201508028 xnews

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28-30, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke

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we will pay you, Ruto tells teachers Deputy president says the government is looking for funds to honour court orders to implement tutors’ payrise

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NEWS man city in ‘astonishing’ wage offer for winger de bruyne

Experts: MPs biggest threat to constitution M Ps remain the biggest threat to the successful implementation of the constitution, experts who drafted the laws have said.

Although they believe significant progress has been made, both Otiende Amolo and Atsango Chesoni who were in the committee of experts that drafted the new constitution before its promulgation in 2010, point an accusing finger at the National Assembly which they accuse of not delivering their mandate as was stipulated.

MPs were expected to have passed all the key Bills that were to bring the new laws into full

effect by its fifth anniversary. However, that is yet to happen and the legislators extended that deadline by one year just this week.

They have also pointed attempts by MPs to amend certain laws against the spirit and letter of the constitution. For instance, the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill

by Ugenya MP David Ochieng which seeks to move the election date from August to December. Another is the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill sponsored by Eldas MP Adan Keynan which seeks to gag the media and shield MPs from scrutiny.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

NEW DAWN: Retired President Mwai Kibaki hoists the new constitution during its promulgation in August 2010. Experts say MPs pose the biggest threat to the new laws.

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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30, 2015

Be patient as we look for money, Ruto tell teachers Deputy President William Ruto has called on teacher to exercise patience as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) works on the process of paying them the 50 to 60 percent pay increase awarded to them by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

Ruto says that the TSC is currently consulting with Parliament to review the budget to pay teachers.

“Parliament will have to re-look at the budget so that it can be able to fund the teachers’ pay. It is not easy because the impact of slashing a budget from a ministry or department has to be assessed,” he stated.

“We have asked the concerned ministry to liaise with Teachers Service Commission to resolve this issue.”

His plea comes even as the Treasury was given the go-ahead to pay teachers and seek Parliament’s approval later.

Committee Chairperson Mutava Musyimi said they are yet to receive any proposals from the National Treasury on how it plans to effect the payments.

Members of the Committee have however expressed their

PAY NOW: Knut chairman Mudzo Nzili speaks to journalists outside the Supreme Court on Monday after the judges declined to stop the implementation of their pay increase.

disappointment with the Ministry of Education and National Treasury for not foreseeing the situation and planning for it.

In the meantime, Teachers in Laikipia have reiterated that they will go on strike should the government fail to honor the court directive to pay them their demands.

The teachers said they were ready to go to class once schools re-open next week but called on the government

to obey the court orders.

Through the branch Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Executive Secretary Ndung’u Wangenya, the teachers observed that the government had not choice other than to obey the court order which he said was selfexplanatory.

He said teachers will collaborate with the government to ensure that their welfare is respected.

He however added that teachers would call for a nationwide strike if the government fails to effect their pay rise by Monday next week.

The Supreme Court had found that it had no jurisdiction over the interlocutory orders issued by the Court of Appeal directing that the increment be effected starting August.

The TSC had moved to the Supreme Court seeking a blanket suspension

of the High Court’s pay increase orders pending the hearing and determination of their appeal.

The Court of Appeal had suspended the back-dating of the pay increment but not its execution going forward.

The hearing of TSC’s substantive appeal will kick off on September 22.

MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

Election date Bill Experts: MPs biggest given new lifeline threat to constitution Attempts to change the date of elections from August to December got a lifeline yesterday after National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi allowed the Constitution Amendment Bill to be reconsidered.

Mr Mturi while allowing the second vote on the Bill said denying the legislators a chance to reconsider the motion would have “the effect of limiting the rights and powers of the House as a master of its own destiny.”

He directed the vote will now be conducted on October 1 after the House resumes from its month-long recess. The MPs were scheduled to go on a break from last evening until September 29.

“The request by Ugenya MP David Ochieng to take a further vote on the motion for the Second Reading of the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill National Assembly Bill No. 1 2015, has been granted and consequently be executed within five sitting days from the day of the first vote in line with the Standing Orders,” Muturi directed.

Speaker Muturi further used the opportunity to give guidance to the House on how future scenarios will be handled to avoid uncertainties on the fate of Bills.

“In future any member seeking to request for a further vote on a Special Motion or a Bill whose passage requires a fixed majority of the House membership shall only be granted: (a) if the Sponsor of the said, Special Motion or Bill raises in his or her place immediately the Speaker announces the results and seeks the further vote and (b) if at least 30 members stand in their places indicating their support for the further vote,” he directed.

Ugenya MP David Ochieng who sponsored the Bill had petitioned the Speaker for a re-vote citing that similar treatment was given to Samburu West MP Lati Lelit’s Bill that sought to increase marginalised region’s share of equalization funds which will be voted on afresh in September.

Ochieng had received support during the debating stage with MPs contending an August poll will interfere with the budget cycle, the national examination calendar and peak tourism season.

The attempt was declared lost on Tuesday after it was supported by 216 MPs because it failed to muster the required 233 thresh-hold needed to propel it to the next legislative level.

From Page 1 “We have seen MPs using all manner of mechanisms to amend the constitution not for the good of the public but for their own benefit. They continuously change the law to shield themselves from prosecution or being held accountable. This is wrong,” said Ms Chesoni who is the director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission.

“The Problem with the leaders is that they only read part of the constitution that gives them more power but ignore the other parts that talk about accountability and obligation of leaders,” opined Otiende Amolo.

Mr Amolo who is also the chairman of the Commission on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) commonly known as the office of the Ombudsman however believes that these challenges will eventually be surmounted.

He pointed out at devolution as one of the major achievements of the new constitution saying it has made people especially in the counties to feel that they are in

control of their own government.

The establishment of two houses of parliament-Senate and the National Assembly, is also another achievement which Otiende says if well used will benefit the country in terms of legislation.

“Even though the working of these two houses has never been smooth, but their establishment cannot be reversed and can only be made better in future,” he said.

He however points out that other things have not worked out well as what he termed as parallel imperialism where the President’s power was reduced and placed in other institutions like parliament have not been used well.

He says reforms in strategic areas like Land has not taken off smoothly as expected because of power struggle that was witnessed between the chairman of the National Land Commission (NLC) Mohammed Swazuri and the suspended Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu, police and the reforms in the Judiciary.

He also points out that the country has not done well on area of Leadership and Integrity

especially on corruption as regional diversity especially on key appointments, this he says is replicated in both the national government and the County government.

“We have not done well in key appointments, the constitution has not been respected and a lot more needs to be done,” he said.

These worries were summed up by opposition leader Raila Odinga who said the constitution lives in perpetual danger of being bastardised.

“Our shared goal of a stable selfreliant and democratic Kenya is still far from being achieved.

Many are the people in powerful positions who see no need to achieve the hallowed goals in the constitution,” Mr Odinga said.

While taking stock five year down the line, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga singled out corruption as the major threat to the benefits of the new law.

“Corruption is a form of terrorism.

What is the need of getting a new constitution that does not benefit the people?” Mutunga posed.

NEWS 3

CARTOONSPEAK

WEEKEND EDITION AUGUST 28-30, 2015

Poor people and rich politicians are to blame for all the crime in Kenya Poor people and rich politicians are to blame for all the crime in Kenya, research has revealed. Recent studies have shown that they may, in fact, be two sides of the same coin. This is due to the fact that corrupt politicians are the one who create, sustain or maintain the level of poverty that encourages destitute people to engage in criminal activities. A study from the Development Policy Management Policy Forum (DPMF) dubbed “A Profile of Crime and Insecurity in Kenya” indicates that “poverty and inequality are a

NEWS BRIEFS

Investors grilled in land fraud

major cause of crime, violence and conflict and therefore general insecurity.”

It also notes that” the absence of democratic governance, which has led to the manipulation of state institutions, has given rise to rampant corruption.

It has also contributed to the “ethnicisation” of state institutions, absence of liability and generalized impunity that government officials often use to their favour. The study argues that the government has failed to provide its citizens with a general state of peace and security.

Sh2 million bounty placed on wanted female terrorist Police have placed a Sh2 million reward for information that can lead to the arrest of Rukia Mbarak Faraj whom they described as a dangerous terrorist on the run.

The suspect is said to be the wife of Ramadhan Kafungwa, one of the three men police named last week as responsible for the recruitment of young Kenyans into terrorist groups.

Kafungwa is said to have been an Imam at Musa Mosque in Mombasa. He is accused of facilitating the movement of recruits to Somalia.

And now, Rukia is facing the same accusation. Police say she

is wanted for recruiting youths to join her husband in Somalia where they are planning attacks on Kenya.

She is also accused of assisting the husband in smuggling weapons and explosives in North Eastern region from Somalia. “Faraj is responsible for grenade attacks and assassinations in Mombasa. She is believed to be hiding in a refugee camp in the North Eastern region,” police said in a dispatch last evening.

“A Sh2 million reward is set for her arrest,” the report added.

Police placed the bounty even as security operations to flush

out suspects and sympathisers of terrorists in North eastern region intensified with a cache of weapons recovered in Garissa, Wednesday. Seven rocket-propelled grenades, three AK47 rifles, 227 rounds of ammunition, four magazines, 160mm hand grenades, timers to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and fertilizer used to make explosives were seized. “These weapons you see here are very dangerous, they were meant to harm Kenyans and their property,” North eastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Saleh told reporters in Garissa.

Police have interrogated 20 people after a group of international investors accused their Kenyan partners of fraudulent transfer of shares and attempted theft of land valued at more than Sh5 billion.

Former Central Bank governor Nahashon Nyagah is among those who were summoned last week to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters and grilled for hours. The others grilled last week include eight nominee shareholders whose names were used to try and grab 1,183 acres of land that had been bought by tycoon Titus Muya. The land was valued in 2014 at Sh5.6 billion by Knight Frank. The international investors met President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to complain against the alleged plot to steal the land.

Last Monday, a team of CID officers briefed Nkaissery on the progress of the case saying they intend to complete statement taking by end of the month and forward the files to the DPP for action. Rendeavour CEO Stephen Jennings is among those who have lodged a complaint over the issue.

Rendeavour, which runs Kofinaf, the complainant, is a huge real estate company setting up new satellite cities in multiple countries across Africa. CID say a complaint lodged there say titles had gone missing at the Lands Registry after change of ownership and board composition files of a subsidiary company at the Companies Registry.

Top stories from X News global partners Scores dead after boat Virginia Shooting The Great Fall of China: Google slams ‘incorrect’ the soundtrack to a financial meltdown was full of migrants sinks off Spotlights Riddle of Once antitrust charges: Google has the yelling of traders on the floor of a financial ejected a European Commission proposal to change exchange. Now it is more likely to be the wordless Libya: Up to 200 bodies have been discovered Workplace Safety: The problems hum of servers in data centres, as algorithms try the way it ranks and displays search results, setting floating off the coast of one of Libya’s main peoplesmuggling hubs on Thursday, in the latest tragedy of the European migration crisis.

The bodies were found by a Libyan coastguard vessel around a kilometre from Zuwara, a port in western Libya that is a major departure point for refugees hoping to reach Italy.According to a representative of Doctors without Borders (MSF) who was helping to coordinate the humanitarian response, around 40 bodies were found inside a halfsunk fishing boat as it was brought towards the shore by the high tide. Up to 160 others were discovered floating nearby, while around 110 survivors were rescued. Some of the bodies were taken to shore, but many were left to float in the water overnight, as coastguards did not have enough light to work by.

If confirmed, the incident would bring the total number of deaths in the Mediterranean this year to over 2,500 – a figure higher even than last year’s record-breaking toll. www.theguardian.com

were flagrant, and his boss began to document them, only months after Vester Lee Flanagan II started working as a reporter at television station WDBJ in Roanoke, Va. He had a “heated confrontation” with another reporter inside a station truck, according to a memo from the news director. He ripped into a cameraman because he did not like the way he was filming, and colleagues said he made them feel “threatened or uncomfortable.” Mr. Flanagan was ordered to obtain counseling from employee assistance or lose his job. He complied, but because of continuing belligerence and other problems he was fired anyway, after less than a year. Mr. Flanagan stormed out of the news director’s office when told he was being dismissed and slammed a door so hard that nearby workers hid in a locked room. Station officials called the Roanoke police, who came to escort him out, but not before he handed the news director a small wooden cross and said, “You’ll need this.” www.nytimes.com

to match buyers with sellers. But every big selloff is gripped by the same rampant, visceral fear.

The urge to sell overwhelms the advice to stand firm. Stomachs are churning again after China’s stockmarket endured its biggest one-day fall since 2007; even Chinese state media called August 24th “Black Monday”. From the rand to the ringgit, emerging-market currencies slumped. Commodity prices fell into territory not seen since 1999. The contagion infected Western markets, too. Germany’s DAX index fell to more than 20% below its peak.

American stocks whipsawed: General Electric was at one point down by more than 20%. Rich-world markets have regained some of their poise. But three fears remain: that China’s economy is in deep trouble; that emerging markets are vulnerable to a full-blown crisis; and that the long rally in richworld markets is over. www.economist.com

the stage for a protracted legal battle with Brussels in one of the most sensitive competition cases of the internet era. The US technology group filed its formal response on Thursday to EU charges issued in April which said it abused its position of dominance in web search to promote its own retail services unfairly. Google argued the case against it was baseless. In a blogpost, Kent Walker, its senior vice-president, said the preliminary conclusions in the EU’s statement of objections were “wrong as a matter of fact, law and economics”. “The response we filed today shows why we believe those allegations are incorrect,” he went on.

Google’s unequivocal response throws down the gauntlet to the commission, which hopes to use the retail case as a precedent to resolve competition concerns in other areas of Google’s business, such as travel and maps. www.ft.com

To enquire about advertising on these international websites, email julian@x254.co

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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION AUGUST 28-30, 2015

Ministry, governors in new tussle over management of health docket

National Government may take over the health sector from counties if their governments do not resolve the ongoing health crisis as soon as possible.

The Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia says the national government will not sit down and watch as the health sector plunges into a crisis, a statement that is likely to cause friction between the two. “For two and half years, we have been tolerant but there is a limit. We cannot just sit there,” he said.

“If there is a total collapse Kenyans expect us to intervene; Parliament has a role and Senate has a role,” he added. His remarks came even as health workers from various counties continue to express their displeasure over delayed salaries. The health workers from many counties including Nyeri and Nandi last week called off strikes that had paralysed operations in all public hospitals and health centres.

Governors led by the Council of Governors Health Committee chairman James Ongwae had on Tuesday,

while appearing before the parliamentary committee on Health accused the national government of planning to revert the health sector to its tutelage. They accused the national treasury of delaying funds meant to pay health workers in the counties, something Mr Ongwae said is a shrewd attempt at having the key function reverted.

“There is a plan to revert the health function back to the national government,” said Ongwae who was accompanied by Governors Isaac Ruto (Bomet), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu) and Paul Chepkwony (Kericho).

But Macharia said the county chiefs have done little to correct the issues arising from their workers and it is the responsibility of the national government to ensure that every Kenyan can access their right to health care, even if it means initiating a process to Amend Schedule 4 of the Constitution which makes health a devolved function.

“We have a responsibility to Kenyan people to solve the problem; the constitution

HEALTHY DEMOS: Health workers march in a past strike. Governors and the national government are in a new tussle over the devolution of the health docket.

wasn’t done for the heck of it.

It was done to serve the Kenyan people,” added Dr. Macharia. The county governments claim the agenda to fail them (county governments) begins with a delay in the disbursement of funds.

Group seeks tough laws to shield Middle East workers Diaspora Welfare Association of Kenya (DWAK) is now calling on the government to vet all recruitment agencies in Kenya and put in place tough measures against agents of human trafficking in order to end the perennial abuse and cases of mistreatment of Kenyans especially in the Gulf Countries. DWAK chairman David Njoroge said the recruitment agencies have taken advantage of the weak laws in place to exploit gullible Kenyans who move to the Middle East in search of ‘greener pastures’ owing to lack of opportunities in the country. The Kenyan recruitment agencies to the Middle East also attributed the rising cases of mistreatment and exploitation of domestic workers in Arab countries to the freeze of accounts of some agencies imposed by the government.

“These greedy agents are taking advantage of the unemployment crisis and the desperation of Kenyans who want a better life by targeting the jobless youths who have just finished schools and cannot afford to join colleges,” he said.

Njoroge said that they have received over 500,000 job offers in the gulf countries against hundreds of job seekers who are willing to work overseas.

Speaking during a press conference in a Nairobi hotel, the association members also appealed to the government to fast-track the signing of bilateral labour agreements with Middle East countries to streamline the industry.

This happens as over 130 girls have recently been reported to be detained in Saudi Arabia over alleged physical abuse and mistreatment by their

employers. The Kenyan government last Sunday airlifted Kenyans who had been detained in Saudi Arabia after Kenyans launched a social media campaign calling for their rescue.

“As agents, we have agreed to open up liaison offices in three cities of Saudi Arabia which includes Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam to address the situation,” said the DWAK chair.

He also said that recruitment agencies have agreed to start a welfare fund to repatriate any Kenyan in distress from Middle East. He pointed out that it is unfair for Kenyans to continue languishing in poverty even after President Uhuru Kenyatta sealed a deal with UAE in which over 100,000 jobs were secured for Kenyans willing to work in the Middle East.

“They don’t send money on time and it is usually specific months; July and August,” noted Ongwae. Notwithstanding, with a balance of 31 billion shillings in the county revenue fund, Macharia dismisses their accusations as a

mere case of financial mismanagement. “Delay in sending the funds that would mean all the 47 are in problems but you hear the same voices while other people are happy and working and they have no problems.” Macharia also

says the governors should not blame the national government for delayed promotions, saying that basic information which could have been used to effect the promotions was handed over the counties in good time.

Lobby wants women mPs fund frozen The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) has petitioned the High court to declare the Affirmative Action Social Development Fund (AASDF) Act 2015 unconstitutional.

TISA wants the court to bar the Treasury Cabinet Secretary from releasing monies to any institution created under the Fund and set to benefit from it pending hearing and determination of the application for judicial review. In the petition submitted by the institutes’ lawyer Lempaa Suyianka, TISA argues that the fund was targeted at complementing the Constituency Development Fund which was declared unconstitutional by the same court in February this year.

“The new regulation establishes institutions similar to the ones declared unconstitutional on February 20 2015 under the CDF Act. There are ulterior motives behind the new regulations,” said Suyianka. He said the regulations were unconstitutional as they went against the principles of public finance, division and separation of powers adding that, “In order to safeguard public funds the court should consider that there is an illegal frame work in the new regulations.”

The lawyer told High Court Judge George Odunga that the funds which were allocated to the women Members

of Parliament to enable them initiate projects in the areas they represented were meant to cover up for CDF. ” The object and purpose of the regulations is to complement the CDF Act by allowing the 47 women members of parliament to control funds designated for executive functions and which in character are to be administered in the manner that the CDF is administered” he asserted.

The lawyer is also seeking orders against the Affirmative Action Social Development Fund board and committee and wants the two barred from transacting any business until the matter is determined by the court.

“Anybody established by the new regulations is illegal as it is created without the authority of the law and in violation of the constitution,” he posed.

Suyianka further stated that if the application was not heard urgently, the 47 county women representatives would use up public money on unconstitutional principles contrary to the law since the pre-requisite structures have not been put in place. In the 2014/15 financial year, the National Assembly allocated Sh2.03billion within the CDF kitty to women MPs to help them address gender issues including eradicating female genital mutilation so at to ensure they participate in meaningful development.

NEWS| 5

WEEKEND EDITION AUGUST 28-30, 2015

Role of CIC now in limbo The fate of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) is in limbo after members of the National Assembly yesterday passed a motion extending the deadline for the implementation of pending constitutional bills by one year.

According to the constitution, the term of the CIC expires 5 years after its establishment or after the full implementation of the constitution.

But a majority of MPs are not interested in extending the term of the Charles Nyachae-led commission and now intend to take over its role.

The term of the Nyachae led commission is set to expire by December this year exactly five years after its establishment.

Article seven of the states that “The Commission for the Implementation of the Constituion shall stand dissolved five years after its establishment or at the full implementation of the constitution as determined by parliament, whichever is sooner as determined by parliament which can decide to extend its life”

Deputy minority leader in the National Assembly Jakoyo Midiwo said parliament is not keen in keeping the commission as it has outlived its usefulness.

“I don’t think we want to keep the commission, CIC has outlived its usefulness if in any case it was useful at all and has to go now,” Midiwo said.

Midiwo said parliament can now take over the role of CIC and ensure that the constitution is fully implemented.

“The remaining part of the implementation of the constitution can now be done by parliament I don’t think we need CIC to do that,” Midiwo said.

The Commission has on several occasions found itself at loggerhead with MPs over certain laws like the MPs allowances which CIC had opposed saying it was unconstitutional.

But CIC chairman Charles Nyachae is on record saying that the commission will not seek for an extension of its term beyond what is stipulated in the constitution saying the commission has done its work.

CELEBRATING KATIBA: CIC chairman Charles Nyachae dances alongside Uasin Gishu deputy Governor Daniel Chemno, Kisii Governor James Ongwae at the Gusii Stadium in Kisii yesterday dujring the celebration of the fifth anniverssary of the new constitution.

US warns South Sudan leaders over peace deal

President Kiir

Riek Machar

The US has warned South Sudan’s leaders not to violate the peace deal aimed at ending a brutal civil war in the world’s youngest state.

The US would “hold to account” leaders who breached the deal, and would support sanctions against them, said state department spokesman John Kirby.

The US did not recognise President Salva Kiir’s reservations about the deal, he added.

He signed the deal on Wednesday.

Rebel leader Riek Machar signed it last week. Fighting between forces loyal to the two men over the last 20 months has forced more than 2.2 million people from their homes in South Sudan, which broke away from Sudan in 2011.

The deal envisages Mr Machar returning to the government as vice-president.

His dismissal from the post in 2013 was one of the main triggers of the civil war.

Mr Kirby said the US did not “recognise any separate reservations made about the

agreement”.

“To end the fighting we call on all parties to adhere to the permanent ceasefire within the next 72 hours and begin the process of implementing this agreement,” he added.

Mr Kiir listed 16 reservations when he signed the deal in front of regional leaders in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

They included concerns over a power-sharing government, and control of the army.

The US had proposed a UN arms embargo and more sanctions from 6 September unless the pact was signed by the 15-day deadline given to Mr Kiir last week.

At least seven ceasefires have previously been agreed and then shattered - sometimes within hours. Fighting broke out in December 2013 after President Kiir accused his sacked deputy Mr Machar of plotting a coup.

Mr Machar denied the charges, but then mobilised a rebel force to fight the government.

NEWS BRIEFS

Many migrants feared dead in Libya sinkings Hundreds of people are feared dead after two boats carrying about 500 migrants sank off Libya, officials say.

The first boat, which capsized early on Thursday, had nearly 50 people on board.

The second, which sank later, was carrying about 400 passengers.

A Libyan official told the Reuters news agency that about 200 people had been rescued but this remains unconfirmed.

The UN says about 2,400 migrants have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe so far this year.

More than 100,000 others have landed in Italy, whilst another 160,000 have crossed to Greece.

The Libyan coast guard worked overnight on Thursday to search for survivors from the latest tragedy.

But Libya is poorly equipped to carry out rescue operations as the ships available to its coastguard are small, correspondents say.

At least 100 bodies were taken to a hospital in Zuwara, west of Tripoli, a resident told the BBC. The victims included migrants from Syria, Bangladesh and several sub-Saharan African countries, the resident said, but the information could not be independently verified. A detention facility for illegal migrants in Sabratha, west of Tripoli, received 147 people, an official said.

On Wednesday, the bodies of at least 51 people were found in the hold of a stricken ship off Libya’s coast. At the same time, police in Austria say the bodies of 71 people, thought to be migrants, were found in an abandoned lorry found on a motorway on Thursday. The bodies of 59 men, 8 women and four children are thought to have been dead for one-and-a-half to two days. Police said the victims appeared to be migrants from Syria and probably died after suffocating in the vehicle. Three people, thought to be Bulgarian, have been detained in Hungary. They are believed to have driven the lorry.

WEEKEND EDITION AUGUST 28-30, 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 103.6040 103.5139 103.6941 160.5892 160.4144 160.7639 117.5817 117.4633 117.6989 7.9126 7.9027 7.9225 34.3134 34.2353 34.3915 20.7039 20.6376 20.7702

Express Kenya, Home Afrika make H1 losses for 2015 Logistics firm Express Kenya is anticipating to report a loss in its 2015 first half period ended June 30, 2015.

The management attributed the loss to economic downturn that negatively affected the transport sector and re-engineering process that included diversification of its investments into the real estate sector.

“The board of Express Kenya would like to inform the shareholders and the general public that the company has been going through a period of business instability and that the earnings for the period will be lower compared to the earnings of the

previous period,” the management stated.The management has assured its shareholders that it will hold a brief meeting about the future of the company to turn around its performance.

Another listed company that made a loss in the period under review include Real estate firm Home Afrika which made a loss of Sh 111 million compared to a net profit of Sh 42 million in the period last year.

According to the management, the major course of the loss is revenue drop which dropped by 60 per cent.

“The group reported a drop in revenue and the corresponding cost of sales to Sh217 million from

Sh550 million and Sh219 million from Sh326 million representing a 60 percent and a 33 percent reduction respectively from a comparative period the previous year,” the management said.

The firm’s total assets grew from Sh 3.7 billion to Sh 3.8 billion in 2014 owing to increased inventories from new projects and the improved valuation of investment property acceleration.

“We expect to achieve higher margins going forward as the higher margin commercial properties come to market,” asserted the management.

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Counties get IFAD support to boost cereal production The Republic of Kenya and the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have signed an agreement that will improve the livelihoods of 10,000 smallholder farmers, women-led homes and young entrepreneurs across eight counties.

The deal, dubbed the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme-ClimateResilient Livelihoods Agricultural Window (KCEPCRAL), will target those working and operating in eastern and coastal semiarid counties, including Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Taita

Taveta, Kwale and Kilifi.

The overall goal of the program is to contribute to national food security by increasing cereal yields in areas that hold the potential for high production.

The programme will also provide support to farmers as they graduate from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade report has said that it will improve, as well as stabilize, productivity through adoption of good agricultural practices, conservation agriculture and better water conservation techniques.

It has also been stated that new business partnerships between smallholder producers and buyers will be promoted while financing for storage and processing facilities will help to avoid post-harvest losses.

This new program will contribute to Kenya’s national objectives of food security and poverty reduction by supporting vulnerable farmers to increase the productivity and profitability of three main cereals-maize, sorghum and millet which are not only stable foods but also have great marketing potential.

GLOBE WATCH Toyota to resume its Chinese operations after Tianjin explosions

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Toyota says it will gradually resume operations at its Chinese plants in the port city of Tianjin two weeks after deadly chemical explosions hit the factories, injuring 67 employees and damaging thousands of vehicles.

The facilities were shut down following massive blasts at a chemical storage site in the area, the BBC reports.

The blast in Tianjin killed 139 people while injured hundreds of others.

The explosions happened while the carmaker’s factories were closed during a vacation period, forcing Toyota to keep them closed as authorities investigated the scene.

The main Tianjin factory, which produces models including the popular Toyota Corolla, has about 12,000 employees. It manufactured 440,000 vehicles in 2014. The plants will now ensure that safety protocols are implemented to avoid accidents in the future.

“So far, we have been inspecting our production facilities and ensuring machinery is safe to operate, while conducting maintenance as necessary,” Toyota said in a statement.

Toyota officials said workers would begin preparatory work on Thursday ahead of restarting production.

WEEKEND EDITION, AuguST 28-30, 2015

ACCESS

Musician Jaguar has coMe a long way but he is not about to relent in his quest to help and save the youth froM poverty. he recently launched the Jaguar youth foundation

celeb chat

Y

ou are a widely known philanthropist, are you planning on joining the political space?

I have political ambitions Yes but I will make that known when the time is right. Currently I just want to concentrate on making the Kenyan youth’s life better.

What inspired you into building the Jaguar Youth Empowerment Foundation?

You are aware that after my appointment to the NACADA board I have been uncomfortable with how things were being run and I almost gave up. I decided to do something about it and a foundation will not only help in the meantime but will go a long way in ensuring sustainability.

With the government pledging full support are you rolling the

fashion scoop

foundation countrywide?

This foundation is nationwide and if you check out my mission and vision you will realize mostly that the drug abuse prone areas are getting more priority in the beginning. After the initial stages we shall roll out activities in all parts of the country.

How do you plan to incorporate other industry artistes into this foundation?

I plan to involve artistes by collaborating directly and by incorporating likeminded projects within my projects and program. You have seen the massive support at the launch, how can I work alone?

Apart from environment conservation, poverty eradication and fighting drug abuse, what else is the foundation

going to focus on and how do you plan to implement those?

Many young people lack mentorship. I plan to incorporate that aggressively within our projects. I know that when a young person has hope and direction they can do wonders.

With this foundation, and the existing government appointment position you currently hold and other businesses, won’t you be too busy to keep your fans entertained

with new music?

Hehehehe! I can never be too busy for music. Music has brought me this far. My fans can expect more from my stable, in fact I will be dropping more hits.

We must ask about your love life and children…

I am a private person but you all know I am a loving and dotting father. I thank God for my children.

What is this recurring beef you always have with Ringtone?

What beef? I have no time for juvenile attention seeking musicians. I am serving my purpose peacefully.

What should the youth of Kenya expect from the foundation?

The Jaguar Youth Foundation is a partner, a big brother and a safe haven for all young people with ambition. I may not save everyone but I can start somewhere and make a difference.

Why

JaGUaR is KinG of ThE JUnGLE

For 15% off* subscriptions

GO TO

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THE DESIGN AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS MAGAZINE OF THE FUTURE facTfiLE: Day Job: Member NACADA Board biggest hit: Kigeugeu RecoRD label: Mainswitch productions.

8

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY 26th NOVEMBER 20142015 WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30,

SHOPPING

Buying shoes of the wrong size just Because they are too pretty to leave Behind is a common practice among women

GirlS, let’S Go ShoeS ShoppinG…

p

ay day is around the corner and we all have different plans on how to spend our hard earned money. While some may be planning to drink their salary to the last drop, others have better and more responsible plans. Let’s help a sister planning to buy some shoes get value for her money today, shall we?

Size matters Buying shoes of the wrong size just because they are too pretty to leave behind is a common practice among women, who end up with puffy pink toes from forcing their feet into these small size shoes, not forgetting the ugly sight of toes popping out of peep toe heels. When it comes to shoe size, there exists three basic guidelines: First, you should shop for shoes in the evening after your feet have

done some moving around. This is because in the morning, feet tend to be swollen and this can mislead you into buying a wrong size.

The second guideline is that you should only buy shoes which you can wiggle your toes in and finally, you need to try out at least three different sizes before you settle on the most comfortable size.

Your lifestyle If you are not a pedicure type of person, it is safer to keep away from peep toes and open strapped shoes. Remember that people look for mistakes keenly and if you have terrible toe nails or chipped lacquer, no one will notice your lovely shoes!

Let’s talk heels Every girl needs to own at least one pair of heels but when shopping for pumps, most of us get it wrong. For heels, whether sky or modestly high, the rule to live by is “if you cannot walk in it, walk away from it”. You need to practically try walking in the heels around the store, and avoid relying on the eye’s perception of the shoe’s

STREETSMART

S

hopping for fabric can be tedious because there are times when one does not quite find the particular fabric that they are looking for.

What could be more tedious is finding yourself in a situation where you have landed in Nairobi’s central business district and you have no idea where to get the particulars. Shops that stock fabric are found at the Central business district or in the Ngara area.

Nairobi Textiles is the most common while at the central business district.

As you enter this building, you are in awe at the many materials on display. From dark colored fabric to bright ones, from cheap options that would wear out after three washes to the more expensive ones.

From kitenge and lessos to lace, one just can’t get enough of them.

As you go up the stairs you notice that there are shops which are a bit cheaper than the ones you saw downstairs but one is bound to get confused if they decide to check if they can get an even cheaper option

nAiroBi’S

teXtile heAVen From dark colored fabric to bright ones, from cheap options that would wear out after three washes to the more expensive ones. as there are many shops all stocked with fabric.

The Maasai market is another famous place where one can purchase fabric.

These are open-air markets that usually move from one prominent venue to the next.

The trick with this market is that you need to know the particular day they throng a venue.

Here you will find different kikoy materials or the cotton tie and die materials. These markets also caters for those

who do not have the time to go to a tailor and wait for a few weeks as they also have ready-made African attires.

Along Ngara rod lies Amarson’s Collections Limited, a shop that can be considered up market as it stocks Indian silks and different sari materials.

From the arrangement to the feel of the fabrics on the eye, this is definitely the shop of choice when looking to adorn oriental. Biashara Street is home to the Atul’s

General Merchants, an oldfashioned Kenyan textiles supplier.

The service is good as there is always someone ready to attend to you. Here you not only find fabric but also all kinds of tools used in sewing and curtains and covers as well.

With people appreciating original designs in décor as well as personal clothing, knowing where to get the right fabric is certainly important.

comfort. It is also advisable to opt for designer shoes that come with the guarantee of quality and long life. You don’t want the heel to break off while taking a walk with your date, do you? Some verified and widely available designer brands include Christian Louboutin and Sergio Rossi.

Diversify Just like man cannot live on bread alone, a woman cannot live on one type of shoes alone! Remember different outfits go well with different shoes, and it is therefore important to ensure that during your shoe shopping spree, you pick out some flats, sandals, partially closed and fully closed shoes and boots; especially boots because they go along with any outfit, be it jeans, dresses, shorts and skirts. If you have short sturdy legs, avoid buying shoes with ankle straps however, because they only make your legs look shorter and flabby.

Diversifying also applies to picking different colors which apply to both official and the unofficial occasions.

If you are not a pedicure type of person, it is safer to keep away from peep toes and open strapped shoes.

ACCESS

WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30 , 2015

WEEKEND PLANNER WHERE: Machakos People’s Park WHO: H_art the Band TIME: 4 PM ENTRY: Sh 1200.

LiVE @ the

Safaricom

international

elephant

Festival

WHERE: Bomas of Kenya WHO:: Salif Keita TIME: 6 PM ENTRY: Sh 500.

HAKUNA MATATA FESTiVAL

Who: Amos and Josh Where: The Elephant Time: 8 AM Entry: Sh 800.

Amos and Josh

SATURDAY

SUNDAY KENYA WORLDWiDE

FASHiON WEEK

WHERE: Royal Orchid Azu re Westlands TIME: 10 A M ENTRY: S h 500.

HOT TOPICS

i

Out&About

A TASTE OF

cHiNA

and meat eaters. The menu also features dishes from all over China, including familiar favorites like Gung Bao chicken, sizzling beef and crispy aromatic duck with pancakes, which are perfect for sharing with family and friends.

The starters have two options, small and large. For the small portion, most of them are Sh.900 while the large serving goes for at least Sh1100.

For those who wouldn’t like something fancy, their special fried rice is sh. 500, vegetable spring roll at Sh.80 while the chicken spring rolls go for Sh.100. Their soups range between Sh. 350 and Sh 450.

If you thought that the starters and soups are a mouthful,

Nicki Minaj is opening act at MTV VMAS

Nicki Minaj will kick off Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards with a performance MTV has announced. Minaj joins a roster of talent that includes Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Pharrell Williams, Demi Lovato, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Tori Kelly, and A$AP Rocky and Twenty One Pilots.

Minaj was the opening act at last year’s VMAs as well, memorably performing Anaconda during a medley with Ariana Grande and Jessie J.

WHERE: Creatives Garage TIME: 10 AM.

nternational cuisines are quickly becoming a trend in Nairobi as people are willing to try a taste of something new every so often. Taste of China is a modern bar and restaurant with an assortment of Chinese delicacies. This restaurant is nested inside the VIP Plaza along westlands road. From the color scheme to the lighting, which adds to the ambience, this is the perfect place to pick when you want a sneak peak of China but don’t plan on taking an expensive KQ flight all the way. It is also an ideal pick for those desiring a quiet evening or simply a romantic one. Taste of China offers a mouth-watering menu that caters for both vegetarians

This restaurant is nested inside the VIP Plaza along westlands road.

SATURDAY

TODAY

H_ART THE BANd

Salif Keita

your comprehensive gig guide

SATURDAY

13

wait until you see the other assortments. This one of a kind restaurant leaves you confused because of the many alternatives on offer. From different sea foods to poultry, beef, mutton and pork, the meat eaters can treat themselves to the likes of squid, crab, sweet and sour chicken, beef in oyster sauce, ginger mutton just to name a few. Vegetarians on the other hand can choose from stir-fried vegetables, snow peas and broccoli, baby corn and mushrooms, chili corn among other equally mouthwatering dishes.

An extensive list of wines, spirits and beers is also available and their service is friendly and attentive.

Nicki Minaj

H_art the band brand new Baby love

The nostalgic fever has caught up with Kenya’s fast rising boy band H_art. Their latest release Baby love delivers a nostalgic recount of the days when life was easy and care free. Directed by Kevin Bosco JR, this video is one of a kind going back over fifteen years. The lyrics in the song are playful synonymous with primary school singing games. The video was released just about 18 hours ago and has already received massive views on youtube.

Octopizzo scores zero on August Alsina collabo It is emerging that ‘namba nane’s’ finest rap artiste Octopizzo may have duped us all into believing that the track Could Be Us off his LDPC album featured August Alsina.

August Alsina is not seen in the video and as much as the chorus vocals sound like him, they could have been easily generated using hi tech voice modification software. Can Khaligraph weigh in on this bout?

Octopizzo

14

ACCESS

WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30 2015

FASHIONScoop

Buyeke OBare is a Banker and an up and cOming fashiOn BlOgger. she lives her daily life tO the fullest and that explains her viBrant clOset.

ClOseT RaiD Buyeke OBaRe

ViViCiOusly sTylisH W

hat is the most treasured item in your closet?

It has to be my red velvet blazer that have I had for 4 years.

What is your guilty pleasure?

For some weird reason I love wearing baggy clothes when I am at home.

Whose style do you admire locally & internationally?

I love Sylvia Njoki’s avant garde style and Stella Uzo of Jadore fashion.

Her style is the perfect mix of class and edge.

Which fashion trend have you sworn never to try and why?

Harem pants. Just because it is popular doesn’t necessarily mean it works for everyone.

What is that one thing that you can’t leave the house without?

Lipstick.

How would you describe your style?

Classy, edgy and fun.

What is your fashion lust at the moment?

High waist pants.

Which jewelry are you often wearing?

My golden loop earrings. They add flair to any outfit.

What is your fashion secret?

Understanding what works best for me and what doesn’t.

TOP 10 alTeRnaTiVe ROCk

Florence Welch

What fashion advice do you live by?

Always remain true to yourself and let your personality translate from what you wear.

Rank

TiTle

aRTisTe

1 2

Take me to Church Ship to Wreck

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Renegades

Hozier Florence Welch X Ambassadors

Ex’s & Oh’s Outside Different Colors The Wolf Dreams Electric Love First

Elle King Foo Fighters Walk the Moon Mumford& Sons Beck Burns Cold War Kids

BUSINESS

Gov’t lays out incentives for investments The government has laid out plans to inject incentives into various sector to lure more investors in a bid to make easier venturing into projects.

According to Cabinet Secretary Ministry of East African Affairs Commerce and Tourism Phillis Kandie, the government is focused on providing private sector participation in sectors and industries that provide fastpaced growth and spur a wave of investment opportunity for companies across the globe. ‘’Kenya boasts of a number of attractive investment prowess including its strategic location as a gateway to East Africa, a fully liberalized economy, larger domestic economy, access to skilled human resource and infrastructure, she said.

The government has put incentives in key sectors

including manufacturing sector with Export Processing Zones (EPZ) being the biggest beneficiary of the initiative.

This incentives will be available to investors manufacturing for exports and will allow both duty and VAT free importation though investors will be required to pay corporation tax as their operations will be bonded by a custom officer.

According to a manual, EPZ stand to receive an initial 10 years corporation income tax holiday and 25 per cent corporation tax as Non-residents EPZs stand to benefit from 10 year withholding tax holiday on dividends and other remittances. Machinery, office equipment, certain petroleum fuel for boilers and generators as well as building material will get perpetual exemption

from VAT and custom duty.

The manual indicates that customers supplied by companies in Kenyan custom territory will also get VAT exemptions.

‘There shall also be perpetual exemptions from payment of stamp duty on legal instruments’, reads the manual.

To get 100 per cent deduction, more gains will be to investors’ eyeing to build EPZ building and machinery which are applicable for over twenty years.

Investors operating outside an EPZ incentives will be provided through the remission of taxes incurred in respect of exports of taxable goods by the Tax Remission Export Office applied where a person incurs VAT on goods imported under bond for manufacturing of export.

15

WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30, 2015

NEWS JOB OPPORTUNITIES X News, Kenya’s first and largest circulation free newspaper and Kenya’s only Cannes award winner needs brilliant, passionate, young staff to help us win more awards and achieve new firsts.

1. Advertising Business Executives:

Reporting to the Advertising Manager, the ideal candidates will be charged with the responsibility of initiating and executing sales while promoting and delivering effective advertising solutions to Clients.

Key responsibilities • To sell advertising space for X News.

• To generate and develop new sales ideas.

• To meet and surpass agreed monthly and annual sales targets.

• To contribute towards team objectives and working within the company’s performance culture.

Knowledge, Skills and Competency required.

• A diploma or a business related degree from a recognized institution (why not start with the degree) • 2-3 years sales experience preferably from media, advertising agencies, PR firms, banking and insurance.

• Strong understanding of the fundamentals of advertising, including research and analysis.

• A keen eye for identification and development of business opportunities.

• Strong presence coupled with outstanding communication and presentation skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work within a team and deliver results on deadlines.

• Hunger for results and ability to cultivate long standing client relationships.

A superior training and mentorship, great management support as well as a sales management system that highly rewards performance and commitment awaits you.

If you fit this description and you want to be part of the most innovative media house in the region, send us your application and a detailed CV to hr@x-news.co.ke with the subject SALES

2. News/Business/Features/Sports/Entertainment Journalists

X News is the news breaking newspaper of Kenya, covering today’s news today. Reporting to the various desk editors, the ideal candidates will demonstrate a passion for news and unbiased approach to its reportage.

Key responsibilities • To seek out and investigate breaking stories.

• To produce concise and accurate copy according to our house style and to strict deadlines.

• To create and upload news content to digital platforms.

• To online report or real-time blog ‘live’ stories.

• To build contacts in order to maintain a flow of news • To attend press conferences and events that generate stories • To work closely with the news team, photographers and editors; NOTE – We are also recruiting intern journalists.

If you fit this description and you want to be part of the most innovative media house in the region, send us your application and a detailed CV to hr@x-news.co.ke with the subject JOURNALIST

3. Social Media Specialist

Reporting to the Publisher, the social media specialist will be charged with driving brand and revenue growth via existing and emerging social media channels. A strong understanding of where social media buzz and business value intersect is crucial.

UPSCALING THE ECONOMY: An inspection line at Kenya’s Athi River Export Processing Zone.

The EPZ receive an initial 10 years corporation income tax holiday and 25 per cent corporation tax.

NYS urban farming projects provoke youths to think outside the box The National Youth Service (NYS) has championed an urban upgrading initiative to encourage the growing urban population embrace creative farming techniques in a bid to bridge the country’s food deficit.

Despite several demonstrations sprouting in Nairobi’s settlement, the programme has seen many people in Mathare, Kibera, Mukuru and Korogocho slums acquire useful life.

To inculcate urban farming, NYS has set up a demonstration centre in each village where youths aged between 15 and 35 years learn

vertical sack gardens, low cost green houses and other innovative ways of using scarce land to grow food.

A recent study by Index Mundi reveals rural to urban migration is growing at 4.36 per cent annually where youths are leading with a 90 per cent data.

Data from National Cereals and Produce Board indicates that with 45 million people, the country consumes 4.4 tonnes of corn maize to satisfy its population yet its produce is as low as 3.2 tonnes resulting to a deficit of 1.2 tonnes.

For instance, Mathare’s

Mabatini village has inspired locals to grow vegetables in sacks at the doorsteps of their iron sheet houses and this is not only helping them supplement their low daily wages but make them access nutritious fresh vegetables too.

According to Stanley Musoga, an agricultural expert in charge of Mathare project, skills offered are aimed at motivating young people rethink the negative perception they possess on agriculture to a positive decision that will see them participate in food production.

Key responsibilities • To write brilliant and engaging copy appropriate to social media platforms.

• To liaise with the editorial team to source required assets for use on social media.

• To produce visual assets (images, gifs etc) that can be used across social media channels.

• To manage online communities day-to-day.

• To proactively identify on-the-pulse opportunities to take our accounts into real time conversations on social media.

• As required, to work out-of-hours shifts (evenings, weekends, bank holidays) to ensure that our social media activity is consistent with audience behaviours and usage.

If you fit this description and you want to be part of the most innovative media house in the region, send us your application and a detailed CV to hr@x-news.co.ke with the subject SOCIAL MEDIA

4. Sub Editors

Reporting to the Managing Editor, the Sub Editors take total ownership of the quality of the copy and the headlines.

Knowledge, Skills and Competency required.

• Has at least one year of experience on a subs desk • Has a comprehensive knowledge of InDesign.

• Has a methodical and organised approach, a remarkable eye for detail and the ability to work effectively and quickly up against multiple deadlines.

• Can write engaging and informative headlines and captions.

• Has first class grammar and spelling and can pick up house style and tone quickly.

• Can communicate effectively with writers and layout editors.

• Is willing to put in overtime as and when required.

If you fit this description and you want to be part of the most innovative media house in the region, send us your application and a detailed CV to hr@x-news.co.ke with the subject SUB EDITOR Note: If you have worked at one of the old fashioned media houses, you will need to impress us that you have the capacity to shape a new tomorrow rather cling to yesteryear.

X News is an equal opportunity employer and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

CLASSIFIED WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30, 2015

Professional Chinese Language Training

CHINESE LANGUAGE Course registration for October Intake is going on…

Regular Class Business Class HSK Coach Enterprise Training VIP Programs Junior Chinese Class

The major advantages for joining us: • Native Chinese Instructor • High-tech Courseware System • Multi Media Tutorials • Small Class Arrangement • Friendly Chinese Environment • HSK/HSKK Test Site

China Information & Culture Communication (K) Ltd. Call: 020-8014333, 0722463737, 0732463737 Office: Postbank House, Banda Street, Flr 15 Rm 10

WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 You could come up with ideas for all kinds of new projects. Friends could want to work with you, and they should have a lot to contribute. Make sure you write down some of your ideas so you can go back to them later. You won’t be able to get everything done today!

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 A goal that you and some friends have been trying to reach may take a sudden turn and show signs of manifesting sooner than you expected. This could be a real break for you and you might be baffled as to how to make the most of it. Don’t worry about that now. Celebrate with your friends.

FRIDAy 28/08/2015

SUNNy

25

25ºC 40%

SATURDAy 29/08/2015

MORE SUN ThAN CLOUDS

24 6:32 AM 6:36pM

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 Acknowledgement for work well done could come your way, Pisces, as those around you suddenly seem to see you in a new light. In some cases, a touch of fame could result. Either way, it boosts your enthusiasm and self-esteem, which should enable you to continue pushing ahead.

25ºC 50%

6:31 AM 6:36 pM

SUNDAy

25

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 Your desire to advance your education and learn new skills could be promoted by a sudden event that points you in the right direction, Aries. You could start training an artistic talent or learn to use new technology or find out about the latest advances in scientific knowledge.

SuDOku

16

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Also, an unusual stroke of luck could bring some extra money your way. It could be an unexpected bonus, a sale of some kind, or a gift. The temptation to spend it all at once could arise. If you don’t need the money for routine expenses, go for it! You deserve a reward.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 Some of them may be involved in professions that interest you. Some may become your friends and others might prove to be valuable business contacts. New opportunities could come your way as a result. Whatever invitations come your way, don’t turn them down.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 Have you been thinking about adopting a pet? Even if you haven’t, a lovely little dog or cat could come into your life now and show signs of wanting to stay with you, Cancer. Don’t let mundane considerations get in your way. An animal could bring a lot of joy into your life now.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 This may be something you’ve never done before, Leo, and you’re likely to have doubts. If you have any interest at all, don’t let your doubts get in your way. Whatever your friend offers may involve the investment of a lot of time, but all signs say that in the end it will be worth it.

VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 22 0 News could come your way of sudden good fortune involving a family member. This is likely to affect the entire family in some way, so while you’re happy for your relative, be glad for yourself, too. Don’t be surprised if you feel a touch of envy. You’re human, after all.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 A female author whose work you enjoy could release a new book, Libra. You could meet some new neighbors who share your interests or you could come into contact with like-minded people online.

This promises to open new territory for you regarding your intellectual and social lives.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 Your adventurous side could show itself, Scorpio. You might have a talent for an activity you never considered before, such as rafting, flying, mountain climbing, or skydiving! Or it could be a less risky pastime that’s still new to you. This is a good time to tackle new projects of any kind.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 Lucky you! An unexpected break could come your way that gets you started in just the direction you’ve wanted to follow. This could involve love, career aspirations, or simply a new way of living that you’ve been longing to experience. Move ahead cautiously, but move ahead.

MuSTREAD Playing in the light —

by Zoe Wicomb

The novel is based on the life of Marion Campbell, who runs a travel agency in Cape Town although she hates traveling. Living in the postapartheid era, she has to build a close relationship with Brenda, her first black employee. Marion is caught in the tricky life of managing her private interests as well as self-advancement and she shuns issues of politics until the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reveals information that brings into controversy not only her family’s past but her identity and her rightful place in modern South African society. The book has been described by critics as powerful in its depiction of Marion’s personal journey as well as the depiction of South Africa’s brutal racism history.

PLAY 17 WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30, 2015

CROSSWORD Across 1. Unwell 5. Al of Dixieland 9. Like acacia leaves 14. Opiner’s abbreviation 15. Month after Shevat 16. Lies low 17. Fruits of education 19. “In case you ___ noticed...”

20. Lilylike plant 21. Part of a pound 23. Teutel family motorcycle bus. (abbr.)

25. Carefree 30. Senior 33. German “Oh!” 35. One of Kirk’s crew 36. “___ not kidding!”

37. Short directions?

39. Bit octets 42. Cut costs 43. Prepare parmesan 45. Treats hides 47. Blushing 48. Laid up 52. Look at closely 53. Set 54. Total reversal 57. Like a handmade potholder 61. Potboiler, often 65. Nonsense 67. ____ and beyond

68. School crossing warning 69. Mayan site Chichén ____ 70. Unschooled in 71. Sean’s mother 72. Irrelevant Down 1. Turbaned believer 2. “____ Angel” (Gregg Allman Band tune) 3. Comic Margaret, and namesakes 4. Brownnose 5. Possess, to a Scot 6. “...and ___ it again!”

7. Prego competitor 8. Deep ditch 9. Candy bar with a yellow wrapper 10. By 11. Go on to say 12. Countdown start 13. Ballpark fig.

18. Ties 22. Wheel tooth 24. Iron, for one 26. New Mexico skiing locale 27. Georgia’s Shevardnadze 28. Daring 29. Trapped, in a way 30. Ancient Balkan region 31. Goldblum horror film, with “The” 32. Little Richard’s “___ Frutti” 33. Dickinson of film and TV

34. Predictable, as humor goes 38. Run through 40. Have a meal 41. Stumbling block 44. Shoulder decoration 46. Hearty dishes 49. Flying level (abbr.)

50. Cumbersome 51. Jehovah 55. Candy brand 56. Breakfast dining area 58. Marlon’s 1972 Oscar role 59. Car developer Ferrari 60. With no ice 61. Indian flatbread (var.)

62. Award for a knight (abbr.)

63. Pledge 64. Zsa Zsa’s sister 66. Org. in some conspiracy theories

Yesterday’s answers

Christians should take part in civil movements It is estimated that less than 20 percent of self-identifying Christians vote. I believe this is the reason selfserving politicians govern our country. Forget part of our population hog-washed into religious activities by

self-proclaimed bishops and televangelists of churches with names from hell.

Kenyan politicians enact laws God calls abominable. Our children are taught to hate God and worship the Earth.

Body parts of the unborn

are sold for profit. Borders are kept open for terrorists and criminals. We absolutely must start taking part in the affairs of community, state.

— Disturbed Patriot, Nairobi

We have the right to celebrate the constitution On Jan 3rd 2008, The Economist described Kenya’s chaotic status quo avidly in article titled ‘Twilight robbery, daylight murder’.

They wrote, The decision to return Kenya’s 76-year-old incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki, to office was not made by the Kenyan people but by a small group of hardline leaders from Mr Kibaki’s Kikuyu tribe. They made up their minds before the result was announced, perhaps even before the opposition candidate, Raila Odinga, had opened up a lead in early returns from the December 27th election. It

was a civil coup. Two years later, 2010 Kenya had a new constitution.

However much there was a stifling rift in Kenya’s political arena that reopened age old wounds, we made a great milestone by promulgating a new constitution and this month if anything has changed in the country in the name of democracy it is because of that document that the then incumbent initiated.

We have a lot more in common as Kenyans than gloat and complain over little issues.

— Ken Bosire, Nairobi

Who loses when teachers and govt fight?

Teachers are mandated with a task of handling a population of humans from all different walks of life.

When teachers are not listened to, and this goes both ways (their students and the government) something will go wrong. For students, they either end up as losers and social ingrates while for the government, strikes are always looming.

If people cannot afford basic commodities that they wish to have or use on a daily basis because

they do not earn enough, then something is wrong. Students on the other hand are put on the risk of neglect with incomplete syllabuses.

Kenyan government needs to be reasonable in handling matters education because at a later stage all they will be left with will be a bunch of uneducated, uncivilized individuals who did not go achieve anything in school. ‘School went through them’.

— Sandra Chemutai, Nairobi

Teachers shouldn’t strike if promise not kept Teachers should not strike, although they may need to take action if the court ruling is not heeded to improve conditions and pay scales. There are other forms of protest that would impact their students and parents to

a lesser degree while still being effective. An example would be to refuse to fulfil their many administrative responsibilities, or recruiting the support of students and parents.

— Oscar Kalii, Athi River

Fast food ads should be banned Billboards are screaming with junk food ads everywhere in Nairobi and in turn, children are getting fat. Fat is not the word, obese is. Businesses do have the right to advertise, from here to Timbuktu but if censorship will ultimately

be beneficial to society, we should censor.

Fast food advertising is actually one of the biggest causes behind children getting hooked to fast food.

New entrants in the Kenyan market like KFC, Subway and

the like have indoctrinated children and some adults into thinking that fries, hamburgers and wraps are tasty. These foods are laden with quantities of calories that will make our children fat!

— Healthy Kenyan, Nairobi

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18

SPORT

Senegal’s Fatou could miss out in Congo, much to Kenya’s ‘relief’

WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30, 2015

SPORTS BRIEFS IAAF bosses honour Multiple Olympic gold medallist, Owen Outgoing IAAF President Lamine Diack and President-elect Sebastian Coe honoured multiple gold medallist from the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin Jesse Owen in Beijing China.

The two were joined by the long jump world record holder Mike Powell and met with Jesse Owens’ daughter Beverly Owens Prather and granddaughter Donna Prather Williams at the Intercontinental Hotel Beijing Beichen yesterday in the ceremony here they discussed about the legacy of Jesse (Owens).

“I was three years old in 1936 when Jesse was winning his four gold medals in Berlin. I later heard about his feats and it became my dream to become a long jumper. In 1972, I had a chance to meet him at the Olympics in Munich, I was in the same hotel with him, and we had a long discussion about his life,” remembered President Diack.

Kenya’s chances of winning at least a medal in the women’s Volleyball in the September’s African Games have been boosted after reports that Senegalese star Fatou Diouck will not be in Congo, Brazzaville.

Diouck who terrorised opponents

last June in Nairobi during the African Nations Championship which also saw her voted Africa’s best attacker has threatened to pull out of Senegal’s squad to the African Games set for between September 4th and 19th.

Fatou who currently resides in

France has not trained together with the rest of the team and according to the player who has expressed her desire to represent her country at these games, the local federation led

by Mamadou Ndoye wants her to fly directly to Congo

TEAM SENEGAL: Senegal’s women volleyball team in previous action against Algeria during a past tournament.

Williams going for calendar Grand Slam Serena Williams is ready to handle the pressure of going for the calendar Grand Slam after going through a similar experience at Wimbledon.

The American, 34, won her fourth straight major title dubbed a ‘Serena Slam’, at the All England Club in July and she now has the chance for her first calendar Slam of all four majors in a year if she wins the US Open.

Steffi Graf was the last player to win the calendar Slam in 1988, and the only other women to do so were Margaret Court in 1970 and Maureen Connolly in 1953.

Williams has been breaking records ever since she won her first major title at Flushing Meadows in 1999 - another victory this year and she would become the first woman in the open era to win the US Open seven times.

Man City lure De Bruyne with ‘astonishing’ offer Kevin De Bruyne may complete his much anticipated move to Manchester City this weekend after he was offered an “astonishing” wage offer to lure him to Etihad Stadium.

De Bruyne, 24, has been left out of Wolfsburg’s squad to face Schalke this Friday, (tonight) as talks continue over a move to City. Wolfsburg’s director of sport Klaus Allofs believes the deal can be sealed as early as today (Friday) night “We had to take it seriously. Finally we decided to start negotiations with City,” added Allofs. But the deal is not already done. So hopefully we will find an end on Thursday night or Friday morning,” Allofs was quoted on BBC Online.

City are understood to have tabled £58m (Sh58b) offer as been agreed for the Belgium international.

“During Thursday, we have gone on with negotiations and we’ve got closer to each other,” added Allofs. “He’s had an astonishing, astonishing offer from City and we can’t compete with that.

against her wishes of training together with her team mates.

Fatou who was the difference in Senegal’s side during the Africa Nations Cup in Nairobi was looking forward to her third appearance at the Continental games. She however says that without proper training, no meaningful result can come out of the squad which literally depend on her when things get thick.

“I really want to represent my country but they want me to buy my own ticket,” Fatou told X-News from her base in France.

“Last time I bought my return ticket because they didn’t want to change it so I asked for this one to be back after Volleyball final because the season is waiting for me. I really want to play for my country but how do I give my beat without practice and yet they want a medal?”

Poses a disillusioned Fatou.

The rest of the team is currently in camp and Fatou who just signed two year deal with top Azerbaijan club, Azerrail would really love to fly out with the team to Congo.

In the last edition of these games held in Maputo, Mozambique, Senegal finished seventh though Fatou believes that they can improve in Congo.

COMMENTARY

Of spOrts patriOtism and ignOrance Isn’t it fantastic seeing just how Kenyans have virtually turned up to urge on their athletes in the ongoing IAAF Word Championships? It’s not happening for the first time this year, it’s been happening for decades. Every time Kenya’s being represented at the global party, we never miss out on the action on TV. Staunch patriotism it is.

Every time the action is on, we all gather around the nearest tube heaving with excitement as our athletes line up to show the world the stuff we are made of.

Some catch the action amidst tricky multitasking stunts while streaming the action live at work.

Others simply have no option but to follow tweets and posts on their social media feeds. Simply put, we will do anything not to miss out.

It is during that time when we escape the problems of the world.

Blunt tribal and irrational rants on social media get a good shove, replaced by brilliant messages of patriotism, notwithstanding the delightful humour here and there.

It’s usually a moment of national exhalation, when we all take a pleasant breather from the harsh internet combats on political debates.

Back to Beijing, where it’s literally raining medals, thanks to Team Kenya which appears to be on a roll. Kenyans have not tired from cheering on their idols who are hell bent to smash records and set new one.

Ezekiel Kemboi won his fourth worlds’ gold in men’s 300m Steeplechase and we can all relate to that feeling when our national anthem was played, thousands of Kenyans and non-Kenyans waving our country’s flag.

David Rudisha who is expecting his second child this week led from gun to tape to reclaim the world 800m title, same as Nicholas Bett who put huge smiles on Kenyan faces when he won the country’s first ever gold in the men’s 400m hurdles.

The ‘YouTube man’, Julius Yego whose javelin throw of 92.17m was enough to bring home the

country’s only first ever gold in from the field events sparked a hilarious trending topic on twitter, #ThingsYegoCanThrow.

However, all this excitement was not to pass without heinous displays of ignorance, most of which didn’t matter anyway because the bottom line is that we love our country.

When Vivian Cheruiyot stopped the timer at 31:41.41 ahead of World number one and former world indoor 1,500m champion Gelete Burka of Ethiopia and American Emily Infeld to win the women’s 10,000m, leaders all across the country joined other Kenyans on social media in sending their outpouring congratulatory messages to the new champion who won the country’s first gold in China.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was not left behind when he took to Social media to congratulate the Kenya Police officer with his message which immediately got the world wondering how best we know athletics.

“Congratulations Vivian Cheruiyot on bagging Kenya its first gold medal in the 10,000m women’s marathon,” read the message on President’s Twitter account @PresidentKE before it was quickly deleted.

The 10,000m race is not a marathon. A marathon is a long distance race not less than 21km and is run on the road unlike 10,000m (10km) which is equally a long distance race run by going around the 400-metre track 24 times.

Another gaffe came from the most unlikely quarters - a journalist.

Citizen TV/Radio entertainment guru Willy M. Tuva tweeted: @JuliusYegoKE wins Kenya’s first gold in World Athletics Championships! Congratulations from myself #MamboMseto fans.

Well it is true that Yego won Kenya a first ever Gold medal from field event (javelin) from his throw of 92.17m but it was a sixth gold not first.

SPORT 19

Team Kenya on course To Top The world From Back Page world title in the race on Sunday romped into the final after easily winning his heat two on Thursday morning when he stopped the clock at 3:38.97. Isaiah Kiplagat also topped heat two with the best time of 3:38.13 same as Elijah Malangoi who also came first in a relatively slower heat one in 3:42.57 The women’s marathon team will take to the road Sunday morning as Edna Kiplagat eyes an impressive third consecutive world title and a the elite class reserved for the few. She will lead the Kenyan team that will be out save their male counterparts the blushes after a disappointing show on the first day of the championship. Kiplagat made history two years ago when she became the first

woman to win back-to-back world titles in the marathon.

The 35-year-old has contested in just one marathon this year, finishing an uncharacteristic 11th in London in 2:27:16. But since then, she has performed solidly in three 10km races, recording a season’s best of 31:57.

A medal for Kiplagat, 32, will not only push Kenya further to challenge for the team title but will also put her in the elite company of the likes of veteran Catherine Ndereba, Manuela Machado and Lidia Simon as the only three-time medallists at the World Championships.

A third gold would surely make her the first athlete, man or woman, to win three world marathon titles.

Kiplagat who boasts of the fastest

personal best time of 2:19:50, will face stiff opposition from former Kenyan and Asian Games champion Eunice Kirwa who is running for Bahrain. Kirwa, 31, is undefeated in her past seven races. Four of those were marathons, all of which were on Asian soil, and she broke the national record with 2:22:08 when she won in Nagoya earlier this year.

Eunice Sum cruised to the women’s 800m semifinal after finishing third. Sum clocked 1:57.56 behind Belarus’ Marina Arzamasova (1:57.54) and winner Melisa Bishop of Canada who timed 1:57.52 Though Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba is a clear favourite ahead of Sunday’s 5,000m final, any of the Kenyan quartet of Mercy Cherono, Viola Kibiwot Irene Cheptai and Janet Kisa may just sneak past her.

WELL DONE: Michel Platini, right, the UEFA president, gave Barcelona’s Lionel Messi the trophy for player of the year during the Champions League draw on Thursday.

UCL 2015/16 Table Group A: Paris St- Germain, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Malmo Group B: PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, CSKA Moscow, VfL Wolfsburg Group C: Benfica, Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray, Astana Group D: Juventus, Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Monchengladbach Group E: Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, AS Roma, BATE Borisov Group F: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Olympiakos, Dinamo Zagreb Group G: Chelsea, Porto, Dynamo Kiev, Maccabi Tel-Aviv Group H: Zenit St Petersburg, Valencia, Olympique Lyon, Gent

Champions League draw review: Classic ‘case of the ex’s’ It will be a classic case of ex’s when former friends and foes re-unite at the biggest European football showpiece when the 2015/2016 UEFA Champions League kicks off on September 15.

Jose Mourinho, will return to Porto with Chelsea same as Dutch striker Memphis Depay who will be making a trip to Philips Stadion, home to his former club, PSV Eindhoven for the first time since he signed for Manchester United this season.

United who landed in a relatively easy Pool B which has PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and VfL Wolfsburg are also making a return to the Championship league after a season out in the cold.

United though must not forget that CSKA beat Man City home and away while Wolfsburg hammered finalist

Bayern 4-0 last season.

Chelsea play Portuguese side Porto in Group G, a team that Mourinho steered to a shock victory in the competition in 2004. The group also has Ukrainian champions Dinamo Kiev coached by former Tottenham and West Ham striker Sergei Rebrov who will be making a return to London. Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv will also feature in the group.

Arsenal will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League for the third time in four seasons after being drawn against the German giants in Group F. Manchester City who crashed out of group stages last season will face Juventus, Europa League winners Sevilla and German side Borussia Monchengladbach in Group D. Each team will play six fixtures in the

group stage, with the first match days taking place on 15 and 16 September.

All four English clubs avoided drawing either defending champions Barcelona, or Real Madrid, who have won the European Cup 10 times.

Borussia Monchengladbach finished third in the German league last season.

City have been drawn with a Bundesliga team in all five Champions League groups they’ve participated in.

“Our opponents could not be more illustrious,” said Moenchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl. “This is a huge challenge, but we are looking forward to it because we can measure ourselves against the best.” Current Italian Serie A champions Juventus reached the final last season, where they lost to Barcelona.

WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30, 2015

WEEKEND EDITION, AUGUST 28-30, 2015 | WWW.x-NEWS.cO.KE

Champions League draw review: CLassiC Case of the ex’s p15 GENIUS EDNA: Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat claimed the first gold medal of the World Championships in the women’s marathon at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

Team Kenya on course to top the world

K

enya is still on the race of winning the overall team title at the ongoing IAFF world Athletics Championship whose curtains come down on Sunday in Beijing China.

Kenya is currently top of the world with 11 medals, six gold, three silver and two bronze ahead of United States on 12 (three gold, four Silver and five Bronze) while Jamaica is third with five medals, three gold and two Bronze. Kenya is however expected to multiply her medals tally on the last day as the world bids Beijing goodbye on Sunday.

There are more medal prospects after three Kenyans qualified for the 1,500m final on Sunday. Asbel Kiprop who will be defending CONTINUED ON pAGE 15

Man City in ‘astonishing’ wage offer for De Bruyne

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T.U.K

30TH AUGUST, NYAYO STADIUM

GATES OPEN AT 10.00. PERFORMANCES BY WYRE, COLLO, NONINI, KRISTOFF, RABBIT, BIGPIN, MARYA, K-LETTA DJ PIERRA, DJ NIJO AND MANY MORE TERRACES 200/VIP 1000/-

anchester City have made an “astonishing” wage offer to winger Kevin de Bruyne, claims Wolfsburg’s director of sport Klaus Allofs.

De Bruyne, 24, has been left out of Friday’s game with Schalke as talks continue over a move to City.

“We had to take it seriously. Finally we decided to start negotiations with City,” added Allofs.

“But the deal is not already done. So hopefully we will find an end on Thursday night or Friday morning.”

City have not responded to reports a 58 million pound deal has been agreed for the Belgium international.

“During Thursday, we have gone on with negotiations and we’ve got closer to each other,” added Allofs.

“He’s had an astonishing, astonishing offer from City and we can’t compete with that. I would prefer to keep him, not to get the money. But the money now is really the issue because Kevin was qualified with Wolfsburg for the Champions League and he was a key player and took the next step.”

Former Chelsea midfielder De Bruyne, 24, joined Wolfsburg in January 2014. Last season, the Belgium international scored 10 goals and provided 21 assists in the Bundesliga.

“At Chelsea, he was not that good and I know the story because I took him to Werder Bremen two years before and then to Wolfsburg,” said Allofs. “It will be very difficult - apart from Bayern Munich - to compete with the Premier League in the future.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham have signed South Korean forward Son Heung-min from German club Bayer Leverkusen. The 23-year-old scored 29 goals in 87 appearances for Leverkusen having joined them from Hamburg in 2013. The deal, subject to a work permit and international clearance, is reportedly worth 22 million pounds and he has signed a contract until 2020. Spurs have also had two bids for Saido Berahino rejected

by West Brom, who say the 22-year-old will not be sold.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has likened his club’s pursuit of Berahino to a frustrated love affair and the signing of Son could now see them end their interest in the England Under-21 international.

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