2015011019 xnews

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THursday, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 | www.x254.co

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Nkaissery orders closure of 115 liquor firms the cabinet secretary says the manufacturers have failed to adhere to the set standards and regulations for their operations

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NEWS

Gor mahia players dominate 2015 Sjak awards nominees list

Kenya now ordered to explain doping measures put in place

Terminate Ruto, Sang case now, AU tells ICC T

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T H R E AT E N I N G : Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and Defence’s Rachel Omamo at the ASP meeting at The Hague last evening. The African Union has told the ICC to terminate the case against Ruto or risk a walkout from the Rome Statute by her members.

he African Union (AU) has called for the termination of the ICC case against Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang, saying recent events suggest it is already dead. AU said the admission of recanted evidence in the case facing Ruto and Sang is unacceptable and only means the prosecution has no evidence to back their charges. Speaking during the ongoing 14th Session of the Assembly of State Parties in The Hague, Netherlands, AU officials led by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the ICC to terminate the case. “The DP has co-operated with the court and the use of recanted evidence against him is unacceptable. The prosecution must accept the case is dead and should be terminated,” said Ghebreyesus. AU has also blasted the court for what it termed an unrelenting and biased focus on Africa. “We have arrived at the conclusion that ICC, whose establishment was strongly supported by Africa, is no longer a court for all,” he said in quotes carried by AFP. The union has also threatened to pull out of the Rome Statute if the case against Ruto is not dropped. “The continent may be left with no other option than to reserve the right to take measures it may think necessary in the interest of preserving and safeguarding the stability, dignity, sovereignty and integrity of the continent,” the Ethiopian minister further told AFP. Kenya is pushing to have the use of recanted evidence in the case against Ruto and Sang reversed by the 123 countries that have signed up to the Hague-based ICC’s founding statute. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2


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African Union threatens ICC pull out if Ruto, Sang case is not terminated THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

From Page 1 With the AU’s backing, Kenya seeks to have the ASP force the trial chamber to set aside recanted evidence in Ruto’s case with threats of a walkout and an eventual withdrawal from the Rome Statute. Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed who is leading the Kenyan delegation alongside Cabinet colleague Rachel Omamo told the member states that the decision to admit recanted evidence in the ongoing case against Ruto and Sang have dampened Kenya’s expectations. “The decision of the judge to apply Rule 68 in the case against the Deputy President was regrettable. We are equal members of the assembly and should be made to feel equal through equal application of the law,” she told the gathering. African countries which form the simple majority of the ASP members have backed Kenya’s quest with South Africa echoing the warning that Africa will no longer cooperate. “Africa will not join the uncritical chorus of

loyalty. ASP must do what it needs to do to save the court,” said South Africa’s Foreign Minister The push to have recanted evidence withdrawn has gained the backing of even Amnesty International which now wants Rule 68 which allows the use of such evidence, be deleted altogether. “It is our informed consideration that recanted evidence however pertinent cannot be the foundation for the furtherance of justice in both domestic and International Tribunal. The upshot of our position therefore is that the 14th session of the Assembly of State Parties should consider doing away with the use of recanted evidence,” Amnesty International’s regional director for East African and the Great Lakes Region Michelle Kagari wrote in a letter to the ASP President Sidiki Kaba. And Kenya believes the court acted beyond its authority to admit such evidence. “We believe the trial chamber judges acted outside of their authority in agreeing with the prosecutor to admit recanted evidence in this ongoing case,” CS Amina Mohamed said. NOT HAPPY: Kenyan delegation to the Assembly of State Parties led by CS Amina Mohamed follow proceedings at the meeting yesterday.

Don’t pull Kenya out of ICC, MPs caution State UNDER PRESSURE: Representatives of the ICC at the Assembly of State Parties yesterday at The Hague.

House team now wants Nacada board disbanded The National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and National Security has called on the disbandment of the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) board. The proposal comes in the wake of a Sh147 million scandal that has hit the board with claims of irregular tendering and disbursement of money. The committee wants new board members appointed to the board in what they termed a “shakeup drive”. “The goal for the dissolution and getting new members would be part of a major overhaul of systems at Nacada to make sure the fight against alcohol and drug abuse succeeds,” said the committee report. Committee chairman Asman Kamama has called upon the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to conclude its investigations and punish those implicated in the theft. “The committee recommends that EACC conclude investigations into the irregular procurement of consultancy services for

the disbursement of Sh99 million to civil society organisations by Nacada in the 2013/14 financial year and ensure culpable officers are prosecuted,” said Kamama. The committee said once constituted, the new board should restructure Nacada and make sure the board and its secretariat pursue their mandate without wrangles. The lawmakers also expressed concerns in the manner in which Nacada chairman John Mututho tried to suspend chief executive William Okedi and six others in June this year, without the board’s resolution. On his defencee, Mututho told the committee that the suspension was based on a letter from the board’s audit sub-committee which fronted the CEO’s as indifferent on the anti-alcohol and drug campaign. The decision was, however, rescinded by other board members on grounds that it was done without following due procedure. Earlier this year, Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) urged the National Assembly to disband Nacada and merge its functions with other product inspection agencies.

Two legislators have warned Africa and Kenya against pulling out of the Rome Statue because the rule of law is still not adhered to in Africa. Emurua Dikir MP Johana Ng’eno and his Kiminini counterpart Chris Wamalwa, (pictured below) said the country has enjoyed relative calm due to its presence at ICC. Wamalwa said things could have even been worse in the 2013 General Election were it not for the fear of ICC. “Look at what happened in 2007/08 elections, things could have been worse in 2013, but ICC acted as a deterrent and that is why we are still enjoying relative peace to date,” said Wamalwa.

Wamalwa said the country should look for the long term benefits of being a member of the Rome Statute, adding that the current case against Deputy President William Ruto should not blind people to turn against ICC. “We should look at the bigger picture and long term objectives of being a member of the Rome Statue,” he said. Wamalwa said those calling for the country to pull out of the Rome statute are only looking at their selfish interest and not putting interest of the country at heart. “Africa is not going to pull out of the Rome Statue, those calling for such a move are just pulling cheap threats,” he said.

Ng’eno said it’s not a good idea to pull out of the Rome Statue at the moment. “Withdrawing from ICC should not be a priority, it’s only in Africa where we still see appalling atrocities,” said Ng’eno. He said the problem is the procurement of false witnesses which has spoilt the reputation of the court. National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale on Monday said Kenya would lead other African countries in a walkout from the ICC if its demands are not met by the assembly. “I can tell you that if the ASP rejects our demands, there will be a mass walkout by AU members that support our position. The next alternative will be our withdrawal for the Rome Statute,” he said. Wamalwa, however, termed such sentiments by Duale cheap threats without long term objectives to the country. Kenya is against the use of the rule 68 adopted during the 12th assembly’s meeting has been violated after ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda was allowed to use recanted evidence by six witnesses. Kenya has maintained that the rule should not be used in the case against Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang.


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NEWS BRIEF

Curb wastage before banning trips, Rotich told Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has been told to concentrate on curbing unnecessary spending instead of suspending foreign and local travels. Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa said the government should look at the quality and gains of any foreign travel made by government and County officials before suspending them. The MP, however said any foreign travel made should be justifiable and of tangible results to the country or a particular ministry. “People must go out and do benchmarking on issues such as devolution, these travels must however be justifiable,” he said. Yesterday Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich suspended national and county officials’ from local and foreign travels as part of austerity measures to reduce the country’s wage bill. “Tough guidelines for foreign travel have been published as part of new wide-ranging measures to plug resource leakages,” said Rotich. He said spending on breakfast meetings, office furniture, printing and adverts will also be cut in the 2016/17 budgetary allocation.

World on cusp of ‘anti-biotic’ era, scientists have warned The world is on the cusp of a “post-antibiotic era”, scientists have warned after finding bacteria resistant to drugs used when all other treatments have failed. Their report, in the Lancet, identifies bacteria able to shrug off colistin in patients and livestock in China. They said that resistance would spread around the world and raised the spectre of untreatable infections. Experts said the worrying development needed to act as a global wake-up call. Bacteria becoming completely resistant to treatment - also known as the antibiotic apocalypse - could plunge medicine back into the dark ages. Common infections would kill once again, while surgery and cancer therapies, which are reliant on antibiotics, would be under threat. Chinese scientists identified a new mutation, dubbed the MCR-1 gene, that prevented colistin from killing bacteria.

Do I fear we’ll get to an untreatable organism situation? Ultimately yes. — Prof Mark Wilcox It was found in a fifth of animals tested, 15 per cent of raw meat samples and in 16 patients. And the resistance had spread between a range of bacterial strains and species, including E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There is also evidence that it has spread to Laos and Malaysia. Prof Timothy Walsh, who collabo-

Clerics urge State to involve stakeholders in mining plans State told to involve locals in mining strategies Religious leaders drawn from Haki Madini Kenya has urged the government to involve all stakeholders in the country’s mining strategies to stem future problems. Speaking yesterday at a Nairobi hotel, the leaders from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) urged the National government to promote an all-inclusive multi-stakeholder involvement in the extractive resources. “The government should seek responsible stewardship through community mobilisation, capacity building and initiate a strategic knowledge management campaign of key sector information,” said CJPC chairman Bishop Cornelius Korir. Korir said though the government had elevated Mining ministry from a department in 2013, little has changed in the mining

CJPC chairman Bishop Cornelius Korir.

industry which currently holds newly identified mineral resources such as oil, coal and gas unlike in the past. “There is great concern that the ministry has not formulated a National Resettlement Policy and a comprehensive compensation framework for the displaced communities where mining occurs,” added Korir. NCCK General Secretary Canon Peter Karanja cautioned the government of a possible crisis similar to the one witnessed in Nigeria and South Africa resulting from inequalities in the exploitation of the natural resources if locals were side-lined in the mining process. “Local communities are key players in mining and thus should be involved in the due process to curb reprisal in defence of their land and environment,” said Karanja. They also appealed Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and the National Steering Committee on mining to elevate the Country Mining Strategy to an Economic Pillar of Vision 2030 to enhance gains from the sector which currently contributes less than one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Further, they urged the government to cascade regional processes to develop Regional Mining Visions given the cross border linkage of the extractive sector projects across the continent. Earlier this year, the Senate passed the Mining Bill, 2015 which allows the government a 10 per cent stake in new mining projects and allocates 15 per cent of the proceeds to the local communities. The ministry has also established an internationally credited Mineral certification Laboratory, an Audit Agency as well

rated on the study, from the University of Cardiff, told the BBC News website: “All the key players are now in place to make the post-antibiotic world a reality. “If MRC-1 becomes global, which is a case of when not if, and the gene aligns itself with other antibiotic resistance genes, which is inevitable, then we will have very likely reached the start of the post-antibiotic era. “At that point if a patient is seriously ill, say with E. coli, then there is virtually nothing you can do.” Resistance to colistin has emerged before. However, the crucial difference this time is the mutation has arisen in a way that is very easily shared between bacteria. “The transfer rate of this resistance gene is ridiculously high, that doesn’t look good,” said Prof Mark Wilcox, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. His hospital is now dealing with multiple cases “where we’re struggling to find an

antibiotic” every month - an event he describes as being as “rare as hens’ teeth” five years ago. He said there was no single event that would mark the start of the antibiotic apocalypse, but it was clear “we’re losing the battle”. The concern is that the new resistance gene will hook up with others plaguing hospitals, leading to bacteria resistant to all treatment - what is known as pan-resistance. Prof Wilcox told the BBC News website: “Do I fear we’ll get to an untreatable organism situation? Ultimately yes. “Whether that happens this year, or next year, or the year after, it’s very hard to say.” Early indications suggest the Chinese government is moving swiftly to address the problem. Prof Walsh is meeting both the agricultural and health ministries this weekend to discuss whether colistin should be banned for agricultural use.

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NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 BANNED: Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery at a past address to the media at the Office of the President. He has ordered the closure of some 115 liquor firms operating outside the law.

Report reveals shocking education inequalities among counties The Uwezo Kenya Foundation education report has revealed discrepancies in education performance across the country. The report dubbed ‘Glaring Inequalities in Learning’, released to the Parliamentary Committee on Education, revealed major inequalities and challenges such as inadequate schools and teachers, drought cultural factors among others in various counties across the country. “Our statistics reveal huge inequalities in our children learning curve as a result of diverse challenges facing them in the education and cultural setups,” said Uwezo Kenya managing director Emanuel Manyasa. According to the report, only 10 per cent of Standard Three pupils in Mandera County can do Standard Two work. Following Mandera is Samburu County at 13 per cent and Turkana County at 14 per cent. Nyeri has the most Standard Three pupils who can perform Class Two work at 58 per cent, followed by Kajiado at 54 per cent and Nairobi at 52 per cent. An average of 86 pupils in Turkana County depend on one teacher compared to only 28 pupils for one teacher in Tharaka Nithi County. The study also indicate that 40 per cent of children between the age of 13 and 16 in Marsabit County are out of school, followed by Garissa at 32 per cent. Murang’a County recorded the lowest number of out of school children with only 1 out of 100 children of schoolgoing age were not in school. Children in some areas learn in thatched classrooms or open fields, exposing them to risks, including invasion from wild animals such as snakes. Unlike their counterparts, Nairobi County children and other urban areas learn in storeyed classrooms and a more conducive environment. Both sets of candidates are expected to sit the same national examination,” the report states. “To achieve equitable quality of education, we need to set clear rules for the distribution of resources across different counties, monitor learning outcomes across all counties to identify where learning needs strengthening,” said Manyasa. “The quality assurance system must be revitalised to serve the disadvantaged areas and increase all forms of support required to ensure children are not only enrolled, but also access quality education”, he added. The report has recommended regular enactment and review of laws and guidelines to facilitate smooth implementation of the National Education Sector Plan and mechanisms to be put in place to reverse the negative trends on the learning outcomes.

State orders closure of 115 liquor manufacturers

Some 115 liquor manufacturers have been ordered to close down after failing to meet set standards to operate. Speaking when he launched a report on the firms manufacturing alcoholic beverages yesterday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery ordered for the immediate withdrawal of their operating licenses. “The firms are recommended to close down their operations because they did not meet the statutory requirements,” said Nkaissery. His directive was based on the recommendations from a report on control of potable spirits and combating illicit brews. The report by an inter-agency task force recommended that the government close 115 spirits manufac-

turing firms that failed to meet the set standards. It further indicated that 41 firms were not traced in the registered locations, saying their licences will also be cancelled forthwith. “Twenty one manufacturing firms were found to have complied with most of the statutory requirements. These firms are given 60 days to address all areas of new conformity before resuming operations,” he asserted. “Clearance will further be subject to tax compliance and outcome of product sample test.” He said a National Standard for the manufacture of alcoholic drinks will be developed and gazetted within 60 days. In order to ensure protection of the public, he directed all firms to secure their brands from being counterfeit-

ed and label their products in accordance with the National Standard regulating packaging and labelling of pre-packaged foods. In addition, all alcoholic drink product labels should specify contact details of the respective manufacturers including their physical location, telephone and email contacts. The report also wants manufacturers located within residential areas at least 300 metre from any nursery, primary, secondary or other learning institutions for persons under the age of 18 years to cease operations. All alcoholic drinks manufacturing firms should have strategically placed standard signage indicating their location. The containers in which neutral spirit is packaged for

storage or transport shall be marked in accordance with the provisions of Kenya Standard for Neutral Spirit KS EAS 144. Manufacturers located within residential areas and have a valid change of user certificate should relocate to industrial zoned areas within 90 days. Nkaissery said the production of alcoholic beverages without sufficient regulation, “has led to introduction of poisons products and counterfeited drinks.” The taskforce, formed on July 10 undertook the inspection exercise between August 4 and More on this story at 14, targeting 177 firms.

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Paris attack: French seek to identify raid bodies French experts are working to establish whether the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks was among those killed in a police raid on a flat on Wednesday. Police said Abdelhamid Abaaoud was the target when officers stormed the flat in the Paris suburb of Saint Denis. The Paris prosecutor said neither he nor suspect Salah Abdeslam were among eight people arrested, but at least two bodies had still to be identified. Meanwhile, French MPs are due to vote on extending a state of emergency. Militant group Islamic State (IS), which controls parts of Syria and Iraq, has said it was behind the attacks last Friday, when gunmen

and suicide bombers killed 129 people and injured hundreds. The Washington Post quoted unnamed European officials as saying Abaaoud, 27, had been killed on Wednesday when heavily armed police stormed the building in the suburb of Saint Denis. However, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins had earlier said he could not give “a precise and definitive number for the people who died, nor their identities, but there are at least two dead people”. One of the dead was a woman believed to have detonated a suicide belt as police moved in. A source close to the investigation said she could have been a cousin of Abaaoud, Reuters reported. Mr Molins said it appeared that a

“new team of terrorists” had been ready for a fresh attack. A leader of one of the special forces units that took part in the raid said drones and robots equipped with cameras had been used to try to see inside the flat during the operation but there was too much debris. A police dog was shot dead by the militants during the operation. Jean-Michel Fauverge told Le Figaro newspaper that when they entered the building they found a body that had fallen from the third floor to the second. “The corpse was mutilated, probably from grenades and he wasn’t recognisable,” he said. “Other people were in the stairwell, two men hiding under blankets and whatever they could find. We arrested them.”

Mr Molins said on Wednesday that the identities of the eight people arrested in the raid had not been confirmed. However, they did not include Salah Abdeslam, the 26-year-old French national identified as a suspect in Friday’s killings and believed to be on the run. Seven other militants died in the attacks. The raid’s target, Abaaoud, is considered to be a key figure in an IS cell that US intelligence agencies have been tracking for months, US officials told AP news agency. He was believed to have escaped to Syria following a police operation in Belgium in January and has boasted in IS propaganda of being able to move between Europe and Syria undetected.


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Morning newspaper summaries I am ready to work with Ruto case on agenda as Day of diplomacy, MPs and MCAs’ travel Uhuru-Raila: Opposition leader ICC talks kicks off: The threats at ICC talks: Kenya plans face the axe as Raila Odinga yesterday told President Assembly of State Parties meeting in and the African Union stated their case Rotich cuts spending: Uhuru Kenyatta he is ready to work The Hague kicked off with some success to disallow recanted evidence in the trial with him for the good of the country. Speaking on arrival from Britain, Raila said his sustained criticism of the Jubilee government was in good faith and that Uhuru should feel free to ask for help, especially because Kenya is headed in the wrong direction. “In Africa, it has never been a weakness to ask the way. Let’s do it. Mr President we are here to help,” Raila said.

for the government after its agenda was allowed for discussion. Kenya wants to convince the meeting — which makes laws for the International Criminal Court — that it was wrong for the court to use Rule 68, which permits Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to use the evidence of witnesses who have disowned their testimony. It argues that the rule was being applied retroactively in the case against Ruto.

of Deputy President William Ruto, as the International Criminal Court officials fought to protect the court’s independence. In what was clear indication that Kenya has set the diplomatic stage for a longdrawn battle with ICC, it drew the support of AU member countries on the floor of the Assembly. It was a day that also saw ICC prosecutor Fatou Besouda lobby against Kenya agenda.

withdraw the use of recanted testimony in the case against William Ruto. The details emerged amid concerns that the State may have bankrolled a group of civil society activists at taxpayers’ expense to help in pushing Ruto’s cause. Yesterday, the Assembly of States Parties approved Kenya’s twin agenda for discussion.

in Nairobi on Wednesday next week for a three-day visit, his first to the country since he took over from Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope, who will arrive at 5pm on Wednesday, will head straight to State House for a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who will become Kenya’s second President to host a Pope after Moi hosted John Paul II in 1980, 85 and 95.

the deadly toxins that could be in their food. But recent concerns raised by local and international experts in human and animal health should serve as food for thought. Experts now warn that the widespread misuse of antibiotics in livestock and poultry can compromise the safety of these products.

Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich yesterday announced new austerity measures, signaling that the government is yet to steer clear of the cash crisis it recently attributed to a shortfall in revenue collection. The measures, involving deep cuts on noessential budget items like travel, motor vehicle maintenance and conferencing are expected to save up to Sh4 billion.

ICC states agree to Kenya gets ready for Health fears over meat, Helios holds on to Sh1.3bn Equity shares: discuss rule on evidence: Pope Francis’ first trip milk and eggs: How safe is Private equity firm Helios Investment Kenya has scored a first against the ICC to Africa: Pope Francis arrives the meat, milk and eggs you consume? Partners has re-emerged on Equity and powerful global NGOs in its push to Many people are not bothered about

Group’s top shareholders list with a 0.87 per cent stake worth Sh1.3 billion a few weeks after the lender announced the institutional investor’s exit. Regulatory filings show that Helios held 32.7 million shares in Equity at the end of October, indicating that the investor either retained part of its holdings or made a new investment in the country’s second largest bank.

Githinji, Mangiti out State foreign trips put on Raila tells Uhuru to be on Sh3m bond: Planning PS ice: All “non-essential” foreign travel part of Opposition’s Two KQ flights turned Peter Mangiti and NYS director general for State Officials has been banned. This Okoa Kenya initiative: back to JKIA over Nelson Githinji were yesterday ordered is a continuation of austerity measures CORD leader Raila Odinga now wants technical hitches: Kenya to pay cash bail of Sh3 million each, after that the national Treasury introduced they denied a charge of tampering with a public officer. The two were accused of attempting to dissuade senior Deputy Director General Aden Harakhe, who is in charge of NYS administration, from reporting a conspiracy to steal Sh695 million. The prosecution said the two tried several times to stop Harakhe from informing police to investigate the fraud.

last month to curb wastage and plunder of public resources, which were blamed for the financial crunch that has hit the country. National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich on Wednesday said he had issued a circular to all government ministries and departments directing them to also eliminate all nonessential expenditure.

President Uhuru Kenyatta to join the calls to amend the Constitution. Raila said the country is faced with many challenges that need concerted efforts by both the Government and the Opposition to address. Speaking after returning from the UK yesterday, Raila asked the President to join the Okoa Kenya initiative to amend the Constitution to address the national concerns.

Airways has suffered two back-toback international flight interruptions this week due to technical hitches. KQ flight 706 to Lusaka and Harare was on Wednesday morning turned back to JKIA after the Embraer plane developed “pressurisation issues”. A day earlier, flight KQ576 to Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic, was also turned back midflight.

Top stories from X News global partners French officials yet to France on Edge as A bloody siege shows Fed minutes point to identify two suspects Questions Remain the strengths and limits December rate rise: Federal Reserve minutes from killed in Paris assault: About Suspect’s Fate: The of French security work: The its meeting last month showed that French police fired nearly 5,000 rounds during a ferocious firefight north of Paris with a fourth terrorist cell that was “ready to strike” – but it was not yet clear whether the alleged mastermind of last week’s attacks in the French capital was among those killed in the onslaught. At least two people were killed in the assault targeting Abdel-Hamid Abu Oud, the suspected planner of the attacks that left 129 people dead and more than 350 injured. The dead have not yet been identified. The 27-yearold Belgian extremist and another fugitive, Salah Abdeslam, are sought for planning the attack.

www.theguardian.com

assault began before dawn Wednesday at a decrepit squat in a close suburb of Paris when scores of French police officers stormed a third-floor apartment in search of their elusive quarry: Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian suspected of organizing last week’s deadly attacks in Paris by the Islamic State. To get through a reinforced door, the police had to set explosives, giving the people inside time to prepare. A furious firefight ensued, with the police unleashing 5,000 rounds over the next hour and employing snipers and grenades. A female suicide bomber exploded her vest, collapsing the floor. www.nytimes.com

A violent seven-hour police siege at an apartment in Saint-Denis that began at 4.20am Paris time with heavily armed special police raiding a flat and arresting seven people there and nearby. After the operation Bernard Cazeneuve, the French interior minister, visited the scene, but did not identify any of those arrested or the two dead. The public prosecutor later said that the police raided the apartment because their investigation led them to believe it was a hideout for Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian citizen thought to be the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks on November 13th, which killed 129 people. www.economist.com

most members thought it might be appropriate to lift rates in December provided economic data continued to improve and there were no “unanticipated shocks”. Most members of the US central bank’s rate-setting body said at their October 27-28 meeting that conditions for an increase in short-term interest rates “could well be met” by the next gathering on December 16, as the central bank prepares for the possibility for the first upward move since 2006.

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BUSINESS

15 initiatives mooted to help mitigate disasters Fifteen innovative programmes in more than 20 nations have been selected through an initiative dubbed the Challenge Fund, to help developing countries disaster risk management. The programmes come at a time when countries across the globe, including Kenya, are looking for ways to mitigate natural disasters. The grants by the Challenge Fund, a partnership between the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID), will enable selected organisations to advance activities ranging from flood simulation technology in Kenya, to monitoring weather stations in Sri Lanka, and developing applications on earthquake safety for schools in Indonesia. Developing countries are often the hardest hit by natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts, and earthquakes, yet often least able to understand or mitigate the risks, the World Bank report indicates. Through small competitive

grants, the Challenge Fund helps create data, products, and approaches to facilitate disaster risk decision-making and build resilience in vulnerable countries such as Malawi. The first round of Challenge Fund grants, ranging from US$20,000 (Sh2 million) to $150,000 (Sh15.3 million) will fund programmes in developing countries from Africa, East Asia, the Pacific and South Asia targeting critical areas in disaster preparedness.

The winners represent a range of companies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and universities, including Floodtags, an organisation that will develop a tool to collect data through Twitter for onthe-ground flood observations in the Philippines and Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction, which will support civil society organisations in Africa and Asia. “The real challenge is not

technology, but rather bringing together those who understand new technology with vulnerable communities on the ground to create solutions that are adapted to the local context,” said Francis Ghesquiere, head of the GFDRR Secretariat. “Our partnership with DFID on the initiative offers us an opportunity to do that, and we are happy to see these 15 promising programmes moving forward,” he added.

FLOODS: People wade through the water folLowing a spat of floods brought about by heavy rains in parts of the country. New initiatives have been mooted to help mitigate effects of such disasters.

CBK EXCHANGE RATES 1 US DOLLAR 1 UK POUND 1 EURO 1 S.A RAND 1 KSH/USH 1 KSH/TSH

MEAN 102.2372 155.1642 108.9539 7.1208 33.8430 21.0589

BUY SELL 102.1361 102.3382 154.9917 155.3367 108.8417 109.0661 7.11123 7.1293 33.7606 33.8430 20.9892 21.1287

Ill procurement practice hampering private sector

Private companies face obstacles linked to transparency, efficiency and other ills of government procurement systems, a new World Bank Group report has confirmed. Such obstacles negatively affect the ability of small and medium-sized private sector firms to do business with governments, says the Benchmarking Public Procurement (BPP) 2016 Report, which assesses public procurement regulatory systems in 77 economies. The global public procurement market is estimated at around $9.5 trillion (Sh971 trillion) each year, of this, developing countries spend an estimated $820 billion (Sh84 trillion) a year worth of citizens funds on procuring goods and services that range from food grains for welfare programmes for the poor to wiring for electrical grids that power homes and businesses. This represents about 50 per cent or more of their total government expenditure. “Public procurement is critical in improving lives and livelihoods when carried out in an efficient and transparent manner. The procurement, if well done, can be a powerful catalyst for improving economic performance and can play a strategic role in delivering more effective public services,” said Augusto Lopez-Claros, Director of the World Bank’s Global Indicators Group. Of the economies covered by the report, the vast majority around the world are using online platforms to advertise their purchases of goods and services. However, the websites often provide little information to prospective suppliers. Furthermore, less than half of them allow bidders to submit their bids electronically. “Procurement practices that are transparent and efficient benefit all stakeholders. Governments get the best value for money, the private sector thrives and creates jobs, and citizens receive better quality public services. This can help reduce poverty and promote all-round prosperity,” said Federica.

Facebook, Airtel launch Free Basic Services in Africa Telecommunications service provider Airtel and Facebook will launch a ‘Free Basic Services in 17 countries of Africa. ‘Free Basics’ is a websites that introduces people to the internet and demonstrate how it adds value to their lives. Free Basic Services will provide access to services such as health, education, jobs, communication and local content at no additional cost.

The services that include financerelated information to people in developing countries will also ensure the targeted audience can make informed choices and decisions to improve their lives. In the first phase, Free Basics will be launched in Airtel Nigeria, DRC, Gabon and Niger followed by other Airtel Africa markets. Customers with an Airtel mobile connection will be able to access all the services

that form part of Free Basics without paying extra for data charges or rental. Commenting on the latest partnership with Facebook, Airtel Africa chief executive Christian de Faria said, “With Africa’s widest 3G network, Airtel has been at the forefront of the data revolution in Africa. We are cognisant of the power of internet in changing lives of communities and this partnership

with Facebook will bring more people online and reduce the digital divide.” Airtel Africa had already been working with Facebook since 2014 in enhancing accessibility to the internet in an affordable manner through the launch of Free Basics in Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Seychelles and Rwanda. With the launch of Free Basics, these markets will also have access to more free services on the Free Basics platform. The launch of

‘free basics’ in all markets is expected to be completed by March 2016. Speaking during the launch, Internet. org VP Chris Daniels said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with Airtel in bringing more people online. More than one billion people have access to Internet. org’s free basic services across Asia, Africa and Latin America today,” said Daniels.

Firm launches new entertainment app for drivers

Leading global entertainment firm Pioneer Gulf FZE has today launched a proprietary car multimedia application dubbed the Pioneer Advanced Remote Control (ARC) for safety among local drivers. Due to the massive growth of the technology sector, vehicle owners have seen an influx in entertainment systems as manufacturers move to capitalise on the expanding market.

However, policy makers have raised concerns with regard to entertainment systems and their direct link to road safety. The launch of the system comes hot on the heels of the 2nd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Brazil this week. The main topic for discussion is how to accelerate progress towards improving road safety and saving millions of lives by 2020.

The 2015 marks a milestone for the road safety agenda with the inclusion of specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets for road safety, including cutting by half the global number of road traffic fatalities by the end of the decade. Pioneer’s application allows users to access various multimedia sources via a centralised user interface. The Pioneer ARC is compatible with

IOS and Android smartphones and can be used with Pioneer’s 2016 line of CD receivers. “We have designed the Pioneer ARC app to deliver a more seamless and complete in-car entertainment experience. When used with our latest receivers, drivers and passengers can enjoy audio with greater finesse from a broader selection of content, extending beyond just music and other

traditional audio sources,” said Pioneer Gulf FZE general manager Muralidhar Masala. Today, traditional USB connection is limited to rudimentary music playback, but with the introduction of Pioneer ARC and Android Open Accessory support, Pioneer is able to push the boundaries in terms of third-party application compatibility and user convenience.


BUSINESS 7

State downgrades economic growth forecast for 2015 The government has downgraded the country’s 2015 economic growth projections, citing unstable market condition and the ongoing El Nino weather patterns. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said the economic growth would be in the range of 5.8 to 6.0 per cent not 6.5 to 7 per cent as earlier predicted. Economic growth means well for the country with consumers, investors and the government since it contributes to higher average incomes, allowing consumers to enjoy more goods and services and improved living standards. It also reduces unemployment and less government borrowing. Rotich blamed the lower growth prospects on the State’s tighter monetary policy and the potential impact of the El Nino weather patterns that have plagued the country. Kenya relies heavily on agriculture, which is touted as the backbone of the country’s economy. The rains, brought about by the El Nino phenomenon, have already wreaked havoc in parts of the country as farmers were forced,

just weeks ago, to harvest their crop early in anticipation for the resultant floods. Flooding has already been reported in parts of the country. The less-than-stellar growth prospects follow several reforms that have been introduced in Kenya since 1990 to address

critical differences in access to economic, political and social services, culminating in the introduction of 47 county governments in 2010. Rotich said the government will review spending in the 2015/2016 financial year, which ends in July, adding that government

borrowing could be lower than expected, a move that could help offset the high lending rates that are currently being experienced by local consumer. “The measures will be reflected in the supplementary budget to be taken to parliament soon,” the Minister said.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

BIZ BRIEFS Heavy rains block roads on major EA trade route

The port of Mombasa, one of East Africa’s major trade routes faces a gridlock as a result of heavy rains. The weather conditions have swept away roads and slowed transport in the major transit corridor, a recent report released hours ago has indicated. Mombasa’s port handles imports such as fuel and other vital goods for Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Police reported tailbacks of more than 10 kilometres and said delays began at around 10am on Wednesday, according to Reuters reports. The gridlock began when a temporary road about 50km from Mombasa was swept away. The Kenya Transporters’ Association acting chief executive Willingtone Kiberenge said his association had more than 400 confirmed trucks trapped.

Free Internet for Schools push gets renewed support

Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich has said the government has been forced to revise downwards its economic projection for Financial year 2014/15 as a result of unavoidable challenges.

Bank managers under probe in NYS Sh791 Scandal Seven Family Bank Managers are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the loss of 791million from the National Youth Service (NYS). Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) KeriakoTobiko asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to interrogate the seven and record their statements as suspects in the theft. The seven, who all worked in the bank’s KTDA plaza branch include Robert Oscar Nyaga (branch manager), Josephine NjeriWaira (branch customers’ service supervisor), Martin Kagiri (operations supervisor), Meldon Onyango (relationship manager) and Nancy Njambi, the platinum manager and head of risk and compliance department. If found guilty under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act,

they could be liable for a jail term face not exceeding 14 years or a fine not exceeding Sh5 million or the amount of the value of the property involved in the offence, whichever is the higher or both. Earlier investigations had indicated that the Sh791 million was first transferred to a Family Bank account held by a supplies company, Form Home Builders, from where it was then re-distributed to 20 accounts in different banks. Tobiko also put the bank under investigation to determine whether it complied with laws relating to money laundering and proceeds of crime. Financial institutions are required to report any transaction above $10,000 (Sh1 million) or its equivalent in any other currency as well as any complex, unusual or suspicious transaction to the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC). “I direct that the

investigations being carried out by FRC/ CBK to determine whether there was noncompliance by Family Bank with provisions of the Central Bank Act; the Banking Act; and Proceeds of Crime and AntiMoney Laundering Act and the regulations there under be completed and the file submitted within seven days for perusal and appropriate action,” said Tobiko in a letter circulated to newsrooms. Reacting to Mr Tobiko’s directive, Family Bank said it has always acted in strict adherence and in compliance with the provisions of the Central Bank Act; the Banking Act and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act. In a statement, the bank said the funds were transferred into its customer accounts through CBK via the real-time gross settlement systems (RTGS) used by all banks.

Introducing the outstanding Apple TV set top box Apple has introduced a new streaming set top box in the market, an improvement on the earlier version. It might not be the cable-killer as expected by consumers, considering that Apple had waited two years before updating its “hobby-box” in any significant way, but comes with numerous improvements to Apple TV in all the right places, and has wielded the power of the iOS ecosystem to wrestle into the top spot. Because iOS apps can easily be ported to Apple TV’s new OS, the content available is both awesome and random. Almost all of the usual suspects are there — iTunes, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now and HBO Go, Showtime, Plex, and a ton of sports and news apps —

along with popular casual games, but users can now watch a live feed of QVC through Apple TV — and buy something with the remote. Users can also browse Air bnb rentals, Zillow listings, and Houzz idea books; get weather updates from a smart-mouthed bot in the Carrot Weather app; watch strangers do weird stuff live on Periscope; and create an interactive social media feed for your house parties with Docent. And those are just a few things you can do. It has a much more powerful processor

than the previous, and the remote has been fully redesigned as well, with a touch-sensitive swipe pad that doubles as a tactile “select” button. You can now swipe and scroll your way through apps and menu options, which feels like a natural extension of smartphone swiping. Using the touchpad to enter text isn’t quite as fun, but the new remote is still markedly improved from the old D-pad one. You’ll also find a Siri button on the remote, because the new Apple TV is equipped with voice command software and the ability to search for movies, TV show titles, and actors using voice is a welcome addition.

The Internet for Schools programme, an initiative aimed at providing learning facilities with free internet connectivity, has received renewed support through a training operation to educate teachers. Telecommunications Company, Airtel has partnered with Computer for Schools (CFSK) to train teachers from Machakos County on how the programme works. The first session of the training took place on Tuesday at a hotel in Machakos town, will train teachers from thirty local schools on how to use data devices provided by Airtel through the company’s community flagship programme Internet for Schools. The programme will provide students with access to educational content online. The teachers received data devices from the telecoms firm, which will be used to allow students to have free 24 hours internet connectivity to enabling them to access relevant educational information.

Lake Nakuru is World’s best place to visit, says report Lake Nakuru has been named in National Geographic Travel’s top 10 colourful scenes worth traveling for in the world. National Geographic, a world leader in geography, cartography and exploration, has rated Lake Nakuru second in their list of the world’s top 10 colorful scenes. The ranking comes ahead of the holiday season, which is arguably the most profitable period for Kenya’s tourism sector. Lake Nakuru came second to Australia’s Christmas Island, which is famous for its unique flora and fauna. Meanwhile, Lake Nakuru hosts one of the greatest bird spectacles by way of its pink flamingos. Other colorful scenes on the list include Mallory Square, in Florida, The Lubéron in France, Yellowknife in Canada, Erg Chebbi Dunes in Morocco, Grand Prismatic Spring inWyoming, Caño Cristales in Colombia, Hitsujiyama Park in Japan and Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland.


8

BUSINESS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

New report reveals gaps universal health coverage A Policy Research on limitations of existing measurements of universal health coverage and new system that measures coverage of services and financial protection has revealed gaps between rhetoric and reality on Universal health coverage. With pervasive ill-health and disease leading to poverty among millions of families globally, government leaders, health ministries, development agencies, CSO groups, and many seek to achieve the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). However, inconsistent definitions of UHC and how to measure it have muddied country-by-country analysis of progress and the evaluation of the effectiveness of policy reforms. To address these challenges, World Bank’s Research Department official Adam Wagstaff and several coauthors have proposed a new index that assesses countries’ progress towards UHC in one ranking. The index is based on a definition of UHC that emphasises two

dimensions: everyone receives the care they need, irrespective of their ability to pay, and no one experiences undue financial hardship as a result. By measuring UHC across two vital criteria, the new index examines access to healthcare through the lens of less poverty and resilience. “Investing in health is essential to eradicating poverty and improving people’s welfare,” said Research Director Asli

Demirgüç-Kunt. “UHC also cushions the impact of shocks on communities and fosters more productive, cohesive, and equal communities,” she added. Wagstaff applied the index, which evaluates countries on a scale of 1-100, to 24 developing countries. Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and South Africa received scores range from 79-82, while lowerperforming countries such

as Cambodia, Indonesia and Ethiopia had scores in the 2247 range. Kenya had received a score of 64. “Contrary to some of the rhetorics, all developing countries are still working on achieving universal health coverage,” said Wagstaff. In addition to assessing country progress towards UHC, the index can also help evaluate the impact of government programmes and reforms.

A doctor draws blood from a patient. New data shows there are gaps in universal health coverage.

Firm ‘allowed’ to trade Safaricom Bonga points

OnfonMedia IT firm has claimed an approval by Safaricom to buy and sell its loyalty points popularly known as Bonga points. This announcement comes nearly a year after Safaricom shut down the platform, saying it had not been consulted. In a statement to newsrooms, Onfon Media proprietor Dennis Makori said the firm got Safaricom’s approval and the platform is operational trading over 100,000 points a day after it was relaunched on Sunday. “We recently held a meeting with Safaricom and explained our business model to them where they approved the concept after analysing it for nearly a year. We are happy to be back in the market,” read part of the statement. Onfon Media offers services in bulk SMS, mobile banking and short codes. Safaricom subscribers can now redeem their Bonga points for cash, adding another layer of options on Safaricom’s offer that largely revolves around trading the points for airtime, data and hardware including mobile phones. “We have built the exchange and we buy the bonga points at a margin and sell the same at a margin by dialling *464# to buy each bonga points at Sh0.25 and selling at Sh0.15,” Said Mr Makori Before its shutdown in October 2013, Onfon was buying the loyalty points from the subscribers at Sh0.20 each and selling them for Sh0.35, earning a return of 75 per cent.

Electronics giant State to build Sh100 million begs staff to buy terminal at the Mombasa Port its products Troubled Japanese electronics giant Sharp is trying to persuade its employees to buy its products to boost sales. The firm said it was not mandatory for staff to buy its goods, but confirmed that it wanted workers to choose its products over that of its competitors in what the management views as a step in pushing up sale of its electronics. Local media had reported that Sharp had set targets for executives, managers and other staff to buy its products. Sharp has been bailed out twice in the past three years by its lenders. The company has been under pressure from its banks to sell its lossmaking LCD business, and announced last month that it was in talks with several companies to make such a deal. It also announced that its

operating profit tumbled by 86 per cent in the September quarter from a year ago, while the LCD unit saw a loss of12.7 billion yen (Sh10.2 billion). The dismal earnings come after the firm reported losses in the last financial year and announced more job cuts. Japan’s Sharp’s spokesman KyoOntani told BBC that no targets had been set for staff to buy its products, but such a sale was taking place. He said employees’ participation in the event was completely voluntary, and the company had not decided what products would be on sale. The tech giant, well known for its television and solar panels, pulled out of the television market in North America and faces stiff competition from cheaper Chinese and Taiwanese rivals.

The Port of Mombasa, East Africa’s largest, will spend Sh100 million to build a new cruise ship terminal to boost tourism. Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean struck a major dent into cruise tourism in the region, but the industry has rebounded since

2011, with enhanced naval patrols and deployment of armed guards in its waters. “Before, we received 40 cruise vessels per year with 40,000 tourists,” ports spokesman Hajj Masemo said, adding that the number dropped to near zero due to piracy.

A cargo ship en route to Mombasa. The government says it will build a Sh100 million terminal at the port to boost tourism.

“But the vessels are now coming back, and we need to encourage this to boost our tourism,” he said. The port has received 2,000 tourists on cruise ships this year, and that number is expected to reach 5,000 by end of the year, he said. The tourism sector also received a major boost last week when a luxury cruise ship docked at the port of Mombasa with more than 1,000 tourists and crew. The ship, dubbed MS Nautica, is operated by US-based shipping company, Oceania Cruises. It arrived in Mombasa for the second time this year from Seychelles with 684 passengers and 386 crew members. The ship’s arrival pushed the number of cruise tourists this year to more than 1,800 up from 900 in 2014. The majority of the holidaymakers were from the US while others came from UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Poland, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Thailand. Work on the new facility will begin next year and will take about a year to complete. The Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers welcomed the project, but challenged the government to improve roads, ferries and the “cleanliness of the city” to attract more visitors.


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

ACCESS topstory

FASHION scoop

11

CHarliE iS Not tHE firSt Hollywood bigwig to HavE a mEltdowN

The unconventional story of

CHARLIE SHEEN & OTHER CRAZY CELEBS

SHEEN

lamar

Two and a half Men star broke the internet this week after confessing to having the hIV virus …

I

t began like all Hollywood stories. A rumour, until the dramatic actor went on live television in an interview and affirmed the rumors, although he claimed that the virus was undetectable in his blood. If you know Charlie Sheen then this would be reading like his next sitcom. Charlie is not new to controversy, actually his twitter rants are epic. The Anger Management star first fell off the wagon after divorcing his first wife Denise Richards and from then, it was all prostitutes, drugs and pornography for him much like the character he played. He was even arrested in 2010 for assaulting his

then wife Brooke Mueller but the climax of his meltdown was during the seventh season of Two and a Half men where he walked out of set towards the end of a live audience filming; that resulted in him being fired from the show. Since the firing, Charlie has been in and out of rehab, somehow managing to release an obscene media blitz in between where he dissed just about everyone he knows! Trouble seems to be stirring again in his life after some of his former lovers threatened to sue him for not revealing his HIV status to them before getting intimate. And in super Charlie style, he may just survive this storm. But Charlie is not the first Hollywood bigwig to have a meltdown, in fact, his does

britNEy

#PopTrending this week

Size 8

lBrenda Wairimu bereaved: her mum passed away on Sunday lSize 8’s baby is a girl and she will be named Ladasha Belle lLarry Madowo heavily trolled for his bright colored socks

not come close to the famous Britney Spears meltdown in 2007. Britney started off on the rocky road by getting married to her childhood best friend, only to file for annulment 55 hours later! Britney then started displaying erratic behavior, even driving on the freeway with her son in her lap. By 2006, her erraticism had escalated to her posing nude for Playboy and checking into rehab every two seconds. Her most memorable stint was when she shaved her head but she has since beaten her demons. Nickelodeon princesses Amanda Bynes has also ‘been there, done that.’ Amanda debuted her ratchet phase with a change of style where she dyed her hair blonde and got herself caught up in multiple police pursuits for diving under the influence and a highly publicized

HOT TOPICS

Janet Mbugua

Janet Mbugua’s showers of blessings Good fortune seem to be following Janet Mbugua’s house. After bringing forth baby boy Ethan, Janet has been signed as the news speaker in the African Speakers and Artistes Bureau. She joins the likes of Aly Khan Satchu and Mugo Kibati.

‘I am Not Saved,’ Sonko Sonko with Natasha.

After causing a stir on social media with his hot pastor friend Natasha, Mike Sonko has now come out to claim that he is yet to see the light. Sonko vehemently refuted claims that he got saved. He posted,‘Nimenotice mabeshte wameanza mastory zao wacheni propaganda zenyu sijaokoka bado but niko almost nitawashow. But, I believe in God and I’m a seeker of Truth.’

Gait wants to rule again

Just days after releasing Kuna Day Jimmy Gait is set to release a new song this week. Speaking to Access Jimmy Gait, said he is back and has written over 150 songs!

Jimmy Gait

hit-and-run accident. In 2013, Amanda took to twitter to spark beef with celebrities including President Obama and Mitchell Obama by calling them ugly! She also cut ties with her parents and started smoking marijuana publicly, even setting fire to a stranger’s driveway. She was eventually put under a psychiatric hold and little has been heard of her ever since. With the recent near death experience of Lamar Odom as a result of a Viagra overdose while hanging out with call girls, we can safely assert that clearly, Hollywood isn’t that much of a happy place!


10

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY, NOVEMBERR 26th NOVEMBER 19 2015 2014

CAMPUSVIBE

all round news and updates from universities

striKinG at niGHt: are JKUat stUDents niGHt rUnners? JKUAT students spent the best part of last night howling and threatening motorists along the Super Thika Highway. The rowdy students had threatened to go on strike but an easy calm has been restored after the General Service Units (GSU) was deployed. The main reason for the uneasiness has not yet been established However, according to a letter posted on the notice boards by an unidentified ring leader; an increase in the fees, intimidation by the admin and changing the students constitution are some of the grievances the students are harboring. The school administration was yet to give an official statement by time of going to press.

UsiU taking no chances with disaster preparedness drill USIU students and members of staff recently indulged in a security preparedness exercise organized by National Disaster management Unit (NMDU). The exercise is part of a wider national security awareness given the current security concerns and situation in the country.

Campus Zumba dance crew flash Mob Citizen

The young and dynamic USIU’s Zumba dance crew had a field day shaking their bum bum on live TV. The dance group led by team leader and Coach Grace Neema sent ripples across the airwaves on Citizen TV’s Power Breakfast, Tuesday. The crew is part of USIU’s efforts to encourage students to dance as part of exercise and highlight the need for health and fitness.

hot date

Daystar beats Maseno to KUsa title

Last Saturday, Daystar basketball team the Falcons proved they can fly higher than Maseno Univesity basketball team. The Falcons, beat Maseno 37-28 at the KUSA invitational Tournament in Eldoret.

is the MKU graduation list doctored? Trouble seems to be brewing at Mount Kenya University. The school’s registrar took to social media, yesterday to calm down agitated students who were missing on the graduation list. According to the post on Facebook, the registrar also promised to audit the list in order to weed out unqualified graduating students. The post read in part… “After receiving the complaints, about the recently published graduation list, the office of the registrar took to task to audit all departments to establish the rootcause…the list is now being prepared afresh…”

yolo

oXForD

RECOGNIZING EMOJI

e

sHaFFie

T

his Saturday the biggest barbeque party will be going down at the Arboretum grounds. In attendance will be Shaffie Weru, who also happens to be the MC, DJ Joe Mfalme, DJ Pierra Makena, Kris Darlin, Joshua Sagini, Lee the DJ and DJ Saint. Activities at the event will include, outdoor games, bbq competitions, battle of the chefs among others. Advance tickets are going for Sh 1500 A d v a n c e and Sh 2,000 at the gate with a free bottle of famous grouse whisky. Event starts at 11am till late.

Meat

party

moji have been in use since the 1990s, starting off as plain smileys used in emails and text messages. Back then, emoji icons did not even exist; you had to type out symbols in order for the emoji to appear, for example to create a sad face, you would have to type the colon symbol followed by a dash then a left side round parenthesis. Today however, emoji have taken over most modes of communication and linguists have even predicted that they might eventually render words useless in communication, a prophecy which seems to be coming to pass especially after the Oxford Dictionary declared none of the thousands of words it documents, rather an emoji, as word of the year! According to Oxford University Press and SwiftKey, the ‘tears of joy’ emoji emerged top of an in-depth

analysis of both words and emoji. The two institutions attributed this to the fact that the tears of joy emoticon, apart from being used in many conversations, reflects the attitude, mood, and fixations of millennials especially during the 2015 period. Many would assume that emoji are meant for use by children and teens but the Oxford report contradicts all that. Emoji have been embraced as a subtly powerful form of expression which cuts across all age and language barriers, which is what makes them so popular. For example, parents use emoji when chatting with their children because they think it makes them seem ‘cool’, thus the child is more likely to open up to them. The announcement has been received mixed reactions from both the book smart and tech smart portions of population. While many were of the

“okay, whatever,” opinion, some reacted pro-actively, suggesting other better emoticons which should have been listed such as the painting nails emoticon, blowing a kiss and smirking. Runners up in the word of the year battle include ‘on fleek’ which is the street term for extremely good, ‘lumbersexual’ which refers to an urban man who grows a beard and wears checked shirts to assume a rugged outdoor lifestyle, ‘they’ referring to a person of an unspecified gender and ‘black web’ which is common amongst hackers and gamers and used to refer to backdoor channels of accessing and distributing web content. For some reason, the word ‘refugee’ also ended up on the shortlist, probably because of the massive civil unrest witnessed around the world this year.


11

ACCESS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

FASHIONscoop

@personAl grooming tips

the

best lip bAlm

for cold weather

l

ipstick is fine, but legend has it that a classy woman (and man nowadays) always has lip gloss or balm wherever they go, even when going to sleep! The main use of lip balm is to moisturize and eliminate that hideous dry-flakey lips appearance, leaving your lips soft and supple. Given the current cold weather, many of us are culprits of dry lips due to constant dehydration. With any of the following tried and tested cold weather lip balms though, your chapped lips problems are about to smoothen away.

DiOr crème De rOse: Has an appealing rose fragrance and adds volume to the lips.

L’OréaL pOp baLm: moisturizes lips while adding a slight hint of color. Hm OvernigHt Lip rescue: Quenches lips overnight without rubbing onto beddings.

IlIa balm: Serves the double purpose of exfoliating dead skin and moisturizing.

TOP

nivea a kiss Of miLk anD HOney: Nourishes and hydrates dry lips in a matter of minutes.

sHiseiDO sun prOtectiOn stick: Offers unique protection from the sun’s UV rays.

gLOssier baLm DOtcOm: Contains castor oil and lanolin which work wonders on irritated lips.

celebs We Wish Were still Alive

michAel jAckson

Whitney houston

n Mama

ineteen years on and many of his fans still believe that the Dear singer faked his own death and will reemerge some day with massive club bangers. Although physically gone, Tupac is one of the few who enjoy the immortal status with those who were born years after his death idolizing him and his records managing to keep selling better than current ones!

tupAc shAkur

W

hitney died three years ago but it still feels like yesterday for her fans and especially early this year when Whitney’s daughter, Bobby Kristina, passed on

tragically. Whitney was known for her impeccable vocals, recording tens of albums and film soundtracks.

A

lso known as the King of Pop, Michael was one of those celebrities people loved to hate yet his death six years ago was mourned by the whole world. Although

gone, Michael still lives and attends multiple concerts held in his memory around the world, in the form of a hologram simulation!


12

CLASSIFIED

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 You may want to invite some friends over to talk. For the most part, people will be interested in anything you say. Don’t force the issue on those with doubts. They’ll have to make up their own minds and will do it in their own time. AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 The hopes and goals of a group with which you’re associated inspire you. You might make personal sacrifices in order to assure their success. These sacrifices are temporary, for you’ll share in the group’s good fortune. Personal success is also in the stars, but it may require disruptive change.

THURSday 19/11/2015

sunny

23

24ºC 69%

FRIday 20/11/2015

More sun than clouds

24 6:13 am 6:23pm

24ºC 64%

6:13 am 6:24 pm

SATURday

24

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

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 Friends may have pointed you in the direction that put you in the right place at the right time. Don’t be surprised if this catapults you into entirely different life circumstances. Make the most of this break. Don’t rest on your laurels or your success could disappear as fast as it came.

Sudoku

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 A rush of optimism and enthusiasm could propel you into a more positive frame of mind, and you could accomplish wonders. Your circumstances may be turned upside down. A move is possible, as is a change in your work. Don’t cling to the shore - flow with the current. TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Sudden insights and revelations could enable you to make some long-desired changes. A lucky break might bring an unexpected sum of money your way. Keep track of them as they might contain messages that can help you accomplish whatever you want to do. GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 You’ll be surprised by this person’s achievements. This meeting or the circumstances surrounding it could mark a turning point for you. Perhaps this person inspires you, or people you meet through him or her make a difference to you. This is going to be a strange, significant day. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 A sudden but fortunate change of job circumstances could take place today. Perhaps you suddenly get promoted or transferred. Perhaps an important piece of information comes your way that leads to advancement. Technology and data exchange could also play a role in events. LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 A close friend or your partner could propose an impromptu trip and you might decide to go. You’re restless for adventure. You may have been considering several options, but your friend’s idea seems the most appealing. If this is a trip to a foreign country, you might want to study the language. VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21 An unexpected sum of money could cause chaos in your home, but it’s an exciting, pleasant sort of pandemonium! Perhaps this makes it possible for you to make some necessary changes or buy some new equipment, furniture, or appliances. Phone some friends and give them the good news. LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Information received today might make it possible for you to change your job, residence, or at least the way you think or operate. You might feel nervous at the prospect, but you’ll pull it off all right. Don’t be afraid to go with the flow and make changes. SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 An increase in your technical skills could bring you a new job or an increase in income. You may have felt a bit nervous and stressed lately, but this should balance out now. You feel focused and you’re aiming carefully toward your goals. You’ll succeed if you keep going as you are. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 A new person could come into your life or an old friend could suddenly seem more appealing than you thought. If you’re involved, expect the energy around your partner to change. He or she could seem happier, funnier, stronger, so much so that you fall in love all over again.

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13

PLAY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

CROSSWORD Across 1. Looks up to 8. From Prague 13. Kowtowing 14. Took a new picture 16. More benevolent 17. Esoteric 18. Loved deeply 19. Ralph Kramden’s pal 21. Mountain monsters 22. To be, in Toulon 23. Other, south of the border 24. ___ Leppard (British band) 25. Visage 26. “Chances are, ‘cause ___ a silly grin...” 27. Old coin 30. Monopoly props. 31. Unchallenging college course 33. ___-weensy 35. Popular sandwich, upside down? 36. Toenail, sometimes 40. Showed in syndication 42. Breaks bread 43. “Oh,” in German 46. “God Don’t Own ___” (Jimmy Buffett song) 47. Clark’s lady

48. None of the above, on a survey 50. Response to a coincidence 52. Luminescent phenomenon 53. Clans 54. Cemented 56. Bygone Russian group 57. Dilettantish air 58. Kisses and then some 59. Flower arrangement Down 1. Waited 2. Mean explicitly 3. Bellies 4. Capri and Wight 5. Surprise attack 6. 112.5 degrees from S 7. Final run 8. Stretch, as a neck 9. Zilch 10. Mortgage payment add-on 11. Some Internet users, primarily 12. Unofficial, like some degrees 13. So-so 15. Choral section 20. Zwölf divided by vier 22. Take in food 25. First name of TV’s “The Nanny” 26. “____ the hint!” 28. 16th letter of the Hebrew alphabet

29. Information 31. Collider particle 32. Harsh 34. Port city in southeast Vietnam 35. What genes determine 37. High school subj. 38. Barry Levinson’s Best Picture 39. Fifth qtrs. 41. Language of Libya 44. Nervous system disorder 45. Joan of Arc’s crime 47. Shopping aids 48. Belly button type 49. Energy units 51. Look for 52. Newspaper section 55. Conquistador’s quest

Yesterday’s answers

YOURSAY Scrapping Women Rep posts a timely idea I strongly support Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria bid to scrap Women’s Representative positions and reduce the number of counties reduced from 47 to 18. The creation of these political positions by the Constitution has not only contributed in the rise of the government’s wage bill but seen ordinary mwananchi dig deeper in his pocket to pay taxes.

Even with the taxes, the country has failed to initiate meaningful development projects with the good chunk of the taxes going to salaries of the politicians. The role of a Women’s Rep to me is a duplication of an MP duty. The post though called County rep, the bearer play no role in the county government either. The post also flies in the face against calls

for gender equity because their being only empowers women, leaving their male counterparts in the cold. To fully realised gender equity, women must compete with men and emerge victorious on a levelled playing field. Scraping off women reps and reducing the number of counties will definitely bring down the wage bill and ensure development for Kenyans. — John Mururi

Joho tops governors in service delivery

I think Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho is the most outstanding ODM governor, who fully understands ODM brand promise of improving lives and thrives to turn it into a reality. Under Joho, Coast Provincial General Hospital now boasts

of a fully functional ultra-modern diabetes centre with affordable charges for example, an insulin injection which costs Sh1,000 elsewhere is charged at a half the price Sh500. It reminds me of Governor Ameachi Rotimi of Cross Rivers County in Nigeria whose

record became the key selling point of President Muhammed Buhari in the run in to Nigeria’s election. Joho is living the true words of Archimedes “give me a place to stand and I will change the world. — Wuod Betty, Kasarani

DPP must not be drawn into politics Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko should not allow himself and the office he holds be subjected to political theatrics. Responding to claims by Cord leader Raila Odinga that his office is part of the wider scheme to shield Devolution Cabinet Secretary from graft probe is suspect and lowers the integrity of the office. Tobiko should not have responded on the Opposition leader’s accusations that Principal Secretary Peter Mangiti and National Youth Service director general Nelson Githinji are being sacrificed

to cover up for the real beneficiaries of the fraud. The investigations have begun and as he said therefore playing politics in on a judicial process will not only water down process, but also dent the credibility of the office. Tobiko was right when he said his office makes decisions based on the evidence and the law and that should be the case. Let him speak through actions and not engage in cheap politics. — Anne

Independent body needed to clear mess President Uhuru Kenyatta should consider creating an independent Ministry of Sports equipped with structures and proper funding to improve the ailing sector in the country. He should as well appoint a seasoned sportsman who understands the discipline and the country’s history to run the ministry. Such a

person will be able to rid out all the rot in the sector and hopefully restore the honour of some of the Kenya sports such as football. The ministry will should be tasked to deal with matter arising like the doping allegations against Kenya athletes and the shambolic management of various sports in the country. As things stand, The

World Anti-Doping Agency could slap Kenya with an unexpected ban like it did with Russia and this will be a great loss to Kenya as the ban could see the blocked from participation in the coming Rio Olympics which will be a great loss for the country. — Anne

Other banks should also reduce their rates

Leaders attending ASP mus behave well

The move by Equity Bank to reduce its loans interest rates is long overdue and a step in the right direction. Other banks must follow suit to encourage borrowing and investing, which will in turn create job opportunities and improve people’s living standards. The banks now assumes the directive by Central Bank of Kenya but if the

Kenyan delegation to the Hague-Netherlands should not embarrass the country again this time by singing and dancing in the streets of Netherlands like they did when they went for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s hearing session. The legislator are in order to show solidarity with the Deputy President William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang’ but must remember they are leaders of a country which has an image to protect. Leader must project decorous tendency bearing in mind that the

directive was for an upward revision of the interest rates, they could have effected it immediately. This is the time Kenyans should separate weeds from crops because it clearly indicates that most financial institutions are just after reaping huge profits and do not take into consideration their customers’ welfares. — Enock ndayala, Nairobi.

country has been in the global limelight for the wrong reasons and should strive not to soil it further. The same way the government has made travel arrangements for the MPs, the gesture should be extended to victims of the 2007/08 post-poll chaos who are yet to be compensated as seeing tents of IDPs at this moments present a scar to this government and country at large.

Send your letters to news@x-news.co.ke | Letters will be edited for summary and clarity

— Anonymous


14

SPORT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

SPORTS BRIEFS

One of the competing cars in this year’s East Africa Safari Rally. The even kicked off yesterday in Mombasa.

All Blacks captain retires, pursues career as pilot

New Zealand Rugby captain Richie McCaw has retirement after a glittering career. The 34-year-old flanker played a worldrecord 148 Tests, 131 of them wins, and led the All Blacks to two World Cup final victories, including last month’s triumph against Australia. McCaw, the only man to have captained two Rugby World Cup-winning teams is also a three-time winner of the World Player of the Year award. The news, expected for some time, comes 24 hours after the death of iconic All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu.” Today, I thought about whether it was the right thing to do,” said McCaw. “But I’m going to be hanging up my boots.” McCaw, who now plans to pursue a career as a helicopter pilot, won 131 of his Tests and captained the All Blacks 110 times - both also all-time world records.

Wada orders Kenya to explain doping control measures ​ World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has ordered Kenya to explain its doping controls measures or face sanctions for breaching doping code. Wada said that if Kenya’s answers are “unsatisfactory”, it could also face sanctions similar Russia. Fifteen Kenyans have so far been banned for doping by athletics’ governing body the IAAF. Russia alongside Argentina, Ukraine, Bolivia, Andorra and Israel have all been deemed “non-compliant” by Wada codes. Brazil, Belgium, France, Greece, Mexico and Spain have been placed on a ‘watch list’ and must meet strict conditions by March 2016 or face similar action. The “noncompliant” countries have failed to respond fully to Wada’s request for information and Argentina, Bolivia and Ukraine have been found to be using non-accredited laboratories, which is a breach of the code. Andorra and Israel did not have correct rules in place.

LeRoy quit Congo job, tipped for Cameroon return Claude LeRoy resigned as coach of Congo Brazzaville just hours after the country secured a place in the group stage of 2018 World Cup qualifiers. “After two formidable years’, I’ve decided to embark on another adventure,” said the 67-year-old Frenchman after his side beat Ethiopia 2-1 in Brazzaville last Tuesday. There is now speculation he could take over as Cameroon boss again. Volker Finke was sacked as coach of the Indomitable Lions before the recent World Cup qualifiers, where they beat Niger 3-0 on aggregate. Alexandre Belinga is currently the interim coach of Cameroon as the football association search for a replacement. LeRoy has coached at a record eight African Nations Cup finals, including winning the tournament with Cameroon in 1988. He only failed to reach the quarter-finals of the Nations Cup once.

Nine-day EA safari rally Zooms off in Mombasa German national Bernhard Kessel in a Porsche 911 is the oldest driver in the marathon nineday Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic that zoomed off today in Mombasa. Kessel, 77 is closely followed by Jayant Shah, 73 from Tanzania, also driving a Porsche 911 which is by far the most popular choice of car in this year’ championship. The event that will cover 3823km from Mombasa to Arusha has attracted 15 nationalities driving nine different models of cars. Tuthill Porsche who won the event with the later Bjorn Waldegard will be running 12 cars. Jürgen Bertl, Team Manager for Kessel has taken part in 27

Safari rallies over a period of 43 years as both team manager and competitor making him a true veteran of the event. The crews started the race in Mombasa morning then proceeded to Malindi for the competitive run and back in Mombasa for the overnight stay. The rally will them meander its way to Amboseli on with the crews crossing-over into Tanzania sector at Namanga border on Sunday then to Arusha and back to Mombasa on November 27. Arusha will also feature prominently on the route after which cars cross back into the Kenyan side at Taveta border then return to Mombasa via Voi for

Rally Finish at Whitesands. This year’s event will perhaps go down in history as the wettest after the 2011 edition which was real mud drive both in Kenya and Tanzania. South African Geoff Bell in a Datsun 260Z is back after rolling on the 2012 event. The South African connection does not just end there, Richard Leeke is the clerk of the course and Willie du Plessis is the results co-ordinator. Defending champion Ian Duncan took off the ramp first in his Ford Capri. Behind him were three Porsche 911s driven by Grégoire de Mévius (Production World Rally Champion in 1992), Stig Blomqvist (outright World Rally

Champion in 1984) and Gérard Marcy while three times Kenya Champion Carl “Flash” Tundo, driving a Triumph TR7 V8 left the stage fifth. This year’s rally introduces the ‘screamer”. Never before used on the EASC, this Proximity Warning Device is particularly useful in dusty conditions. Installed in each car, it flashes a green light when two cars come within 200m of each other. If the front car doesn’t yield to the faster car behind, a button can be pressed which changes the light to a flashing red and emits a high pitched siren compelling the slower car to yield with safety.

Tiger Woods named US Ryder Cup assistant captain Tiger Woods has been named to deputise United States captain Davis Love III’s for the 2016 Ryder Cup. Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk will also be joining Tom Lehman as vice-captains for the contest against Europe. Woods, 39, who is battling to recover from a persistent back injury, has played in seven Ryder Cups, the most recent one coming in 2012 under Love’s captaincy. “Once I am fully healthy, I’d like to try to make the team too,” said 14-time major winner. “Either way, I am excited to work with Davis, the other vice-captains and the players to get a US victory.” Should Woods, now ranked 384 in the world qualify as a player, either automatically or via a captain’s pick, Love has the option to name a replacement vice-captain. US will be bidding to end a run of eight defeats by Europe in the last 10 editions of

the biennial team competition when the 2016 Ryder Cup is held from September 30 to October 2 next year at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. Love, who will name a fifth vice-captain at a later date, said: “These three guys, joining Tom Lehman, will send a message to our team that we are really serious about this Ryder Cup.“We are ahead of the game this time and it lets potential team members know that we are going to do whatever it takes to put them in the best position to win in 2016.”

Tiger Woods in action during a past match. He has been named as the vice captain of US for the 2016 Ryder Cup.


SPORT 15

Gor trio to challenge Were for SJAK Award Gor Mahia trio Michael Olunga, Meddie Kagere and Karim Nzigiyimana will challenge Jesse Were of Tusker FC for the Sh1 million and a 42 inch LG television set for 2015 KPL/SJAK MVP awards slated for December 9. Olunga, his teammate and Were, 2015 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) top scorer will be joined by Bandari’s David King’atua, AFC Leopards midfielder Bernard Mangoli, City Star hit-man Ebrimah Sanneh and Ulinzi Stars’ John Makwata after they made it to the eight-man nomination list released yesterday by Sports Journalist Association of Kenya-SJAK. The eight were whittled down from a provisional list of 34 players nominated by 15 SPL coaches and SJAK Football Commission. The number is expected to be reduced to five early in December with the eventual winner being unveiled at the gala on December 9 in Nairobi. Were and Gor Mahia goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch have already won the golden boot and golden glove awards. For the award, the panellists will consider the highest number of goals scored and the number of clean sheets kept by goalkeepers. Oluoch had the highest number of eight clean sheets among goalkeepers. Both awards attract a cash award of Sh500,000 and 42 inch LG television screens. Dead ball specialist Noah Abich of Mathare United leads the chase for best defenders in a cut throat competition that settled on 10 nominees unlike other categories. Abich will vie for the gong alongside Bandari’s Mohamed Sharrif, Musa Mohamed, Haroun Shakava and Nzigiyimana of Gor Mahia, Eugene Asike of Tusker, Edwin Wafula of AFC Leopards and Collins Shivachi of Sofapaka, Ulinzi Stars’ Geoffrey Kokoyo and Kapilima Kanamuli of Ushuru FC. The 10 have been picked from a list of 31 proposed by coaches and the scribes. The midfield contest had 33 players in the provisional list, but Bandari duo David Kingatua and Anthony Kimani led AFC Leopards’ Bernard Mangoli, Khalid Aucho and Collins Okoth of Gor Mahia into

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

PREMIER LEAGUE

Gor Mahia attacking duo of Michael Olunga and Meddie Kagere who are tipped for the most influential player award.

the shortlist. Also in contention are Eric Johanna of Mathare United, Kevin Amwayi of Ulinzi Stars and Muhoroni Youth’s George Mandela. Gor Mahia tactician Frank Nuttal will battle fiery Ulinzi Stars coach Robert Matano, soft-spoken Bandari FC coach Twahir Muhudin, Muhoroni’s Paul Nkata and four others for coach of the year’s ward. Others include Ushuru’s Ken Kenyatta, AFC Leopards’ Zdravko Logarusic, Western Stima’s Henry Omino and Stanley Okumbi of Mathare United.

The Young/New player of the year will this season be reserved for players under the age of 23 who made their debuts in SPL. Industrious Mathare United midfielder Alphonce Ndonye, Western Stima’s Eston Esiye, Ebrimah Sanneh (City Stars), Muhoroni’s George Mandela, Bandari’s Farid Mohamed, Paul Michika of Muhoroni Youth, Louis Masika and Samuel Wailer of First and second runnersup position in the Footballer of the Year – FOYA-Most valuable Category have been abolished.

Those listed for the awards Musa

(Bandari), Paul Nkata (Muhoroni Youth), Ken

(Bandari), Alfred

Mohamed, Haroun Shakava (Gor Mahia),

Kenyatta (Ushuru), Zdravko Logarusic (AFC

Humphrey Mieno (Tusker), Gabriel Andika

Eugene Asike (Tusker), Edwin Wafula (AFC

Leopards), Stanley Okumbi (Mathare United),

(Western Stima).

Leopards), Noah Abich – Mathare United,

Henry O mino (Western Stima).

Defenders:

Karim

Nzigiyimama,

Onyango

(Sony

Sugar),

New Centre referee of the year: Michael Iluve,

Collins Shivachi (Sofapaka), Mohamed Sharif (Bandari), Geoffrey Kokoyo (Ulinzi Stars),

Most

Kapilima Kanamuli (Ushuru).

Meddie

Valuable Kagere,

Player: Karim

Michael

Olunga,

Nzigiyimana

(Gor

Judith Muhonja, Raymond Onyango, Juma Turke, Duncan Mudaki.

Mahia), Jesse Were (Tusker), David Kingatua

Midfielders: Bernard Mang’oli (AFC Leopards),

(Bandari), Bernard Mangoli (AFC Leopards),

New Assistant referee of the year: Stephen

Khalid Aucho, Collins Okoth (Gor Mahia), Eric

John Makwata (Ulinzi Stars), Ebrima Sanneh

Adeya, Eric Sadera, Richard Keya, Judy

Johanna (Mathare United), David King’atua,

(City Stars).

Wamoro, Michael Maru, Gabriel Abidha, Beth

Kevin

Wambui, George Mwangi.

(Muhoroni Youth), Kevin Amwayi (Ulinzi Stars).

Goalkeeper of the year: Boniface Oluoch – Gor

New Young Player: Ebrimah Sanneh (City

Mahia, Jairus Adira – Chemelil, James Saruni

Team manager of the year: William Muluya

Stars), Eston Esiye (Western Stima), George

(Ulinzi Stars), Farouk Shikalo (Muhoroni Youth),

(Mathare United), Jolawi Obondo (Gor Mahia),

Mandela (Muhoroni Youth), Alphonce Ndonye

Wilson Obungu (Bandari), Allan Owiny (Sony),

Nevile Pudo (City Stars), David Mwangi (Ulinzi),

(Mathare United), Farid Mohamed (Bandari),

Gabriel Andika (Western Stima), David Okelo

Moses Jobita (Western Stima), Stock Ouma

Paul Michika (Muhoroni), Louis Masika, Samuel

(Sofapaka).

(Sony Sugar).

Wailer (City Stars).

Fair Play player of the year: John Baraza

Fair Play team of the year: Gor Mahia, Western

Coach of the year: Frank Nuttall (Gor Mahia),

(Sofapaka), Vincent Nyaberi (Thika nited),

Stima, Bandari, Mathare United, Sony Sugar,

Robert Matano (Ulinzi Stars), Twahir Muhidin

Michael Olunga (Gor Mahia), Shaban Kenga

AFC Leopards, Ushuru, Tusker.

Kimani

(Bandari,

George

Mandela


xnews | THURsDAY, nOVeMBeR 19, 2015 | www.254.cO

GOR MAHIA PLAYERS TO DOMINATE THIS YEAR’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

p15

Origi feted

MAN OF THE MOMENT: Harambee Stars and Lillestrom goalkeeper Arnorld Origi displays one of the personal trophies he won in the just concluded Norway League. He scooped three awards emulating his idol, South African Emil Baron who also played for Lillestrom.

Origi scoops three awards in Norway Harambee Stars first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi’s Steller performance in Norway top flight league has earned him three awards. Origi, who boast of 32 caps for the national team was voted Lillestrome SportsKlubb Player of the Year in the just-ended league. The 32-year-old, recently penned a new three-year deal with the side before being winning three top awards after steering his club to eighth position in the Norway League. He has a combined 70 appearances for Lillestrome, a side he joined in 2013. On top of the player of the year

award, Origi was also scooped Goalkeeper and Supporters Player of the Year awards. In addition to the three awards, the former Mathare, Tusker and Moss custodian also made it to the Verdens Gang (VG) Team of the Season after being voted by local journalists. “As a sportsman you always want to win trophies both with the team and individually therefore these and personal recognition confirms that you have done something right,” said Origi. “I am really thankful to God for the award, being voted as goalkeeper of the year by the biggest

newspaper in Norway and also making it to the team of the year.” Origi became the second African to scoop such award after his idol, South African Emil Baron. “It’s the second time an African goalkeeper gets this Award from VG, both keeper of the year and team of the year. The first was Emil Baron of South Africa who also played for Lillestrøm, it is exciting to be the second one to win it after him. He was one of my African goalkeeping idols,” Origi told X-Sport Meanwhile, Origi, who missed the national team’s trip to Cape Verde has

hit out at Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for the shambolic preparation and players’ mistreatment ahead of the match. “Compared to what the national team goes through when on international duty, this was just a drop in the ocean,” he wrote on his social media page after Stars lost to Cape Verde. The vocal player also urged fellow players to share their experience at the national team. “So maybe next time the players speak about their experiences while on duty, they won’t be looked at as if they were telling stories from a

fictional film. Nevertheless, Kenyans have at least seen for themselves just a glimpse of what the team goes through whenever they are on international duty,” he said Origi comes from a footballing family. He is the son to former national team player and long term Gor Mahia captain Austin Oduor. His uncle Mike Okoth played for Harambee Stars besides playing professional footballer in Belgium, Others include Gerald and Anthony who both played for Tusker FC and his cousin Divock Origi of Liverpool.

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