2016010027 xnews

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 | www.x254.CO

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GOVERNOR THROWN OUT OF SENATE HEARING MURANGA’S WA IRIA EJECTED FROM SITTING AFTER ROW WITH AREA SENATOR KEMBI GITURA DERAILS PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

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NEWS

CROWD TROUBLE MARS WEST HAM WIN OVER CHELSEA IN LEAGUE CUP ROUND OF 16 TIE

New study reveals shocking spread of HIV/AIDS virus

Senators want Mailu, Muraguri to quit over Sh5bn health scandal T he Senate Health Committee has called for the immediate resignation of Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopas Mailu and his Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri following revelations that some Sh5 billion at the ministry cannot be accounted for.

An audit report of the last financial year has raised questions over the expenditure of the money which is suspected to have been stolen or irregularly diverted to accounts of phoney companies.

Five new cases of HIV/AIDS infections are recorded hourly among the adolescents in the country with two thirds of the cases occurring among women, a new study shows.

The report by the National Aids Control Council (NACC) reveals that the rate of new HIV infections among the youth aged between 15-25 years has risen steadily over the last three years and currently stands at 51 per cent up from 21 per cent in 2013.

According to NACC, out of the 77 600 new infections recorded in the recent past, over 35, 000 cases were from the adolescents with most cases recorded in Mombasa and Nairobi counties.

More than 4000 deaths of adolescents are recorded annually in the country.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

EGYPTIAN LADIES SAY THEY ARE PREPARED TO TAKE ON STARLETS DESPITE THIKA DRAW

PHealth CS Cleopas Mailu

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Senate Health Committee chairman Wilfred Machage

Health PS NIcholas Muraguri

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NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Wa Iria thrown out of Senate hearing

Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria was today thrown out of the Senate Public Accounts Committee hearing after heated verbal exchange with County Senator Kembi Gitura.

Mr Iria who appeared before the committee to answer to audit queries accused the senator of using the committee to settle political scores.

The Governor was uncomfortable with information being channeled out by the senator over the purchase of land in Murang’a County. The County chief accused the senator of lying to the committee over the matter in order to gain popularity among the people of Murang’a.

“I will not allow this committee to be used as a political arena to drive the agenda of the senator at the expense of truth and the people of Murang’a,” wa Iria said.

He kept on interrupting every speaker at one time threatened to walk out of the committee room claiming the committee chairman, Kisumu senator Anyang’ Nyong’o was unfair to him as he was not given adequate time to respond to allegations levelled against him.

“I will not allow senator Gitura to malign my name here. I will not keep

quiet any more. I will walk out if this is it,” he threatened.

Gitura in response said he will not allow the Governor to intimidate him by making noise as it is his responsibility as area senator to raise any issue affecting the county.

And as the two traded accusations, the other senators watched, much to the disbelief of reporters.

Kakamega senator Bonny Khalwale urged the Governor to humble himself saying the committee has meet powerful people in the past who are no more at the moment.

“We have seen more powerful people including Amos Kimunya but are currently nowhere. Please be humble Governor and set the record straight through provision of documents,” Khalwale said.

His Nyamira counterpart Okong’o Mong’are told the governor that he will not subject the committee to the politics of Murang’a and he risks being declared a hostile witness.

“Let’s declare the Governor a hostile witness and call this meeting to an end.

This committee has rules which must be followed,” he said.

And after numerous attempts to calm down the governor, the committee

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria during a past event. He was today ejected from a senate sitting after row with senator kembi Gitura over a piece of land in the central Kenya county.

chairman adjourned the meeting and ordered the Governor and his officers out of the room.

“This meeting as per article 62(2) of the constitution stands adjourned,” Prof

Nyong’o declared.

The Governor later told journalists that he is ready to meet the senator in Court over the land matter and vowed not to allow him use the committee to gain

political mileage.

“Let’s meet in court. I will not allow myself to be subjected to this kind of treatment,” Wa Iria said. sam_x254

Senators want Mailu, Muraguri to resign over Sh5bn ministry scandal From Page 1

PHealth CS Cleopas Mailu

Senators had summoned the CS to appear before them and explain the findings of the leaked report but the minister did not turn up.

Angry committee members waited for Dr mailu and his PS Dr Muraguri to show up and when it became evident the duo would not turn up, committee chairman Dr Wilfred Machage informed his colleague that they could not wait anymore.

“We have been waiting for the CS since 9am and we cannot wait any more,” Dr Machage ordered.

The Migori senator explained to members that he had received some communication stating that the CS could not make it as he was in a meeting at Afya House over the same matter.

“We have been informed that they are engaged at the ministry headquarters discussing the same report,” he said.

But angry members called for the two officials to immediately step down.

Wajir senator Abdirahman Ali Hassan called for immediate resignation of the CS and the permanent secretary.

“The President should ask them to

immediately step down, they should not even be in office from this morning,” Wajir senator Abdirahman Ali Hassan demanded.

“We can’t take matters lying down any more people must take political responsibility and step down,” he added.

He said it was very important for the CS to address Kenyans candidly and allay fears of the people and not to say that they are doing investigations.

Nominated Senator Zipporah Kittony said the country is tired of corruption cases and the two should step aside as investigations are carried out.

“The country is tired of these corruption cases. I’m sure even the President is tire. Let them immediately step aside as we wait for a report from the Auditor General,” Kittony said.

“The ministry of health is supposed to be a center for cure to people and not causing more problems,” she added.

The committee will now meet the CS on Tuesday next week over the matter. Machage said the committee will also conduct its own independent investigations over the matter.

“As the custodian of interests of the

counties, we will not condone what is going on at the ministry of health especially where the lives of people are involved. Embezzlement of funds seems to be gaining popularity especially in public institutions,” Machage said.

According to the leaked audit report, the scandal involved payments of millions of shillings to phony suppliers in the financial year (2015/2016).

The auditors said the amounts lost could be higher because they have yet to complete work on the ministry’s transactions for the year.

“The small sample covered is an indicator that there could be a wider scheme wherein the ministry incurred huge losses to the detriment of service delivery to the public,” Mailu said yesterday in response to the report.

Top on the list of fraudulent transactions identified in the audit report was the diversion of Sh889 million meant to be disbursed to county governments to support the free maternity care programme and its use in the purchase of phantom mobile medical clinics for urban slums. sam_x254

Health PS NIcholas Muraguri

NEWS 3 THURSDAY,OCTOBER 27, 2016

Jubilee disputes Nyacheki Ward by-election results The Jubilee Party has rejected the outcome of yesterday’s by-election in Nyacheki Ward, Kisii County in which ODM candidate Naftal Nyaberi was declared winner.

The newly-formed party claims that the minipoll did not reflect the wishes of the people as its supporters were locked out of polling stations after chaos ensued during voting.

The ruling coalition’s candidate Maxwell Nyaanga Magoma garnered 1173 votes against ODM’s Nyaberi who amassed 2216 votes as declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Jubilee alleges that the voting was flawed with irregularities such as violence in the 21 polling stations and vote buying that tampered with the integrity of the process.

Former Ford People chairman and Jubilee official Albert Nyaundi in a statement said that the party would seek legal intervention on the matter if results were not nullified with immediate effect.

“The Nyacheki Ward by-election exercise was marred by blatant disregard of etiquette and civility of the electoral process,” Nyaundi said.

The statement continues to say that Jubilee would not concede defeat to its Opposition outfit as it would seek legal redress.

The by-election, which attracted 15 candidates, was necessitated by the sudden death of the seat’s previous holder Peter Ongeri.

Caleb Njomo Onguti of KNC emerged third with 928 votes while NVP’s Peter Moracha Bosire finished fourth with 462 votes.

Voting was marred with tension that led to the breakout of chaos among voters after allegations emerged that certain candidates intended to bribe voters queuing to exercise their democratic right.

Gunshots had to be fired in the air by a Member of County Assembly to dispel youth who allegedly attacked pro-Jubilee campaigners in some of the polling stations.

The Nyacheki polls were one of four by-elections conducted by IEBC yesterday. Others included polls in Sala Ward (Tana River County), Kalokol (Turkana) and Misiro Ward (Kajiado). ODM emerged victorious in Nyacheki, Kalokol and Misiro Wards with the ruling party clinching its first electoral seat in Tana River.

Nkaissery now orders curfew in Mandera Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has today ordered for a dusk to dawn curfew in in Mandera following Tuesday attack that left 12 people dead.

Four others were seriously injured in the attack belived to have been carried out by al-Shabaab militants at a guesthouse in the border town.

Already, the caretaker of the guest house has been arrested and police allowed to detain him for 10 days as they continue with their investigations.

A court in Mandera today allowed officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) to hold Abdirahman Ali, 21, the caretaker of Bishaaro Hotel for ten days.

He was arrested on Tuesday and is suspected to have aided the attackers.

New study reveals shocking spread of HIV/AIDS virus

Continued from page 1

The figures further show that more than 1.8 million Kenyans are living with HIV with 40 per cent of them on antiretroviral therapy drugs to slow the disease’s progression.

Homabay County leads with 26 per cent in prevalence, followed by Siaya at 24.8 per cent and Kisumu County at 20 per cent.

Wajir, Mandera and Garrisa counties records the lowest prevalence rates 0.4, 0.8 and 0.9 per cent respectively.

NACC Director Nduku Kilonzo blamed the new infections on the country’s failure to test and counsel adolescents and inadequate knowledge about HIV/Aids.

“In the early 1990s everyone knew what HIV was all about because they were investing significantly in marketing testing and counselling.

Adolescents, who are the most affected groups, are not going for testing,” Dr. Kilonzo argued.

She spoke during the launch of HIV Progress 2016 report at the Hilton hotel in Nairobi today.

However, despite the high rates of new infections and the rise in the number of people living with HIV, the number of Kenyans dying from the disease has dropped from 120,670 in 2005 to 51,700 in 2015.

and services and we are currently exploring the feasibility of making HIV treatment a part of social health insurance,” Dr Muraguri said. But Dr Kilonzo said Kenyans depend on projects for HIV prevention and treatments but once the programmes elapse, people are left hanging and this leads to new infections. “We must fund HIV prevention, care and treatment.

Currently, there is no government budget for the same. We need to put systems in place and not just [rely on] projects,” she said The NACC director also said there is no consistency in what works best. “We have not been consistent as a country and even global community on what is considered as a treatment target and until we do that at a country level, we will National Aids Control Council Director Dr. Kilonzo Nduku speaks continue to have baseless goals, during the Launch of the 2016 Kenya Aids Response Progress, 2015 HIV Estimates and 2016 County Profiles report at Hilton Hotel today. which means we are headed nowhere,” she said.

PHOTO: G. IKUNDA/X-NEWS In a similar study from the Global Dr Kilonzo noted that 423000 ARV treatment,” she added.

Burden of Disease collaborative Health PS Nicholas Muraguri network, in The Lancet HIV South deaths were averted in 2015 with the decline attributed a majority maintained that the government Africa, Kenya was ranked as one of infected subscribing to the ARV is committed in eliminating HIV, of the countries with the lowest treatment. “Despite the increasing with the ministry investing more antiretroviral coverage, at 39 per infection cases we have reduced the than 5.5 billion in the last two cent, below the regional average number of deaths by 40 per cent. financial years. that stands at 43 per cent.

At least 90 per cent of all Persons “We shall continue to invest heavily @wilson_x254 Living with HIV have subscribed to towards HIV related commodities

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NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

NEWSBRIEFS

South Sudan child soldiers released

Some 145 child soldiers fighting for two rebel groups in South Sudan have been released, Unicef has announced.

The children were recruited by the Cobra Faction and the SPLA In Opposition, two armed groups which have been fighting the government. They were freed in the eastern region of Pibor and “disarmed and provided with civilian clothes,” Unicef said in a statement. About 16,000 children are still in “armed groups”, it says.

Unicef said it was the largest release of child fighters since last year but warned that children were still being recruited by various armed groups. Mahimbo Mdoe, Unicef ’s representative in South Sudan urged all parties to “end the recruitment and to release children who are currently serving in their ranks”. South Sudan plunged into internal strife in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his rival, former Vice-President Riek Machar of plotting a coup. The two camps have broken a series of peace deals, the latest one in July, meant to resolve the crisis in the country Hundreds of civilians have been killed and thousands forced from their homes in the latest fighting.

Ethiopia withdraws troops from Somalia, cites lack of support

World wildlife ‘falls by 58% since 1970’, says new report Global wildlife populations have fallen by 58% since 1970, a report says. The Living Planet assessment, by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and WWF, suggests that if the trend continues that decline could reach two-thirds among vertebrates by 2020.

The figures suggest that animals living in lakes, rivers and wetlands are suffering the biggest losses. Human activity, including habitat loss, wildlife trade, pollution and climate change contributed to the declines.

Dr Mike Barrett, the head of science and policy at WWF, said: “It’s pretty clear under ‘business as usual’ we will see continued declines in these wildlife populations. But I think now we’ve reached a point where there isn’t really any excuse to let this carry on. “We know what the causes are and we know the scale of the impact that humans are having on nature and on wildlife populations - it really is now down to us to act.”

Ethiopian soldiers stand to attention during a past ceremony in Mogadishu, Somalia. The country has withdrawn its soldiers who were fighting al-Shabaab militants in Somalia citing lack of international support. PHOTO: ABUKAR ALBADRI/EPA

Ethiopia has withdrawn troops from Somalia, where they had been battling al-Shabaab militants. It blames a lack of international support for the move, following the EU’s recent cut in its funding for foreign troops in Somalia.

Ethiopia is a major contributor of soldiers to the Amisom, the African Union mission in the country.

Ethiopia has recently withdrawn from several other bases, which were quickly occupied by alShabab militants.

Officials in Somalia’s Bakol region say some residents have already fled the area since the Ethiopian troops left, fearing an imminent of

al-Shabab, which is part of al-Qaeda. Ethiopian Communications Minister Getachew Reda told the BBC that the troops withdrawn from southwestern Somalia were not part of Amisom.

“It is a separate batch deployed to provide support for Amisom and Somali armed forces,” Mr Getachew said.

He also denied reports that the withdrawal was linked to unrest at home which led to a state of emergency being declared, saying there were enough troops to handle that.

He said the Somali army should have been in a position to move in after Ethiopia’s withdrawal.

“The international community has a

responsibility either to train or to support the Somali National Army,” he said.

He went on to warn that indifference would only pave the way for an al-Shabab takeover.

The European Union is the main contributor of funding for Amisom. But it announced in June that its funding for the mission would be reduced by 20%.

Correspondents say Ethiopia is not the first provider of troops in Somalia to complain about a lack of international support.

Burundi, Uganda and Djibouti, which also contribute to Amisom, have made similar complaints in the past.

US Election 2016: Early voting pattern points to Clinton win

Hillary Clinton’s campaign has reason for optimism in several swing states and appears to have turned Arizona into a battleground as millions of Americans vote early.

More than 7.3 million Americans have already voted. Democrats have improved their positions in North Carolina, Nevada and Arizona compared to this point in 2012, according to a CNN analysis of the latest early voting statistics.

Republicans, meanwhile, have good

news in Iowa. Republicans have improved their position there over 2012 -- backing up the polls which suggest it could be the easiest state won by President Barack Obama for Trump to flip this year.

And in Florida, where the latest comparable data comes from 2008, Democrats, buoyed by an increasingly diverse electorate, have cut deeply into the traditional Republican advantage in early ballots cast so far. These findings represent absentee ballots

submitted and early votes cast through Tuesday across 35 states where data are available. Catalist, a data company that works with progressive candidates and advocacy g r o u p s , academics and think tanks, connects the data to voter records, allowing a deeper

look at who has already cast a vote in this year’s election. Across 12 battleground states where data are available, more than 4.6 million votes have been cast. In Arizona, registered Democrats continue to outpace registered Republicans in early voting.

They’re ahead by 4,116 votes, a major improvement from their position at this time four years ago, when they trailed by 21,179. Two-thirds of Arizona voters cast their ballots before Election Day

in 2012, making these early voting numbers crucial to watch for Clinton and Trump. In-person early voting kicked off across Nevada over the weekend and Democrats have flocked to the polls. They hold a nearly 15,000vote lead, a slight improvement from their position in 2012. Overall, early turnout is 18% lower than 2012 but slightly higher than 2008. Nevada is a crucial early voting state. In 2012, 69% of the state’s electorate cast their ballots before Election Day.

NEWS 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Morning newspaper summaries IEBC trying to block new Inside story of Sh5bn Jubilee Secret catch for teachers in Rot at Kenyatta Hospital election law, claims Cord: health scandal: Senior Ministry of salary deal: Teachers clinched a lucrative as doctors rob taxpayers Several lawsuits seek to overturn key provisions of Health officials have refused to co-operate in salary deal but hidden within the sweet pie is a Sh1.5bn: Kenya’s largest referral health hard-won electoral reforms and threaten to poison the relationship between Cord and the IEBC. This at a time new electoral chiefs have not been recruited and the general election is just 10 months away.

The Star has established at least three petitions consolidated at the High Court aim to nullify several key sections of the electoral laws — the product of painstaking negotiations and compromise. Cord alleges the IEBC is secretly behind some petitions to undo provisions sealing loopholes.

shedding light on an internal audit prepared for the Auditor-General and which has unearthed a possible loss of Sh5 billion at the ministry. The money — enough to buy 16 state-of-the-art cobalt cancer fighting equipment to add to the only one available at the Kenyatta National Hospital — is suspected to have been stolen in the last financial year or paid to phoney companies, according to a leaked report addressed to the Cabinet secretary, Dr Cleopa Mailu.

Health CS Mailu promises Michael Joseph’s strategy for action over Sh5bn audit: Health KQ: Former Safaricom chief executive Michael Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu is talking tough on the Sh5 billion scandal rocking his ministry and is promising to take action on rogue officials who may have siphoned the taxpayers’ money.

A leaked internal audit indicates that the mega scandal involved manipulation of the Integrated Financial Management System, diversion of funds and double payment of goods. Yesterday Mailu, who was appointed to the ministry late last year, acknowledged the audit report and said the ministry is treating it “very seriously”.

Joseph has said his priority at the troubled national carrier Kenya Airways will be to implement recommendations of an audit report that has exposed massive corruption at the cash-strapped airline. Mr Joseph, who yesterday took over the hot seat of Kenya Airways board chairman, will be expected to oversee the implementation of a turn-around strategy to rescue the struggling carrier, which reported a Sh26.2 billion loss for the financial year ended March 2016. Mr Joseph replaced Mr Dennis Awori.

Auditor jets back from the Counties can’t US after Eurobond probe: roads,says Kepsa: Auditor General Edward Ouko is expected back in the country today after concluding his tour of the US to investigate the controversial Sh250 billion Eurobond puzzle. According to a source at the auditor’s office, Ouko, three senior directors and a team of top forensic experts travelled on Thursday after close to six months of delay. The report they come up with is expected to provide more information regarding the transactions in the billions of shillings, described by Cord leader Raila Odinga as the biggest scandal under Jubilee administration.

run

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance yesterday differed with governors over the capacity of devolved units to handle road functions. The alliance said counties had no capacity to build roads and the demand to manage the Kenya Rural Roads and Kenya Urban Roads authorities was largely informed by a desire for more money, not quality. Mr Matu Mwangi, who represented the alliance in a meeting with senators, said there was a potential of conflict between national and county governments if devolved units were left to manage urban roads.

catch that will please their employer regarding its push for performance and productivity measurement that they had resisted. The four-year Sh54 billion deal signed with unions on Tuesday improved salaries of head teachers but at the same time opened up the filling of the positions in a competitive process. In addition the entry grade to the teaching profession will be raised above the current Grade C. Persons teaching in primary schools will all be required to be degree holders.

Detectives probe Sh5bn theft, biggest ever under Jubilee: Detectives Wednesday moved

into Afya House, the Ministry of Health headquarters, to probe claims of the biggest theft in the Jubilee administration yet, of more than Sh5.3 billion by senior officials. So complex was the alleged theft unraveled by an internal audit that also questions payments to the United Nations arm that deals with children and the world’s largest equipment maker, General Electric. Kenyans were outraged by the newest scandal.

Kenya goes for second Eurobond: Kenya has begun preparing

for a second Eurobond to raise an unspecified amount of money from international capital markets. National Treasury said its officials recently returned from “non-deal road shows” in New York and Boston. “The reason for the road shows was to keep investors informed about the developments taking place in the country. We also wanted to reduce uncertainty, which helps investors have stronger demand for the paper,” said Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge yesterday.

facility, Kenyatta National Hospital lost more than Sh1.5 billion in a series of fraudulent transactions that were dominated by illegal staff compensation and diversion of its funds at the parent ministry. A damning Ministry of Health internal audit report seen by the Business Daily shows the money was lost in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 fiscal years, with the auditors saying more may have been lost through improper accounting and careless debt management.

Kenya’s ease of business ranking improves 44 places in 2 years: Kenya rode on the back of

administrative reforms, including a reduction in electricity connection procedures, to become the third most reformed country in World Bank’s latest ease of doing business index. The Doing Business 2017 report, which was released on Tuesday, shows that Kenya improved 21 places, to rank at position 92 in the list of 190 countries surveyed for the annual rankings. This year’s improvement is a build-up from last year’s when Kenya improved 23 places.

KenGen eyes non-power revenue to boost earnings:

Power producer Kenya Electricity Generating Company is looking to further diversify its non-electricity revenue by offering consultancy services, increasing steam sales and leasing out drilling equipment. KenGen finance director John Mudany yesterday said the firm was looking to have non-electricity revenue build up over time from the current 23 per cent of total revenue (about Sh9 billion) to about 30 per cent. The main driver of non-electricity income currently is earnings from sale of geothermal steam.

Top stories from X News global partners UN chief calls security Clinton Aides’ Emails Spain at last has a Apple’s profits in China council’s failure on Aleppo Reveal Concerns Over government again: EVEN Pablo down by almost a fifth: Apple’s ‘our generation’s shame’: In Foundation: In the years before Iglesias, the leader of the leftist Podemos party, profits in China fell by almost a fifth in its latest financial year, a stark reversal after operating a blistering indictment, UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien called the failure of the UN security council, and Russia in particular, to stop the bombing of eastern Aleppo as “our generation’s shame”. Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin reacted by denouncing O’Brien’s vivid account of the humanitarian toll in the besieged city as “unfair and dishonest”. In one of the most pointed attacks against a top UN official by a permanent council member in recent times, he told O’Brien to leave his comments “for the novel you’re going to write some day”.

Envoys from the US, UK and France came to the UN’s defence and heaped blame for the mass killing of civilians in Aleppo on Russia and its ally. www.theguardian.com

Hillary Clinton announced she would run again for president, her top aides expressed profound concerns in internal emails about how foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation and Bill Clinton’s own moneymaking ventures would affect Mrs. Clinton’s political future. The emails, obtained by hackers and being gradually released by WikiLeaks this month, also are revealing how efforts to minimize potential conflicts at the foundation led to power struggles and infighting among aides and Mrs. Clinton’s family. One top aide to Mr. Clinton, Douglas J. Band, noted in an email that the former president had received personal income from some foundation donors and “gets many expensive gifts from them.” www.nytimes.com

this week recognised that one of the political qualities of Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s conservative prime minister, is patience. Having endured seven years as opposition leader, Mr Rajoy won power in a landslide in 2011 only to have to pick up the pieces of his country’s housing bust. His fiscal curbs and financial and labour-market reforms speeded a vigorous economic recovery, but were unpopular. Together with corruption scandals in local government, that cost Mr Rajoy his majority in an election last December.

His People’s Party (PP) remained the largest party, but in a newly fragmented parliament.

Since then, Spain and Mr Rajoy, reduced to an impotent caretaker, have waited for more than 300 days.

income there more than doubled in 2015. The figures will fuel investor concern that Apple is losing out to local rivals such as Huawei, Vivo and Oppo in what until recently has been its biggest source of growth. In its annual report for its financial year ending in September, filed on Wednesday, Apple revealed that operating income in Greater China fell 18 per cent to $18.8bn, as revenues there dropped 17 per cent to $48.5bn. The previous year, Apple’s operating income in the world’s largest mobile market had leapt from $11bn to $23bn as Chinese consumers flocked to buy the largerscreened iPhone 6. China sales almost doubled to $58.7bn in fiscal 2015.

www.economist.com

To enquire about digital advertising with these international brands, email julian@x254.co

www.ft.com

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NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

NEWS PICTORIAL RUNNING FOR DEAR LIFE: A man runs for cover from bricks being thrown by students during a protest over fees to parliament on the occasion of South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan presenting his Medium Term Budget Policy speech to Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday. Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse student protestors demonstrating at the gates of parliament as the Finance Minister delivered his medium term budget policy speech. PHOTO: NIC BOTHMA/EPA

SERIOUS MATTER: US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter (L) chats with Spanish Defense Minister Pedro Morenes (R) during a Nato defense ministers council at alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. Nato defense ministers are in a tw0-day meeting in Brussels. PHOTO: OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA

A model during the 11th Lima Fashion Week, in Lima, Peru, yesterday.

PHOTO: ERNESTO ARIAS/EPA

LABOURING TO FEED: Female laborers sort through polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles while holding children into their laps in a recycling factory at Mohammadpur in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on October 26, 2016. Recycling plastic bottles became a growing business over the last couple of years as well as help protecting the environment. According to the Bangladesh PET Flakes Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPFMEA), Bangladesh exports on an average nearly 30,000 tons of PET bottle akes mainly to China, South Korea and Taiwan worth 14 million US dollars per year. PHOTO: ABIR ABDULLAH/EPA

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

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

KQ narrows pre-tax loss to Sh4.7 billion as recovery drive takes off Kenya Airways, the country’s flagship carrier, has narrowed its pre-tax loss to Sh4.73 billion from Sh11.86 billion in 2015, indicating that the floundering flyer is finally on the road to recovery.

Speaking today, Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze said that the carrier’s loss narrowed as KQ posted an operating profit of Sh949 million for the six months ended in September, up from an operating loss of Sh2.2 billion the previous year.

“Across Africa we faced the challenge of currency fluctuations and a changing environment driven by lower commodities,” he said in a speech issued this morning.

“KQ has continued to be resilient despite these challenges managing to achieve improved results. We’re in a marathon and not a sprint...and it is beginning to bear fruit,” added Ngunze.

KQ has been reducing the size of its fleet, selling non-core assets like land and sacking employees to try and cut costs following years of losses, due in part to a slump in Kenya’s tourism sector that was caused by terror attacks.

During the period under review, passenger numbers grew by 4.2 per cent to a total of 2.2 million in the first half of FY 2016/2017 and traffic across Africa grew by 14 per cent. In the first half of FY 2016/2017 KQ had a one off cash injection of KES 1.7 billion from sale of assets.

The flyer stated that lower operating

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Mbuvi Ngunze. costs were made possible by fleet rationalisation in line with the recovery strategy ‘Operation Pride’.

The carrier, which is partly-owned by Air France KLM and the Kenya government, said today that KQ Cargo has signed a partnership with e-commerce platform, G-Market Africa to offer customer solutions in West Africa.

KQ’s total revenue fell to Sh54.748 billion in April-September, from

Sh56.72 billion a year ago, but the pretax loss narrowed to Sh4.73 billion shillings from Sh11.86 billion, Finance Director Dick Murianki told an investor briefing this morning.

The announcement follows the KQ’s appointment of former Safaricom chief, Michael Joseph last week. Joseph will serve as the company’s chair. Pilots had threatened to strike last week, demanding management changes,

but called off the action when Joseph’s appointment was announced.

On his part, Kenya Airways CFO Dick Murianki said KQ’s turnaround strategy ‘Operation Pride’ continues to be “the main focus of the company.” Operation Pride focuses on 3 main priorities: Closing the profitability gap, Refocusing the business model and Optimizing capital. @Dennisx254

MEAN 101.3883 123.2931 110.2647 7.3530 34.0573 21.5509

BUY SELL 101.2883 101.4883 123.1506 124.4356 110.1394 110.3900 7.3427 7.3632 33.9743 34.1402 21.4803 21.6214

Nigeria urges airlines not to suspend flights as KQ cuts Abuja trips

Nigeria has urged airlines, among them Kenya Airways and Emirates, not to scale down operations in the West African country. Nigeria is attempting to deal with a currency crisis and fuel shortages that have hit airlines’ operations in the region. The appeal comes just as Kenya Airways announced plans to suspend flights to Abuja by next month.

Last week, Emirates said it will suspend its four times a week service between Dubai and Abuja from October. 30.

However, both Kenya Airways and Emirates will continue to serve Nigeria with a flights to and from Lagos, the country’s commercial capital.

Hadi Sirika, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Aviation said he was working hard to resolve these issues He said he had asked Emirates and other airlines to reconsider their decisions due to the impact on customers.

Nigeria’s naira has plunged in value against the US dollar this year due to the impact of low oil prices and a central bank move in June to scrap a dollar peg.

The move has negatively affected domestic and international carriers since it has made bills for imported jet fuel more expensive and squeezed profit margins as many passengers pay in the local currency.

Nigeria’s central bank has held a twomonth dollar forward auction to clear a backlog of demand from airlines and other companies in a bid to avert a full currency crisis.

CBK, KDIC delay case against Public accountants to benefit from Imperial Bank Ltd owners launch of new e-learning platform

The Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) have stalled their case that sought to freeze the assets of Imperial Bank’s Directors.

The move came as their lawyer sought disqualification of counsels representing former directors and shareholders of Imperial Bank Limited (IBL).

The application for disqualification of law firms of Ahmednasir Abdullahi and Muriu Mungai, filed on Wednesday by Philip Murgor on behalf of KDIC and CBK, was strongly opposed by senior counsel, Paul Muite.

Muite told the presiding judge, Justice Francis Tuyoit, that the application - if allowed to be heard - will impact negatively on his clients and is meant to delay the hearing of the main application filed by KDIC, CBK and Imperial Bank under receivership.

He said the application is coming when parties have prepared for the hearing of the substantive application, which the presiding judge had given two days hearing.

“The application was filed this morning by the applicants who came to court under certificate of urgency and it appears that they have abandoned the main notice of motion,” he said.

Muite, Abdullahi and Mungai said that they were not going to respond to the application for disqualification of lawyers and urged the court to order the matter proceed as directed.

The urgency of the substantive application

by KDIC and CBK whose main prayer is to seek freeze of assets and shares of the former directors and shareholders seems to have disappeared and parties are now being engaged in side shows.

The applicants rely heavily in their application on forensic investigations by FTI firm whose reports the defendants have asked to be produced for purposes of ascertaining the allegations of fraud has not been done.

The proceedings by the bank, CBK and KDIC against former directors and shareholders were given two days; October 26 and October 27, 2016.

All public accountants across the country are set to benefit from the recently launched International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) programme.

IPSAS is an e-learning platform formed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales ICEAW in partnership with Kenya’s leading professional services firms PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) seeking to equip accountants with necessary skills and knowledge to manage funds within the public sector.

The programme further seeks to provide a high quality, flexible and accessible certified learning programme for public sector accountants.

“We are very pleased to offer a new program in partnership with PwC to complement already existing skills among public sector accountants in Kenya and to help them manage

finances as effectively as possible,” said Ross Campbell, ICAEW Public Sector Director.

“There are no entry requirements, and the programme is easily accessible to those who need it.

Moreover, the flexible, interactive online learning can be fitted around existing commitments, and the online assessment offers immediate results,” she added.

The programme explores the complex challenges of financial management and follows a handson- approach, from principles to practice, with technical guidance, practical examples, practice questions and revision aids.

Stephen Ochieng’, a PwC Partner, government and public sector expert lauded the move saying IPSAS is a PwC milestone as it will reform public financial management, thus complementing the government’s efforts in fighting graft within the

public accounts sector.

“IPSAS is a key pillar of public sector financial management reforms. This will provide us with an excellent opportunity to serve our clients better as we strive to make public financial management more effective, transparent, efficient, and participatory with increased accountability and better service delivery,” said Ochieng’.

“With IPSAS comes uniformity in reporting, enabling comparability across entities and better interpretation of financial information. This is significant when it comes to more informed assessments of the resource allocation decisions undertaken by governments,” he added.

The e-learning certified programme is now live and is open to anyone who works in the public sector. @enock_x254

8

PROPERTY DEALS

China Wu Yi Ltd to set up development firm for property projects in Kenya THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

International construction and engineering company, China Wu Yi plans to set up a development firm in Kenya for property projects. The Chinabased firm is set to reveal the details of said development in the coming weeks.

China Wu Yi had said in August that it would be building a Sh10 billion housing materials plant in Athi River. At the time, the firm stated that the factory will manufacture precast materials that will also be sold to other construction

firms. The multinational is putting up the plant through its locally incorporated subsidiary China Wu Yi Precast (Kenya) Company Limited.

Its chairman Qiu Liangxin said the project would create a modern building industry base for research, manufacture, sale and demonstration of pre-cast elements in Kenya.

“The development of prefabricated building is significant to the transformation of construction, with advanced guarantee on construction

Our Services • • •

•

quality and safety,” Mr Liangxin said. “We have been behind various projects in this region and this will be our first building materials producer established overseas.”

The firm has partnered with two German technology services providers, Ebawe Anlagetechnik to supply equipment for the concrete pre-casts production and Nemetschek to provide the software for the design of the housing parts.

Speaking at the time, Industrialisation Cabinet

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Exotic Cuisine from The Shalom and The Pool Restaurants.

Elegant Conference and Functions facilities tailored to your special needs.We have 15 state-of-the-art rooms.

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Secretary Adan Mohamed said the project was among those the government signed a cooperation agreement during the China-Africa Business Council in Beijing.

“This is basically industrialising the construction sector because this will shorten building period by more than 50 per cent,” said the CS. “The building and construction industry is rapidly growing and this investment is very timely for our economy and in line with our industrialisation blue print. The number of

Café and Wireless Internet service.

Crystal Clear Half-Olympic Size Swimming Pool.

Upcoming Elegant Gardens and Events Centre with capacity of 2000 people.

Facilities for the physically challenged.

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Secure ample parking for all inhouse guests.

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cement companies around here will no doubt have new demand for cement from this firm,” he added.

China Wu Yi has had an active role in real estateand infrastructure development in Kenya. A 2013 report noted that the firm had 18 projects in Kenya. The Kenyan operations of the company is one of the six largest Chinese construction companies in Kenya, competing in a highly competitive market with each other and local and European construction companies. One of the key projects Wu Yi was selected, in September 2006, for is modernization of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, funded by a syndicate of Kenyan banks and the World Bank.

The company is a contractor in paving the first phase of a road between the border KenyaEthiopia border town of Moyale and Isiolo, a northern Kenyan gateway city in a project worth billions, funded by the African Development Bank.

China Wu Yi, which participated in the construction of the Thika Superhighway, the University of Nairobi Tower and several apartments in Nairobi, is also planning to put up an iron and steel factory in Kenya in the near term.

The plant is set to produce over three million tonnes of steel targeting public and private sector projects. China Wu Yi will also rely on the plants to feed its own projects in the country where it has emerged as one of the largest construction firms. The multinational last year said it had won four construction tenders in Kenya worth Sh10.1 billion. At the time, its latest contract was the Sh16.4 billion reconstruction and capacity enhancement of James Gichuru Junction-Rironi road. The road works, meant to ease traffic flow in the capital, is being funded by World Bank and the government.

The firm’s latest move to deepen its foray into Kenya’s real estate sector comes barely two weeks after it China Wu Yi wrote off from its books the Sh10 billion contract for the upgrade of Garsen-Witu-Lamu Road in the ongoing high-stakes bidding tussle with H Young.

China Wu Yi’s project also comes at a time when demand for low-cost housing is at an all time high.

A joint real estate report issued by investment bank Dyer & Blair and real estate specialists

MML Developments argues that real estate investors and developers should identify niche opportunities to make returns and develop the city’s much-needed low cost housing.

The report, which was released in June, came shortly after Knight Frank’s annual wealth report found that residential and commercial property now account for more than a third of the average ultra-high net worth individual’s (UHNWIs) investments. The report further revealed that 54 per cent of real estate agents questioned said their clients had increased their allocation to property over the last 10 years, and 40 per cent expecting further increases.

“With 30 per cent of ultra-high net worth individuals in Africa likely to consider a property purchase in 2016, the need for well-informed investments with a favourable risk return balance in the real estate space is now paramount,” said Linet Muriungi Head of Research, Dyer and Blair.

In its first joint industry report with MML Developments, the investment bank delivered a range and detail per sector that is new to Kenya’s real estate analysis.

“The aim is to create an initial platform of reporting that is both comprehensive and detailed, as the basis for the ongoing creation of a ground breaking investor information service on real estate,” said Mr James Hoddell, CEO of MML Developments.

The report, which cites a fall in occupancy rates in high end residential rentals and higher levels of vacancy in Grade B office space, points to slackening demand in the last 18 months in the city’s most wealthy suburbs, as diplomatic missions downsizer relocate, at the same time as aid budgets come under pressure, delivering additional administrative and staffing cuts.

“This has pushed back high end properties onto the market that had previously been let long term,” said Mr Hoddell. “New and high quality homes are still selling and letting at higher speed, but this slackening in the market sees Grade B, older and lower quality detached houses and villas now experiencing some vacancies.”

The report also noted that Nairobi had seen unprecedented levels of new building in retail and office space, in foot traffic and sales. @Dennis_x254

PROPERTY DEALS 9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

BRANTON INVESTMENTS LIMITED. P.O.BOX 55398-00200 TEL: 0202224233 / 0733288772. 3RD FLOOR HUGHES BUILDING NAIROBI

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The Waiyaki Way Suites comprising of 2&3 bedroom apartments with over 350 parking Borehole, Recreational spaces, perimeter wall, serene & quite environment is being constructed in a prime location fronting the Waiyaki Way, with a rear access of Thiongo road which is on the Naivasha - Nakuru Highway and in between two pre-urban towns namely Uthiru and Kangemi located at Dagoretti division in Nairobi bordering the Kiambu area. The project is fronting Mountain View Estate. The project targets middle-income class which is mostly hit by the housing deficit.

The Project aims at realizing 204 housing units in 5 blocks, supporting infrastructural services that ensure a sustainable living environment and neighborhood. .The completion date will be December 2017 and the construction work is ongoing. The Waiyaki way developers are working out to see change of look of that area by putting down the shanties and putting up modern apartments.

Quick access to the CBD, having Waiyaki way only 15 minutes drive, thus the time spent on average to reach to the place of work/business is short. Transport is accessible since you can use any that is using the highway, in less than 10min you are in Westlands.

OUR

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Wainaina Real Estates Ltd. Registered Estate Agents, property consultants & Managing Agents 1st Floor Hughes Building, Kenyatta Avenue, P.O. Box 74194-00200, NAIROBI, KENYA Tel: 312911/2227207/2224995 Fax: 2220081;Cell Phone: 0724-256271/0735-993199

Email: waireal@nbnet.co.ke PROPERTIES TO LET OTHAYA ROAD – Kileleshwa An Executive and spacious four bed roomed town house (all ensuite) with a family room, study room, dhobi area, spacious kitchen and servants’ quarter on a beautiful garden. Ksh 250,000pm MIREMA DRIVE – Kasarani An executive six (6) bed roomed (Three en suite) double storey residence on ½ acre plot with a borehole water in addition to the Nairobi Water Co Water Ksh 120,000pm MANDERA ROAD-Kileleshwa An executive four bed roomed maisonnette (Two En suite ) with servants’ quarter Ksh 100,000pm TATE APARTMENTS – Off Dennis Pritt Road A three bed roomed Apartment within a very secure court (All en suite) with servants’ quarter Ksh 90,000pm NGONG ROAD & VALLEY ARCADE Executive two bed roomed Apartments on 24-hour security. Ksh 65,000pm IMARA DAIMA – Mombasa Road Two bed roomed bungalow within the main Estate Ksh 25,000pm PARK ROAD – Ngara One and two bed roomed flats Ksh 18,000pm and Ksh 22,000pm respectively KIAMBU TOWN – On the main street One and two bed roomed flats Ksh 10,000pm and Ksh 14,000pm respectively PANGANI – Off Juja Road One bed roomed Flat – Secure Ksh 10,000pm OFFICES TO LET DAYKIO PLAZA –Next to Nakumat Prestige Ngong Road Executive self contained office suites ranging between 858 sqft and 2100 sqft with ample parking within a clean secure environment; Call for details WESTLANDS – Next to Unga House Secure office suites measuring 686 & 718 sqft @ Ksh 70.00 per sqft pm – Only two remaining NAIROBI WEST OPP T-MALL – Off Lang’ata Road Ground floor space measuring Appr 3700sqft with wash rooms, strong room, parking area suitable for bank, show room etc. Ksh 400,000pm HOUSES / FLATS FOR SALE DONYO SABUK ROAD – Off General Mathenge road A piece of land measuring 1.7 acres with an old house suitable for Apartments Ksh 500m KIAMBU ROAD – Muthaiga North Beautiful ½ acre red soil fully serviced plot on tarmac within a gated community Ksh 50m RIDGEWAYS ROAD A corner red soil plot measuring ½ of an acre Ksh 50m KIAMBU ROAD – Behind upcoming Quick Mark Supermarket Beautiful red soil ½ plots near the main tarmac road Ksh 30m each GARDEN ESTATE – Off thika Road Residential Red and Black soil plots measuring ½ acre; Ksh 35m and Ksh 30m respectively GUANCO ESTATE – On Banana Road off Northern Bypass A four bed room residence (master en suite) with Servants’ quarter Ksh 12.8m

10

BUSINESS

Equitel subscribers to access ‘Wings to Fly’ learning platform THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Mobile subscribers using Equitel, Equity Bank’s mobile banking service, will now have access to supplementary digital learning resources pegged under the ‘Wings to Fly Scholarship programme.’

Equity Group Foundation’s 2014 Impact Report states that one of its goals and objectives for 2015 and 2016 was to roll out the program dubbed, Wings to Fly Learning, (originally developed to offer digital learning and teaching aids) to over 10,000 scholars under the Wings to Fly Project. However, Equity Group Foundation now says anyone with an Equitel SIM card can easily access the service.

The resources are available to parents, students and teachers.

“We are even going beyond banking on mobile phones. We have now put the education curriculum of the Kenyan primary and secondary schools on the SIM card, where every child will have free access to textbooks and the curriculum. Digitization and virtualization are the greatest disruptions the bank will ever go through in our lifetime,” Equity Bank CEO and MD, Dr. James Mwangi said in regard to the move.

Dr. Mwangi added that he sees sustainability becoming much easier because it is now platform driven.

The programme was developed as a supplementary to the scholars’ schooling - a resource that they can use after school or during the holidays to help them improve their academic performance through revision and other curriculum support.

The program has gained popularity, especially over the holidays, when

learners are taking time to revise and stay abreast of their studies. The resource has seen an increase in the learners’ confidence. They’re also saying that they enjoy learning because young people love mobile phones as a communication and entertainment medium. This, EGF believes will also lead to an increase in academic performance.

Currently, the Wings to Fly Learning programme has distributed learning content in USBs to over 9,000 scholars and over 9,009 career books were distributed to scholars to further guide them on career choices.

The latest data released by Equity

Group indicates that Equitel has over 2.3 Million subscribers with transactions hitting Kshs 138.5 billion for the three months to June 2016.

The service’s success has been largely pegged on the fact that sending money to other Equitel members is free as well as the fact that someone using the platform can send money to other mobile money networks at lower fees than competition.

The free Wings to Fly learning programme on Equitel now has the opportunity to propel further the growth of Equitel as it enables learners and teachers, even in the most remote areas, obtain learning and teaching

materials.

The Wings to Fly Learning is part of Equity World, which currently offers financial literacy, health and learning content via SMS/USSD on the Equitel platform free of charge. Subscribers can access the Wings to Fly Learning resources under My Life menu on their Equitel lines. Equitel SIM cards (Normal, Nano, Micro and Thin SIM) are available for free in all Equity Bank branches and selected agents across the country.

Some of the resources available include KCSE revision papers and their answers. @Dennis_x254

Airtel Africa CEO Christian de Faria (left) and Equity Group Holdings CEO James Mwangi at a past event.

Digital Literacy Programme picks up speed as state distributes tablet devices in marginalized counties The government’s Digital Literacy Programme is picking up speed as Ministries continue to distribute tablet devices in marginalized counties. Taita Taveta is one of the latest counties to receive the devices, with the Ministry of Health spearheading the drive.

Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Cleopa Mailu has delivered 121 tablets to Mwandisha Primary School in Mwatate Sub County, Taita Taveta, signaling other Ministries to follow suit.

The learning institution becomes the 22nd school in the County to receive the gadgets. The County has so far received 996 tablets and has a total of 199 public primary schools. The government plans to distribute one million tablets to class one pupils in 23,000 public primary schools before the end of the year, in order to prepare them for the digital era.

Speaking during the launch on Tuesday, Dr. Mailu said that the

programme would not only transform learning in Kenya, but also go a long way in facilitating the delivery of Vision 2030. He observed that the programme would increase access to electricity thereby boosting the economies of communities that live close to public schools. This will be done through the Last Mile Connectivity Project which is expected to install electricity and light up the country’s rural areas.

“Our presence here is a sign that the government is committed to preparing our children for the 21st Century and we must ensure that we use these devices so that our country can take its place in the digital world. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we fulfil our children’s dreams,” said the CS. He also announced that the government had set aside special tablets for children with special needs so as to cover all class one pupils.

Dr. Mailu further revealed that the

government had trained and equipped 60,000 teachers with ICT skills so as to ensure the successful implementation of the Digital Literacy Programme.

Madam Audrey Mwandonyi, a teacher at Mwandisha primary school, said that the digital devices would make learning interactive for the children and also make it easier for tutors to explain various concepts. She lauded the government for delivering its promise saying that it was a dream come true for the class one pupils.

“You can imagine teaching parts of a plant to the pupils during the dry season and you have to explain what a flower is. It becomes very difficult to teach and you have to look for coloured chalk so as to draw and colour the flower. These devices make it easy for the children and they are able to retain that memory,” she noted.

County Director of Education Bridget Wambua urged school heads to take good care of the devices in order

to ensure that they served the next class one pupils. Deputy County Commissioner Shufa Mwahima promised to provide sufficient security for all the primary schools so as to keep the tablets safe. Also present was the County CEC for Health Dr. Gifting Mkaya, CEC for Education Jemimah Tuja and other County leaders.

The Digital Literacy Programme is being coordinated by the Ministries of Education, Information Communication and Technology, Energy and Industrialisation. The Teachers Service Commission, Kenya National Union of Teachers and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers have also been involved in the rolling out of the programme. All Cabinet and Principal Secretaries are expected to spearhead this process and launch it in various public primary schools across the country. @Dennis_x254

World Bank lauds Kenya for protecting minority investors

The World Bank has lauded Kenya’s government for its efforts in protecting minority investors through business sector reforms. In an analysis dubbed ‘Doing Business 2017 Report’, the global lender commended Kenya for its ongoing drive to empower entrepreneurs.

Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Adan Mohamed said Kenya instituted 5 reforms, among them, a directive aimed at protecting minority investors.

The report showed marginal increase in scores on Protecting Minority Investors following legal and policy reforms.

Kenya was credited with strengthening “clarification of ownership and control structures, by introducing greater requirements for disclosure of related-party transactions to the board of directors, making it easier to sue directors in cases of prejudicial related-party transactions and by allowing the rescission of relatedparty transactions that are shown to harm the company.”

The report shows that Kenya has established itself on the global stage by making it to the double digit rankings of the world’s most conducive business environments, Africa’s most reformed country and for the second consecutive year, the world’s 3rd most reformed country.

The analysis shows that Kenya has climbed 21 places to 92nd from 113th last year (with the World Bank having revised last year’s position from 108th). Kenya has, with this result, attained a record 44 places jump in two years to return to clinch Africa’s top reformer slot and break into the double digit zone for the first time since 2009.

The report indicates that Kenya has implemented regulatory reforms aimed at making it easier for local entrepreneurs to do business in the country.

Each year, the World Bank Group and International Finance Corporation benchmarks 190 countries globally against 10 indicators on how easy it is to do business in the country. Private sector experts say the results are a harbinger of change and testimonial that Government is keen to create an investor conducive environment for the industry. The report notes that Sub-Saharan Africa had implemented a record of 80 reforms in 37 of the region’s 48 countries over the past year, 14 per cent more than the number of reforms recorded last year (69) leading in the world’s number of reforms.

A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means the regulatory environment is more conducive to start and operate a local firm. @Dennis_x254

12

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

ACCESS UNITED STATES IS A SIGNATORY THAT SUBSEQUENTLY WITHDREW FROM THE COURT.

S

struggles for relevance in Africa outh Africa recently announced its plans to withdraw from the Rome Statute which established the

from other African countries. Burundi happened to also make their decision to ‘why?’

July 1998 set up the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute the 4 core international crimes; genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. According to the Rome Statute the ICC should only become a part of the prosecution process in a situation where a country has become ‘unable’ or ‘unwilling’ to do so under its own mechanisms. It is worth noting that a number of the world’s major economies are not part of the ICC; China and India do not have any links to the ICC, Russia while United States is a signatory that subsequently withdrew from the court.

Many developing nations and most African countries are part of the ICC. Although the standing of the court in the African sphere has transformed in recent times many countries

HOT TOPICS

ZUMA continue to be members. South Africa’s case seems to have been a particularly outstanding because of Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir. Al-Bashir, who has been elected to his seat three times since his ascent, is President of ‘genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Darfur.’

Omar Al-Bashir attended an AU summit in South Africa last year, and it being a country signed to the ICC had an obligation to arrest

OMAR AL-BASHIR

members from the country’s civil society. Africa Is a Country reports, ‘the Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that the government had violated national laws and its international obligations for not having arrested Bashir and surrendered him to the ICC.’ Although arrest warrants have been issued for Al-Bashir the court cannot actively arrest him as they do not have a police force. South Africa on the other hand did not believe that as a country it had any jurisdiction to arrest an individual who

had diplomatic immunity under customary international law.

It is of note that only Africans have been charged on ongoing ICC cases. Kenya has expressed its intentions to pull out of the ICC although all the cases launched against the country have been dismissed.

As a number of other African countries such as Gambia follow South Africa’s sovereign are yet to be seen.

@christine_x254

@christine_x254

Radio presenter Grace Makosewe dies ion ality and fash ad in Media person was found de e ter ew os ak M ce ra i Police boss Pe G an st m ia ili us enth r’s case day evening. K te es en Tu es on pr t en FM her apartm er Capital d been in her s that the form in and who ha us Katam report co r l FM, he by forward ding to Capita was brought r work. Accor e has fo ob g pr in a av gh le ou re th ical injuries company befo ys ph ually eq no e d ar ha e r body her death. “W Katam says he ne seen yo ish the cause of an bl ta as es w e to er ed th been launch ns know whether d confrontatio d we want to hether she ha w d er concerned an an rm e fo d tim ace at that her friends an around the pl membrance by nyo… re re G of s A K ge A sa e es M osew with anyone.” in. “Grace Mak voice loud been pouring person with a ly on e th colleagues have as w e Sh ork. “I’m r! ew he om d H lle ca lo of Hits Not That’s what I So id sa ded. The ” ad e! yi own min Danny Mun er uc od enough to dr pr FM ed,” Capital . terribly confus en established h has not yet be at de r he cause of

emerges after Paris robbery

Socialite and businesswoman Kim Kardashian had been laying low since the robbery she suffered at the hands of masked thieves in Paris earlier this month. The mother of two who has been holed up in her Hidden Hills home has now made some forays to the public since the incident.

Kardashian has resumed filming reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians after being photographed with the show’s camera crew and she even supported husband Kanye West at his Pablo concert at the Forum in Los Angeles. The socialite has once again stepped into the public with best friend Jonathan Cheban as they grabbed some frozen treats at the Glen Deli in Los Angeles. Showing a stripped down look, Kardashian’s usual glamourous and heavily made up face was relatively make up free and she wore an oversized hoodie and slippers for the outing. ‘She is slowly getting back to a normal life step by step,’ a source told DailyMail.com. ‘Kim is still shaken up, but she’s gradually bouncing back.’

12

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY 26th NOVEMBER THURSDAY,OCTOBER 27, 2016 2014

ALL ROUND NEWS AND UPDATES FROM UNIVERSITIES

@christine_x254

K

things to consider when choosing a CAMPUS FACILITIES

Especially with specialized courses it is important to choose a campus that will cater to all your educational and co-curricular needs.

LOCATION

If staying close to home or even leaving home is a priority then the location of a school is imperative. For farther away locales it might be a good idea to check out how close health facilities and police stations are to a university first before making a selection.

RATE OF GRADUATION

enyatta University Fourth Year Public Health student, Makenna Wanjiku, is the winner of the second edition of #SamsungColoursOfKE social media competition aimed at celebrating Kenya’s heritage. The 2016 Samsung Colours of Kenya competition which was inspired by the new Samsung SUHD TV attracted over fifty photography enthusiasts from all over the country in an August InstaMeet held at the Nairobi Railway Station.

“The owner of the winning photo gets to walk away with a Samsung Smart TV while the Top 10 most liked photos will be put in a

digital gallery for display on Samsung SUHD TV sets in Samsung retail stores across the country” said Samuel Odhiambo, Product Manager for Visual Display at Samsung Electronics East Africa.

According to Makenna, who won a 48 inch Samsung Smart LED TV, having Nairobi Railway Station as the location for the Instameet was an easy pick as it presents various elements of Kenya’s culture. “The Nairobi Railways Station is a hub of creativity marked by graffiti as well as being a host to various arts and culture organisations,” says Ms. Wanjiku.

Kisii Univeristy set to shut down five campuses F

ollowing the recommendations by the Commission of University of Education (CUE) and the Advisory Committee of the Eminent Persons (ACEP) Kisii University has announced the move to close five of its satellite campuses. Ogembo, Nyamira, Keroka, Isebania and Kehancha are set to be closed.

Students who have been affected by the move have been advised to join other campuses under the institution that are still operating.

Although jumping right into school seems like a good idea the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow is essentially to graduate. Check on the number of students who graduate from the institution compared to the number of students who are admitted into a university to weigh your odds.

HOT DATE

@christine_x254

etu Festival, touted as a celebration of Kenya’s music, food, culture and entertainment has one of most star studded and super-nostalgic casts to hit a Nairobi stage this year. Nyashinski, Eric Wainaina, Nameless, Wyre, Fena, Them Mushrooms, Esther Wahome, Rumba Japan, Kidum, Ken Wa Maria, Onyi Papa Jey, Mike Rua and Amos & Josh are all set to give a once in a lifetime performance at the Ngong Racecourse this Saturday. On the decks will be Dj John, Xclusive, Dj Andre, Dj Hypnotiq and Dj Kym spinning tunes through the night.

Early bird tickets go for Sh.1500 while regular tickets cost Sh.2000. From 2pm till the morning hours show up to reminisce and hear some great tunes while having a good time.

Nyashinski

Kenyatta University student wins #SamsungColoursOfKE social media competition

Annual T

ech Goliath Apple has reported a decline in annual revenue for the first time since 2001. This drop was mainly occasioned by a decline in the sale of flagship product the iPhone. According to TechCrunch earnings from sales fell short of Wall Street projections, ‘Apple reported revenue of $46.9 billion and earnings of $1.67 per share. The company shipped 45.5 million iPhones, 9.3 million iPads and 4.9 million Macs. Wall Street was looking for earnings of $1.65 per share on revenue of $46.9 billion, with iPhone sales

An advert in local dailies stated that the campuses would be shut down

by January next year, reportedly in line with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s Campuses’ Roadmap and the Campus Exit Strategy. This move might affect over 3000 students who will be forced to go through the process of looking for accommodation and settling into a new place not to mention the disruption caused to their course work.

sales fall for the first time in 15 years of 45 million.’

Reports state that Apple’s higher market price for their smartphone might have contributed to a 13 per cent drop in sales over the year.

Cheaper alternatives that have saturated the tech marketplace have creeped on Apple’s chokehold on the smartphone arena.

A decline in Apple devices trended across the board, Mac computer sales dropped by 14 per cent while iPads by 6 per cent.

Emphasis seems to have been shifted onto newer services such as storage service iCloud and Apple Music which

are also one of the few sectors where the company has actually realized profits.

Services have pulled in $6.3 billion in revenue this quarter which is a 24 per cent increase compared to the same quarter in the previous year.

Apple might need to up its one-trick-pony smartphone game but there’s really no need to be overly concerned though, Apple is still raking in big money. The company made $9 billion in the last 3 months, which translates to about $100 million in profits every day. @christine_x254

CLASSIFIED 13

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

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

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THURSDAY 27/10/2016

14

SPORT

Crowd trouble mars West Ham victory over Chelsea THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Crowd disturbances between rival fans marred the conclusion of West Ham’s EFL Cup fourthround victory over Chelsea at London Stadium.

Plastic bottles and seats were thrown towards the end of the match as hundreds of fans were involved in ugly scenes.

The flash points were a blot on what had been an entertaining night on the pitch as a muchchanged Chelsea side were beaten by a cohesive and intense West Ham. A superb Cheikhou Kouyate header before the break and an 18-yard Edimilson Fernandes strike a few minutes into the second half secured West Ham’s place in the last eight and a tie against Manchester United, who beat Manchester City 1-0 in one of the evening’s other matches.

Gary Cahill swept home from close range in injury time, but it was only a consolation at the end of another difficult evening off the pitch for the Hammers.

Security was boosted for the high-risk derby and an alcohol ban imposed as part of a “robust policing plan” aimed at minimising crowd trouble, with West Ham’s new home dogged by disturbances this season.

Prior to the tie there had been nine arrests outside the stadium and 23 banning orders issued

by West Ham in what has been a traumatic start to life in the former Olympic Stadium.

The match, with Chelsea allocated more than 5,000 tickets, was the biggest test yet to the police and stewards but once again trouble stirred.

An ugly atmosphere seemed to have been brewing throughout the match and as the game neared the end, riot police were deployed to maintain order as home and away fans came together in a section of the stadium concourse.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said he did not notice the disturbance but added that the

Chielini scores twice as Juventus thrash Sampdoria Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini scored two headers as the Serie A champions beat Sampdoria to remain on top of league standings.

The league leaders took a two-goal lead within nine minutes thanks to headers from Mario Mandzukic and Chiellini.

Czech youngster Patrik Schick pulled one back for Sampdoria on 57 minutes on his first Serie A start.

Miralem Pjanic smashed home for Juve and Chiellini headed home a fourth from a cross by Juan Cuadrado, who had also set up Mandzukic’s opener.

Second-placed Roma remain within two points of Juve after coming from a goal down to beat Sassuolo 3-1.

Edin Dzeko scored twice to become the first player to score 10 Serie A goals this season. Other matches saw Napoli win 2-0 against Empoli while Lazio thrashed Cagliari 4-1.

Bologna held Chievo 1-1 while Fiorentina also ended with a similar scoreline against bottom side Crotone.

Meanwhile Pescara’s Serie A match against Atalanta was suspended for two minutes in the first half after tremors were felt following an earthquake.

A strong earthquake hit central Italy, with people in Pescara and neighbouring towns rushing out of their homes in panic as the ground shook.

Buildings also shook in the capital Rome but there were no reports of any deaths across Italy.

Atalanta eventually went on to win 1-0 with Mattia Caldara scoring the goal.

West Ham United’s Cheikhou Kouyate celebrates after scoring their first goal against Chelsea in the League Cup round of 16 last night. The Hammers won 2-1.

PHOTO: COURTESY

club was “totally against it”.

In a statement, West Ham said fans found to have “acted improperly” would be banned for life from attending West Ham games.

“West Ham United and London Stadium partners unreservedly condemn the behaviour of individuals involved in incidents during the fixture with Chelsea,” the statement read.

Chelsea made seven changes to the team that thrashed Manchester United 4-0 on Sunday and the most notable inclusion was that of captain John Terry, returning from injury to the centre of a threeman defence.

Terry had last played on 11 September and in his absence Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta have formed a backline that has registered three consecutive clean sheets in their most recent encounters.

Azpilicueta was moved to

wing-back to make room for Terry and the former England international’s lack of match practice played a part in the visiting defence’s weakness.

Terry was beaten by Kouyate as the midfielder headed home for only his second goal of the season and the 35-year-old also played a part in the Hammers’ second as Fernandes threaded his strike through his legs on the way to goal.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte brought on his heavyweights Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Pedro - with the second half in its infancy but they failed to spark a comeback.

Costa, put through by the bright Willian, who was making a return following compassionate leave, was one-on-one with Darren Randolph in the closing stages of the match but chipped the ball inches wide.

Chelsea had their chances - Nathaniel Chalobah’s first-

half effort was tipped over the crossbar by Randolph and N’Golo Kante also went close - but West Ham were deserved winners.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said his team were “buzzing again” after back-to-back victories in the league following a shaky start to the season and against their London rivals they played like a team now at home in their surroundings.

“It was a good game of football, it deserves to be talked about.

I can’t say we were perfect but we had a plan and the guys executed it in a great way. We were good in defending as a unit,” said Bilic.

West Ham will aim to make it four successive victories as they take on Everton at Goodison Park in the league on Sunday.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is likely to make changes for his team’s league trip to Southampton, also on Sunday.

Hart error costs Torino in Serie A defeat at Inter

England goalkeeper Joe Hart made a costly mistake as Torino were beaten by out-of-form Inter Milan in Serie A. Hart, on loan from Manchester City, palmed Antonio Candreva’s through ball into Mauro Icardi’s shins and the ball ricocheted into the net.

It was captain Icardi’s first goal since falling out with the club’s ultras, who said he was dead to them.

Andrea Belotti capitalised on woeful defending to equalise before Icardi struck a drive into the top corner. Victory ended a run of three league defeats in succession for Inter.

Heroic welcome for Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns arrived back home in South Africa to a heroes’ welcome after winning the African Champions League on Sunday.

Thousands of football fans gathered at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to congratulate them.

“I’m humbled to hear everyone chanting my name,” said Pitso Mosimane, the first South African coach to win the continent’s premier club competition.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula gave the players $1,450 (about Sh150,000) each as a reward.

“Sundowns didn’t only represent themselves but our nation,” Mbalula tweeted.

“20,000 rand ($1,450) to a player to show our appreciation is little but a sign of gratitude,” he added.

Although Sundowns lost 1-0 against Egyptian opponents Zamalek in Alexandria on Sunday, they won the final 3-1 on aggregate following a strong showing at home the previous weekend.

They are only the second South African side to be crowned Africa’s club champions, after Orlando Pirates became the first in 1995.

Pirates’ success predated the Club World Cup by five years, meaning that Sundowns will become the first South Africans to contest the Fifa tournament.

December’s Club World Cup in Japan features the reigning club champions from every continent, with Real Madrid of Spain representing Europe.

“Minister Mbalula, or was it (South

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana holds the African Chmapions League trophy upon the teams arrival in Johannessburg yesterday.

PHOTO: SCOURTESY

African FA president) Danny Jordaan, said ‘do not be surprised to see Sundowns in the final’,” Mosimane announced.

A stage had been erected just outside the arrivals hall at OR Tambo where Mosimane, Mbalula and club chairman Patrice Motsepe, among others, addressed the crowd and captain Hlompho Kekana showed off the trophy.

Billionaire owner Motsepe praised Mosimane and his players, many of them wearing their winners’ medals around the neck as they looked on, as he spoke.

“We have very talented people,” mining magnate Motsepe said. “And we have always said if you give our people a chance, they will do well.”

Sundowns have little time to celebrate

however as they return to action on this evening, hosting Polokwane City in a League Cup tie exactly 36 hours after landing in Johannesburg.

The team nicknamed ‘the Brazilians’ were unable to get a flight home on Monday from Egypt so travelled to Cairo from Alexandria for an overnight stay.

Mosimane had the players on the training pitch on Monday to prepare for Thursday’s match although he is expected to rest many key players for the tie.

Sundowns now have a tough catch-up programme as they have played just one Premier Soccer League game this season while most clubs have already played six.

Their next league game is at home to Cape Town City in Pretoria on Sunday.

SPORT 15 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Egyptians ready for Starlets despite stalemate with Thika Queens Visiting Egyptian Women’s National team had a feel of the Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium last evening ahead of their international friendly with hosts Harambee Starlets at the same venue tomorrow.

The side played to a one-all draw against 2015 Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League Champions, Thika Queens, in an entertaining build up to the high profile friendly.

A goalkeeping howler from Maurice Shimuli allowed the Egyptians to take a sixth minute lead but Lucy Mkwana restored parity just 10 minutes later.

A nicely weighted free-kick from Egypt’s Sara Essam flew just above the heads of the Kenyan defenders and with Suzanne Arafa attacking it, Shimuli punched it back into play and the onrushing Caroline Kiget prodded into her own net.

Overwhelmed by the guilt of failing to stop the tame effort, a visibly distraught Shimuli was later withdrawn in the second half with Monica Karambo taking her place in between the sticks.

Kanyi Richard’s side were soon rewarded as a scorching free-kick from Winkit Kaari was too hot for Egypt’s custodian Farah Samir who diverted the powerful effort onto the crossbar but Mkhwana was in the right place to head into an empty net from the rebound.

Captain Engy Atteya said the match helped the visitors with two aspects,

having a feel of the ground and testing themselves with a local side before they take on Kenya.

“Definitely it was a good match which I am sure everyone enjoyed. Football is a never ending learning process and therefore I can say we picked a number of good thing from that match. We now prepare for the big one tomorrow,” said the Captain.

The 30-year-old midfielder who plays for Wadi Degla Sporting club in Egypt said she is happy with the progress the ladies side is taking despite being miles away from their male counterparts.

“While male counterparts have competed at two FIFA World Cups and won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations on seven occasions, we are hoping to grab some glory for ourselves, having just beaten Cote d’lvoire to qualify for the continental finals for only the second time in history and for the first time in 18 years,” said the captain.

The captain could not finish without acknowledging starlets whom she said have had tremendous growth of their own recently.

“Friday games will be special for both teams since there is no underdog. I know our opponents have been doing great recently. Let’s see how it goes,” she said.

Both teams are preparing for the upcoming Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) next month. @amos_x254

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

EGYPTIAN LADIES READY TO TAKE ON KENYAN STARLETS IN TOMORROW’S FRIENDLY

P14

‘Tired’ Kompany asked to be replaced at half time

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany asked to be replaced at half-time in the 1-0 EFL Cup loss at Manchester United because he was “tired”.

The defender, 30, was making only his second start of the season after suffering a groin strain in September.

“He told us he is tired and was not ready to play the second half,” said City boss Pep Guardiola, whose side have not won in six matches.

“The important thing is he is not injured - that is a good step.” Kompany, who has been troubled by calf and shin problems in recent seasons, has said he will be “honest” with the medical staff over his injuries. The Belgium international played 25 matches for club and country last season, a fall from 38 a season earlier and 40 in 2013-14.

Kompany was replaced by Aleksandar Kolarov at Old Trafford, with Juan Mata scoring nine minutes after half-time to secure United’s place in the quarter-finals, where they will meet West Ham.

INSIDE

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Crowd trouble mars West Ham Cup win

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15 Heroic welcome for Africa Champions

Manchester United’s Juan Mata celebrates after scoring the loan goal in their derby win over rival City last night. PHOTO: EPA

Mata wins it for United Juan Mata struck to win a tight Manchester derby as United knocked out EFL Cup holders City to reach the quarter-finals.

The Spaniard pounced to drive low into the corner from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s pull-back as United set up a home tie with West Ham in the next round.

Paul Pogba had hit a post moments earlier as the game came alive in the second period, following a first half in which neither of the bitter rivals managed a shot on target.

City boss Pep Guardiola made nine changes to his side, who are now six games without a win in all competitions, his worst run as a manager.

Their best chance arrived early on when Kelechi Iheanacho headed over from six yards, while second-half substitutes Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero made little impact.

Victory was United’s second in five matches, and only Jose Mourinho’s fourth win in 18 meetings with Guardiola.

The Portuguese manager

Mourinho said on Wednesday his life in Manchester is “a bit of a disaster”.

And knowing that United’s poor form created a sense that defeat at Old Trafford would prompt tough headlines, he admitted recent displays influenced his choice to make only four changes and retain key names.

United, far from at their best, scored during their only spell of quality in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as Ibrahimovic - anonymous in the opening period - profited from Nicolas Otamendi’s missed header to square for Mata.

There remain areas of concern for United. Luke Shaw was constantly outwitted by Jesus Navas and again there was no place in the 18-man squad for £26m summer signing Henrik Mkhitaryan.

But while Guardiola said the competition was his “lowest priority” before kickoff, Mourinho perhaps took the chance to shift United’s momentum. The League Cup

was the first trophy he won in England. The last two times United eliminated City in the competition they went on to win it in 1970 and 1976.

Guardiola would be more concerned with City’s finishing after they ended the night without working David de Gea once - the first time they have not had a shot on target in a game since 2012.

“I’m proud of the young players and how they played. At that level you need to be more clinical with the last pass but it’s difficult against United,” he said.

City, who are top of the Premier League, had an early penalty appeal turned down when Michael Carrick tangled with Aleix Garcia.

The wholesale changes made for the tie may blur detailed analysis of just what is amiss in recent weeks, but a switch to a 4-4-2 formation after two league games where a back three was used perhaps shows Guardiola has not yet settled on the way forward at City. He could also

face more time without captain Vincent Kompany, w h o, making only his second start of the season, asked to be replaced at half-time because he was ‘tired’.

Kompany suffered a groin strain in September but has been dogged by thigh and calf issues, prompting his playing time to fall from around over 2,700 minutes in 2013-14 to 1,700 last season.

There were some positives for Guardiola as 19-year-old fullback Pablo Maffeo made some key interventions but if City fail to win on Saturday they would be seven matches without a win, a dire run not endured since 2004.

Manchester City travel to the side who have made fewer passes than anyone in the Premier League this season West Brom - on Saturday and host Barcelona three days later.

United face Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday and visit Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday.

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