business owners who have

a list of clients on Gmail accounts or would like to monitor what their contacts are up to.

“Rapportive shows you everything about your contacts, right inside your inbox,” says one of the developers. “It allows you to immediately see what people look like, where they’re based, and what they do.”

The tool is free and can be accessed from ‘rapportive. com’. It can be added to one’s Gmail account at the click of a button.

CAPITAL ALERT

AWARENESS DRIVE: Global Forest Watch officials during a forum with community leaders. The group has asked civil organisations in Africa with annual budgets of Sh2.7m to apply for grants.

ERC orders landlords to install solar heaters

SOLAR a must: Technicials install a solar hearter system. The Energy Regulatory Commission says owners of buildings whose occupiers consume more than 100 litres of water per day must install solar water heaters or risk one year in jail.

Tenants living in apartments or flats and consume more than 100 litres of water a day are entitled to solar water heaters, Energy Regulatory Commission officials have said.

Landlords who fail to install the systems risk one year in jail, Sh1 million fine or both.

A law dubbed ‘Energy Regulations 2012’ that had caused controversy last year gives owners of existing buildings up to May 2017 to install the solar water heaters.

Pavel Oimeke, ERC Director for Renewable Energy, said in a recent statement: “We have given developers enough time to comply.

We will handle things as stipulated in the regulations.”

Judy Mwende of Construction Kenya, an organisation that conducts research on

building and construction, says the systems can cost as much as Sh150,000 for residential buildings and Sh2 million for commercial structures.

ERC had previously warned developers and contractors that they must comply with the new rules or risk penalties which seek to cut use of non-renewable energy.

“Any person who fails to comply with regulations of ERC on water heating systems commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a conviction of Sh1 million or imprisonment for a term of one year, or both,” said a media notice signed by ERC DirectorGeneral Kaburu Mwirichia.

The regulations were, until recently, ignored by stakeholders, forcing ERC to enforce them.

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NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

EXPORT OPP Branding initiative on Kenya’s coffee to create new jobs and boost exports

FROM GERMANY WITH LOVE…AND MONEY: (L-R) Angelika Bachmamn, Iris Siegfried, Manish Nambiar-General Manager Villa Rosa Kempinski, Anne-Monika von Twardowski and Sonja Lena Schmid.

Slum-based music group to receive funding from Germany Ghetto Classics, a local music project based in Korogocho slums is set to get a funding boost from a series of concerts from Germany based quartet Salut Salon.

In conjunction with the German Embassy and Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel, the quartet will to perform in three concerts from Thursday to Saturday of this week with proceeds from the concerts

going to Ghetto Classics.

Speaking during a press conference, Head of Press and Cultural Affairs at the German Embassy, Martin Falk said the embassy will continue to support the project as it has always done in the past through various donations including music instruments.

“Music is very dynamic here in Kenya and as the German

Embassy we are proud to be associated with such a project which reaches out to the underprivileged in society,” he said.

The General Manger, Villa Rosa Kempinski, Manish Nambiar, was happy to be hosting the quartet during the gala dinner to be held on Friday at the hotel and that it is important to appreciate art and culture.

PRICE DRIVER

Kenyan coffee farmers are gearing up for a boom as the coffee roasting sector starts the year on the right footing. The industry’s stakeholders have launched a coffee branding initiative designed to boost the country’s reputation for producing high-quality beans.

The move is also expected to help the industry regain its position as a top foreign exchange earner.

Following the move, which was put in place by the Kenya government, Reuters reports that bulk coffee will now be sold to roasters and will be branded “Coffee Kenya Mark of Origin” by producers and traders.

Kenya has not been branding its high grade Arabica beans, and has only been referring to its coffee grades with standards like AA or AB, depending

on the size. However, some producers already use a mark of origin, helping them supply coffee shop chains in the West where a premium is charged for speciality origins.

The Kenya Coffee Directorate is monitoring the new system to ensure that the beans are indeed from Kenya.

“This will increase value for farmers, create more jobs and enhance the contribution of coffee to the economy,” said Agriculture Minister, Koskei in a speech, read on his behalf by a ministry official.

He added that the government wanted to add value to exports through initiatives such as branding, widening the appeal of Kenyan coffee with consumers and following similar schemes used by other producers.

“The appreciation of arts and culture is an important value for Kempinski and we are pleased to play a role in the evening that will support the growth and development of the youth in Kenya,” said Nambiar.

Ghetto classics was started in 2009 and supports about 300 underprivileged youth in Korogocho slums through music education.

Relief as cooking gas prices tumble Something’s cooking, and it smells like low cooking gas prices.

The recent drop in fuel prices has pushed down the cost of cooking gas by an average of Sh100, X News has learnt.

In some parts of Nairobi, a 6 kg cylinder of cooking gas is currently being sold at an average of Sh1,220, down from Sh1,320.

This, is mainly due to the fall of global crude oil prices, which

have dropped by 60 per cent over the past six months, say experts from Kenya’s Energy Regulatory Commission, the body in charge of regulating fuel prices.

Cooking gas distributors are now selling a 13 kg cylinder for between Sh2,650 and Sh3,570 , down from Sh2,930during Christmas period.

Cooking gas prices were higher in December when demand was

high but January has been fairer to consumers.

The cost of fuel has been on downward trend over the past three months following a major drop in global oil prices.

Independent cooking gas retailers have quickly adapted to the changes and are selling their products at roughly Sh2,650 while major cooking gas dealers sell theirs at roughly Sh3,210.

Numbers don’t lie. World’s rich people are indeed, getting richer!

A study done by Oxfam, a charity group in the UK dedicated to fighting global poverty showed that the one per cent wealthiest will own more than 50 per cent of the world’s wealth by 2016.

It showed that the share of the world’s wealth, which is owned by the one per cent, increased by four per cent; from 44 per cent to 48 per cent. Oxfam has said it expects that the wealthiest will

soon own more than the rest of the world’s population.

The study comes ahead of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum that will take place in Switzerland and due to happen this week. This will then put pressure on top political and business leaders from around the world to tackle the rising inequality.

Oxfam’s executive director, Winnie By-

anyima, who will co-chair the forum, said she would demand urgent action to narrow the gap between rich and poor.

“The scale of global inequality is simply staggering,” said Byanyima, “it is time our leaders took on the powerful vested interests that stand in the way of a fairer and more prosperous world.”

Oxfam has called on governments to adopt a seven point plan to tackle in-

RICH PEOPLE STUFF: The yacht of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovitch, the Eclipse, is seen on Sept. 4, 2013 near the Nice harbor in the French riviera. The Eclipse is the world’s second largest private yacht.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

ACCESS topstory

TURNING BEADS into

JEWELLERRY MASTER PIECES

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We are not yet over our new year’s hangovers but the music industry is already awash with new hits. Here is what XAccess thinks about some of the new songs.

HOT OFF THE STABLES: NEW SONGS OF

2015 H_art the Band

Nazizi

Jaguar Madraxx Drum by Kansoul We are still wondering what this song is all about, but fans seem to be loving it!

Kidkora has finally found his place in the Kansoul group. He brings the song to life with smooth vocals, which reverberate even after the song ends as he brings out a more sensual note to the chorus. Mejja and Madtraxx as usual deliver with their easy flowing rap verses. The trio manages to bring together the ghetto and posh side of love in well synchronized verses.

Drum takes a new direction from the rave music the three are known for and talks about fantasy.

We don’t know how appropriate that fantasy is, though (hitting one like a drum isn’t really that loving if you ask us). Hopefully the song will be a massive hit like their other club bangers Dabotap (We like) and Nyongwa (We hate), which are more hyped up. The video quality is ok and Kansoul fans will definitely have it on repeat. It is a RedRepublik production directed by X

HOT TOPICS

Kidkora

Antonio.

Huu Mwaka by Jaguar As the title of the song suggests, this year will be a good year for Jaguar who promises to achieve his dreams and stun people while at it.

He asks the good Lord to help him achieve his dreams by blessing him with good health and life. Top on his to-get-list include a good job, car, wife, a family, house…like he hasn’t selfactualized already!

The only new thing about this song is probably the fact that it was released in 2015 but the usual haphazard beats are predictable. Despite this, the song’s video has already garnered over 9,000 views on YouTube since its launch last week showing healthy signs of being a hit (We still wonder why). Like all of Jaguar’s recent hits, Huu Mwaka is a Mainswitch production.

Over you by Nazizi The First Lady of Kenyan hip hop,

Mejja

Nazizi, seems set to be making a comeback this year.

She starts the year with a hit promising hit titled Over You. The first noticeable thing in the video is that she looks amazing, with perfectly done make up to reveal a sexier, feminine, prettier and more confident side of herself.

The song talks about her ex, who apparently cheated on her and played her ‘like a tune’. She advises ladies to move on if they ever find out they have been cheated on.

She goes for the dancehall tune complete with dancers, who would match up with their Jamaican counterparts with the energetic dance styles. The song was produced by Sappy-Lovechild Records and the video directed by Cream Vision.

This will definitely be the song that sees Nazizi reclaim her throne if at all.

Nikikutazama by H_art the Band The new hit by Kenya’s favorite band at the moment, H_art the band, has left many mesmerized just like their first

Actor needs your help Actor and model Innocent Njuguna was in an accident involving his motorbike and a lorry over the weekend and was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital and later transferred to Avenue hospital. Fellow actors are now asking well-wishers to donate cash to help in offsetting the bills. Innocent stars in Pendo and Santalal among other productions.

single, Uliza Kiatu.

Trust them to bring gimmicks even in serious matters like love. The song talks about how the love of their life makes their heart beat.

They shower her with sweet words and reveal the purest forms of love between two lovebirds.

The video has a vintage look and the comical boys put on their signature geek look complete with suspenders and colourful shirts.

One thing to note is the predictable chord progressions which is in most of their music. The song is a definite hit already considering its overwhelming airplay in local radio stations.

Penya Kenya is behind the production and Kevin Bosco Junior directed the video.

Other songs include Disco by Frasha and Eric Wainaina, which we

Caroline Mutoko wants theGovernment to step up Former queen of radio, Caroline Mutoko took to Facebook to express her displeasure at the police for firing tear gas at children protesting the grabbing of their playground by a private developer.

Caroline’s post read in part: “I don’t how I will look my housekeeper, our security guards, the supermarket attendant or even the cops in the face today. These are THEIR children we tear-gassed today. I’m embarrassed for all of us. I’m sickened to my very stomach.”

know will grow on you.Frasha has also gone ahead to release another hit with fellow rappers Kaligraph and Rabbit, which should send chill down any raploving fan.

We are however disappointed with Avril’s much-hyped collabo with Ommy Dimpoz, which sounds the similar to her earlier hits. In addition, Avril depends on Dimpoz to carry the song. We don’t know about the video, probably the same moves too? Avril needs to mature in the industry and maybe find someone to write her fresh lyrics and update her wardrobe!

Avril

8

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY TUESDAY JANUARY 26th NOVEMBER 20, 2015 2014

the ‘earth’ without ‘art’ is just ‘eh’

World leaders in a call of daily duty

artshock

ARTWORLD

Italian artist Cristina Guggeri set out to make world leaders look more human. The artist created digital images of the leaders having in the toilet with going about ‘business”, hoping to show that even with their power and might, they still are subjects to the call of nature. The series is titled, ‘The Daily Duty’. The artist wanted to humanise the leaders because people tend to forget that the leaders are human and no different from the rest. When the images hit the internet, there were all sorts of reactions. Some thought they were disrespectful, wrong and unnecessary, while other found them utterly hillarious.

OUR R00TS

TURNING BEADS into

JEWELRY MASTER PIECES

H

Mugure Wakiru

er hands skillfully maneuver through the tiniest beads and the most intricate of designs to come up with bold pieces that can only be described as magical.

Mugure Wakiru is taking the fashion world by storm— she could well be the next big thing in beaded jewelry.

When she is in her zone, she becomes one with the beads and knows how to pair them to come up with signature jewelry. She seems to have this spiritual relationship with her beads as they apper to trust her judgment, knowing that every move she makes will produce a master piece. She pours herself wholly into her work and lets her imagination run wild to come up with creative and original pieces.

With more than a decade of practice, Mugure shows no signs of slowing down. As a matter of fact, the future looks brighter than ever for her. She ventured into the business at a tender age when she was still in high school.

Hard economic times made her drop out of school to fend for herself and complement her single mother’s income. Her three younger siblings also looked up to her for guidance.

Beneath her warm black eyes and deep infectious smile lies a strong-willed woman, who will do whatever it takes to make it in life. She reveals how she would eagerly sit and draw in from her uncle’s vast experience in the craft. “My uncle is actually the one who got me started in the business. I will forever be grateful for his mentorship but

I must also admit that hard work and passion have been key pillars to my success,” said Mugure.

She says her favorite beads are the small ones due to their versatility.

“I love using small beads because one can come up with many patterns but if a client prefers chunky pieces, who am I to refuse their request? The customer is always right,” she said. She tried numerous times to run away from the craft and venture into other businesses in vain. As she slowly gravitated back to the craft, which she fondly describes as the love of her life, she found peace and purpose in it. She is privileged to have worked with AMREF in a project aimed at training the youth on beadwork.

Her pieces range from Sh100 for earrings to thousands of shillings for full sets comprising necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

“Pricing depends on the complexity of the designs. Some take hours to finish while others may take a whole day hence are more costly,” she explained. Mugure longs for the day when Kenyans will embrace and promote their own rather than look up to developed countries for everything. “It really saddens me when someone does not appreciate brand Kenya. Just because something is made in Kenya does not mean it is of less quality. I do not understand why someone would quote a lower price for my items even though they are of high quality and call for higher prices,” she lamented. Is she ready to give up?No! “This is my art, it is my craft, it is what I breathe and eat and it is beautiful, don’t you think?”

We agree.

When the hunter becomes the hunted The Maasai tribe sees lion hunting as a sign of bravery and personal achievement. In the past, when the lion population was high, the community encouraged solo lion hunting. However, over the last ten years due to the decline of the lion population, the community has adapted a new rule that encourages warriors to hunt in groups instead of solo lion hunts. Group hunting is known in Maasai as Olamayio and gives the lion population a chance to grow.

According to Maasai customary laws, the warriors are not allowed to hunt a lion suffering from drought, poison or one that has been snared.

The Maasai believe that females are the bearers of life in every species.

As such, it is prohibited to hunt a female lion; unless the lioness has posed threat to human or livestock lives.

The lion hunting experience allows the Maasai warriors to show off their fighting ability on a non-human target. At the end of each age-set, usually between 10 and 15 years, the warriors must count all the lions hunted, then compare them with those hunted by the previous agesets.

ACCESS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

We all pray for a perfect child but at times life gives us not just a child but a special one.

9

aboutLove

hot topiCs

Karun

Wangechi

Wangechi and Karun Collabo is out

loving Children with special needs

Rapper Wangechi seems to be almost fully recovered after an accident last year. Wangechi teamed up with Lady Karun to release a song titled Analogue Dreams. The song is a combination of two unique styles and will no doubt dominate the airwaves.

‘M

salut salon Quartet in town German quartetSalut Salon are in town to perform a series of shows to raise money for programmes such as Ghetto Classics. The quartet is an all-girl group that travels around the world performing classical music with a twist. They prefer to inject a bit of life into their music by singing in different languages.

asK dr X Dear Dr X,

During my best friend’s birthday party, her boyfriend told me she has a big lump on her left breast but she does not want to go to the hospital.

I have tried to persuade her to see a doctor but she is scared and stubborn. We are both in form four and she says going to hospital will waste her study time. Could it be something dangerous like cancer or am I overreacting?

— Charlene.

y heart shudders each time I think of what will happen to my son when I’m no longer there, too old or sick and weak to look after him,” said Martha Mumo. Martha, 40, is a mother of six with one child suffering a severe form of autism. Timothy, 15, has been left with an impaired physique, is speechless and has a mental age of a toddler. Yet, his family loves him regardless of being challenged.

Martha and her family’s life changed ever since Timothy was born. Taking care of him is overwhelming. Not forgetting that she has five other children to look after.

Hers is a story of extra ordinary love, dedication and t e n a c i t y.

A l l

these is possible because she accepted the fact that her son will never be like his other siblings.

Although looking after him is physically and emotionally exhausting, she knows no one can provide the same love and care for him. Sure, he has siblings who adore him, but they may not be strong and committed enough to look out for him like she does. She says she is worried of how his dependent son will cope when she is gone. This is an anxiety every parent with a disabled child shoulders.

Her heart aches when she sees other people bully Timothy. Martha wishes everybody would take him as he is and spare his dignity. But not everyone, especially younger kids, understand that he is special and thus easily make fun of him and/or shun him altogether.

“Having such a child has opened my eyes and heart to love in immense

ways that I never knew before and that is how I know nobody can ever give him this,” said Martha. Although it seems futile to cater for someone who might never respond, Martha insists they must be unconditionally loved. Just like Martha, there are many parents struggling to raise disabled children in a society where they are not readily accommodated.

Giving care to a lifelong disabled child comes with special challenges that can take a toll on parents or any care giver.

It leaves caregivers stressed, worn out, lonely and desperate with a looming breakdown.

Trashing their children does not help the situation.

Both the disabled and their families need support, compassion and most of all, love from their extended family and community. Imagine a place where community rehabilitation programs exist, where volunteers

regularly visit disabled children’s own homes to give advice on how to care for them, donate special equipment or take turns in giving care while their parents take some time off.

Parents and families need breaks from caring for their disabled child in order to rejuvenate their strength and mind. Relaxation ensures they sum up energy to take care of their children. They also get to spend time with their other children. This can only happen when the community steps in to lend a hand.

“Loving a helpless child is a blessing. It is not difficult. There is always something appealing, and interesting, about every person, if you look hard enough. I think a person who never knows, and grows to love a helpless person, is like someone who has never seen a rainbow,” said Rosemary J. Gwaltney a mother of 26, 10 of whom are adopted disabled children.

Can my friend’s breast lump be CanCerous?

Dear Charlene,

It is alright to be alarmed because one can never know for sure what the lump is without a physician’s examination. Talk to your friend again and insist she gets a serious checkup. If she does not heed to your word then you have no choice but to tell her parents, teachers or guardians about it.

School will always be there and for her to study comfortably, she must be healthy and have

peace of mind. Even if she does not admit it, that lump must be worrying her. She is not going to hold it together for long unless she sees a doctor.

Her health is a priority.

She must go to a doctor, mostly a specialist who will carry out tests to diagnose the inflammation then get the required treatment. Tests like mammogram, ultrasound or biopsy may be done to determine whether the lump is

cancerous or not.

Seeking medical advice in time will allow proper treatment and faster healing. This is where you, her friend comes in. Accompany her to hospital whether her family is there or not. She needs a true and supportive friend throughout.

As her best friend the most amazing gift you can give her is holding her hand no matter the outcome. Best wishes DR X..

Send your agonising queries to drx@x-news.co.ke

10

ACCESS

TUESDAY, JANUARY20 2015

FASHIONScoop

Autumn/Winter 2015-16 mensWeAr.

VERSACE’S

MALE COLLECTION

P

opular international design house, Versace, on Sunday launched the Autumn/Winter 2015-16 Menswear.

The collection, unveiled in Milan, Italy, has embraced formal designs complete with leather man bags and fur coats. It also features an experiment in combination of street casual wear with a classy touch. Versace toned it down too when it came to colour, going for darker shades like navy blue, black and brown. Here is peek at the new collection and what we would like to see the XAccess man strut the streets in.

filmlab

BEST...

the wedding ringer

Blackat

Rating: R Genre: Drama Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller and Luke Grimes Time: 2hr 14 min

Bradley Cooper delivers a great performance on this film which is based on a true story.

U.S. sniper Chris Kyle never misses a short. He gets sent to Iraq to have the backs of his fellow soldiers fighting in the field. He has saved countless of lives and has become a sort of legend. He soon becomes a target as insurgents make it their mission to find him and kill him for killing their own.

Our rating: H H

Our rating: H H H Rating: R Genre: Action and Adventure Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis and William Mapother Time: 2hr 13 min

American sniper

Chris Hemsworth is a talented actor, but playing a hacker does not really suit him. He should stick to movies that do not require him to write code!

A released convict and his partners hunt down a cybercrime network that extends from Chicago to Hong Kong to Jakarta. They rush against time to take down the network and make it safe to be on the internet.

It is not roaringly funny as most of Kevin hart’s movies are, but it picks up. The movie could have been better considering it had a star studded cast. Doug Harris is a husband to be but he has a huge problem, he does not have a best man or friends. With a few weeks to his wedding, Doug is in a bit of a pinch when he gets refereed to Jimmy Callahan. Jimmy is the owner of Best Man Inc., a company that provides best men for those who are in need. Will they pull off this con?

Our rating: H H H

Rating: R Genre: Comedy Cast: Kevin Hart, Kaley Cuoco and Josh Gad Time: 1hr 41 min

PLAY 11 TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 You’re a service-oriented person by nature, Capricorn, and today the opportunity to spend time serving those in need could well present itself. This could be in a professional capacity or helping someone close who’s having troubles of some kind. Don’t resist. Go with the flow.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 If you’ve been hoping for a lucky break, Aquarius, this is the day it might come, especially if it involves love and romance. Or you might have been hoping for acknowledgment on the job, in the field of education, or by someone who means a lot to you. Have a great day.

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 These are positive, Pisces, though they might seem a bit overwhelming. Some could even be described as upheavals. Perhaps someone moves in or out. It could even involve moving to a new place, redecorating, refurbishing, or perhaps adopting a pet.

TUESday 20/01/2015

sunny

24

25ºC 55%

WEDNEsday 21/01/2015

More sun than clouds

24 6:38 am 6:49 pm

25ºC 55%

6:38 am 6:49 pm

THURSday

25

Fill in the blanks with the numbers 1-9. every row, column and 3x3 box must contain all nine digits with no repeated number.

Friday’s Solution

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 Some great news could change your life forever. It might involve a new partnership of some kind or opportunities in your community. At the least, Aries, it could involve changes in your outlook and attitudes about life. You could spend a lot of time on the phone with friends and acquaintances.

Sudoku

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 This could involve a pending raise or promotion or opportunities for freelance work outside the job. It might imply a new job, perhaps in a creative field. Whatever work you do is likely to seem more emotionally rewarding than it has been, Taurus.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 Today you’re likely to feel especially romantic and sexy, and anxious to get together with a love partner. In fact, you may look forward to meeting with friends. You should be feeling especially creative, and you could spend a lot of your day either planning or working on projects.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 Some deeply buried feelings about your mother and family could come up from the past today and need release. Don’t be afraid to show your pain and anger. If you’re embarrassed to do it around others, Cancer, stay home and deal with it. This is a positive development.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 You will enjoy exchanging ideas and information with others, Leo, and could come away from these activities feeling exhilarated. It might be a good idea to walk home, or perhaps go for coffee or a movie afterward. If you let the ideas buzz until bedtime, you might not be able to sleep.

VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 22 Today you might find yourself in the public eye. Acknowledgment for work well done could come your way. It might also involve an increase in income. This could be job related or simply a community project that you’ve been working on and accomplished successfully.

MUSTREAD The Secret of Magic — by Deborah Johnson

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Expanding your horizons is the key for today, Libra. Communications received from distant states or foreign lands could have you entertaining the idea of traveling to those places. You’re probably curious about different cultures, ideas, and perspectives.

The year is 1946. Regina Robichard, a young, black female attorney, receives an unusual request from a reclusive author. M P Calhoun asks Regina to investigate the murder of a black war hero. A year earlier, the soldier’s body had been found in a river and the courts had ruled that it had been an accidental death. Calhoun, however, refuses to believe the court’s assumptions. He insists that there is more to what happened. She travels to the south in search of more answers and finds that it is a different environment. Racism is more pronounced and people are reluctant to reveal what they know.

Was the soldier murdered or did he drown?

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 Write down any dreams you remember, Scorpio. They might not make sense to you now, but if you go back and analyze them later, you’re likely to find that they reveal a lot about you that you weren’t previously aware of. They might even inspire new projects of some kind.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 An old friend you haven’t seen for a while could suddenly reappear, and you might view this person in a different light as a potential business partner, source of inspiration, or even a romantic possibility. Partnerships formed today are likely to lead to success.

INSTAMOMENTS 1

3

2

4

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

winning captions

Friday’s winning photo

YOURSAY

Send a caption for the photo above with your name and location to: play@x-news.co.ke .The winning caption gets published on this page.

Why did Lang’ata school expose innocent kids to mindless officers?

It was disturbing to watch policemen use teargas against hapless children in yesterday’s Lang’ata Road Primary School protest (Chaos as grabbed school parents pull down wall,

Monday January 19, 2015).

The act was unwarranted because the children had done nothing to provoke police’s reaction. On the other hand, I have qualms to pick with parents and

teachers who allowed the students to the streets. Did they not foresee the risk of an outbreak of violence, especially after it became evident the matter was attracting politicians? Why

did activists led by Boniface Mwangi dare put innocent children in harm’s way? Did the school administration approve the plan? Where were their teachers? A lot of questions need answers.

1. This is why education is very important- George Muki, Nairobi 2. The seller is bound to attract unwanted customers-Milly K. Nrb 3. The things we sell in Africa, sigh...-Anonymous, Nairobi

12

PLAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

o www.Printable-Puzzles.com for hints and solutions!

Across 1. Beyond suggestive 5. Bowie’s last stand 10. Skin problem 14. Stew 15. Capacitance unit 16. Not real close 17. Toothpaste brand 19. Shakespearean traitor 20. Ready to burst 21. Perfumes 23. Wound seriously 26. They need lifts 27. High-tech in-box item 32. The last of 12 33. Makeup name 34. Certain noncoms 38. Soul singer James 40. Kind of gasket 42. Rightist 43. Kweisi Mfume is its pres.

45. Octo plus one 47. Coal box 48. Domicile doubled 51. Coast Guard rank 54. Smite 55. Conversational 58. French coronation city 62. “To every thing there is a season” Bible book: Abbr.

63. Test-taker’s tool 66. Traditional learning 67. “___hooks” 68. Magic word beginning 69. Holy women: Abbr.

70. Lab heaters 71. Sky blight

suggestive

last stand

oblem

1

2

3

Puzzle ID: #V790GG

CROSSWORD 4

5

6

7

8

9

10

15

14 17

11

12

13

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36

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61

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18 21

20

22

tance unit

al close

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pearean traitor

to burst

mes

d seriously

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28

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32

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43

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nger James 3. E. German champion gasket

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figure skater 4. Bucks 5. Spot for SAC 6. Tutelary god 7. Highlight at the opera 8. Tennis ace Wilander 9. West Texas city named by Russians 10. Having the most precipitation 11. Make ___ (mug) 12. More prudent 13. ___ Perot 18. Allan-___ 22. Cardiology charts, briefly 24. “___ Lonesome I Could Cry”: B.J. Thomas hit 25. Montreal measures 27. Sir Anthony 28. Prefix for physics 29. Official record 30. River around the Ile de la Cite

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6. Tutelary god

7. Highlight at the opera 8. Tennis ace Wilander

51. Joyce and James biographies 52. France’s tobacco pioneer 53. Holy, to Henri 56. “y” ending, in superlative form 57. Late San Francisco columnist Herb 59. Long-range nuke 60. Spanish artist Joan 61. Refined waste 64. Superhelix material 65. Mailing ctrs.

9. West Texas city named by Russians

64

59

Quick Crossword Puzzle Solution- 38 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

35. TV camera screen

61. Refined waste

36. Shipshape

64. Superhelix material

37. New Year's Eve song word

65. Mailing ctrs.

39. Hero with a vulnerable heel

41. Robt. E. Lee's title 10. Having the most precipitation QUOTE OF THE DAY 44. ___ stick (bouncing toy) “Winning is not a

11. Make ___ (mug)sometime thing; it’s46. an all Do it on ___ (accept 12. More prudent 13. ___ Perot 18. Allan-___

time thing. You don’t win challenge) once in a while, you don’t do things right once in aConfuse or upset, 49. while, you do them right all the time.Winning is50. habit.

Coyote cousins Unfortunately, so is losing”

in slang

51. Joyce and James 22. Cardiology charts, briefly— Vince Lombardi biographies 24. "___ Lonesome I Could Cry": B.J. Thomas hit

65

52. France's tobacco pioneer

Sport TUESday, JANUARY 20, 2015

Makini School’s Wangari, 8, wins hearts at Soya awards Chanelle Wangari, 8, won hearts at the 12th edition of the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) on Friday night in Nairobi after she lifted the most promising girl title.

Wangari is the African junior 6-8 years golf champion after becoming the first nonhandicapped Kenyan junior to win in an global event.

The Makini School pupil beat Margaret Wambui Nyairela and

Rosefline Chepng’etich for the accolade on Friday.

Chepng’etich is the 3000m-steeplechase national junior champion, world junior silver medallist over the distance and Youth Olympics Games 2000m steeplechase winner.

Nyailera was also a favourite after winning the national 800m silver. She also bagged the world junior 800 title in a personal best of 2:00.49. She is also the 800m

World Junior Championships winner (2:00.49PB).

“Working hard has been my greatest weapon. I have a dream to play at the top level of golf there is,” said Wangari. The player has qualified for the 2015 US Kids World Junior Championship in Pinehurst which has drawn more than 150 girls. She is also set to participate in the European Junior Tour Challenge in Scotland also set for this year.

TO PLAY FOR JACKPOT, SMS TO 79079: JP#XNEWS#13 predictions E.G: JP#XNEWS#1X2X1XX2212X1 YOU WIN WHEN ALL YOUR 13 PREDICTIONS ARE CORRECT. JACKPOT IS EQUALLY SHARED AMONGST ALL WINNERS.

CONTINENTAL QUEEN: Seven-year old Chanelle Wangari poses for a photo after she was crowned the Africa Junior Golf Champion in South Africa on Friday.

Chelsea game critical in our title charge, says Pellegrini Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says his side’s trip to leaders Chelsea will be pivotal in their hopes of retaining the Premier League title.

City lost ground to Chelsea after falling 2-0 at home to Arsenal and have fallen five points adrift.

Chelsea host City on January 31 with Pellegrini aware they must claw back points on Jose Mourinho’s side.

“The game we play at Stamford Bridge is a very important game. We must close the gap to two points,” he said.

“It’s very important to win the next game against Chelsea. I hope we are going to recover and play the way we have been playing so far.”

Arsenal won at Etihad thanks to a penalty from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud’s header.

City missed the presence of Yaya

Toure, who is on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, against the Gunners.

Pellegrini’s side have not won a Premier League game without the midfielder since April last year, but the 61-year-old Chilean claims that did not justify the defeat.

“I think Yaya is a very important player, but I never have excuses,” he said.

0755 079 079 0709 079 079

14

SPORT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

Mourinho: Not signing Steven Gerrard one of my biggest failures

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says failing to sign Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard remains one of his greatest transfer disappointments.

Mourinho was close to signing the midfielder in his first spell as Chelsea manager in 2005 before Gerrard chose to stay at Anfield.

“We did everything to try [to sign him] and it was almost there,” said Mourinho.

“I was dreaming of Claude Makelele, Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield.”

Mourinho added: “We were playing in a proper triangle without a number 10 and playing Maka in front of the defenders. Me, Mr Abramovich and [former Chelsea chief executive] Peter Kenyon at that time, we dreamed of that.

“His people were open to him joining a top side like Chelsea. But to me personally he never said he would come. Never.

He [Gerrard] was always a red and I think

SPECIAL ONE: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho still rues not ever signing Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard. He asked Chelsea fans to ‘respect’ the Liverpool captain ahead of tonight’s Capital One clash at Anfield.

the decision was right.”

Gerrard will come up against Mourinho at Anfield tonight (Tuesday) in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final in one of the last meetings before the former England captain ends his 17-year career in the Liverpool first team this summer when he joins Los Angeles Galaxy.

But Mourinho, who describes Gerrard as an opponent he has always admired and respected, says he does not like Chelsea fans to poke fun at the player following his slip at Anfield last year in a match which saw Liverpool’s title chances disappear.

“The song that my fans have I don’t like at all,” Mourinho said.

return of star trio could boost prisons in club championships Long serving Njoroge leaves Sofapaka FC Sofapaka FC’s veteran defender John ‘Leftie’ Njoroge (pictured) has left the club after he opted not to renew his contract.

The defender’s contract expired last month, he opted not to renew it. He has now signed with newly promoted Kenya Premier League side Nakumatt FC. Batoto Ba Mungu assistant coach David Ouma termed Njoroge departure as “a great blow” after serving the club for more than six years.

“His departure is a massive blow. He was very instrumental and perhaps the most disciplined player I have ever seen. We wish him success as he embarks with building his football career with Nakumat FC.” Ouna said in regards to Njooge.

The other players who have given up on the Domestic Cup champions is Anthony ‘Muki” Kimani who found a new home in Bandari and Cliffton Miheso who is away on trials in Finland.

PRISON STARS: The Kenya Prisons Volleyball team in a past international fixture. Former National and Africa championships may be boosted with the return of trio ahead of this march’s Africa Club Cup championship.

Former National and Africa championships may be boosted with the return of trio ahead of this march’s Africa Club Cup championship.

Left attacker Mercy Moim who plays her professional volleyball in Finland, centre attacker Praxcides Agala and setter Jane Wacu both playing in France may all be available for Prisons.

Moim’s one-year deal with Club Liiga Plokiin will expire at the end of the Finish Volleyball league in March.

Moim joined club Liiga Plokiin last year after outstanding performance at the World Grand Prix.

The African Club Championship for both men and women will be held in Morocco and Ethiopia in March.

Praxcides Agala and Jane Wacu both playing in France may also be available for Prisons who will be seeking to reclaim the national and Africa titles it lost to Kenya Pipeline and GSP Petroliers of Algeria last year.

Coach David Lung’aho says it is not confirmed yet but the availability of his former players will be a huge boast in the wardress bid to reclaim continental title. “Having them depends on whether they will be released by their club, Moim in most likely to join us as her contracts ends at the end of the season,” he said.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2015

SPORT 15 TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015

Wanyonyi floors rival in l.heavyweight bout Kenya’s Daniel Wanyonyi knocked out Tanzania’s Samson Maisha in a non-title fight bout at Pal Pal gym, in Nairobi, on Sunday.

Wanyonyi, the Africa Boxing Union (ABU) light heavyweight champion, floored the Tanzanian after two minutes and 23 seconds of the second round.

The win was Wanyonyi’s career 29th in bouts organised by Team Boxing Promotions and sanctioned by the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC).

The clash was even until the second round when Wanyonyi increased pace and unleashed an uppercut which sent Maisha on the canvas for referee Francis Olando to stop the fight.

Wanyonyi was using the fight as a build-up to his ABU light heavy weight title defence scheduled for March 25 in Nairobi.

Coach Julius Odhiambo said they do not know Wanyonyi’s opponent and are waiting for communication from ABU headquarters.

“I’m glad I finished the fight early because if you take long in the ring you are prone to injuries.

If I were to be injured, it would jeopardise chances of my title defence,” said Wanyonyi.

Federer’s cruising start in Aussie Open

GRAND WARRIOR: Daniel Wanyonyi (left) takes down Tanzanian challenger Samson Maisha. Wanyonyi knocked out Maisha in the non-title bout at the Pal Pal gym in Nairobi on Sunday.

Warner defends comment to Rohit Sharma Australia’s David Warner has defended his part in an on-field row with India’s Rohit Sharma during a one-day international between the two sides.

Warner confronted batsman Sharma after he took a single to an overthrow.

“When I went over to say something to him, he sort of said something in their language,” said Warner.

“I said ‘speak English’ because, if you’re going to say something for me to understand, theoretically I cannot speak Hindi.”

Speaking to Sky Sports Radio, he said: “So I did the polite thing and asked him to speak English.

Therefore he did and I can’t repeat what he said.”

Warner was fined 50% of his match fee after admitting a charge of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game.

Sharma scored 138 but hosts Australia won by four wickets in a match forming part of a tri-series which also involves England.

Australian players remonstrated over him taking a run on an overthrow because the ball had deflected off him.

“I thought I was OK by asking him to speak English and I am going to say it a couple of times if he keeps saying it in Hindi,” added Warner.

“If people get on the wrong side of me, I’m not going to back down.”

Australia are being captained by George Bailey in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke and he has been suspended for one ODI and fined 20% of his match fee for a slow over-rate in the win over India.

Clarke, meanwhile, is on course to recover from a hamstring injury to play at the World Cup.

Second-seeded Roger Federer (above) beat Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 Monday in a first-round match at the Australian Open.

Federer, wearing a neon yellow shirt which matched his shoes, won his 74th match in 85 starts at Melbourne Park, a record that has seen him win four Australian Open titles.

Federer broke Lu’s service in the 11th game of the final set and held in the next to advance to the second round.

He last won the championship here in 2010 and has made the semifinals the past four years. He lost last year’s semifinal to Rafael Nadal, the 11th time the pair had met in a major.

Early on the day Nadal returned to Grand Slam action with a comprehensive win over Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny.

The Spaniard, 28, won 6-3 6-2 6-2 in his first match at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon following injury and illness.

Women’s fifth seed Ana Ivanovic suffered a shock 1-6 6-3 6-2 fall to Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka.

Gabon skipper’s hunger for African soccer glory Gabon skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has declared desire to become the next superstar of African football.

After scoring in the 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, he said: “I try to do the maximum to be one of the greats like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o.

“I don’t feel any pressure to be like them, but there is maybe a level of expectation around me.

“When people expect great things from you, you

try to do great things.”

The 25-year-old (pictured below), who plays for German side Borussia Dortmund, has made a perfect start to Africa’s biggest football showpiece.

He scored after 18 minutes and was also involved in the second goal, which was netted by Malick Evouna in the second half.

The performance was a stark contrast from Aubameyang’s last contribution to the 2012 tournament, which was co-hosted by Gabon and

Equatorial Guinea. In the tournament, he missed a decisive penalty in a quarter-final shoot-out fall to Mali.

He said: “That penalty against Mali remains a good memory for me because it made me grow up.”

Having beaten the team who coach Jorge Costa described as the strongest in Group A, Gabon could qualify for the last eight with victory over Congo on Wednesday.

16

sport

africa cup of nations 2015

tUEsDAY, JANUArY 20, 2015

GABON STAR AUBEYANG IS HUNGRY FOR MORE IN AFRICA’S FOOTBALL PARTY PG.15

REAP WHAT YOU SOW: Senegal’s players and substitutes celebrate after Moussa Sow’s last-gasp winner in their match yesterday.

when africa saw Sow steal the show FIND THE KEYWORD IN RED AND SMS IT TO 22333 Barua Muganga RINGTONES: 30 KSHS PER DAY Nipe Nafasi You will receive a sms “2 download. . . ”Go to this Glory to Glory link using GPRS or WAP & download your content.

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Sow leaVeS It late foR SeneGal

M

oussa Sow grabbed a dramatic late winner as Senegal opened their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-1 win against Ghana in Group C. André Ayew put Ghana in front from the penalty spot but Mame Biram Diouf grabbed the equaliser as Senegal heaped the pressure on after the interval.

Sow, a substitute, was on hand to win it with the last kick of the game and get his country off to a winning start in Equatorial Guinea.

Ghana had the better of the early stages without offering too much of a threat and needed a penalty to make their possession count in the 14th minute. Everton’s onloan Chelsea winger Christian Atsu broke clear through the middle and was felled by Bouna Coundoul as he tried to go round

the Senegal goalkeeper, who was booked for his troubles. André Ayew converted.

Senegal were struggling to make an impact but looked dangerous when they did get opportunities.

Kara Mbodji’s header brought a save from Brimah Razak and Diouf did the same with a specTODAY’S MATCHES Ivory Coast

Guinea Vs

7pm

Nuevo Estadio de Malabo

Mali

Cameroon Vs

10pm

Nuevo Estadio de Malabo

tacular overhead kick just after the half-hour. Senegal started the second half stronger and after Papakouli Diop had dragged a shot wide Diouf grabbed the leveller in the 58th minute. With Jordan Ayew off the field, the ball was launched into the Gha-

na box and Diouf headed against the post but showed superb awareness to get to the rebound and nod home. The pressure eventually told with the last kick of the game as a long ball over the top found Sow, who played the ball to Henri Saivet. The Bordeaux striker then fed Diouf who slipped the ball back to Sow and his low finish sealed victory.

In another match Algeria came from behind to begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with victory over South Africa.

After a goalless first half Thuso Phala gave South Africa the lead but his team-mate Tokelo Rantie missed a penalty and Thulani Hlatshwayo’s own-goal levelled the scores. Faouzi Ghoulam and Islam Slimani then took their side to victory, leaving them level with Senegal at the top of Group C.

USIU book fInal date wIth kPa United States International University (USIU –A) have qualified for the Kenya Basketball Federation women premier league finals after a 3-0 best of five playoffs triumph over Cooperative Bank.

USIU won the third match on Monday at the Nyayo Basketball gymnasium defeating Coop bank 75 -44 to book a finals date with defending Champions KPA who qualified with a similar score line of 3-0 against Storms. USIU dominated in all quarters leading 2613 by the end of the first quarter, 39-25 by half time

, 54 -36 by the end of 3rd quarter and finishing the match on a high with a 75-44 result that ensured a ticket to the finals.

USIU’s Sarah Zeinab was the all-time top scorer in the match grinding 25 points for the students. Hilda Indasi was the second best scorer of the evening managing 16 points in total.

Carol Ouma was the top scorer for Cooperative Bank scoring 14 points.

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