201502027 xnews by X News

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

regaining control members of parliament seek law changes to retain cdf

great year KCB posts Sh24b pre-tax profit for year 2014

climb to fame Rich mavoko’s journey to the top has not been easy

NEWS

Sunshine Tour trio among 36 pros for KCB golf tourney

Cricket Kenya: Broke, Broken and Backward looking

Boinett pledges to axe rotten officers

oseph Kipchirchir Boinett has defended his nomination to take up the police Inspector General’s office, saying he is well drilled to squarely confront security challenges facing the nation. “It is true that I am a very kind person, quite calm and even reserved… but that is the face that you

see. Behind that is a very hard man. All those attributes have been poured on me because I do not tolerate nonsense from anybody… I do not accept mediocrity,” he told a joint committee of the National Assembly and Senate that was vetting him yesterday. He said if confirmed to the office, he will fight

impunity and corruption within the service which is said to have contributed to rising cases of insecurity across the country. “I intend to confront those entrenched cultures of impunity, human rights abuse and corruption headon and I am ready for whatever consequences,” he declared. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Can’t lose sleep Radio host and actor Nick Ndeda refuses to mourn thieving cousin shot dead by police

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Out and about

We visited the Punda Milias Camp in Nakuru and our stay there was relaxing. See what else we thought about the camp.

P.10

Closet raid PICKETING: A group of activists take chicken and old television sets to the Communication Authority (CA) offices in Westlands, Nairobi. The group was protesting against the CA’s decision to switch off the analog signal.

Ashanti Wandia-McFadden started out as a model and is now a skin care business owner

NEWS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Boinett pledges to axe rotten officers From Page 1 Boinett said he plans to streamline the service to ensure law enforcers perform tasks efficiently by adopting three major initiatives that will revamp the ailing sector. First, he plans to have collaborative leadership that will ensure everyone performs their duty through consistent

structured dialogue. He also pledged to enhance engagement with members of the public and thirdly, cultivate a culture of communication between internal and external security agencies. Boinett was challenged to explain how plans to tackle challenges facing the security sector especially the issues of corruption, terrorism, cattle rustling,

police capacity and illegal groupings. On terrorism, he said he will act as a bridge between the National Intelligence Service, where he is the sitting Assistant Director of Intelligence, and National Police Service to get rid of mistrust between the two arms. Police have been accused of not acting on intelligence or ignoring warnings

from NIS, a matter he promised to ensure will be a culture of the past. “I intend to employ intelligence-led policing and rational use of available resources however meagre they may be,” he said. Committee members cited the killings of 100 residents at Mpeketoni area in Lamu County and the Westgate attack

as cases where police failed to act early even after receiving intelligence information prior to the raids. But Boinett attributed the problem “to mistrust” among members of the two services. “It’s because they did not understand the role of each sector,” he told the MPs and Senators.

Police tortured Muchai murder suspect-lawyer

to stay in coolers: Simon Wambugu, 20, one of the suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Kabete MP George Muchai, claims police have tortured him.

Investigators are yet to decide on the charges to prefer against seven suspects arrested in connection with the murder of former Kabete MP George Muchai, a court has been told. The officers have instead asked for more time to piece together evidence that may link the suspects to the killing. Prosecutor Daniel Karori, who made a request for extension of custodial time against one of the suspects Simon Wambugu, said the suspects may be charged with murder on March 10. “There are compelling reasons for the suspects to be held further in police custody pending conclusion of investigation...he is likely to face capital charges and may flee if released on bond,” Karori said. Wambugu, 20, will stay in custody after requests by prosecution that he be detained to help with the on-going investigations at Central Police Station. Meanwhile, a defence lawyer appearing for the suspect claimed Wambugu had been tortured to “extract a confession.”

Kamati Shamara claimed the suspect had serious injuries on his private parts and needed urgent medical attention. He asked the court to order for his treatment by a private doctor at his cost. Resident Magistrate Miriam Mugure directed that Wambugu be escorted to the Kenyatta National Hospital and a medical report be produced in court during the next appearance. She also directed police to allow the lawyer to access Wambugu. “The application by prosecution for extended custodial period is well founded as investigations are incomplete, the suspect faces capital charges alongside others and may be flee the court’s jurisdiction,” she said. Muchai was gunned down alongside his two aides and driver on February 7 along Kenyatta Avenue within Nairobi’s Central Business District. Six other suspect are in police custody over the murder.

Osama aide jailed for life over US embassies bombing in Nairobi, Dar A former aide of Osama Bin Laden has been found guilty of plotting the al-Qaeda bombing of US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998 during which 224 people were killed. Khalid al-Fawwaz (right), a Saudi national, was convicted by a New York court after three days of jury deliberations. Extradited from the UK to the US in 2012, he was found guilty on four conspiracy counts and now faces a possible life sentence. Al-Fawwaz, 52, has been described as Osama Bin Laden’s spokesman in London. A statement from Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said the defendant “played a critical role for al-Qaeda in its murderous conspiracy against America”. There were a dozen Americans among the dead after the embassies were bombed in 1998.

voxpop....

He was arrested in London in the same year as the bombings and extradited 14 years later. Mr Bharara described Al-Fawwaz as one of Bin Laden’s “original and most trusted lieutenants” who was the leader of an alQaeda training camp in Afghanistan, then later acted as Bin Laden’s “media adviser” in London. One of his roles, Mr Bharara said, was to ensure Bin Laden’s threats against the US were distributed and noticed across the globe. “Murderous words lead to murderous action,” assistant US Attorney Nicholas Lewin told judges. The trial, which lasted a month under very heavy security in Manhattan, did not feature any testimony from the defendant. When the verdict was read out, Al-Fawwaz stood expressionless. Five other people have already been convicted in New York for the embassy attacks.

Is the new fees structure released by the Ministry of Education citizen-friendly?

Victor Yegon

Mary Kate Yes and No. Yes as long as the Government keeps its promises and implements the programme. The Government should supplement the fees to enable more students benefit from the project. But if they do not keep their word, the structure will bring conflict between schools, Government and parents.

Nicholas Ndiritu No. I think it is unfair and oppressive. If you check the rich versus poor students, the structure does not favor anyone. The Government should have looked for a middle ground to ensure children from different backgrounds can attend school.

Evelyn Wanjeri Yes. The fess are citizen friendly and are adequate for schools. It is enough to keep them running. They just need to work with what they have and make the most out of it. Every boy and girl should be able to receive an education.

It is a good idea. If you consider poverty levels in the country, the Government has helped students. If schools hike fees, it will not be fair to all children. The Government is helping people access right to education

NEWS 3 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

NEWS BRIEFS

CARTOONSPEAK

MPs seek law change to keep CDF

Scientists use marijuana for cutting edge research

MPs are now eying amendments to the constitution to save the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) after the High Cpourt last week declared the kitty unconstitutional. At a kamukunji held yesterday, the legislators unanimously agreed to form a parliamentary taskforce to come up with constitutional amendments to the CDF Act even as they develop more proposals to ensure the fund remains under their control. “We are forming a parliamentary taskforce to develop amendments the Constitution,” an MP said.

A team of scientists is using marijuana, locally referred to as bhang, in an attempt to treat muscle-related illnesses. They say that their research could help treat diseases like multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease that disrupts the flow of information within the brain. Marijuana users can sometimes have difficulty speaking, breathing and swallowing food as a result of muscle weakness. Now researchers in Spain have conducted a landmark study to find out how marijuana reduces the activity of the brain cells responsible for movement. Researchers at the University of Cadiz in Spain, led by Professor Bernardo Moreno, used man-made versions of the drug-like compounds of marijuana to see how they affected these cells. They found that the compounds, known as cannabinoids, hinder the way some brain cells communicate with the parts of the body responsible for movement. They claim that this reaction could also explain the beneficial effects that marijuana has on people suffering from neuro-degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Wildlife, environment days to be marked in one festival Kenya will mark this year’s World Wildlife Day by hosting a week long Kenya Wildlife Festival in celebration of her unique wildlife beauty and heritage from 28th February to 7th March. The festival seeks to give the public an opportunity to learn about wildlife through music, theatre, debates, films, and citizen science projects. WildlifeDirect will be participating. As part of the festival too, the World Wildlife Day, the Africa Environment Day and the Wangari Maathai day will all be marked and celebrated in one big event to be held at the KWS headquarters on Langata road on Wednesday, 3rd March. World Wildlife Day was officially added on the UN calendar on December 20, 2013, to be celebrated from March 3, 2014, onwards. The day raises awareness of endangered flora and fauna, and ways to fight against wildlife crime. The Wildlife Festival is an opportunity to share the country’s vision and encourage citizens’ participation in a future where people and

wildlife coexist in harmony. Wildlife trade is one of the most profitable illicit trades in the world, estimated at up to $10 billion (Sh914 billion) annually. The trade, especially on elephant ivory and rhino horns is widespread in many countries in Asia and Africa and is controlled by dangerous criminal gangs across Africa. Recent reports have painted a bleak picture of the disastrous slaughter of African Wildlife not just for their products, but also for the stability of African nations. Blood money from ivory has helped to bankroll almost every conflict, including terrorism in Africa in recent decades. A large number of terrorist groups in Africa have turned to the illegal wildlife trade to finance their operations, cashing in on a massive demand for ivory spurred by the escalating, wealthier middle class in China and Asia. World Wildlife Day celebrations was set aside to create awareness on the importance of protecting these animals.

China imposes one-year ban on smuggled ivory imports China has imposed a one-year ban on the import of ivory, amid criticism that demand among Chinese consumers is fuelling poaching in Africa. The announcement was made by the State Forestry Administration, with officials saying they hoped it would be a first step towards protecting wild elephants. Conservationists have warned the animal could be wiped out in parts of Africa in the next few years. China is the world’s largest importer of smuggled tusks.

Woman who abused maid to serve 6 years in jail

WILD FUN: Kenya will mark this year’s World Wildlife Day by hosting a week long Kenya Wildlife Festival in celebration of her unique wildlife beauty and heritage from 28th February to 7th March.

A Hong Kong woman convicted of abusing her Indonesian maid has been jailed for six years. Law Wan-tung was found guilty earlier this month of causing grievous bodily harm, criminal intimidation and failure to pay wages. The maid, Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, drew global attention last year. During the trial, she described being beaten and starved by her employer.

WHAT OTHERS SAID TODAY...

How Namwamba survived coup: PublicAccounts Committee chairman Ababu Namwamba yesterday pulled a fast one on PAC members when he threatened to produce evidence that his accusers took bribes. Ababu walked unto the meeting and shocked his colleagues when he threatened to play audio recordings of some of them who had confessed to receiving bribes. ‘He was very smart as he faced his accusers. When he threatened to to play the audio, many of hsi accusers went quiet and when he the vote was called ababu won’ said a member of the committee...

Boinett: My plan to tackle security woes: Questions over the authenticity of Mr Joseph Boinett’s academic credentials and how he will tackle corruption in the police were key during Thursday’s vetting of the president’s nominee for police inspector-general. Some members of the joint security committee of the Senate and National Assembly sought to know how Mr Boinett got two master’s degrees while working for the National Intelligence Service from where he was picked. Mr Abdikadir Ore and Elizabeth Ongoro intimated that Mr Boinett might not have genuinely obtained the academic credentials...

Tricks Namwamba used to survive coup in PAC: Audio recordings purportedly demonstrating six MPs had received bribes and setting up members of rival coalitions against each other reportedly helped embattled Ababu Namwamba retain chairmanship of a watchdog committee. Mr Namwamba, who is also the Budalang’i MP and ODM Secretary General, yesterday narrowly survived ouster from the helm of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) after a night of covert lobbying and cajoling...

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NEWS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

UK man jailed for 17 years for child sex abuses in Kenya A British charity boss who abused Kenyan street children after luring them to his home has been jailed for more than 17 years. Simon Harris, 55, carried out sex attacks on boys in Gilgil, between 1996 and 2013. Harris who was head of charity VAE, which placed volunteers in Kenyan schools was convicted of eight counts of indecent and sexual assault, at Birmingham Crown Court in December. The case is one of the first of its kind using legislation that allows British citizens to be tried for sex offences committed abroad if it is also an offence in that country. Harris was also convicted of four counts of possessing indecent images of children. He was, however, cleared of 10 further charges, including rape. The jury failed to reach a verdict on one remaining count of rape and the judge discharged them of their duty in relation to that. Harris, a former classics teacher, had preyed on “very small children who have no families, nobody to look after them... sheltering in doorways” with the promise of food and shelter, the jury heard. Judge Phillip Parker QC described him as “intelligent” and “charismatic”, giving him “a veneer of respectability”, which enabled him to design his life to be close to boys. In Kenya, Harris had assumed a “hallowed” position, accountable to no-one, that allowed him to abuse street children who were amongst the most vulnerable in

the world, the judge said. “It had been urged upon me that I should give you credit for all the charitable work you introduced to Kenya but I am afraid, when your so-called charity work is the vehicle for abuse, I cannot buy into this concept,” the judge said. He described Harris as “a significant risk” to young boys and his Kenyan victims had been left “used, degraded, and humiliated”. “The mental scars will almost certainly never heal,” Judge Parker said. Defence QC Jeremy Dein had told the court that Harris’s charity work should not be entirely discounted, describing him as “an exceptional philanthropist.” “He is ashamed of his behaviour - both as a teacher and when in Kenya,” he said. The abuse came to light after evidence was passed on by a Channel 4 documentary team making a film about the plight of Gilgil’s street children. Officers from the National Crime Agency, who travelled to Kenya in a bid to trace Harris’s victims, described him as “one of the most prolific child sex offenders” they had ever encountered. It emerged during his trial that Harris had been banned from travelling abroad after a 2009 conviction for possession of indecent images of children, for which he served 15 months in jail. However, the jury heard he successfully appealed to have the ban lifted, allowing him to travel back and forth to Kenya, where

he abused more boys, until he was eventually arrested back in the UK in June 2013, by West Mercia Police. Speaking after the conviction, officers said they had identified a number of potential victims during their inquiry but believe Harris could have abused hundreds of boys. “The convictions and today’s sentence sends an important message to people who have been the victim of crimes such as these to

come forward, because time and geography is no barrier to justice,” Det Ch Insp Damian Barrett said. Lawyers representing Kenya victims also welcomed the sentence. “This case is the first time a British man has been convicted for sex offences carried out in Africa, and should serve as a warning to paedophiles looking to sexually abuse children overseas, believing they are beyond the law,” Nicho-

la Marshall, from law firm Leigh Day, said. Harris’s trial is thought to be the first involving the use of live video link technology from Africa to hear evidence. He had denied all the offences in Kenya, but before his trial got under way he admitted six offences of indecent assault against three boys, aged between 13 and 14, when he was a teacher at Shebbear College, Devon in the 1980s.

GUILTY: Mr Harris during one of his charity works in Kenya. He has been jailed for 17 years by a UK court for sexually abusing young Kenyan boys in Gilgil between 1996 and 2013

xnews | FRIday, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

Main STORY

BUSINESS

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

MEAN BUY SELL 91.3494 91.4883 91.4189 141.9611 142.2450 142.1031 103.8044 103.9983 103.9014 7.9659 7.9850 7.9755 31.4466 31.6039 31.5253 19.8386 19.9782 19.9084

KCB posts Sh24b profit before tax for year 2014 Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) shareholders have a reason to smile after the bank posted an 18 per cent rise in profits before tax for the year ending December 2014. Addressing an investors meeting in Nairobi, Group Chairman Ngeny Biwott attributed the rise to favorable macro-economic environment across the East African region. During the year under review, profits increased from Sh20b to Sh24 b.

“The region benefitted from improved macro-economic indicators with most economies posting better growth figures, reduced inflation, lower lending rates and higher remittances,” said Biwott. The official said he was optimistic on future plans to boost investment in new business lines, increase growth in subsidiaries and expanding foray in cashlite economy. He said they hope to tap into the technological progress to

Lenovo computers latest victims of cyber attack from Superfish hacking software Lenovo computers have become the latest victims of cyber-attacks. The US government warned the Chinese computer maker of a software called Superfish. Superfish adware program was designed to help users find products by visually analysing images on the web to find the cheapest ones. It offered shopping tips online to users. The software is believed to have been shipped on some of the company’s notebook devices that had been ordered by the company. Lizard Squad, a cyber-hacking group, claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter. The group also claimed responsibility of the Sony attack last year. Lenovo through statement on its website said: “One effect of this attack was to redirect traffic from the Lenovo website but we are also actively investigating other aspects.” They said they have restored certain functionality to the public-facing website. It is also reviewing its network security and will take steps to protect the integrity of their users’ information and experience. The firm also said it was offering customers a tool to help them remove the pre-installed software to avoid any security risks. The company said they had taken action after customer complaints.

GLOBE WATCH Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retail company, has raised staff salaries to $9 (Sh820) an hour. The new figure is up from the previous US minimum of $7.25 (660) an hour, sparking a ‘wage war’ that has other retailers with their backs on the wall. Less than a week after Wal-Mart announced it would raise wages for 500,000 workers, other retailers are

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improve customer experience. “We are working on scaling up investment in KCB Capital and Bancassurance, improving efficiencies, consolidation and focusing more on growing business in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burudi and South Sudan,” said Biwott. He said the bank would contribute one per cent of the profits, an equivalent of Sh238 million, to the KCB Foundation.

BOOMING RESULTS: Kenya Commercial Bank profits for 2014 increased from Sh20 billion to Sh24 billion due to favorable macro-economic environment across the East African region. The results were released by chairman Ngeny Biwott and CEO JOSHUA-OIGARA (inset).

city wallet Consumers prefer major brands but few can afford Kenyan consumers prefer ‘cool’, branded and expensive products but are not willing to pay for them. A study by global research group, Nielsen has revealed that Kenyans have built a taste for major brands, but most people cannot afford. The trend has forced retailers and manufacturers to create smaller versions of popular products to reach the low income segment of the market. Consumers who cannot afford a 2-kg container of margarine have seen a rise in the manufacture of tiny sachets. “Vendors make the ultimate decision on how and when products are introduced to consumers and how an item is presented and priced,” says researchers at Nielsen. “If a branded package is too expensive, the retailer may open the pack and split it up.” The trend helps consumers spend as little as Sh5 on a few grams of margarine instead of Sh320 on a larger pack. The logic is applied to biscuits, yoghurt and even shoe polish. Many consumers would pay for a tiny version of a popular brand a hundred times before buying a larger, more expensive version. “Companies that understand who shops where, for what, and when can use the knowledge to inform resourcing and distribution strategies,” says the report.

Wal-Mart sparks war after staff salary hike

under pressure to do the same. History Following a series of protests and the famous ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement, major companies have come under fire for under-paying workers. Since then, firms like MacDonald’s, the world famous restaurant chain, have been put on the spotlight for

giving workers the lowest pay as permitted by law ($7.25 or Sh660 in US). Following outcries from human rights groups, a number of firms have started to make changes. TJK, another leading retailer, was among the first to raise wages. Company CEO Carol Meyrowitz said in the

company’s earnings release “the pay initiative is an important part of our strategies to continue attracting and retaining the best talent in order to deliver a great shopping experience for our customers, remain competitive on wages in our US markets, and stay focused on our value mission.” Implications Because of Wal-Mart’s role as the world’s largest retailer, experts have predicted other companies would follow in its footsteps so as to attract and retain staff. Meanwhile, officials at Wal-Mart said in 2016, all US workers who have been with the company for six months or more will earn at least $10 (Sh915) an hour.

BUSINESS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY27, 2015

Orange CDMA network to be switched over to cellular GSM

SWITCHOVER: Orange Telkom shop in Nairobi. Orange customers have until end of March this year to enjoy the CDMA network after which it will be switched over to GSM.

Orange customers have until end of March this year to enjoy the CDMA network after when it will be switched over to GSM. Orange CEO, Vincent Lobry, said the decision to switch over to GSM was arrived at after a thorough review of the viability of the CDMA network in the long term and there are plans to expand the GSM network. “CDMA technology is no longer able to favorably compete with 3G and LTE, its evolving GSM component. Moreover, CDMA is fast becoming obsolete around the world and the maintenance of the same will not be a simple affair for any telco in the mid and long

Farming group triples income with micro loans A group of entrepreneurs have tripled their earnings using a recently-introduced initiative that has allowed them to access low-cost loan. For many years, farmers from Kakamega County have been growing their crops with little knowledge on how to maximise their profits. However, the entry of agrobased organization in the region has helped the small scale farmers realize that their full potential lies in smart agricultural techniques. Eunice Gamba, a resident from Musejere village in Mumias is among these farmers and is now facing higher yields thanks to the One Acre Fund, a group that provides financial services to farmers across the region. She explained that, once she was admitted into the team, the One Acre Fund offered them

inputs through credit that is repaid over an agreed upon period of time. In addition, they also advise farmers on the best crops to adopt for a particular region. Gamba would get a little over 10 bags of maize from her 3-acre plot. Now she gets as much as 40 bags. According to the group leader in the village popularly known as Mama Safi, participating farmers receive a complete bundle of agricultural inputs and services on credit. This includes the delivery of improved seeds and fertilizer, training on how to maximize crop yields, and education on how to minimize post-harvest losses. Loan package values range from Sh5000 to Sh12,500 for new members while returning members have access to loans up to Sh18,000.

Trusting banks driving growth of SMEs reported having small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as clients. This, explain AfDB researchers, Pietro Calice, Victor Chando and Sofiane Sekioua, signifies an “important realisation amongst the banks of the importance of SME sector.” They note that the banks are not really interested in taking advantage of specific positive government and regulatory programs, but appear to be “largely motivated by the business objective of profit pursuit.” Most of the banks surveyed mentioned that they had long-standing relationships with

BUSINESS NEWS

Closing gender gap good for economy, IMF boss says Women in developing countries constitute up to 80 per cent of the agricultural labour force. In Kenya, they make less than male counterparts, studies by UN have shown. The work place presents a state of income inequality between men and women. In light of the challenges, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday released a new report on women in the workplace. The data suggests that closing the gender gap would benefit not just women, but the global economy as a whole. Christine Lagarde (pictured), the first-ever woman Managing Director of IMF, said things need to change since women are a major

BUSINESS WISE The best chance a small business can have in securing a loan with a bank is to earn the lender’s trust. Despite the introduction of unsecured loans, which promise to hand out money to borrowers like free raffle tickets, it has emerged that banks are as suspicious as ever. A survey by the African Development Bank (AfDB) group, one of the continent’s biggest lenders, has revealed that most local banks will shake their clients down before they give them a single cent. From the survey, all the banks interviewed

term,” said Lobry. Lobry said that customers using the services before will be able to migrate with their CDMA numbers onto a GSM SIM card. He said GSM products will be offered at discounted prices for those affected during the transition. “The amount that one is eligible to, will be discounted from any GSM product purchased from Orange shops. This device subsidy applies to all our prepaid voice and EVDO customers as well as our postpaid customers. In addition, our postpaid customers will be migrated in bulk by the end of March 2015,” says Lobry.

most of their SME clients. Some banks did not have specially tailored SME products but offered basic lending services to them all the same. Some banks stated that they desired most of their SME clients to have been customers for periods varying from 18 months to three years before they could grant them any lending product. “Not all interviewed banks had gone as far as to set up separate SME departments at the time of the study,” mentions Calice. However, 75 per cent of the banks reported of having separate SME departments.

driving force within a nation’s economy. Her statement comes at a time when women are receiving lower wages for the same work. A sample of 14 countries shows on average, women in urban areas are paid 28 per cent less than males working in rural areas.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

ACCESS CELEBCHAT

hOt tOPICS

rabbIt

fashion scoop

Rich Mavoko is one of the fastest rising artistes in Tanzania, currently on a mission to cross borders with his music. He was recently named brand ambassador for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

factfile ho is Rich Mavoko? My name is Richard Martin Lusinga and I am a singer. I am Tanzanian, born in Morogoro. I am the last born in a family of five. Tell us about your collabo with Rabbit To me Njoo is the best East African collaboration in 2015. Working with King Kaka by my side was a great opportunity because I have learnt a lot from him. King Kaka’s rapping style makes the song different and fresh. Now that you have worked with a Kenyan artiste how would you compare the music industry in both countries? The Kenyan music industry is more professionalized than the one in Tanzania. However, I feel Tanzanian artistes have more singing talent. Tell us about your journey in music, how did you get started? I used to be a footballer and at I was at one time selected in the Under 18 national youth team. I then realized that I was too short to play the position of defender, so I gave up on football. Is that when you started singing? Not really. My love for music began in secondary school and after finishing my studies in 2010, I released my first song, Uzuri Wako. In 2011 and 2012, I went released three songs; Silali, Follow Me and Marry Me. The three songs were nominated for awards at the Kilimanjaro Music Awards. In 2013, I released Roho Yangu and One Time, which received great reviews and nominations for the Nzumari Awards and the Kilimanjaro Music Awards. I recently released Pacha Wangu, which is doing well at the moment. When did you start courting Kenya? It has always been my dream to cross boundaries and Kenyans appreciating my music is my dream

come true. It is good to see other nationalities enjoying my music and appreciating it. Roho Yangu and Pacha Wangu did that for me. What are some of the challenges you face? To me challenges will always be there and I accept them as they come. The biggest challenge I have faced so far is marketing my music beyond Tanzanian borders. But as you can see, that is no longer an issue as I am working with Kaka now. Where do you get inspiration for your music from? Inspiration for my music comes from my heart, the passion I have for music, family and the love I get from my fans. Music is my life. Who do you look up to in the industry? I look up to all the East African musicians because they are all different in the way they do their music. I get to learn from their mistakes and how to overcome them. Which artistes have you worked with so far, other than Kaka? So far I have worked with Joslin, on my first song, Uzuri Wako. I plan to work with some female artistes soon. That is a surprise for my fans that is coming soon. What is next for Rich Mavoko? I am dropping a new song soon and you guys should stay tuned. I promise not to disappoint.

Rich the

Mavoko:

I left football for musIc

Rabbit is angry Yesterday Musician Rabbit, also known as Kaka King, unleashed an online tireda. The artiste was calling out DJ’s and presenters who were shunning local music in favour of international and Nigerian Music. The artiste’s sentiments were shared by numerous Kenyan musicians among them Nonini, Kenzo Matata and other artistes. The post

ReAL NAMe: Richard Martin Lusinga Age: 23 HITS: Pacha Wangu, Roho Yangu, One Time ReLATIONSHIp STATuS: In a relationship BeST BOOK: Think and grow Rich BeST fOOD: Wali Maharagwe BeST quOTe: Best lies have the most truth

read in part, “Imagine nimeskia radio for 1hr na only 4 Kenyan songs zimecheza yet wako mpaka na udaku za Naija and S.A, yaani hadi kuna countdown ya outside charts, so sad.” He also added that for artistes to produce quality work their songs and videos must be put on circulation so that they can earn enough money to produce Sh1 million videos.

Who has stolen Lupita Nyong’o’s dress? The 6000 pearl dress worn by actress Lupita Nyong’o’s during the 2015 Oscars has been stolen. The dress, which was made, by Calvin Klein was taken from her hotel room in West Hollywood while she had stepped out. The dress is worth $150,000 (Sh13 million) and was a show stopper on the red carpet. The local sheriff’s office is conducting investigations into the theft.

LUPITA NYONG’O

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WEDNESDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2014 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

SHOPPING

Shopping AT ThE pRESTigE MALL iS puRE bLiSS bECAuSE ThE MALL iS LARgE AnD hAS VARiED RETAiLERS.

Beauty shops are not numerous but the ones that are present are worth their value. Urembo Hair and Beauty Centre is one of the prettiest shops in the building. It offers the full hair and nail treatments in a relaxing atmosphere

the wonder of

restige Plaza is large. The size is definitely one of the main selling points of the mall, which bills itself as East Africa’s third largest Mall. Within its confines are a hyper mart, 2 cinemas and dozens of retailers. Positioned at the intersection of Mugo Kabiru and Ngong Road, Prestige plaza has one of the better dining and shopping experiences Nairobi has to offer. The traffic on Ngong Road might be hectic, especially during rush hours, but it will all be worth it once you get there. There is no water feature present at the shopping centre but the mall’s overall design does not necessarily demand for one. The mall consists of an L shaped building that efficiently utilizes space without cramming everything into one location. Straight from the entrance, it is apparent that Prestige Plaza was built for utility, with the parking lot serving as seating space for cafes and accommodating extra

shops. Nakumatt Prestige provides everything under one roof and the fashion shops on the premises, althouh numerous, do not feel overbearing. Mocca, despite its name, is an eye-catching little store that deals in designer bags for women and sits right next to the food court. She Reigns Collections is funky and upbeat. The retailer stocks garments for younger women and it warrants a visit by the bold and fashion forward individuals, who aren’t afraid to take risks. Gist on the other hand sells classics, using delicate fabrics and neutral colours, the store stocks basics that every woman should own. For the gentlemen, Enkee’s promises an upgrade with its designer dress shoes adding a classy touch to any man’s wardrobe. Neo Man is clearly tailored for the metrosexual man. Clothing at the shop is cut sleekly and cleanly for the man with an eye for fashion. Shopping for clothes at the

Prestige Plaza is a family affair because there is a shop that specifically caters for kids—Funky Kidz Retro. Toy Zone sells toys and everything children dream of. From dolls to remote controlled cars and Lego sets, they have it all. The number of beauty shops at the mall are not as many as in others but those that are present are worth their value. Urembo Hair and Beauty Centre is one of the prettiest shops in the building. It offers full hair and nail treatments in a relaxing atmosphere. Its stylish design is easy on the eyes. Concept Salon Design is modern and sophisticated, serving both men and women, the salon caters to varied clientele styling: Afro, Caucasian and Asian hair types. On the food front, there’s a surprising diversity in the eateries at the mall. Café Buddineria and lovely coffee shop, The Mug are located at the ground floor, and their location affords them that quick and easy appeal if you are on the go. The

Actor bereaved but not mourning

NICK NDEDA

Prestige plaza

Higher Learning actor, Nick Ndeda lost his cousin yesterday, to mob justice. The actor posted the news online saying he did not feel sorry for his cousin because he was a thug. One of his cousins escaped and is now in hiding.

Avanti Coffee shop is an upscale affair. The ambience is quite mellow for a mall restaurant. In addition to coffee, the restaurant also serves juices, smoothies and good old pizza. Another bonus is that the café opens until late, making it perfect for the night owl. The food court is humdrum but the eateries are excellent. Swahili Plate serves up traditional Coastal food, while Chinese Corner offers dry garlic pork and beef, noodles and other treats from the orient. Ethiopian Dish, for the explorative soul and American Fried Chicken, a fast food staple are among the other eateries in the mall. On the top floor of Prestige Plaza are the cinemas, now managed by Planet Media and screening all the new releases. There is a lounging area and concession stand selling hotdogs, popcorn and soft drinks in case you get the munchies. The kids play area is pretty impressive and it consists ATV rides, a merry-go-round and a bungee jump trampoline. It is open

on the weekends to keep children distracted while you do your shopping. A number of other stores require a special mention. Aquapet has everything a pet owner could need, among them pet food, aquariums, scratching posts and bird cages. Rajshyn Jewellers is for shoppers looking for something truly memorable. In addition to jewellery, the shop handles watchmaking, engraving and gemmology. The elevator experience comes with a sterling recommendation, as they are wide and shoppers can take in the beauty of the mall as they ascend. Bank services on location are provided by KCB, NIC, Co-operative Bank and Diamond Trust Bank. There are no clear emergency exits but the mall is open and easy to navigate through, although it does tend to get crowded on weekends. However, it feels well-paced with not too much of a single thing. —By Christine Keyonzo

HOT Kanye apologises to beck TOPICS

It is not in Kanye West’s element to apologise. The start took to twitter to apologise to Beck for interrupting his acceptance speech at the Grammys a few weeks back. The singer had gone to the stage to interrupt Beck who had won an award for Album of the year. Kanye felt that Beyoncé deserved the award. He also apologised to Bruno Mars for hating on him saying he now respected the ‘uptown funk’ singer.

ACCESS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

WEEKENDPLANNER

your comprehensive gig guide. ToDAY

SATURDAY

night of Acoustic soul WHERE: Michael Joseph Centre WHEN:7:00pm WHO: Christian Lwanda, Isaac Kimani, Ivyln Mutua HOW MUCH: Sh500

ToDAY

WHERE: United Nations Recreational Grounds WHEN: 1:00 pm – 8:00pm WHO: Sauti Sol, Juliani and Sarabi HOW MUCH: Sh1, 500 adults, Sh500 children

nDovU zeTU

ToDAY

SATURDAY

sAmAnThA BridAl Wedding FAir

WHERE: Go Down Arts Centre WHEN: 2:00 pm- 8:00 pm WHO: Sage, Dola Kabarry Verasso HOW MUCH: Free entry

WHERE: Sarit Centre WHEN:9:00 am – 6:00 pm HOW MUCH: Sh400

G i G

concerT

The edm euphoria 2015 WHERE: Kenyatta University WHEN: 3:00pm WHO: No Deejays crew HOW MUCH: Advance Sh200 gate Sh500

Sauti Sol

electrafrique nairobi:

African Tribes edition WHERE: The Tree House WHEN: 9:00pm WHO: Jack Rooster, L.A Dave vs Suraj, Donnaccia. HOW MUCH: Sh500

Out&About

Enjoy African simplicity at

Punda Milias The camp, in Nakuru, could be the perfect weekend gateaway you have been looking for

ired of the busy city life and just need some time off to relax and be at peace with Mother Nature? Why not try out the Punda Milias Camp, in Nakuru. The camp is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Nairobi, right at the border of the Soysambu conservancy. Be on the lookout for a sign-board, a small one on the left. But if you are coming from Nakuru, you will most certainly miss it because it is blank on this side! Upon arrival, expect a warm

welcome from a pack of big and friendly dogs, belonging to camp owners, Danny and Queen. The ever-smiling staff will direct you to your banda or luxury tent, after a complimentary glass of wine. For Sh3,400 you and your partner (if there is one) will be comfortably tucked in pretty bandas made of wood and canvas and plastered on the outside. Meals are made fresh and served at the time of your choice but not later than 10am for breakfast and 9pm for dinner.

LEFT: Queen and Danny, the owners of Punda Milias Camp in Nakuru. The Koroga restaurant at the site offers scrumptious affordable meals. Juicy grills from pork, beef, chicken, lamb chops or fish fillet which are accompanied with either rice, ugali or French fries range from Sh700 to Sh1,000. A bottle of water goes for Sh100, juice Sh150 and local beers Sh200. You can even try out cocktails which range between Sh400 to Sh500. The Hippo cottage promises the ultimate experience in luxury camping. It is positioned in a private, secluded area of the camp

and comes with a living room, a bedroom, a well-equipped kitchen and a large bathroom. Double doors from the bathroom lead out to a private garden with sunken, outdoor bath for romantic starlit evenings. A night for two costs Sh13,000. Other accommodation options are family tent, safari tent or dorm tent. You also have the option of camping on the grounds for between Sh600 and Sh1,250 depending on whether you bring your tent or use the camp’s.

ACCESS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FASHIONScoop

AShANti iS A modEl, turNEd SkiN cArE, buSiNESS oWNEr. ShE lEtS uS iNto hEr trENdy cloSEt.

What is the last item do you wear before leaving the house? Sunglasses.

What is your best fashion accessory? My smile and also, I cannot get enough of glasses, bracelets and shoes!

Which fashion advice do you live by? Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance Coco Chanel.

Which is your favourite fashion colour? I am quite partial to blue, I love spice it up with complementary colours such as pink, white, beige or green.

CLOSET RAID asHanTi WanDia- MC FaDDen

How would you describe your fashion style? I actually do not have a signature look. I just mix it all up.

TOP 10

One of Thula Sindiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designs.

TRACKS THIS WEEK

Sam Sm

ith

NEWS

Rank

Whose fashion style do you admire locally and internationally? I admire young labels like Pierre Anthoine Vetorello, David Tlale and Thula Sindi. Their designs go far beyond expectations. Which fashion trend have you sworn never to try out? I have decided to never say never when it comes to fashion trends but bell bottom pants must be one of the worst fashion trends of all time. Which one do you prefer khaki pants or hot pants? I prefer both. What is your guilty pleasure (fashion wise)? I love, love, love SHOES!

TiTle

aRTisTe

1 2

Like I can Burning up

Sam Smith Jessie J ft. 2Chainz

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Four five seconds

Rihanna ft.Kanye West Kiesza Richgang ft. Young Thug, Dej Loaf Iggy Azalea ft. MO Omarion ft. Chris Brown The weeknd Ne-Yo ft. Juicy J

Hideaway Lifestyle Try me Beg for it Post to be Often She knows

PLAY 11 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 Chances are good that you will receive a helping hand or comfort from someone many years your senior who cares about you, Capricorn. They will probably enjoy being able to do this for you and be glad that you’ve approached them. Be open and accept the love and support that’s offered. AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 Today, Aquarius, you may think about competition and possible future goals. Imagining and dreaming can serve you well. What did you dream about as a kid? Who did you want to become? Are you close to this in your life now? If not, is this all right for you? PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 You may think about your finances today, Pisces. It’s never too late to learn about saving and investing, especially if there’s something you really want to do, like travel. Preparing for retirement can seem surreal when you’re young, but it’s important to start early.

FRIday 27/02/2015

sunny

SATURday 28/02/2015

More sun than clouds

29ºC 17%

6:41am 6:50 pm

29ºC 16%

6:41 am 6:49 pm

Sunday

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

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 Take the time today to consider your health, Aries. Do you get enough rest, eat the right foods, take vitamins, exercise every day, go to the doctor when you need to, and take time to relax? Living a long, healthy life is something we all want. Start now to take care of your body.

Sudoku

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Today you may emphasize organizing things and managing your life, Taurus. Take a look at your time management. It’s possible to plan every day so you have enough time to do what you have to get done as well as do everything you’d like to do. Check them out. GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 See what your memory and imagination come up with. Is your life what you dreamed it would be? If not, consider what you could do to change it. Maybe you should lie on your back and gaze at the clouds or stars. This childlike activity may spark some ideas for you. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 If you feel cautious today, Cancer, don’t be alarmed. This can be a good thing, Cancer, as you can be too trusting at times or forget to take care when going into something new. Use a little caution in everything you do to keep safe. This is true with relationships, too. LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 This may come about when things go wrong or if you’re accused of something you didn’t do. You always have control over your dignity. Your daily actions affirm this. The key is to hold on tightly to who you are and what you believe in. Defend your dignity if it’s challenged. VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 22 It could indicate that it’s important for you to maintain control over most things - what you say and how much, how you dress, the kinds of people you spend time with, where and how you spend your money - these are all things that conservative people tend to closely monitor.

MUSTREAD

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Your mother probably affects how you think, act, and feel, both in the past and now. If your mother’s sign is opposite yours, conflict and misunderstanding can happen more easily. Take the time to learn about her sign today to help you understand her and the relationship you have. SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 Focus on yourself today, Scorpio. Take note of your health. It’s up to you to stick to them. The little things like taking vitamins, staying active, and relaxing help maintain a healthy body. If you aren’t feeling your best, make your habits more conducive to glowing health. SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 No dream is too big or too late to fulfill. You may be thinking about your special dreams today, Sagittarius. Perhaps you aspire to do something really great, be a pioneer in some field, or be a prominent figure. Whatever it is can happen if you believe in yourself and work toward it.

INSTAMOMENTS 1

YOURSAY

— by Waris Dirie, Cathleen Miller

Waris Dirie was born in Somalia to a nomad family. When she was five years old, she was forced to undergo Female Genital Mutiliation (FGM). At 13 years, she was forced into a marriage with a man her grandfather’s age. Refusing to accept, fate she fled home and travelled the treacherous Somali desert alone to Mogadishu where she got an opportunity to fly to London to start a new life. She first became a house help, worked at Mc Donald’s before she became a globally renowned globe-trotting model. Waris is now a human rights ambassador for UN and Desert Flower the extraordinary story of her life.

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

Friday’s winning photo

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

TV stations had adequate time to plan for digital switch It’s safe to say Kenyans are tired of ‘living in the dark’. Local stations should immediately get set up on the digital platform so we can resume watching all TV stations. Our stations had more than a year to prepare for the digital migration. Majority of us bought set top boxes in anticipation of the switch-

Desert Flower

over. With the Communications Authority threating to take away licenses of those not in the digital platform (page 4, February 26, 2015), the stations need to step up and many of us hope they do. Without live and recorded broadcasts, they can’t expect Kenyans to find news online. This

is simply not feasible since most homes get TV sets long before they consider securing computers, much less internet connection. Media stations need to get their act together or risk losing a large audience forever.

winning captions

1. The god of drunkenness after receiving offerings from worshipppers-KS 2. Meditation at its finest...no distrations because I’m out-JB, Nrb 3. Being one with the bottle-Everline Mukasa, Nairobi

PLAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

CROSSWORD Across 1. Fed. agent 5. Latch (onto) 9. Convinces 14. Abusive attack 15. Like some chardonnays 16. What a perp may cop 17. Short tales 19. Filing tools 20. Villa ___ (Italian landmark) 21. “Laughing” scavenger of Africa 23. Biblical boat 25. Thrusting suddenly 30. Potassium bitartrate, commonly 33. Invitation abbr. 35. Head, to Helmut 36. She turned men into pigs 37. Tire (out) 39. ___ Zulu (Bantu warrior chief) 42. Swamp area 43. Doozies 45. Red, to Ramón 47. ___ sgt. (police rank) 48. Blameless 52. Swing by for a visit 53. Miss Piggy, to Miss Piggy 54. “We’re ___ See the Wizard” 57. Most hooks and jabs 61. “Scrubs” actor 65. Listen in (on) 67. Pluck 68. House, as it were 69. Blue Nile source, Lake ____ 70. Sat in neutral 71. Striplings 72. Courtroom attention-getter

Down 1. June honoree 2. Lion’s locks 3. Anthropoids 4. Rich fruit drink 5. Moo ___ gai pan 6. Trellis strip 7. Doke lead-in 8. “I Can’t Help ___” (1965 hit) 9. New York resort lake 10. FDR employment init. 11. Pacino and Gore 12. Nope’s opposite 13. Stockholm carrier 18. Bo of “10” fame 22. Fanatic 24. “Get Smart” enemy agency 26. Far from cheerful 27. “Let ___!”: high roller’s cry 28. Mother-of-pearl 29. Hail 30. Rapper born Artis Ivey, Jr. 31. Speed stat 32. France’s Joan ___ 33. Grade below A minus 34. Robin of baseball 38. Lady’s shoe 40. Potassium hydroxide, to chemists 41. In ____ (stuck) 44. Parodied 46. Ancient coins 49. Poor mark 50. Have an influence on 51. Purposely misinformed 55. Twelve Oaks neighbor 56. “Heroides” writer 58. Become threadbare 59. Vocal inflection 60. Extremely dorky person 61. Measure of fitness, briefly 62. Stewart of rock 63. Musician Rose 64. Cry of annoyance 66. “This is only a test” org.

DAILY WISDOM “In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” — George Orwell “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” —Buddha “Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away.” — Ismail Haniyeh “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” —Thomas Jefferson “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” — Winston Churchill “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” —Buddha “Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.” —Elvis Presley “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” — Arthur Conan Doyle “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.” — John F. Kennedy

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

Sport FRIday, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

resigned to fate

Mertesacker: Arsenal need a miracle to make CL quarters P.14 TEEING OFF: Windsor pro Riz Charania putts on his way to winning the KCB East African Tour at Muthaiga. Three pros who took part in the pre-qualifying rounds of Sunshine Tour in George and Johannesburg will be on the KCB Pro-Am Golf Tour opening leg which starts on March 10.

Sunshine Tour trio among 36 pros for KCB golf tourney Three pro golfers who took part in the recent pre-qualifying rounds of the Sunshine Tour in George and Johannesburg are in the opening leg of KCB Pro-Am Golf Tour which kicks off at the Royal Nairobi on March 10. The event proper will be held between March 11 and 14th. Tournament Director Elisha Kasuku, who released the ProAm draw, said stiff competition is anticipated from pros considering that they will use the event to shape up for the Kenya Open 2015. Dismas Indiza, C J Wangai and David Wakhu who graced the prestigious Tour courtesy of KCB sponsorship have been included in the draw released yesterday. Indiza will be the first to tee off in the company of Wangai and retired athlete Elisha Kasuku at 8.52am. “Standards have been set and only the sky’s the limit for Kenyan pros as they prepare for the Open,” said Kasuku. The first event in the KCB Tour has drawn Kenya’s best professionals, including Greg Snow, Vet Lab’s Brian Njoroge, Windsor pro Rizwan

Charania, Nicholas Rokoine of Muthaiga, Thika pro Simon Ngige and M N Ngugi of Railways. Former GOTY David Opati, who has since moved from Golf Park to Windsor, and Tony Omuli will play at Royal. Omuli has been playing good golf since joining pro ranks. Wangai said the trip to South Africa has been a boost to Kenyans. “We all missed the pre- qualification slots, therefore we won’t be playing in the Jo’burg Open. But the trip has helped Kenyans grasp vital tactics in the run-up to the Kenya Open,” said Wangai. Wangai said standards in South Africa are high “but we only need time to get used to this conditions”. The 2015 KCB Golf Tour will culminate in the Grand Finale at Nyali Golf Course on August 8. KCB has committed up to Sh25m for the organisation of the Tour and facilitating for three golfers who took part in the unshine Tour. The five-leg series carry Sh5.5million prize cash.

Cricket Kenya:

Broke, Broken and Backward looking

The cricket world cup is currently underway in Australia and New Zealand and Kenya is not participating and seemingly has no particular plans to. The Cricket world cup is a peculiar tournament in that is acts as both the pinnacle of the game and also as a development exercise. Of the assembled teams only four have a high likelihood of winning Australia, India, South Africa and co – hosts New Zealand. The others assembled are either uncompetitive but part of the established ‘Test playing nation”, like England and Bangladesh, or associates such as Scotland, UAE and Afghanistan. Kenya briefly shone on the world stage, historic wins against the West Indies and Sri Lanka and a World Cup semi final filled the few cricket lovers in Kenya with hope and endeared us to the rest of the cricket world. A golden era of players emerged in the private clubs of Forest Road. Administration of the game has never been particularly strong, funds have historically been short and vision even moreso. The man currently being talked about as the best coach in the world for his work at the helm of New Zealand’s national team actually committed to Kenya first. His time in Kenya was a tail of frustration. Local ‘stakeholders’ bickered, former players wanted their share of the pie and the people tasked with running the game hedged their bets. Kenya lost. We continue to lose. The rumour mill has it that the administration is going further back again and appointing selectors that warmed the selectorial seats during the fall from grace as the ones to be trusted with a resurrection. Former National Captain Asif Karim says “Kenya

cricket is dead, it is dead and buried.” The Cricket Kenya telephone line is disconnected, the Facebook page is offline and the future is predictable. This weekend you can watch former Kenya Coach Mike Hesson’s New Zealand take on co-hosts and co-favourites Australia at the World Cup and wonder what might have been, because it shall never be. RIP Kenyan Cricket.

Asif Karim shakes hands with umpire Steve Bucknor

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SPORT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Mertesacker: Arsenal need miracle to get through Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker admits the club needs a miracle to reach the Champions League Quarter Finals after their ‘naive’ display against Monaco on Wednesday night. Arsene Wenger’s side slumped to a woeful 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their last 16 tie at home and were booed off by supporters on the final whistle. It means Arsenal have to score a minimum of three goals in the return match next month to have a hope of going through and Monaco have conceded just five in the competition so far. Mertesacker is refusing to give up hope of reaching the last eight, but accepts it will take something extraordinary to progress. He said: “We have seen a lot of miracle nights in all competitions. European nights can be very frustrating, but they can also be wonderful. We need a wonderful night. “A lot of things went against us. We found our own teammate instead of the net a couple of times. A lot of things went wrong. We still kept going. “Sometimes the crowd want to see better results, especially at home because they know it will be tough at Monaco. “We try to create a special atmosphere with our travelling fans. We are capable of doing special things, even away from home. “Let’s try to raise everyone’s level at Monaco. Let’s try to get in our rhythm there. We could have scored more than three goals last night and we can hurt them. “We have to focus on that. We can’t look back and think too much about this game. We will analyse what went wrong, but when we travel to Monaco we have to be on the front foot, be brave and get the best out of ourselves.” Arsenal looked like they had got themselves back in the tie when substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reduced the deficit to 2-1 in injury time. However, Arsenal allowed themselves to be caught on the break and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco netted a potentially decisive third for the visitors.

ALL WE NEED IS A MIRACLE: Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker admits the club needs a miracle to overturn their 3-1 defeat to AS Monaco at Emirates on Wednesday night.

Timbe confident ahead of Platinum clash in harare

Noble signs West Ham contract extension to 2020 West Ham midfielder Mark Noble (pictured) has signed a contract extension to 2020, with a further one-year option. The 27-year-old former England under-21 international has twice been named the club’s player of the year. Noble joined West Ham as a 13-year-old in 2000 and made his first-team debut four

years later. He has since made more than 300 appearances for the club. “I’m over the moon because it takes me until I’m 33,” the vice-captain told the club’s official website. “I love playing football and I love playing for the club so to be rewarded with a new five-and-a-half-year contract is fantastic,” he added.

HOPE AGAINST HOPE: Sofapaka in action against Zimbabwe opponents Platinum FC during their first leg CAF Confederations Cup in Nyayo stadium. Coach Sam Timbe is confident to overturn the first leg defeat when the two sides clash in Harare this weekend.

Sofapaka coach Sam Timbe is confident that his will get good results against Zimbabwe opponents Platinum FC when the two sides clash this weekend during the return leg Caf Confederations Cup first round return leg tie in Harare. Timbe said the team was in good shape ahead of the return leg tie adding that the few injuries that surrounded few players have been taken care of by the medical team. Former Gor Mahia international Kevin Omondi who has been sick for the last one week has been included in the 20-man Sofapaka Squad that left on Thursday for Harare against Zimbabwe’s Platinum FC. Also included in the team is former Nakuru Top Fry midfielder Erastus Mwaniki who has impressed since he joined the team early this year. Burundian international Fiston Abdoul who missed the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash against Ushuru FC returned in time to make the traveling list while Heritier Luvualu, Mulondwa Bebeto, Felly Mulumba and Shafik Batambuze all who missed the match are also in the traveling team.

SPORT 15 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

How to play

SMS GAME TO:

79079

1. Register SMS the word ‘GAME’ to 79079. You will receive a message confirming that your SPESA account has been opened. 2. Top up your account Deposit money in your MPesa, Airtel Money, Orange Money or Yu Cash. Once deposited send the amount you want to your SPESA account, using MPesa Paybill 955100, Airtel Money Paybill SPORTPESA, Orange Money Paybill 079079 or Yu Cash Paybill 107079

SMS CHARGED @2/-

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

3. Place a bet Send an SMS in the following format to 79079: GAME ID#(OUTCOME i.e 1, X or 2)#AMOUNT OF MONEY. For instance, in tomorrow’s match between Manchester City and Chelsea, if you want to bet Sh100 for a Man City win, you will send the following SMS to 79079: 6112#1#100

Weekend matches predictions

Stoke Vs Hull

DATE

TIME

GAME

18:00

2. 28.02.15

18:00

3. 28.02.15

18:00 SHEFFIELD WED vs MIDDLESBROUGH

2.93

3.24

2.13

4. 28.02.15

18:00

2.56

3.25

2.77

5. 28.02.15

18:00 18:00

WEST BROM. vs SOUTHAMPTON BURNLEY vs SWANSEA FULHAM vs DERBY NEWCASTLE vs ASTON VILLA

1.93

3.32

4.17

3.42

3.10

2.25

3.21

2.01

1.92

3.31

4.22

7. 01.03.15