201601028 xnews

THursday, JANUARY 28, 2016 | www.x254.co

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ag roots for digital business registration Prof githu muigai argues there is need to go digital for effective service delivery since all government agencies have digitised their programmes

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NEWS

injera in chase of irb all-time record at wellington series

fkf protracted woes puts kenya at risk of fifa ban

Exposed: Al-Shabaab tactics against Kenya

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l-Shabaab terrorists are keen on painting Kenya as a failed State that cannot secure her citizens, the counter terrorism agency has said.

In a revelation of the militants’ tactics to hit Kenya, director of the National Counter-Terrorism Center

Macharia Kimani said by continuously targeting Kenyan interests, al-Shabaab terror group hopes to confuse Kenyans and instill fear in them.

“The main aim of terrorists is confuse Kenyans that the government has failed to provide security. We must stand up and counter this,” Mr Kimani told a consultative

forum on countering violent extremism at the Safari Park hotel in Nairobi today.

He urged Kenyans to resist the temptation and remain united and steadfast in the war against terror.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Nigeria pledges to support Kenya in war against terrorism

Kenyan soldiers bow in prayer during yesterday’s interdenominational memorial service for their colleagues who were killed in an attack at their camp in Somalia two weeks ago.

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Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have pledged to stand with Kenya in the war against terror.

Speaking during the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) memorial at Moi Barracks in Eldoret, the two leaders condemned the recent attack on Kenyan soldiers in Somalia but urged Kenya and the region to join hands in fighting terror.

Buhari, who said he received the news of the attack “with anguish and pain”, said terrorist must not be allowed to continue “to inflict pain and misery on innocent civilian and security personnel alike.”

Nigeria has had it ‘painful share’ resulting from Boko Haram attacks.

He said the tactics must be reviewed since terror groups continue to adopt sophisticated weaponry and measures in executing their plans.

“We must all arise against the culture of intolerance, hatred and extremist ideologies which drive terrorism. We must also be firm against radicalisation,” he appealed.

“Nigeria stands in solidarity and it is willing to stand with Kenya and indeed with other African countries and the global colleagues at large with a view to defeating these elements.”

He said the war on terror requires commitment, sacrifice, resources and collaboration among CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 nations.

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NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Agency exposes terror tactics against Kenya

From Page 1

“We might have problems as a country but should not give the enemy a chance to attack us. Let’s take up our problem together,” he said.

His remarks come barely two weeks after alShabaab militants raided a Kenyan military camp in Somalia and killed an unknown number of soldiers.

And yesterday while paying tribute to those who died in the attack, President Uhuru Kenyatta reiterated that Kenya will hit back at the terrorists.

“We will make sure every single one of those cowards who murdered them will be hunted down and brought to justice, for our soldiers’ blood will not be shed in vain,” President Kenyatta said during a memorial service held in Eldoret and which was attended by Presidents Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto, Cabinet secretaries and the military top brass, led by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Samson Mwathethe.

According to the counter-terrorism agency, terrorists are also keen on diving Kenyans along religious lines to spark a war.

There have been feelings that the Muslim community in Kenya are unfairly targeted in the fight against terrorism.

But Kimani warned against such insinuations saying the fight against terrorism does not target any religion in the country.

He said Kenya is in a difficult situation at the moment in fighting terrorism noting that the fight against terror has never been won.

“The government has no problem with Muslims. We’re fighting terror in this country and all of us need to provide information to the government,” Kimani said.

“We need each other the private sector included because this war has caused us as dearly as a country,” he added.

Nigeria pledges unity with Kenya in war against terrorists From Page 1

National Counter-Terrorism center Director Martin Kimani at the Safari park Hotel in Nairobi.

He said terrorists are keen on confusing Kenyans and paint the government as having failed to secure her people.

“We need to support government. Look at what our soldiers are doing in Somalia. It’s not always good to criticize the government although this however doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye to the flaws of the government,” he said.

He challenged the Muslim community to communicate the right message to the youths who always think the government is the problem in the fight against terrorism.

“As you’re out there, please communicate the right message because our youth think the government is the problem,” he said.

SUPKEM Secretary General Adan Wachu said Muslim is a religion that doesn’t promote violence as many have been made to believe.

“We need to come out as Muslims and correct this wrong notion that Muslims are promoting terrorism,” Wachu said.

“Mr. President and Kenyans, I have come to deliver to you one message; I cannot express in words the role of KDF inside Somalia. All I can say is, Thank You Kenya,” were the words of Somalia President in honour of Kenya’s fallen soldiers.

He expressed optimism that al-Shabaab was losing ground adding that, “Kenyans will remain and the al-Shabaab will end soon.”

The Kenya Defence Forces working under AMISOM continues to fight the militia who had controlled key areas in Somalia for decades before the entry of the soldiers.

He recounted how after the fateful day when Kenyan soldiers were attacked, the al-Shabaab also attacked Somali nationals who were celebrating a graduation ceremony.

“Among them was a mother who was fully dressed in line with the Islamic principles with her twoyear-old chld. That mother was killed and the baby was killed,” he remorsefully said cautioning that,” this is the kind of enemy we are facing today. We will defeat them.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who led the memorial ceremony, applauded the Kenya Defence Forces, for their continued bravery in fighting terror.

“Regrettably, many paid the ultimate price and this is heart breaking,” he said while urging Kenyans, “never to forget their sacrifices.”

“We must make sure every single one of those cowards who murdered them will be hunted down and brought to justice for our soldiers’ blood will not be shed in vain.”

He said the war on terror requires a global approach while noting the numerous attacks Nigeria has also continued to face from Boko Haram.

“This should only strengthen our solidarity and commitment to defeat the enemy,” he said.

He also honoured the National Police Service for the role they have played in fighting terror.

Deputy President William Ruto said the attack on the Kenyan soldiers has only revitalised the country resolve in the war against terror.

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MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

Mpeketoni suspects have a case to answer, court rules The High Court in Mombasa has ruled that two Mpeketoni attack suspects charged with 60 counts of murder have a case to answer.

This is after the prosecution tabled sufficient evidence indicating that the two were directly involved in the massacre.

While making the ruling, Justice Martin Muya directed that the two defend themselves against the accusations.

The accused Diana Salim Suleiman and Mahadi Suleiman Mahadi alias Jesus are alleged to have participated in the killing of 60 people in June 2014 at Mpeketoni and Kaisairi Village within Lamu County.

The lead prosecution counsel Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alexander Muteti assisted by a team of prosecutors

closed the prosecution’s case after calling thirty two witnesses.

On June 15, Kenya woke up to the shocking news of merciless slaughter which left a trail of destruction and deaths of mostly

men in the quiet village in Mpeketoni.

According to police, dozens of bodies were found sprawled on the ground in the town, while others were found soaked in

blood in houses.

Even before the world digested the news of the tragedy, Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab claimed responsibility of the attack.

The accused Diana Salim Suleiman and Mahadi Suleiman Mahadi alias Jesus are alleged to have participated in the Mpeketoni killings of June 2014.

The court relied on evidence submitted by the prosecution to determine if the two suspects are responsible for the more than 60 MORE ON THIS STORY deaths. www.capitalfm.co.ke

NEWS 3 THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

AG roots for digital business registration Attorney General Githu Muigai has asked the Registrar of Companies to initiate automation on the registration of businesses in order to elevate registry management and enhance service delivery.

Muigai said since almost all government agencies have digitised their programmes and services, it will be important if they considered digitalising the registry to the institution exercise an oversight management that targets phone businesses.

Addressing the media at his Sheria Office during the inauguration of the newly created Business Registration Service Board, the AG said Jubilee government was concerned that the management of public records is not effective, attributing it to inadequate technology and human resources.

“I do want to say that it is apathy that is delaying this process but all want is an efficient registry and oversight body that does not need any legislation,” he said.

Muigai said the government spends much time registering businesses and employs less to do legislation that will govern the exercise.

He urged the board to speed up the ongoing companies’ registry automation to cut the process of registration to just one day.

“It is totally unacceptable that in 2016 in a (lower) middle income country you walk into

Ndunda mulls legal action against CS The Kenya National Association of Parents today said it is still consulting on how to respond to Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s declaration that they can no longer purport to speak for the wider population of Kenyan parents.

Association Chairman Musau Ndunda told Capital News that legal action is among the options they are considering but declined to speak further on the matter. “We are still consulting our lawyers.” Matiang’i on Monday instructed Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang to ensure no monies are remitted to the Association going forward. He said the Association, on account of its composition, could not claim to represent the national interests of Kenyan parents. “A thorough review of your constitution reveals that your association is not the umbrella body of parents anticipated in the Basic Education Act. A review of your bylaws does not provide for the country nor school parents associations, as members. “Instead, it opens up your ‘umbrella’ body to individual memberships.

This is inconsistent with the spirit and interests of the Basic Education Act.”

Attorney General Githu Muigai. He has said the Jubilee government is concerned that the management of public records is not effective.

the registry office and still find files stacked up to the roof and manually retrieved by the clerks,” said Muigai, “You should be clicking a button from the comfort of your office when

Regulate your content as per law, CA to FTAs Free to Air (FTA) television broadcasters have up to three months to adjust their content to air only their area of programming niche as per the demands of their licences, the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has said. The broadcasters drawn mainly from the local vernacular TV spectrum will also be required to comply with other regulations as dictated by the authority and the Kenya Classification and Film Board (KFCB). CA director general Francis Wangusi said the directive was as a result of FTAs compromising the quality of their prescribed content and engaging in general programming. “Our FTA broadcasters have turned to general programming and as a result the content quality has gone down. They must comply with their prescribed content,” said Wangusi, who was opening the Kenya Women Media Owners Association. (KWMOA). The regulator said though the number of new entrants in the broadcast industry is on the rise, much more was needed to address content issues. Wangusi also said most of the applicants were ignorant of the requisite knowledge of the set quality standards, thus ailing from keeping their viewer to standard. “Since the roll-out of the digital migration, we have been receiving numerous applications for new licences though most of the applicants do not know what they applied for, “added Responding to question of the high Broadcast Signal Cost (BSD), Wangusi said they are engaging relevant stakeholders to revise the costs downwards. “Talks are ongoing to have the costs go down so that we may in corporate new entrants, “he added. Last year, CA had proposed a 30 per cent reduction in the charges levied by Broadcast Signal Distributors (BSD) on content providers through the findings of a contracted consultant, UK’s Analysis Mason to increase the number of players in the industry by providing a conducive start-up environment for new media players. On average, CA receives five applications a day for licences from local and international content producers who are looking to broadcast in the Kenyan market. The new entrants in the market urged the regulator and ICT ministry to put in place a proper legislation that will provide a fair @wilson_x254 playing ground and integration.

seeking out these services.”

The AG revealed that the new body will be tasked with overseeing company incorporation, operation, management and partner-

ships. The inauguration of the board comes against a backdrop of reforms initiated earlier

by AG’s office but failed to produce results.

The State Law Office had in 2014 promised to cut company registration period to one day in a system that would allow users to register their businesses online but that is yet to be realised.

But with the automation is expected to boost transparency and spare business owners the hassles of travelling to Nairobi and queuing at the State Law Office.

President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Business Registration Act into law last year, paving the way for the creation of the business registration board.

The law seeks to ease the process of opening a business to raise the country’s credentials as an attractive business destination for growth and jobs creation.

The board will chaired by former banker Carol Musyoka and will essentially take over the business registration component from the Registrar of Companies, which has been blamed for current inefficiencies.

The new board will also comprise the AG, Solicitor-General Njee Muturi and Trade, Devolution and Planning and the National Treasury PSs. @hillary_x254

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NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Scientists warn of ‘Ebola-like’ Zika US scientists have urged the World Health Organisation to take urgent action over the Zika virus, which they say has “explosive pandemic potential”.

Writing in a US medical journal, they called on the WHO to heed lessons from the Ebola outbreak and convene an emergency committee of disease experts.

They said a vaccine might be ready for testing in two years but it could be a decade before it is publicly available.

Zika, linked to shrunken brains in children, has caused panic in Brazil.

Thousands of people have been infected there and it has spread to some 20 countries.

The Brazilian President, Dilma Roussef, has urged Latin America to unite in combating the virus.

She told a summit in Ecuador that sharing knowledge about the disease was the only way that it would be beaten. A meeting of regional health ministers has been called for next week.

Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Daniel R Lucey and Lawrence O Gostin say the WHO’s failure to act early in the recent Ebola crisis probably cost

NEWS BRIEF Sudan re-opens border with South Sudan Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has ordered the opening of his country’s border with South Sudan for the first time since the latter seceded in 2011. The move comes days after reports that South Sudan had ordered its troops to withdraw a short way from the border.

Disputes over the border remain unresolved and the two countries fought over the Heglig oilfield in 2012. South Sudan gained independence as the outcome of a 2005 agreement that ended a 22year civil war. Mr Bashir has asked the Sudanese authorities to “take all measures” for the reopening, state news agency Suna reported.

Last week Mr Bashir also agreed to consider lowering the fees paid by South Sudan for the use of Sudanese infrastructure to export oil. South Sudan contains most of the oilfields that belonged to Sudan before 2011. The new country descended into civil war in 2013 when fighting broke out between forces loyal to Mr Kiir and his then deputy Riek Machar, splitting the country down ethnic lines. Hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese have fled to neighbouring countries including Sudan.

alyze international attention, funding, and research.”

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Wednesday the US government intended to make a more concerted effort to communicate with Americans about the risks associated with the virus.

There is no cure for the virus and the hunt is on for a vaccine, led by scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

The researchers have visited Brazil to carry out research and collect samples and are now analysing them in a suite of high-security laboratories in Galveston, Texas.

Access to the building in Galveston is tightly controlled by police and the FBI. Speaking to the BBC inside the facility, Professor Scott Weaver, director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, said people were right to be frightened by the virus.

“It’s certainly a very significant A child born with microcephaly, an abnormal smallness of the head which is associated with incomplete brain development. risk,” he said, “and if infection of Scientists have warned that the virus spread through a mosquito could be the new Ebola epidemic as it has no cure. the foetus does occur and microcephaly develops we have no ability to alter the outcome of that very thousands of lives. They warn that mittee should be convened urgently national Concern,” Mr Lucey and bad disease which is sometimes fatal a similar catastrophe could unfold to advise the Director-General about Mr Gostin wrote. if swift action is not taken over the the conditions necessary to declare a They added: “The very process of or leaves children mentally incapacZika virus. “An Emergency Com- Public Health Emergency of Inter- convening the committee would cat- itated for the remainder of their life.”

Sweden to expel up to 80, 000 immigrants The authorities in Sweden are making plans to expel as many as 80,000 failed asylum-seekers, the interior minister has been quoted as saying.

Anders Ygeman said charter aircraft would be used to deport the migrants but it would take several years.

Some 163,000 migrants applied for asylum in Sweden in 2015,

the highest per capita number in Europe.

The numbers have fallen significantly since Sweden imposed tighter border controls this year.

Along with Germany, the Scandinavian country is a prime destination for refugees and other migrants entering the EU illegally.

Of the approximately 58,800 asylum cases processed in Sweden last year, 55% were accepted.

Of those facing expulsion, Mr Ygeman was quoted in Swedish media as saying: “We are talking about 60,000 people but the number could climb to 80,000.”

But he later tweeted to say he had not taken a position on how many migrants had grounds for asylum, it being a matter for the authorities and the courts.

Sweden earlier this week became the latest of a number of European

Refugees scramble to enter a train destined for Sweden from Denmark last year. Sweden has announced it will begin expelling failed asylum seekers.

nations to see tensions over migrants heightened by violence.

A 15-year-old asylum seeker was arrested in Molndal, near Gothenburg, after a 22-yearold asylum centre employee was stabbed to death.

More than one million refugees and migrants travelled to Europe last year, most fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The UN says another 46,000 people have arrived in Greece so far this year, with more than 170 killed making the dangerous crossing from Turkey.

On Wednesday, a draft European Commission report said Greece “seriously neglected” its obligations to control the external frontier of Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone.

Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili accused the Commission of “blame games” and said it had failed to act on a programme agreed last year to relocate tens of thousands of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece.

Denmark has also faced criticism this week after approving legislation to seize the valuables of refugees in the hope of limiting the influx of migrants.

Some have likened the Danish proposals to the confiscation of gold and other valuables from Jews by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

NEWS 5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Morning newspaper summaries NIS confirms Tunoi Presidents pay tribute to KDF attack; Eldoret CBK cap on cost of sms to kiplagat: The National fallen KDF soldiers: On School missing 10 loans scuttles banks’ Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed that average, Eldoret International Airport parents: Even as President Uhuru profit plans: The Central Bank Judge Philip Tunoi had conversations welcomes eight planes every 12 hours. with his accuser Geoffrey Kiplagat. NIS said the two exchanged text messages using their numbers. “It is true that those two were in communication at the times recorded in the affidavit,” a source familiar with the case confirmed to the Star. Justice Tunoi has denied ever talking to Kiplagat who has claimed that the Supreme Court judge took a Sh200 million bribe in an election petition case.

But yesterday, eight planes landed at the airport inside just five hours. Security was tight as Kenya Defence Forces and State House teams took over operations at the airport from earlier this week to prepare for the dignitaries’ arrival. The VIPs were attending yesterday’s interdenominational prayers in honour of Kenyan soldiers killed in El-Adde, Somalia, on January 15.

Kenyatta and his Nigeria and Somalia counterparts were honouring the fallen KDF soldiers in Eldoret yesterday, one school felt the full force of the attack. Ten of the soldiers either killed or are still missing from the El Adde Camp attack in Somalia were parents of 22 children at the school. It is a tragedy that Shammah Academy in Soy, located just about 6km from Moi Barracks is struggling to cope with

of Kenya’s decision to hold the Kenya Bankers Reference Rate (KBRR) steady during its last policy meeting has left bankers without a clear interest ratesetting signal they need to protect their margins. The bankers had expected an increase in KBRR in line with a formula they agreed the CBK, but the regulator shoved aside the deal to retain the rate at last year’s level 0f 9.87 per cent.

against Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi. Chief Justice Willy Mutunga failed to table the decisive investigative report on the saga before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) meeting held yesterday despite promising to do so in a public statement last Monday.

(CBA) Uganda subsidiary has applied for a licence to launch an M-Shwari equivalent in the neighbouring country.

CBA Uganda has written to the Bank of Uganda (BoU) seeking the green light to launch a savings and loans mobile service by April in collaboration with telecommunications operator MTN.

Waiguru to challenge Run for City governor Secrecy as Judiciary CBA Uganda unit seeks Kidero for governor: seat, women tell starts Tunoi bribe probe: approval to replicate Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Waiguru: Former Devolution Secrecy surrounds the nature and content M-Shwari loans model: Anne Waiguru yesterday gave the clearest of an investigative report on graft claims The Commercial Bank of Africa’s indication that she could face Evans Kidero in the 2017 Nairobi governor race.

In readiness for what is likely to be her debut in politics, Waiguru has planned a series of grassroots meetings throughout Nairobi, starting next Sunday, “to listen to the plight of women” and explain her agenda.

Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru was endorsed by more than 200 women groups who asked her to vie for political office next year. The women drawn from the 17 constituencies in Nairobi, asked Waiguru to go for the Nairobi Governor seat currently held by Evans Kidero. They also asked her to continue with the work she had started with the youth and women while she was in the Cabinet.

said yesterday in Mombasa. Raila spoke at the unveiling of Fidel Odinga Road in honour of his departed son accompanied

by Cord leaders led by Governor Hassan Joho. The event will soon be followed by his tour of the region to “reclaim” Coast votes a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s month-long stay in the area.

Raila, who had promised not to talk politics during his initial one-day tour, however tore into the government.

streets freely as assets acquired by corrupt means lie safe, according to a new global report. The 2015 Corruption Perception Index released by Transparency International (TI) yesterday says Kenya has retained an anti-corruption score of 25 points out of a possible 100, the same as in 2014. This firmly puts it in the rank of the worst performing countries in the world, at position 139 out of 168.

Fidel Odinga Road differs with KPC targets counties opened in Mombasa: The Kenya fails to improve CBK Treasury on Eurobond in new distribution Jubilee government has nothing new to graft score: Individuals accused of offer the people of the Coast, Raila Odinga graft in the country continue to walk in the cash transfer dates: The network expansion: The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) yesterday came to the defence of the National Treasury in explaining the transactions surrounding the Eurobond. But in its explanation, the CBK seemed to contradict part of an earlier account given by the National Treasury in one of the transactions involving a Sh34.6 billion transfer. While CBK cites July, 2014 as the date that one of the key transaction was done, Treasury gives June 30, 2014.

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has announced plans to extend its current distribution network to counties, raising hope for a stable supply as the country devolves its industries. The firm has invited bids for feasibility studies for preliminary design and identification of viable depot locations in western region, south Nyanza, south rift, lower eastern and mount Kenya.

Top stories from X News global partners Brazil declares war on Oregon Protesters Urged Stemming cross-border IMF, World Bank mosquitoes to slow to Leave After Ammon data flows will harm move to avert oil-led spread of virus: President Bundy Arrest: The armed business: Under European Union defaults: Officials from the occupation of a wildlife refuge in eastern

Dilma Rousseff has said that Brazil must wage war against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, focusing on eliminating the insect’s breeding grounds. Since September, Brazil has registered nearly 4,000 cases of babies with microcephaly, a condition linked to Zika infection in which children are born with an abnormally small head and a brain that has not developed properly. The jump in cases has prompted a global health scare, with several countries cautioning pregnant women against traveling to the 22 nations in the Americas where the virus has been reported. www.theguardian.com

Oregon, which flashed into violent confrontation with law enforcement on Tuesday when eight members of the group were arrested and one was killed, appeared to be unraveling on Wednesday night when the jailed leader of the siege advised his followers to go home. For weeks, the occupation barely felt like a siege at all: The antigovernment militants came and went as they pleased, driving down snowpacked highways to attend community meetings and even going out for dinner.

With little sign that law enforcement was about to move beyond surveillance, the occupation of the Wildlife Refuge became more theater than threat. www.nytimes.com

law, companies are prohibited from sending EU citizens’ private information abroad to a country that does not meet European standards. According to a ruling in October 2015 by the European Court of Justice, the EU’s top judicial body, America does not meet those standards, largely because of the intrusiveness of its National Security Agency (NSA). That ruling ended the 15-year-old “Safe Harbour” agreement, which had enabled American firms to move data around easily. It also raised big questions about the future of the internet as a global, borderless commons. Those questions now have real urgency. www.economist.com

International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are heading to Azerbaijan to discuss a possible $4bn emergency loan package in what risks becoming the first of a series of bailouts stemming from the tumbling oil price. The Baku visit, which follows a currency crisis triggered by the collapse in crude, comes amid concern at the two global institutions over emerging market producers from central Asia to Latin America. The fund and the bank have also been monitoring developments in other oil-producing countries such as Brazil, which is now mired in its worst recession. www.ft.com

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xnews | THURsday, JANUARY 28, 2016 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

Equity Bank picks Entersekt to protect digital channels Equity Group Holdings’ banking subsidiary, has selected Entersekt’s mobile-based, multi-factor authentication products, Transakt and Interakt, to boost the security of its online banking, mobile banking, and payments product set.

Entersekt, a provider of advanced authentication software, will partner closely with Equity Group Holdings, as it expands its digital banking and payments offerings.

Speaking when he confirmed the association with Entersekt, Equity Group Holdings Managing Director Dr James Mwangi described the partnership as a strategic effort to guarantee the integrity of its digital financial services platforms.

“At Equity Group, we are riding the wave of digital convenience and our association with Entersekt will afford us a rare opportunity to deliver banking services on multiple digital platforms,” Dr Mwangi said, adding, “the provision of digital banking solutions, is part of Equity Group’s commitment to deepen financial inclusion in Africa.”

Mobile technology has been crucial to the provision of accessible banking and payments services in sub-Saharan Africa, overcoming challenges presented by inadequate infrastructure, limited travel options, and the relative expense of and distrust in

Mobile technology has been crucial to the provision of accessible banking and payments services in sub-Saharan Africa. traditional banking channels, new research has confirmed.

“Mobile penetration rates in subSaharan Africa average about 70 per cent and are climbing fast,” said Gerhard Oosthuizen, Chief Information Officer at Entersekt.

“Those African banks that succeed in creating innovative mobile experiences will grab the lion’s share of an underserved market.”

“By leveraging the enormous popularity of mobile devices, their support of digital certificates and encryption, as well as their user-

friendly interfaces, Entersekt’s solutions enable banks to offer innovative banking capabilities without exposing their customers to fraud,” Oosthuizen said.

Equity will integrate Entersekt’s Transakt and Interakt Software Development Kits (SDK) into its mobile applications to enable out-of-band, multi-factor authentication of online banking, mobile banking, mobile money transfer, e-commerce, call center, in-branch interactions, and more.

Using digital certificates and proprietary validation techniques,

Transakt converts the mobile phone into a trusted second factor of authentication and introduces an isolated communication channel between the device and financial institution that avoids reliance on the open Internet for user and transaction verification.

The process is largely seamless to the banking customer. It avoids one-time passwords or challenge questions, requiring just one tap on a pop-up authentication request. Little to no user education is required.

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

MEAN 102.3194 146.8119 111.0719 6.2405 33.9623 21.4036

BUY SELL 102.2194 102.4194 146.6550 146.9689 110.9533 111.1906 6.2325 6.2485 33.8803 34.0444 21.3338 21.4734

Land payments must be done online: Ministry Land owners and property owners can now search for land details and make their annual land rent payments online, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has said.

The Ministry has confirmed that land owners can make their rent payments using mobile money, debit cards, credit cards or bank transfers.

The platform can be accessed by logging in to “lands.ecitizen.go.ke”.

Those who sign up with the website will access all the relevant details posted on the page. By selecting a Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development link, users can choose to either do a “Land Search” or make Land Rent Payments.

Land owners can also register by sending the word ‘lands’ to the number 21504 via their mobile phones. They can also dial *512# to request the amount due.

The Ministry has stated that no manual Land Rent payments will be accepted from 1st February 2016 and that all payments must be made online.

The Ministry has also affirmed that online Stamp Duty payments will be available from 1st March, 2016.

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Investors prefer apartments Travelport, Jambojet strike to stand-alone houses: Study multi-year global content deal Real estate investors are going for apartments as they reap higher returns than stand-alone houses, the Kenya Bankers Association’s Housing price index (KBA-HPI) has confirmed.

According to the report, apartments accounted for 92 per cent of the total number of houses offered in the market while maisonettes emerged second with a 5.8 per cent whereas bungalows accounted for 1.41 per cent.

According to the report, the average house prices in Kenya reflected a sense of stability rising by a trivial 1.14 per cent in fourth quarter of 2015 compared to 1.25 per cent recorded in third quarter of the same year.

This mild price change reflects the gradual increase in house price over the last three years where this is the third successful quarter that this measure has been below 2 per cent indicating a possible softening in the underlying rate of price changes.

The main price driver for the said period were mainly the size of the house, whether or

not the house is located in a great community and proximity to social amenities.

A disaggregation of the index by house type indicate that apartments accounted for 93 per cent of the total number of houses offered in the market with maisonettes coming second at 6 per cent and bungalows accounting for the rest.

His underpins the increased appetite for apartments which are relatively affordable among the apparent growing middle class.

According to KBA Director of research and policy Jared Osoro, the KBA-HPI regions are based on clustered price ranges across counties and have substantially rose overtime as compared to region one and two. ‘’The sub region indices indicate that the price of all the house types in the all the three regions seem to be on a gradual upward trend. However, the analysis based on both fixed base and moving base show that price is more pronounced in region three than in region two and one,’’ said Osoro. enock_x254

Leading Travel Commerce Platform Travelport, has announced a new multiyear global full content agreement with Jambojet Limited that will see the low cost carrier distribute all its fares and ancillaries through Travelport’s travel commerce platform.

Jambojet is also connecting to Travelport’s universal API technology and is the first carrier in Sub-Saharan Africa to do so. According to the agreement, Jambojet, which launched in April 2014, and is based in Kenya, will offer Travelport’s 67,000 agencies worldwide access to its fares, inventory and ancillaries, including seating and paid baggage options.

“This new global full content agreement with Travelport is fully aligned with our strategy to embrace new technologies in order to provide service excellence.

Travelport’s innovative technology will help us to promote Jambojet’s content to travel agents in a clear and visual way. We are looking forward to driving growth and revenue for our business through this relationship with Travelport,” said Willem Hondius, CEO of Jambojet Limited.

Jambojet has also signed up to Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding which enables airlines to provide images and descriptions on travel agency screens, much as they are represented on their

websites today. Whether it’s descriptions of meals, baggage or seating options and related fees, Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding allows for greater transparency in what is becoming an increasingly more complex world of product differentiation as parties like Jambojet seek to innovate with their on-board and airport services. Travel agents using Travelport Smartpoint, the award-winning point of sale solution, can now access this unrivalled content and comprehensive descriptions within a single workflow, enabling efficiency and revenue growth.

Kevin_x254

Kenya urged to take notes from Powering Africa meet Kenya, among other nations across the continent, has been urged to take notes from the ongoing Powering Africa Summit, a platform for showcasing energy trade and infrastructure investment opportunities in the region.

Representatives from South Africa, Mozambique and Nigeria, among other nations, who are currently attending the summit, have been encouraged by the initiative’s organizers to take advantage of Africa’s growing population as public and private sector stakeholders move to boost development across the continent.

The representatives are meeting green technology companies and other multinational organisations at the summit in Washington DC to find solutions to energy and environmental concerns across the continent.

Among a number of innovations that have been highlighted at the Summit, which kicked off yesterday, are a “foot-powered” football pitch in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Lagos pitch consists of 100 energy-harnessing tiles hidden under the artificial turf. The energy is generated when players step onto the field and powers the field’s floodlights. The initiative seeks to generate enough energy from activity on the pitch to power an entire village.

The pitch is a product that was launched through a partnership that included the Shell oil company, British green technology company Pavegen, and world-renown celebrity singer, Akon. They opened the first of the innovative fields for Africa in Lagos, Nigeria in December 2015.

The move has inspired other companies, firms and businesses

to invest in Africa’s energy sector.

The growth of this consumer market provides significant opportunities for investors such as private equity funds who understand the potential in Africa, especially in areas such as energy access and ICT. Investment banking firm Blackstone, multi-national equity firm, the Abraaj Group and the Carlyle Group, an asset management company, have invested billions of dollars in energy projects that depend on the spending power of the consumer.

Their investments come at a time when Kenya’s – and Africa’s – middle class is expanding at an exponential rate. Providing the entire country with access to electricity has become one of the

Kenya government’s development goals and has seen the state fasttrack a variety of initiatives in a bid to meet its target. Keya is scheduled to benefit from a wind power farm currently under construction in Turkana. The farm is set to become the biggest of its kind in the region and will provide 300MW of clean energy to the national grid once it is complete.

Those attending the Summit include Ministers of Energy from Africa, heads of African utilities and regulatory bodies, US-based private equity houses and wealth management establishments.

“The people contributing are long standing investors with both operational projects as well as a significant project pipeline. The

150 plus stakeholders attending from 12 countries across Africa are equally credible, with a long history of international partnerships and project success - this gathering of project owners and investors is certainly what makes the Summit so exciting and a must attend meeting for those with the ability to play a role,” Programme Manager for the Powering Africa: Summit, Veronica Bolton-Smith said in a recent statement.

The Powering Africa group has stated that this year’s summit will focus on the successes of the private sector and will showcase infrastructure and development opportunities across the region.

Dennis_x254

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

BIZ BRIEFS KNH urges corporates to join adopt a ward Dalbit Petroleum, a regional oil marketer that engages in the procurement, trading and management of petroleum products within the Great Lakes and Southern Africa regions through partnerships, has handed over the refurbished paediatrics ward 3A at the Kenyatta National Hospital as part of the hospital’s adopt-a-ward program. The refurbishment works have been done in two sets at a total cost of Sh15 million.

“The renovations we are launching today have covered general works in the wards, refurbishments to the washrooms and the staff room, paint works and purchase of office furniture and kitchen equipment and among other items. In the first phase of the project in 2013 Dalbit Petroleum had done extensive electrical works and donated beds, mattresses and procedure room equipment,” Dalbit Petroleum Group Managing Director Margaret Mbaka said when she handed over the new ward. “At Dalbit Petroleum, giving back to the community is not something we do as a favor, but rather as a duty to the society,” said Mbaka.

Centum’s Two Rivers Mall a Vision 2030 flagship status

‘Lipa Karo na KCB’ campaign winners rewarded Kenya Commercial Bank has awarded schools that emerged winners of a promotion dubbed ‘Lipa Karo Na KCB’ as the bank reinforces its cashlite agenda.

The incentive was aimed at encouraging parents and guardians pay school fees through KCB on the Mpesa platform.

This has seen six schools awarded with cash prizes and financing for development projects of their choice worth Sh3 million.

The venture in line with the bank’s commitment to support and supplement the education sector.

Speaking during the ceremony, KCB Retail Director Annastacia Kimtai said the campaign has been a success towards establishing a cash lite system and in deepening financial inclusion.

“KCB aims at continuously improving the payment system in order to provide efficient service to our customers. ‘Lipa Karo na KCB’ campaign aims at decongesting the banking halls by encouraging fee payment

BUSINESS 7

via other channels,” she said.

The overall winners in the promotion were Charity Harambee secondary school followed by Konza Plainsview Academy, and Upper Kabete High School.

KCB also sponsored other education projects during the campaign period in annual forums such as KESSHA, KEPSHA

and KITTI. Other beneficiaries of the Lipa Karo Na KCB campaign were students who received form one school fees, laptops to schools and customized learning equipment.

Through the Bank’s social investment arm the KCB Foundation, the lender has also taken major strides to transform schools in order to create a conducive learning experience, while sponsoring hundreds of needy students across the country.

To date KCB has awarded over 800 secondary school scholarships and the number according to Annastacia is set to triple within years to come.

All our scholarship beneficiaries also receive mentorship throughout the scholarship duration and beyond. The KCB Foundation has also donated learning materials to over 200 schools, constructed and equipped learning facilities to various schools across Kenya’s 47 counties. enock_x254

Two Rivers was given the Vision 2030 flagship status partly due to its sustainable approach to resource usage setting a new precedence in the region. Speaking during a MoU signing ceremony attended by Vision 2030 Acting Director General Prof. Gituro Wainaina, Centum CEO James Mworia and Dr. Chris Kirubi Centum chairman, said Two Rivers represents a new level of real estate in the region.

“We are going to change how retail, wholesale, real estate and mall business is done in the region,” said Mworia.

Centum estimates 10,000 people will be employed at Two Rivers when it is complete, boosting the local economy.

As part of the promise to the economy of Kenya, the development is currently doing a technical skills transfer. This will ensure that Kenyans who are employed in the development of the mall will retain skills that are going to be key in ensuring that Vision 2030 is achieved.

M-Pesa clients to get e-statements

M-Pesa customers can now access their monthly statements via e-mail free of charge.

Safaricom announced the new service, which is one of the enhancements that was made possible to the system following the relocation of the M-Pesa servers from Germany to Kenya last year in April.

Every month an average of 30,000 customers visit oafaricom’s Retail Centres, specifically seeking to receive printed M-PESA statements, as a prerequisite to accessing credit from financial institutions or for business reconciliation purposes said Betty Mwangi, Director – Financial Services at Safaricom.

Mwangi said on average, a further 9,000 calls are made to the Customer Centre every month requesting for statements.

8

BUSINESS

Facebook doubles fourth quarter profits to 159bn THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Social media giant Facebook has said that its profits more than doubled in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Net profit for the three months to December rose to $1.56bn (Sh159 billion), up from $701m (Sh71 billion).

The company also said that 80 per cent of its advertising revenue in that period came from mobile advertising, up from 69 per cent a year earlier.

Shares jumped by 8.7 per cent in

after-hours trading in New York on better than expected results.

Revenue for the full year jumped 44 per cent to $17.9bn, with net profit rising about $800m to $3.7bn.

This results mean that Facebook has now beaten analysts’ expectations for ten consecutive quarters.

Rob Sanderson, an analyst at MKM Partners, described the growth as phenomenal.

Ken Sena, an analyst at Evercore

Yahoo under pressure over ivory sale on its auction platform Yahoo Japan is now under worldwide scrutiny over ivory sale on its auction site. The management of the auction site has however said it will strengthen its policies to remove illegal ivory from its online marketplace.Some 1.1 million people have signed a petition saying it supported a trade fuelling wild elephants’ slaughter.

The company said it prohibited sales of raw ivory that breached a 1989 international treaty but not of ivory ornaments produced before that date. Spokeswoman Takako Kaminaga said the ivory trade on the Yahoo Japan Auctions site was “patrolled” 24 hours a day.”If we find a sale was illegal, we cancel it straight away.”

She said.

Late last year, the Environmental Investigation Agency, in Washington DC, said the site had auctioned more than 12 tonnes of ivory products, including whole elephant tusks, in 2012-14.Fake documents had enabled traders to “legalise” more than 1,000 tusks a year since 2011, it said.

Individually owned tusks face no registration requirement in Japan, and the tusks are not

marked in any way to ensure the documents are valid for the items being registered. Poachers kill tens of thousands of elephants a year to meet demand for the material, despite the trade ban, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and other groups.

In September, the US and China agreed to work toward nearly complete bans on the ivory trade, and Japan is increasingly isolated in its stance favouring continued sales.

The international environmental campaign group Avaaz addressed its petition to Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer, Manabu Miyasaka, chief executive of Yahoo Japan, part-owned by Yahoo Inc. and Softbank Corp, and “all other companies allowing ivory sales online”.

“As global citizens, we are appalled that you allow ivory to be sold on your platform, fuelling elephant extinction,” it said.” We want an urgent stop all ivory sales from sites/platforms in Japan and all other markets.”

ISI, said the advertising growth was much better than expected.

“It signifies the importance of what they’re providing to advertisers,” he said.

“They’re providing a very efficient method of distribution for them, they’re making big investments and evidenced by their quarterly performance it seems to be working.”

The number of monthly active users rose 14 per cent to 1.59 billion in the fourth quarter

compared with the same period in 2014, with 1.44 billion accessing Facebook on mobile devices, a 21 per cent increase.

Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said that 2015 was a “great year for Facebook. Our community continued to grow and our business is thriving.”

He returned to work on Monday after taking two months of paternity leave following the birth of his first child late last year.

Tough times ahead for Samsung after low phone sales

Samsung Electronics has been hit by falling sales for its smartphones and semiconductors.

The “difficult business environment and slowing IT demand” sent net profit for the fourth quarter to December down by 40 per cent to 3.2 trillion won ($2.7bn, £1.9bn).

The South Korean giant warned it would be difficult to maintain profits this year at the same level as 2015.Revenue for 2015 fell 5.6tn won to 200.6tn won ($165.5bn, £116bn) compared with the previous 12 months.

Strong competition from cheaper Chinese rivals such as Xiaomi and Huawei at the bottom of the market, as well as Apple at the premium end, has dented Samsung’s smartphone sales.The Galaxy S6, the most recent top-of-the-range handset launched last April, failed to excite consumers and the company has struggled to maintain market share. Jake Saunders, Asia-Pacific director at ABI Research, told the BBC: “It’s showing that they are under pressure - about half of their revenue comes from mobile devices.”Xiaomi is getting traction in markets like India and Indonesia, which are very large markets for smartphone devices and it’s also where we see strong growth.

“The overall market only grew by a little bit over 2 per cent in 2015 so they are going to have a tough time,” Mr Saunders cautioned.

Samsung forecast single-digit percentage growth in both smartphone and tablet sales amid “softening demand and intensifying competition”. “Despite this challenging environment, the company will focus on increasing smartphone shipments and maintaining a double-digit margin through releases of competitive devices,” the firm said.

Acer Predator 8: An elegant, light Android tablet for real gamers Most tablets want to appeal to everyone but the Acer Predator 8 is a bit of an aberration. It’s just not normal. It’s a ‘gaming’ tablet, and isn’t afraid to show it.

Like a lot of more affordable tablets, the Acer Predator 8 is made largely of plastic. However, as in some other Acer gear there are metal parts to upgrade the feel a little. The rectangle in the middle of its rear is bonafide brushed metal, and the four speaker grilles on the front are metal too. That’s right, this is a budget tablet with a four-driver front speaker array.

Given the Acer Predator 8 is also slim and feels pretty light, it’s a pretty neat design feat, giving a practical edge to the unusual shape.The array is, as you’d hope, particularly good for gamers, though. As well as offering stereo, having two for each side really cuts down on the sense that the audio is coming from tiny little sites on the front of the thing.

And it means you don’t have to worry about blocking off speakers with your hands. In other words, nice work Acer.

Other bits the nerdier crowd will love include expandandable storage and a very solid 32GB built-in. Not everyone’s going to love the Acer Predator 8, but it ticks a lot of the right boxes. One thing the Acer Predator 8 has over the Tablet K1 is higher colour saturation.

The Predator 8 uses something called Predator ColorBlast to crank out 100 per cent of the NTSC colour gamut.

What this means is that it will look a teeny bit oversaturated because, without wanting to wade too far into the screen nerd swamp, NTSC’s colours go deeper than the RGB and sRGB standards most mobile devices aim for.

So how good is the Predator 8 for gaming?

It has a new Intel Atom X7-Z8700 CPU, a quad-core 1.6GHz brain. That may only sound as powerful as an entry-level Snapdragon CPU, but as usual Intel packs way more punch into each of its cores. The link between the Acer Predator 8 and Gameloft runs much deeper too. The tablet comes with a bunch of Gameloft bloat preinstalled, which will have helped Acer get the price down to its current pretty accessible level.

There’s quite a lot of extra Acer apps too, and other thirdparty stuff from Amazon and booking. com. It’s definitely overloaded, and feels a bit messier than I’d like fresh out of the box. Thanks to the 32GB storage, memory isn’t a problem, though, and you can uninstall all the

third-party games.

The tablet uses Android 5.1 rather than Android 6.0 right now. And it’s pretty minor anyway. There’s nothing too special about the Acer Predator 8 cameras. You get a 5-megapixel camera on the back and a 2-megapixel one on the back. These are basic cameras, low on detail and prone to lots of colour noise in anything but good lighting conditions.

Battery life is pretty standard too.

Playing a looped 720p MP4 video, the Predator 8 lasts for seven hours 45 minutes. The Acer Predator 8 is a gaming tablet, and it gets you some features that suit that remit down to the ground. A quad-speaker array is worth shouting about and the haptic feedback is a neat, if not exactly essential or revolutionary, bonus.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

ACCESS topstory

FASHION scoop

11

MeMes on njaanuary were thrown left right center

Finally

January

comes to and end

Every New Year, Njaanuary beckons with sufficient threats of trolling and driving you through proper thirty one days of economic dirt.

It begins with a hangover, a good joyous one or a heavy one from a December drinking and spending spree.

To the many who normally have early pay slips in December, and they gladly welcome merry,spending all the dimes including coins saved for a whole year, Njaanuary is always gets to have the last laugh.

We party with friends and family, but when the landlord knocks, when school fee structures are rechecked and transport spending is added, a frill shiver of financial fear runs through the spine.

These come with a need to express the pinch on the social pages and of course, KOT does not disappoint on this.

Memes on Njaanuary were thrown left right an center. The tweeter village had sufficient rants, wails and prayerful utterances to see through the month.

There are those who though betting would come to the rescue @Ngugi1992 No need for Njaanuary, just try this week’s jackpot and win yourself proper cash! For this twettarati, trying your luck on a jackpot could have been a shorter method to beat the odds of hustling.

However, hilarity came across when @ChurchillShowke thought erasing January from the calendar is a good idea with his tweet “ati kama NJaanuary haitaki kustyle up kwa calendar tutaitoa. (if January does not style up we will remove it from the calendar) Others opted to be prayerful @smokeycoolman This Njaanuary has been and still is a hustle to overcome, but am expecting a miracle from above.

For others the only thing that is was up was high prices Only in #Njaanuary where u ask smbody What’s up and he gives you a list including, school fee, the dollar and rent.

None the less there are those who did not suffer giving such memes @wwarero: If Njaanuary was real, Nairobi bars would close for the month the way Mombasa hotels close low season. Njaanuary ni wewe tu.” we take it a stride a day, and given that now the month and the bank account will be fat again how about a review of what you should spend your

SportPesa Festival set For this weekend The betting giant SportPesa is set host this years SportPesa Festival. The festival is scheduled to take place at the Nyayo Stadium beginning at 2pm till the wee hours of Sunday morning. A line up of thirty electrifying performances from artistes will ensure guests are thrilled. The event is all-inclusive with a VVIP, VIP and regular tickets.

money on. The assumption here is that you were careful enough to not to accumulate debts during this dreaded month.

It will be quite fair for you to begin at the CBD, where Klub Bettyz is throwing the Kwaheri Njaanuary Edtion. This will be a plot for those that fuel prices and transport cost are not yet back to normal. Your expense on transport will be at the minimal.

And if there will be sufficient how about you hop to the Sport Pesa Festival, that is promising to be a feast festival where you will be allowed to consume thirty electrifying performances from different artistes.

If festivals and bars are not your thing you can proceed to the village market where, PAWA 254 has organized and Urban Nite of Art, today beginning at 6PM and the entrance is free.

As we usher in February, please remember to save for Fashion High Tea where class and substance will meet sophistication on the 28th at the Zen Gardens.

And further into the year the first edition of blankets and wine is set to take place on the 10th of April.

All said and done it’s always blissful to jump over the month without glitches and hitches of any sort.

@duncan_x254

HOT TOPICS

Govi takes A Machachari Break Something must be not right with Machachari the kids program aired on Citizen Television. The programme which delves into normal day lives of kids in Nairobi has seen a third exit of one of its acts Govi. Word on the streets of Machachari is that Govi aka Malik Lemule has quit. The younger brother Baha in the act has is the third to quit after Almasi, and Fatso.

Is Willy Paul’s life in danger?

The controversial gospel artiste Willy Paul’s life might be in danger.

Willy is claiming to have been trailed by unknown people while he was at TRM and later on his way home. The assailants are said to have been in a white probox that forced Willy Paul to drive at crazy speeds, as he was scared for his life.

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ACCESS

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY, JANUARY 26th NOVEMBER 28, 2016 2014

CAMPUSVIBE

all round news and updates from universities

MOI University host Inaugural Leadership Forum

O

ver two hundred young leaders from across all the Students Governing Councils of various varsities and colleges met for the first ever University Leadership forum. The event which was held at Moi University, Nairobi Campus saw young leaders engage one on one with the likes former presidential aspirant Prof Ole Kiyiapi, IEBC Vice chair Prof L. Mahiri, and Commissioner -Amina Ahmed of the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA) among others. Top of the

agenda was the impact of Leadership and Governance within and without the greater University Communities, a resonation of the Country’s values and ethos . Opening remarks by the Principal Secretary State Department of Higher Education Charles Obiero was a call on the student Leadership fraternity to influence the youth in achieving the country’s vision through sound leadership. He also called for citizen engagement in a transparent and fair way. The

2nd leadership forum will be held on 18th February 2016 at the Management University of Africa which will be a seasonal Leadership Training for Kenyan Universities Students Leaders.

Ban On Kisii University lifted

T

he 10 Kisii University branch campus that were set for closure will not be closed. This is after Education Cabinet Secreatry Fred Matiangi lifted the ban and giving the schools’s governing council 12 months to put its house in order.

Matiangi said, “Kisii University governing council has asked to be given more time to try and put its house in order. I have, therefore, in consultation with the Commission and guided by the University David ActSomeNo.42 of 2012,

MOI University, KEBS partner for news construction standards

agreed on a twelve months extension of the closure notice which could allow the university to mount a rescue plan of its campuses.” The Universities were closed by the Commission Of Higher educaton due to non comformity with the set standards. The campuses are in Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Nyamira, Kabarnet and Migori.

Also those in Ogembo, Keroka, Kehancha, Kapenguria and Isebania were on the list.

Fred Matiang’i.

Moi University and KEBS have signed an MOU to update the current structural construction standards.

Currently Kenya is using obsolete British Standards Institution (BSI) structural design codes. However, the partnership will see Kenya move to new standards, Eurocodes setting the country on the path to comply with modern and internationally recognized structural design standards. It will also make Kenya competitive in the engineering world.]

Moi University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Richard K. Mibey, signed the MoU on behalf of the institution while KEBS was represented

by Mr. Charles G. Gachahi, the Director of Standard Development and Trade.

Among the issues agreed upon by both parties in the MoU is the fast tracking,

Strathmore’s AISEC week to close tomorrow

S

trathmore’s AISEC week is set to close tomorrow after a fruitful engagement of all stake holders.

The week saw registration of new members, exciting networking and beautiful conversations over social media. The week also had over a thousand stories exchanged by participants on their experience of AISEC and there were splendid prizes won through raffle tickets.

USIU Black History month set to begin

E

very February of the year, United States International University-Africa celebrates the achievement of people of African descent who have achieved milestones of success and helped to make the world a better place. USIU-A honors heroes and heroins like Martin Luther King, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai, Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama who have surpassed the heights of success. The month long celebration seeks to inform, educate and at the same time acknowledge achievements of the black community across the globe. It also brings forth the need to understand black

consciousness and further celebrate our rich African culture and history.

This month, with a theme “Africa’s Continental Historical Phenomenology: Its Impact on the Present” will have a series of activities including high profile public lectures by notable men and women from all walks of life, community engagement and music. Further there will be dance, spoken word, movies, exhibitions and concerts at the university ground. The month is set to be launched on the the 2nd of February with a keynote speech from Prof. Mathew Buyu from 11am at the school’s auditorium.

hot date

Snapchat vs Facebook Messenger

2016 SportS peSa FeStival The Sportspesa festival which will be held this weekend at the Nyayo National Stadium will see over 30 top artistes come together to entertain thousands of sports fans expected to be in attendance. Apart from entertainment, there will be chances to win Sh50, 000 per hour. Tickets are available at Uchumi supermarkets from Sh500, and gates open at 2 PM.

Third party developers have unearthed proof that Snapchat might be redesigning the user interface to allow users exchange text messages and live video. This emerging information also suggests that the interface will get the additional feature of stickers similar to those in Facebook Messenger, Line and other chatting apps to enhance connection both on voice and on video calls. This translates into a more intuitive way to share images from the camera roll in the sense that chatting is the only section of snapchat which will be able to share images not taken using the snapchat camera and also to initiate voice and video calls.

The developers also report that

a smiley-face icon will replace the current square yellow icon (the live video icon).

In the new voice and video call features, users will be able to select from an array of sharing options such as sharing only audio out of a video recording. Also, call recipients can choose whether or not to join the call or listen to the audio.

While the leaked information clearly shows that snapchat is experimenting with a new design, it may not be available to the public anytime soon but it is still something to grasp onto keeping in mind the fact that new apps developed everyday threaten the very survival of Snap chat in the mobile apps market.

11

ACCESS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

FASHIONscoop

best of bags

tote bag: Perfect for shopping sprees.

cross boDy bag: For the out and about days.

evening clutch: to transform you into a classy chic.

DuFFel bag: Perfect for Fridays.

wHat’s in tHe

A big question in the minds of men has always been what it is that women carry in their priced bags, and the fact that it is taboo for a man to peep into a lady’s bag only adds to mystery. Unfortunately, we are not about to let the cat out of the bag, rather endorse the bag ritual by detailing the six types of bags that women should invest in.

Have a look:

TOP

everyDay bag: For the working days.

Celeb going steady in 2016 Perhaps the most composed of all the Kardashian girls, Kendall has managed to keep her love life on the low until paparazzi spotted her one too many times getting cozy with the One Direction band member who is also Taylor Swift’s ex.

They seem to have started off the year on a high note, showing up for parties hand in hand almost all of the time.

Kendall Jenner and Harry styles

Daytime clutch: For social events such as weddings

These two go way back, but they have always been on and off and when last heard of them, they had broken up their engagement. News of their re-sparked romance emerged this year when Miley was spotted wearing the sparkling ring from their previous engagement.

blaC CHyna and rob KardasHian We all know Blac Chyna and her raging vendetta against the Kardashians, which explains why she is currently hooking up with Rob Kardashian, most likely just to get to Kylie who has been dating Blac Chyna’s baby daddy, Tyga. What a mess!

Miley Cyrus and liaM HeMswortH

CLASSIFIED

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

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WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 Stop sitting around waiting for someone else to make a decision. By the time the others are done arguing and vacillating about which direction to go, you will already have traveled miles and miles down the road. Your heart wants you to take a strong, independent stance.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 Remember that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent, Aquarius. It might seem as if others are trying to show you up today with their knowledge about the world and how it should be run. Don’t let them talk you into believing that your thoughts and ideas are any less valid than theirs.

THURSday 28/1/2016

sunny

26

25ºC 55%

FRIday 29/1/2016

More sun than clouds

25 6:41 am 6:51 pm

25ºC 60%

6:41 am 6:51 pm

SATURday

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

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 In a nutshell, think about ways in which you can be more efficient. Feel free to invest in those things that will help make your life easier and more comfortable. Most likely, the natural flow of the day will take you to exactly where you need to go.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 Drink plenty of water in order to keep your system properly hydrated, Aries. Water is the most important part of your diet, and it’s likely that you aren’t drinking nearly enough. You are highly sensitive today so taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do.

Sudoku

12

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 You may know exactly what that person is going to say before he or she says it. You may also find that your mind is working so quickly that while someone is trying to make one point, you are already five steps ahead of where that person is trying to go. Put your gifts to good use.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 Stop pulling out old photo albums and crying about past experiences. You will only succeed in sinking into a puddle of tears that you can’t pull yourself out of. Instead, this is a day to look to the future and plan for new experiences that you can enjoy with the people you love.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 You may feel like some sort of inventor who has wild ideas that could help to revolutionize the future.

Bring these ideas into the open and see what kind of response you get from the people around you.

Cutting-edge concepts are likely to appeal to you the most.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 You may get frustrated when your list of tasks for the day just does not seem to get any shorter, Leo. More than likely, this is due to unforeseen circumstances and unexpected interruptions that you basically have no control over. Don’t get upset at yourself because of things you can’t change.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21 Because of your well-mannered attitude and socially minded outlook, Virgo, you may normally be reluctant to make a stand with an outlandish idea or draw attention with an unusual outfit or hairstyle. Today is a day to be an individual in all aspects of the word.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Most likely, the people who criticize you the most are the ones who understand you the least. They are probably on a completely different wavelength than you, and it isn’t your job to try to change them, nor is it your responsibility to change your ways because of them.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 If you aren’t, stop and examine the situation. More than likely, any emotional discomfort you feel is due to a lack of personal freedom in one way or another. Perhaps you’re feeling too tied down emotionally or too restrained mentally. Perhaps you need to get out of your current situation entirely.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 This is a good time for you to subscribe to some sort of magazine or newsletter that will keep you abreast of current events and developments in a field or hobby that interests you, Sagittarius. The operative word of the day is “new.”

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13

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1. Steak and hamburger 8. Clam’s home 13. Bridge table action 14. Angels’ rings 16. Rapper and songwriter 17. Book after Solomon 18. Munich citizen 19. Croatian for Croatia 21. Cutting room?

22. “Did You Ever ____ Dream Walking?”

23. Broncos kicker Jason 24. Romanian money unit 25. “Happiness Is a ____ Puppy” 26. River to the Missouri 27. “Act your age, not your ____” 30. Super ___ (game console) 31. “Old MacDonald had a farm, ____ “ 33. Falco and McClurg 35. Blind European salamander 36. Tense feeling 40. Biochemical compound 42. Added particulars 43. 1971 Piers Anthony book 46. Raid alternative 47. Will-o’-the-____ 48. Filet mignon, e.g.

50. Squandered

52. Fear 53. Garments 54. Plato, e.g.

56. Couldn’t do without 57. Deep-sea diver’s distress 58. Go formal 59. 2008 Democratic presidential candidate John Down 1. Show 2. Olympic swimmer Gertrude 3. Character at a fictional tea party 4. Disney film set in China 5. Abba of Israel 6. Pacino and Gore 7. Secures to a post, as a horse 8. Hinduism’s destroyer 9. Al-____, Saudi Arabian region 10. Thrills 11. The Daily Planet reporter 12. Water main breaks 13. Rules, in brief 15. Brings dishonor to 20. Do followers 22. Manuscript encl.

25. Lumber 26. Huge Brit. ref. works 28. Hightailed it 29. What to catch at nap time 31. Drew forth

32. Charlatan (var.)

34. Brand of therapeutic gloves 35. 1990’s Rosencrantz, or was he Guildenstern?

37. Failure for a dieter 38. Administer the oath of office to 39. Can. pol. party 41. Not outdoors 44. Fix old books 45. Water nymphs 47. Unwanted vegetation 48. Queen of ___ 49. Neighbor of Okla.

51. White House VIP 52. “I’m glad that’s over!”

55. Minister’s deg.

Yesterday’s answers

YOURSAY Judge Tunoi case confirms rot in court system Confirmation from the National Intelligence Service that there was indeed communication between Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi and his accuser Geoffrey Kiplagat is an indictment to the entire bench that heard a petition against Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and the entire Judiciary. When Kiplagat first accused Tunoi of having taken a Sh200 million bribe to influence the petition hearing in favour of Kidero, the judge denied having met the man, leave alone talking to him and claimed his accuser was being used by those keen on Judiciary succession plan. If Nairobi governor seat petition could raise such kind of political temperatures with colossal sums of money exchanging hands, it confirms doubts Kenyans have always have on how the Supreme Court handled the 2014 presidential election petition. Supreme judges do not in most cases rule in isolation, therefore it would be foolhardy for any interested party to buy

only one of them in a case where they are three or five sitting in a bench. Bearing that in mind, does it mean that even other judges were part of the conspiracy? Is this the trend in our courts? Where justice has become a preserve of the few moneyed individuals? Is it necessary to have a court system in the first place with all these allegations of corruption?

With all these bribery claims sitting at the door step of the Chief Justice, will his special committee unraveled what really transpired or it is another Eurobond circus meant for coverup? As Kenyans, let us have hope that the sixmember committee of the Judicial Service Commission. The team, chaired by Prof Margaret Kobia, will probe Tunoi’s conduct, look at the evidence gathered against him, call witnesses and summon him to defend himself before it can prepare a comprehensive report in seven days — Bukende, South C

ODM worse than IEBC in managing elections As a party, ODM has at all times taken on government and other institutions’ for failing to deliver.

One such institutions that have received the hardest blows from ODM has been the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which they have accused of mismanaging the electoral process in the country.

However, the party has also had internal conflicts especially during party nominations.

The party’s election board has time and again failed to produce a clear winner especially in areas where ODM has a strong following.

Not long ago, the party embarked on countrywide officials’ election at the grassroots.

Cases of violence and electoral malpractice have been witnessed with many candidates crying foul.

The party suffered much damage in Homa Bay County due to its mismanaged internal polls.

Further, the Malindi nomination fiasco was not a good sign for the party. Using the same yardstick it has used to judge IEBC, ODM has failed in all fronts regarding election matters.

Not long ago new leadership took over the party and they must work towards making a difference. The team, which is youthful, must work towards giving hope to party members who have always desired to see things working differently.

Continuous bungled party nominations hurt the party and benefit opponents. There are many lessons ODM should have learned by now. Voters’ morale is crushed when they know their vote does not count.

As we head towards the 2017 General Election, adequate preparations have to be put in place for a free and fair contest to end violence and hooliganism.

— Hillary, Kawangware

State must employ new strategy in Shabaab war

The Opposition and other civil societies have on many occasions called on the government to pull Kenya Defence Forces from Somalia and instead deploy them along the border to guard and keep al Shabaab deep inside Somalia. Nobody listened. Jubilee leaders led

by Deputy President William Ruto and Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale talked tough. President

Uhuru Kenyatta said the troops will remain in Somalia to pursue the al. After the recent attack on El Ade camp in Somalia where Kenya lost unknown number, reports of our troops retreating and pulling out have emerged.

Must we always lose lives to smell the coffee and realise that we need to action. Kenya must act tactfully in the war against al Shabaab. Even US which boast of the most

powerful and well-trained army in the world, retreated from Somalia. Retreat is a strategy in war, it does not mean one has surrendered.

Modern wars are fought based on well planned strategies not mere chest-thumping.

Many families who have lost loved ones to terrorists are surely suffering in silence, the government needs to take a stand on this matter.

— Joe Mbuthia - Kikuyu

Is Kenya’s global graft ranking shame or fame?

Kenya has made an effort in the fight against corruption if the report by Transparency International is something to go by. Rising up from number 145 in 2013 in the global corruption ranking to 139 out of 168 in 2015 means that in the next 56 years, Kenya will be the number one least corrupt country in the world if six ranks rise every two years trend remains steady. Unfortunately, the principal of excluded middle edges this hope out of logics.

Something cannot be and not be at the same time. The resources that people scramble for-

that measure men’s greed-shall be reasonably limited after 56 years that nothing shall be left to tell whether individuals are corrupt or not.

In other words, people will be humbled by the circumstances, the circumstance of scarcity that instead of stealing from the government and or from the citizens, which of course shall have been drained by then, those who have stolen enough will steal from their own gallery and nobody will complain. And the end shall come.

— Son of Jesus-Nairobi

Senate should be scrapped to save economy Our Senate is the world Capital of Idleness.

What is the House for? Nothing tangible comes from the House, Their push to oversight governors has failed as their summons to county bosses have turned out to be fake and never binding. As a nation we are overly represented. If the intention of the crafters of the Constitution was to see to it that Kenyans are represented, I can ow admit that we are over-represented. This bloated representation

has fleeced the commoner, haemorrhaged his pocket and bled his hopes for a better future as taxes keep increasing to oil their swelling pay and feed their obscene opulence. Truth is, this representation was an experiment that failed the quality representation. Enough is enough Kenyans must say no to more taxes. The Senate and the Women’s Rep post must be scrapped to save poor Kenyans.

— Wuod Betty, Pipeline

Send your letters to news@x-news.co.ke | Letters will be edited for summary and clarity

14

SPORT THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

SPORTS BRIEFS Ramires signs for China side Suning

Brazilian Ramires has joined Chinese side Jiangsu Suning from Chelsea in a deal believed to be worth about Sh250 million.

The 28-year-old midfielder will be remembered by the Blues fans for his goals against Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League match that took Chelsea to their first final before winning against Bayern Munich. Ramires agreed a new four year deal in October, but has only started seven Premier League games this season.

Jiangsu finished ninth in China’s top tier in 2015 and are managed by former Blues defender Dan Petrescu. Ramires has helped the Blues win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Europa League. In total he made 251 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 34 goals, after joining from Benfica for about Sh170m in 2010.

Mali deny Uganda CHAN quarters

Mali denied Uganda a quarter-finals chance in the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) following a goalless draw with Zambia. Uganda had needed to beat Zimbabwe and for Mali to lose to qualify for the next stage, but Mali squeezed their way through thanks to a draw against Zambia in group D after the Cecafa senior challenge winners were forced to a barren draw by Zimbabwe. Mali just needed a point to book their quarters place and they did just that with. The local Chipolopolo side had already booked their passage before the game and Mali sealed their spot by claiming a point. In the other match in the group Zimbabwe were denied a victory over Uganda by a 93rd-minute equalizer.

William Manondo opened the scoring only for Geoffrey Serunkuma to level.

FKF protracted woes could earn Kenya Fifa ban The government pulled the rag from under Football Kenya Federation (FKF) when the Sports Cabinet Secretary appointed two presidential candidates in the next month’s poll to run FKF in an interim basis, pending fresh polls.

Former Youth Fund chairman Gor Semelang’o and Sam Shollei, a former FKF chairman who are both in the race to succeed outgoing President Sam Nyamweya were appointed as interim President and Vice President respectively yesterday.

The appointment was however faulted by Nyamweya who warned of a possible Fifa and Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) ban from future international matches.

“This exposes the football family to severe sanctions by CAF and Fifa and potentially locking out our clubs which are participating in CAF championships, movement of our players, participation of national teams in international competitions,” Unlike Nyamweya’s group, Shollei and Semelang’o have since registered FKF after submitting their application for registration of a new body which is a requirement by the Sports Act 2013.

“Our records indicate that Football Kenya

Federation picked application form through Ma​ hmud Abb​as. The Application form was returned on December 1 by Gikonyo and Advocate representing Sammy Sholei faction and not Sam Nyamweya,” stated a l​etter from Sports Registrar dated January 20, 2016.

But Nyamweya group, who was given 60 days last August to comply with the Act are yet to do so, five months later.

“We have shockingly received a letter addressed to Rambo and Company Advocates by the Sports Registrar to the effect that they have registered interim of officials of FKF under the sports Act,” said Nyamweya in a letter immediately after learning of the latest development.

“This was done without the knowledge of the sitting FKF NEC members and FKF general meeting which is the supreme legislative organ of the federation that has already placed the transition to Sports Act on the agenda of the next SGM on February 10.”

“If this is not annulled, aforementioned consequences will follow,” warned Nyamweya.

If the ban is effected as soon as next month, then Gor Mahia and Bandari’s FC risk losing participating at the forthcoming continental championships.

But did the Cabinet Secretary act within the law?

Chapter 55 (1) (a) of the Sport Act gives the Cabinet Secretary power to constitute a committee to run the affected federation for a period not more than six months.

1) Where a Sports organisation fails to comply with the recommendation of an inspection, the Cabinet Secretary may(a) Appoint any person or committee to assume the management, control and conduct of the affairs of the sports organisation, to exercise the powers and functions of the sorts’ organisation to the exclusion of its officials The appointment of a person of committee under this section shall be for such period as the Cabinet Secretary shall specify in the instrument of appointment but shall not exceed six months.

The complexity of the matter is therefore whether Fifa will jump in considering that Kenya’s vote in the forthcoming Fifa polls will be of great importance to the four candidates so far cleared to replace Sep Blatter.

Fifa statutes bars government from interfering with football managements. Such interferences may attract sanctions from the body which is currently hit by corruption scandals. elvince_x254

Konta bows out of Australian Open British number one Johanna Konta’s superb Australian Open run came to an end with defeat by German seventh seed Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals. Konta, the first British woman for 33 years to play in a Grand Slam semi-final, went down 7-5 6-2 in Melbourne. The 24-year-old is still set to rise from 47th in the rankings to inside the world’s top 30, and will collect £370,000 in prize money. Kerber goes on to face world number one and defending champion Serena Williams. The American, 34, took just 64 minutes to thrash Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0 6-4 and close in on a seventh Australian Open and 22nd Grand Slam title. The Briton made a nervous start and despite battling back to make the first set a contest, she could not stem a flow of errors that kept the pressure off Kerber.

Konta ended the match with 36 unforced errors to the German’s 11, having dropped serve five times over an hour and 22 minutes.

She looked every bit the debutante at this level as she slipped 3-0 down, with Kerber - twice a Grand Slam semi-finalist - hardly required to do anything but keep the ball in play in the early stages. There was real hope for Konta when she found some rhythm and clawed her way back to lead 5-4, but Kerber broke again at 5-5 and would lose just two more games.

Serena Williams reacts during a past match. She withdrawn from a warm-up tournament after sustaining an injury.

Football Kenya Federation president aspirant Gor Semelang’o (second left) when he launched his bid to contest the post. He has been appointed as FKF interim chairman. The move has incensed outgoing chairman Sam Nyamweya who has warned of Fifa and CAF ban.

SPORT 15 THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 Kenya’s Collins Injera chases down Dan Norton of England during the IRB Glasgow Sevens.

Injera chases IRB all-time try record in Wellington series Collins Injera will try and close the gap in the IRB all-time try scorer when Kenya parades at the wellington Sevens this weekend.

Kenya will take on Canada, Portugal and Australia in the group stages and every try, for Injera will be special.

Injera is the first African rugby player to have crossed the chalk 2009 time, just 21 behind Argntine’s Gomez Cora and 11 adrift of Ben Gollings of England. In New Zealand, Injera will need team work and self-belief as he closes on the top two record scorers, but with the main aim, of course to help Kenya pick up points.

The world still remember his celebration when he scored his 20th try in London Seven which costed Sky Sport Sh6million worth of a Camera lens when he allegedly signed it with a permanent

marker to celebrate his achievement.

YouTube clip of Injera celebration has since attracted more than 400,000 views.

“I didn’t know it would go that big,” said Injera. “I knew going into London I needed one try to reach the 200 mark and it was tough to come by. The first game against England was hard and in the second game I thought I would score and didn’t score. On that first day I had a T-Shirt on underneath which said “First in Africa” and went a whole day without scoring. On day two my teammates said must be the reason I didn’t score, so I took it off for day two,” he was quoted on the world Rugby website.

“I had a marker pen and my plan was to sign the ball. I hid a marker pen in my sock. I decided to go into the game and just play, not thinking about the 200, and

as soon as I began to enjoy the game I scored. I signed the ball and then found myself in front of the camera and it felt like the right thing to do to thank all the fans back home for their support. I had no idea it was going to be that big!”

Having allowed a summer to let the dust settle on that moment at Twickenham, the 29-year-old is now back in full stride on the 2015-16 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

“In theory people will say it looks easy, 21 tries for Collins should be manageable, but I realised when you focus on the target it gets harder. You struggle with scoring so for me I just need to keep playing the game and not chasing the record. I just want to play my role in the team having moved into more of a playmaking role.” elvince_x254

Ndiku sets eye in world Indoor championships 2014 World Indoor Championships winner Caleb Ndiku will take part in the 16th edition of the games set for 1720 March in Poland.

Ndiku, who is also a world championship silver medallist, has started his preparation for the games he won in his best season where he won major races he took part in, including Commonwealth Games, African Championships, the Diamond League (with two victories in Eugene and Zurich) both in 5000m and the Continental Cup in 3000m. The performance placed the Machakosborn Ndiku, son to former Javelin

thrower David Ndiku top Track and Field in 5000m ranking that season.

“I will take part in the world indoor then begin proper preparation for the Olympics,” said ndiku who still harbour dreams of one day beating double world champion, Somali bornBritish Moh Farah.

Ndiku will rub shoulders with champions from two years ago in the Polish city of Sopot such as Ashton Eaton, Pavel Maslak, Ayanleh Souleiman, Mutaz Essa Barshim, Konstadinos Filippidis, Mohammed Aman, Mauro da Silva, Abeba Aregawi, Genzebe Dibaba, Yarisley Silva

and Kamila Licwinko who have all indicated that Portland is part of their plans for the winter.

A record 699 athletes (403 men, 296 women) from 154 federations have confirmed participation at the games.

This will make the championships the largest ever to be held in North America.

Although there will be a slight reduction in numbers between preliminary entries and final participants, this year’s championships could be the biggest since the 1997 event in Paris when a record 712 athletes competed. elvince_x254

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 | www.254.co

fkf wrangles continue as government appoints interim office bearers

p14

Manchester City trio Kevin De Bruyne, Jesus Navas and Kun Aguero celebrates after taking the lead against Everton at Etihad Stadium last night. City beat Everton 3-1 to progress to Capital One final.

Man City reach Cup final Manchester City clawed back a 2-1 first-leg deficit to beat Everton and set up a Capital One Cup final date with Liverpool after a thrilling game at the Etihad last night.

Everton looked on course for Wembley when Ross Barkley’s brilliant run and 20-yard shot added to their 2-1 advantage from the first leg in the 18th minute - but manager Roberto Martinez was left nursing a burning sense of injustice after an enthralling encounter turned on a controversial decision.

Fernandinho’s deflected shot put City level on the night before the break, but Everton still had the edge.

That was until City substitute Kevin de Bruyne, who was later taken off with a serious-looking knee injury, turned home Raheem Sterling’s cross with 20 minutes left. Everton

could not recover their composure moment that will haunt and anger and City, who had earlier hit the Martinez, as Sterling appeared to woodwork through Sergio Aguero have run the ball out of play before and David Silva, sealed their place crossing for De Bruyne to switch in the final on February 28 when the momentum decisively in City’s Argentine headed De Bruyne’s cross favour. The home side will not have beyond keeper Joel Robles. sympathy for Everton in this context It meant joy for City, but after being convinced Ramiro Funes disappointment tinged with fury Mori scored an offside goal in the for Martinez and Everton. This was first leg and that Jesus Navas was arguably the biggest game of Roberto denied a penalty after he was fouled Martinez’s reign as Everton manager, by Kevin Mirallas - but it was easy and a chance to silence criticism of to understand Martinez’s outspoken his methods by setting up a League frustration. City were increasing the Cup final meeting with Merseyside pressure but Everton were surviving, with some good fortune, and that rivals Liverpool.

And for 70 minutes Martinez and second goal stunned Martinez’s team his team looked likely to pull it off, and gave the home side the push they impressively standing toe-to-toe needed to finally see Everton off.

Once more Everton never looked with City with a mixture of defensive solidity and threat on the break. fully secure at the back but they It was all turned on its head in a certainly had a hard luck story to tell

here. Manchester City can now plan for a Wembley date with Liverpool, who beat them so comfortably 4-1 here at the Etihad earlier this season - but it was a night of mixed news for manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Aguero, whose season has been hampered by injuries, looked back to his blistering best and never gave Everton’s defence a moment of peace, hitting the post with a superb curling effort then showing his world-class by heading in De Bruyne’s cross for the goal that clinched City’s victory.

The bad news however is that injury to De Bruyne, who had a huge impact after coming on as sub, scoring that controversial second and setting up the third. The sight of the 24-yearold being taken off with his knee in a brace p dampened an exhilarating night. City will now wait for the

medical bulletin.

Ross Barkley’s run and finish that put Everton ahead in the 18th minute was more compelling evidence of a wonderful natural talent.

City simply could not cope with his movement and power when Everton had moments of superiority in the first half, and it was no coincidence that their effectiveness was reduced once he was subdued.

Barkley is occasionally the target for harsh criticism from a minority of Everton’s fans, which sometimes subdues his sense of adventure - but it is clear they have a special player on their hands. On a night of bitter disappointment for Everton, they can be consoled by the presence of the likes of Barkley, a player they must build around and secure for the future.

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