201504030 xnews

ThURSDAY, ApRil 30, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

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science says bees can get addicted to pesticides—new research

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building kenya HF GIVES OUT SH2BILLION LOANS IN 2015 FIRST QUARTER

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IN THE RAP SCENE KENYAN RAP SCENE IS CHANGING AS FEMALE RAPPERS TAKE OVER

NEWS

Katch 10s the biggest event of the Labour Day weekend

Wimbledon tennis singles tourney richer than before

City security beefed up in face of threats

S

ecurity has been beefed up in Nairobi following intelligence warnings that the al-Shabaab terror group is targeting key installations in the city. And with the

Labour Day celebrations tomorrow, as well as the impending visit by US President Barack Obama, security agencies are keen on thwarting any planned attacks.

Parliament, which is one of the places targeted for attack according to the intelligence briefs, has seen an increase in the number of police officers deployed around it as more surveillance is being put

in place. In addition, the Parliamentary Service Commission is set to vet all parliamentary staff after police linked a Senate employee to a plot to facilitate an al-Shabaab attack in Parliament buildings.

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE: KATHMANDU MIRACLE

The suspect, who has since been arrested, will remain in police custody for the next eight days as detectives try to unearth his alleged involvement with the terror group. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

P.10

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Willy Paul launches two videos for new songs Vigelegele and Mapenzi

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SAVED: Earthquake survivor Pema Lama, 15, is rescued from the collapsed Hilton Hotel today, five days after the earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal.

SEE STORY PAGE 2

Fashion scoop x-news.co.ke

Wan Fam’s line of travel bags features exquisite pieces made using Maasai Shuka, khaki and cotton linings

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NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Nairobi security reinforced From Page 1

He is alleged to be associated with Pumwani’s Riyadh mosque which has previously been linked to terror activities in the country.

“The group (Al-Shabaab) wants to use an operative who is affiliated to Pumwani Riyadh Mosque who is also a staff member at the Senate to actualise

the attack,” read a letter by the Central OCPD Paul Wanjama to the Officer commanding Parliament Police Station.

But Mr Ali Abdulmajid Ahmed through his lawyer Chacha Mwita told the court yesterday that his detention is illegal as it was granted in his absence.

Other places mentioned in the intelligence report include Muthurwa

market, Nairobi Pentecostal Church, Holy Family Basilica, St Andrews PCEA Church and the University of Nairobi.

“There is need to enhance security vigilance in the areas targeted by AlShabaab for attacks to neutralize the threat,” Wanjama emphasised.

A senior police officer told Capital FM News that police officers both in

civilian clothes and uniform have been deployed in all hot spots to thwart any terror attack within the city.

“You will notice constant police patrols in the city, we remain watchful,” he said.

Nairobi is this Sunday set to host US Secretary of State John Kerry ahead of a visit by President Barrack Obama in July.

Kerry will particularly discuss with the government issues of security more so after the recent terror attack at Garissa University College.

Militants from Somalia’s Al-Qaedalinked Shabaab rebels attacked the campus early this month and killed 148 people. .

Boy rescued from Nepal quake rubble 5 days later

REDUCING MANPOWER: Police officers dealing with protestors in a past incident. The Kenya Police Service lost 2,930 officers through natural causes, resignation and death in the line of duty.

Police lost nearly 3000 officers in 2014 The number of officers in the National Police Service dropped by 7.5 percent to 39, 215 last year from 42,145 officers in 2013 according to the latest economic survey released on Wednesday.

This means the service lost 2,930 officers despite the escalating cases of crime in the country.

The survey further indicates that the number of prison officers in the country reduced marginally from 19,905 in 2013 to 19,587 in 2014.

The drop in the number of police officers was attributed to natural attrition, sackings, retirement, death in the line of duty while others left willingly.

The delayed police recruitment did little to help bridge the gap.

“The trend may change with the government initiative to employ 10,000 police officers per year,” Devolution Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru said during the

release of the report.

Kenya is yet to meet the United Nations recommendation of one police officer for every 400 citizens.

Last year’s police recruitment was nullified after it was marred with cases of irregularities after right groups and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority protested the admission of the recruits.

Some 10,000 recruits have however joined respective police colleges after fresh recruitment was carried out this month.

Kenya’s last successful recruitment exercise was in 2013 when 7,000 recruits joined the service.

Notably, during this period when police numbers decreased, another report indicated that 312 people were killed in terrorismrelated attacks in Kenya between 2012 and 2014.

Police said terror attacks in the 24 months also left 779 people injured, with counties bordering Somalia being the worst hit.

The year 2014 had the highest number of deaths resulting from terror attacks at 173, with Lamu County accounting for 67 deaths, while Mandera saw 64 people killed.

2015 alone, more than 200 people have been killed in terror related killings specifically in Northeastern part of Kenya.

The survey also indicated that the number of crime cases reported to the police declined by 3.4 percent to 69,376 in 2014 while the number of offenders reported to the Police declined by 3.7 percent to 78,877.

The report ironically also indicates a sharp increase of inmates from 323,414 in 2013 to 503,144 in 2014.

A teenage boy has been rescued after surviving for five days in the rubble of a building, following an earthquake that killed some 5,500 people in Nepal.

A huge crowd cheered as rescuers brought the boy out of the rubble in the capital, Kathmandu. The boy has now been taken to a field hospital.

Meanwhile, bad weather is hampering the delivery of relief to remote villages, a Nepal government spokesman said.

The government has been criticised for its response to the disaster.

Outside the capital, the relief effort has relied heavily on helicopters, with mountainous roads blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake.

Laxmi Dhakal, a spokesperson

for Nepal’s Home Ministry, told the BBC that helicopters loaded with rescue workers and relief materials were ready to fly but had been held back by “rainfall and cloudy conditions”.

In Kathmandu, rescue workers from Nepal and the US worked for hours to free the boy from the rubble of the building.

The boy, named in the media as Pemba Lama, eventually emerged blinking into the sunlight, to cheers from a crowd.

He was carried out away on a stretcher with a blue brace strapped around his neck, and has now been taken to an Israeli-run field hospital.

Andrew Olvera, an official from the US Agency for International Development, earlier told the Associated

Press news agency that the boy had been trapped between the collapsed floors of the building but was not “too far down”.

Frustration has been growing in parts of rural Nepal over the pace of relief efforts, with some badly-affected villages yet to receive any assistance.

Survivors in some areas told the BBC that they were angry that neither food nor medicine had reached them.

The UN has appealed for $415m (£270m) to help provide emergency relief over the next three months. Officials say Saturday’s quake injured at least 11,000 people.

The UN says more than eight million people have been affected by Saturday’s 7.8-magnitude quake and some 70,000 houses have been destroyed.

Two arrested with heroin worth Sh1.7 million in Nairobi A Kenyan and Nigerian nationals were arrested at a Nairobi post office while trying to traffic heroin valued at Sh1.7 million as a parcel.

Faith Gladys Nini Mwangi and Emanuel Chukwe Emeka John were nabbed at the City Square post office along Haileselassie Avenue as they tried to dispatch the parcel wrapped in a plastic bag.

Police say the two have refused to disclose the destination of the narcotics.

Head of Special Crimes Prevention Unit Noah Katumo said they pounced on the two as they prepared to send the narcotics on Wednesday evening.

“We believe they are mules for the drugs here. Trafficking of heroin has been rampant in recent days,” he said.

The two were expected to be charged with possession and trafficking of the 569 grams of the drugs.

Anti-narcotics police officers

say most of the drugs being consumed in Nairobi and especially heroin originate from Tanzania and Kenya through the Namanga border.

The traffickers have also been avoiding airports for roads, which are poorly manned to traffic the drugs.

Most of the narcotics that are seized are cocaine and heroin.

Statistics show police at the airport seized drugs valued more than Sh70 million last year alone.

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NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

NEWS BRIEFS

CARTOONSPEAK Research suggests that bees may be addicted to pesticides

DP Ruto wants special syllabus for the disabled Deputy President William Ruto (pictured), has directed the Ministry of Education to develop a special curriculum for special schools to ensure those living with disabilities get equal and fair chances with those in other institutions. “There is need to review the school curriculum as it does not favour disabled learners and that they should sit separate exams,” he said. The DP said it is unfair to subject those with disabilities to the same examination with those without any disability. “We need to think of the time they take to tame the examination with their conditions.” He added that the government would allocate more funds to institutions that deal with children with disabilities for expansion and infrastructural development.

Seven still missing after Narok floods, rescue continues Seven people are still missing following after flash floods wreaked havoc in Narok town killing at least 15 people. Rescue operations entered the second day today as Red Cross, NYS and the Kenya National Disaster Operation Center officials continue with the search. At least five people are still in hospital. We are still on with the operations and the number of those missing has reduced to seven, yesterday it was nine. County Commissioner Arthur Osinya said today. He said the Narok-Bomet road remains closed and motorists should divert to the Nairobi-Nakuru-Kericho highway. Those living in the town have also been ordered to move to safer grounds as the rains are expected to continue in the coming days. “The rains are still on, and drivers shouldn’t wait until they see floods. Those coming from other parts through Narok should be very careful,” Osinya warned. Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru was expected to tour the town later today.

Bees can become addicted to pesticides in the same way that humans get hooked on cigarettes, new research suggests.

At a time when the European Union is cautioning Kenya over the use of harmful pesticides, some insects are ‘getting high’ off these chemicals.

New research has found that some bees prefer flowers that have been sprayed with neonicotinoid chemicals, a type of pesticide commonly used to protect crops from insects.

Since bees help plants to reproduce through pollination, this might not be a bad thing.

In fact, farmers using these chemicals ensure that their plants will attract bees.

To prove this, Scientists at Newcastle University and Trinity College in Dublin carried out an experiment using nectar samples from flowers.

They found that the bees would active-

ly return to samples of pesticide-treated nectar over untreated samples.

The scientists believe the insects react to a pleasurable ‘high’ they get from the pesticides.

The findings come just as the EU officials are deliberating whether such chemicals should be permanently banned as a pesticide.

Previous research indicates that the chemicals affect the way honeybees navigate, impairing their ability to find food. This may be dangerous to the ecosystem since bees play a major role in the survival of many plant species.

However, one Professor by the name of Lin Field, believes that more studies are necessary before anything is proven.

“We simply need more data before we can really say what the risks are,” says Field, who is head of crop protection at the Rothamsted Research agricultural institute in Harpenden.

Social media cut off as Burundians protest

TURMOIL: Protesters throw stones at riot policemen during clashes in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Messaging services including Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter and Tango have been cut off in Burundi amid protests over the president seeking a third term.

The regulator ordered telecoms operators to block mobile access to certain sites, reports AFP. The government has banned protests, deployed the army and shut down the main independent radio station.

There have been days of protests over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to stand for re-election in June.

Social media messaging services have been used to coordinate the protests which are the biggest in Burundi since the civil war ended in 2005.

African Public Radio, known as “voice of the voiceless”, is one of three radio stations whose live broadcasts have been stopped. The government said the radio station was disrupting the peace.

Mr Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, has warned that anyone who wants to create problems for the governing party

would find himself “in trouble”.

At least three people were killed on Sunday as police dispersed crowds with live ammunition.

Under the constitution, presidents can only be elected to two terms in office but Mr Nkurunziza’s allies say his first term does not count as he was appointed by parliament. Burundi’s senate has announced that the constitutional court will examine the legality of the bid.

Mr Nkurunziza has been in power since 2005, when a 12-year civil war officially ended. More than 300,000 people died in the conflict between the minority Tutsi-dominated army and mainly Hutu rebel groups, such as Mr Nkurunziza’s CNDD-FDD. East African residents have bashed their leaders for silence on the goings on in Burundi. All of Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) have not commented on the riots which threaten to escalate.

WHAT OTHERS SAID TODAY...

Ruto calls crisis meeting with MPs: Deputy President William Ruto has called a meeting with Rift Valley MPs after they threatened to withdraw support for the government following the mass appointments to state corporations. The crisis meeting is expected to take place at Eston Hotel, Lang’ata Road, from 6 pm today. Marakwet West MP William Kisang, the secretary general of Rift Valley Parliamentary Greoup, is coordinating the meeting. ‘...you are invited for a meeting/dinner that will be hosted by HE William Ruto at Weston Hotel tommorrow from 6pm...

Bad year for economy but more jobs created: Poor rains, insecurity and a reduction in tourist arrivals conspired to slow down the growth of Kenya’s economy to 5.3 per cent in 2014 from 5.7 in 2013. Robust growth in the building and construction sector, however, helped to lift the economy, largely driven by the ongoing work on the Standard Gauge Railway. The transport and storage sector also grew. Interestingly, while the rest of East Africa was recording more robust growth compared to 2013, figures released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics...

State of Economy: The economy grew by 5.3 per cent last year, a dip from the 5.7 per cent recorded in 2013, after the country took a hit from a decline in tourism earnings and a sluggish manufacturing sector. This is expected to have negative bearings on the Government’s ambitious plan to raise spending by 25 per cent to Sh2.17 trillion in the next financial year. Already, the taxman is struggling to meet revenue targets from the country’s jewel sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, whose growth is pointing south. Data released by the Kenya National Bureau of...

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xnews | THURsday, APRIL 30, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

NEWS BRIEFS

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 94.3389 94.4889 94.4139 144.6844 144.9100 144.7972 103.4617 103.6267 103.5442 7.9504 7.9690 7.9597 31.7180 31.8744 31.7962 20.9548 21.0942 21.0245

Plant trees and get a goat: Organisation’s ingenious plan to revive Nyeri forests In an effort to reverse forest loss in the Nyeri Forest, an environmental initiative has turned to an unusual barter systemoffering chickens, goats or solar panels in exchange for tree planting.

“It is a win-win situation,” said Joram Mathenge, director of the Kiangure Springs Environmental Initiative (KSEI), based in central Kenya’s lush highlands.

Deforestation is problematic for the more than Nyeri County itself. The forested hills are a vital water catchment that supplies neighboring regions, and as the trees disappear erosion worsens, rainfall decreases and water supplies dry up.

Nyeri County, known for its tea and coffee

production, is home to the late Nobel Peace Prize winner and environmentalist Wangari Maathai. Reuters says the county has the highest tree cover in Kenya - but its forests are dwindling as a result of human encroachment, some of it driven by climate change pressures on agriculture and water.

Due to this, KSEI’s reforestation programme lets people choose from chickens, goats or subsidized energy technology - biogas systems, solar energy packs or efficient cook stoves. In exchange, recipients agree to plant 5,000 trees a year and look after them until they are strong saplings.

Samsung does better than Apple in sales Samsung has regained its crown as the world’s top smartphone vendor after losing serious ground to U.S. rival Apple last year.

Samsung shipped 83.2 million smartphones worldwide in the first quarter of 2015, capturing 24.1 percent of the market share, according to data from tech research firm Strategy Analytics published Wednesday. It marks a significant

jump from 19.6 percent market share in the previous quarter.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, Apple caught up with Samsung, and both companies tied when it came to shipments. Both shipped 74.5 million smartphones over the period, and had equal market share, on the back of Apple’s huge success with its large screen iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

KRA introduces ‘helpful’ changes to iTax system The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has introduced new changes to the iTax system aimed at encouraging the use of online government services.

The move is aimed at boosting tax compliance and revenue collection.

Key changes to the system include the introduction of a single number for tax payers making transactions online.

Tax payers will now be required to only use their PIN number when submitting returns for Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax, Excise tax and Value-Added Tax (VAT).

Speaking during the launch of the initiative dubbed the “iTax media campaign”, KRA Commissioner General, John Njiraini said the Authority is relying on new technology to increase tax compliance.

“The goal of the Authority is to simplify the process to ensure more Kenyans’ are tax compliant,” he said.

“KRA’s goal is to minimize taxpayer direct interaction with tax officials to ensure less discretion in deciding how to treat them. Through iTax, there’s a promotion of equity, communication with taxpayers, preventive impact on corruption and bribery, and impediment on tax avoidance and tax evasion,” Njiraini noted.

The system has enabled KRA to better understand taxpayer behavior, which is critical in designing and implementing effective compliance strategies that contribute to the sustainability of our taxation systems,” added Njiraini.

Using the new system, taxpayers are

able to authenticate information such as Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) or Tax Compliance Certificates (TCC).

Njiraini said that iTax has drastically reduced VAT & PAYE returns filing period to within 67 and 72 minutes respectively.

The Authority has also set up a comprehensive support network across the country. Support is currently available at 14 Huduma Centres and five support centers. An additional 21 Huduma Centres will be operational by May 2015.

naspers, olx bosses put new app to the test

PRODUCT TEST: Naspers Classifieds CEO, Martin Scheepbouwer (center) demonstrates how the new OLX mobile app works to OLX General Manager Emerging Markets, Daan Sanders (left) and OLX Country Manager-Kenya, Peter Ndiang’ui. Scheepbouwer and Sanders visited Ndiang’ui to discuss the future of new markets in Africa.

the industry As Kenyan consumers continue to grapple with rampant diseases, unplanned pregnancies and the high cost of medical services, healthcare providers stand to make a fortune.

A recent study, dubbed “Health Care System Development in Kenya and

The system is capable of providing instant feedback as an acknowledgement to transactions triggered by taxpayers.

Taxpayers are now able to file for refunds online thus saving them the burden of making copies of manual documents to be submitted.

Housing Finance gives out Sh2B worth of loans in three months Housing Finance, one of the country’s leading mortgage providers, has given consumers Sh2billion worth of banking-related loans in a move aimed at reducing its reliance on its traditional mortgage business.

The firm’s banking loans accounted for 44 per cent of all disbursement during the first quarter of 2015, Housing Finance said in a recent announcement.

During the year to March, the firm disbursed Sh2billion worth of banking-related loans against Sh2.5 billion worth of loans for mortgages and construction.

Commenting on the results, Housing Finance, Managing Director, Mr Frank Ireri said the firm expects its banking business to record further growth during the year.

“Housing Finance banking strategy entails opening branches in areas where the group is financing a major commercial or residential development. The banking strategy is also expected to focus on growing its retail customer base as a source of affordable funds,” said Mr. Ireri.

The firm is planning to establish at least 30 branches by the end of 2016, up from the current 18 branches.

The Group posted an after tax profit of Sh221.5 million, up 0.1 per cent from Sh221.1 posted in 2014. They also recently raised Sh3.5 billion during a rights issue exercise, funds which will be used to fund the growth and expansion plans.

Kenyan healthcare providers have a bright financial future, experts say

Rwanda” has found that these problems, coupled with rising income levels, have increased health expenditure in both Kenya and Rwanda.

“Health care is regarded as the 4th mostattractive investment sector in Africa,” says the report.

It indicates that health service providers would be smart to cash in on the growing market.

The new data comes at a time when Kenyans spend billions of shillings a year on medical care with each person coughing up an average of Sh4,250 per

annum, according to the World Bank.

The study, released earlier this month, offers insights to investors planning to enter the Kenyan and Rwandan markets.

It has been revealed that roughly 60 per cent of the Kenyan population lives in rural areas without proper access to

medical care.

Also, around 3 out of every 5 pregnancies in Kenya are handled by the private sector. This is an indication that new healthcare providers entering the market will find guaranteed returns in the field of maternal care.

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BUSINESS THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

WILLING TO SUPPORT: Dr. James Mwangi, CEO Equity Bank Group, addresses guests at the event to celebrate the partnership between MasterCard and Equity Bank.

CITY SCAPE Delta Corner Tower A Delta Corner Tower A is a 75-metre tall building located along Loita Street in Nairobi. Construction of the building began in 2009 and it was completed in 2012. The building boasts 21 floors and mainly functions as a hotel. At least one floor dubbles as a parking garage.

Delta Corner Tower A was designed using what is known as the International architectural style. This form of architecture emerged in the 1920s and 1930s. It is known for its rectangular and linear forms, plane surfaces that have been completely stripped of decoration and open, interior spaces.

It is also known for the combined use of glass and steel, in combination with usually less-visible reinforced concrete.

Equity to support SMEs after Sh6.1 billion pre-tax profit Equity Group Holdings, has promised to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) following a Sh700 million increase in Profit before Tax in the first quarter of 2015.

The Group’s pre-tax profits for the period increased by 13 per cent to Sh6.1 billion, up from Sh5.4 billion posted over the same period last year.

Speaking during an investors’ briefing in Nairobi, CEO Dr. James Mwangi expressed optimism that the Group’s performance will remain positive over the year.

“The Group’s sustained investments in mobile

and agency banking, payment systems and money transfer and operating expenses optimization initiatives will continue to contribute to the positive growth trajectory,” Equity CEO Dr. James Mwangi said.

The lender will continue to focus on the SME sector, diaspora banking, regional expansion and further diversification into other financial services and products. The announcement comes just as Equity Bank’s partnership with investment groups, Norfund and Norfinance has promised to thousands of Kenyans without bank accounts, the lender has said.

Norfund, the Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries, and Norfinance, a specialized long-term investment company, completed the purchase of a 12.2 per cent interest in Equity Group Holdings Ltd. The transaction was initially announced on January 16, 2015. Following the deal, Dr James Mwangi, Group CEO of Equity, said: “The Bank is confident that Norfund’s commitment in promoting financial inclusion in emerging and developing markets will be invaluable contributors to Equity’s growth in the years ahead.”

NAIROBI lighting project to be completed in May

INFRA STRUCTURE

The initial phase of the Nairobi street lighting project which involves rehabilitation of existing infrastructure will be completed by end of May this year.

Kenya Power CEO Ben Chumo says the company has mobilized technical teams to fast-track the rehabilitation of the remaining major city roads including Kiambu Road, Muthaiga to the Northern Bypass, Langata Road to Bomas of Kenya and New Kitisuru Road.

“So far, we have completed 275 city streets with another 508 streets and roads currently under implementation. We have just completed installing LED lights on the missing link road connecting Westlands and Ngong Road via Kilimani and Hurlingham estates stretching 13.5 kilometers, a project we completed in ten days,” he said.

In addition, Kenya Power will change 4,200 street

BIZ GADGET Huawei’s previous flagship in the ‘P’ Series, the P7, was a great performer. Hopefully, its successor will reflect the same.

Design This handset has been described as Huawei’s best- looking device yet, given its metal construction, rounded corners and chamfered edges.

The device’s metal body has been treated with what Huawei calls ‘’diamond-shaped blasting.” This device is extremely thin with a thickness of just 6.4 mm, giving it an appearance that’s sleek and stylish.

Display The Huawei P8 comes with a great display that provides a stellar experience, regardless of what task one is doing on

HUAWEI P8

screen. It features a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution.

Performance On performance, the P8 uses the company’s in-house chipset. The standard version of the device features, a GHz octacore HiSilicon Kirin 930 processor, while the premium version is packed with the Kirin 935. Both versions are backed by the Mali-T628 MP4 GPU and 3 GB RAM. Huawei’s chipsets have impressed users in the past given their great performance.

Hardware The P8 comes with two internal storage options, 16 GB and 64 GB. Expandable storage via MicroSD card is available up to 128GB on both versions. The battery

on this device is rather average, offering a 2,680 mAh package but it still gets the job done. There are two colour options depending on the internal storage option one takes. There is Titanium Grey and Mystic Champagne for the 16 GB model and Carbon Black and Prestige Gold for the 64 GB model.

Camera The device comes with an 8 megapixel (MP) front-facing camera and a 13 MP rear camera. Huawei claims that this is the world’s first four colour RGBW sensor. Its job is to provide better brightness in high contrast scenes and increase low light performance.

lights at the government square section of the Central Business District (CBD) from the current high pressure sodium (yellow lights) to LED (lightemitting diodes) to save on energy costs and for better visibility.

Government Square encompasses all area streets within Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Uhuru Highway and Muindi Mbingu Street including Koinange Street.

Chumo noted that previously, business transactions and productive activities are restricted to daytime operations due to perceptions and experiences of insecurity associated with poor night-time visibility.

“The government’s goal is to facilitate provision of sustainable, efficient and effective public lighting in all counties,” he explained adding that Nairobi city was selected first as is it the seat of Government and contributes 55 per cent of GDP.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

ACCESS topstory

the once male dominated industry is witnessing a renaissance as female rappers take over the scene.

muthoni the drummer Queen

meet

wangeci

femione

stl

254’S ILLEST FEMCEES of the present

T

he Kenyan industry has experienced an avalanche of female femcees.The girls are rising up and claiming their rightful place. The once maledominated industry is witnessing a rennaisance of sorts as female rappers take over the scene.

Muthoni The Drummer Queen She is the Boss Lady. Muthoni Ndonga has been known as the Drummer Queen since she burst into the limelight. She has had the spotlight trained on her and she has used it well. The singer, who is famed fior her song Nai Ni ya Who took the Kenyan music scene to a whole different sphere when she started the Blankets and Wines event. Muthoni recently released her new album, MDQ Upgraded at a digital release party-a first of its kind in Kenya. She said she wanted to do something that hasn’t been done before and that is how the idea was born. Muthoni is a creative thinker, who is vocal about what she believes in.

STL Mwangi STL Mwangi, the Norway-based Kenyan

Before

rapper, has put us on the map.

Her music, which has a touch of Kenyan infuences, has made it possible for non-Kenyans to appreciate our music. Every song she releases makes it to the top of the charts. Her music is easily identifiable with almost everyone who listens to it. She has made it Kenyan by ensuring she collaborates with Kenyan artistes on various songs.

Sosuun People found out she could rap when she released her first song, Hit Song. But this year, Sosuun has burst back into the limelight with a bang slaying her verse in Dawa ya Moto. She recently released a new song, Sura Ya Kazi and she is proving that she is here to stay, and nothing or nobody will push her out of the way.

Wangeci She was engaged in an accident last year that left one of her best friends dead. Wangeci was at the top of her game at the time and was riding high with the release of her album. Slowly but surely, Wangeci started recovering and is now putting out new music.

With the help of her producer and manager, she has been able to continue recording while recuperating. When

she first came into the limelight, Wangeci brought with her a breath of fresh air. She brought a new sound into the industry and showed people that female rappers still existed.

Femione Signed to the Kaka Empire, Femione has been making waves since appearing on the Ligi Soo remix. When she gets on stage and starts doing her thing, the crowd goes wild and starts screaming her name. Her strength is in her lines.

With lines like ‘wanataka kunidate

kama diary, wangependa kunipage kama magazine, wanataka kunitouch kwani me ni Ipad!’,

Femione is bound to go far in the industry. She has the creativity and the drive to be better in her game.

Xtatic Two years back, Xtatic burst into the limelight with an unfinished track that propelled her to fame.

Everybody wanted to know this fresh new female rapper, who was spewing hard-hitting lyrics.

A few weeks after releasing Prep Track, she got signed by a record label, Sony Music, who promised to record and release her album.

Now the rapper is back with a new album Let Me Explain ready to take over the industry.

xtatic

sosuun

B O R N T H RO U G H R A P E A N D T H E N R A P E D B E FO R E S H E C O U L D E V E N WA L K .

W E LC O M E TO T H E D E M O C R AT I C R E P U B L I C O F T H E C O N G O .

R A P E C A P I TA L O F T H E WO R L D .

HELL ON EARTH.

The war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began after the

‘They’re stealing the children, raping them, and then bringing them

Rwandan genocide, when Rwanda sent troops over the border to

back home.’

pursue Hutu militia hiding in what was then Zaire.

Mukwege believes the rapists are likely former militia who

In the free-for-all that followed until 2002, millions of Congolese died.

have been demobilised by government forces.

It’s an assessment Naama Haviv, of the Panzi Foundation,

Despite a peace deal and an election in 2006, the fighting continues, especially around rich mining areas.

agrees with.

‘The challenge in the Congo is that there are thousands of

And with it the suffering of the Congolese people.

soldiers who have been demobilised over the years. Many were

Over 45,000 die every month, the majority from malnutrition

children when they were forced into armed groups. They have known

and treatable diseases like malaria and dysentery. And rape continues

a life of intense brutality and horrific atrocity and until we help them

on an unimaginable scale.

deal with their trauma we’re going to see atrocities like this continue

Government figures put the number at over 50,000 since

and perhaps even escalate.’

1994. According to a recent UN report the real figure may be as high as three million.

‘Most cases are unreported’ says World Vision’s Clarisse Kasaka, who works with rape victims. ‘The victims are scared, ashamed

and

fear

being

abandoned

by

their

families

and

communities.’

Public rapes in front of friends and community and forced rape between victims, often from the same family, are common. ‘So too are rapes performed using rifles, knives and sticks.

Women have had their limbs and breasts cut off, molten rubber poured into their vaginas and been disfigured in other unimaginable ways.

And no woman is safe. Including the very young.

Denis Mukwege is a gynaecologist at the Panzi Hospital in the northern province of Sudkiva.

Nominated for the Nobel Prize for his work, he’s treated some 19,000 plus victims in his fifteen years on the job.

As you can imagine, he’s seen a lot. But nothing could prepare him or his staff for the victims that began appearing at his hospital from the village of Kivumu in the northeast.

‘Last year we treated thirty five babies that required heavy surgery. What’s particularly disturbing is that these children are being specifically targeted. The perpetrators are not sneaking into houses at night and raping the women and then the children.

The women of the DRC continue to be subjected to a level of brutality that is hard to fathom.

In the first six months of last year, over 12,000 women and young girls were raped.

Thankfully there are signs that things are slowly changing.

Joint European aid agencies are funding the construction of new courthouses and prisons to punish rapists.

Mobile courts are holding rape trials deep in the jungle that haven’t seen a magistrate since the Belgians left.

In the North, rape convictions are up 600 %.

But progress is being hindered by a government in denial about the scale of the atrocities and intent on silencing everyone from talking about it.

So what can you do to help?

On our website you’ll find a list of charities involved in helping the victims of sexual abuse in the DRC, all of which could do with your financial support.

Please give as generously as you can.

Also write to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila Kabange.

Urge the government to do more to put an end to sexual violence. Letters should be to P.O. Box 3862, New York NY 10163.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT XNEWS.CO.KE

10

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY, APRIL 26th 30, NOVEMBER 2015 2014

YOLO

A mother wAs cAlmly wAtching television when she spotted her son throwing stones At policemen...

HOT TOPICS

AmbAssAdA

Happy Birthday avril!

When your most embarrassing moment goes

E

viral

arlier this week, Baltimore was thrown into chaos after Freddie Gray died in Police custody from injuries inflicted by law enforcement.

You see, Gray is black and the community has been under fire from the police, with a good number of young men believed to have been killed by police because of their skin colour. Baltimore has been a city on fire with rioters looting and reigning havoc on the city. A mother was calmly watching television when she spotted her son throwing stones at policemen.

She quickly went to the scene of the protest and smacked him for ‘being stupid enough to be at the protest’. All this was captured on

camera and the video posted on social media. Within a few hours the video had been watched and shared countless times. A hash tag #baltimoremum was started to praise the lady who took charge and disciplined her 16-year-old son in front of the world. The US commissioner of Police lauded the mother and said that the city would be a better place if there were more mothers like her. Her story has gone viral and she was recently on various TV channels to justify her actions. In an interview, she explained that she did not want her son to be the next Freddie Gray.

When a post on the internet goes viral, the owner of the post becomes an internet sensation overnight.

S They sometimes don’t know how to deal with the sudden fame. With the internet making the world a global village now, your story or post can be shared across continents.

Alex from Target was such a case. A shopper took a photo of an employee of an American supermarket chain, Target.

Captioning the photo as Alex from Target, the customer exclaimed at how handsome the young man was. Within minutes the internet was abuzz with photos of Alex from Target. By the time the young man was leaving work, he had become an internet sensation. The wise ones use the new-found fame to their own advantage as a means to start a career.

he is a singer, Songwriter and actress who has grown to be a brand on her own. The Nikimuona singer is celebrating her birthday today. She started 2015 on a high note, getting named the face of Oriflame, Goodwill ambassador for AMREF and spokesperson for I Am Beautiful campaign. X Access wishes the singer a wonderful birthday!

Busia Cultural Night Tonight the Busia Cultural night will be going down at the Meladen Restaurant in Upper Hill. It will start at 6pm and will run until late. The event seeks to promote unity in the urban culture. The cultural night also seeks to remember fallen and existing Busia heroes through the Busia Heroes Awards.

BOy BandS COnCerT

hot date

T

oday, the Tree House Club on Museum Hill will play host to some of the biggest names in boy bands circuit. The boy bands will include, Octave Band, Lele Ngoma, Tamasha Beats, Le band,Afro Simba and Yunasi. The event aims at showcasing the bands’ live performances.

The boy bands have been able to unite people across the country and the world through their music. Doors open at 8pm and entry is Sh500.The Oga @D Top will be the emcee.

le bAnd

Willy Paul launches two videos at K1 K1 has quickly become the go to spot for celebrities. Afro Beat Wednesdays has captured the industry by storm with artistes’ showing up to launch their new projects.

Yesterday wasn’t any different. Willy Paul was at K1 to relaunch his two videos, Vigelegele and Mapenzi. Jaguar, Frasha, Gabu, Neomi Ng’ang’a, Sudi boy, Proff and Mongolo were at the event to support Willy.

10

ACCESS

11

ACCESS

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

THURSDAY, APRIL 30 2015

FASHIONScoop

tRAVellING BAGs MADe COOl.

Look classy and fabulous as you travel over the weekend with this bag.

Let the bag define your style and leave everyone jealous

Show it off because it is that awesome and all eyes will be on you.

Even when heading to the gym, you need to bring your A game

travel in I

t is going to be a long weekend given that the Labour Day holiday falls on a Thursday. If you are planning to travel, make sure you do it in style.

Wan Fam’s bags are the ultimate travel companion, oozing class and made from the finest fabrics, they are bound to make travelling a lot more exciting.

They were inspired to design a bag collection that was different from the usual, leisure-like

style

Black and beautiful, carry it when going for that unexpected sleep over.

and one that was multi-purpose that includes a water bottle pouch inside, zipped side/coin pocket outside, double sliders on main pocket to allow locking, removable and adjustable strap with shoulder pad and studs in bottom to protect bag from immediate ground dirt.

For fabrics, they used Maasai shuka, khaki and lined the inside with cotton making the bags durable. They chose fabrics with bright and bold colours, which were appealing and fancy.

The English Premier League has widely been regarded as one of the most competitive In Europe, particularly in terms of pace and aggression. Some of the well-known fast 3 in the English Premier League today are:

TOP O

n loan at Everton from Spurs, the little ball of fury Lennon has been a crucial acquisition for the Toffees in recent weeks. Known for his short bursts of speed along the flanks, Aaron Lennon has ability to sprint as fast as 33.8 kph

aaron lennon

English PrEmiEr lEaguE sPrintErs

S

ince he set the club record of sprinting over 40m of 4.42 seconds back in 2009, Speed has been a word many describe Theo Walcott by.

Fellow teammate Hector Bellerin reportedly broke Walcott’s 40 metre record in training, but on the pitch, Theo Walcott is still one clear favorite to outrun majority players, the England international can run for yards at a speed of 32.7 kph.

T

he Manchester United right winger has been key to his side this season.

Primarily playing on the right wing, the Ecuadorian was reverted to right back when Manchester United was undergoing an injury crisis and indeed he has managed to live up to the position impressively.

Playing at right back has only given Valencia more yards of space to outrun other outfield players. The highest speed the Ecuadorian has clocked in the Premier League so far is a staggering 35.1 kph

antonio valencia

theo walcott

12

PLAY

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 It’s likely to lead to some positive developments in your life, possibly including a move to the next level of commitment. If you aren’t involved now, a friend could introduce you to someone new, perhaps at a social gathering. Look your best throughout the day!

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 Today you may feel especially sensual and passionate, Aquarius. This is the perfect evening to schedule quality time with a current or potential love partner. You’re probably looking and feeling attractive, and this fact isn’t likely to be lost on your friend.

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 A social event or gathering that involves work could put you in touch with interesting people, Pisces, including a sexy potential love partner! Someone new on the scene could stir your blood like it hasn’t been stirred in a long time.

THURSday 30/04/2015

sunny

25

25ºC 62%

FRIday 1/05/2015

More sun than clouds

25 6:28 am 6:32pm

25ºC 61%

6:28 am 6:32 pm

SATURday

24

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

Yesterday’s Solution

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 The chemistry between you is strong and you’re compatible on several levels. Today you will experience passion like never before! Some intense but honest and very positive discussion about the relationship’s future is likely to take place, followed by an intimate encounter.

Sudoku

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Today you should feel especially sensual, Taurus. You will want to bask in the pleasure of being in love. A passionate encounter could occur at your home, probably after a wonderful meal you’ve prepared. You could have a frank discussion about the future of the relationship.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 You should have a lot to say to each other and so spend a lot of time on the phone. A meeting could be arranged, probably somewhere in your neighborhood. Your chemistry is intense, so don’t be surprised by the direction of this involvement.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 You may decide to move, or you could opt for a less drastic course of action, such as redecorating or remodeling. A household member could move out or someone new could move in. These are all very positive changes that will make a big difference in your life.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 A current or potential love partner who lives nearby is likely to be all too aware of this. Your heightened sensuality should be very apparent! A long walk with your friend could involve conversation that brings you closer together. You might spend most of the evening together.

VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 22 Your aesthetic sense may increase, Virgo, leading to the discovery of an artistic talent you may not have known you had. A current or potential love partner might decide to come with you, creating a new venue for bringing you closer together. This should prove very exciting.

MUSTREAD Allah is Not Obliged — by Ahmadou Kourouma

Birahima unexpectedly loses his mother. The 10 year old leaves his village in Ivory Coast in search of his aunt Mahan. He is accompanied by the sorcerer and cook Yacouba. They travel through the country and while crossing the border into Liberia, they are seized by rebels. The two are forced into the military. Birahima is given a gun, small food rations and a tiny wage to fight a war he does not even know how it started. He fights along other young boys, who also like him were forced to become child soldiers. He stares death in the face, sees torture, bodies dismembered and people become mad. In all the chaos, Birahima miraculously manages to retain his own sanity.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 A social event, possibly involving a group you’re affiliated with, could put you in touch with a lot of friendly, intriguing people who share your interests, Libra. Among them could be a potential romantic partner, or a current partner could accompany you to this event.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 This could make a profound difference in your life, as this person may inspire you. A romantic partner could meet her as well, and the two of you should have a lot to discuss over dinner.

Relax and enjoy your evening. It could change your life in a very subtle way.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 You could decide to go with a love partner. You’re likely to enjoy the gathering so much that you may stay late into the night and then spend another hour or so discussing it with your partner. Afterward, anything could happen! In the future you will remember tonight as magical.

INSTAMOMENTS 1

3

2

4

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

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.

YOURSAY

winning captions

yesterday’s winning photo

1. Dinner is always more important than your friend-XD, Nairobi 2. Hunting in modern days: knock them down with your bike- JJ, Nrb 3. Packed lunch-Faraj Obure, Nairobi

INTRODUCE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND PREPAREDNESS IN SCHOOLS It is unfortunate to note that our culture of poor handling of disasters has persisted.From our prevention to response measures, we are always lagging behind. Year in, year out our story is the same!

Talk of floods, collapsed building or road carnage we are always

caught pants down. To make matters worse, public perception to disaster is perverted since; it considers misfortunes as God given opportunities to have a field day.

Kenyans are seems to be conditioned to swing into action and loot any valuable their hands can lay on

whenever a tragic event occurs, more so road accidents.

In as much as our constitution is full of legislations outlawing theft of any manner; especially from a scene of crime, accident or disaster; this vice has become the order of the day.

At the same times in as much as there

exist several public safety policies our institutions, more so schools; they are seldom are not adhered to.

For instance, although fire extinguishers are a common sight in most public utilities; most staff are usually not trained on their usage.

This scenario therefore calls for

attitude change since policies and legislation have perennially failed us.

The Governmen, in conjunction with Ministry of Education, should consider introducing Disaster Management and Preparedness into the Primary and Secondary curricula.

—Alfred Mosoti Abuga

SPORT 13 THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015

Liverpool building momentum for next season, says Brendan Rodgers Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says everyone at Anfield is “playing for his future” as he admitted striker Mario Balotelli is “struggling”.

The Reds slumped to defeat at Hull on Tuesday, a third loss in five league games, and the Italy forward left the field with a foot injury on 65 minutes.

Balotelli was heckled by home fans as he made just 22 touches in the match.

“I think it’s clear over the course of the season, not just in this game, that he’s struggling,” said Rodgers, 42.

“I spoke to the players at the end and I told them that we have an obligation to fight right to the end of the season,” he added.

“It’s fair to say every single player here is playing for his future.”

Rodgers, who rested Captain Steven Gerrard, defended Balotelli, saying he is “doing his best, conceded his team struggled to threaten at the KC Stadium.

The Reds have failed to qualify for the Champions League following each season they have finished runners-up in the Premier League - and sitting seven points adrift of fourth place with four games

left, that pattern looks likely to continue.

“We wanted to be in that top four but it was always going to be difficult for us with the way our season mapped itself out,” said Rodgers. “But we are looking to get momentum to take us through to next season.

“The players put great energy into the game and they worked very hard but their struggles tonight were the same as they have been for a great part of the season in terms of creativity and scoring goals.

BIG PLAN: Rodgers rested Gerrard in their match against Hull on Tuesday. He says they want to finish the current season on ahight, so that they can start next season running.

SPORT BRIEFS Players’ union supports fourth substitute proposal

MEN AT WORK: Cameroon’s midfielder Stephane Mbia (L) challenges Guinea’s forward Mohamed Yattara during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Guinea star predicts a better future for his national team Mohamed Yattara says Guinea are aiming to maintain their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations momentum in the coming years.

The Syli Nationale reached the last eight in Equatorial Guinea through the drawing of lots at the expense of Mali but then lost 3-0 to Ghana.

Guinea finished as runners-up at the 1976 Nations Cup and have managed to reach the last eight on four occasions in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2015.

“We have a lot of motivation after the last tournament,” he said.

“I know for some people it was a surprise that we made the quarter-final and for us we want to show it wasn’t a fluke,” “We also have a young hungry squad playing without fear and eager to dominate Africa very soon.

“This squad of players with belief and confidence are as good as anybody in Africa.”

The West Africans have never qualified for a World Cup but Yattara is confident they have the

team capable of making history and being more successful in the next couple of years.

“We’ve made a significant amount of progress and the future is bright for us,” he said.

“I am 21 and when you look around the squad you can only see a few older players in the mix for experience.

“I am curious to say why stop in Africa and not aim for the World Cup, you have to think big in football.

“I think our new-found confidence comes from what we’ve experienced so far, our own ability and professional conduct.”

For Yatarra, who scored against Ivory Coast in January, and his team-mates, their first task is to stay focussed on the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers, starting in June.

Guinea are in Group L alongside lightweights Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Yattara, who plays his club football in France for Lyon, is sure they can emerge winners from the group.

Football’s global players’ union FIFPro is backing the idea of allowing a fourth substitute in games.

The International Football Association Board, the sport’s rule-making body, has twice rejected proposals to allow an additional substitute in extra time of knockout matches.

But it has requested that more research be carried out on the idea.

In a FIFPro poll of players across all continents, 84% supported the idea of a fourth substitute in some form.

“The response to our survey is overwhelming,” said FIFPro general-secretary Theo van Seggelen.

“Whether only applied to extra time or during the regulation 90 minutes, professional footballers worldwide surveyed by FIFPro see a need to add a fourth substitute.

“It’s a position that will challenge traditional

views, but the players have one of the most important roles in this debate.”

Fifpro selected a representative sample of players from 27 countries and gave them the choice of three answers.

Out of 244 responses, 39 players (16%) said they were totally against a fourth substitution.

Of the remainder, 119 players (49%) were in favour of a fourth substitute but said the additional change should only be allowed in extra time. A total of 86 players (35%) were in favour of a fourth substitution even in matches of 90 minutes.

“Our research is representative of players on all continents and they have clearly shown a preference for the game to evolve and show greater flexibility, especially during matches that go to extra time,” said Van Seggelen.

Ulinzi striker takes the plunge Ulinzi Stars forward Ezekiel Otuoma, will tie the knot this coming weekend.

The former Muhoroni Youth player is set to marry the love of his life, Rachael Otieno, at an inviteonly ceremony in Umoja, Nairobi.

The wedding will coincide with Ulinzi’s Kenyan Premier League match against Gor Mahia, which is set to take place at the City Stadium, something that has all but dampened the player’s spirits.

“I am sad that my team mates will not be present but all the same I know they will give me a good wedding present with a win at City Stadium,” Otuoma told the club website.

Ulinzi Stars chairman Col JS Mwinyikai also has a challenge for Otuoma.

“He now has a bigger responsibility of maintaining a family. It is not an easy task and this should make him even stronger as a person and as a footballer.”

14

SPORT THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015

Mayweather’s punching Pacquiao...already!

Floyd Mayweather taunted Manny Pacquiao ahead of their eagerly-anticipated super-fight on Saturday, telling him he should be earning more money.

The fight is the richest in history, with the fighters sharing around £150m, although the exact figure is unknown.

However, the purse split is 60-40 in Mayweather’s favour and the American legend said his Filipino rival had not been looked after properly.

“If he’d have worked with us, he’d have made $100m,” said Mayweather.

“Financially, he hasn’t been treated right for this fight. And [this fight] is all about the money.

“Saturday is just work, I’ll just do what I

do. But I’ll make upwards of $200m (Sh19 billion) for this fight, which is $50m (Sh4.7 billion) apiece for my kids. So it was a smart move.”

Five-weight world champion Mayweather, nicknamed ‘Money’, came face to face with six-weight world champion Pacquaio for the first time at a Miami Heat basketball game in January.

The 38-year-old American said he instigated the initial meeting in Pacquiao’s Miami hotel suite - which Mayweather said was not up to his exacting standards.

Mayweather, who is unbeaten in 47 professional fights, explained: “I went over to Manny and said: ‘I don’t know what [Pacquiao’s

promoter] Bob Arum is saying to you, but it’s not true.

“When Manny Pacquiao said he had signed paperwork to fight me, he must have been signing half of his money away. He hadn’t signed to fight me.

“I told him that if we agree to drugs testing and we’re on a level playing field, we can make the fight happen. The fight came about because of me.

“But why did they have him staying in that type of hotel? It wasn’t right.” Mayweather also reiterated his intention to retire after one more fight in September, even though two more victories would leave him equal with heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano’s 49-fight unbeaten record.

Megafight countdown Tapio hoping to rev back to glory days in Kajiado Finnish driver Tapio Laukkanen and navigator Pasi Torma will hope to make amends this weekend when action turns to Kajiado for the third round of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC).

Also in the mix will be national champion, Baldev Chager, who is desperate for his first win of the season and close on Safari winner, Jasmeet Chatthe who is ahead of the pack at the summit of the standings.

Laukkanen quickly earned the “Flying Finn” moniker when he totally dominated the first two days of the Safari last month before sensationally crashing out in the early stages of the last day in Meru when the rear arm of his Subaru snapped.

Kisumu based Chatthe capitalised to bring his Mitsubishi Evolution home for his biggest victory and his memorable triumph will be set aside as a pack of top drivers including Chager who is first off the ramp.

Having already won in Kajiado, Chager is determined to rack up his first win of the season and so are his Kabras Racing teammates Onkar Rai and Tejveer Rai. Carl “Flash” Tundo and Alastair Cavenagh are expected to enter their Proton Neo Satria S2000s that have also found the rough local terrain a tough nut to crack in a rally billed to be another back-breaker. The KCB Kajiado Rally will cover Kajiado and Machakos in arguably one of the toughest KNRC series this year.

WATCH ME: Tapio Laukkanen gives and interview to the media at the Meru Technical Training Institute just before being flagged off on the 3rd and final day of the 63rd KCB Safari Rally in Meru.

Basketball federation to crack whip on ‘ghost’ players It’s emerging that over 34 basketball clubs in the Kenya Basketball Federation league are using unregistered players.

Joseph Amoko, the KBF competitions secretary said the federation will not allow any of the affected clubs to field unregistered players from the next round of play.

Under the competitions rules for this season, all players must get official transfer documents whenever they move clubs.

However, most of the participating teams have overlooked the rules. “The team managers are responsible for this and we are not going to allow these players to play before they are officially released from their former clubs,” Amoko stated. “We have written to teams to provide us with their registration forms and only 15 have done so. With effect from this coming weekend, we shall not allow these players to turn up for their new teams unless they have been released officially.”

Katch 10s the biggest sporting event of the Labour Day weekend From the Nairobi 10-A-Side (10s) tournament last past weekend, attention swiftly moves to Kakamega County where the inaugural Katch 10s will takes place at the Kakamega High School grounds on the Labour Day weekend.

Kakamega is the home of Kenya Cup side Western Bulls, who were crowned Nairobi

10s winners on Sunday.

Western Bulls beat Homeboyz RFC 15-0 to win the Nairobi 10-a-side tournament at the RFUEA ground last weekend.

The Kakamega-based side easily adapted to the waterlogged conditions at the ground to emerge winners in the one sided final.

Event organizers for the Kakamega

tournament are expecting a full entry list, with a total of 24 teams already lined up for participation.

They have also planned a bullfighting event to officially kick off the tournament and there will additionally be a women’s exhibition match pitting Impala against Nakuru.

taking the game home: Western Bulls in past action. The Katch 10s will be played in their Kakamega backyard.

Wimbledon singles tourney richer than ever before The 2015 Wimbledon singles champions will win £1.88m (Sh263m), an increase of £120,000 (Sh16) on last year.

The overall prize fund at the All England Club will rise from £25m (Sh3.5b) to £26.75m (Sh3.7b), a 7% increase year on year.

Courts 14 and 15 will come back into use after being re-laid following development works, bringing the total ground capacity at SW19 to 39,000, compared to 38,500 in 2014.

And use of Hawk-Eye has been extended to courts 12 and 18.

That means the technology will be in action on six courts across the championships, which run from June 29 to July 12.

Wimbledon’s total prize money increase is 83% higher than in 2011, and maintains the competition’s status as the highest-paying in tennis.

“We recognise the players are an essential ingredient of our championships,” said All England Lawn Tennis Club chairman Philip Brook “The level of prize money is affordable to this championship, so we feel it’s important that we should reflect that in what we pay the players.”

FIND THE KEYWORD IN RED AND SMS IT TO 22333 Barua Muganga RINGTONES: 30 KSHS PER DAY Nipe Nafasi You will receive a sms “2 download. . . ”Go to this Glory to Glory link using GPRS or WAP & download your content.

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xnews | THURsDAY, APRIL 30, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

finnish driver tapio daring to win kajiado rally

p14

Blues close in on title LEADING FROM BEHIND: Chelsea captain John Terry scores Chelsea’s second goal against Leicester City from close range.

Chelsea stand one win away from the Premier League title after mounting an impressive comeback to beat Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

Jose Mourinho’s side needed to call on all their reserves of quality and resilience to overcome Leicester City’s fiercely determined challenge which earned them a deserved first-half lead through Marc Albrighton.

As expectations of another victory on the road to Premier League safety rose in a thunderous atmosphere, Chelsea responded in the style of champions-elect to earn the victory that means they will

be crowned champions for the first time in five years if they beat Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Didier Drogba restored equality early in the second half and further goals from Captain John Terry and Ramires wrapped up a win that was testimony to the qualities that have put Chelsea on the brink of glory.

For Chelsea and manager Jose Mourinho, only the formalities remain to be completed as he moved towards his third title at Stamford Bridge, the first of his second spell in charge, after claiming the capital One Cup earlier this season.

Published By Xtra Publishing Limited, Chancery Building, Valley Road, Nairobi | Printed By The Star, Lion Place, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi.