20150504 x news

MONDAY, May 4, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

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FRESH ELECTIONS Low turnout AS by-elections ARE HELD IN OLOOLUA, KABETE

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PRODUCT LAUNCH BARCLAYS AFRICA INTRODUCES LIFE INSURANCE SERVICE

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celebrity chat HE LIVES AND BREATHeS POETRY, MEET MR. TEARDROPS

NEWS

Gor mahia disarm Ulinzi to maintain unbeaten KPL run

PSG close in on title as Cavani, Matuidi strike down Nantes

Kerry consoles 1998 bomb blast survivors U

S Secretary of State John Kerry today consoled survivors of the 1998 bombing of the American embassy in Nairobi.

While addressing some of the survivors at the August 7th Memorial Park in Nairobi, Kerry said it is the terrorists who lost in the attack.

“The terrorists who struck on August 7, 1998 failed utterly in their purpose,” he

said.

The intention of the terrorists was to instill fear in the hearts of Kenyans and create divisions between Kenyans and the American citizens.

“We cannot reverse the fact that people lost their lives, but we have the power to fight back. There is more strength in our solidarity than in any terrorist attack,” he said.

He called for unity in the face of terror attacks in order to defeat the terrorists “They failed for the same reason that terrorists will always fail. They can reduce a building to rubble, and they can even deprive innocent people of their lives, but they do not give anyone anything of what really makes life worthwhile,” he added.

A total of 213 people were killed in the attack which remains the worst in Kenyan

history and Kerry said he could not find better words to express his sorrow for the lives lost.

“It is with deep sadness that I lay a wreath dedicated to the many Kenyans and Americans who perished. I have no words to express the sorrow for the lives lost,” he told the survivors.

Kerry who arrived in the country yesterday from Sri Lanka, later held talks

with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House with security cooperation ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit in July top on the agenda.

He also held talks with opposition leader Raila Odinga at the Serena Hotel and was scheduled to brief the press later in the day at the Sankara Hotel in Westlands.

P.8

The Big Knot

Neema and Peter have lived as man and wife for three years and they held a wedding to confirm their love

P.9

in memoriam: US Secretary of State John Kerry reads through names of the survivors of the August 1998 bomb blast at the US Embassy in Nairobi. He called for unity to defeat terrorism.

x-news.co.ke

BAKE Awards

Fashion star Silvia Njoki crowned best blogger in Kenya

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NEWS MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

Low turnout in kabete, Oloolua by-elections A low turn-out was registered as Kabete residents voted in their next Member of Parliament.

Some polling centers had voters on the queues by 5.30am.

The dry queues were blamed on the choice of day, bearing in mind that schools were reopening today.

“I am headed to town (Nairobi) where I work that’s why I had to come early…I want to vote for a leader who will change the current situation of our roads,” Duncan Mwangi a voter in Wangige Primary School said.

“Some of our roads are in poor condition and also a school like this.”

There was, however, hope that the turnout would increase towards the end of the day.

“Kabete is a busy constituency…the numbers will not match those of the general election,” Peter Ngige a voter at Wangige Market polling center said.

Others said they want to make their daily income first and vote later since it was ‘only a by-election’. “I want to make money first and then I will go to vote…my business first,” a trader in Wangige market said.

Wangige Primary School will be at the tallying center where the returning officer Esther Wanjiku is expected to announce the winner of the by-election once counting is concluded.

Nine candidates have expressed interest in the seat that was left vacant after the murder of the area Member of Parliament George Muchai.

The candidates include Jubilee Alliance Party candidate Ferdinard Waititu, George Waiguru (Independent), Isaiah Ndirangu (Party of Democratic Unity), John Wamagata (Safina), Kavore Kariuki (NarcKenya) and Kiriro wa Ngugi (Democratic Party).

Others include Newton Njenga (National Vision Party), Paul Kariuki Wandere (Progressive Party of Kenya) and Wilson Karanja Kamau (Orange Democratic Movement).

Residents hope the exercise will be credible so that they can get the person who will carry on Muchai’s development agenda.

“We just want a true leader who has the interest of the constituency at heart,” Mercy Mwangi a resident of the constituency said.

More than 200 security officers have been deployed in all the 33 polling centser in an election being overseen by 750 Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission staff.

There are 62,470 registered voters in the constituency. Of the nine contenders, only two are registered in Kabete constituency.

Elsewhere, in Oloolua ward, Kajiado North County, residents set out to vote in their new Member of County Assembly (MCA).

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced the poll after MCA George Nyoike died in a road accident in January.

19 streams in four polling centres were opened from 6am, but by press time, only a few hundred voters had turned up.

The race has attracted six candidates, with the front-runners being JAP’S Kimemia Njogu and ODM’s Ali Awadh.

Other candidates are Maendeleo Democratic Party’s Peter Nyamai and independent candidates Paul Khayanje, Joshua Orina and Stephen Oloishorua.

There are 13,403 registered voters in Oloolua

THOROUGH CHECKS: IEBC officials look for a voter’s details during ther Kabete by-elections.

Thousands of migrants rescued Redirecting Kenya Power line lands as EU ramps up efforts at sea five-some in trouble

More than 5,800 migrants have been rescued and 10 bodies recovered off the Libyan coast over the weekend, the Italian coastguard says.

The survivors were picked up from wooden and rubber boats, in 17 separate operations by Italian and French ships.

An Italian ship landed nearly 900 people in Sicily early on Monday.

At least 1,750 people have died this year trying to cross the Mediterranean, a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014 when 96 people died.

The final number of people

rescued over the weekend is expected to rise. The busiest two days for rescues so far this year were April 12 and 13, when 6,500 people were picked up.

Many more migrants are expected to make the crossing in the coming weeks as smugglers take advantage of calmer weather.

In a separate incident on Sunday, three people died when a boat carrying migrants to Europe sank off Egypt’s coast, according to Egyptian state media. Thirtyone migrants were reportedly rescued.

At an emergency meeting last

month to discuss the crisis, European Union leaders said they would triple the funding for rescue operations run by EU border agency Frontex, and threatened to target smugglers’ boats with military strikes.

Italy abandoned its Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue mission last year after some EU members - including the UK - said they could not afford to fund it.

The decision was widely criticised in April after more than 800 people died when a single boat sank - the deadliest capsize recorded in the Mediterranean.

Some of the 27 survivors of the accident described being beaten by smugglers in an attempt to load more migrants on to the boat.

The overloaded vessel crashed into a cargo ship shortly after leaving Libya, causing panic on board. The dead were mostly Syrians, Senegalese, Eritreans, and Somalis - adults and children.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said “much more” needs to be done beyond the EU’s current spending plans to tackle the migration crisis in the Mediterranean.

Five people were arraigned in Milimani court today morning after they were caught rerouting a power line at Mutindwa area in Nairobi’s Umoja Estate.

Francis Kamau, George Owuor, Hesborn Orimbo and Lawrence Odinga and George Ngugi were nabbed by Kenya Power’s security team this weekend while re-directing an existing line to allow for the construction of a high-rise building.

Milimani Chief Magistrate, Ms. Lucy Mbugua, gave the suspects an option of paying Sh50,000 bond or remain in custody after deferring the case until Tuesday

May 5, when their pleas will be taken.

Kenya Power Security Manager, Fredrick Ledelea said the five masqueraded as KPL employees and were found in possession of electricity cables, a pair of climbing irons, safety belts and a KPLC meter reading jacket among other items.

“Initial investigations reveal that the suspects were paid Sh40,000 by the owner of the building to redirect the power supply line from its original position. We are speedily investigating to establish how they acquired materials to do the job,” said Ledelea.

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NEWS 3

CARTOONSPEAK

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

NEWS BRIEFS

Cats are teaching people how to speak their language, meow Scientists are getting closer towards understanding the language of cats.

As smart as people think they are, man’s feline friends might be more intelligent than previous research has shown.

Animal behaviour experts claim to have decoded up to 24 different “meows” in a study that shows how cats are training their owners to understand what they are trying to say.

“Cats only vocalise to people,” explains Veterinary Gary Weitzman, author of the book, “How To Speak Cat.” “There are probably one to two dozen different vocalisations per cat that we would classify as “meow,” he says.

“You know what they’re asking you for because they’ve trained you,” the Doctor told US-based news website Salon. He says that the difference between cats and dogs is that people can train both species but, for the most part, dogs are trained to respond to what people want them to do.

Patient dies after jumping off 4th floor of hospital building

On the other hand, cats actually train people to respond to what they want them to do.

He adds: “You can’t translate a particular meow as being universal for all cats, but every cat will make up to two dozen meow vocalisations that mean specific and consistent things.”

Dr Weitzman has also decoded the non-vocal ways cats talk to people.

He found that when cats extend their tails straight up, the action is the same as a human handshake. A slow blink from a cat can be compared to a peck on the cheek or a wink between friends. Actions such as head-butting and licking are seen signs of affection. Dr Weitzman also concluded that a cat naturally extends its whiskers out to the side when it is happy.

“If your cat flattens its ears you might want to stay away, as this means it is scared or preparing for a fight,” says Ben Spencer, Science Correspondent for the Daily Mail.

A man died after jumping off the fourth floor of the Coptic Hospital in Nairobi. The victim had been admitted there for a week before the incident. Police are investigating the incident to establish what triggered the man’s suicidal act. Officers who arrived at the scene soon after the incident said that the man had landed headfirst and died instantly. His body was later taken to the mortuary.

Five suspects killed in weekend crimes

Kidero orders demolition of kiosks near schools, churches

ON MATTERS SECURITY: Nairobi County governor Dr. Evans Kidero. He says that some kiosks have been used to provide cover for criminals to monitor movements and plot attacks against city residents.

The Nairobi County government has embarked on a plan to improve city security by demolishing shops and kiosks outside church buildings, schools, social halls and along isolated roads.

Governor Evans Kidero says that some kiosks have been used to provide cover for criminals to monitor movements and plot attacks against city residents.

The new security actions follow a recommendation by the City inspectorate team after it undertook an audit of the vulnerable security areas around the municipality.

“The kiosks outside learning institutions provide a disguise to criminals who pause as traders yet they are monitoring the movements and studying the resident’s movements before they strike.

This has come to our attention and we are doing this to avert any impending attack whether large or small scale,” the County’s Director of Communications Walter Mong’are said.

He added that the county has issued notices to kiosk owners with or without licences to remove any structures in spe-

cific commercial and residential areas.

The notices expire on Wednesday after which the county government will begin forceful demolition.

Mongare said some kiosks outside learning institutions were also found to be selling drugs to students.

He added that City Hall will assist with relocations for the traders who will be affected by this move and where possible work with the residents to find suitable locations for such trading activities without affecting the livelihood of those who own such premises.

Undesignated boda boda stops will also be eliminated since they were also found to be aiding quick getaways and assisting criminal activities.

Mong’are cited recent cases of armed boda boda riders who pounce on residents, especially just outside their gates.

Chief Officer of Inspectorate Francis Munyambu said the fight against crime is a primary responsibility of the national government but they will proceed with the undertaking since insecurity affects all.

A suspected thug was last evening shot dead in a botched robbery in Dandora and a homemade gun recovered from him. The suspect is said to have been in the company of three other accomplices robbing residents when police were alerted. The accomplices managed to escape on foot. The slain man is the fifth suspect to be killed in the city over the weekend in the war on crime.

Two killed after opening fire at Mohammed cartoon event in the US Two men opened fire outside a contest for Prophet Mohammed cartoons in a Dallas suburb in the US before they were shot dead by police Sunday night, authorities said.

While details about the gunmen, including their religion or their motives weren’t immediately known, the shooting - as was the case in France in January and Denmark in February - targeted a facility where depictions of the revered Muslim prophet was being caricatured. The keynote speaker at the Garland event was right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who was placed on an al Qaeda hit list. The event was organised by the American Freedom Defense Initiative which is considered an anti-Muslim group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups.

WHAT OTHERS SAID TODAY...

Kerry, Uhuru to discuss security, trade: Security, terrorism, trade and President Barack Obama’s visit in July will take centre stage at the meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry today.

Kerry is in Kenya for a three-day official visit and will hold talks with Uhuru at State House from 10am this morning. The Secretary was received

by Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohammed at JKIA yesterday afternoon. Kerry then went to the Nairobi National Park for a meeting with Environment CS Judi Wakhungu to discuss...

Kenya hoping for US aid to fight Shabaab: US Secretary of State John Kerry has a full intray of issues to tackle during his two-day visit in Kenya. Many are hoping that his high-profile visit will signal a thawing of relations between Washington and Nairobi, damaged by the Hague trial of President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. Mr Kerry arrived in Nairobi from Sri Lanka Sunday, with the US State Department saying his visit was meant to “reinforce the importance of the strong US-Kenyan bilateral relationship.”...

President Uhuru returns to Sagana raises talk of reshuffle: President Uhuru Kenyatta returned to Sagana State Lodge on Saturday morning, fuelling speculation that he was planning changes in his government. The President first went to Sagana on April 25, a day after he cut short his trip to the United States mid-air, prompting reports that he was going to make a major announcement, with some heads likely to roll over corruption allegations. Two days later, President Kenyatta appointed 302 people to boards of state-owned corporations. Last Thursday evening, the President...

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Mortgage Arrangements with

xnews | MONday, MAY 4, 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 91.4839 91.6228 91.5533 138.6428 138.8644 138.7536 103.3422 103.5150 103.4286 7.8770 7.8944 7.8857 31.1822 31.3389 31.2605 19.5148 19.6537 19.5843

NEWS BRIEFS

Malaysia Airlines gets a new CEO following fiasco Malaysia Airlines has appointed a new CEO following the loss of two planes and more than 500 lives in 2014.

Christoph Mueller took up the position merely days ago, having stepped down from the Ireland board of Tourism.

Mueller, who is also the former head of Aer Lingus the national flag carrier of Ireland, will sack 6,000 employees and restructure Malaysia Airlines’ fleet.

His move aims to rebrand the carrier following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on March 8,

NOW IN CHARGE: New Malaysia Airlines CEO Christoph Mueller.

2014.

At the time, Flight 370 disappeared while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China.

Less than 5 months later, a second plane, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, was shot down in a war-torn area of Ukraine, killing 298 passengers and crew.

Mueller hopes to give the carrier a fresh start and will be the first non-Malaysian national to run Malaysia Airlines.

Barclays introduces BuSINESS DIARY life insurance cover

Kenya International Trade Exhibition at the KICC

Barclays Africa Group Limited has officially unveiled a new service as it branches into the life insurance market.

Dubbed ‘Barclays Life Assurance’, the service will offer Education Products, Credit Life and Personal Accident insurance.

The insurer is also offering a Funeral Cover for immediate and extended family members.

“Barclays Life Assurance Kenya will enable more Kenyans to protect themselves against life’s misfortunes as well as to save for long-term aspirations such as education and retirement,”

said William Maara, Managing Director of Barclays Life Assurance Kenya.

The service will initially target the bank’s 500,000 customers through Barclays Bank’s 122 Kenyan branches.

Speaking during the launch of the product late last week, Maara added: “We want society to appreciate the liberation that insurance provides and the added dignity of being self-reliant at all stages of life, whether one is paying school fees or organising a loved one’s send- off.”

Kenya is the fifth market in

which Barclays Africa has set up a life insurance business. Other markets include South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia.

The group will use Kenya as its launch pad to enter into the greater East African region.

“Barclays Africa wants to extend its footprint across the continent in the most convenient, accessible and affordable way possible to meet the evolving needs of customers,” Willie Lategan, Chief Executive of Wealth, Investment Management and Insurance at Barclays Africa said.

“Our entry into the Kenyan Life Insurance market provides us with a strong platform to further expand our offering into East Africa.”

Also speaking during the launch, Barclays Bank’s Managing Director, Jeremy Awori said, “We will leverage our expansive distribution network, our legacy of offering quality financial advice in the country and our regional and global expertise to provide our customers with cutting edge insurance products and quality service.”

TThe 18th installment of the Kenya International Trade Exhibition (KITE), the largest international expo of its kind in Africa, will take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) from May 7 to May 9, 2015.

The event will showcase various consumer products, equipment and machinery.

Since its inception 17 years ago, KITE has become the

key networking and sourcing platform for various industries.

As the largest event of its kind, it ensures direct access to over 150 exhibitors from 30 countries.

This year’s expo will cover the Food, Hotel, Agricultural, Medical, Pharmaceutical, Plastic, Printing and Packaging sectors.

Those planning to attend are advised to visit “expogr.com/ expokenya” for details.

Hostex East Africa event at the KICC

LET’S SHAKE ON THAT: William Maara (LEFT) Managing Director of Barclays Life Assurance Kenya shakes hands with Barclays Bank MD, Jeremy Awori as Willie Lategan, Barclays Africa Chief Executive of Wealth, Investment Management and Insurance looks on.

Hostex East Africa, an exhibition for the hospitality sector, will take place at the KICC from May 12 to May 14, 2015.

The event will “provide an excellent opportunity to the exhibitors to exhibitors to showcase their products and services,” a spokesperson for the group has said.

Visitors will get a chance to

source new products, gather information and network with players from within the industry.

This event is designed to emphasize on the advances made in the areas of food services and hospitality management.

Hostex is expected to attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.

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BUSINESS MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

New LG service centres to spruce up customer service LG Electronics will open two new service centres in Nairobi’s Industrial Area and Mombasa in the next two months in a bid to improve customer service.

The plans which were announced late last week will bring the total number of LG’s service centres in the country to 17, as the multinational seeks to meet the needs of its growing customer base.

LG customer service centres receive approximately 3,000 queries every month, a number expected to increase in the coming months.

The company has further undertaken extensive investment on its in-home services, with purchase of vehicles that are to boost the in-home service across Kenya.

Additionally, the program also aims to boost capabilities of LG technicians through training by experts from Korea, especially on new product categories.

LG is also planning to revamp its famous ‘care and delight’ bus, which will travel around Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania with the same concept of a free service clinic for all LG products.

The service provides free labor to LG customers while providing electronic parts at a subsidized rate.

“We are revamping and increasing the number of our customer centres in order to provide fast, effective and delightful services to our customers,” said Mr. Sunggeun Kang, LG Electronics Service Director for East Africa.

Speaking as he officially opened the company’s new look customer centre at Highway Mall along Mombasa Road, Mr. Sunggeun added: “We are keen to provide the best value to our customers, who are our reason for being as well as our purpose in business.”

L-R: LG Service Director Mr. Senggeun Kang, Service Planning Manager Ms. Mary Kamanda.

therise

Kakuzi Limited

Top in the list of the best performing stocks was Agricultural firm Kakuzi Limited, which emerged as last week’s top gaining stock.

The company is engaged in cultivation of tea as well as the growing and marketing of avocados, pineapples, livestock farming and forestry development. Though on thinly traded volumes, the company’s share ended the four day trading week up by 9.65 per cent,

Mumias Sugar

closing at a price of Sh284.00 from Sh259.00 the previous week. The company has seen its share price appreciate by 57.78 per cent so far in 2015. Tea prices at auction in Kenya have steadily increased over the course of the first quarter of 2015 which should lend support to the company’s earnings as compared to 2014.

Mumias Sugar Company took the position of last week’s top losing stock. Down -8.89 per cent over the course of the week, Mumias shares ended the week at a price of Sh2.05 from their closing price of Sh2.25 a week prior. The heavily indebted company has continued undertake tough reforms prescribed as preconditions for increased government support which have

Analysis by Amana Capital info@amanacapital.co.ke

thefall

included the retrenchment of staff. As the turnaround of the troubled firm continues Mumias has seen its share price steadily decline in recent weeks from a 2015 peak of Sh3.85 in January as investor sentiment towards the company has deteriorated. Year-to-date the share has appreciated by 5.13 per cent.

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

ACCESS celebchat

W

ho is Teardrops?

I am a spoken word artiste, an actor and an upcoming acoustic artiste. I can say I am an all rounded artiste. I create a lot.

Why spoken word and how did you get into it?

Spoken word has been there since the beginning of time. I used to be in a rap group but all the time when others were rapping I was out of tune. I could not flow with the beat so when it came my turn, the beat used to be relaxed for me to say my piece. Later, I realised when the beat was slowed I had the gift of spoken word so I pursued it.

Where do you get inspiration for your poems?

I get inspiration from many different places.

Sometimes I feel like being spiritual, writing about feminism or something that has irritated me. I am not a poet who is bound to a specific genre. I visit different places and people and hear their stories. My poems are about real life issues not fiction.

Do you think there is a platform for poetry in Kenya?

Right now things are changing, there are so many different platforms cropping up. Poetry is starting to be appreciated more. Before people used to write their stories in bed and put them away now they get to perform to people who appreciate it. Now there is events like Kwani Open Mic, Slum Africa, Fatuma’s Voice and many more. People are showing up and paying to listen to poetry because it has content. There is definitely a platform worth pursuing.

What challenges did you face while starting out?

Acceptance. When I used to go to shows and perform people did not care. There was no platform at the time but I used to shove and push and show up to events. People think poetry is easy. It takes time; you do not just wake up and write. Someone would call me two days to an event give me a theme and expect me to come up with a piece and perform it off head without referring somewhere. Some events never used to pay.

factfile Real Name: Mark Joshua Awilly age: 24 Best Food: Fish, Eggs and Ugali. I am also a coffee addict.

Best Book: By The Way by Red Hot Chilli Peppers Best Quote: Don’t teach people how to fish so that they can get their own. First ask them if they like fish. What if they do not want to fish? – Mandela Akello, Sarabi

fashion parade

He is one of the biggest poets in the country, and he wants to make poetry the song of the land. Can he hold it down?

Who do you look up to in the industry?

When I started out, I never used to listen to or read works of other people but now I do.

As An artiste you need to constantly read and research your craft. I admire people like Sol Williams, Mos Def and Rudy Francisco because I feel these are people who are real.

Their content challenges your reasoning, makes you want to research more and raise your standards.

Where do you think the Kenyan poetry scene is at now?

Growing. It will continue growing to a point where the poets will be less than the demand. It is like a revolution. It’s like the way the disciples were told by Jesus they wait for the Holy Spirit and when it came they started speaking in tongues. Poets will leave people speaking in tongues!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I want to be relevant in five years. I want the value of my art to not be compared by how much I have but by how much I impacted someone’s life through my words. People do not buy the words, they buy the emotion that poetry gives them. The greatest gift God has given me is words. I can create another planet with words but I want to impact someone positively with them.

Teardrops —THe POeT—

8

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY MONDAY, MAY26th 4, 2015 NOVEMBER 2014

FASHIONScoop the BIGKNOT

O H

n a bright Friday morning, at the Karengata SDA Church, Neema and Peter renewed their vows in a beautiful, intimate ceremony in front of family and friends.

Neema and Peter had known each other since they were young. “We grew up together, our parents knew each other. So ours started as a friendship then we started dating and we got married,” Neema told us.

The couple has been together for f i v e years, three of which they lived a s man and wife.

P e t e r

I’mhEaRT Black JaY Z Junk mY IsFashIon pERFEcT BEcausE You InsIdE mTVaRE quIZ nEWIT.YoRk

walked to the altar with their son, while Neema was walked down the aisle by their daughter. Halfway to the altar, father and son went to meet mother and daughter. The joy in the couple’s face was tangible. They were renewing their vows.

Peter was dressed in a blue suit, white shirt and an orange tie. His groomsmen also wore blue suits, white shirts and yellow ties. The maids were in blue flowing chiffon lace dresses and they looked exquisite. Their wedding line up consisted of couples. “I wanted married couples in my line up because this was not our first time getting married were renewing our vows,” Neema clarified.

Neema looked every bit the regal bride. She was in a white ball gown

with lace appliques and crystals.

On her shoulders, she had a white slip with crystals on the edges.

Around her neck and wrists, she had on pearls to complete her look. “ I first shopped online when I came across a shop, Bliss Bridal. This was the third dress I tried on. I knew it was the one the moment I put it on,” said Neema. And she did look beautiful in her dress. After they renewed their vows, the couple went for a photo shoot while the guests were ushered to the reception at the Panari Hotel. Neema and Peter had a guest list of 150 people.

“This was a renewal of our vows so there was no point of us having the whole village. We just wanted to have a small intimate ceremony with our friends and family who have been there for us,” said Neema.

Their reception was well decorated, with drapes and lights lighting up the room. Their theme was turquoise green and yellow. “Green is my favourite colour and I chose yellow to break and lighten it up,” said Neema.

The planning process for the couple was made less hectic by a committee. “We had a committee helping us out so it was not that bad.

It however was a bit draining when our wedding team kept pulling out because either one of the spouse was not available. Two days to the wedding were still recruiting the team,” confessed Neema.

Was it worth it?

Yes! Other than the décor, which Neema did not like, everything went as planned and the happy couple is excited to still be in love.

Neema and Peter

renew their vows ‘I wanted married couples in my line up because this was not our first time getting married were renewing our vows’ —Neema

ACCESS MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

review of top weekend gigs.

9

CENTRESTAGE

Silvia Njoki crowned best blogger in Kenya

L

ast Saturday, May 2, tens of writers from the Kenyan blogosphere sat at the Intercontinental Hotel for the annual Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) Awards.

BAKE is a community organization that represents a group of Kenyan online content creators and that seeks to empower online content creation and improve the quality of content created on the web.

During the Saturday gala night, the ties were black, the dresses, crimson and the food, heavenly.

The music was served by Afro singer Makadem, who, together with his band, kept the attendants on their feet with some of their greatest tunes.

After the pleasantries, things got down to business, as one by one, the winners of the 18 categories were presented, starting with the Best Topical blog award, which went to Kenya

Weddings.

Techmoran, took the Best Technology Blog award as Buoart bagged the Best Photography title.

Biko Zulu won the Best Creative Writing Blog award, a category that was sponsored by X News.

Among Zulu’s winnings include publicity worth Sh1million by X News.

X News also pledged coverage worth Sh1 million to all other winners of the night combined.

Silvia Njoki was the biggest winner of the night as she won the Best Fashion Blog award and the overall Blog of the Year award.

This year’s awards registered the highest number of votes cast, with a total of 151,309 votes cast compared to last year’s 56,982.

Airtel, the other sponsors of the awards, announced that they are coming up with a blog and urged interested content creators to get in touch with them.

Full list of winners

1. Best Technology Blog-Techmoran.com 2. Best Photography Blog-Buoart.com 3. Best Creative Writing Blog-Bikozulu.co.ke 4. Best Business Blog-Kenyabusinessideas.com 5. Best Food Blog-Pikachakula.com 6.

Best Environmental/Agricultural BlogGraduatefarmer.co.ke 7. Best Fashion/Beauty/Hair/Style Blog-Silvianjoki. com 8. Best Politics Blog-Info.mzalendo.com 9. Best New Blog-Pendotalk.co.ke 10.

Best Corporate Blog-Storymojaafrica. wordpress.com 11. Best Topical Blog-Kenyaweddings.co.ke/blog 12. Best Sports Blog-Michezoafrika.com 13. Best Entertainment/Lifestyle Blog-Ghafla.co.ke 14. Best Education Blog-Cipitlawstrath.wordpress. com 15. Best Travel Blog-Travelstart.co.ke/blog 16. Best Health Blog-Janemukami.com 17. Best County Blog-Northriftpolitics.com 18. Kenyan Blog of the Year-Silvianjoki.com

Bluemoon

Fest fails to thrill

Everything that could go wrong went wrong at the overhyped Bluemoon party. Kenyans love Yemi Alade—she has been in and out of the country for shows this year numerous times—but this time she unfortunately, had to perform to a handful of fans.

Prior to the event the Blue Moon festival had been hyped extensively on social media and billboards. It was dubbed the biggest event of the year, but it didn’t wow as expected. Even with a performance line up of P-Unit and The Kansoul.

The MC for the night, Homeboyz Radio’s, Mwalimu Rachel, sank the ship even further- doing a really shoddy job.

Njoki

Meanwhile, @ the BBQ Live- Ngong Racecourse

Madtraxx

Eric Omondi and Diamond’s bromance continues HOT Clarence Peters works The Zari All White party went down thanking him for his support and across the border over the weekend and Eric Omondi and Huddah Monroe were in attendance. When comedian Eric got to get on stage and performed his latest song, Nabeba Mawe a corruption Diamonds’ latest jam Nasema Nawe. The crowd went wild. Diamond took to the stage and lavished praise on the comedian,

telling fans that Eric was one of the top ten comedians in Africa. Eric caught the Tanzanian’s attention when he started doing renditions of his songs. He (Eric) was also at hand to welcome Diamond’s girlfriend, Zari to the country when she came in for the Art of Luxury event last month.

TOPICS

with Kenyan artistes

Renowned Nigeria music video director Clarence Peters was in the country last week to shoot two music videos for Sauti Sol’s upcoming album Live and Die in Africa set for release in July. The super director dispelled rumours that he does not shoot Kenyan videos as professionally as he does Nigerian ones.

10

ACCESS MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

FASHIONparade

weekend chronicles.

If you have it, flaunt it and she did!

jane MukaMi: Looking fit as always.

sharon Mundia: in a Kim K look alike outfit, we like.

aleya kaseeM: Looking glam in that Indian-chic outfit.

neoMi nganga: Striking a pose for the camera.

Curvy and beautiful.

bikinis and bloggers It was a fun-filled weekend as the Plus Fabulosity Bikini Party and Kenya Bloggers Awards took place.

The Bloggers Awards saw the creative minds, especially the fashion bloggers dress to impress. Silvia Njoki, who won the best blog of the year and

silvia njoki: We cannot get over those white locks, they look fabulous!

lyriclab

King Kaka ft.

Amos & Josh

BEST...

best fashion blog was the style icon of the night as she pulled off the Kelly Osbourne white hair do.

On the opposite end of town, the ladies flaunted their curves in their best swim suits. Fashion never has a dull moment!

The Kansoul Mejja, Madtraxx and Kidkora are back with Thitima, after the successful reception of Dabotap. The hiphop jam has skillfully interchanged lyrical rhymes laced with strong beats. Thitima is no match to Dabotap but let’s see how it does on charts.

Calvo Mistari ft.

Hussein Machozi This song shows how a lady makes Calvo’s heart go crazy with love. He cannot compare her to anything in this world and says she is worth more than money.

Datisha

Promised Land is a captivating soulful and

Promised land

spoken rhyme rendition. King Kaka, the vocally talented duo, Amos & Josh and Kenya Girls Choir serenade hearts in this emotionally evoking track. This track is currently doing well in the charts.

Thitima

PLAY 11 MONDA0Y, MAY 4, 2015

WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 Whether you’re into writing, music, or dance, make the most of your creative inspiration. If you don’t, your ideas may vanish as soon as they appear. If you’re too busy, at least make time to jot down your insights and any possibilities for developing them.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 Doubts about a friend may plague you today, Aquarius. Did this person borrow money?

Promise to do you a favor? Can you depend on this person? The best way to judge is by their track record. If they’ve been undependable in the past, chances are they might be again.

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 You may feel like you’re walking around in a daze, uncertain of your actions. Try to stay focused and be your usual practical, objective self. It might not come as easily for you as it usually does, but you can do it. Have some coffee and make a list of what needs to be done.

m0nday 04/05/2015

sunny

25

tuesday 05/05/2015

More sun than clouds

22

25ºC 54%

6:28 am 6:32pm

24ºC 64%

6:28 am 6:31pm

wednesday

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.

Thursday’s Solution

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 Spiritual and metaphysical concepts may seem murky to you today, Aries. Ideas that friends accept as matters of course might feel strange. Don’t get into an argument. Ask about books, websites, or magazines that you can consult for more input and, hopefully, clarity.

Sudoku

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 A strange, bothersome feeling could plague you today, Taurus, as if you can’t remember something you need to do. Don’t drive yourself crazy over this. f you can’t seem to shake the idea, try asking your subconscious to pull up the dream. Write it down.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 If so, be prepared to hear about it today. Be a good listener. Your understanding and objectivity will be greatly appreciated. Your beloved probably isn’t seeing the real facts and needs an outside party to point this out. However, avoid the temptation to patronize.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 If you aren’t careful, you could get on the wrong track and end up having to start all over again.

Don’t be too shy or ashamed to ask questions. It’s always better to ask a question than make an unnecessary error. Proceed slowly and methodically and you will get through the day!

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 If you aren’t currently involved, beware! That wonderful new person you’ve just met may have a well-hidden side. If you’re currently involved, expect a simultaneous high from romantic exhilaration and insecurity that maybe your beloved doesn’t love you anymore.

VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 22 Something you feel you desperately need right now is missing, Virgo, and it’s very well hidden.

You may search the house for it and drive yourself crazy in the process. Do you really need it that badly? If so, sit for a moment and try to collect your thoughts.

MUSTREAD The Fishermen

— by Chigozie Obioma

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Any rumors that are spreading are likely to be based on false assumptions and totally outside the realm of reality. Yet someone who loves to talk is very convincing! Take anything you hear that you can’t immediately verify with a grain of salt, if not the whole shaker.

In Akure a small town in Nigeria, four brothers take advantage of their strict father’s absence to play truant.

Their father has been transferred to a different city for work. Immediately their father leaves, the boys skip school to go fishing at the dangerous river close to home.

When there the boys meet Abulu the local mad man who dishes out a prophecy. Abulu foresees that the oldest, 14 year old Ikenna will be killed by a fisherman. Ikenna takes this to mean that one of his brothers will kill him.

In his anger and frustration, he starts fighting with his brothers and even throws one of them out of the room they shared. Then he does the unthinkable, he answers back his mother.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 Make sure you’re really ready, willing, and able to spend the money to get it. Think about it carefully before whipping out your credit card. Do you really want it that much? Is the expense feasible right now? If so, go for it. Luxuries aren’t always a waste of money.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 Emotional turmoil may overwhelm your usual objectivity and good sense today, Sagittarius.

Family problems could weigh on your mind, as communication between you and family members may be lacking. You might not feel in touch with what’s going on.

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

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.

winning captions

1. Any shade is a good shade-Patrick Mugalla, Nairobi 2. There is nothing like a good afternoon nap, risks notwithstanding 3. And that’s how mechanics die in their sleep-Gumbo, Nairobi

WITH A WEAK SECURITY SYSTEM, MOB IN/JUSTICE IS THERE TO STAY It is unfortunate that police are no longer following basic standard procedure in scenes of crimes! They are indifferent to victims’ plight and lethargic in carrying out their duties.

To make matter worse, investigations often take ages!

With this background, it does not

require a rocket scientist to fathom why most Kenyans are increasingly becoming cynics as far as security matters are concerned. No wonder about 70 per cent of rape incidents go unreported since victims view the authorities with suspicion and consider chances of getting justice

as so slim and therefore do not commensurate taking the risk! God forbid.

This sad scenario has presented a sorry state of affairs in which justice for both the victim and criminal has been jeopardized, thus paving way for wananchi to consider alternative

unorthodoxin-justice systems such as; sorcery (grass eating),hiring services of hit-squads and suspect lynching (burning).

In as much as these forms of punishments being irrational, cruel and unjustifiable; they are locally agreed since they are effective

in the long run. Like the biblical ‘Hazazal’ scape-goat which carried the collective sins of the Israelites; a lynched criminal is condemned to carry collective punishment of his colleagues who were ‘lucky’ to have escaped!

AM, Nairobi

12

PLAY

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

CROSSWORD Across 1. Tic-tac-toe board 5. Environmental toxins, for short 9. Running tracks 14. Oxen collar 15. Ayn Rand hero 16. Rally, as a crowd 17. Puddle stuff 19. Meower 20. Expand, as a collection 21. Apace 23. Vodka or gin (abbr.)

25. Testarossa maker 30. Coverguy since 1955 33. Bulgaria’s monetary unit 35. Idée ____ 36. Play the ham 37. Dots on cartes 39. Zeppelin’s relative 42. Get ready, briefly 43. Baseball pioneer Doubleday 45. Scuttle filler 47. Illustrations 48. Spinning moneymaker, for some 52. Broil in summer 53. Far from joyful 54. Speak highly of 57. Prepared fancily 61. Bay city of Florida 65. Rocket part 67. Pertaining to citizenship 68. Mother of Don Juan 69. Course about sin, briefly 70. Bounty captain 71. Ex additive 72. Babies in blue

Down 1. “Morning Dance” group Spyro ____ 2. Highway 3. “Just joking” 4. Kind of floss 5. Vijay Singh org.

6. Mouse catchers 7. Squandered 8. Conflict 9. Yellow ribbon site of song 10. Sch. in Lexington, VA 11. Suitable to the occasion 12. Protestant sec.

13. 007, for one 18. “This Boy’s Life” author 22. Peat source 24. Sleeping spot 26. Buttocks 27. Unlikely to be judgmental 28. Critic, at times 29. Not up to the task 30. Park or Fifth, say 31. Honda sedan option 32. Clear up, in the wintertime 33. Yarn spinners 34. Funny bone’s location 38. Peddle 40. Cut the grass 41. Oom-____ (tuba sounds) 44. Educate anew 46. Acts as a guide 49. Country great Ritter 50. Deeply distressing 51. Public notices 55. “Fatal Attraction” director Adrian 56. Dos follower 58. Golden, in Madrid 59. ___ arms (very angry) 60. Violin pins 61. Letters in the song “Respect” 62. Feel poorly 63. Twice DIII 64. Sow or hog 66. Pound fractions (abbr.)

DAILY WISDOM “You are still making excuses; yet you wonder why you fail? The world does not wait for the weakling, the fraud, the dead weight - it moves on without you.”

— Anon “Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.”

— George Washington Carver “Most people don’t have that willingness to break bad habits. They have a lot of excuses and they talk like victims.”

— Carlos Santana “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

— Benjamin Franklin “Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.” — Don Wilder “If you are committed to failure, one excuse is as good as another.”

— Yiddish Proverb “No excuses and no sob stories. Life is full of excuses if you’re looking. I have no time to gripe over misfortune. I don’t waste time looking back.”

— Junior Seau “If you really want to do it, you do it. There are no excuses.”

— Bruce Nauman “The biggest barrier to commercial success isn’t ideas, funding or experience. It’s excuses.”

— Sarah Lacy “Don’t give in to excuses that can keep you from really living the best life God has for you.”

— Joyce Meyer “Don’t make excuses and Don’t talk about it. Do it.” — Melvyn Douglas “A champion doesn’t make excuses.”

— Roberto Alomar

WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTIONS

SPORT 13 MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

Gor disarm Ulinzi to maintain unbeaten KPL run Champions Gor Mahia maintained their unbeaten run this season while also opening a four point gap at the summit of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) log courtesy of a 2-0 0 win over Ulinzi Stars on Saturday.

Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall said that he was impressed by how his side handled the hard pressing Ulinzi to manage two goals.

“This has been a very difficult match and I congratulate the opponents for putting up a good fight. They were very hard working throughout the match and I am happy that my boys were able to contain them,” said Nuttall.

Ulinzi Stars’ loss saw the Nakuru side drop to fifth following Western Stima

and Tusker FC’s wins on the weekend.

Gor Mahia advantage at the top could open to seven points on Wednesday when they play Sony Sugar in their postponed match.

Second placed Thika United dropped points in their 1 – 1 draw with KCB at the Nyayo National Stadium yesterday.

Over the weekend, there were wins for Western Stima and Tusker FC’s wins on the weekend. Tusker FC saw off Nakuru AllStars 3 – 1 in the Saturday action at the Afraha Stadium while Western Stima bagged a 1 – 0 win over Bandari FC at the Kisumu County Stadium. Chemelil Sugar returned to winning ways with a 1 – 0 victory over Ushuru FC.

UNBEATEN: Gor Mahia midfielder Ali Abondo and Kevin Amwayi battles for the ball control during their KPL match at City Stadium on Saturday.

PSG close in on title as Cavani, Matuidi strike down Nantes Paris St-Germain remain on course to win the Ligue 1 title after a dominant 2-0 victory over Nantes sent them three points clear at the top of the table.

Lyon’s 2-0 win over Evian on Saturday put the pressure back on Laurent Blanc’s side, but they responded with a commanding display against Nantes.

Edinson Cavani and Blaise Matuidi both scored for PSG to secure the win.

PSG need seven points from their last three games to guarantee the title, even if Lyon win all of their fixtures.

Uruguay striker Cavani opened the scoring in the third minute of the game when the ball dropped kindly in the area.

Both Cavani and Gregory van der Wiel took a swipe at the ball but Cavani’s celebration suggested he got the telling touch.

PSG added a second just after the half-hour mark thanks to a superb through ball from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who returned to the starting line-up following his suspension for a foul-mouthed outburst in their 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux in March.

Ibrahimovic’s expertly weighted pass slipped in France midfielder Matuidi, who confidently struck

the ball home.

Elsewhere, Monaco cruised to a 4-1 victory over Toulose to strengthen their grip on third place and a Champions League

spot next season thanks to goals from Anthony Martial, Bernardo Silva, Joao Moutinho and Valere Germain.

Meanwhile, on-loan Liverpool

striker Divock Origi scored his eighth goal of the season as Lille kept alive their hopes of a Europa League place with a 3-1 win over already-relegated Lens.

LVG punishes Van Persie for penalty miss against Baggies

BLAZING BLAISE: Blaise Matuidi wheels away in celebration after scoring PSG’s second goal against Nantes. The 2-0 win draws Laurent Blanc’s side closer to clinching the French Ligue 1 title.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has stripped Robin van Persie of penalty duties after Saturday’s miss cost his side against West Brom.

Asked if Van Persie would continue as first-choice penalty taker, Van Gaal said: “No. He is now at the end of the road.”

“It is always [the same],” he added.

“Wayne Rooney has missed also, so when you miss, you are at the bottom again.”

West Brom’s 1-0 victory was United’s third league defeat in succession Van Persie, 31, had the opportunity to equalise Chris Brunt’s 63rd-minute opener from

the spot after referee Anthony Taylor ruled Saido Berahino had handled in the box.

But Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill guessed right and palmed the Dutchman’s effort to safety, helping West Brom to a second straight win at Old Trafford. The majority of fans were scratching their heads when Van Persie walked up to take the penalty having only just returned to the team. United worked themselves into an excellent position with six consecutive wins but having now lost three games on the bounce, Van Gaal’s side are dangerously close to slipping back into the top four race.

14

SPORT MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015

Ian Duncan peels rubber to Kajiado rally victory Ian Duncan, navigated by Kavit Dave in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 won the controversial KCB Kajiado Rally that closed at the fan-packed Athi River Quarry Super Special.

The rally event went on despite announcement by sponsors on Friday it had been cancelled after heavy rains made parts of the original route impassable. There were high profile withdrawals of top drivers; Alastair Cavenagh, the Tundos -Tash, Frank and Carl, Jonathan Somen, Baldev Chager and the Rais-Tejveer and Onkar Rai in protest.

It was the veteran’s first victory of the season barely six months after he took the honours at last year’s season-closing Guru Nanak Rally in his Nissan Patrol pick-up.

Duncan had his triumph effectively sewn-up when speedster Raaji Bharij was involved in a minor accident on CS7 and had to kiss the Kenya Motor Sports Club (KMSC) organised rally goodbye despite brilliant early displays.

He bowed out of the rally when his car hit a small tree but the damage to the windscreen would not allow him to stay on for safety reasons, according to Toshi Saito of Delights Motors.

This was his second crash in succession after he rammed into another tree during the previous round of KCB Safari Rally.

Rajbir Rai in a Ford Fiesta R5 navigated by Tim Challen finished second ahead of Safari winner, Jassi Chatthe who closed the podium to maintain his lead at the top of the Kenyan National Rally Championship (KNRC) standings.

Chatthe fronts the table with 76.5 points as Duncan moved to second on 56.5 as Rajbir, son of the seasoned two-time national champion, Sarbi Rai shooting up from ninth to third on 39.

Eric Bengi won 2WD category by bringing his car in eighth position overall with Murage wa Waigwa scooping the KNRC S class title by coming just behind in ninth.

KMSC resorted to alternative routes and extended the event’s programme by a day with clerk of course, Jimmy Kahumbura pressing on with the rally despite the hue and cry it generated.

PROFICIENT: Ian Duncan, navigated by Kavit Dave in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 during a past competition. Duncan has won the controversial KCB Kajiado Rally that closed at the fan-packed Athi River Quarry Super Special on Sunday.

Kenya posts dreadful results in Bahamas WORLD relays OUTING The quartet of Selah Busienei, Joyce Zakary, Sylvia Chesebe and Virginia Nyambura spared the Kenyan team more agony in this year’s IAAF World Relays in Bahamas, after winning the silver medal in the women’s distance medley and setting an African record of 10:43.35 on Saturday.

USA were awarded a $50,000 (Sh4.7 million) bonus by the IAAF after smashing the world record in the race with a time of 10:36.50 From three gold medals at last year’s IAAF World Relays in Nassau, to none this year while also moving form position three last year to seventh this year, was the story of largely inexperienced Kenyan sprint team.

Kenyan elite athletes gave Bahamas a wide berth with management at the Athletics Kenya federation said to be the main factor.

Athletes like, Asbel Kiprop, Mercy Cherono, Eunice Sum Hellen Obiri and World 800m champion David Rudisha were not in the Kenyan team.

The other bad news saw the Kenya men’s (4x400m) team finish fifth in the second heat followed by the disqualification of the 4x800m defending champion’s team from the race for

breaching rule 170.19.

The quartet of Alfred Kipketer, Nicholas Kipkoech, Timothy Kitum and Jeremiah Mutai had finished second behind winners USA and were on their way to collect silver medals when they were told they had been

disqualified as they had started running before take over zone at change. The changeover blunder cost them a place on the podium with Poland (third) and Australia (fourth) receiving the medals at their expense.

2014 GLORY GIRLS: Kenyan women light up the track with a world 4x1500m record on the opening day at the inaugural IAAF World Felays in Nassau Bahamas in 2014.

Roger Federer claims 85th title with inaugural Istanbul Open victory Roger Federer (pictured) won Sunday’s Istanbul Open final, recording the 85th title of his professional career and his first clay-court success in three years.

The Swiss world number two beat Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-3 7-6 (13-11).

Cuevas - ranked 23 in the world - tested Federer in the second set but twice had to call for the trainer to treat an injured wrist.

“It’s been a while since I won a title on clay,” said Federer. “It’s been a pleasure playing here.”

Federer, 33, took a 4-1 lead early on with some precise hitting and Cuevas’s unforced errors cost him the set.

In Portugal, France’s Richard Gasquet beat Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-3 6-2 to win the Estoril Open.

Kenyan sports scribes overcome fancied Ugandans The Sports Journalist Association of Kenya side on Friday beat a fancied Uganda Sports Press Association Soccer side 4-3 on penalties at the Nakivubo stadium.

Goalkeeper Alex Isaboke scored a penalty and punched out two to ensure the Kenyans carry the region’s sports scribe’s football bragging rights. The two sides put up a great show after a barren draw at full time. The coach less but charged SJAK were thrilled with the win which had USPA Coach Uthman Sempebwa pacing the touchline for most of

the game.

SJAK captain Timothy Olubulu had a great command on and off pitch.

“We prepared so well for this match and came here seeking revenge, after USPA beat us 7-4 in 2012 here during the CECAFA Senior Challenge. Winning away is a plus for us, as we have never won on Ugandan soil. We plan to invite USPA to Kenya soon see if they can have it their way.

Special thanks to our goalkeeper Alex our most valuable player.”

Kenya’s penalties were netted by the Secterary Generel Mike

Okinyi, Steve Ayoo, Gregory Mulemi and Isaboke while USPA’s came through former president Mark Namanya, Darren Kyeyune and John Batanudde.

AIPS president Gianni Merlo, Rwanda Sports journalists Association president Jean Butoyi and SJAK president Chris Mbaisi were part of the guests that watched the game at the Nakivubo alongside the host president USPA’s USPA SabiIti Muwanga.

Meanwhile AIPS has donated $ 20,000 (Sh1.89 million) from

its solidarity fund to help Nepal in the aftermath of last week’s deadly earthquake.

The donation approved by the AIPS executive board comes in the wake of confirmation of the death of Nepalese Sports Journalists Forum, NSJF member Suman Bomjan.

The money will go to the NSJF, and will be channelled through the Nepalese Association’s relief fund committee.

AIPS president Merlo who has been in Uganda in the past few days confirmed the donation.

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SUPER STARS: Sports Journalist Association of Kenya team that beat Uganda Sports Press team 4-3 on penalties.

HOCKEY LEAGUE: Warriors cane Park Road to maintain good run Champions Butali Sugar Warriors extended their lead at the top of the Kenya Hockey Premier League after beating Park Road 3-0 at City Park Stadium yesterday.

The warriors scored in both halves to register their third consecutive win in three matches.

Barnabas Odhiambo, Frank Wanangwe and Seth Oburu were on target for Butali with three field goals. Odhiambo opened the scoring after 13 minutes before Wanangwe added the second with another field goal six minutes to the break.

Butali began the second half well, maintaining their first half vigour and seven minutes into the half, they were 3-0 up thanks to Oburu’s hard drive on the board.

Butali coach Cliff Okello was pleased with his players’ display of character.

“We were dominant throughout the match and the players did play according to the plan.

We wasted many scoring chances but apart from that I am happy with how everyone played,” Okello said.

His Park Road counterpart Nicholas Mukudi blamed the loss of laxity from his midfield.

He said the midfield created more spaces for Butali to go forward.

“Our midfield was down. It gave them a lot of scoring chances. This is an area that we will need to work on before it’s too late,” Mukudi said.

In another match, Sammy Wekesa scored a hat trick as Wazalendo registered their first win of

the season with a 6-1 drubbing of Parklands.

Collated results: Saturday May 1: Nairobi Sikh Union 4 Nakuru HC 1, Strathmore 1 Mvita 0, Western Jaguars 1 Parklands 0. Sunday May 2 Butali Warriors 3 Park Road 2, Mvita 2 Western Jaguars 3, Wazalendo 6 Parklands 1.

xnews |MOnDAY, MAY 4, 2015 | www.x-news.cO.ke

ian duncan wins kcb kajiado rally

pg.14

DIE BESTEN: A huddle of Chelsea players celebrating after winning the premier league 2014/2015 title.

blues bag 5th ever Epl title 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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Chelsea secured the 2014/2015 Premier League title by beating Crystal Palace at an ecstatic Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho’s side needed three points to complete the triumph that has become an inevitability in recent weeks as they moved out of sight of their rivals to reclaim the crown from Manchester City, who are 13 points adrift despite their win at Tottenham.

Victory was secured by Eden Hazard’s goal on the stroke of halftime, the Belgian heading past Julian Speroni after the Palace goalkeeper had saved the PFA Player of the Year’s penalty.

That gave Mourinho his third title as Chelsea manager, and the first of his second spell in charge. It is the club’s fifth top-flight title and comes five years after their last and 60 years since their first.

The celebrations that swept around Stamford Bridge at the final whistle were fully deserved for a Chelsea side who have set the pace since the start of the season.

They played with flair and verve to make an all-conquering start then showed the ruthless efficiency that is the hallmark of all Mourinho sides after losing leading scorer Diego Costa for a crucial closing phase of the campaign.

At the head of it all was the master strategist Mourinho, adding the title to the Capital One Cup won against Tottenham at Wembley and vindicating Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s decision to turn, once

again, to the manager who brought him his first successes with titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Banners were draped from the Shed End at Stamford Bridge in honour of Mourinho, bearing slogans such as: “The Special One - He’s One Of Us.” And while the Portuguese may be a divisive figure elsewhere, there is no doubting his heroic status at Chelsea after the successes he has engineered.

The statistics back up Mourinho’s brilliance as this was his eighth title in 12 years with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

This decisive victory over Palace may not have been achieved with sparkling football but the title win was closed out with the nerveless professionalism of a team that knew what needed to be done and did it as they have so often.

And when it was done and hundreds of blue streamers littered the Stamford Bridge turf before Chelsea’s elated players took a lap of honour with Abramovich looking on, the challenge was laid down to the chasing pack to respond to the domination Mourinho has now reestablished in west London.

Chelsea’s title win has been built on a mixture of the old guard, such as inspirational captain John Terry, who has rolled back the years magnificently, and the newer breed, such as the brilliant Hazard and those key summer signings Cesc Fabregas and Costa.

The chants of “Boring Boring Chelsea” - started by Arsenal’s

fans and repeated here by Palace supporters - carry a hollow ring as Mourinho’s side have proved without question that they are the Premier League’s outstanding side led by the Premier League’s outstanding manager.

They were forced to make a late adjustment to their starting line-up when Ramires was taken ill and Juan Cuadrado was drafted in.

For all the energy on the pitch and expectation off it, the first half was a non-event until Hazard’s penalty apart from some wayward handling from Palace keeper Speroni, who fumbled Didier Drogba’s free-kick having almost let in Nemanja Matic with a wild punch.

The deadlock was broken right on half-time when Hazard surged into the area before tumbling theatrically under James McArthur’s challenge.

Palace clearly felt Hazard made the most of slight contact - which he certainly did - and their frustration increased when the Belgian reacted first after his penalty was saved by Speroni, heading the rebound past the stranded keeper.

There was the sense of the inevitable about proceedings as Chelsea moved towards a triumphant conclusion after the break.

All the tension and pressure of the final few weeks were released when referee Kevin Friend blew his whistle, the normally impassive Abramovich punching the air as Chelsea returned to the pinnacle of the domestic game.

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