2015012015 xnews

TUESday, DECEMBER 15 , 2015 | www.x254.co

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EACC fails to meet tobiko deadline on eurobond probe The Director of public prosecutions had given the commission 10 days to complete their investigations and forward the files to his office for appropriate action

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NEWS

Clinical Leicester beat Chelsea to resume Premier league top spot

Hockey side telkom orange seek first win against hosts sharks

Students oppose plans to increase varsity fees

U

niversity students have today reacted angrily to proposals to increase tuition fees at public institutions of higher learning.

It was reported yesterday that Vice-Chancellors of public universities were to meet with Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i today to discuss proposals to increase fees.

While the outcome of that meeting remains unknown, students have declared their displeasure with the proposals terming it illadvised.

Led by Kenya Students University Organisation (KUSO) Chairperson Babu Owino, the students have warned Dr Matiangi of severe consequences if the plans are not shelved.

“We are here to strongly condemn the Cabinet Secretary for Education on plans to increase fees in our institutions barely days after he was appointed to the docket,” Babu Owino said warning that “we will not dialogue with anybody who has bad intentions to subject students to economic sufferings.”

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NO WAY: Kenya University Students Organisation Chairman Babu Owino speaks to the media at Jevanjee Gardens earlier today where they opposed plans to increase university fees. They threatened to stage protests if the plans are not dropped.

How climate change will impact on Africa

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Environment CS Judy Wakhungu follow proceedings at the UN Climate Change talks in Paris, France early this month.

It took two weeks for negotiators from 195 countries to finally pass the landmark climate accord last weekend after several espressofueled all-nighters and long and passionate debates.

Fifty-four African nations have adopted a unified position, calling for an agreement to limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century.

It is a more ambitious target than the 2C previously favoured by many developed nations and which is generally regarded as the

gateway to dangerous warming.

Africa is expected to be one of the continents hardest hit by climate change, with an increase in severe droughts, floods and storms expected to threaten the health of populations and economies alike.

Part of that vulnerability is simply down to geography - already the hottest continent, Africa is expected to warm up to 1.5 times faster than the global average, according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the recognised global

authority on climate science.

However, it’s not just about where people live, but also whether they are prepared for what’s coming.

With one in four people in sub-Saharan Africa still living in extreme poverty, hundreds of millions of people do not have the same safety net afforded those in wealthier, industrialised nations. For a continent which has barely contributed to climate change, many argue that Africa will bear a disproportionate burden.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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NEWS TUESDAY,DECEMBER 15, 2015

No report yet on Eurobond probe as Tobiko’s deadline runs out The 10-day deadline the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko gave to the Ethics and AntiCorruption Commission to complete investigations into claims that Eurobond proceeds were squandered have elapsed without any report from the anti-graft agency.

Tobiko had on December 4 issued the directive ordering that the probe be expedited and files be forwarded to his office in 10 days.

But until today, EACC was still carrying out its investigations.

EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo said they will submit the report soon, without specifically telling journalists when the DPP will get the files.

“As directed by the DPP, we have been working well with all the agencies and will hand in the report to the DPP for the next action,” he said.

“The commission is currently progressing with investigations on the subject matter on high priority basis and will submit a report as soon as these investigations are complete,” Waqo added.

On December 2, the Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko directed police and the anti-graft body to investigate Eurobond fraud allegations within ten days and report to him for action.

Tobiko directed the two bodies to interrogate record statements and obtain evidence from all parties

OUT OF TIME: EACC Chief Executive Halakhe Waqo (right) addresses the press at Integrity Center yesterday. The Commission has failed to conclude investigations into the Eurobond saga within the ten-day deadline given to them by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keriako Tobiko.

concerned and forward the completed file to his office for perusal.

“I am informed that your respective agencies have commenced and undertaking investigations into the matter (Eurobond).This is therefore to direct you to interrogate, record statements and obtain evidence from all parties concerned and forward the completed file to my office within ten days,” Tobiko said.

Waqo confirmed that the commission

had interrogated Cabinet Secretary for Treasury Henry Rotich, Principal Secretary Kamau Thuge, the Controller of Budget, the Auditor General, manager financial market department in charge of external payments and reserve management, Deputy Accountant General and other persons not in government but had information regarding the Eurobond.

“We cannot divulge the kind of

information we have gathered so far from these individuals but give us time to complete our work,” Waqo said.

The opposition coalition through party leader Raila Odinga has claimed that over Sh140 billion from the Eurobond cannot be accounted for.

Raila said Eurobond was turning to be one of the greatest theft in Kenyan history, adding that Kenyans must be told about the missing monies.

Varsity students oppose plans to increase fees From Page 1

Mr Owino who is also the Chairman of the Students Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU) threatened to stage a series of ‘violent’ demonstrations if their concerns are not heeded by the minister.

In the report yesterday, sources had disclosed that the new fees will be pegged on the costs of each degree programme according to the proposals. Vice Chancellors of various universities were expected to present a report suggesting the unit cost of each programme.

The report added that fees for some programmes such as medicine could be increased to as high as Sh500,000.

The government would then decide the number of students it will sponsor

per programme in each university and the share of the fees it will pay, then students will top up the rest.

At present, the government allocates a uniform Sh120,000 per student the varying costs of the degree programmes.

But the students are warning that they will not accept any attempts to increase the levies.

Owino said that education is a fundamental right and they will not allow anybody to sabotage the university education system by increasing varsity fees.

“Anybody imagining of increasing university fees is committing a crime. CS Matiangi should just relax and be shown the way matters of university affairs are run,” he said.

Kenya University Students Organisation Chairman Babu Owino speaks to journalists at the Jevanjee Gardens in Nairobi today. Students have opposed plans by the ministry of Education to increase university tuition fees.

Onyonka: AU silence on Burundi crisis defeaning Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka has urged the African Union to call for an urgent summit to discuss the current crisis in Burundi.

Onyonka said the crisis in Burundi should be handled immediately before more lives are lost.

“The deafening silence of the African Union on this matter is worrying, there needs to be a solution, we need to see Burundi in peace and its people continue with their activities normally,” he said.

The former Foreign Affairs assistant minister and a one-time ambassador to Burundi said solutions to the Burundi crisis must start with the East African leadership.

“East African leaders need to treat Burundi as an emergency, Burundi must be handled with care,” said Onyonka.

The legislator urged African leaders to respect the constitution over term limits to avoid causing unnecessary political tension within their respective countries.

“In Africa, we have seen President’s changing the constitution to suit them or to go for another term that is not anchored in law,” he said.

“If the constitution says that a Head of State need to serve for two terms, let it be so and leave others also to serve.” Onyonka said African Union must make sure that all diplomatic avenues are explored before sending AU forces.

Protests in Burundi began in April when President Nkurunziza vied for a third term despite the constitution capping the term limit of a President to only two. Onyonka, however, called for dialogue in Burundi with the parties involved, saying it’s possible to negotiate for a coalition government just like in Kenya and bring the crisis to an end.

“It is fallacious to say that Burundi would be peaceful if President Pierre Nkurunziza vied for a third, we need diplomats to understand the issues in Burundi and work out a way in which people can live peacefully,” Onyonka said.

Recent wave of violence broke out last week with at least 87 people killed after three military sites were attacked, Burundi’s army said. But US rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Sunday called for an investigation into the killings claiming there were executions.

Witnesses told AFP that some of those killed were shot executionstyle with their arms tied round their backs.

Carina Tertsakian, HRW’s researcher for Burundi, called for a “serious and independent” enquiry into the killings.

More than 220,000 have fled Burundi since the crisis erupted in April, sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term. He was re-elected in a disputed July vote.

NE WS 3 NEWS TUESDAY, DECEMBER NOVENBER 10, 15, 2015

State turns heat on governors in row over maternity funds The government has turned the heat on governors in the row over maternity funds accusing the county chiefs of failure to release the cash in good time to respective health facilities.

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has attributed delays experienced in releasing free maternity funds in some counties to the sluggish manner by some county administrators to ensure the money reaches the hospitals in good time. He refuted claims by the Council of Governors that the ministry was withholding Sh2 billion free maternity funds saying

by December 9, they had released Sh1.4 billion to the counties.

“Free maternity services is a flagship project of the national government and the funds to county health facilities are conditional grants which are disbursed on the basis of returns submitted by individual counties from previously disbursed funds and that the funds have reached individual facilities,” he said.

In a statement to newsrooms on Monday, Macharia attached a document detailing how much funds all the counties have received for the free maternity programme.

For instance, Meru County has so far this year received over Sh274 million while Machakos got Sh1.6 billion. Macharia further called on the county administrators to expeditiously kick off the dis-

NEWS BRIEF

CID officer shot dead in Nairobi

A CID officer attached to Parliament was last night shot dead in a robbery in Kiamumbi area, Nairobi. The officer was in the company of his son and were headed home when their car got stuck in mud. Three men then suddenly emerged and tried to help push them out. But in the process, one of them pulled out a gun and shot him in the head as his son watched. They then stole unknown amount of money and other valuables from the victims before escaping on foot. No arrest has been made so far.

Commuter shot dead in matatu Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia. He has accused governors of failing to release cash for maternity services to hospitals in time.

bursement process of the funds to the respective health facilities.

He said a further Sh400 million is being processed for remittance before December 31.

On December 9, the Council of Governors threatened to withdraw free maternity services in counties if the national government does not disburse cash meant for maternity fees at county hospitals.

Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya said the annual allocation for maternity fees from the national government for the 2015/2016 financial year stood at

Sh4.2 billion with the Ministry of Health only disbursing Sh1.2 billion as of December 9.

Munya said the counties have been compelled to draw from their own resources to cater for the same, thus constraining their resources. “The free maternity fees allocations by the national government to the counties is not working, counties are not receiving the allocations from the Ministry of Health which has consistently withheld the money as documentation from the National Treasury illustrates that the mon-

ey has already been disbursed to the ministry subsequent to counties,” explained Munya at a presser at the Council of Governors offices in Westlands, Nairobi.

He added that last financial year the Ministry of Health did not disburse Sh1.1 billion.

“We are demanding that the Ministry of Health dis- More on this story at burses this money to the counties immediately otherwise we will be compelled to draw from our own resources,” he added. www.capitalfm.co.ke

Police are looking for a gang that shot dead a passenger in a matatu in Buruburu area in what is suspected to be a robbery attack. The woman was shot at close range after she resisted to surrender her purse to the attackers.

Police say the matatu was picking passengerson its way to the city center when some of the passengers who were armed confronted the woman who was also inside as a passenger and demanded that she surrenders the bag she had. And when she resisted, they shot her at close range and grabbed the bag as other passengers watched before storming out

Wounded patient arrested in Kayole A patient who went to a hospital in Nairobi with gunshot wounds seeking for medical attention has been arrested.

The man had gone to Mama Lucy to seek treatment to his wounds when police arrived and picked him up after he had been attended to.

CJSIT car donation actualises distant dream for disabled taxi-driver It looked like a very distant dream ten years ago for Dennis Ouko. At just 21 and disabled, he knew there was little he could accomplish

in a world where survival of the fittest is the mantra. He wanted to become a driver. And not just that. A taxi driver operating his own

DREAM COME TRUE: Mr Dennis Ouko greets National Council for Persons with Disabilities CEO Mohammed Gabbow during a ceremony at the Monarch Hotel in Nairobi yesterday where he was presented with a brand new car to start his taxi business. Looking on is Colin Javen Spinal Injury Trust founder Colin Javel and Rocky Driving School boss Noorani Rocky (back shown).

business. He held on to the dream. Soon in 2006, help came along. The National Council for Persons with Disabilities together with Rocky Driving School identified Ouko as one of the people they would take through training to actualise their dreams of becoming professional drivers.

Rocky Driving School which prides itself as the only training institution for disabled drivers in the region ensured he got the necessary skills in a specially designed car.

But after that training, Ouko still took four years as a co-driver in a taxi business in Karen before he was eventually cleared to drive on his own. But still, getting his own car to enable him start his own taxi business remained a challenge until yesterday when luck again smile at him.

Colin Javens Spinal Injury Trust (CJSIT) in partnership with Rocky Driving School donated to him a car as what CJSIT said was part of its pilot microfinance project to support persons living with disability to start business in Kenya.

The CJSIT trust which provides a loan (in the form of a vehicle) to disabled persons to start their microfinance projects to boost their economic empowerment is in Kenya to help the physically handicapped drivers trained by

Rocky Driving School to start taxi businesses.

Dennis Ouko was their first beneficiary.

While expressing his delight, the father of two, termed the donation a new dawn for the disabled saying he would use the opportunity to venture into taxi business and help create employment for the physically challenged.

“I am delighted to receive this car as it’s a dream come true; it will help me start my taxi business and create employment opportunities” said Ouko. The donated car is a generally handcontrols that are empowering and enabling disabled people like Dennis to drive, regardless of the physical limitations created by their impairments.

Colins Javens; who is also a disabled driver and the founder Colin Javens Spinal Injury trust; recently returned to Kenya to commence a new initiative providing microfinance loans to people with disabilities in Kenya.

He challenged the society not to alienate the disabled persons on their basis of disability ensure equality in all spheres of life including business.

“The physically handicapped are human beings who can as well play a part in economic development. By empowering Dennis Ouko to start off his taxi business we are empowering him to be self-reliant in his life,” he said.

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NEWS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Many Kenyans want more info on tobacco: report At least 89 per cent of Kenyans want more information on tobacco packages to create awareness on the health risks among users, a National Study Evaluation Report on Tobacco use has revealed. The report also reveals the growing need for more pictorial warnings advertisements, adding that the current ones are ineffective to alert the more than 3 million tobacco users in the country.

During the launch of the evaluation report today at Nairobi’s Panafric Hotel, Health ministry official Francis Musyimi warned that figures would rise in the coming years as a result of poor enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act, 2007. “As a country we have not properly instituted the regulations provided in the Tobacco Regulations Act, 2007 leading to rise in tobacco users in the country,” said Musymi. The Tobacco Control Act provides for advertisement of health warnings on tobacco packaging’s, ban on the sale of single stick cigarettes, ban on smoking in public places and forbidding sales of tobacco products to minors.

He said the Finance Act, 2012 passed

by Parliament to raise duty rates on tobacco have been watered down by new regulations to an extent robbed the Tobacco Control Board (TCB) powers to enforce its mandate.

Musymi has also urged Parliament, the Kenya Revenue authority (KRA) and the National Treasury to come up with more punitive tax regulations to curb the country’s tobacco prevalence.

According to the report, Kenya taxation on tobacco is still way below the World Health Organisation (WHO) Standards which has made tobacco prevalence in Kenya higher than the rest of the 23 countries that ratified the WHO Framework Convection on Tobacco Control (FCTC) policy in 2004.

President Obama: US hitting ISIS harder than ever before

TALKING TOUGH: US President Barack Obama during his state of the nation address at Pentagon, Washington last night. He said US-allied forces will continue shelling ISIS bases in Syria to tackle the spread of terrorism.

The US is hitting so-called Islamic State (IS) harder than ever, President Barack Obama has said.

More air strikes were launched against the group in November than in any other month, he said in a Pentagon speech.

In recent weeks, the US-led coalition has killed a number of its leaders and attacked the oil facilities it uses to finance its operations, he added.

Mr Obama has been seeking to reassure the public following an attack in California that killed 14 people. The two suspects were a radicalised Muslim couple who struck weeks after the killing of 130 people by Islamist gunmen

in Paris. Around 9,000 air strikes have been launched against the group since the start of the campaign in the summer of 2014.

Noting that IS had lost 40% of the territory it once controlled in Iraq, Mr Obama said that the terror group had not had a single successful ground operation in either Syria or Iraq since the summer.

He cautioned that the US and its partners faced “a very tough fight ahead”.

Mr Obama listed the militant group’s leaders who had been targeted and killed.

Using another acronym for the group, he said: “The point is, Isil

leaders cannot hide and our next message to them is simple: ‘You are next.’”

Among those listed was Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaitiborn British militant known as Jihadi John, who appeared in videos of the beheadings of Western hostages and who was killed last month.

On Thursday, the president will visit the National Counterterrorism Center in Virginia where he is expected to receive a briefing and then speak.

The two visits come as Mr Obama tries to reassure a wary US public of his strategy against the militant group. Just over a week ago, he

gave a major televised speech with the same objective and to warn against anti-Muslim sentiment.

Critics of his strategy continue to ratchet up pressure.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, said on Monday: “It’s obvious that the president’s current strategy isn’t working.

“Far from being contained much less defeated - Isis has now extended the reach of its terror farther than ever before.”

In recent weeks, US fears of a terror attack have swelled, with about 70% of Americans saying the risk of an attack in the US is at least “somewhat high”.

Don’t shy away from business: First Lady First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has challenged young women to take up business opportunities to contribute in socio economic development.

“We recognise the role that Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance have been playing towards these efforts. I hope that our young women will be inspired to emulate these successes”, she said.

Speaking during the ‘Women in Business Dinner’ in honour of H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, at the National Museum of Kenya, Nairobi, Mrs Kenyatta (pictured) said the Constitution provides an enabling environment for businesses initiated and driven by women to thrive.

“The Constitution empowers women entrepreneurs by providing

them with easily accessible financial incentives through the Women Enterprise Fund. As well, the procurement regulation that allocates 30 per cent economic opportunities to the youth allows female-driven start-ups to succeed”, she said.

The First Lady lauded the government’s role in empowering women in Kenya, saying the government had opened space for women to operate in a fair, friendly and favourable environment socially, politically and economically.

The dinner was to celebrate the great strides that Kenyan women have made in business and more so the contributions women continue to make to the socio-economic development of the African continent.

“Women have broken down barriers

and entered into sectors that in the past have been dominated by men.

The impacts made by women in the corporate and business world have been recognised most recently in the Top 40 Women under 40,” she said.

The First Lady also recognised President Sirleaf ’s role as the first African Woman President and the successes she had made in steering Liberia over the past nine years.

She presented Johnson with the Kenya Business Community: Socio Economic and Sustainable Development Award, 2015 for her contribution in championing the cause for women in business in Liberia and in Africa.

“Your leadership has been tested and we have seen your determination in the face of a devastating virus, Ebola that recently hit your country”, she said.

NEWS 5

5 ways climate change will affect Africa TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

From Page 1 Even today, during a period of unprecedented industrialisation on the continent, Africa accounts for less than 4% of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, which experts say are responsible for global warming.

Here are some of the key ways the IPCC predicts climate change will affect Africa: 1. Farming will mostly become harder The IPCC says it has “high confidence” that rising temperatures and unpredictable rains will make it harder for farmers to grow certain key crops like wheat, rice and maize (corn).

For example, it predicts that by 2050, yields for maize in Zimbabwe and South Africa could decrease by more than 30%.

One prominent climate scientist has used IPCC data to predict that by 2100, Chad, Niger and Zambia could lose practically their entire farming sector due to climate change.

This scenario is especially worrying when you consider that, according to the World Bank, agriculture employs two in three people in sub-Saharan Africa and accounts for a third of GDP. 2. But there will be some new farming opportunities When it comes to farming, climate change may take with one hand and give with the other.

So, as it becomes harder to grow maize in southern Africa, it could become easier to grow it in the highland areas of East Africa in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, though the overall picture for cereal crops in Africa is still a pessimistic one, the latest IPCC

STARING AT DOOM: Boys walk in the dry patches of Turkana County, Kenya in search of water. Africa will be the worst affected continent by the effects of climate change.

report says.

The challenge to agriculture may also force farmers to be more savvy with their choice of crops.

If climate change means it no longer makes sense to grow maize in certain regions, another staple, cassava, a root vegetable which has a “hardiness to higher temperatures and sporadic rainfall” and is already widely consumed on the continent, could provide a viable alternative, it says.

3. Malnutrition Food insecurity, one of the key threats from climate change, will necessarily have a knock-on impact on people’s health.

The IPCC reports that in Mali by 2025, 250,000 children are expected to suffer stunting, or chronic malnutrition, and that “climate change will cause a statistically significant proportion” of these cases.

Although the rate of undernourishment in sub-Saharan Africa is coming down (it now stands at just under 1 in 4 people), the overall numbers have increased because of the rapid birth rate in recent decades.

By 2050, the population of subSaharan Africa is expected to more than double to 1.9 billion. That means even more mouths to feed at a time when the agricultural sector could well be struggling.

are likely to benefit from the warmer temperatures, but malarial mosquitoes, causing increased epidemics of Africa’s biggest killer, and introducing the disease to altitudes above 2,000 metres, which have so far been considered out of harm’s way.

This new threat looms even though Africa has managed to reduce its malaria mortality rate by more than a third since the turn of the century.

4. Malaria The IPCC admits that “the complexity of disease transmission” makes it incredibly difficult to say which diseases may become more or less prevalent as a result of climate change. But it does offer one confident prediction for the highland areas of East Africa, which are among the most densely populated on the continent.

According to the reports’ authors, it is not only maize crops which

5. Water shortages One of the biggest threats facing the continent is also one of the hardest for scientists to definitively pin on climate change.

Water scarcity is driven by so many other factors, such as population growth, rapid urbanisation and changes to the way land is being used, that it has not yet been possible to figure out exactly how climate change will add to the mix.

Added to this, many African

countries are already under high levels of “water stress”, and 95% of farmed land in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to be rain-fed.

“Water is life - with no water, Africa will be a dead continent,” Opha Pauline Dube, Associate Professor at the University of Botswana and review author of the latest IPCC Africa report, told the BBC. “Further water scarcity will negatively affect food production, trigger several diseases and worsen energy shortages which are already constraining development in many African countries,” she adds.

Unreliable rainfall in the future will also play a big part in any crisis over water resources, but frustratingly again for scientists, it is much harder to make confident predictions about rain than it is about temperature.

The IPCC has predicted that rainfall is expected to decrease in northern Africa and parts of southern Africa.

Despite this uncertainty, three contributing authors to the Africa report told the BBC that changes in rainfall were the single impact of climate change on the continent which they were most worried about.

Africa will need to act to reduce man-made climate change as well as putting in place strategies to deal with those which cannot be avoided, but it is not going to be cheap.

The continent will need $2030bn every year for the next two decades, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB), and African negotiators will be looking to developed nations in Paris to make firm financial commitments as well as agreeing to curb emissions.

In the words of AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina last week at the summit in Paris: “Africa has been short-changed by climate change. Africa must not be short-changed by climate finance.”

Top stories from X News global partners

Obama warns leaders Merkel Defies Human development: Loot and of Islamic State in Conservative Critics of 25 years of progress: underpin isn’t everything. That’s the idea speech;‘you are next’: Her Refugee Policy: With Money economy: As behind the United Nations’ Human Barack Obama sought to reassert himself as commander-in-chief on Monday, standing with military top brass at the Pentagon and warning leaders of Islamic State: “You are next.” The blunt tone, with its echoes of President George W Bush’s reference to “Wanted, dead or alive” posters in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks, appeared intent on defying critics who accuse the president of lacking aggression against jihadists in Iraq and Syria. But it disappointed those seeking a change of direction. Flanked by VicePresident Joe Biden, the defence secretary, Ash Carter, and three military generals, Obama condemned Isis leaders as thugs, thieves and killers. www.theguardian.com

maneuvering behind the scenes and a strong appeal to various factions in her party, Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday muted conservative criticism of opening Germany to an estimated one million refugees this year and insisted that Germans would succeed in absorbing the intake “because it is part of the identity of this country to do great things.” Ms. Merkel had come under fire from several blocs in her Christian Democratic Union for refusing to put a cap on the number of new arrivals. But at a party meeting, she deflected her opponents by promising that the number would drop.

www.nytimes.com

Development Index, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. It incorporates measures for income, life expectancy and education into a single development score, which is designed to give a holistic sense of how a country is doing.

The latest report is published today, providing a good opportunity to chart progress over the past 25 years. Rwanda has made the most progress, which is all the more impressive given that its level of development fell during the genocide of 1994. Rwandans can now expect to live almost 32 years longer than in 1990, and spend twice as long at school.

www.economist.com

levies jihadi

Isis officials announced a religious tithe known as zakat last summer, Mansour, a 26-yearold grocery storekeeper in eastern Syria, stalled payment while he tried to cook his books. A week later, four Isis officials stormed into his shop, ordered him outside, and tallied the bill themselves — to his dismay they based their calculation on the retail price of his stock. There were no price tags on the tinned beef, so one tax collector rode around town on his motorbike comparing canned beef prices in other stores. Five hours later, the audit was complete. The bill: 32,500 Syrian lira (about $108). www.ft.com

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xnews | Tuesday, DeCEMBER 15, 2015 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

Blair-Uhuru meeting to help drive development President Uhuru Kenyatta and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair met at State House, Nairobi yesterday as part of Blair’s Africa Governance Initiative’s ongoing work in the country.

The Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) works with African governments to strengthen functions that are key to driving development across the region.

Other African countries working with AGI in development include Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

During their meeting, Blair and Kenyatta discussed development, focusing on the government’s priority areas for improving the lives of Kenyans.

The discussion follows President Kenyatta’s official opening of the Nairobi Fourth China Round Table, signaling the government’s ongoing commitment to working with foreign bodies to bolster the economy and improve the living standards of Kenyans.

The Round Table, which the President said is a ‘First’ for Africa, seeks to support development within Kenya’s borders.

“It is my belief that International cooperation is the key to resolving the collective socio-economic development challenges that face us all. It is the basis for stability, peace and security,” Kenyatta said in a statement yesterday.

“The China Round Table process has emerged as a valuable mechanism for

President Uhuru Kenyatta with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at State House, Nairobi yesterday. The two leaders discussed ways of improving lives of Kenyans.

policy dialogue aimed at strengthening the rules-based Multilateral Trading System. It is my hope that the China Round Table will lend support for the ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and for its early coming into force so that goods and services can flow more freely amongst countries; and in consequence create employment for the youth entering the job market,” he added.

Blair’s AGI mission is to support effective government in Africa. It

seeks to “make government work for the world’s poorest people.” The drive has been describes as a governmentled, politically-savvy initiative that is focused on impact.

“I have seen AGI’s impact in the way my Government functions and in its capacity to implement my priorities in health, agriculture and private sector development,” said President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who expressed his support for the initiative.

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

MEAN 102.0579 155.3103 112.1783 6.4778 33.6575 21.1645

BUY SELL 101.9628 102.1529 155.1461 155.4744 112.0572 112.2994 6.4707 6.4849 33.5771 33.7378 21.0958 21.2332

African leaders seek fair terms in the WTO As the long-waited conference kicks off today, African leaders are urging the World Trade Organisation to do more to support large scale agriculture in Africa and develop a new global approach to domestic subsidies.

The leaders have said they are optimistic to find ways to level the playing field as they seek a bigger role in global trade as well as maximising profits from the raw material they produce.

“Many of the developing countries, including Liberia, have been saying it is time to support agriculture,” Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sir leaf told Reuters in an interview, adding that Liberia needed technology and investment.

She said it is the time Africa pushed for reduced subsidies by wealthy countries especially for cotton production among other areas of farming since such support made it impossible for developing nations to compete.

However, according to observers, it would be diplomatically impossible for most Western countries to make those franchises, which are hugely popular in the countries that have them.

“We hope-I’m not sure that I can say with confidence it will happen - that the reduction in subsides for farmers in developed countries will take place,” she said.

The major challenge African countries will be facing is that the topics will cover global trade issue including pledges of trade assistance for poor nation despite the talks are being held in Africa.

This means, major beneficiaries from the global deal would be the world’s least-developed nations most of whom are excluded from regional trade talks.

President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday said in a speech that African countries had to do more to industrialise their economic but should not be put at a disadvantaged by high tariffs.

“African economies producing competitively should not be halted with defensive trade remedies,” Kenyatta said.

“Standards should not be the next frontier of protectionism.”

This is the first ever 162 member meeting of the trade body to be held in Africa since it came into existence.

2,800 staff to be laid off in planned Shell takeover deal Multinational oil and gas company, Royal Dutch Shell has said it will cut 2,800 jobs if its planned takeover of BG Group succeeds.

The proposed job cuts come just four months after Shell announced the sacking of 7,500 workers in July, though the deal is set to be completed early next year.

Head of Equities at financial company, Standard Life

Investments, David Cumming told the BBC that it was difficult to make the deal work with oil being below $ 40 (Sh4,000) a barrel, saying oil prices needed to be $60-70 (Sh6,100-Sh7,100) a barrel for the deal to work.

In April, Shell announced it had agreed to buy BG in a deal that valued the oil and gas exploration firm at about £47 billion (Sh7.2

trillion). However, its latest statement confirms that the planned job losses are part of its operational and administrative restructuring.

“Further detailed work will be undertaken on the details of the proposed restructuring as part of ongoing integration planning,” Shell said in a statement.

According to Shell chief executive Ben Van Beurden, the companies

are seeking approval from both sets of shareholders as they move towards the deal completion in early 2016.

Last week, the price of oil fell to seven-year lows, with both Brent crude and US crude now below $40 a barrel.

Speaking before Shell announced the plans for job cuts, Cumming said given the low oil price,

possible options were either for Shell to walk away from the deal, change the terms of the deal, or for shareholders to reject the deal.

“Shareholders could vote the deal down, and the break fee is pretty low, so I think Shell will come under pressure over the next few months to say how the deal is going to work,” added Cumming.

Capital alert D-Prize Sh2 million for aspiring entrepreneurs The D-prize, an award dedicated towards expanding access to poverty-alleviation solutions in the developing world, is inviting applicants to design a new social enterprise in exchange for Sh2 million in funding.

The prize seeks entrepreneurs that provide effective poverty solutions in terms of energy, education, health and other interventions.

The D-Prize will award 5 to 15 social entrepreneurs with funding.

The group will help successful pilot programmes by providing the initiatives’ founders with more funding. They will also help successful groups grow their initiatives to impact millions.

“D-Prize is a call to the world’s boldest entrepreneurs,” Divya Sharma, a spokesperson on behalf of the organisers said in a recent statement.

“If selected, we will award you up to $20,000 (Sh2 million) to launch

a pilot in Africa, India or another other developing region,” Sharma added.

The deadline for applications is December 30, 2015. Interested parties are advised to visit ‘d-prize. org’ for details.

D-Prize’s vision is to provide support for talented people who want to pilot new social ventures. The group hopes many of the pilots they fund will eventually grow to employ large numbers of field workers who

are distributing poverty solutions throughout the world. The drive seeks to significantly increase access to life-enhancing technologies in the developing world and provide impact in a measurable way. It saims to encourage young entrepreneurs to focus their talent on the developing world, pilot new solutions to distribution problems and launch new social ventures.

It also seeks to encourage a global dialogue on the importance of

leveraging distribution solutions for development. They believe the path to development is through solving distribution.

Applicant are therefore advised to focus on a number of selected initiatives such as Girl’s education, Energy, Education, Governance and Infrastructure and Global Health.

The D-Prize is an award for all aspiring entrepreneurs.

Applicants may come from anywhere in the world.

World Bank seeks new ideas to help world IDPs, refugees The World Bank’s Global Programme on Forced Displacement (GPFD) is calling for proposals for innovative and transformational ideas that can improve the development response to forced displacement.

These developments come just as the number of refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing conflict, violence and persecution reaches historic highs.

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) estimates that there were 309,200 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Kenya as of 24 April, 2015. This is the likely most recent informed estimate available for the country. The estimate does not include people forced to leave from 2008 onwards, although new displacements have continued to take place. Some 50,000 people were reported to be newly displaced in 2011, 112,000 in 2012, 55,000 in 2013 and more than 220,000 in 2014 This was mostly due to intercommunal violence. Although over the years many of the 309,200 IDPs have settled either locally,

or elsewhere in the country, or through return, no official assessment of their numbers and remaining protection needs was carried out.

The World Bank says that displacement tends to be protracted, and development programmes in origin, host, transit, and destination countries are urgently needed

to complement humanitarian assistance.

Sixty million people are now forcibly displaced globally as refugees, internally displaced persons and asylum seekers fleeing conflict and persecution.

“As displacement tends to be long term, this is a growing global crisis which requires an urgent development response.

In support of our goals to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity, we are working with our partners to help affected countries address this challenge, providing technical and financial support that can help both the displaced and their hosts across origin, transit and destination countries,” the global lnder has said

Sixty million people are now forcibly displaced globally as refugees, internally displaced persons and asylum seekers fleeing conflict and persecution.

Ericsson unveils video-on-demand in Kenya Telecommunications Equipment Supplier, Ericsson has introduced NuVu, a Video-on-Demand (VoD) subscription service aiming to ride on the rising demand for content carried on mobile devices.

NuVu is expecting to set the pace before other video-on-demand services like Netflix and Hulu officially make their entrant in the market.

NuVu is a partnership of Ericsson and Airtel as value added service to mobile operators and Kenya will be the second country to deploy the service in early 2016 after Nigeria.

Robert Rudin, Country Manager,

Ericsson Kenya says the streaming service will provide over 3,000 international and local shows and videos for as little as Sh 500 per month ‘all you can eat plan’ or Sh 200 per week for selected content.

“Content downloaded via NuVu will be secure as the platform offers Digital Rights Management.

This protects content from piracy, an important consideration especially for content producers,” says Rudin.

The service allows subscribers to download content to their mobile devices at no additional cost by using off peak network hours and has been optimized to be light on battery usage on smartphones.

Using the off-peak download model, NuVu aims to optimize network usage by operators as well as make it cheaper for subscribers to download content.

NuVu comes at a time when telcos are seeking to consolidate data revenues by offering consumers with attractive data bundles.

However, Over-the-top barriers like high cost of content and data for consumers, network quality, piracy and low content revenue have prevented consumers to fully appropriate the benefits of connected mobile devices.

Ericsson’s VoD service is fueled by a report by Consumer lab that reveals smartphones and tablets

have become the second most popular form of entertainment among Kenyans after television.

According to the report, the versatility of mobile devices has allowed Kenyans to watch TV and video content throughout the day in different locations and on different devices.

“Overall, 46 percent are interested in mobile video-on-demand with young, white-collar professionals showing the strongest interest at 53 percent. The key barrier to their adoption is lack of speed and reliability of the internet connection,” states the TV and Media report for Kenya.

Kenya Power, AFD in Sh6b power pact Kenya Power Managing Director Dr Ben Chumo and Regional Director Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Yves Boudot have signed a financing agreement in the of a €56m (Sh6 billion) loan to Kenya Power. The funds will partially support the implementation of the company’s Distribution Masterplan for 2012-2030. The investments will strengthen and expand the distribution network in Mombasa, Kisumu and Nairobi. Upon implementation, the projects are expected to decrease the number of power shortage and increase reliability. This will allow Kenya Power

to increase its income and will help the industries situated in regions covered by the project to better manage their costs (by limiting the need for private generators).

In addition, the projects will enable the company reduce technical losses through improved energy efficiency of around 10 GWh / year. This reduction of technical losses will further strengthen the financial performance of Kenya Power and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 4,000 tons of CO2 eq. / year. At the same time, the Distribution Masterplan projects will increase the distribution network

capacity and, consequently, will contribute to improve the living conditions of the population.

This financing is provided by Kenya Power at AFD own’s risks, without the guarantee of the Government of Kenya. It highlights the very good financial performance of Kenya Power and the confidence of AFD in this company and the overall Kenyan electricity sector. Chumo said “this financing is one of the first of its kind and is a clear indication that Kenya Power has come of age to directly access financial resources to invest in its network”.

BUSINESS 7 TUESDAY,DECEMBER 15, 2015

BIZ BRIEFS Nairobi-Mombasa phase 1 railway 60 per cent complete

The construction of the Mombasa to Nairobi railway is 60 per cent complete and is expected to be completed in June 2017. It is the first phase of the project and the next phase is soon to follow.

These developments come just as Kenyan firms have supplied goods and services worth Sh36billion to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). Atanas Maina , Kenya Railways’ Managing Director says local content has been key as locals expected to reap more form the railway. He says more than 100 companies are supplying to the contractors while over 30,000 have been employed.

Kenya Railways has already secured about 90 per cent of the land required to implement the project at a cost of Sh12 billion. The total cost of the First Phase is Sh327 billion. Out of the total cost, Sh294.3billion -- which is 90 per cent of the project -- was financed by the EXIM Bank of China while the Government of Kenya will contribute Sh32.7billion.

Zambia stares poverty as sub-Saharan Africa suffers external shocks Zambia’s growth is expected to fall below 4 per cent in 2015 after years of 6.4 per cent average growth between 2010 and 2014, according to the sixth World Bank Zambia Economic Brief. The news follows successive years of political stability and strong economic growth.

It has been revealed that in this trend, Zambia is not alone. African economies are facing difficult global conditions combined with domestic challenges. Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth, in particular, will slow in 2015 to 3.7 per cent from 4.6 per cent in 2014, according to World Bank projections.

Dropping prices of oil, copper and iron ore, slowdown of Chinese economy and tightening global financial conditions are the main factors causing this deceleration in growth in the region and particularly in Zambia.

New Star Wars film gets world premier The hotly-anticipated latest addition in the Star Wars film franchise, ‘The Force Awakens’, has had its world premiere in Los Angeles, US just hours ago.

The film, which features Kenya’s own Lupita Nyongo, is expected to make hundreds of millions of dollars in the box office in the coming weeks.

The world premiere itself has taken over three different cinemas, and 4,000 guests are expected. Security has been tight with everyone entering the area around the event subject to bag searches and metal detectors.

Disney, the studio behind the film, is hoping this will all give this new Star Wars movie a stellar launch. They paid more than $4bn (Sh400 billion) for the rights to the franchise.

8

BUSINESS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Argentine President to cut tax on agri exports Argentina’s new President Mauricio Macri has announced he is signing a decree slashing the country’s steep taxes on agricultural exports, the BBC reports. He said he would lift export taxes on Argentine wheat, corn, sorghum and beef and cut the tax on soya by 5 per cent.

The country is one of the world’s largest livestock and grain producers. Correspondents say Argentina’s output is now expected to increase, which may push world food prices to drop further. Macri took office last Thursday. He had made it a central campaign pledge to slash taxes on agricultural exports.

The taxes had triggered years of tension and rebellion by producers against former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s administration.

Farmers had accused the government of forcing the agricultural industry to bear an unfair share of the national tax burden, hurting the country’s international competitiveness.

They have been stockpiling their crops hoping for better sale conditions.”We can double Argentina’s food production,” Mr.Macri told farmers, encouraging them to grow more to revitalize the agricultural sector.

Former President Fernandez de Kirchner had fought the farmers since protests over her tax policies paralyzed the agriculture sector and rocked her government in 2008.

Moonfruit takes website offline amid cuberattack threat Thousands of businesses and personal websites have been taken offline by web host Moonfruit, after it was threatened with a cyberattack.

The company has made its website unavailable for up to 12 hours starting at 10:00 GMT to make infrastructure changes.

One business owner told BBC that “it was very bad timing.”

On 10 December, the company said it had been hit by a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack.

The attacker’s bombarded the company’s computers to overwhelm them with traffic, so they could not serve its legitimate users.

Film-maker Reece de Ville said: “They have been slow to communicate via their website what is going on?”

“I’m going to have hundreds of people finding my site today but not being able to access it. I could be losing out on a lot of money from potential clients, and they may not come back,’’ Reece de Ville said.

Keep calm, security’s tight, Nkaissery assures Kenyans Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary, Maj. Gen (rtd) Joseph Nkaissery has assured Kenyans that the country will remain secure as the10th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference kicks off.

The CS has told the public that over the next four days, residents will witness a beehive of activities in and around Nairobi.

“As the Ministry of Interior, we have taken adequate measures to ensure the safety of all Kenyans and the Conference participants

throughout this period and beyond.

Security has been heightened and will remain so, during this period to deter any unwelcome actions,” Nkaissery said in a statement released yesterday.

Among measures in place are the deployment of adequate security agents in all key areas such as the airport, routes, conference venue, hotels, parking areas, accreditation centre and WTO social events, as well as the creation of a buffer zone that encompasses the conference venue and adjacent government buildings, roads and parking areas.

The Ministry has also taken

measures to ensure that each delegate is accorded befitting protection during their stay in Kenya.

The CS said the government has made appropriate traffic arrangements to ensure smooth flow of traffic and avoid any disruptions.

The Ministry has also set up enhanced access control points around the conference venue.

“I take this opportunity also, to urge all Kenyans to oblige with the measures put in place during this period. We have done this to guarantee our own safety as well as that of our visitors. We have

Some of the delegates attending the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Meeting at KICC yesterday..

also done this very carefully to ensure no disruption to normal operations within and around the city,” said Nkaissery.

The 10th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference was officially opened at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi and will run until December 18. This world event brings together more than 6,000 delegates from 161 countries, the private sector, international bodies and observers.

“Since last year, we have been busy at work to ensure adequate preparations for this event, which is taking place in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. I now wish to confirm to the nation that the delegations started arriving over the weekend,” the CS said.

He noted that security preparations for the event have benefited from the government’s experience over the last 12 months with managing and securing global events. The CS sited Kenya;’s hosting of Her Excellency Sirleaf Johnson, the President of the Republic of Liberia -- who is still in the country to attend the WTO – as proof of the states ability to safely accommodate foreign delegates.

He also cited Pope Francis’s three day visit and US President Barack Obama’s tour of Kenya earlier this year.

World failed to create 19 million new jobs in 2012, new study now reveals

The world failed to create 19 million new jobs in 2012 alone and has failed to do the same in recent years, new studies have revealed.

According to a new World Bank Group report, improving the competitiveness of cities is a vital pathway to eliminating extreme poverty and promoting prosperity for a country’s citizens.

Launched just days ago, the study dubbed, Competitive Cities for Jobs and Growth: What, Who, and How analyses 750 cities to determine what makes them competitive and how they have grown their economies. It provides a catalogue of urban data that city officials can use to benchmark their performance.

Three quarters of the cities studied in the report grew faster than their national economies since the early 2000’s, the report finds, but there is still room for improvement.

Millions of jobs can be created if more cities performed at the level of the most competitive ones.

The report finds that to achieve success, competitive cities did not always overhaul their existing economies. Very often they simply became better at what they already did, leveraging their comparative advantage, especially when exporting tradable goods and services to other cities and countries.

“The private sector accounts for almost 75 per cent of jobs created worldwide. To spur growth and become successful, cities must focus on expanding existing firms, creating new ones, and attracting investors in order to create more jobs, boost incomes of citizens, and grow,” said Anabel Gonzalez, Senior Director, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank Group.

The report looks at global and regional trends, comparing different types of cities—by income, sector, region, and industrial mix.

It found that competitive cities include more than capital cities,

or global centers of commerce.

They are often secondary cities that are experiencing rapid industrialisation, such as Saltillo, Mexico; Meknes and Tangier, Morocco; Coimbatore, India; Gaziantep, Turkey; Bucaramanga, Colombia; Onitsha, Nigeria; and Changsha, China.

“There is no single recipe for becoming a competitive city, but, as the report highlights, common patterns can be identified and specific techniques can be recommended to city authorities designing and implementing economic development strategies,” said Ede Jorge IjjaszVasquez, a Senior Director at the World Bank Group.

Beyond the private sector, the report highlights how competitive cities concentrated interventions on institutions and regulations, infrastructure and land, skills and innovation, and enterprise support and finance. The most successful cities carefully adapted

their interventions to their political economy, their economic opportunities and to the needs of their domestic firms.

In the most successful competitive cities, business leaders were consulted about their needs and the constraints they encountered in their operations.

Also, infrastructure investments were made in collaboration with the firms and the industries they aimed to serve.

The report found that in competitive cities, skills initiatives were designed in partnership with firms, ensuring that curricula addressed their practical needs; and It also affirmed that in the most successful competitive cities, industries were supported where they had real commercial potential, through collective initiatives with the private sector rather than through the public sector alone.

Funding for the report came from the Competitive Industries and Innovation Program (CIIP).

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

ACCESS topstory

fashionscoop

11

From snowy white Diani beaches, to exceptional Villa rosa presiDential suites to glorious inlanD Fresh water laKes, none in the worlD beats our magical Kenya

YEs 254 sTiLL RocKs:

Kenya tops Tourism oscars for Best safari Destination

i

t is official, an epitome of splendor, unmatched wilderness, Kenya is the 2015 best Safari Destination of the World.

After consulting with the four corners of the world, World Travel Awards (WTA), “The Oscars of travel and tourism industry,” found none that is a match to this grandeur of Safari.

From snowy white Diani beaches, to exceptional Villa Rosa presidential suites to glorious inland fresh water seas, none in the world beats our Magical Kenya. Who would have thought?

We scooped over a dozen accolades beating South Africa,

all we have to do is learn how to roll our tongues and ooze with the phrase Ni Hao (Chinese for how are you?)

Then there is the corruption dragon. We must slay it by the roots and part ways with those who wake up in the morning to ensure that we have our national carrier and the pride of Africa delay flights and those that make our national football team leave a hotel using the back door because of uncleared bills, stopped.

Then we as ordinary citizens must love Kenya enough to experience it and praise it.

It is the festive season we can sleep better because we topped 2015 but will 2016 be better? We can do it, oh yes we can!.

HOT

Media is mourning ahmed Darwesh K

enyans and the Media fraternity continue to mourn the passing on of KTN’s Swahili news anchor Ahmed Darwesh. Darwesh is said to have passed on early last night.

He was found in his sitting room’s sofa after what it believed to be a diabetic attack. Darwesh, will be remembered by many for his prowess in Swahili reporting.

His colourful career saw him work across almost all major TV stations.

pierra makena

TOPICS

chameleon is ready for a mega show Jose Chameleon is expected to land in the country tomorrow. The ValuValu hit maker is scheduled to headline this year’s finale of the Koroga festival. Chameleon will be performing alongside Ken Wa Maria and J.B. Maina at the arboretum this Sunday.

Chameleon

the late ahmed darwesh

Botswana, Tanzania, and even Uncle Bob’s Zimbabwe. Our game and game reserves are tops, our heritage and culture is awesome and our hospitality is a hotbed of absolute bliss.

But what does this mean for us?

Even as we take time out to celebrate, we need to up our game in areas that create a hindrance to unreserved brilliance.

Industry players and citizens all agree that terrorism and acts of terrorism which have become a quagmire should be dealt with once and for all. We all know that it is a nightmare that bedeviled Kenya as the true congeniality of Safari.

Further, there is a need to look to the wider world.A world unbeknown to us that consist of more than 2 billion potential tourists. With China in mind

pierra Makena is top female DJ in africa Curvy female DJ Pierra Makena has every reason to smile. Pierra scooped the second position and 140th female DJ in the world in the Top 150’s DJanes of 2015.

She took to social media to thank her fans who voted for her saying that she was humbled and lucky to have been recognized.

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ART&CULTURE

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY 26th NOVEMBER 3, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER DECEMBER 15,2015 2015 2014

aboutLove

Viagra’s actual function is to help a man maintain an erection

asK dr X

OMG MY pARTneR iS USinG ViAGRA! Dear Dr X,

I am in a long distance relationship but we have been working really hard at seeing each other every so often.

However I recently discovered that my partner uses Viagra every time before our sexual encounters. It hurts my ego since I feel like I cannot pleasure him enough and when I asked him if it was the case, he said it had nothing to do with how mcuh he desires me. I love him deeply and I want a future with him but I am worried that it may not work out. Please help.

Dear Cherrie,

Relax! There are so many causes of erectile dysfunction, and you shouldn’t be quick to assume that the problem is related to his not being attracted to you. The first thing you want to know is whether he always had erectile difficulties with all the women he has been with. If so, you can feel more assured that the problem is his. If you are his first sexual partner, then you have no sure way of

— Cherrie.

knowing whether or not he could perform with other women without Viagra. Viagra doesn’t give a man an erection. A man has to be sufficiently aroused by the woman he is with for the Viagra to work. Without this arousal, even a lethal dose of Viagra will not produce an erection. Viagra’s actual function is to help a man maintain an erection. Don’t take your partner’s erectile difficulties personally and bruising your self-esteem and psyche unnecessarily by thinking that his dysfunction as proof that you aren’t desirable to him. That is his problem and the way I see it he desires you enough to want to please you, just make sure he does it safely! Dr X.

Send your agonising queries to adhyambo@x254.co

THe eMBU -MBeeRe COnneCTiOn The Embu are a Bantu tribe closely related to the Kikuyu and Meru.

Aembu inhabit Kenya’s Embu district, a fertile agricultural region located at the foothills of Mount Kenya.

They speak the Embu language. The Mbeere people are a tribe very similar to the Embu.

Mbeere and Embu oral histories indicate that the two tribes were originally one Embu tribe.

The Mbeere split from the Embu after an interclan war that the Embu clan apparently won.

After the victory, the Embu pushed the Mbeere to the drier and less fertile Kiangombe hills south of the Embu region. Despite this split, the two tribes co-existed peacefully. The Embu tribe often assisted the smaller Mbeere tribe in times of drought or when other tribes, such as the Akamba or Maasai, attacked them.Embu and Mbeere tribes share many common customs and rituals. Embu people are an agricultural tribe, growing maize, millet, sorghum, beans, cassava, and yams among other crops as subsistence food. They also rear domestic livestock in addition to growing cash crops such as Macadamia nuts, coffee and tea. Since the Mbeere’s land is drier and less fertile, they can only rear small herds of livestock. The Mbeere, therefore, often depend on their Embu cousins for food supplies, especially in times of drought.

ARTSHOCK THe ART Of COnTRAdiCTiOn

H

ow about graffiti with paintings combining geometrical elements and stylized color puzzles with detailed realism?

Brazilian artist Luis Seven Martins blends roughness and elegance coming up with something truly unique. His is identified by the simplicity of colors and free geometry, related to several issues, causing contradictions and uncomfortable feelings in the observers….

pAST

LEAVING THE What would you want your partner to do about his past?

behind

L

et’s admit it; the person you are dating or married to probably had sex with someone else before they had sex with you. Maybe a lot of people. Maybe in wild, kinky ways (Think Fifty shades of grey) that you could never imagine.

No one’s going to say that it is easy to deal with your partner’s sexual past, especially if it’s more colourful than your own. If you’re finding it difficult to get past the jealousy, you’re not alone. The good news is, you can! If your partner is telling you about it, it’s probably because he/she cares enough about you

to be upfront. Remember that before you fly off the handle.

They’re being honest, which gives you license to be honest about your feelings about it. Just try to be aware of when you’re sharing your feelings and when you’re irrationally blaming your partner for hurting you with their past behaviour.

What would you want your partner to do about his past? Go back in time and erase it? We all know it’s impossible. If you need time to deal with it, take it.

But make sure you’re not punishing someone for that happened before you

met and can’t be undone.

Whoever else they had sex with, however many of them there were, it had nothing to do with you.

If everything else about them works for you, that’s what matters. Of course, if they’re not treating you how you think you deserve to be treated, that might be what you’re really upset about.

Remember, their past made them who they are if you like this person, it’s every experience they’ve ever had that made them into the person you like. Leave the past behind and create new memories with your lover, you are the now.

11

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26th NOVEMBER 15, 2015 2014

FASHIONscoop

@ Rihanna’s DiamonD Ball 2015

emily RataJkowski: The one shoulder fashion never grows old.

ZenDaya: Fierce is an understatement.

isaBella linDBlom: Daring and sensational.

Rihanna: She was clad in Dior.

DIAmONDS ARE FOREVER

L

ast weekend, Rihanna played host to the second annual Diamond Ball which she initiated last year in honor of her grandparents under the Clara Lionel Foundation, which works to improve the quality of life for communities globally in health, education, arts and culture. This year, the 27-year-old singer helped raise over $3 million.We loved the red carpet looks.

kylie JenneR: She looked glam in her flowing gown.

our rating: H H H

Rating: R Genre: Drama, Ciomedy.

Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph.

Runtime: 1hr 58min.

BEST...

Rating: Unrated.

Genre: Drama, horror, comedy.

Cast: Henry Collins, Jordan Todosey, Tamara Almeida.

Runime: 1hr 30min.

HE NEVER

SIStERS

filmlab

JaDa Pinkett smith: Elegance defined.

J

S

NL alumni Tina Fey and Amy Poehler co-star in this Universal Studios comedy about a pair of 30-something sisters who learn that their parents’ house has been put on the market, and who decide to spend one last rowdy weekend in the home where they grew up. our rating: H H H

DIED

ack’s in a rut. Depression and severe anti-social behavior has whittled down his existence to sleeping and watching television.

Seeing the human race as little more than meat with a pulse, Jack has no interest to bond with anyone. The fuse is lit when Jack’s past comes back to rattle him. Jack must now walk a tight rope of sobriety and try to eat as few people as possible in this violent tale of personal responsibility.

SON OF SAUL

I

n this searing drama, a concentration camp inmate tasked with burning the dead, discovers the body of his young son, and must choose between participating in the clandestine uprising being planned among the prisoners, or securing a proper Jewish burial for his child.

Rating: R Genre: Drama.

Cast: Geza Rorhig, Urs Rechn, Todd Charmont.

Runtime: 1Hr 45min.

our rating: H H H

12

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WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 A fairly recent goal that you’ve set for yourself might seem a bit overwhelming. You might wonder if you’ll get it done. Though you could easily become distracted, you can focus when you try, and this is what you should do now.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 Today you should feel especially optimistic and enthusiastic about life. You’ll have a lot of great ideas about what to do with your day, but unfortunately, your ability to put these plans into motion will probably be curtailed by other responsibilities. Tonight you can do whatever you want!

TUESday 15/12/2015

sunny

More sun than clouds

23

20

20ºC 84%

WEDNEsday 16/12/2015

6:22 am 6:34pm

23ºC 71%

6:22am 6:34pm

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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 A recent rush of intuitive revelations could cause you to want to expound on your beliefs, but this could backfire. This isn’t the day to try to convince others of anything. This also isn’t a good day to think in terms of getting away for a while. Kick around a few ideas, but make definite plans later.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 Friends or a group with which you’re affiliated might run into financial difficulties and ask for your advice. It wouldn’t be a good idea to give it, at least not today. Your thoughts aren’t as focused as they should be. You might use a little intuition to guide you.

Sudoku

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TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Communication with family members and the special person in your life could be frustrating today.

Either you aren’t in accord or you keep missing each other. Don’t be frustrated. By tomorrow this aspect will have passed and you’ll once again find yourselves on common ground.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 Plans for travel or advancing your education could be on your mind. Your excitement might keep you from focusing on whatever tasks you have to do. Don’t worry about it. Your steadfastness will enable you to get your tasks completed in spite of anything that may distract you.

FIND THE KEYWORD IN RED AND SMS IT TO 22333

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 Thoughts of romance and dreams of a wonderful evening with that special someone are foiled by work that needs to be done right away. This might concern finances. It could involve a lot of deep thought on subjects that don’t particularly interest you. Don’t let this get you down.

RINGTONES: 30 KSHS PER DAY Nipe Nafasi You will receive a sms “2 download. . . ”Go to this Glory to Glory link using GPRS or WAP & download your content.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 You might be planning to attend a social event today. You’re looking forward to it. Paperwork could take up so much of your time today that you wonder if you can make it. The paperwork doesn’t seem to be that urgent. Do as much as you can and then take off and go to your party. You deserve it.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21 Frantic communications involving a project or family affairs could have you feeling scattered and unfocused. Too many important concerns have hit you at once. It can be confusing, but take them one at a time and don’t be tempted to try to accomplish everything at once.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Good news about money could fill you with ideas about how to spend it, particularly on your home.

Maybe you need new furniture or have been thinking about painting or redecorating. This is a great time to do it as long as you’re careful and not to let your exuberance get the better of you.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 Your mind is sharp and ready to take on anything thrown your way. Family members or friends could pick up on this pretty quickly, so don’t be surprised if they come to you for help and advice.

You’ll probably give a lot of it today, so be prepared. Paperwork might be a bit overwhelming.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 Books and magazines on psychic, spiritual, or metaphysical matters could take up a lot of your attention today. Your inclination could be to let your routine tasks go in favor of continuing to read calling all your friends to tell them what you’ve learned. Save it for this evening.

Barua Muganga

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

GLORIA MULIRO KEN WAMARIA RUFFTONE & GSU MERCYLINAH MARION SHAKO GERALDINE ODUOR EUNICE NJERI EMMY KOSGEI BMF FT MERCY WAIREGI ALICE KAMANDE DADDY OWEN MOG DK KWENYE BEAT JOAN WAIRIMU LOISE KIM N.D GITHUKA BETTY BAYO & MR SEED SIMON

KEN4 GM4 KT4 RUFF4 LIN4 SHA4 GER4 EN4 KOS4 BMF4 KAM4 DAD4 MOG4 DK4 VAN4 LK4 GAK4 BET4 SIM4

Kinyukia Kahora

JOAN WAIRIMU

VAN4

Nanena Adonai Zawadi Sitalia Tena Bongo Lala Sitalia Tena Hatarudi Nyuma Mapenzi Solo Penzi Langu Matokeo Born Again Lingala Ya Yesu Fanya Kitendo Muziki Ni Dawa Makeke Kitanzi Miss Hizo Naona Mbali Nime Wasamehe Hakuna Silaha

Ex: HC4 to 22333

BAHATI DJ LAPOZE JEMMO & DENNO BEN GITHAE HADASSAH PAUL EMMA OMONGE MASSMASILYA LAURENT MUGISHO MR. BISCUIT SIMON KIDUM & JULIANI KIDUM NGANGALITO KIDIS GLORIA MULIRO EKO DYDDA PITSON BEN GITHAE RINGTONE JIMMY GAIT GLORIA M & WILLY P ALA C DENNO SOLOMON MUKUBWA SARAH KIARIE

TIB4 HC4 GON4 GIT4 WT4 JC4 HOB4 HOK4 JAG4 SIM4 DUM4 DUM4 LIT4 PIG4 GM4 KEB4 BOM4 GIT4 RING4 JG4 GM4 ALA4 GON4 SOL4 SK4

This is a subscription service. Cost per message is KSH30. Content Delivered daily. A Joining fee of KSH30 applies.

Phone must be WAP/GPRS ENABLED to download ringtones. Errors will be billed. To DEACTIVATE OR UNSUBSCRIBE, SMS STOP followed by the keyword i.e. STOP HC4 to 22333 or *100#. A deactivation fee of KES 30 will be charged unless passive deactivation is requested.Customer Support: 0711035333 or 0734488668 , SUN - FRI, 8:30AM - 6pm, SAT 9am - 5pm. or email: ke@smshelp.info.

PLAY 13 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

CROSSWORD Across 1. Prepare for the national anthem 5. Hold’s holding 10. Intense desire 14. Coast-to-coast hwy.

15. Watery expanse 16. Jamaican tangelo 17. Wildly popular 19. Ganges access 20. Marinara alternative 21. “Sex and the City” cocktail, for short 22. Fireproof material 26. Ill-equipped 30. Neighbor of the Caucasus 34. Direction in a Hitchcock title 35. Played a high school prank 36. British award (abbr.)

37. Obvious fact 39. Cooks quickly in a pan with a little fat 42. “Woe ___” (grammar guide) 43. “M*A*S*H” star 47. Hull 48. Dull 51. Manages okay 52. Park in California 54. Ogre voiced by Mike Myers 57. Spirited 62. Hammett’s “The ____ Curse” 63. Like many planetary orbits 66. Marine plant 67. Maryland or Hawaii

68. Indian classical genre 69. Frat party needs 70. Toshiba competitor 71. Store away Down 1. Gp. against file-sharing 2. “____ just have to do” 3. Narcissist’s obsession 4. ____’acte (break in show business) 5. Certain classmates 6. Circus performer 7. Actor Stephen of “The Crying Game” 8. Type of reflex 9. Unified 10. Rival of Karloff 11. Cries of disgust 12. Hit hard 13. Onetime Yugoslav chief 18. Overgrown wastelands 21. URL ender 23. Clairvoyant’s talent 24. Opposite of me, in Munich 25. Young boys 26. To the point that 27. Icelandic, e.g.

28. Tomato, technically 29. “Is ___?” (Last Supper question) 31. Sleeping 32. Overweight 33. Takes it easy 38. Red planet 40. Stress

41. With “Art,” Toscanini’s first name 44. Two sizes above sm.

45. Not so bright 46. Sourness 49. Strong-jawed scavengers 50. Just peachy 53. Donor designation 54. Mount Rushmore’s st.

55. Robust 56. Actress Diana 58. Pretentiousness 59. Future doc’s exam 60. Jafar’s parrot in “Aladdin” 61. Lobster limb 63. Road curve 64. Like a blimp (abbr.)

65. Capital of Mich.

Sunwday’s answers

YOURSAY If not checked, Burundi chaos will be genocide

Kenya must find new markets in WTO conference

Neighbouring countries and the Africa Union (AU) are silent while Burundi is silently sinking into a civil war. It is heart-breaking how African countries are not concerned about the loss of lives. The African Union Charter provides for its intervention in a case where a member State has contravened its principles

Kenya must win big from the ongoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference in Nairobi. Other than the ratchet benefits from accommodation, food and transport services to the delegates, Kenyan should reap heavily from sourcing new international markets for the traders majorly drawn from the agricultural sectors. The country should also shift its attention from agriculture and focus on other products from the manufacturing industry. For instance, hydraulic pipes manufactured in Nairobi could find markets in far flung economies such as China, the United States among others. If Kenya made such progress, millions of jobs would be

including failure to respect human rights. President Pierre Nkurunziza clearly goes against this principle.

It is high time that the African Union took punitive measures such as trade sanctions and arms embargos against his government to prevent occurrence of another genocide like in Rwanda

and Sudan’s Darfur region.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopia Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn are most vocal in Africa issues. They should use their influence to seek solutions in Burundi to end violence and prevent more loss of lives.

—Anne, Kangemi

Greed for power consuming African citizens African Leaders have become a threat to their own citizens, worse than ISIS. The greed for power in Africa is unrivalled, and those in power will literally do anything to ensure they remain in power. Innocent lives have been lost in Burundi because of the urge to protect an unwarranted third term Presidency of Pierre Nkurunzinza.

It sickening that African leaders have opted to go silent as if nothing is happening in

Bujumbura, The African Union (AU) under its chairman Robert Mugabe have joined the slumber, EAC leaders led by Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame and Uhuru are yet to intervene.

Burundians are on their own.

Bacause our leaders have failed, let us stand with Burundi and call on the rest of the world to take action and save the remaining innocent lives. ­—Ker Mogallo - Nairobi

EACC should crack whip on school heads The fight against corruption in Kenya is rife despite its swirling nature in different scandals.

The focus has been fighting it on high ranking civil servants.

We tend to ignore the massive corruption that most head teachers in public schools are involved in. Universities and colleges are in the same boat, but on a larger scale.

From overcharging school fees, illegal student admissions, fictitious construction projects to flawed tendering processes, the vice is ravaging public schools.

There should be a strict rule that schools

should not be in debt by the time the year ends.

Tribalism and nepotism are other factors that should be seriously looked into. When it comes to tenders, some school heads only do business with people from their tribe.

Corruption has resulted into loss of billions of shillings annually and that is not good for the future of our academic institutions.

The Ethic and Anti-corruption Commission should investigates the school heads for the various scandals involved —Nderitu, Makongeni

created. With the huge foreign exchanges the shilling would grow steadily against the dollar leading to the growth of our local GDP and eventually improved cost of living. The delegates representing Kenya should have such a wide scope of thought when signing treaties and memoranda if they have the Kenyan people at heart. Previous conferences and summits hosted in Kenya such as the Global Entrepreneur Summit (GES) have left the mama mboga with nothing to smile about.

Without such fruits the conference would be null and void to the Kenyan citizenry who are thirsty for a better economy.

—Anonymous

Strict laws can address climate change glitches The Climate Summit taking place in Paris has just ended with a commitment by world states to stop use of fossil fuel. As result, emission of greenhouse gases like carbon will be reduced. This was one of the core objectives during the summit in bid to deal with global warming.

However, just like in previous resolutions, the agreement

was left for the member countries to implement the resolutions. The agreement used words like ‘requests’ ‘urges’ and ‘calls for’. With the use of such words, the climate accord lacks the implementation steam. The accord only asks countries to adhere to the agreement, but does not provide for implementation and or

penalties in case a country fails to comply. This lack of strict rules make it easy for some countries to disregard the agreements and even conventions. Member states should adopt enforceable environmental agreements to curb climatic changes.

— Anne, Starehe

Magufuli must to tire up from his good work In his short time in office, Tanzania President John Magufuli has already developed a reputation for austerity following several measures aimed at reducing expenditure. He has cut down on foreign trips by government officials, cancelled the pomp and circumstance that accompanies annual Independence Day celebrations and even banned government offices from buying and distributing Christmas cards.

He has called on all public institutions to cut expenditure on refreshments during meetings and have funds channelled to more important

needs. Magufuli directed that lunch be served “in very rare and exceptional circumstances”, where a meeting that starts in the morning is expected to continue into late afternoon.

The president ordered that in meetings lasting up to two hours, only water, tea or coffee should be served. We hope that he will not get sucked into the opulence of power and forget what he has started. If he continue this way, he will act as a yardstick for other aspiring leaders and this could change things for the continent.

— Steve Buks, Embakasi

Send your letters to news@X254.co | Letters will be edited for summary and clarity

14

SPORT TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

SPORTS BRIEFS Italy to host first Ryder Cup in 2022 in Rome

Italy will host the Ryder Cup for the first time in 2022 at the Marco Simone course in Rome. It will be the 44th edition of the biennial team tournament between Europe and the United States of America.

Europe has held the event outside England on only five other occasions - Muirfield (1973) and Gleneagles (2014) in Scotland, Spain (1997), Republic of Ireland (2006) and Wales (2010). Europe will defend their title in Minnesota next year before France hosts in 2018. Italy beat Austria, Germany and Spain in the bidding process.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “History has shown time and again that the Ryder Cup is pure theatre with the players the stars. “There is no question that the Eternal City of Rome will provide a wonderful backdrop for one of the great occasions in world golf. “We have exciting plans for the development of The European Tour and our international schedule for the benefit of all our players, and Italy shares this ambition.

Man United draw Danish side in Europa round 32

Manchester United have been handed a trip into the unknown after being drawn against Danish side Midtjylland in the Europa League last 32. Defeat at Wolfsburg saw Louis van Gaal’s side embarrassingly exit the Champions League early despite a favourable group. And they will face Brentford owner Matthew Benham’s Danish side, who have taken Europe by storm with their Moneyball approach to the game. Midtjylland beat Southampton in first round of the competition and can cause upsets to United. Liverpool, whose manager Jurgen Klopp avoided a sensational reunion with Dortmund, are to play Germans Augsburg and will fancy their chances of progressing to the last 16.

Augsburg surprised many by finishing above Dortmund and Schalke in the Bundesliga last season, but are languishing in mid-table this season. Tottenham will meet Fiorentina.

Yaya Toure eyes fifth crown after making cut The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has named the final three for its 2015 Player of the Year award. Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure could be the first man to win the accolade five times. The Manchester City star is up against Ghana and Swansea’s Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund. The winner is chosen by head coaches of the FA’s affiliated to Caf and will be announced at a gala on January 7. Caf named an original list of 37 players in October before cutting it down to 10 last month. Toure, who captained Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title in January, has won the award for the last four years and was named the BBC’s 2015 African Player of the Year last week. Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o is the only other player to have been crowned the best on the continent four times by Caf, winning in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010. Caf has also released the final three names for the Africa-Based Player of the Year.

Orange in search of first win against host Sharks When Telkom Orange Hockey team presented their seventh continental trophy to chief executive Vincent Lobry early this year, the team promised to retain the trophy without conceding a goal.

That ambitious pledge, made by head coach Jos Openda on behalf of the team before top ranking company officials will not come to pass after they drew 3-3 with Ghana Police on Sunday in Lusaka, Zambia.

But a record seven times continental champions will have a chance to improve

their shaky start for this year’s when they take on host Sharks of Zambia today evening after the surprise draw.

The defending champions will be going for the all impotent win that will take their point tally to four as they eye a record eighth title and four in a row. Jackline Jow, who was dropped from the national team squad for the September Africa National Championship because “she is old” scored a hat-trick within a span of 30 minutes to become the tournament’s current top scorer.

Orange Telkom hockey players after a past match. The team is in Zambia and will take on host Shark.

Jose Openda, who had set a target to win the tournament without conceding a goal will have to a panel-beat his defence that has so far soaked in three goals as they face a side that will benefit from home ground support.

The other Kenya clubs, Kenya Hockey Union League (premier) defending champions Butali Sugar warriors, runners up Kenya and Strathmore University, who finished behind Orange last year all pulled out of the tournament leaving Orange as the country’s sole representative.

Four players to train with national side after being called by Munala The national women’s Volleyball team Head coach Japheth Munala has called four young players to the Malkia Strikers squad to gain experience.

The four will join the other 26 currently preparing for the Rio 2016 Olympics qualifiers to be staged in Cameroon in February, 2016.

Kenya ​ will be chasing her first Olympics qualification since Sydney 2004 in the west African nation during the continental qualifiers as Munala tries to use available resources to build the future squad. The country missed 2012 London games to Algeria.

“These girls may never get the exposure if they train with their respective clubs,” Munala, who retained the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) women league with his club, Kenya

Pipeline told X-Sport at the team’s training venue at Kasarani.

“If we do not bring them here they will never get the needed experience,” he added.

Munala, who is known for nurturing upcoming talents and laying more emphasis on young players, called the lanky right attacker Beldin Akinyi​(92 centimetres) formerly of​ Kwanthanze ​ Secondary School, Truphosa ​​Chepkemei​ (1.87m​) nurtured on the (left)​, Nairobi Queens’ Flora Chemutai (1.87m)​and 19-year-old c​ entre Christine Ngugi 19-year-old centre-blocker. ​If Akinyi turns out to be what the coach envisages her to be, she will solve the impending problem on the right, following the retirement of former Captain, Praxcides Agala and the injured Ruth Jepng’etich. ​

On the other hand, Chepkemei will be deployed on the left, while ​ Chemutai and Ngugi will be trained in the centre.​​This, according to Munala is a two-year project. ​“These girls are not on allowances like the rest of the other team members, but they are willing to learn. I will be volunteering to train them on the weekends,” added Munala.​ ​The quadruple will be released from the squad, two to three weeks before the final team to Cameroon assignment is named mid next month.

The squad will take a 10​ -​ day​ -break from December 18 for Christmas holidays before resuming their usual schedule.​

SPORT 15

Leicester beat lacklustre Chelsea to go top of table Leicester City returned to the top of the Premier League and increased the pressure on Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with a 2-1 victory at King Power Stadium last night.

Mourinho said he felt his “work was betrayed” in the Blues’ defeat by Leicester in the Premier League.

The defending champions suffered their ninth league defeat in 16 games with a loss against the Foxes, who dislodged Arsenal at the top of the table.

It leaves the club on 16th, just a point above the relegation zone.

“One of my best qualities is to read the game for my players and I feel like my work was betrayed,” said Mourinho.

“One possibility is that I did an amazing job last season and brought the players to a level that is not their level and now they cannot maintain it.”

Jamie Vardy’s 15th goal of the season put Leicester ahead before half-time and Riyad Mahrez’s brilliant curling strike just after the break sealed the win for Claudio Ranieri’s side.

Chelsea substitute Loic Remy pulled one back, but Leicester survived in relative comfort to move back ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table.

Ranieri has been in Mourinho’s shadow from the time he was succeeded at Stamford Bridge by “The Special One” in 2004 and relations between the pair have often been fractious.

They are more cordial now - but how the 64-year-old, hugely popular Italian will have enjoyed the sweet victory against his former club on Monday.

Chelsea have looked lethargic on many occasions this season, but rarely have they looked as ragged, pedestrian and off the pace as they were against the Foxes.

From the first whistle the pace and movement of Vardy and Mahrez immediately exposed John Terry, in particular, in the style that has troubled so many teams on Leicester’s remarkable rise to the top.

As Leicester pressed and pushed, Chelsea retreated on to the back foot.

Ranieri’s side looked high on confidence and adrenalin, the reigning champions fearful and tentative.

It was barely believable that only seven months ago Chelsea were crowned champions and Leicester were pulling off a remarkable escape from what looked certain relegation. This night underscored what has been a remarkable role reversal this season, and

ensured Leicester’s best start to a topflight season in their 131-year history.

The Premier League title and credit in the bank means Mourinho has been afforded far more patience than is customary by owner Roman Abramovich.

Terry has been the bedrock of all Chelsea’s modern-day successes - but the centre-back looked old and fraying at the edges in the face of the pace, verve and movement of Vardy and Mahrez.

He was not alone as they threatened to run Chelsea’s defence ragged and Terry being replaced by Cesc Fabregas after only 53 minutes was a sign of the times, not just of this night.

Terry has been a magnificent servant for Chelsea, but the captain who turned 35 on December 7 looks like he is feeling Father Time’s tap on his shoulder.

Throw in 31-year-old Branislav Ivanovic, a shadow of his former self this season, and you are left with a Chelsea defence in need of serious renewal despite the promise of Kurt Zouma, 21.

Mourinho recognised as much in the summer when Chelsea edged the bidding up towards Sh4 billion for Everton’s John Stones, only to be met with total resistance at Goodison Park.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring the opening goal in his side’s 2-1 win over Chelsea at the King Power Stadium last night.

Neymar doubtful for Barcelona match Neymar is a major doubt for Barcelona Club World Cup semi-final with China’s Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday after missing from training on Monday.

The forward suffered a g roin injury last week during a training session for the Champions League match with Bayer Leverkusen, which ended 1-1.

Barcelona were greeted by 226 children from its academy in Tokyo when stepping on to the pitch at the Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama. The children then sang the club’s anthem, “El Cant del Barça,” as the players looked on.

Barcelona, who are bidding for a third Club

World Cup title, are the tournament favourites but the Spanish club have not won in three matches, while Guangzhou are on a 28-match unbeaten run going back to May, shortly before the World Cupwinning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari took charge.

Guangzhou, who beat Club América of Mexico 2-1 in the previous round, won the Asian Champions League title last month.

“It’s been a long trip,” Sergio Busquets said.

“We’ve tried to adapt to the time difference.

Regarding the tournament, we are trying to deal with it in high spirits since it’s a tournament that is hard to win, because of

the teams taking part in it.”

Meanwhile, African champions, TP Mazembe and Mexican Concacaf champions America will aim to bow out of the competition with a win at Osaka Nagai Stadium.

America and TP Mazembe will look to make the best of a bad situation when they meet to contest fifth place in the Club World Cup on Wednesday.

The match at Osaka’s Nagai Stadium pits the Concacaf champions against their Confederation of African Football (CAF) counterparts after both teams lost their respective quarter-final matches.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

PREMIER LEAGUE

xnews | tuesday, deCeMBeR 15, 2015 | www.x254.Co

VARDY, MAhREZ on tARgEt As lEcEistER citY bEAt chElsEA to go top of Epl tAblE

Three times 1500m world championship gold medallist Asbel Kiprop has strongly condemned doping among local athletes.

Kiprop condemns doping allegations

Three times 1500m world championship gold medallist Asbel Kiprop has called for prosecution of Kenyan athletes implicated in doping. As Kenya grapple with the menace that has seen the suspension of three top Athletics Kenya (AK) president Isaiah Kiplagat, his deputy David Okeyo and former treasurer Joseph Kinywa

by International Athletics Associations Federations (IAAF).

Kiprop had earlier in the year urged the government to criminalise doping to curb the menace. “Anyone caught doping should serve a jail term equivalent to IAAF ban of four years,” he said.

“I feel ashamed that many people will doubt even if Kiprop or another Kenyan breaks a world record tomorrow, people will shrug it off that ‘Kenyans are dopers’,” added the man who boast of eight Gold medals spanning from his first major trophy way back in 2007.

Sadly with only those accolades, the doping stories has come with nothing

p15

but shame to the celebrated athlete, who was last weekend feted as Kenya’s King of Middle Distance during the annual AK Gala.

Kiprop said he no longer have the pride of holding the national flag whenever he competes outside the country since the doping saga hit the headline with local athletes being mentioned.

Kiprop, who used the word shame seven times in the short interview with X-Sport added: “It’s not only shameful to the athlete or the sportsmen and women in general, but also to the country. As a Kenyan and a civil servant, I feel it’s high time every doper served the consequences like any other thief,” he added. “As an athlete who has been training since November and also going to work, I feel ashamed that our efforts are being washed down by dopers,” added the Kenya Police officer.

According to Kiprop, doping is fuelled by the “get rich quick” attitude by runners, who do not want to work hard.

“Kenya has had the trust from the world, but a few athletes think that doping is the shortest way to board a plane abroad or the quickest way to get rich,” he added.

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