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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

addictive choices processed foods have same

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Buddha Blaze is a legend in the artiste management business.

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Another man to die for killing daughter

nother man was this morning sentenced to death for killing his daughter. The sentence comes barely a week after a similar ruling was handed down by the court for a similar offence.

Irungu James Ndehi, a Kiambu farmer, was found to have defiled and killed his 15 year-old daughter on September 14, 2009. High Court Judge Nicholas Ombija convicted the 63 year-old man for murdering Marion Waithera

Irungu. Prosecution summoned a total of seven witnesses, including a doctor, who performed an autopsy and gave a report that indicated the child died by “strangulation causing asphyxia with the possibility of defilement.”

The court was told that on the fateful day, the accused cheated neighbours who had gathered at their Kamae home in Kiambu west that his daughter collapsed and died out of some illness. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

SH14M corporate boost to beyond zero drive

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Diary entry

The first Mardi Gras in Kenya will be held on Saturday at the Tree House

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Fashion scoop FOR NEEDY MOTHERS: First Lady Margaret Kenyatta receives a Sh2 million cheque from Kenya Power MD Ben Chumo, accompanied by officials Sarah Wepukhulu and Kevin Sang for her Beyond Zero campaign. Story on Page 2.

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Laura Lwala is an artist with an eye for perfection, who deals in jewellery

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Another man to die for killing daughter From Page 1 The story was shattered when two neighbours who had spotted the child alive during the day gave contradictory evidence. “In his sworn statement, the accused claimed that on September 14 2009 while at his home on Kamae village, in Lari, he went out to a local church in the company of his daughter and when they returned home from service, the child fell ill and he bought two tablets which he gave her. When he woke up the following morning, he found her dead,” Justice Ombija said.

The judge said based on available evidence, it was clear the accused had turned the victim into his wife. The man was living with the daughter in his house after the wife died, the judge said. “Her siblings,” the judge added, “were living with their maternal grandmother.” Against the backdrop of evidence as for who strangled and possibly defiled the deceased on the fateful night was a fact particularly within the accused knowledge, the judge said. “Only he who could explain how the deceased who was well during the day and even went to the local church

for service happened to have been strangled and possibly defiled leading to her eventual death,” Justice Ombija ruled. Irungu can, however, appeal the ruling in 14 days. Last week, Justice Ombija sentenced Peter Kinyua Mwangi to death for killing a daughter the accused claimed was born out of wedlock. The 30-year-old man was convicted of charges of murdering nine-monthold Miriam Muthoni whose body was retrieved from a pit latrine at Kyang’ombe Village in Embakasi, Nairobi, on April 22, 2009.

Justice Nicholas Ombija

State finally charges Kamani trio with Sh10b Anglo Leasing fraud

IN THE DOCK: Businessman Deepak Kamani, his father Chamanlal Kamani (left) and younger brother Rashmi Kamani (right) when they appeared in court this morning charged with conspiracy to defraud the Government of Sh10 billion in the Anglo Leasing scandal.

Businessman Deepak Kamani, his father Chamanlal Kamani, and younger brother Rashmi Kamani were today charged with conspiracy to defraud the Government of Sh10 billion in the Anglo Leasing scandal. The three were arraigned in court only a day after they failed to appear before the same court. They are accused of conspiring to defraud the Government of Sh10 billion between 2003 and 2004 in deals that were meant to modernise the Kenya Police

Service. They denied the charges and were released on Sh10 million bond or Sh2million cash bail each. Earlier, the three recorded statements at the Ethics and AntiCorruption Commission (EACC) offices at Integrity Centre ahead of their court appearance. The three, who were accompanied by lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi and family members, have been out of the country and arrived late Wednesday. Yesterday, Kisii Senator Chris

Obure and three former Permanent Secretaries were charged over the multi-billion shilling scandal. Former Finance Minister David Mwiraria is to be charged in two weeks after he was said to be admitted to the Karen Hospital in Nairobi. The Kamanis had attempted to stop police from arresting them before lawyer Ahmednasir told court they were out of the country and would present themselves before EACC on Thursday morning before taking pleas.

First Lady’s Beyond Zero campaign gets Sh14m boost The ‘Beyond Zero’ drive has received more than Sh14 million boost from wellwishers. Speaking when they made their contributions to First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi, the well-wishers who included Carbacid Investment Chairman Maina Wanjigi, termed the campaign a noble initiative which will save lives of many Kenyans. “We cannot afford to lose another child because of carelessness… we will support you for as long as you keep going,” said Wanjigi as he donated Sh1 million from Carbacid Investment Company. Other companies and individuals who

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presented donations included Kenya Power Sh2 million, Sameer Investment Sh2 million, Phoenix Aviation Sh500,000, Bishop Margaret Wanjiru of Jesus is Alive Ministries Sh50,000 and Broadband Communication Network Sh1 million. The National Assembly Spouses Association gave Sh270,000, Nguyai Foundation Sh400,000, National Aids Control Council Sh250,000 and Kenya Charity Sweepstake Sh500,000, Magnate Venture Sh5 million, Revitalize Company Sh1,200,105 and State House staff spouses Sh8,100. Kenya Power CEO Ben Chumo said the company

wants to share in the success story of the Beyond Zero drive spearheaded by the First Lady. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru of Jesus is Alive Ministries and Broadband Communication Network CEO Benard Wahome commended the First Lady, saying she has made the country proud. “We celebrate you from the bottom of our hearts… you could easily have raised the money without running,” she said. The First Lady thanked well-wishers for the donations, saying she will remain steadfast in her determination to save more Kenyan women and children.

OUR CONTRIBUTION: First Lady Margaret Kenyatta receives a Sh5 million cheque from Magnate Venture Limited for her Beyond Zero Campaign at State House, Nairobi, earlier today. Photo: PSCU.

Will ban on school ranking water down quality of education?

Kevin Omondi

Lucy Rono There is a huge fuss over the issue because it has been the norm since time immemorial but it’s no big deal. Abolishing rankings will lift pressure off learners and let them enjoy learning. There will be proper learning, reduction in cheating and emphasis on wholesome education.

Naval Kishore It’s not the best idea. There is no way of determining which school has performed well or poorly. Parents will find it hard to choose institutions in which to enroll children. The Government should have consulted and involved Kenyans before taking the decision.

Peter Harold Banning ranking will only lead to confusion and lower quality of learning. Children will not know which school to choose because there will be no visible evidence on how institutions perform. The ban should be lifted.

Kids kill themselves over grades because of obsession with exams. Some schools/ students genuinely perform well but are never applauded. Other institutions cheat to get to the top for heroic praises. There is more to learning than pushing for As.

NEWS 3 THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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MP sought over violent city house eviction

Processed foods have similar effect on people as hard drugs

A former MP in Nairobi and an auctioneer are being sought over yesterday’s violent eviction incident in which a man was killed and property destroyed at Caxton House, along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi. Police say they have summoned the former MP and are looking for the auctioneer for questioning over the incident. The house is still locked after hired goons raided it to evict tenants when an order they had stated the tenants would be restricted from entering there. The MP is said to have hired the youths who staged the raid without police escort. The ownership of the house remains clouded in controversy.

Highly processed foods like chocolate, pizza and chips really are highly addictive to the point of having the same effect as drugs, researchers have claimed. They say that certain foods trigger the same ‘reward’ centres in the brain as hard drugs. The study is one of the first to examine specifically which foods may be responsible for extremely addictive behaviour. Previous studies in animals conclude that highly processed foods “foods with added fat or refined carbohydrates like white flour and sugar) may be capable of triggering compulsive eating. Clinical studies in humans have observed that some individuals meet the same criteria for substance abuse when the substance is food. Nicole Avena, an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York explained the significance of the findings. As co-author on the study, she says: “This is a first step towards identifying specific foods, and properties of foods, which can trigger this addictive response.” “This could help change the way we approach obesity treatment,” she added, noting that “it may not be a simple matter of ‘cutting back’ on certain foods, but rather, adopting methods used to curtail smoking, drinking and drug use.”

Businessman among two killed in city night attacks Police are investigating an incident in which a businessman was killed in his car along Forest Road in yet another execution in Nairobi. The body of Paul Kariuki Ngugi was found lying next to a woman who was in his company long after the shooting had happened. The woman is in a comma in a city hospital. Police say the two were driving home at about 2am when a car blocked their way and gunmen emerged and fired bullets into their car killing the man. Investigations have been launched according to police. The victim was driving a Mercedes Benz when he was attacked. It is not yet clear whether the attackers stole anything from the victims. And in another incident, a man was shot dead in a robbery at an apartment in

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Langata area, Nairobi. The victim was a pedestrian and had tried to shout at a gang that was escaping after a robbery when he was shot in the back. He died instantly. Police say the gang had raided the apartment and robbed some of the tenants. They were escaping when the victim tried to raise an alarm. This incensed the gang prompting one of them to open fire. The incident that took place early today at 6am occurred along Jonathan Ngeno Road. Elsewhere, a man was also today morning stabbed to death following a domestic squabble in Dandora. The victim is reported to have quarreled with his wife before the woman stabbed him in the stomach. She has since been arrested and is in police custody.

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WHAT OTHERS SAID TODAY...

I stole Ngilu’s bag — Kabogo: “Let me tell you a secret. You don’t know I stole Narc party leader Charity Ngilu’s hand bag in Kasarani,” Kiambu Governor William Kabogo told a shocked crowd yesterday. “ But I am no thief,” he added hastly. Speaking at Bishop Kariuki Community Hall, Kabete subcounty, Kabogo said he took the bag in 2012 because it contained a secret three-way memorandum of understanding signed by Ngilu’s Narc party, Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA and Ruto’s URP. He said he was doing a country a favour by preventing another coalition government...

Top of the class: 15 dbest KCSE schools: Kabarak High School recorded the best mean score in last year’s Form Four examinations, according to a review of the results released on Tuesday. The school had a mean score of 11.357 and was closely followed by Kapsabet High School, also in the Rift Valley, which had a mean score of 11.125. Maseno School in Kisumu County had the third best mean score nationally — 10.935 — and was closely followed by Alliance High School with a mean score of 10.853. Earlier reports had indicated that Alliance had the best results..

KCSE: Mixed fortunes for new national schools: It was a mixed bag of fortunes for the 113 new national schools facing higher expectations in thge 2014 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). In Nairobi City County, old national schools like Kenya High, Lenana and Nairobi School sgayed with sight of the KCSE pyramid’s peak, but lesser known private schools gave them a run for their money. Among them was Light Academy Boys Secondary School in Karen that scored 11.29 points with the last candidate having scored an A minus of 75 points...

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NEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

MPs clear Boinett for IG post Joseph Kipchirchir Boinett will anytime from now, within the next seven days, be formally appointed as the next Inspector General of Police after MPs and Senators approved his nomination to the position yesterday. The two houses of parliament both voted in favour of a report by a joint security committee despite some members expressing reservations over Boinett’s ability to resolve the deteriorating security situation in the country. The passage of the motion now means President Uhuru Kenyatta can formally appoint Boinett as the police boss within seven days after receiving the notification of his approval by the Speaker. But while the National Assembly unanimously voted in support of the report, the Senate did not. Opposition senators who attempted to block Boinett’s approval had questions on his experience and academic credentials. However, they failed in their bid as they could not raise the required numbers to block the approval. In the national Assembly, Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) supported Boinett’s appointment expressing hope that the constant wrangles pitting the Administration

Police against regular Police would be resolved. “When people are angry at a government, it cannot function. The security situation in the country needs to be resolved sooner than later,” said Midiwo. Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandai objected the report’s recommendations saying the issue of Boinett’s paperwork particularly education needed further scrutiny. The debate in the Senate was more charged as more Senators disputed the committee’s findings on Boinett’s ability to lead the Police docket. Soon after the news that Parliament had approved his appointment, Boinett through his @JBoinett Twitter handle thanked the President for nominating him to the position and the legislators for approving him while also promising to serve all Kenyans without discrimination. “As the 2nd Inspector General of Police, I promise to serve all Kenyans without discrimination—I thank the honorable members for approving my nomination,” read part of the tweet. Boinett will replace David Kimaiyo who retired following deterioration of the country’s security after more than 60 people were killed in Mandera late last year.

YOU’RE HIRED: President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulates Inspector General of Police nominee Mr Joseph Kipchirchir Boinett at State House, Nairobi, on December 31, 2014.

US AMbASSADoR To SoUTH koREA WoUNDED iN SEoUl kNifE ATTACk US ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, was early today injured by a knife-wielding attacker in Seoul in what has sent shockwaves across the world. Mr Lippert, 42, was attending a breakfast meeting when he was slashed on his face and left hand. He was taken to hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening according to the US embassy. According to Seoul police, Lip-

pert was slashed on his right cheek and hand with a knife measuring about 10 inches long. A South Korean news agency reported that the suspect was opposed to the joint South Korea-U.S. military drills that launched earlier this week, but Seoul police said the motive for the attack and how it was organised are under investigation.

Witnesses said the attacker, a 55-year-old man who shouted “South and North Korea should be reunified!” before lashing out at the envoy. He was subdued by security officers and arrested. South Korean President Park Guen-hye said the incident was an “attack on the South Korea-US alliance”. US President Barack Obama had called Mr Lippert to wish

him “the very best for a speedy recovery”, US National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf confirmed the ambassador had been attacked. “We strongly condemn this act of violence. The ambassador is being treated at a local hospital. His injuries are not life threatening,” she said.

STRUCK: Mark Lippert bloodied from the attack. He was attending a breakfast meeting in Seoul when he was slashed on his face and left hand.

TRADE: Street hawkers in a Nairobi market. Nairobi County government is working to establish designated hawking zones within the Central Business District.

City Hall to designate hawking zones in CBD The County government of Nairobi is now working on a comprehensive policy that will designate some areas where hawking will be allowed in the Central Business District. However, County Executive in charge of Trade and Tourism Anne Othoro said there will be time allocated for the businesses. She says she has already met the leaders of over 1500 hawkers in the City to work out on how to streamline the industry. “There leaders assured me their support and they will also be forming Saccos to enable them make a good progress. We want to issue out a formal guideline on how these businesses should be conducted,” she said. She, however, denied claims of harassment of hawkers by the county government officers, but said the issue is under investiga-

tion. “All our officers are always in uniform, and the claims we got were that the officers accused were not in uniform, we want to probe the issue further and take action were necessary,” she added. The county government is also working on establishment of mini fire stations near major markets in the city following the recent fire incidents in the markets.Othoro admits firefighting has been one of the biggest challenges in the city. “We only have one fire station in the city, and when a fire breaks out it has always been a challenge getting to put it out. But once we get these mini stations, we will be armed,” Othoro said. She also called for an introduction of stiffer taxes on Mitumba products to encourage the local market.

xnews | THURsday, MARCH 5, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

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 91.2656 91.3878 91.3267 140.0633 140.2917 140.1775 101.9294 102.0767 102.0031 7.7580 7.7744 7.7662 31.7876 31.9398 31.8637 19.9917 20.1281 20.0599

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Tullow advocates for higher petroleum prices Officials at oil and gas exploration multinational Tullow Oil want the recently fallen price of fuel to rise again. As consumers enjoy the lowered prices, oil companies are making less money than they are used to. Tullow is carrying out mining operations in Kenya, and its spokespeople say oil prices would probably need to rise to about $75 (Sh6,800) to $85 (Sh7,700) a barrel from the current $60 (Sh5,500). Tullow CEO Keith Hill told Reuters Africa Investment Summit he was confident crude oil prices would rise to levels long before the firm makes a final investment decision for their Kenya project by the end of 2016. “We still need oil prices to recover probably above today’s levels to pull the trigger on the project sanction,” he said. “I’m confident oil prices will recover by the end of the year.” If all goes as planned, Kenya could start producing oil at the end of 2018 or early 2019.

India central bank surprises market with rates slash A LITTLE HELP: Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi explains to Viola Kipchumba (centre) how to subscribe to UnlimiNET as Capital FM’s Amina Abdi looks on.

Airtel 23 service points to boost customer care Telecommunications service provider, Airtel, plans to open 23 new outlets to enhance customer service. The outlets will be located in major towns, including Thika, Embu, Meru, Kericho, Kakamega, Kitale, Malindi and Nanyuki. The outlets will be operational by the end of May. Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi said the outlets are part of the company’s expansion plan to make telcom services accessible to Kenyans wherever they are.

“Opening new outlets and modernising existing ones demonstrates Airtel’s continued commitment to delivering the best in customer experience. Quality service for consumers in the convenience of local towns is crucial to us. Customers will access a bouquet of innovative high quality products and services in a welcoming and customer-friendly atmosphere,” said Youssefi. All Airtel shops open between 8am to 6pm during weekdays and 8am to 1pm

the industry More consumers are buying insurance services more than ever before after the introduction of packages that allow people to insure personal and household items. The uptake of the services has witnessed a steady rise. Insurance is an arrangement by which a company provides a guarantee of compensation in case of specified loss, damage, illness, or death in return for

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The Reserve Bank of India (below) has surprised the market by cutting its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 7.5 per cent. The key rate determines bank lending rates and the cost of credit for borrowers. This is the second time this year for the Central Bank of India to lower interest rates after making similar cuts in January. The latest cut has come after the government delivered the first annual budget last week. The bank and government have agreed to introduce inflation targets suggesting a vote of confidence from the central bank.

“The softer inflation and the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline were factors behind the cuts,” said Raghuram Rajan, the central bank governor, “softer readings on inflation are expected to come in through the first half of 2015-16 before firming up to below 6 per cent in the second half.” Before, the interest rates were deemed too high by manufactures and investors who complained that borrowing money to invest in the country was too expensive. After the cuts, the rupee rose to its strongest since February to as much as 61.88 against the US dollar.

on Saturdays. Airtel shops found in malls are open on Sundays from 9am. The outlets will offer end-to-end service support for prepaid and post-paid services, including bills payment, Airtel data settings, airtime purchases and SIM card replacements for customers. Other services include Airtel money cash deposits and withdrawals, internet access modems, a wide range of mobile phone handsets and data enabled devices at attractive rates.

Insurers set to lure middle class consumers

annual, monthly or daily payment. Kenya’s industry is expected to witness higher growth in the year it responds to a booming middle class. The country has about 47 companies offering insurance services. The sector makes total annual net profit of Sh14.5 billion despite the fact that only 3.5 per cent of Kenyans pay for the services.

Several international companies have expressed interest in buying stakes in existing Kenyan enterprises or setting up new firms. The demand is driven by steady economic growth and expanding middle class that enjoys higher disposable incomes. The growth means more are taking up life insurance packages. “In 2015 we are anticipating to see more acquisitions

and investments in the industry as there is potential for market growth,” said Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) Chief Executive Tom Gichuhi in a recent interview. “Profitability has generated high interest levels... the sector grows hand in hand with the economy,” he said. Under a new set of guidelines that will come into force upon approved by Parliament later in the year, insurers will be forced to have one arm of business catering for either life or general, and not both. He said: “Companies will be forced to split two arms of life and general insurance into two companies.” “All these consolidations will create stronger and more financially viable units that can take up huge insurance risks needed for the industry,” he says.

BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

Safaricom rolls out M-pesa SurePay app for tracking funds Safaricom has launched a new service that will allow organisations track funds sent to beneficiaries via its mobile money service M-Pesa. M-pesa SurePay is a closed loop payment system engineered for corporate and Public Benefit Organisations (PBO’s) that disburse funds directly to beneficiaries. According to Safaricom’s Financial Services General Manager Betty Mwangi, the system will allow fund managers to trace the entire value chain right from payout to expenditure of the funds. “This will address challenges such as mismanagement and misappropriation of funds which are intended for particular causes,” she said. M-pesa SurePay will also benefit organisations that pay salaries for staff that live in areas that are not covered effectively by financial

institutions, and will soon be used to disburse loans to farmers who need to buy inputs. The system is set to also benefit the World Food Programme (WFP) who are using M-pesa SurePay to send food vouchers to beneficiaries in five food-scarce counties around the country. This will enable WFP to ensure that the cash sent to the beneficiaries is only used to pay for food and is also able to monitor how much is left as a balance as well as ensure it is spent in designated stores. The introduction of the M-pesa SurePay comes as Safaricom’s drive towards a CashLite economy picks up pace with the planned deployment of a new M-pesa platform that will support up to 600 transactions per second, and pave way for deeper integration with other financial system services.

MONEY MATTERS: An M-Pesa in Nairobi. Newly launched M-pesa SurePay service will allow organisations track funds sent to beneficiaries via its mobile money service M-Pesa.

1 WAY TO DIE: Nairobi residents dangerously crossing Valley Road in an undesignated spot, ignoring a footbridge just next to them. The government will introduce new laws in order to curb a recent rise in road traffic fatalities.

Posta House is a 27-floor building that was completed in 2000. Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communications and Ministry of Trade are based in the building. Located along Kenyatta Avenue, the structure also houses the General Post Office (GPO), the Orange Kenya Headquarters as well as a Huduma Centre. The area around the building has served as a landmark bus station over the years. The building is fitted with computerised access control via security cards by all tenants and ample parking. The building was designed by Anthony Gleeson and constructed by Laxmanbhai Construction. Sometimes referred to as Posta House or Teleposta House, the light yellow structure stands about 120 meters high. One of its most prominent markers is a red ‘Posta’ sign, bordered by a blue horizontal frame.

Wiko Rainbow Wiko is currently one of the fastest growing smartphones brand in Europe which Kenyan market a few months ago. Design Wiko Rainbow has a plastic body. The device is light, having a weight of about 167g. It comes with a variety of colours, including black, white, blue, yellow, fuchsia, coral and violet. Display The device’s display is 5.0 inches wide. It has an IPS LCD capacitive screen with 16 Megapixels (MP). It has a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels with a pixel density of 294 ppi. Performance The Wiko Rainbow runs on the Mediatek MT6582 alongside the Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7, with the Mali-400MP2 GPU. It has 1GB of RAM. This processor is enough to perform the usual activities associated with smart devices. It is also ideal form gaming. The Wiko Raibow runs on the Android v4.4.2 (KitKat) Operating System (OS). Hardware The device comes with the

option for expandable storage and can handle an up to 32GB MicroSD card. It comes with 4GB internal memory and has a 2000 mAh battery. The battery is ideal for moderate users but high power users will find it depressing. Camera This device has an 8MP rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and a few other extra features. It also comes with a 2MP front-facing camera.

Transport ministry alarmed by rise in traffic fatalities

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Officials from the Ministry of Transport have said the government will introduce new laws in order to curb a recent rise in road traffic fatalities. Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau told a media briefing in Nairobi that between January and February, 2015 a total of 466 lives were lost on Kenyan roads compared to 447 in 2014. “This is unacceptable, particularly due to the fact that a large majority of these fatalities were avoidable,” Kamau said. The recent rise in accidents is mainly due to human error, speeding, dangerous overtaking, drunk-driving and the use

Teleposta Towers

of non-designated areas by pedestrians. Kamau added that “the transport ministry is currently in the process of introducing a raft of legal interventions including the finalization of Commercial Service Vehicle regulations and the publication of motorcycle regulations.” The Transport Ministry also plans to send enforcement teams, which will be stationed across the country to monitor and enforce existing traffic laws. The Ministry has said that its teams will crack down on drivers using fake driving documents as well as unlicensed drivers. Prior to this move, Kamau had

noted that there has been an increase in the use of illegitimate number-plates. “The use of un-prescribed number-plates compromises national security since the ownership of such motor vehicles is not in the government’s data base and therefore cannot be authenticated,” he said. To further help in dealing with the crisis, the World Bank has donated 20 speed guns worth an estimated Sh34 million to the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA). The Cabinet Secretary says this will help improve road safety by ensuring motorists stick to specified speed limits.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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Ktn,qtv,ntv citizen tv bacK on air tonight at 6.50 pm.

who won the

Digital migration S

ince February 14, Nation Media Group, Standard Media Group and Royal Media have been transmitting blank images after their analogue broadcasts were shut down by the Communication Authority of Kenya. The three media houses, in retaliation, also pulled off their transmission from digital platforms. The self-inflicted blackout was met with different reactions from the country. On February 27, a group of Kenyans marched up to the Communications Authority headquarters to vent out their frustrations and protest against the switch off. Led by John Wamagata, the National Coordinator of Operation Ondoa Panya, the protestors under the umbrella of National Civil Society Congress were calling for the resignation of Information and Communication Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i saying the country was losing millions of shillings with the switch off, adding that the blackout would pave way for corruption to thrive. “We are not opposed to digital migration but our concern is the fact that relevant government authorities are not concerned about the interests of 90 per cent of Kenyans who cannot afford set-top boxes. President Uhuru Kenyatta must now ignore Matiang’i and Wangusi who are clearly misleading him and act immediately to salvage the situation,” said Wamagata. “We have rich and poor Kenyans, and most cannot afford paying for TV every month. So let the

Before

media houses bring their setup boxes that will have no monthly expenses,” said Wamagata. The demonstrators then dumped old television sets at the gate and vowed to hold another protest outside the Ministry of Information offices Friday if their grievances were not addressed. Matiang’i had earlier told off the media houses saying that the government would not be cowed in its quest to go digital. He threatened the media houses with tough measures for switching off their digital signals. “Both switching themselves off the digital transmission and screening inaccurate messages is both illegal and in blatant breach of the conditions of their licensing. We will not go back on digital migration. The three media houses like all of us in Kenya are not above the law. We expect responsibility on their part and will not accept to be blackmailed.” CORD leader Raila Odinga was against the switch off saying it was a ploy by the government to hide graft and muzzle the media. “Governments that want to institute dictatorship start by dominating and directing the media and information systems,” Raila said. However, the digital switch, which was largely supported by Kenyans, has won the day. After numerous meetings and long talks, the three media houses finally yielded to pressure, we suspect was from advertisers, and have promised to go on air today evening (digitally, we must add). The stations will be acting in line

with the Supreme Court orders on February 13, which also granted them a self provisioning license, which allows them to carry their own signals. The three media houses have were also ordered not to use their platforms for “selective or misleading advertisements including refusal to carry adverts

battle?

on digital migration”. In addition, they were warned against engaging in uncompetitive behavior and instead respect the laws and regulations governing competition in the ICT sector. That said, the country must move forward at all costs. The digital migration is long overdue and

Kenyans are tired of hearing that the migration dates have been postponed. The Communication Authority says it is on course on the digital migration and expects the whole country to go digital by March 31 this year ahead of the global deadline of June 17.

Blazing the music industry

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WEDNESDAY THURSDAY, MARCH 26th NOVEMBER 5, 2015 2014

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Dawa ya Moto video released

esterday at K1, during Mseto East Africa’s Afrobeat Wednesdays, Dawa ya Moto video was released with the expected pomp and colour. The song features various artistes lke Wyre, Wavinya, KenRazy, Visita, Lil Sliq, Renee, Dufla Diligon, Sosuun, Chief Moses, U.B and Sauti Sol all who made an appearance at the club yesterday night.The song was produced by Grandpa Records and is expected to top charts.

Exclusive

Kaka empire signs on rich mavoko

o mavok

Chris brown is a father, and has no girlfriend!

hris Brown has an eight month old daughter with his model friend Nia Amey. The news of his daughter broke yesterday and the internet was thrown into a frenzy. Chris Brown has been keeping the news of the daughter quiet, even from his new girlfriend Karrueche Tran. His on-and-off girlfriend of four years was shocked at the news and took to twitter to publicly break up with the Kiss Kiss singer, saying she cannot deal with baby mama drama.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

e is fast becoming one of the hottest rappers in Kenya. Kristoff, also known as Mluhya wa Busia, is celebrating his birthday today. The artiste is known for his song Siwezi Borrow and is currently riding the airwaves with hisnew hit Dandia, in which he features Frasha and Kaka King. X Access wishes him great returns on this day. Happy Birthday Kristoff!

Kristoff

‘in a relationship with Jane’

ONLINE

datinG

illions of people date online. They are finding it easier to meet people online than when they go out. All one needs is access to internet, a dating profile on one of the dating sites and an active social media presence and they are good to go. It starts with a friend request, which is later is accepted. A few days later comments on pictures and status begin. The conversation gradually moves to the inbox and a few days later a ‘in a relationship with Jane’ notification pops up. In follows the lovey dovey for a few days

and suddenly a new notification pops up, “ John is single’ and just like that the love affair is over. The online dating sphere is a fast paced place. Everything ends and starts so fast. Does online dating work? For some it does and for others it does not. Every experience is different and it all depends on what the two parties involved are looking for. Online dating is an advantage for those people who do not feel comfortable going out to meet. Internet dating does have its good side. It allows you to meet people from different backgrounds and nationalities.

You can even weed out the ones you do not like without going on countless dates and wasting a lot of time only to realize you do not like them after all! However, be ready to get disappointed as well because people are not always who they seem online. Someone can create a false online identity and when you finally get to meet them you are disappointed. Their profile picture might not match when you eventually meet face to face. Do not be eager to believe what someone online tells you. They might be lying to you in order to please you. Today with Google

Mardi Gras coMes to town enya will be hosting its Music from the K very first Mardi Gra show will be s this provided by a div Sa turday, March 7, at the erse group of Tree artistes. House. Blinky Bill, from Jus Meshing music, t A Band art and (right), wil l headline the event, exhilarating performances, bac ked by DJ Zelale funky m, DJ music and an Dread Steppa, band Afro Simba unforgettable evening plus a sur prise performance by awaits. a guest DJ and a gue Moran stilt walkers, st band. art PAWA 254, AFRA and Up installations fire dancin g Magazine will pro vide the touch and even floats wil l of art plus there will be street serve to amp up the food being served all night long carnival feel and for some extra spice and extra stay true to the flai r. festival. Advance tickets go for Sh1500 and are available at Ticketsasa.

hot date

Kaka Empire has signed Tanzania’s bongo sensation Rich Mavoko under their stable. X Access has learned that Kaka Empire will be managing the artiste’s affairs in Kenya. The management at the musica house exclusively told X Access that they were excited to welcome Mavoko to the family. Kaka Empire now manages Rabbit, Femione, Avril, Owago and Raj.

at your disposal you can find out virtually everything about someone’s online footprint. All you have to do is type in their name and watch the magic happen. The Internet has some psychos, who pose as lonely people looking for love. When someone starts asking you to send them nudes, run and don’t look back. When you send the nudes to a complete stranger, they might just end up on the greater web with someone ogling at them. Internet dating can be a joy and some find their soul mates online, but one has to be extra careful.

ACCESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

all round news and updates from universities.

New BAKE Category adds spice to online education in KE T

Egerton University striking for no reason at all

o campus students strike for lack of a better things to be do? Egerton University Nakuru Town Campus students were deeply engaged in a strike with police on Tuesday morning but the cause of the strike has not been established. Some students of the institution feel the strike could have been prevented had the administration stepped in. Which still does not explain why the strike happened. Most of the students at the school were seemingly caught unawares, being bombarded with teargas while going about their studies. Surely is striking the new cool?

BLAZING THE

hat does your job entail? My job entails constantly being on the ball with the creative, entertainment, advertising and music sector. I have to always be ahead of the fray in creating ideas and campaigns that lead the way in opening up opportunities on the scene. How many hours do you work in a day? I have no set working hours. My mind is constantly at work even when resting. I usually find myself working almost 24 hours apart from Sundays. What qualifications does one need for your job? A background in any sort of management course is important. Those who have marketing degrees do very well. A degree in Law is also of importance. Was this your dream career? (Excitedly) This has always been my dream job. How did you start out? I started out by being a music journalist at PHAT Magazine. I grew from there. Does your job interfere with your social life?

It does not. My job is my social life! What do you enjoy most about your job? Seeing the satisfaction on people’s faces. I’m here to serve those who want to be entertained. What do not you like about it? Stubborn entertainers and unpredictability. Nothing is promised. When there are no laws protecting the industry you create your own rules and many people might not like them. They end up taking it personally when you are only protecting yourself. How much do you earn? Pretty good enough to lead a comfortable life. In this industry, there are no guarantees for a constant salary it all depends on your investment. Any advice for anyone who wants to venture into your line of work? Prepare for lots of sleepless nights, stress, headaches and uncertainty. This job is not for the faint hearted! You have to be prepared to deal with high emotions. Your patience will be tested at all times.

CAREERCHAT

MUSIC INDUSTRY

he Bloggers Asscciaition of Kenya (BAKE) released the nominations for its annyal awards on Tuesday this week and a new category has been added on the list of awards. The Best Education Blog has Daystar University’s Introduction to Francophone World, Strathmore University’s Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law and okachformusungu. wordpress.com which is a literature and poetry blog for students and language enthusiasts. Strathmore’s blog is smart, clean and regularly updated with useful information but the target market does tend to be quite localised, in that not

many students would see the direct significance in the information offered by the blog. Daystar’s blog might lag behind the two others in terms of style but any Francophile could find something interesting on the blog including the history, culture and cuisine of France. Okachformusungu. wordpress.com is an honest account of an individual that loves literature and the English language. The blog also has a section where readers can ask questions about the stories being reviewed on the blog and the writer answers them comprehensively and exhaustively. Go to www.blogawards. co.ke/vote/ and vote for your favourite blogs.

Moses Mbasu, aka Buddha Blaze, is a force to reckon with in the entertainment industry. He is an eclectic artiste manager at Coke Studio Africa.

CAMPUSVIBE KU’s Sh1.7 million bed bug killer

ed bugs are annoying and anyone living in a communal situation knows this. In campus, they are something students have to silently suffer through in the hope of securing another place to live as time goes by. Recently in the news JKUAT, UON and KU have received some attention for the notoriety of the bed bug population in the institutions. Fumigation has done little to minimize the problem and even with students using their own beddings. It has even been revealed that students have tried to burn them with hot water. This why this week Kenyatta University has spent 1.7 million in importing two bed bug killers. At Sh850, 000 each the machines were a hefty price and their country of origin is reportedly Germany. No word on what the other campuses have done about their pest problem but KU is ready to move on up- bed bug free!

WHY SO MANY As in 2014 KCSE? The 2014 KCSE results were announced this week and although grades were impressive, five national schools had exam irregularities. 2,410 students’ results were cancelled due to cheating and 179 mobile phones were cleared from exam rooms. Shockingly enough two of the most prestigious schools in the country, Mang’u High School and Starehe Boys’ Centre, had their results suspended. Of note, however, is that an unprecedented number of students scored straight A’s. Is something amiss or have the exams become easier?

ACCESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

FASHIONScoop

LWaLa is a jeWeLLery designer With an eye for perfection.

Make your hands a part of the outfit with rings.

Beads will never go out of fashion.

Of necklaces that make the oufit even more beautiful.

Every lady needs that statement neck piece that makes them stand out.

Half rings are the in-thing so get the program.

STATEMENT

JeWeLLery F

ashion is not just about the clothes that one wears but also about the jewellery to complement the outfit. Laura Lwala is a jewellery designer with an eye for detail. She uses brass, crystal beads, glass beads and Ghanaian beads to bring her creations to life. Using special pliers, she bends the brass to shape it as desired. She designs rings, necklaces and earrings using different coloured beads making great statement pieces. Here is a look at some of her latest designs.

Pick a favourite colour out of this awesome ring collection.

TOP

Brenda Wairimu

sexiest actress in Kenya

fter starring in Shuga for the first time and kicking ass, this lady has shown us that she can not only sing but also act. When asked, Avril said that she never knew she could act and Shuga was that learning experience for her. She probably loves it now that she has taken up Sumu La Penzi.

avriL nyamBura

Brass never looked so good.

his lady got looks to make all men crave for her.She got recognized in her Tahidi High role as Tanya and boy did she make rounds on the internet as not only one of the best actresses we have around but also as one of the pretty ones. She also doubles up as a TV host for Mashariki Mix and The Wedding Show formerly hosted by Noni Gathoni.

sarah hassan

his beauty has been in this industry for some time now and has nailed it every single time. Many recognize her for her role in Mali , however she has also featured in other TV dramas such as Shuga and Nairobians and Kona.

PLAY 11 THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 The events of the day might leave you feeling a bit confused and bewildered, Capricorn. Perhaps you’re feeling like you aren’t getting the attention you feel you deserve. You may wonder why the one thing you want the most may be the one thing you can’t have. AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 This is a terrific day for you, Aquarius. You will find that your mind and your urge for action are on the same page. The fire within you is raging hot. Use this aggressive internal urge to tackle projects that require courage, strength, and a flair for the dramatic.

THURSday 5/03/2015

sunny

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 You might find yourself turning inside out in order to get your point across. Attend to your dreams and ambitions and let your voice be heard by the crowd. Don’t be surprised if you meet opposition, but don’t take this as a sign that you should back down.

27ºC 24%

FRIday 6/03/2015

29 6:40 am 6:48 pm

27ºC 24%

SATURday

More sun than clouds

6:40 am 6:48 pm

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 You might find that your desire to conquer is active today, Aries, and that your mind is right in line with the urge to take action. You will find that you can increase your circle of influence by a great deal as long as you’re willing to take a decisive risk in how you approach every situation.

Sudoku

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 You might find it necessary to give yourself a bit of self-healing, Taurus. Other people may want your attention, looking for advice and help with their own sob stories, when in reality you have your own matters to take care of. Attend to these today. Be a bit selfish if you have to. GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 This is a terrific day for you, Gemini. You can accomplish a great deal when you set your mind in motion. There’s a strong, warlike instinct within you that’s fired up and ready to fight. Leave your worries at the doorstep, because there’s no need to hesitate on a day like this. CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 Turn up the heat and let yourself expand into other worlds today. There may be an extra amount of dramatic flair that goes along with the events of the day, so participate in the absurd. This may be exactly the break from reality that you were hoping to find. LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 If there is an imbalance in your relationship with someone close, it’s important to take a stand now, Leo. The stakes are higher when people’s egos are involved, as they will be today. You’re the air that fuels the fire, so be careful of which way you direct your energy. VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 22 There could be a great deal of friction in your world today, Virgo, as stubborn minds aggressively come into conflict with each other. Others may look tough, but deep down they’re just as soft as you are. Think twice about using your aggressive nature at the expense of others.

MUSTREAD Foreign Gods, Inc — by Okey Ndibe

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Things should go nicely for you today, Libra. You will find that the brighter you shine, the more prosperity will come your way. Things should flow smoothly, and your mind will be clear and strong. There is a marked aggressiveness to your nature that is powerful and effective.

Ike is a New York Nigerian cab driver. He has failed to get work in corporate America because his accent is too thick even after having an economics degree from a leading college. His African-American wife is temperamental and constantly wants bigger and expensive things. His widowed mother depends on him for financial support. Pushed against the wall, Ike travels home to Nigeria to steal a statue and sell it to a New York gallery. Ike has to face old friends, family and a conflict between villagers for the statue. Will he manage to steal the statue and change his fortunes?

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 You may need to make some mental adjustments in order to get on the same wavelength as other people today, Scorpio. You may not see what all the fuss is about. Don’t take things too seriously and don’t feel like you need to make sense of every detail that presents itself. SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 There may be important lessons about balance that come up today, Sagittarius. Make sure you’re ready to handle the fire, because it will be coming at you. Tension may exist, but this doesn’t mean you should back down from your position.

INSTAMOMENTS 1

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

YOURSAY

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

Sinai fire victims should be compensated ASAP The prosecution of AngloLeasing suspects (Obure among Seven Anglo Leasing suspects charged, Wednesday, March 4, 2015) had better be conducted to a fruitful end. Our government has in the

past started such high-profile trials with pomp only for the fire to die down after a few months and after millions of shillings have been spent. If our judiciary knows that this case will not get to a proper

end, then its only better if they let us know in good time, and put our money and publictime to good use. -Boneye, Nairobi

winning captions

1. Holy water my friends-Kamal Ghai, Nairobi 2. It’s 99 percent water, if you think about it-Ben Mwangi, Nairobi 3. Hot shower, free of charge-Karen Indiazi, Nairobi

PLAY

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

CROSSWORD Across 1. “Long live...” 5. Lightly wets 10. Permission-seeking phrase 14. Had ____ (imbibed) 15. Domed home 16. Lupino and Wells 17. Used what was available 19. Adriatic resort 20. Healthful claim on labels 21. Madison Avenue worker 22. All told 26. Looking at 30. Dining gear 34. “C’est ___” 35. O.T. book 36. Rocky point 37. Run out 39. “Happy anniversary, ___!” 42. Bar supply 43. Himalayan priest 47. Like the walls of Harvard Yard 48. Desires 51. Mother-of-pearl 52. Pigeon 54. “Dancing With the Stars” airer 57. Common man 62. Big Apple neighborhood 63. Stony meteorite 66. Letter-shaped supporter 67. Park ranger’s uniform color 68. CSA soldiers 69. Gus Van ____ of filmmaking 70. Poet W.H. ____ 71. Oxidize

Down 1. Aspen alternative 2. “You’ve Got a Friend ____” (“Toy Story” ditty) 3. Limo riders, often 4. Auto loan figs. 5. Famously temperamental singers 6. Excite 7. U.S. Soccer org. 8. “The Tell-Tale Heart” author 9. Lay down lawn 10. Shower wall growth 11. Take ____ view of (be skeptical about) 12. In triplicate, a Seinfeld catchphrase 13. “The Heat ___” (Glenn Frey hit) 18. “Rock ___” (old hymn) 21. Sam Adams product 23. Whole ball of ____ 24. “Game of Thrones” airer 25. Golden tune 26. Poem of remembrance 27. Connecticut Ivy Leaguer 28. Former Mrs. Trump 29. Puppy bite 31. Cellar’s opposite 32. Galley slave 33. Diminish gradually 38. New Haven Ivy Leaguers 40. Grunted, as a pig 41. Tanning parlor letters 44. Even a little 45. ___ Grand 46. In fun 49. Conversational comeback 50. Maritime abbr. 53. 1998 De Niro movie 54. Spanish liqueur 55. ___ Fett 56. “Shanghai Knights” star 58. Comment at International Falls, Minn. 59. In ___ of: instead 60. Gambling venues, briefly 61. “Wild, Wild ____” (Escape Club song) 63. Police-report inits 64. Energy Secretary Steven ___ 65. Taken in

DAILY WISDOM “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” — Bob Marley “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” — Oprah Winfrey “A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.” — Baltasar Gracian “Integrity is the essence of everything successful.” — R. Buckminster Fuller “The high road is always respected. Honesty and integrity are always rewarded.” — Scott Hamilton “Integrity means that you are the same in public as you are in private.” — Joyce Meyer “The integrity of men is to be measured by their conduct, not by their professions.” — Junius “Don’t measure your neighbor’s honesty by your own.” —American Proverb

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

Sport THURSday, MARCH 5, 2015

SMS GAME TO:

79079

Kabras tactician vows to run over Nakuru Top Fry Kabras Sugar are not intimidated ahead of the Kenya Cup semi-finals against three time champions Top Fry Nakuru on Saturday. Coach Anthony Ogot said the match against Nakuru will not be easy considering they (Nakuru) have won the title thrice in a row “I know it won’t be easy because we are playing three-time champions. But we are praying and working hard for things to go our way. I only have five players

who have played in Kenya Cup before. This is a young side,” Ogot said. Payers with Kenya Cup experience include Edwin Achayo, Nick Barasa, Denis Mukabi, Polycarp Odhiambo, Geoffrey Messo and Duncan Mwangi. Ogot says their strength rests with God. “We draw our strength from God. Our prayers have always been answered besides we pray and play as a team.” Any team which has played

Kabras admit they play total rugby. Ogot said: “This is not a side of forwards and backs. We play total rugby because that is the modern game. So yes, we are very mobile and can attack from anywhere.” Their ability to move the ball and attack from anywhere will come under a severe test from Nakuru. Ogot rates Mwamba and Nondies as some of the toughest teams they have played in the preliminaries.

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.

PREDICTIONS DATE

TIME

GAME

1. 07.03.15