WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015 | www.x254.co
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Nairobi county unveils new plans to boost city tourism Trade executive member anna Othoro says they already have two buses to ferry local tourists across strategic sites to promote the beauty of the sites
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MPs given a break to welcome Pope Francis T he National Assembly is next week set to take a two day break to give Members of Parliament the opportunity to join the nation in marking Pope Francis maiden visit to the country. House Speaker Justin Muturi informed MPs that they will not hold sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday. “The Majority Whip may have to have a motion on Tuesday, to exclude the House from sitting on Wednesday 25 and Thursday
26, for purposes of allowing members to go and welcome the Pope who will be visiting. The House will then meet on December 1, if the House so resolves,” the Speaker directed. The Pope is expected in the country on Wednesday evening for a three-day visit. Majority Coalition Whip Katoo ole Metito said he will present a motion to give effect to the resolution of the House Business Committee.
“Mr Speaker as you are aware, His Holiness, Pope Francis will be visiting Kenya from next week which is a historical moment that we are all looking forward to, in this regard, Honourable Members, we may be breaking during this important Papal visit,” he told the House. The government has advised Nairobi residents to brace themselves for major disruptions during the Papal visit. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
New policies to fight corruption
RECEIVED: President Uhuru Kenyatta receives from Attorney General Githu Muigai a report from the Task Force on the Review of the Legal, Policy and Institutional Framework for Fighting Corruption at State House, Nairobi today.
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Kenya lays bare issues with ICC Kenya was yesterday lobbying intensely for support ahead of today’s plenary session, where its agenda on the application of the amended Rule 68 and an audit of the International Criminal Court (ICC) witnesses sourcing will be debated. House Majority Leader Aden Duale presented Kenya’s overall agenda to the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) President Sidika Kaba, while emphasising the need to have the issue discussed. “All we have come to ask is clarification of the understanding of Rule 68. We want to deliberate on this matter in good faith,” Duale said, adding: “Kenya has cooperated with the ICC for the last five years and it’s her expectation that she will be heard when it raises concerns.” He was accompanied to the meeting by MPs Samwel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi) and David Pkosing of Pokot South who explained to Kaba about the petition signed by 190 MPs seeking the termination of the case against DP William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang, as well as an audit of witness sourcing. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
Muturi gives MPs days off to welcome Pope Francis
From Page 1 State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said residents should not imagine that the situation would be similar to that experienced when US President Barack Obama was in the country in July. He said more than a million people are expected to attend mass at the University of Nairobi and its vicinity on Thursday, November 26. According to Waumini Communications Managing Director David Omwoyo, Nairobi has about 1.4 million Catholics, but he estimates the number of Catholics in Kenya could easily clock 14 million. In the interest of manageable crowds therefore, he said the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Secretariat was working to only have a representative number come into the city from the various regions given Kenya has over 3,000 parishes. The government recently announced it was considering whether to grant Kenyans a twoday public holiday to allow them celebrate the Papal visit. Esipisu said the government is looking into whether employers can provide flexible schedules for their employees to be productive. Twenty thousand officers drawn from the Kenya Police Service, the Kenya Prisons and the National Youth Service are among agencies mobilising for the event. “I have to warn in advance that I cannot answer questions on security deployments, for obvious reasons, but in your mental map, please figure out a million people, possibly occupying every space from the University of Nairobi graduation grounds to Uhuru Park. Literally, covering the grounds from the Museum Roundabout to Haile
HOLY HANDSHAKE: Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa greets Pope Francis at the Vatican, Rome in August. MPs have been allowed to take time off next week and welcome the pontiff who is set for a maiden visit to Kenya next week.
Selassie Roundabout. That explains security deployment numbers,” Esipisu told a news conference. Pope Francis is expected to jet into Kenya on Wednesday next week at 5pm and then proceed to State House for bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta. On November 26, up to 60 Cardinals,
Archbishops and Bishops from the Eastern Africa region are expected to attend the High Mass, additionally; there will be 9,000 priests, clergy and religious leaders at the Mass. MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke
Graft at ministry stumbling block to our work, says Swazuri Corrupt officials at the Lands ministry are to blame for the slow pace the National Land Commission (NLC) is implementing its mandate, commission chairman Dr Mohammed Swazuri has said. He says rampant corruption in the ministry is frustrating the commission’s efforts to effectively deliver on its mandate. Addressing the media after a meeting to review grants and disposition of public land at the Kenya School of Government in Matuga, Kwale County, Swazuri urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to address the issue as a matter of urgency to root out all corrupt officials at the ministry. “Multiple cases of missing files in the ministry were partly to blame for the delay in addressing the many unresolved land tenure issues in many parts of the country. I urge the government to decisively deal with graft among the ministry staff so that cases of missing files among other vices can be dealt with once and for all,” he said. Swazuri said the issue of files disappearing discouraged members of the public from getting justice and was a contributing factor to the commission’s inability to execute its mandate in a timely manner. His remarks come in the backdrop of the on-going digitisation of land registries expected to improve service delivery. The commission, which was in the county to receive first-hand information from residents regarding five huge land holdings that are at the centre of a controversy involving four individuals and residents, said unless the government deals with graft among ministry officials, wananchi will not be get justice on any land issues.
Kenya formally tables her concerns with ICC to the ASP From Page 1 “Credible allegations have been made by people some of whom are Members of Parliament that they procured and coached witnesses to give false testimony against Ruto and Sang. That’s why we want an audit to ascertain these serious allegations,” Pkosing told the president. Kenya wants the member States to discuss application of the controversial amendment to Rule 68 which allows use of prior recorded statements of ICC witnesses. The amendment to Rule 68 was adopted during the 12th session of the ASP in 2013 which has so far worked to the advantage of the prosecution. In response, Kaba acknowledged Kenya’s concerns and promised to ensure the issues raised are deliberated comprehensively during the plenary session set for Friday. “I have heard you and be assured you will be heard since I will be chairing the session handling this matter,” he said. Kenya is opposed to the use of the controversial Rule 68 in the case against Ruto and Sang, with Chepkonga saying “it was made clear the amended rule would not be used
retroactively and to detriment of the accused. That’s how it should be in law.” As part of lobbying. Kenyan ministers Amina Mohamed and Rachael Omamo met ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda during a session with other ministers from Africa. During the meeting Omamo implored the prosecutor to understand Africa’s concerns that she said held the key to the future existence of the court. “We want to be respected because we have a stake as member states,” she said. Bensouda allayed fears that the court was targeting Africa, saying what the ICC was doing was to end the culture of impunity around the world. “I am no less a pan Africanist, “she said. The relationship between African states and the ICC has not been the best with allegations that the court applies selective justice when it comes to African situations. However, efforts are being made to iron out differences between Africa and The Hague-based court on the sidelines of the ASP. MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke
CONSULTING: Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary consults with members of the Kenyan delegation to the Assembly of State Parties at The Hague, yesterday just before they formally handed over the concerns with the ICC to ASP President Sidika Kaba.
NEWS 3 WEEKEND EDITION NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
CJ roots for dialogue to improve efficiency ADVICE: Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has said public institutions should continuously dialogue for the interest of the country.
Unions want Parliamentary Committee to end varsity row University of Nairobi (UoN) unions’ leaders have called on the Parliamentary Committee on Education to solve the wrangles pitting Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi and his deputy Prof Bernard Njoroge. The leaders drawn from University Academic Staff union (Uasu), Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied workers (Kudheiha) urged the committee to intervene following allegations that the University Council and Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kameinyi had dragged their feet in solving the matter. Speaking at a Nairobi hotel, the leaders cited the council’s ineptness and the bi-partisan manner in which it was handling the row contradictory to the university statutes
Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi.
passed by Parliament. “The council lacks the capacity and transparency in the process of inquiry and judgment of this bedeviling matter,” said Uasu National Chairman, Dr Mohammed Mwachiti. Mwachiti said only the Parliamentary committee would solve the rot in the university’s administration citing alleged abuse of office by the Vice Chancellor, nepotism, financial misappropriations, tribalism and staff harassment. Kudheiha national chairman Joseph Orwa urged the committee to act with speed and due diligence as the matter was getting out of hand. “We have written to the Parliamentary committee demanding an immediate intervention to resolve this crisis that has hit the administration 5 months in a row,” said Orwa. The university has been rocked in an administrative crisis that has threatened to stall it operations due to a row between Mbithi and his deputy, who is in charge of Administration and Finance since they assumed their respective offices. The two dons have previously accused each other of insubordination which has been drawn from the control of the university’s hefty budgetary allocation. Calls to reach out to the two for comment on the issue have been fruitless. Earlier this year Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi directed UoN management to implement review findings of a task force instituted to look into human resource and expenditure issues which is also attributed to the feud.
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has urged government institutions to adopt dialogue as one of the measures of improving service delivery. Speaking during the launch of the Judiciary strategic plan at the Supreme Court yesterday, Mutunga said institutions should continuously dialogue for the interest of the country. He said the three arms of government (Judiciary, legislature and Executive) have been in constant consultations in matters governance. “We consult a lot as arms of government and that dialogue is important because it gives you the opportunity to explain what you are doing that others might not understand,” he said. Though the Chief Justice did not wade into dialogue calls by the Opposition, he encouraged dialogue, saying it is healthy and creates a culture of listening even to critics which gives vital lessons in any leadership set-up. “Listen to your critics even if some of them are insane, just
listen,” said Mutunga. The call for dialogue especially among leaders has dominated the headlines this week with the latest being the Opposition leader Raila Odinga calling for another fresh dialogue with the government after the first attempt failed. “Mr. President, we sense you are lost. But you are not alone. Many Kenyans who had pegged their hopes on your stewardship are equally lost and feeling abandoned. It is one of those rare cases where the leader should essentially tell the followers, do not follow me, am also lost,” said Raila. The former Premier said the state of affairs in the country is not sustainable and acceptable as it is creating hopelessness and despair among Kenyans. “The state of affairs in our country is creating self-doubt among our hardworking and confident citizens. It is energising our competitors in the region who are
smelling opportunity to leave Kenya behind. It has to stop. We are here to help you stop it and help you restart and re-engineer our vibrant Kenya,” he said. The renewed calls for dialogue by the opposition comes after retired President Mwai Kibaki also called on the government to listen to the Opposition as they might have something vital to say. “Even that person who does not like you, just listen to him. He might say a word which might be of help to you,” said Kibaki said during the burial of Othaya MP Mary Wambui’s sister last weekend. During his in Western tour last weekend, President Uhuru Kenyatta said he is ready to dialogue with the Opposition only if leaders are ready to engage in a discourse that is devoid of insults. “I have no problem with dialogue, but I do not have time for insults. Criticism is good; correct me when I am wrong but no insults,” he said.
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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION NOVEMBER 20-22 , 2015
Nairobi County in ambitious plan to attract tourists Nairobi City County Government has kicked off an ambitious plan to make the city a destination choice for tourists. The County government is set to unveil two buses next month to shuttle tourists to and from strategic places within the city. In an interview with X-News, Trade County Executive Anna Othoro said they are targeting local tourists in a move to shed the city’s negative tag. “A lot of people do not know the bright side of Nairobi, they associate the city with criminal activities and, therefore, casting Nairobi in bad light,” she said. “As a county government, we want to show the world and Kenyans that Nairobi, too, has good places that one can visit and have a good time.” Othoro said the plan will be implemented jointly with the Tourism ministry and the Kenya Tourism Board. “We want to live up to the expectation of Nairobi being the “Green City in the Sun” and one of the biggest business hubs in Africa,” the executive said. “You will realise that most of the National
Parks are managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service and other private firms and our monuments are managed by the National Museums. We as a county government is just to market the city for more tourists to come,” she said. Othoro said the County government will use Pope Francis’s visit to show the more than 1.5 million people the beauty that is Nairobi. She said the papal visit is another great indication that the country and especially Nairobi is safe for any visitor. “If the Pope can choose Kenya and Nairobi as his place of choice in the SubSahara Africa, then the local people have no choice but to promote their own city. I see no reason why people keep talking ill of Nairobi, yet they live in it and eke a living out of it, we must change our mindset,” said Othoro. “We want the population that will come for the Popes’ visit to stay in Nairobi a little longer to see the good side of nature,” she said.
FOCUSED: Nairobi City County Trade Executive Anna Othoro during an interview with X-News at her office. The County government will unveil two buses to shuttle tourists, mainly local, to and from attraction sites.
End unnecessary wrangles, Cheserem advises governors Commission for Revenue Allocation chair Micah Cheserem has urged governors to stop constant feuds between them and their deputies as it poses a great threat to the success of devolution. Speaking during a gala to fete governors for their sterling performance in various sectors that have helped spur development and improvement of living standards in counties, Cheserem said the fights and wrangles hamper development in the devolved units. The event held at the Intercontinental Hotel saw Migori County’s Okoth Obado bag three awards in national cohesion and integration as the county is considered to be
cosmopolitan, housing and human habitation and environmental conservation. “I’m proud to be one of the best governors in this ceremony and my major ambition is to receive more awards next time. I dedicate these awards to all Migori County residents who have supported the County Government in implementing County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP),” he said. Nairobi County scooped the water conservation and environment, and good transport network award. Mombasa County was awarded for their effort in youth empowerment and inclusion of Women and Persons with Disability through
their KUZA project. Vocational and life skills training are the main focus of KUZA project that will see the youth who are from under privileged backgrounds, empowered with job creation skills. The project will benefit over 8,000 youth in the county. Mombasa County also received the Public Private Partnership Award, through Aga Khan Foundation (EA).Through the project, the County government will train teachers from more than 100 public and private schools and creating model schools by improving governance. While receiving the award, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho thanked the entire staff of the County and
development partners for their valued efforts in supporting the transformation agenda of the county. Wajir County scooped an award for being the best devolved unit in dealing with health productive issues and the fight of diseases. Embu County was the best in agricultural production. Cheserem said implementation of devolution should be a team work and Governors should cooperate with their deputies. “We must end unnecessary tussle and involve all stakeholder like the Senators and MCAs to successfully implement devolution as a team,” he said. Cheserem also urged the Governors to stop fighting senators.
He urged county bosses to also stop creating unnecessary conflict with the County Assembly speakers’ and Members of the County Assembly. Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and his Deputy Bernard Kiala have been at loggerheads with each other Mutua has on several occasions urged relevant investigating bodies to expedite a probe into corruption allegations against his Deputy. Mutua has accused Kiala of abuse of office for his own personal gains. Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and his Deputy Ruth Odinga were also not working but recently the duo have been appearing public to be working harmoniously.
Counties with highest revenue collection to get cash reward The second revenue allocation formula will see counties being rewarded for their efforts. In the formula which Commission of Revenue Authority (CRA) chairman Micah Cheserem presented to the Senate Finance and Budget committee, counties that collect and declare the highest revenue will be given 2 per cent of the fiscal responsibility kitty as a token. The formula is to be tabled in Parliament and if passed, the county which surpasses its revenue collection projection, will receive a reward form CRA as a boost to its revenue. “This parameter seeks to give incentives to the
counties to maximize on revenue collection and encourage fiscal prudence”, said Cheserem The fiscal responsibility parameter is calculated from the county’s annual revenue increase per capita and will only be given to counties that have shown sound economic and budgetary practices which ensure citizens get value for their money. The new revenue sharing formula will also focus on parameters like population at 45 per cent and equal share at 26 per cent. Allocation to disadvantaged areas with highest poverty levels will get a great share of revenue
at 18 per cent. Cheserem said the commission had done its best in its recommendations. He, however, noted that many counties rely on share from the Central Government and called for the counties be encouraged to collect their own revenue. He said counties were being encouraged to automate revenue collection which will help to curb leakage, explaining that there were notable improvements in those that had taken up the system. He cited counties like Embu, Nakuru and Kiambu which had automated their revenue collection and as a result increased revenues. However,
some committee members disagreed on this new formula. Laikipia Senator GG Kariuki questioned why counties were being rewarded for doing their job. Senator Zipporah Kittony said counties were collecting a lot of money which was not accounted for and thus rampant corruption at the county level. “Develop a system of monitoring collections of revenues by the county governments and ensure counties declare their revenues to contain theft of public funds by county officials”, said Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma) to the CRA.
Paris attacks: Europe told to ‘wake up’ to terror threat French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said European countries must “wake up” to terror threats, following the attacks in Paris that left 129 people dead. He spoke after it emerged that the suspected Belgian ringleader of the attacks had entered France undetected. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel has defended Belgium’s security services amid claims the attacks were organised there. It comes as EU Interior and Justice ministers are to hold emergency talks. The meeting in Brussels is expected to tighten checks at the external borders of the EU’s passport-free Schengen area. On Thursday, French prosecutors confirmed that Islamic State (IS) militant Abdelhamid Abaaoud was among those killed in a police raid the previous day. His bullet-riddled body was found in the wreckage of a flat in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. Investigators had identified him as the most likely organiser of last Friday’s attacks, but it was initially thought he was in Syria. At a news conference, Cazeneuve said “no information” had been received from other European countries about his arrival on the continent. But he said he had received intelligence that Abaaoud had passed through Greece on his return from Syria. “It is urgent that Europe wakes up, organises itself and defends itself against the terrorist threat,” Mr Cazeneuve told reporters.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said some of those involved in the attacks had taken advantage of the migration crisis in Europe - which has seen thousands of asylum seekers arrive on the continent - to “slip into” France unnoticed. One of the attackers, who blew himself up outside the Stade de France, has been traced by his fingerprints to Greece where he was registered as a migrant. Abaaoud who is the suspected ring leader of last Friday’s attack, grew up in the Molenbeek district of Brussels which has been described as a “hotbed of extremism.” He is said to have first visited Syria in 2013 where he joined the Islamic State group before slipping back to his home country, Belgium. On January 20, 2014, he passed through Germany’s CologneBonn airport, en route to the
Turkish city of Istanbul. He then returned to Syria, where he became one of the faces of IS propaganda. On January 15, 2015, his mobile phone is reportedly traced to Greece from calls made to an Islamist cell in Verviers, Belgium. On November 16, 2015, just three days after the Paris attacks, a foreign intelligence service alerts France that he is back in Europe, having passed through Greece; police receive a tip-off that he is on French territory. He was eventually killed in police raid on Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, five days after reportedly heading the attacks in Paris that left 129 people dead. His maneuvers have no left EU countries rethinking their intelligence sharing. A draft resolution for Friday’s EU meeting says ministers will agree to implement “necessary systematic and co-ordinated
checks at external borders, including on individuals enjoying the right of free movement”. Correspondents say Belgium has found itself under pressure after the attacks. French President Francois Hollande said they were “planned in Syria, prepared and organised in Belgium”. A former senior French intelligence official has also been quoted in French media as saying that “the Belgians just aren’t up to it”. In an address to parliament on Thursday, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said it was intelligence from his country’s security services that had led to the huge raid in SaintDenis. “I do not accept the criticisms which were aimed at denigrating the work of our security services,” he said.
ON ALERT: Security officers stand on guard at a busy Paris shopping mall. France has called on European countries to ramp up their security systems in the wake of the ever increasing terror threats.
NEWS
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WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
Do not play dead in a terrorist attack If you find yourself in a terror attack similar to the ones that hit Paris last week, do not play dead. That’s part of the grim new guidance being issued by the UK National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (Nactso). The document outlines what to do in “response to a fast-moving incident such as a firearms or weapons attack.” The advice is based on some evidence from victims of the assault on the Bataclan music hall, the deadliest site of the Paris attacks where gunmen fired indiscriminately at the crowd. Some were able to escape after playing dead among pools of blood. But Nactso says that “if you can see the attacker, they may be able to see you.” Instead, the document urges those who find themselves in such an attack to: l Escape if you can. l Consider the safest options. l Is there a safe route? RUN if not HIDE. l Can you get there without exposing yourself to greater danger? l Insist others leave with you. lLeave belongings behind. For those unable to find a safe route out, the guidance says to find cover from gunfire by hiding behind “substantial brickwork” or “heavy reinforced walls.” The document points out that cover from view does not necessarily mean you are safe as “bullets go through glass, brick, wood, and metal.” The document also provides guidance on how companies should respond if their buildings becomes the site of a terror attack. Nactso advises companies to train staff in how to lock down buildings, stating: Dynamic lockdown is the ability to quickly restrict access and egress to a site or building (or part of) through physical measures in response to a threat, either external or internal. Companies need to also find a way to let people know what’s happening, Nactso says. They could do so by using a dedicated terror alarm, a PA system, existing internal messaging systems (such as text, email, and staff phones), or a “pop-up on employees computers.” A number of Eurpean countries, as well as the US, are under high terror alert following the Paris attacks. Security experts say ISIL may have other attacks in the pipeline.
Top stories from X News global partners Movement of ISIS France Beefs up Security extremists prior to Paris as Debate Grows Over attacks raise EU security Liberties: Shocked by the carnage the Paris attacks, France and Belgium questions: The Syria-based Belgian ofmoved aggressively on Thursday to jihadi suspected of planning the bloody attacks that killed 129 people in Paris died a day ago in a hail of police bullets, French officials confirmed on Thursday, raising serious questions about how one of Europe’s most wanted men could travel freely around the continent. The Paris prosecutor’s office said Abdelhamid Abaaoud, an Islamic State extremist believed by French intelligence services to have been in Syria, was killed on Wednesday in the ferocious firefight at a crumbling terrorist hideout north of Paris. www.theguardian.com
strengthen the hands of their security forces, pushing Europe more deeply into a debate that has raged in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001: how to balance counterterrorism efforts and civil liberties. With their populations stunned and nervous and political pressure growing on the right, the French and Belgian governments made it clear that, for now, they would put protecting their citizens ahead of other considerations. The US has with time eased some elements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, passed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. www.nytimes.com
tracking How to fight back: The Intelligence ISIS under question: assault on Paris by of Western intelligence agencies were Islamic State (IS) on forced to rethink their operations and November 13th was an attack reassess their ability to track Isis on
on life’s innocent pleasures. The terrorists shot anyone who strayed into their gunsights—ordinary mecs out for a gig, sharing a drink, or watching a football friendly. It could have been any big city. It could have been you. The deadly grasp of IS now reaches far from its base in Syria and Iraq. A day before Paris, suicidebombers killed 43 people in Lebanon. Last month, 224 died when a bomb destroyed a Russian aircraft over Egypt. Plainly and tragically, the world needs to build stronger defences. The question is how?
www.economist.com
Thursday as French officials confirmed the organiser of Friday’s Paris attacks had been operating under their noses. Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the 28-year-old Belgian jihadi said to have plotted the attacks in the French capital last week — and previously thought to be operating from Isis’s territories in Syria — died during a seven-hour siege in Saint-Denis on Wednesday, authorities said. “If Abaaoud has been able to travel from Syria to France, it means that there are failings in the whole European system,” said Laurent Fabius, foreign minister.
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Kenya fails on girl-child education despite ranking high in gender survey
Kenya has ranked favourably on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) scale, which pinpoints countries’ efforts towards narrowing gender inequality. Overall, Kenya ranked 37th out of 142 countries, which were included in the recently-released survey dubbed the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI). The Index examines the gap between men and women in four fundamental categories (subindexes): Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Empowerment. In the ranking’s Economic Participation and Opportunity category, Kenya ranked 9th. However, in the Educational Attainment category the country ranked 115th. In the Health and Survival category, Kenya ranked 80th while in the
Facebook to allow users to handle breakups “much less painfully” Facebook, the world’s biggest social network has announced it is trialing new tools that will allow users to deal with relationships gone sour. “Starting today, we are testing tools to help people manage how they interact with their former partners on Facebook after a relationship has ended. When people change their relationship status to indicate they are no longer in a relationship, they will be prompted to try these tools,” explained Facebook Product Manager, Kelly Winters. “Facebook is a place for sharing life’s important moments, which for many people include their romantic relationships. When a relationship ends, we’ve heard from people that they sometimes have questions about the options available to them on Facebook,” the company said in a statement. The tool undergoing trial allows people to “see less of a former partner’s name and profile picture around Facebook without having to unfriend or block them. Their posts won’t show up in News Feed and their name won’t be suggested.
Political Empowerment category, the country ranked 48th. According to a USAid report, women in Kenya are underrepresented in decision-making positions. Nonetheless, the untapped potential of women and girls is gaining greater attention in Kenya. “The country’s new Constitution, passed in 2010, provides a powerful framework for addressing gender equality. It marks a new beginning for women’s rights in Kenya; seeking to remedy the traditional exclusion of women and promote their full involvement in every aspect of growth and development,” said USAid in one of its latest reports regarding gender equality in the region. Globally, the gender gap is narrowest in terms of health and survival with a gap standing at 96 per cent, with 35 countries having closed the gap entirely. Despite all this, it is the only
subindex which declined over the course of the past nine year. WEF indicates that the educational attainment gap is the next narrowest, standing at 94 per cent globally. Here, 25 countries have closed the gap entirely. “While the gender gap for economic participation and opportunity lags stubbornly behind, the gap for political empowerment, the fourth pillar measured, remains wider still, standing at 21 per cent, although this area has seen the most improvement since 2006,” the group said in a statement. While Kenya has made significant progress, the WEF report shows that no country in the world has fully closed the gender gap, but all five of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) have closed more than 80 per cent of it.
Overall, Kenya ranked 37th out of 142 countries, which were included in the recently-released survey dubbed the Global Gender Gap Index.
Firm connects blind scholars to internet
Technology company General Electric has embarked on a campaign aimed at connecting blind scholars to the internet while empowering as many as 38 million people across the subSaharan region. The company, noted for its power generating activities, has set up a system at St. Lucy’s School for the Blind in Meru, where students will have access to the first assisted-computer equipment in the region. This marks the first time many of the learners will have access to information, people and resources via the Internet. The equipment comes at a time when 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide and of these, 90 per cent live in low-income
settings. As many as 38 million blind people live in Sub-Saharan Africa, of which 300, 000 are children. Being visually impaired covers a wide variety of sight issues, from blindness to lack of usable sight or ‘low vision’. In the developed world, where significant investment is made in providing adapted technologies, many visually-impaired children have the tools and resources needed to compete in a modern, global job market. Research shows that providing a secure and safe environment for children to learn is key to helping them reach their full potential. “Children rise to the expectations set for them. If they are taught that they
can achieve and are given access to the correct equipment, they will fulfil their potential,” said Sister Judith Khavwendesi, Principal at St Lucy’s School for the Blind. Training combined with technology plays a powerful role in improving educational outcomes and future sustainable employment opportunities, said GE, citing its sustainability programme, dubbed ‘GE Kujenga’, an initative committed to helping build Africa’s sustainable future. In July 2014, GE partnered with inABLE, an NGO whose mission is to empower visually- impaired students with technology skills that they can use to become employable. Together,
GE and inABLE identified St. Lucy’s and saw the potential the students would have if they were better equipped and connected to a world of knowledge and resources. “One of the pillars of GE’s Kujenga programme, which means ‘build’ in Swahili, is focused on empowering people by building valuable skills and equipping communities with new tools and technology,” said Jay Ireland, GE Africa President and CEO. “Ensuring that students across SubSaharan Africa have the same access to information and technology as those in more developed parts of the world will help build a sustainable workforce throughout the continent.
Kenya Power halts bill payments at Posta Kenya Power has temporarily suspended electricity bill payments at the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) outlets awaiting the conclusion of an ongoing renegotiation to renew their terms of contract. In a statement, KPLC’s utility management today said the move was necessary to iron out emerging issues in their collection agreement with PCK agency. “We have suspended the collection agreement with PCK
to pave way for renegotiation of contract terms. The contract is not terminated. We will resume once in agreement,” read part of the statement. The move has affected thousands of post-paid clients who flock the agency to avoid long queues in banks. Posta is among firms that KPLC has entered into agreement with to accept payment for electricity. Others include banks and telecommunication providers such as M-Pesa and
Airtel Money. The temporary termination of PCK’s agency contract comes a few months after Kenya Power terminated Uchumi as its agent, accusing the retailer of delaying remitting the cash and trading with the money without its consent. Unlike the banks and telecommunication firms, PCK does not charge Kenya Power customers who pay their bills through its facilities.
BUSINESS 7
WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
KCB in Equity’s footsteps in lowering interest on loans
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Group will not increase its interest rates which were scheduled to come into effect early December 2015. The bank has thwarted the increment plans, saying market conditions have been enhanced. The termination by KCB makes it the second financial institution to cancel plans to increase interest rates on loans following Equity Bank which had announced the move earlier this week. According to KCB, the move has also been attributed to the ease in the country’s economic state of affairs which has in turn given room to pass the benefits of lower changes on loans to customers. “Our assessment shows that the economic conditions have improved over the past few weeks, with a positive outlook going forward,” KCB Group Chief Executive Officer, Joshua Oigara said. “The tough conditions which had
elevated risks are now giving way, allowing us to pass the benefits to our customers,” he said. The decision also follows a statement by Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank which said on Tuesday said
earlier turbulent conditions in the financial markets had dwindled. The MPC said notable improvement in liquidity conditions had been recorded in November, with the interbank and Treasury bill rates declining.
“We believe the biggest contribution we can make to the economy is ensuring households and businesses conveniently access affordable credit to spur entrepreneurship and economic expansion” he said.
Kenya Commercial Bank Chief Executive Officer Joshua Oigara at a past press briefing. The bank has suspended a move to increase interest rates on loans following favourable economic conditions.
Kephis goes paperless to cushion farmers Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) has initiated a paperless fresh produce export transaction with The Netherlands. Dubbed ePhyto, the novelty aims at increasing efficiency in transport sector as well as reducing costs in service delivery making Kenya the first and the only country in Africa and 9th in the world to initiate the innovation. The move comes at a time when Kephis is issuing more than 250,000 certificates annually, though the process of printing,
verification and other manual processes are tedious, time consuming and expensive. Syanda hailed the planned paperless system, saying goods will be cleared in advance enabling smooth operations in the time- conscious fresh produce export and import market. “Paperless system is not only efficient but it is also costeffective and green,’’ he said. The move is expected to increase efficiency and help cut operation costs at a time the country is
struggling to seal its wide trade deficit that has sent its economy into jeopardize. Championed by Kephis and International Plant Protection Convention, the initiative will also see virtual clearance of fresh produce exports and imports hence easing pressure for highly perishable goods. The technique will also stir up foreign government to pre-clear exported fresh produce from Kenyan government giving it a clean bill of health. Once inspection is done, Kehis
will produce the plant health certificate to be used as plant passport to the country of imports and will certify that goods from Kenya has met the required import conditions. This initiative comes hot on heel of a recent report by a Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) which revealed that close to 37 per cent of vegetables and fruits go bad before reaching the market in Africa, Latin America and Caribbean due to poor logistic chain made worse by bureaucratic clearing agencies.
NetFund to launch Green Innovations awards National Environment Trust Fund (NetFund) with support from the Swedish Embassy will launch the annual green innovations awards dubbed NETFUND GIA. The fund is fronted as an annual event that will identify, recognise, reward and nurtures innovative projects and ideas in environmental management. The NETFUND GIA provides an excellent opportunity for funding and capacity building to Kenyan entities offering solutions in environmental management. It seeks to instill a culture of selfregulation in environmental management among Kenyans
and envision a future where all Kenyans take personal and community responsibility for the management of the environment. This year’s thematic areas will include energy, water, agribusiness and waste Management. The NETFUND GIA seeks to provide funding in the Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) sector, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Individuals as well as Women Groups. NetFund is a state corporation under the Ministry of Environment, Natural
Resources and Regional Development Authorities. It was established within the provisions of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) 1999 to facilitate research intended to further the requirements of environmental management, capacity building, environmental awards, environmental publications, scholarships and grants. The 3rd phase of the awards will be launched on Tuesday 24th NOV, 2015 at Radisson Blu Hotel located along Elgon Road, UpperHill Nairobi. The breakfast launch will be graced by the Cabinet Secretary,
Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Resources, Hon Judi Wakhungu and Principal Secretary, Dr Richard Lesiyampe. Other guests expected include Ambassadors and representatives from the Chinese, Japanese, Israeli, Australian, Belgian, and Poland Embassies; Bidco Director, Vimal Shah, USAID-Kenya Director, Ms Juniper Neil, Resolution Health’s Director, Mr Peter Nduati, UNDP-Kenya Director, Ms Nancy Chege, among other dignitaries and enthusiast in the environment conservation sector .
BIZ BRIEFS Team Chura wins Sh1 million at Ericsson Africa Team Chura, a Kenyan startup, is the winner of the Ericsson Innovation Awards (EIA) for sub-Saharan Africa for their App that allows subscribers to switch, buy and cash in their airtime across networks in a multi-sim environment. Chura won the sub-Saharan EIA top prize of $10,000 (Sh1 million) emerging victorious against competitors from both Tanzania and Ethiopia. The app aims to ease movement across networks through services that enable the exchange of airtime from one network provider to another. The app also allows users to trade in their airtime for money and enables simultaneous distribution of airtime to multiple phone numbers on networks in Kenya. Open to students and start-ups from across the region, teams that entered the EIA competition for sub-Saharan Africa were asked to develop ideas that use ICT.
Africa world’s most promising growth region, says report Africa has emerged as the most promising growth region in the world, exceeding global growth rates by an average of two percentage points per year, according to recent reports. Contributing to the continent’s growth is the vast array of industry, natural resources and services. But while surging economies in the region are on the path to prosperity, the continent is standing at a crossroads and the way forward for sustainable and prosperous regional growth now lies in the ability to improve regional integration, leading energy provider General Electric Africa has said. Fostering inter-African regional trade and manufacturing, encouraging infrastructure projects of scale between countries and increasing cross-border investments will help create a business environment that is more attractive to international investors.
Tech maker invests in environmentallyfriendly appliances South Korean multinational electronics company, LG has announced that the firm is investing heavily in green technology, designed to make its products more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. “LG has worked to develop a green line that includes every type of home appliance. The company’s innovative Door-in-Do refrigerators show that environmentallyconscious design can improve products in other ways as well,” the company said in a statement. LG has been especially insistent on the benefits of its kitchenbased appliances, many of which are locally available. The tech maker’s US branch played a major role at the 2015 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the premier event for sustainable building which opened on Wednesday.
8
BUSINESS
Retail, SME drives Barclays Bank profit to Sh6.4 billion WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
Barclays Bank of Kenya has announced a Sh6.4 billion profit after tax of for the nine month period ended 30 September 2015. The growth was driven by a 10 per cent YoY increase on net customer assets with growth mainly coming from the retail and SME bank segments. Total interest income grew by 9 per cent to Sh18.5 billion on the back of growth in interest earning assets while net customer assets increased by 10 per cent to Sh139b (2014: 126bn). There was also a growth of 4 per cent in customer deposits to Sh159b (2014: Sh153bn) as well as a strong capital adequacy ratio at 19 per cent against a regulatory limit of 14.5 per cent. A liquidity ratio of 35 per cent against the regulatory minimum of 20 per cent was also recorded. “Barclays has in the last nine months introduced banking solutions meant to support the growth of Kenya’s growing SME sector. These include the assetbased Finance Centre of Excellence, the 48- hour loan approval turnaround time and the launch of a Sh30 billion SME loan fund. These initiatives and the upward review of the unsecured lending cap to Sh6 million are helping to position Barclays as Kenya’s ‘Go To’ bank for the SME sector,” said Jeremy Awori, Managing Director, Barclays Bank of Kenya. Net interest income increased to Sh15.2 billion up from Sh14.7
billion in the same period last year. The growth in net interest income was affected by a 45 per cent rise in interest expense arising from an increase in cost of funds in the market. The Non Interest Income line was impacted by unrealised fair value losses valuation on the trading book following the steep increase in interest rates. Total Operating Income rose to Sh21.7 billion. “The last nine months have been characterised by turbulence at the
macroeconomic level arising from fluctuation of the local currency and high interest rates with the 91-day T-Bill reaching a high of 22 per cent. This has had an impact on the bank’s interest expense line and Mark to Market loss on the trading book. That said, we remain confident that as the fog begins to lift, our trading book will normalise,” said Awori. Despite the rising trends of nonperforming loans in the industry, Barclay’s ratio of total non-
performing loans to net loans at 4.1 per cent was below industry trends at around 5.7 per cent. In addition, the loan loss ratio went down by 27 basis points (bps) from 122 bps in 2014 to 95 bps. The capital adequacy ratio for the bank as at end of September was 19.1per cent which was higher than the 14.5 per cent prescribed by CBK meaning that the bank is well capitalised to support future balance sheet growth.
Barclays Bank Managing Director Jeremy Awori. He says the bank has in the last nine months introduced banking solutions meant to support the growth of Kenya’s growing SME sector.
India’s central bank employees down their tools over pensions Approximately 17,000 Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) employees yesterday went on a strike over pension benefits though the Central Bank has described it as “a mass casual leave.” Their walk out resulted in some interruptions to clearing and settlement operations at the central bank but it said its systems were largely operational. According to reports from the BBC, four unions had called for the strike to demand better pension reimbursements. However, this is against reforms that would reduce the RBI’s regulatory powers. The Central Bank has been in debate over its policy independence with the government, which has been trying to assert more influence over the RBI’s interest rate setting process. The government has, however, said it needs to create a ratesetting board with its appointed members to vote on such conclusions. The RBI has cut interest rates four times this year, with the latest move in September to improve the growth as inflation hit a record low on plummeting commodity prices. The Union leaders have said the dispute over retirement benefits showed that the bank was losing its independence, because it used to raise pensions without approval from the government.
Bank upgrades card Solar firm to light up 35 million system following homes ahead of holiday season rampant fraud cases Chase Bank Kenya has announced plans to upgrade its card and ATM services. The developments come at a time when leading lenders have made the switch from unsecure magnetic strip cards to EMV chip technology. The EMV platform was developed by the leading card operators Europay, MasterCard and Visa to ensure security of card systems and ease of payment globally. It is a global standard for credit and debit payment cards based on chip card technology taking its name from the card schemes Europay, MasterCard, and Visa - the original card schemes that developed it. The shift to EMV chip-and-pin cards was seen as a relief for banks and their clients, who have been victims of fraud. Further strategies aimed at ensuring
security in the industry have since been taken with Chase Bank’s move being the latest. “We are upgrading our card system and hence our Card and ATM Services will be unavailable on Tuesday 24th November 2015 from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm,” Chase Bank said in a statement. “Our Mfukoni Mobile Banking, Mfukoni Online Banking and Branches countrywide remain available during this period,” the lender said. The move comes just days after Chase Bank Kenya and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed a credit line agreement worth Sh1.12 billion to finance green energy projects in Kenya. The credit will see Chase Bank Kenya lend to businesses that are investing in renewable energy technologies projects.
Greenlight Planet (GLP), a social business that develops and manufactures solar products designed to help people living off the electric grid, has launched a product that is set to bring positive change to consumers across the region. GLP, an organisation that has its origins dating back to 2006, has unveiled what the group describes as the “ultra-affordable Sun King Pico”, a product that will retail for just Sh799. The Pico, which provides up to 72 hours of light after a single day of charge, comes at a time when as many as 35 million Kenyans are not connected to the national power grid, according to data from the African Developmen Bank (AfDB). As such, Kerosene is one of the country’s major sources of fuel and lighting, although close to 25 million Kenyans are at risk of getting lung disease and tuberculosis due to its continued use and detrimental effects. As many as 1.5 million off-grid consumers may develop lung cancer
in the coming years if they do not switch from kerosene to a less dangerous source of fuel, a warning issued by the Ministry of Health has warned. GLP was formed in a bid to address such concerns and their latest product is a testament to their dedication. Their products, including Sun King lamps are available at Orange and Tuskys outlets across the country well as online on Jumia.co.ke. “The world’s most durable, most affordable solar home light for the majority of off-grid homes around the world, an $8 (Sh817) solar light, is a major household investment,” said Patrick Walsh Greenlight Planet’s founder and CTO. He said with the Pico, GLP has introduced the most durable and affordable solar home light designed to serve off-grid families for many years after purchase. “Unlike low quality alternatives which use cheap, epoxy-based solar panels, Pico is constructed using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) technology,
designed to withstand heat and rain for many years,” he said. Greenlight Planet recently announced an early special Christmas offer to its customers across the country. Upon purchase of the Christmas packs of Sun Kingrange of solar lamps and home systems: Pro All Night, Pro 2 and Home 60between now and 31st December consumers will get a string of LED lights to decorate their homes at no cost. Customers will also participate in a lucky draw and win up to 52 grand prizes including motorbikes, bicycles, smart phones and radios. Clients who buy the Sun King products will have to SMS the product’s serial number to the number given on the box then a confirmation text will be reverted immediately. This allows the consumers to participate in the lucky draw during the offer period. A total of 2 lucky draws will be held announcing 26 prizes per draw. Sun King products are available across Kenya through the company’s village sales agents.
WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
ACCESS
JIMMY GAIT’S Jimmy Gait is back in the music game after a short hiatus. He promises to spin off the gospel music industry and take it to the next level. But with the entrance of heart throbs like Bahati and troubled Willy Paul, the jury is still out.
Y
ou have been out of the music scene for a while, what have you been up to? I have been busy recording new hit songs and of course doing some business. I have recorded over a hundred and fifty tracks. You launched your song Kuna Day at Tribeka on Tuesday, how did the audience receive it? Oh my God. It was crazy. I dint expect to have the turn out that I had. It was really good. What is the song all about? Kuna Day is about hope. It motivates and encourages those who are just about to lose hope or lost hope that they should keep on keeping on and Kuna Day God will reward them. The other 150, tracks… did you work with any other artiste? Yes I have. Like I said, I have recorded a lot of songs and I have worked with some big Kikuyu heavy weights like Ben Githae, Ciru Wa GP, Dennis Mutara, Grace Mwai and Sammy Irungu. These are top stars. Word on the street is that your star is dimming what is your take on this? No. My star is bright and with God’s grace it will continue shinning. You know the thing about music you have to sometimes give the fans a break to recharge and comeback. And again you cannot always be number one.Even the likes of
Michael Jackson at times came in second or third. Now I am ready for the next stage in my career. Earlier on in the year you threatened to have a wedding, can we still wait for one? Hahaha… It’s coming. It’s coming. When everything is in place I shall inform you. As a veteran of the music industry do you think the industry is improving? There has been huge growth, with improved music quality, new faces with good music and gospel musicians have really improved. I am proud. Is there anything that can be done to make it even better? We are headed in the right direction and we will take East Africa by storm by working hard to push the bar higher. It a process and we have to be patient. Parting shot? I appreciate my fans and the media for holding on and for their support. Thank you.
COME BACK…
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Kuna Day is aBout HoPe. it motivates anD encouraGes tHose WHo are Just aBout to lose HoPe aGe: Over 30 relationsHiP status: Engaged and just about to throw a wedding Favorite Quote: Make it or Make it.
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ACCESS
WEDNESDAY 26th NOVEMBER 20-22, 2014 2015 WEEKEND EDITION,
FASHIONScoop
Mercy WaWeru is a beauty consultant Who likes travelling and PhotograPhy. We are taking a closer look at her closet
closeT Raid
MeRcY waweRu What is that one thing that you can’t leave the house without? A hoodie.
Y’s Yle c R Me le sT P siM hat is the most treasured item in your closet? It definitely has to be my African printed t-shirt. What is your fashion lust at the moment? I lust for African printed outfits. What is your fashion secret? Find what makes you look good and maximize on it. Whose style do you admire locally and internationally? Locally I love Avril, while internationally I love Miley Cyrus. Which fashion trend have you sworn never to try and why? Tight pencil skirts, they look weird to me.
What fashion advice do you live by? If you feel good in it, then you look good in it.
What is your guilty pleasure (fashion wise)? Shoes…I can’t help it.
ToP
GReaTesT oF all TiMe sonGs
How would you describe your style? Simple and Classy.
Which jewelry are you often wearing? Earrings.
Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TiTle The Twist Smooth Mack The Knif How Do I Live Party Rock Anthem I Gotta Feeling Macarena(Remix Physical You Light Up My Life Hey Jude
aRTisTe Chubby Checker Santana Ft Rob Thoas Booby Darin Le Ann Rimes Lmfao Ft Lauren Benette Benette The Black Eyed Peas Los Del Rio Olivia Newton Debby Boone The Beetles
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WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
WEEKEND PLANNER
your comprehensive gig guide sATurDAY
sATurDAY
TODAY
DJ Pierra
WHERE: Carnivore Grounds TIME: 9 Am -6Pm EnTRy: Free.
MegA CAr sAle
BArBeque 10th edition
WHO: East African Designers. WHERE: Marula Manor, Karen TIME: 9Am EnTRy: Kids Sh200, Adults Sh 400.
WHO: DJ Joe Mfalme, Shaffie Weru, DJ Pierra WHERE:Arboretum Ground TIME: 11 Am EnTRy: Sh2,000.
sunDAY
live
11
WHO: DJ Joe Mfalme, Kris Darlin WHERE: Arboretum EnTRy:: Sh1,000 TIME: 8Am -6Pm
XMAs HOT TOPICS
Oliver
DJ MFALME
kATikA DAnCe FesTivAl Out&About
Celebrated Afro musician Oliver Mtukudzi is set to perform tomorrow at the KICC. The star will be gracing a United Nations conference of climate change. Among other stars scheduled to perform include the controversial gospel artiste Willy Paul and Juliani.
Here is to exceptional The Wine bar allows the varieties of wine to wash down
Oliver Mtukudzi is in town
wine, preMiuM sTeAk AnD CigArs
As we are gearing to welcome the Pope next week where his itinerary is to host a mass, visit Kangemi and have ‘tea’ at State House, let us use this weekend for something even the pope devours; wine. So let’s go to the Wines of the World, Wine (WWW) Bar and Shop at the Junction. It’s sleek, organized and of
course it has satisfied the standard Connoisseur rating for wine stocking. At WWW under one roof there is a wine bar and a wine shop. It has wine accessories, cigars and cigar accessories. In addition there is a dedicated tasting room, did you hear that? Consider this, at the wine shop and bar you are at liberty
to order a variety of eighty different wines by glass. Be it a Rose, Shiraz the Pavillion Blanc or a White, Chenin Blanc or the Red, Terrasse De La Grande. The Wine bar allows the varieties of wine to wash down, well made premium rump or brisket steak from Morendat Farm in Naivasha. But if like some people we know you
decide to defy orders and have a beer or hard liquor, the bar offers proper cognacs and beers. Feel free to have, the Remmy Martin XO at a fair price of Sh 22 000 as we wait for Remmy Martin Louis XII coming soon. This is the best place to sit and wait for some papal blessings in pure bliss.
namu
Allan namu leaving kTn?
John Allan Namu, the KTN news Anchor and Investigative journalist has resigned. Word at the corridors of KTN is that Namu is interested in going solo for personal ventures. It seems the bold Namu is tired of staying at ‘home. ‘Other sources also indicate that his partner in crime, Jicho Pevu’s Mohamed Ali also has one foot at the door.
12
BUSINESS WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
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DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 Whatever comes to you seems clear and right, and it could inspire music, poetry, or painting. The only problem might be that these insights may disappear if you don’t write them down right away. Visions from the other side can be ephemeral. If you like what’s coming to you, keep a record of it. AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 Today you could receive some unexpected good news regarding the impending arrival of money that you’ve anticipated for a long time. This will be very welcome news and worthy of a celebration, although you still might not believe it. Believe it! Your long wait is over.
WEATHERFORECAST FRIday 20/11/2015
sunny
24
25ºC 64%
SATURday 21/11/2015
More sun than clouds
24 6:13 am 6:24pm
24ºC 70%
6:13am 6:24pm
SUNday
23
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 Sudden, unexpected success could result in an equally unexpected raise. 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.
Sudoku
ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 Working closely with someone might bring up some strong, warm affection between you. It may or may not be a romantic attraction, but if it is, don’t read too much into it now. The situation is creating the emotions. There’s the chance that the attraction could pass by tomorrow. TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Love, affection, and romance seem to be all around you. Strong unity with close friends, family members, and your romantic partner may well up throughout the day. You can also expect a rush of imagination and artistic inspiration, perhaps generated by the support of those around you. GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 All are apt to be positive, though you might find it disconcerting. You might even think it more so if you learn your intuition was right! This tendency may continue for a while. Your sensitivity to others’ thoughts and feelings is increasing. It can contribute to your understanding of them. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 You could feel a rush of exhilaration from this experience before your skeptical side kicks in to say it’s all wishful thinking. A little skepticism is healthy, but don’t let it overpower your positive impression. All signs say that what you sense is true. Follow your heart. LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 Someone who respects you a great deal might offer you an opportunity to advance that increases your income. You may have known this person for a long time, and the two of you work well together. This opportunity should be welcome and not intimidating. Go for it! If you do, the future will be rosy. VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21 If you’re attached, affection continues to grow between you and your partner. A strong sense of unity could lead to a firm commitment. If you aren’t currently involved, don’t be surprised if someone you like but don’t know well suddenly seems attracted to you. LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 You tend to be intellectually inclined. Your intuition and imagination are working overtime. If you’ve been thinking about starting a new project, this is the day to do it. The only downside is that you could get so obsessed with your work that you can’t concentrate on anything else. SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 A loving, supportive letter or call from a close friend could be just what the doctor ordered today. You may feel overworked and a little pessimistic about any plans you’ve made. Your friend should lift your spirits and motivate you to push on ahead in spite of whatever obstacles you encounter. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 Today you may come up with some attractive new ideas to advance your career and increase your income. The only question is whether or not you can follow through. Some of them may be workable and some may not, but if you’re serious, you should do some research to figure that out.
FIND THE KEYWORD IN RED AND SMS IT TO 22333 RINGTONES: 30 KSHS PER DAY You will receive a sms “2 download. . . ”Go to this link using GPRS or WAP & download your content. KENYAN HITS! Dumbala Remix Msaidizi Fundamentals Mungu Baba Uwepo Wako Milele Dongo Dongo Ulibeba Sobei Cheiso Worship You Sambaza Defender Tosheka Kereka Ningwendete Queen Ahuirania Ti Mundu Ndirakurekie
KENRAZY Visita, Madtraxx, DNA & Jay A
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WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
CROSSWORD Across 1. Tobacco portion 5. Unite 10. Kind of cop 14. “____ sight!” 15. Iroquois tribesmen 16. Phrase before “pronounce you man and wife” 17. Excites 19. Pained cry 20. Brings into harmony 21. They may be loaded 22. United firmly 26. Bryson of R&B 30. Hideous 34. Belgian painter James 35. ER imperative 36. Vietnamese minority group 37. Get back 39. Doing road shows 42. Roman 901 43. Herr’s cries 47. Put one’s___ (meddle) 48. Far and away 51. Sahara sights 52. National park in California 54. Alpine Mont 57. Juicy fruits 62. Scottish island 63. North Carolina town 66. Yellow Brick Road creator 67. Computer device
68. Deucey lead-in 69. “As ___ say...” 70. Aids and ___ 71. Beliefs Down 1. ____ Nostra (secret society) 2. Jabba of Star Wars films, e.g. 3. Working diligently 4. Defunct bank, for short 5. Free-for-all 6. Dutch humanist 7. Score abbr. meaning “slowing” 8. “Imagine that!” 9. Hook shape 10. Saudi Arabia’s capital 11. John Lennon’s in-laws 12. 1992-93 heavyweight champ 13. Nocturnal birds 18. Open, as a bottle of champagne 21. Ask for 23. Fangorn Forest dweller 24. Intelligence org. 25. A musical Jackson 26. Vantage point 27. Colonic treatment 28. John who played Gomez Addams 29. ___ constrictor 31. Garden sticker 32. Nephew of Donald Duck 33. Outlandish tales 38. Engineer James B. 40. Negotiator’s refusal
41. Frat letter 44. Renowned British miler 45. Flood meas. 46. Little piece 49. Electric generator 50. Greaser’s rival, in “The Outsiders” 53. Crawls (with) 54. Israel’s Netanyahu, familiarly 55. Be a couch potato, e.g. 56. “Sometimes you feel like ____...” 58. Bookstore-cafe tea 59. Lush noises 60. Gr. 1-6 61. Stallone and Stone 63. ___ Awards 64. Fireplace projection 65. Punch type
Yesterday’s answers
YOURSAY US should not use Paris attack to slam door on refugees Battening down the hatches is often an impulsive and politically expedient response to terror attacks. Predictably, last week’s harrowing scenes of carnage in Paris are fuelling calls to shut borders and halt the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Western nations. Senator Marco Rubio, a leading Republican presidential candidate, said the United States should stop taking in Syrian refugees. Jeb Bush, another Republican candidate, suggested, idiotically, that it might be OK to admit only Christians with Several governors announcing that their states would not accept Syrian refugees. Republicans are also pushing for legislations that would block President Obama’s initiative to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees next year. In Europe, officials from Poland’s new regime
used the attacks as a pretext to reject the European Union’s plan to distribute refugees among member states. These responses are wrong. Confusing refugees with terrorists is morally unacceptable and, as a matter of strategy, misguided. Stemming the exodus of refugees from Syria must be an important part of any comprehensive plan to end the Syrian war. The international community’s obligation to protect civilians fleeing war and persecution is enshrined in human rights law and principles that the United States and European nations have championed over the past century. Resettling Syrian refugees will take years and entail significant costs. But the prosperous nations of the world must share the burden of doing so and resist the temptation to simply say, No, not here. — NYC Team
State must heighten security during Pope’s visit Like it happened during US President Barack Obama’s visit a few months ago, the coming of Pope Francis later this month will provide the government with another opportunity to prove the world that indeed the country is secure. Our security team should plan ahead of the visit to deal tie all the loose end so that the even can be successful. With that, we would have used the opportunity to tell those who refer to us as hot bed of terror that the security challenges we faced does not mean we are incapable. This is the time our security department has to
prove to the world that indeed Kenya has made a step in fighting terrorism. According to the Pope’s work in relation to Catholics doctrine, he is supposed to mingle with the ordinary, bless children and that means people should not be restricted from moving closer to him. That in itself is a security challenge because unlike other VIP, the holy Papal place is among the hoi polloi. The government must therefore make necessary arrangement to avert any unforeseen eventualities. — Enock ndayala, Nairobi.
Pope Francis visit could end Kenyans’ challenges The much-anticipated three-day Pope Francis’ visit next week could be a blessing in disguise for Kenyans. In the wake of all the misfortunes that have befallen our beloved country in the recent past, ranging from corruption to bad governance, divine intervention are in order and one of those people in a positon to intercede for the country is Pontiff. With
planned meeting with government officials led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, political leaders as well as church leaders, we hope he will instill wisdom in them to provide us with sound leadership. We look forward to the public mass that he will lead at the University of Nairobi grounds and hope it showers us all with loads of blessings. — William Wanyonyi - Kangemi
Rotich should more ruthless to tame wastage The move by the Treasury ministry to put in place austerity measures to curb the country’s fiscal deficits is a laudable. The ban on non-essential expenditures such as foreign bench-marking trips, limit on travel delegations, buying of flowers for State officers and printing celebratory cards are good, but will do very little to address government’s wastage.
The answers to the ballooning wage bill and wastage requires more than window dressing. The big and mighty are still using fuel guzzlers that consume chunks of tax payer’s money to fuel. vTreasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich is only performing public relations acts. He has not satisfactorily answered the questioned raised about the Eurobond and unaudited
expenditure in his ministry and other government departments. Corruption is still a serious challenge in the country. Rotich should be the first to give an input on how to cut the wage bill, fiscal policies that reduce the cost of living. He needs to be ruthless and steadfast to caution the economy. — Kamotho, Nairobi
Calls for Kenya’s ICC withdrawal selfish, illogical The call by Jubilee MPs to withdraw from the Rome Statute is hypocritical and uncalled for. Withdrawing from the International Criminal Court could lead to a litany of challenges worse than those witnessed in the 2007/08 Post election violence. I think the leaders have failed to look at the bigger picture and have been blinded by resolve to have the case against Deputy President William Ruto closed. Most Kenyans will agree with me that it is the ongoing cases before ICC that prompted leaders act with restrain in the run-up to 2013 General Election, otherwise the country good have witness a repeat of 2007/08 post-poll chaos. National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Kindiki Kithure
(Tharaka Nithi) championing the country’s ICC Withdrawal put Kenya before self and shun sycophantic politics that will lead the country astray. If Kenya was to elect a despot like Idi Amini or Jean Bedel Bokassa after pulling out, what would happen in a country driven by tribalism, political intolerance and corruption? Will they watch the country run into anarchy or go back to seek to be re-admitted? Our judiciary is compromised, the legislature is inept and our defence forces are allegedly smuggling charcoal in Somalia. Ruto and Sang are not bigger than Kenya. With or without their cases we should remain in the Rome Statutes to salvage us from rogue and greedy leaders. — Kamotho Nderitu
Kenyans insincere in condemning Sam Nyamweya Kenyans must be one of the most hypocritical societies in the entire world. When Kenya football national team, Harambee Stars trip to Cape Verde was hit by challenges, Kenyans took to the social media to condemn the FKF president Sam Nyamweya, accusing him of fiddling funds meant for the trip amounting to Sh17 million. For an unknown reason, Kenyans put their differences aside and in unison condemned Nyamweya and his team and that
begs the question,why didn’t we witness the same zeal among Kenyans in condemning Devolution CS Anne Waiguru, who has been linked to loss of billions of shillings meant for public projects? Some Kenyans among them MPs were ready to strip in public to defend the CS. Why was Nyamweya roasted like he stole the whole country? Where is fairness among Kenyans and who will genuinely fight graft in this country? — Otieno Nyakrathia, South B
Send your letters to news@x254.co | Letters will be edited for summary and clarity
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SPORT
Kenyan Cavenagh takes early lead as EA Safari Rally enters day two WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
Two-times Kenya Champion Alastair Cavenagh took the overnight lead by 2.12 minutes over former world champion Stig Blomqvist on day one of the Kenya Airways EA Classic Rally yesterday. Cavenagh, driving a Porsche 911 is expected to extend his lead today when the cars leave Sarova Whistesands for Amboseli section. His opening stage win was a good consolation to his brother Adrian who had earlier rolled with Britain’s John Lloyd. Cavenagh took the lead after the initial leader Geoff Bell of South Africa = engine gremlins in the second section around Gongoni in Kilifi County. Porsche 911 dominated the top six positions on the opening day leaderboard with Argentine Jorge Perez Companc racking up seventh place in a Ford Escort RS 1800. Completing the awesome 1-23 Porsche 911 dash was swede Richard Goransson who clocked 70:15minutes in the two stages run for the day. Another Swede Joakim Roman came in fourth in a time of 71:47minutes. Cavenagh’s navigator Gavin
Laurence was all smiles as classic cars pulled in to the Sarova night stop, saying their lead after the opening two sections had come as a pleasant surprise. “We are now going into tomorrow’s (today) leg unfortunately high up the field. We have always performed well in muddy conditions so it came as a surprise when we realised others got problems during the day,” Gavin said. Day one’s itinerary featured two stages around Ndindiri, Kasava and Gongoni regions. The competitive mileage was however reduced to 163.38kms following the cancellation of the 68.06km Competitive Section (CS3) Sososbora-Kasava stage due to what organisers termed ‘safety reasons’. After cancellation of CS3, course clerk Richard Lekee released bulletin nine, asking competitors to travel from Gongoni to Shanzu service where a holding area of 20 minutes was organised. Following heavy overnight downpour, the 109.13km CS2 stage was rendered wet and slippery with several cars getting stuck.
Three times former Kenya champion Carl “Flash” Tundo was in trouble when crossing a river after he broke his radiator. As a result of the adverse conditions, service time was extended from two
One of the Classic cars competing in this year’s East Africa Safari rally. The nine-day event began on Thursday.
to three hours to accommodate the muddy situation. There was plenty of drama with Roger Samuelsson and Robin Friberg car rolling 18km into the first section. Englishman John
Lloyd also rolled his Ford Escort which is being serviced by Viking Motorsports. Today the cars head to Amboseli, but not until tackling stages in Samburu and Mackinon Road.
SPORT 15 WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015
Chemos smells Gold as doping wrath nears Kenyan Milcah Chemos’ 2009 world championship Bronze medal could be elevated to Gold if Yulia Zaripova is found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs. Chemos may have double world titles to her name after the winner Spaniard Marta Dominguez was stripped of her 2009 steeplechase (300m) world title and banned for three years. Domingueze, 40 was found guilty by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday for using banned substance after the result found anomalies in her biological passport, pointing to doping violation. But even Zaripova, who finished second ahead of Chemos is unlikely to be elevated to Gold because she is also under investigation for blood doping. If found guilty, Chemos’s Bronze will be elevated to Gold. This was the first medal for Chemos in the distance having converted to Steeple Chase the previous year from 800m and 1,500m only to finish third in Berlin championship. The Africa world record holder in the distance also won 2013 world championship and if her Bronze is elevated to Gold she will earn the-double word title without breaking a single sweat. Domingueze, who also boasts of silver in the 3,000-metre steeplechase at the 2010 European championships, had been provisionally suspended by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and banned for four years in 2013 after anomalies were detected in her blood samples. CAS upheld appeals by the IAAF and World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) that challenged the Spanish athletics federation’s decision to clear Dominguez of irregularities. CAS was asked to rule in the case after the Spanish athletics federation (RFEA), of which Dominguez is a former vice president, absolved the athlete of any wrongdoing in February 2014. “The athlete, on the other hand, argued that CAS did not have jurisdiction to decide the matter and disputed the scientific evidence put forward by Wada and the IAAF”.
World 3,000 metres stipple-chase champion Milcah Chemos could get Gold medal without competing after doping scandals dogged the 2009 winners. Spaniard Marta Dominguez who won Gold has been banned while Yulia Zaripova (Silver) is under investigation.
State sets aside Sh500m to fight doping The government has set aside Sh500 million to fight doping claims following threats by World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) to sanction the country over failure to comply with doping measures. The government, through Sports ministry released the money to run the newly-approved Anti-doping Agency Kenya (ADAK). Speaking on Wednesday when he opened a one-day stakeholder’ workshop at the Kenya School of Law in Nairobi, Sports Principal Secretary Richard Ekai said the Executive Order has given ADAK the much-sought after legal standing and opened doors for the Agency to receive funding from the exchequer.
He warned that those found using banned substances will be dealt with according to the law, adding that the government will not condone cheating in sport. Ekai urged various sport federations to educate their members on the demerits of using performance enhancing substances. Wada on Wednesday threatened Kenya with sanction if it fails to give satisfactory response on mechanisms put in place to fight doping. The agency has so far declared Russia, Argentina, Ukraine, Bolivia, Andorra and Israel to be non-compliant. 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. Kenya has been ordered to explain its doping controls or join those countries under scrutiny. Kenya has more than 15 athletes banned for doping. They include Boston and New York Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo, Delilah Asiago, Flomena Chepchirchir, Pamela Chepchumba, Susan Chepkemei, Lydia Cheromei, Simon Kemboi, Mathew Kipkoech, Rael Kiyara, Julia Mumbi Muraga, Elizabeth Muthuka, Cosmas Ndeti, John Ngugi, Janet Ongera, Ronald Rutto, Koki Manunga and Joyce Zakari
PREMIER LEAGUE
WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015 | WWW.x254.cO
government sets aside sh500 million in the fight against doping among local athletes
p15 UNDER SUSPENSION: Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge performs his trademark dance after scoring during a past match. Juggen Klopps has drafted him in the squad ahead of Etihad visit on Saturday.
Reds welcome Sturridge for Man City clash Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has declared himself fit for Saturday’s trip to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Liverpool is yet to win a Premier League games away at Manchester City in their last six meetings, but Sturridge could prove the difference when he visits his former club who also welcomes back danger man Kun Aguerro after being sidelined with a hamstring injury. There is a huge gap between the two sides-currently. While City are top of the league with 26 points, same as Arsenal who will play West Brom, Liverpool are a distant 10th nine points adrift of the league leaders. Sturridge has not played under new manager Juggen Klopp and has only managed 242 minutes all season because of hip and knee injuries. The most recent win for Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium was a 3-2 victory way back in 2008. That is their only victory in their last nine league games away to City. Though Sturridge is not fully fit to face a team of City’s calibre, Klopp
plans to use the English striker in this crucial tie. “He is as fit as he can be after a long break. Of course he is not at 100 per cent and we have to see, but because he is that skilled maybe we should (include him). As a striker sometimes five minutes are enough.” The England international scored 24 times as Liverpool came close to the Premier League title in 2013-14, but has scored just six league goals since after a succession of injuries. If Liverpool pulls a surprise, victory would be back-to-back away games in the top flight for the first time since March. Klopp has warned the 26-year-old that he now needs a lengthy spell of training to return to full fitness. Aguero will return after seven games absence across all competitions since tearing apart Newcastle United defence with for five goals in a 20-minute span of Manchester City’s 6-1 thrashing October. Fourth placed Manchester United will visit Watford while Chelsea has a date with Norwich.
Messi recalled for El Clasico clash as Bercelona travel to Santiago Bernabeu Individual brilliance of Sergio Busquets, the work rate of Luka Modric or the fast-feet of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is what will determine this Saturday’s El Clasico. Messi will travel with his Barcelona side to face Real Madrid despite being out of action for 54 days. A win for Rafa Benitez men will see them go joint top with their arch-rivals on the table. Without Messi, Barcelona has relied on Brazilian Neymer Junior and Luiz Suarez to bang in goals. However, Barca will be without Rafinha, who has been ruled out for most season while Ivan Rakitic is a doubt. On the other side, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, both sat out of the tiresome International and their fresh legs will come in handy for Real as they lead the attack. The partnership of the Portuguese and the Welshman is expected to
trouble Javier Mascherano who will partner Gerard Pique in the Barcelona and Busquets just in front of them. Benitez’s headache remains Karim Benzema, who is doubtful for the match. The French international has been at the centre of controversy with his alleged drug trafficking and the sex tape scandals. Benzema reportedly tried to extort money from his team-mate Mathieu Valbuena by leaking a sex tape which latter appeared. Police are investigating the claims. The battle point is expected on the right, between Dani Alves and Marcelo while Suarez is also expected to pull some drama on Sergio Ramos. Barca, who have won nine of the 11 matches are currently top of the table with 27 point while real are second with 24 from seven wins, three draws and one lose.
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