20160105 xnews

TUESday, JaNUaRy 5 , 2016 | www.x254.co

3

We’ll clear stinking garbage, kidero assures nairobians governor blames lack of proper zoning in waste management for poor disposal but maintains that he is committed to getting rid of the menace in the city

15

NEWS

Man uniteD’s playing style ‘not exactly what aDiDas want to see’

novak Djokovic wins season first rounD at qatar open

AG Githu now disowns controversial JSC law A

Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai. He has defended his office from blame over the controversial amendments to the Judicial Service Commission Act.

ttorney General Githu Muigai has distanced himself from the controversial amendments to the Judicial Service Act, 2011 that has attracted a huge uproar from the Opposition, civil society and the legal fraternity.

MPs passed a clause towards the end of last year in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill, 2015 allowing the President a free hand in the choice of the next Chief Justice and his deputy.

And President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Bill into law last month stoking the wave of uproar.

The Bill is said to have originated from the State Law office, but Muigai has disowned it, saying his office should not be drawn into the controversy.

He said the contested clause was introduced by the Parliamentary Justice and Legal Affairs Committee which is chaired by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga.

“My office is not privy to details of the

amendments to the Judicial Service Act of 2011 and as such my office should not be dragged into this debate.

The amendment was a brainchild of Chepkonga,” Githu told XNews on phone last evening, calling for calm as the issues are ironed out.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Cord have already vowed to move to court to challenge the amendments.

LSK has instructed lawyers Nzamba Kitonga, Tom Ojienda, Michael Muchemi and Peter Wanyama to move to court and challenge the constitutionality of the changes to the Judicial Service Act. Their petition was expected to be filed today.

In the amendment, the clause states that JSC will forward a list of three names to the President from which he shall appoint the Chief Justice and his deputy. The original proposal from the AG’s office did not give the number of names to be submitted to the President. That means JSC could as well submit one name for approval.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

School heads to ministry: Address omissions made in fee guidelines Head teachers have signaled a strong indication that they are willing to adhere to fees guidelines gazetted by the government if all the omissions made in the structure are addressed. Kenya Secondary School Heads

www.x254.co

Association (KSSHA) chairman John Awiti said head teachers are forced by the changing dynamics that were not factored by the government in the preparation of the guidelines to increase fees.

The news is likely to send good news to parents who have been bombarded by huge fees charged by a section of schools across the country contrary to those published by the government.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Secondary School Headteachers Association Chairman John Awiti.

The association has asked the ministry to address the omissions in the school fees guidelines before they can reduce levies.

2

NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

AG Muigai now disowns controversial JSC law From Page 1 But the committee proposed three, thereby giving the President more options.

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga is set to retire in June while his deputy Kalpana Rawal is expected to retire by end of this month.

The appointment of the Chief Justice is a key concern for Kenyans specifically the opposition, both of whom want the Judiciary to remain independent of the influences of the Executive.

And with eyes on the next General Election in 2017, politicians are concerned that the Executive might get a chance to influence the decision of the Supreme Court if it is given a hand in the appointment of the next Chief Justice and his deputy.

The CJ is the President of the Supreme Court and presides over hearings of the court which also includes a presidential petition in case of a dispute poll results.

“With two appointees of the President on the bench, he already has enough mileage to tilt the balance in case of a dispute,” Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’ said.

Addressing a press conference over the weekend, LSK said the

Chair of the Parliamentary Committee of Justice and Legal Affairs Samuel Chepkonga. He is accused of having sneaked in the now controversial clause.

changes are an affront to the independence of the Judiciary.

Chairman Erick Mutua said the changes grant to the Executive powers over the appointment of the CJ and the deputy.

“That law is not only unconstitutional, but greatly undermines the independence of the Judiciary. The fact that a law with such far-reaching consequences was passed through

an omnibus miscellaneous amendment deprives the public of their right of participation.

LSK will therefore challenge it in court,” said Mutua.

Nyachae team term should have been extended, says LSK

The term of the now defunct Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) should have been extended by a year to oversee some critical implementation phases of the Constitution, Law Society of Kenya Chairman Eric Mutua has said.

Speaking today morning on Citizen TV, Mutua said although the commission did not perform very well, a 12-month extension was necessary for the defunct Charles Nyachae-led commission. Mutua warned that independence of criticism whenever the Constitution is breached which CIC enjoyed will be lost if the law implementation task is placed under the Attorney General.

“As much as CIC cannot be said to have performed very well, the role it played was critical, it ought to have been given a 12-month extension,” said Mutua.

The commission whose term ended last month has come under sharp criticism for failing to deliver on its mandate of overseeing the implementation of the Constitution.

Mutua become the third high-ranking individual within a week to criticise the commission for not performing well during its five year tenure.

On Sunday, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said the commission failed in its oversight role in the implementation of the Constitution.

The Minority Leader in the Senate said CIC carried itself like an extension of the Executive rather than living up to its mandate of strict implementation of the Constitution.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said CIC failed in its mandate and its final report was misleading to Kenyans.

“CIC failed to conduct an objective and impartial audit of the efficacy of the new Constitution after five years, leaving it to ordinary Kenyans and politicians,” he said last week. Upon expiry of the tenure of the commission, The National Assembly Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee chairman Njoroge Baiya said the Kenya Law Review Commission will take over its roles.

Address guideline omissions before we lower fees: Heads From Page 1

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is set to meet education stakeholders today at 3pm at his Jogoo House office to discuss the issue of fees structure, a meeting Awiti said they will approach with “an open mind” with the sole purpose of getting a solution to the impasse.

Awiti said they will use the opportunity to tell the Cabinet Secretary of the changing dynamics in different schools across the country that might have necessitated the increase of fees by some schools.

“It’s a good move that we have been called for a consultative meeting with the Cabinet Secretary. We will tackle all the contentious issues touching on fee structure when we meet the Cabinet Secretary for education later today,” Awiti said.

“I believe we will have a way out by the end of the deliberations today with the Cabinet Secretary. I cannot predict the outcome as we cannot go in the meeting with a fixed mind that we have to get what we want, it’s a deliberation and we will definitely have a way out,” Awiti told XNews this morning.

The meeting comes just a day after Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang in a circular directed to all County Education officials to furnish the ministry with a list of all schools

that have flouted the guidelines.

“The list should contain name of the school, amount of fees in 2016 and other levies,” said Dr Kipsang.

“You are expected to take appropriate action on schools charging fees above the recommended amounts and without the approval of the Cabinet Secretary,” he said.

The gazetted fees structure requires students in boarding schools to pay Sh53, 554, those in day school to pay Sh9, 374 and Sh37, 210 for those in special needs schools.

In the gazetted structure, the government is to provide Sh12, 870 per year per student in regular schools and Sh32, 600 in special needs schools.

Schools are required to spread the fees in the ratio of 50:30:20 for the three terms in a year.

Parents at the weekend complained against the sharp rise in school fees and high prices of text books with Kenya Parents Association boss Musau Ndunda naming some of the schools he said had raised fees arbitrarily.

Deputy President William Ruto and Education Cabinet Secretary have already warned school heads against violating the gazetted fees guidelines provided by the government last year.

The Government has set aside funds for every child in public schools, thus parents should not be burdened with extra fees,” he said.

Kenya Association of Parents Secretary General Musau Ndunda (centre) addresses the press in Nairobi yesterday where they demanded the immediate revocation of illegal fees structures imposed by schools. With him are the association’s treasurer Rachel Oduor and Chairman Gerald Nyagah.

NE WS 3 NEWS

NEWS BRIEFS

Alai charged over claims EACC boss has fake degree

Blogger Robert Alai has been charged for claiming that EACC chief executive Halakhe Waqo has a fake degree. Charges read to the blogger before Milimani Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo stated that he caused annoyance to the EACC boss by claiming that Waqo got his job by using a forged University of Nairobi degree.

The State accuses him of improper use of a licensed telecommunication system when he posted the claims on November 18, 2015. The allegations were posted on Alai’s Twitter handle in which he is accused of stating that it was ironical for the EACC boss to fight corruption using a fake degree. Alai denied the claims and has been freed on Sh100,000 bond with a surety of similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Sh30,000.

He has faced related charges in the past.

Kenya renews appeal to trace wanted terror suspects

The Interior Ministry has re-published photos of 11 wanted terror suspects and renewed its appeal for public help in tracking them down.

The 11 mentioned on the ministry’s Twitter handle and described as dangerous are Abdalla Muumin Abdalla, Abdalla Siraj Marumu, Abdifatar Abubakar Abdi, Isaa Abdalla Ahmed and Anwar Yogan Mok. Others in the list include Suleiman Muhamed, Hussein Said, Mohamed Ali Ahmed, Omar Patroba Juma, Abdikadir Abubakar and Ismael Mohamed Shosi. The ministry has encouraged the public to be on the lookout and call police hotlines, 020219 91 51 or 0702-432877/ 999 or 112 should they see any of the suspects. The appeal comes as the authorities launched a massive manhunt for three wanted terror suspects who escaped a police raid in Majengo, Mombasa on Monday. Mombasa police boss Francis Wanjohi disclosed that the officers recovered two rifles, G3 and M16 rifle, 345 bullets and 15 mobile phones from the house.

More on this @www.capitalfm.co.ke

tuESday, JaNuaRy 5, 2016

We’ll clear stinking garbage, Kidero assures Nairobians

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has assured residents that his government is committed to getting rid of garbage that has choked the county for long. Kidero said lack of proper zoning in the daily waste management has been a major hindrance in the proper disposal of garbage in the county. He called on all Nairobi residents to support the initiative of the County in making the environment of the city clean by dumping wastes in designated places.

The governor said for the effective management of solid waste in the Nairobi, the County requires more than 50 assorted trucks. He said currently, there are only 14 trucks.

The Governor also blamed residents of not adopting good waste management practices. “The situation is exacerbated by the fact that most Nairobians have not adopted good waste management practices. Most residents dump waste anywhere and anyhow complicating the management of solid waste,” he said. Kidero also said if well harnessed, the garbage in Nairobi can be turned into an

NEW RESOLVE: Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has urged City residents to adopt good waste management practices as the county government seeks to address the garbage menace in the City.

economic advantage. “For decades, we have not been able to convert our massive waste accumulation into an economic advantage. If well harnessed, the waste we generate has the capacity to grow our economy. This is more so if we take new measures and ensure we manage it in a more innovative and sustainable manner,” he said. He said one of the strategies put in place by the County Government

NHIF members have two days to choose preferred hospitals Members of the National Hospital Insurance Funds (NHIF) have up to Friday to identify a health facility to access out-patient services.

NHIF has asked the beneficiaries to select hospitals that they can easily access as well as their dependants covered in the scheme by either visiting the facility of choice where selection forms are available or visit the nearest NHIF office.

The directive also includes those, who want to change their health facilities if from the current facilities they are subscribed to.

“All members are requested to select their preferred out-patient health facilities in their capacity as the principal member and also for their dependants,”read part of the notice seen by X-News.

The national insurer has a list of 1,100 accredited health facilities countrywide, 500 being public and the rest private health institutions.

The insurer said the move will enhance better health care services to its members at an appropriate time and for the value for their insurance cover.

“Driven by past experiences where some members would face challenges in accessing services there was need to allow people seek services from hospitals and health facilities close to them to ease service delivery, “read part of the notice.

Usually, to access out-patient comprehensive medical cover, a member and their dependants are required to select a health facility from the NHIF list of contracted out-patient service providers, which only applies to the out-patient cover.

NHIF mode of operation is that there is no limitation on the number of declared beneficiaries as well as no upper age limit for members to join.

However, despite such lucrative packages, NHIF has been suffering low and slow uptake of insurance, which currently stands at 20 million against a population of 43 million with 5.7 million principal contributors.

to get rid of the waste is creation of decomposition centres upgraded to waste treatment centres. Kidero has been widely criticised for failing to effectively manage the garbage in city as residents continue to suffer due to the stinking environment.

Last week, The National Youth Service (NYS) began clearing the city of garbage. Led by the newly-appointed Cabinet Secretary for Public Service,

Youth and Gender Sicily Kariuki, the NYS servicemen and women collected garbage from Muthurwa and Wakulima markets and Kibera City Hall entered into a partnership with the NYS following a public outcry.

Private contractors licensed by the county government to collect and dispose the waste had started dumping it on the streets and even in the Central Business District.

Now everyone can drive Now you can pay by mpesa securely Hotline: 0704773300 www.rockyschool.co.ke

Hospital cellings are boring.

Drive Safely!

4

NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

NEWS BRIEF

Facebook post sparks racial row in South Africa Comments by a white South African woman calling black people “monkeys” have sparked widespread outrage. On Facebook, Penny Sparrow used the word to describe New Year’s revellers on Durban’s beach because of the mess she said they made. She was condemned by many on social media and the hashtag #RacistsMustFall was trending on Twitter. The South African Human Rights Commission is now investigating the comments, the News24 website reports. Ms Sparrow took down the original post and replaced it with an apology saying that “everyone makes mistakes”.

She tried to clarify her remarks in an interview with News24 saying: “I made the mistake of comparing them (black people) with monkeys.

Monkeys are cute and they’re naughty, but they (black people) don’t see it that way, but I do because I love animals.”

‘Massive fraud’ in CAR election Twenty of the 30 candidates, who contested presidential elections aimed at ending conflict in Central African Republic have called for the counting of votes to be halted, alleging “massive fraud”. The candidates said in a joint statement that they refuse to be “accomplices of the electoral masquerade”, and demanded a re-run of the 30 December poll. However, the three main candidates are not among the signatories of the statement.

After about a quarter of votes were counted, former Prime Minister Faustin Touadera had a surprise lead.

He had 23% of the vote with his nearest rival, Anicet Georges Dologuele, another former prime minister, on around 13%, according to electoral officials quoted by the AFP news agency. Desire Kolingba, son of a former president, is in third place.

IS video suspect could be Briton, reports reveal

The chief suspect in the latest propaganda video by so-called Islamic State (IS) is thought to be British man Siddhartha Dhar, the BBC understands.

An official source told the BBC Mr Dhar was the focus of investigations into the video, which purports to show the killing of five men IS says were spies. “A lot of people think it is him,” the source said, although there has been no official confirmation. Mr Dhar - also known as Abu Rumaysah - was arrested in 2014 but jumped bail.

The former businessman and fatherof-four, from Walthamstow in east London, then made his way to Syria.

He had been arrested on suspicion of encouraging terrorism.

UN condemns attack on Saudi embassy in Iran The UN Security Council has strongly condemned an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran by protesters angered by the execution of a Shia cleric.

The statement made no mention of the execution of the cleric, Nimr al-Nimr.

Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday after its embassy was ransacked and set alight.

On Monday, Turkey’s Deputy PM Numan Kurtulmus urged both countries to calm the row, saying the Middle East was “already a powder keg”.

The UN Security Council, in response to a Saudi letter, condemned the attack on the embassy in Tehran and another attack on a Saudi consulate in the Iranian city of Mashhad.

The council called on Iranian authorities “to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel, and to respect fully their international obligations in this regard”.

It urged both sides to “maintain dialogue and take steps to reduce tensions in the region”.

However, it made no reference to Saudi Arabia’s execution on Saturday of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 others after they were convicted of terrorrelated offences.

Speaking in New York, Saudi UN ambassador Abdallah alMouallimi said the dispute between the two countries could be resolved if Iran stopped “interfering in the affairs of other countries, including our own”.

Riyadh has previously accused Iran of interfering in Arab affairs.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are respectively the key Sunni Muslim and Shia powers in the region and back opposing sides in Syria and Yemen.

Mr Mouallimi said peace efforts in those countries should not be affected by the spat but criticised Iran’s contribution to the process.

“The Iranians even before the break of diplomatic relations

ExEcution protEsts: riot police block angry demonstrators who turned up at the saudi embassy in tehran yesterday to protest the execution of shia cleric nimr al-nimr and 46 others on Monday. The un has urged iran to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel.

have not been very supportive, not very positive in these peace efforts,” he said.

“They have been taking provocative and negative positions... and I don’t think the break in relations is going to dissuade them from such behaviour.”

Saudi Arabia had earlier criticised UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon who had spoken of his “dismay” at the executions. Mr Mouallimi described Mr Ban’s comments as “misinformed”.

Following the attacks on the missions, Saudi authorities announced late on Sunday that they were severing diplomatic relations with Iran. They said that all commercial and air traffic links were being cut and that Saudi citizens were banned from travelling to Iran. On Monday, some of Riyadh’s allies joined

diplomatic action against Iran.

Bahrain and Sudan severed relations with Iran and the UAE has downgraded its diplomatic team.

Bahrain, which is ruled by a Sunni monarchy but has a majority Shia population, gave Iranian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.

The Sudanese foreign ministry said its action was on response to “the barbaric attacks on the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad”.

Mr Kurtulmus criticised the attacks on the Saudi missions but also Saudi Arabia’s execution of Nimr al-Nimr.

He called on Iran to protect all diplomatic missions and said that Turkey was against “all instances of capital punishment especially when it is politically motivated”.

“For us it is not possible to

support capital punishment by any country,” he was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.

“We want both countries to immediately move away from the situation of tension that will obviously only add to the already severe tensions existing in the Middle East. The region is already a powder keg. Enough is enough.

We need peace in the region.”

On Monday, a White House spokesman also called on both countries to “show some restraint and to not further inflame tensions that are on quite vivid display in the region”.

But Iran’s foreign ministry accused the Saudis of “continuing the policy of increasing tension and clashes in the region”.

The row also affected global markets, sending oil and gold prices higher on Monday.

US shuts drone operation base in southern Ethiopia The United States is shutting down its drone operation in southern Ethiopia. The US military has been using a base in Arba Minch, some 400km (250 miles) south of the capital, Addis Ababa, to launch the remotelypiloted aircraft since 2011.

At the time the US told the BBC that the drones were being used only for surveillance and not for

air strikes. They were part of US counter-terrorism efforts in East Africa aimed at groups with links to al-Qaeda.

Security experts in the region say the drones from Ethiopia were used to launch attacks on the al-Qaeda-linked Somali militants al-Shabab. US drone strikes have targeted a number of al-Shabaab leaders including its

leader Ahmed Abdi Godane in September 2014 .

But the US may have used its military base in Djibouti, which is still operational, to launch these missions.

An official from the US embassy in Addis Ababa told the BBC in an email that following talks with the Ethiopian government “we reached a mutual decision that

our presence in Arba Minch is not required at this time”.

The official added that “it is important to know that our presence at Arba Minch was never meant to be permanent”.

Ethiopia is seen as a close ally of the US in the region, and has soldiers in Somalia supporting the government there in its fight against al-Shabaab.

NEWS 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

Morning newspaper summaries How MPs gave Uhuru Fees: Parents in threat to School fees saga: It is the same Kinyua stops parastatals powers to choose CJ: MPs stop Form 1 selection: A old story replayed but the problem is that from paying MPs visit passed a controversial clause introduced parents’ association yesterday threatened it makes parents’ teeth grit and their heads allowances: President Uhuru by the Justice and Legal Affairs committee in the law on the appointment of the Chief Justice without debate. The Law Society of Kenya yesterday instructed four senior lawyers- Nzamba Kitonga, Tom Ojienda, Michael Muchemi and Peter Wanyamato move to court and challenge the constitutionality of the changes to the Judicial Services Act. The Petition will be filed this morning.

to move to court to halt Form One selection to force the government to take disciplinary action against principals who have ignored its directive on school fees. This came as Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i asked County Education Boards to revoke appointments of any Board of Management in schools violating the fee guidelines.

spin. This year, it has followed the same old script. Standard Eight examination results are released. Managers of public learning institutions raise fees. Parents lament and call for harmonisation and controls. Government responds with a promise this will be done. State officials don’t stop there; they warn ‘errant’ school heads of dire consequences.

Kenyatta’s chief of Staff and the head of public service, Joseph Kinyua, has ordered parastatal chiefs to stop paying allowances to Members of Parliament, terming such payment irregular. In a circular to all Principal Secretaries, Mr. Kinyua says the payment, usually made in the form of allowances, should be fully catered for by Parliament and not ministries or departments and agencies.

Governor Rutto forms Raila, ANC hit out over Tale of five people taken CA loses power to party to rival Ruto’s URP: Jubilee campaign raids: to hospice to die but regulate dominant Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto has pulled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s newly survived: When Fredrick Ikutwa telcos: Telecommunications sector off a fast one on Jubilee and registered a launched Jubilee Party is targeting new political party, setting the scene for a furious battle for the South Rift vote bloc.

The Star has established that Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u finally gave the nod to Rutto’s political machine, the Mashinani Development Party of Kenya, ending months of speculation about the governor’s political game plan.

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy’s (Cord) strongholds at the Coast, in Western and lower Eastern regions ahead of the 2017 General Election. The ruling coalition has been reaching out to elected MPs from the regions, hoping to get them to decamp from the Opposition.

was wheeled into the Nairobi Hospice 15 years ago, there was only one thing on the minds of his family members - to let him die in dignity. His frail body told the story of a man ravaged by a rare form of cancer. His legs could no longer support his weight and his eyes disappeared into the sockets, giving him a ghostly look. It was impossible to believe that a few years back he had been the darling of his family

regulator, the CA, has lost powers to independently monitor dominance and act against its abuse . Parliament stripped the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) of the mandate through the controversial Statute Miscellaneous Amendments Bill, 2015 that President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law before Christmas.

President to give titles NHIF tells members to Victims of Salgaa crash M-Pesa Academy to for Waitiki squatters: choose hospitals: Kenyans was couple returning admit first 94 students President Uhuru Kenyatta has several have up to Friday to identify a health from Prophet Owuor next month: Safaricom’s M-Pesa functions at the Coast this week, among facility to access outpatient services Foundation Academy is set to admit its them meeting the region’s leaders and through the National Hospital Insurance rally: A couple returning home first lot of 94 Form One students mid issuing title deeds for the controversial 930-acre Waitiki Farm, Likoni. He is expected to meet with the leaders today at State House, Mombasa, where they will push for several issues, including the construction of a bridge over the Likoni Channel. The push for the bridge has gained momentum, with Tourism CS Najib Balala, supporting the calls.

Fund (NHIF). The national medical insurer has asked its 5.8 million members to select hospitals that they can easily access as well as their dependants covered in the scheme. Members also have a chance to change the health facility by either visiting the facility of choice where they will find the selection forms or visit the nearest NHIF office.

from Prophet David Owuor’s crusade in Kisumu was killed on Sunday night at Salgaa in Nakuru. Their vehicle was crushed by a passenger bus. They died on the spot after their saloon car, which had been parked at a bus stop, was crushed by a passenger bus that was coming from Kisumu, heading to Nairobi on Sunday at 2am.

next month, raising the bar in Kenya’s corporate social responsibility scene that has seen companies compete to offer scholarships for bright but poor learners. The Sh3 billion education complex plans to admit two needy but bright pupils from each of Kenya’s 47 counties, on a full bursary.

Top stories from X News global partners Sunni allies join Saudi Obama to step up Obama discusses US sues VW over defeat Arabia in ceasing Background checks on executive action to devices: The US government has a lawsuit against Volkswagen over diplomatic ties with Firearms: President Obama will tighten gun laws: US filed the emissions test-rigging scandal that executive actions on Tuesday President Barack Obama meets his Iran: Saudi Arabia’s closest Sunni announce threatens to cost the embattled carmaker intended to expand background checks attorney-general, Loretta Lynch, today

allies have followed its lead and severed or downgraded their relations with Iran, as the repercussions continued over the execution of a leading Shia cleric by the Saudi authorities, which has provoked international condemnation. Ban Kimoon, the UN secretary general, called the dramatic rupture between Riyadh and Tehran “deeply worrying”. Bahrain and Sudan cut their ties with Iran, while the United Arab Emirates downgraded its relations in a bitter row that has highlighted escalating Sunni-Shia tensions and cast a long shadow over efforts to end the wars in Syria and Yemen. www.theguardian.com

for some firearm purchases and step up federal enforcement of the nation’s gun laws, White House officials said Monday, once again trying to sidestep a gridlocked Congress on a politically divisive issue.

But faced with clear legal limitations on his authority, Mr. Obama will take modest steps that stop well short of the kind of large-scale changes to the gun trade that he unsuccessfully sought from Congress three years ago. That legislation would have closed loopholes that allow millions of guns to be sold without background checks at gun shows or in online firearm exchanges www.nytimes.com

to discuss executive action to tighten gun laws. Explaining his decision to bypass Congress, the president spoke of mass shootings and said: “I get too many letters from parents and teachers and kids, to sit around and do nothing.” Republican presidential candidates retorted that, in a time of terrorism, Americans need guns more than ever. Mr Obama’s actions are hardly sweeping. The likely, modest measures include requiring occasional gun-dealers to obtain federal licences, so that more buyers are screened for criminal records or histories of severe mental illness. www.economist.com

tens of billions of dollars. The complaint deepens the German carmaker’s legal troubles and leaves it facing potential fines of up to $32,500 per vehicle for violations before January 2009 and $37,500 per vehicle for later violations.

The civil lawsuit was filed by the US justice department on Monday on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, which exposed VW’s alleged wrongdoing last September. The complaint alleges that the company fitted nearly 600,000 VWs, Audis and Porsches with diesel engines that contained illegal “defeat www.ft.com devices.”

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

xnews | Tuesday, JanuaRy 5, 2016 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

KPMG set to take over auditing at Uchumi KPMG is set to take over from Ernst & Young in the auditing of Uchumi Supermarkets, which has accused its former top management of manipulating last year’s financial statements.

The consultancy firm, which majors in global accounting and auditing, will take over the role if Uchumi shareholders approve the change at its forthcoming annual general meeting slated for January 20.

KPMG had been hired to carry out a forensic audit at Uchumi, with preliminary findings revealing that the former management had manipulated books and concealed losses in the retail chain’s financial statements.

Uchumi’s newly-appointed CEO Julius Kipng’etich, said the accounting fraud resulted in the firm plunging in to the red financially.

“Sh1.04 billion for write-off, which relates to items arising from management misrepresentation and manipulation of the system by the previous management led to huge loses,” said Kipng’etich.

Ernst & Young raked in Sh19.5 million in audit fees from Uchumi for the year to June 2014, a 41 per cent increase from the Sh13.7 million earned a year earlier at a time the struggling retailer posted an after-tax loss of Sh3.4 billion in the year to June 2015 following a decline in its sales volumes.

The imminent appointment of KPMG adds to a growing list of changes in

KPMG had been hired to carry out a forensic audit at Uchumi, with preliminary findings revealing that the former management had manipulated books and concealed losses in the retail chain’s financial statements.

auditors at both listed and non-listed firms at a time there is increased focus on the role and quality of work done by accountants.

This is the second time Uchumi is being caught in a maze of accounting fraud, putting its auditors on the spot. PwC was investigated in the wake of Uchumi Supermarkets’ near-collapse in 2006 on

whether its audit opinions were up to professional standards.

Ernst & Young was earlier last year probed by the Commissioner for Co-operative Development over its role in Mwalimu Sacco’s acquisition of a majority stake in Equatorial Commercial Bank from billionaire businessman Naushad Merali.

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

MEAN 102.2948 151.6819 111.7211 6.5468 33.0907 21.1155

BUY SELL 102.1978 102.3918 151.5261 151.8378 111.6044 111.8378 6.5474 6.5617 33.0105 33.1710 21.0466 21.1844

VW sued by US department over emission scandal

The US justice department has said it will sue Volkswagen over the emissions scandal that saw the German car giant fit software in millions of cars to cheat emissions test.

This follows an investigation by the US regulators that saw VW admitting it fitted defeat devices on 11 million vehicles in September 2015.

The law suit, on behalf of the US Environmental protection Agency (EPA), was filed yesterday in federal court in Detroit, Michigan, reports BBC. “The complaint alleges that nearly 600,000 diesel engine vehicles had illegal defeat devices installed that impair their emission control systems and cause emissions to exceed EPA’s standards, resulting in harmful air pollution,” the filing said.

The filing further alleged that VW ‘violated’ clean air laws by selling cars that were different in design from those originally cleared for sale by the EAP. “With today’s filing, we take an important step to protect public health by seeking to hold Volkswagen accountable for any unlawful air pollution, setting us on a path to resolution,” said assistant administrator Cynthia Giles for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

According to Giles, the recall discussion with the company have not produced an acceptable way forward and the discussions would continue in parallel with the federal court actions. EAP confirms that VW fitted many cars with a device that was able to recognize test conditions and adjust the engine settings accordingly with the express purpose of giving distorted readings on nitrogen oxide emissions.

However, the car maker has admitted that it is currently conducting an internal investigation that it says will leave no stone unturned.

The company is also facing separate criminal charges and a raft of class-actions though it has set aside billions of euros to deal with the fallout.

The series of scandal have hit VW hard and will be forced to recall millions of cars globally resulting the company to post its first quarterly loss for 15 years in late October.

KCB forms holding company, unbundles operating entities Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) has obtained all regulatory approvals to transfer its banking business to its wholly-owned subsidiary, KCB Bank Kenya Limited, a new entity created under a new holding company structure.

Following approvals received from the Central Bank of Kenya, the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and the National Treasury, Kenya Commercial Bank Limited is now registered as a non-operating holding company and newly

incorporated KCB Bank Kenya Limited started operations as a licensed banking institution with effect from January 1, 2016.

Kenya Commercial Bank Limited will now oversee KCB Kenya and KCB’s regional units in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The vehicle will also own KCB Insurance Agency, KCB Capital, KCB Foundation and all associate companies.

KCB projects that the new structure

will increase efficiency in access to and allocation of capital while enabling the equity markets to place appropriate value on the Group’s business separate from the current banking operations to be undertaken by KCB Bank Kenya Limited. The reorganisation— which will effectively separate the banking businesses from other incidental business entities— will, however, not result in any change in the ownership structure of Kenya Commercial Bank Limited.

“We are confident as a board that the re-organisation will result in operational efficiencies and better financial performance for the bank. The new units will be able to operate independently while being supervised by the mother company to ensure that the activities are run according to the laid down practices and move towards boosting the bank’s financial performance remarkably,” said KCB Group Chairman Ngeny Biwott.

Biwott said to enable KCB to achieve

its Pan-African vision, and sustain growth in earnings and assets, the Group requires a structure that will allow it to have the easiest path to expand without compromising any of its existing businesses.

“The structure we are now forming will go a long way in enhancing the Group’s capacity to access unrestricted capital and also enable us to invest in new ventures that are outside banking regulations”, he said.

CAPITAL ALERT Trust ‘s Sh302m ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ funding The Wellcome Trust, an independent global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health, is seeking applications for its Our Planet, Our Health funding programme.

Deepika Singh, a spokesperson on behalf of the Trust has said the movement seeks to secure the health and wellbeing of present and

future generations while responsibly stewarding the planet. “It is a transdisciplinary programme that research the ways complex changes in environment affect the health of people and develop potential solutions to enhance resilience,” Singh added. Those applying are advised to visit ‘wellcome.ac.uk’ for details. The deadline for applications

is January 29, 2016.

The Wellcome Trust offers a wide variety of funding schemes to support individual researchers, teams, resources, seed ideas and places. It also funds major initiatives in areas which are strategically important to their cause.

This year’s themes include ‘Urbanisation and Health’ as well as

‘The global food system and health’.

Applicants may apply for up to £2 million (Sh302 million) per year for up to 5 years.

“Support may be requested for all research costs that are attributable to the programme, including: salary costs for research staff consumables and small equipment costs travel, conferences and research meetings

office support and communication costs,” Singh said in a recentlyreleased statement.

Participating organisations may be located in any country, and the lead applicant may be employed in any sector. The Trust welcomes proposals from a broad range of disciplines and encourages applications that involve cross-sector collaborations.

Festive season numbers signal revival of tourism The tourism sector is on the road to recovery, according to recent statistics from the Kenya Coast Tourism Association.

Hotels at the coast region recorded 80 to 90 per cent bookings during the Christmas period, raising hopes for the industry’s recovery, especially in the region this year.

Kenya Coast Tourism Association Chairman Mohamed Hersi said the increase in bookings during the holidays from less than 50 per cent the same period in 2014 was due to heightened security in the region.

“We have seen a lot of change in security matters and I can say we had a very smooth festive season.

It was calm and easy,” Hersi said.

Coastal tourism plays a key role in Kenya’s tourism sector as a whole but has continued to suffer due to low international arrivals since 2013.

Between January and September 2015, foreign visitors arriving through Moi International Airport in Mombasa, decreased to 53,084 from 94,750 in 2014, representing a 43.9 per cent drop. Nonetheless, Hersi added that there is hope in 2016 after a lot of improvements towards and during the just-concluded holidays season in terms of tourists numbers.

The season saw at least six cruise

ships dock at the Mombasa port each carrying on average, 600 tourists.

“We have had six cruise ships dock within a period of only four weeks. This is very high. I know we had some tourists coming for holiday in Mombasa but I would want to clarify that a lot also came for safaris in other places in Kenya. The average spent period

was two days,” Hersi said.

The number of domestic tourists at the coast including Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi remained high at over 70 per cent, with a lot coming from Nairobi. But despite the international tourists number remaining low compared to domestic, there was an improvement of about 20 per cent in 2015 holiday season.

The tourism sector, which is the second largest earner of foreign direct investment to the economy, suffered a big blow owing to terror attacks by the Al Shabaab militia.

In light of these challenges, newly-appointed tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has assured positive changes with his focus being on security, product development and marketing.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

BIZ BRIEFS KCB foundation injects Sh100 million in form one scholarships As many as 240 bright but needy form one students who sat for the 2015 KCPE during the course of their secondary school education are set to receive sponsorship from the KCB Foundation.

The programme will use a total of Sh100 million in this year for the new cohort and over 800 students currently under the lenders support in high schools.

Of the 240 students the lending institution will sponsor, the programme has reserved 40 positions for pupils with disabilities.

According to KCB Director Jane Mwangi, the scholarships aims at easing the burden of financing secondary education to parents with needy but bright pupils.

The studentship will cater for tuition fee, uniforms, learning materials and mentorship activities in the four years of the secondary education.

CES 2016 promises to wow consumers across the globe

Kenya Coast Tourism Association Chairman Mohamed Hersi said the increase in bookings during the holidays from less than 50 per cent the same period in 2014 was due to heightened security in the region.

SA maize prices scale peaks as drought bites South African maize prices have retained their record run into 2016, scaling historic highs on Monday amid growing drought concerns and rand weakness.

The March contract for white maize added almost 2.6 percent to a new record of Sh 31,390 ($307) a tonne while the same contract for the yellow variety climbed 1.8 per cent to Sh 24,130 a tonne, Reuters reports. Prices for white maize,

BUSINESS 7

the staple crop that provides much of the caloric intake for South Africa’s lower-income households, more than doubled in 2015 while those for yellow maize, used for animal feed, rose around 70 per cent last year.

The high prices in maize according to maize traders is as a result of drought season in Free State province and North West since even the crops in field are

suffering this heat.

Agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana has said, South Africa which is the continent’s leading maize producer might be forced to import the cereal if the drought persist.

“If there is no rain, we may be compelled to import maize around May or June,” he told journalists.

The searing drought has been

exacerbated by an El Nino weather system, a warming of ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific that occurs every few years with global consequences.

This was furthermore speared by poor harvest last season that saw dry conditions shrivelling maize production by 25 per cent to 9.94 million tonnes, the lowest production since 2007.

CMA gives Apollo green light to register scheme Apollo Asset Management Limited, a leading global alternative investment, has received approval from the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to register a collective investment scheme.

Dubbed the Apollo Unit Trust Scheme, the Scheme will comprise six sub-funds, sources have confirmed.

The sub-funds include: a Money Market Fund, Balanced Fund, an Aggressive Growth Fund, Equity Fund, an East African Fund and a Bond Fund.

The approval was granted following the

fund manager’s compliance with the requirements under Section 30 of the Capital Markets Act and Regulation 5 of the Collective Investment Schemes Regulations, 2001.

Following the authorisation, investors can participate in any of the six sub-funds available in the Scheme for a minimum of Sh10, 000.

The Apollo Asset Management approval brings the total number of registered collective investment schemes to 20.

However, the Authority has requested

the Apollo Asset Management Limited to form a committee that will offer trustees a technical assistance.

“We have also required Apollo Asset Management Limited to constitute a Shariah Advisory Committee to advise the Trustee of the Unit Fund on compliance with Islamic laws and principles, prior to our consideration for approval of a seventh sub-fund, the Apollo Muslim Compliant Fund,” the Authority said.

CES 2016, the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of technology, is set to wow consumers from across the globe, the event’s organizers have said.

The affair, which will run from January 6 to January 9, 2016, will showcase the latest in wearable technology, smartphones, HDTVs, gadgets, drones and self-driving cars.

It will feature more than two dozen policymakers and regulators, including White House officials.

CES 2016 will also feature Hollywood stars, professional athletes, TV personalities and celebrity chefs discussing and promoting technology that is revolutionizing the way consumers live, work and play.

Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) - formerly the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) - CES 2016 will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Kenya shilling still on weakening streak after festive season

The Kenyan shilling is still struggling against foreign currencies despite moves by the government to lift its prospects. The shilling was reportedly steady on Monday as traders said they expected the currency to trade in a narrow range in the coming days.

The shilling was trading at Sh102 against the dollar this morning. The shilling has taken a beating from foreign currencies in recent years, having been trading within the Sh85 range against the dollar in 2012.

Money markets analysts have noted that activity will not pick up until next week when businesses fully reopen after the festive break.

The announcements come just as the Central Bank said on Monday that it planned to inject Sh6.5 billion shillings into the money markets.

8

BUSINESS TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

General Motors joins driverless cars make race

US car giant General Motors (GM) is teaming up with car sharing service Lyft to develop a fleet of driverless vehicles.

The partnership will see GM inject $500m in Lyft as part of a $ 1 billion fund raising initiative.

“We see the future of personal mobility as connected, seamless and autonomous,” said GM president Dan Ammann.

John Zimmer, Lyft president has said that his company shared the same vision. A number of technology companies, most prominently Google, are looking at developing driverless cars. Reports suggest Apple is also building prototypes of what are called autonomous cars in the US. But established carmakers are also in the race, with Daimler, Tesla among others investing in the concept, BBC reports.

The tie-up will focus on two main areas. The first is the “joint development of a network of ondemand autonomous vehicles”.

Mr Ammann said that “with GM and Lyft working together, we believe we can successfully implement this vision more rapidly”.

“We see the world of mobility changing more in the next five years than it has in the last 50 years.” The second is giving Lyft drivers easy access to renting GM cars.

Despite various companies’ best efforts to develop driverless cars, there remain many barriers to widespread adoption according to critics’arguments.

China eyes Kenya film industry after tycoon’s studio takeover China may soon cash in on the Kenyan film industry following recent moves by stakeholders to bank on the continent’s growing potential.

According to a report by China-

based CCTV, a tremendous increase in exchanges between China and African countries has created the need for greater mutual understanding for the sake of social and economic development

within the regions.

CCTV studios in Nairobi reports that over the past few years, some of their Chinese-targeted content has gained popularity with Kenyan viewers.

Chinese property and investment firm Dalian Wanda Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in US-based movie studio Legendary Entertainment.

The studio has added that China is set to air 30 Chinese TV series and movies through the Star Times – a leading Chinese-run channel in Sub-Saharan Africa.

These developments come ahead of a recent announcement that Chinese property and investment firm Dalian Wanda Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in US-based movie studio Legendary Entertainment.

Legendary Entertainmanet, which was founded in the year 2000, has produced blockbuster hits such as “The Dark Knight,” “Jurassic World,” “Man of Steel,” and the 2014 remake of “Godzilla”.

Legendary generally provides half the financing for movies whose budgets can run up to $200 million (Sh20.5 billion) or more.

The move represents Wanda’s latest bid to expand overseas and become a major player in the U.S. entertainment industry following its acquisition of AMC Entertainment Holdings, the second-largest movie theater chain in North America in 2012.

Wanda is headed by China’s richest man, Wang Jianlin. under the new agreement, it will own more than half of Legendary Entertainment, with Legendary Founder and CEO Thomas Tull and the rest of its management owning the remainder, Reuters reports.

Nairobi UN offices hailed as Tuskys to open doors visiting dignitaries’ hot spot in Juja by end month The United Nations office in Nairobi has become a “must visit” site for all dignitaries visiting Kenya, helping raise the profile of one of the only UN Headquarters (HQ) in the global South. DirectorGeneral of UNON, Sahle-Work Zewde has referred to 2015 as a “truly momentous year for UNON, and for the UN as a whole.”

“Our UN compound has experienced some remarkable occasions and events including the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in July co-hosted by Presidents Kenyatta and Obama, and the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis on 26 November 2015.

Some of the other important events held on the compound last year included the 25th Governing Council session of UN-Habitat, the Prepcom for Habitat III, and several visits by other Heads of State, such as President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.

She said the growing number

of high-level visits and events at UNON reflects an increasing international awareness of the essential role played by this duty station in the global UN system. “It is becoming increasingly rare for a visiting Head of State to Kenya not to include a stopover at UNON in his or her programme,” she said.

She said it is not just Heads of State and dignitaries that are discovering

the magnificent campus. “Thanks to the UNIC Visitor’s Service and our hard-working tour guides, more and more students, tourists and members of the wider public are coming to UNON and learning about the vital work being carried out by the UN from this compound and around the world,” she said.

She said 2016 promises to be another significant year for the UN.

Tuskys Supermarkets is set to open its first branch in Juja town at the end of this month, raising competition for rival Uchumi Supermarkets which has dominated the bustling urban centre for years.

The Juja store with a segment for clothes, food and electronics, brings to 59 the regional outlets count for Tuskys.

The second-largest retailer in the country by revenue, Tuskys has invested Sh200 million in the new outlet that is targeting people on the busy Thika Superhighway.

“This highway mall will offer convenience shopping to people travelling to Thika, Kiambu, Murang’a, Embu, Nyeri and Meru,” said Tuskys chief executive Dan Githua.

Kiambu County is turning out to be a lucrative market for the big five supermarket chains with Nakumatt recently announcing plans to open an outlet in Kiambu town by the end of this year.

The devolved system of government and improving economic climate

have significantly contributed to the changing face of the county, which is regarded as the richest in Kenya going by a World Bank survey.

Tuskys has embarked on an extensive expansion plan across the country and recently moved to open convenience stores at 75 Shellbranded fuel stations operated by Vivo Energy.

In the new concept stores, the supermarket largely stocks fastmoving consumables in the premises leased from Vivo.

Apart from the 75 convenience shops, Tuskys opened the largest branch in Ngong at the newlyopened Milele Mall, owned by the Presbyterian Foundation, an investment arm of the PCEA Church.

Tuskys is also an anchor tenant at Bufallo Mall in Naivasha and Oltalet Mall in Narok County.

The five top supermarket brands have stepped up competition across the country, taking up space at the shopping malls as anchor tenants.

ACCESS topstory

11

fashionscoop

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

Can we have ChurChill bring baCk the rib CraCking in him?

verA sIdIKA

cHUrcHILL

some questions we need answered this year i

t is said there is nothing as captivating as television. Television brings out real life experience right at the comfort of your sofa.

A mirror of some sorts that entertains you, blooming your life with captivating laughter and joy.

Now that we have crossed over to the New Year we ought also to cross over with new things that television should do for us in 2016.

We made it digital last year and all manner of stations from Romanza to Telemundos are gracing us every night, but what should this new and old stations do for us?

Can Slim

Possible be gender sensitive? We have watched the sassy television news anchor Lilian Muli carry along well with her show “Slim Possible” enabling men and women to shed tonnes of kilos, however, no man has ever won, how about we have a man win at least for once?

Can we have Churchill bring back the rib cracking in him? He is the king of comedy in Kenya and perhaps in East Africa, but last year he threw a one off to tell the nay sayers that he still has his funny bone intact, we are still not sure he is funny, can he transfer it to Churchill Live?

Can female news anchors read news without thinking of their behinds? From laughter which will be expect on Sundays,

days of the week that are not holidays are always filled with prime time news. However, these news come with sassy ladies who look at the teleprompter while thinking of other bodily areas. Can they read news seated?

Can the real house helps of Kawangware finally do some house chores? The Pope visited last year and spent time in Kangemi which is closer to Kawangware, by now the spirit of working should have caught up with them. How are they helps who don’t help?

Can Naswa will get real? There are some jokes that are seriously not jokes. Let’s move from baby dumping ideas, to something more creative, a second look at popcorn TV or Just For Laughs can be very helpful?

HOT

ne FM’s foxy presenter Neomi Ng’ang’a has left the station. Neomi is said to have quit under unknown circumstances although other sources are speculating that the plus size crusader could have been fired. But Neomi’s social media update seem to imply that she is indeed headed for greener pastures.

NeOMI

neomi ng’ang’a leaves one fM O

LILLIAN MULI

TOPICS

Given that we have an array of native TV stations from Njaata to Lowle and Kass, can we have real Kenyan Bruce Lees (Heroes) movies? A taekwondo style sort of film that is not foreign?

Can Tusker dump all other projects and bring back Tusker project fame? While we hope Ian Mbugua will still keep his charm, how about having TPF follow through with nurturing its winners?

And finally we are still wondering if Vera Sidika’s Nairobi Diaries launched in late December will hold, then we will want some questions answered like; do they actually know English?

no new Game of Thrones, sorry So the writer of the fictional fantasy that is Game of Thrones has delayed causing a freeze in the release of the latest series.

George Martin admitted to have missed his deadline and he asks for forgiveness not only from his fans but the entire Holly Wood team.

You are not alone, even his bosses are upset.

GeOrGe MArTIN

The real Househelps of Kawangware.

10

ACCESS

ART&CULTURE

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY 26th NOVEMBER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER JANUARY 5,222015 2016 2014

aboutLove

Just in case you are actually splashing urine then you need to save a date with your gp

asK dr X

i CAnT STOp My bLAddeR! Dear Dr x,

I am very worried. Can you please tell me why I urinate every time I have an orgasm? I have tried not to but I can’t seem to help it.

Is this normal? Please help.

— Worried.

Dear Worried,

You aren’t urinating!

You are among the 35 to 50 percent of women who ejaculate when they orgasm. It is believed that the fluid comes from the para urethral ducts that surround the urethra and vagina. The jury is still out on this topic. Some scientists argue that

women mistake vaginal lubrication or stress urinary incontinence (a fancy term for peeing a little when you sneeze!) for an actual “ejaculation”.

However, understand that ejaculation isn’t composed of urine .Just in case you are actually splashing urine then you need to save a date with your GP. If not then you are fine, enjoy your body. Dr x.

Send your agonising queries to adhyambo@x254.co

understanding the Swahili people Yesterday KOT was up in arms against Tanzania with a hashtag #kickTanzaniaoutofIG. You can bet the updates were hilarious especially those that stereotype the Swahili culture. How about we understand this community before we plan their eviction party?

Swahili culture is the culture of the Swahili people inhabiting the Indian Ocean Coast. A cultural aspect of the Swahili is their use of arts and crafts, which they value immensely.

When they create art, they express themselves through shape and function. Other cultures enjoy Swahili art in furniture and architecture as well as in clothing.

The Kanga or lesso being the most popular piece is made with extreme care. Even though the Kanga is quite cheap, it is still a main part of Swahili culture. The cloth is used as a sling to carry babies, melons on their heads and can also be used as an apron.

The most typical musical genre of Swahili culture is taarab (or tarabu), sang in the Swahili language and with deep proverbial meaning.

Modern singers have singe developed a modern version of Taarab. The Swahili people are generally very proud of their roots.

ARTSHOCK GORGeOuS bOdy pAinTinG

B

ody painting in Africa has been there for millennia. In many communities it is the craft that bends and brings out an expression of true culture. Contemporary art has since adopted this act and Craig Tray a native of New Orleans satisfactorily fuses convectional and contemporary as a way of amplifying his unique creativity.

What he exudes as a result is both stunning and mind bending body work using airbrush, finger painting, sponging, and splatter.

RebuiLdinG LOVe

A

nyone who has suffered some form of abuse by a parent, partner or sibling is fragile. Most are often left with a craving to recreate their suffering in order to heal it. This recreation is called the repetition compulsion and the first step in the repetition process is to choose a partner who emotionally resembles the parent, sibling and or the last partner who let you down!

Then comes the struggle to obtain from your chosen partner, the kind of treatment that you wish you had received.

Unfortunately, this process is doomed to fail, precisely because the partners we choose are just as damaged and therefore incapable of providing that happy ending.

Your happy ending can only

occur when you chose a partner who is different from the person(s) who abused you in the past. To avoid recreating the abuse you suffered in the past, and to obtain the happy ending, don’t choose abusers in the present. But this is always easier said than done.

Listen to your warning bells; if you are afraid of starting a new relationship or moving deeper into a relationship with someone that you are dating, listen and heed. Survivors have a hard time setting limits for themselves, hence love feels dangerous. When you know that you are entitled to say no to any form of treatment that feels uncomfortable to you, you will feel safer to love and trust.

Don’t surrender your power in the hopes that someone else

TRuST will be kind to you, which puts you in the child seat, and stirs up feelings of helplessness and fear. Know that you can count on yourself for protection. If you take hold of the reins, trusting and loving comes easier.

Handle your angry feelings properly; when explaining how you feel, make sure you behave constructively (no screaming, yelling, name-calling, or character insults). The better you express your angry feelings, the less likely you are to receive abuse in return.

Generally rebuilding trust after abuse is an uphill task that will require your willingness to make tough decisions and sometimes walk away from what we think is right. Be absolutely sure your current love interest is on the same page.

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 26th NOVEMBER 5, 2016 2014

FASHIONscoop

@Variety CreatiVe impaCt awards BrunCh

GLAm SqUAd ALERT

W

ill Smith was named one of the Variety’s 10 Directors to watch and Creative Impact Award honoree at a colorful brunch held on the backdrop of the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival, Sunday.

He accessorized with an ethereal looking Jada Pinkett who gave other girls on the red carpet such as Melisa McCarthy a run for their money in her all white attire.

We found most of the stars absolutely breathtaking.

Juliana mOOre: Rocking peplum in black.

Jada pinkett: Everything about her look was perfect.

rOsamund pike: She looked modernly sophisticated.

aVa duVernay: She brought color to the brunch.

filmlab

mellissa mCCarthy: Floral with an infectious smile.

denize Gamze: We only loved her shoes.

BEST...

11

Genre: Action, adventure, fantasy, sci-fi. rating: pg13 Cast: Harisson ford, John bBoyega, Carrie Fisher. runtime: 2hrs 16min.

A

dAddY’SHOmE

Our rating: H H H

n affable radio executive finds himself competing for the affections of his step-children following the unexpected reappearance of his wife’s ex-husband in this Paramount Pictures comedy.

STAR

Genre: Comedy rating: Pg13 Cast: Will Ferrel, Mark Wahlburg, Linda Cardellini Runtime: 1Hr 36min.

T

WARS

he Star Wars saga continues with this seventh entry -- the first under the Walt Disney Co. umbrella. The film will act as the start of a new trilogy set after the events of Return of the Jedi.

Our rating: H H H

HATEFUL EIGHT

S

et some twelve years after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the wintry Wyoming landscape. The passengers, bounty hunter John Ruth and his fugitive Daisy Domergue, race towards the town of Red Rock where Ruth, known in these parts as “The Hangman,” will bring Domergue to justice.

Genre: Western rating: R Cast: Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russel, Jeniffer Jason runtime: 2Hrs 47min.

Our rating: H H H

claSSIFIEd TUESday, JaNUaRy 5, 2016

Technical insTiTuTe EstablishEd in 1964

Professional training institute

l Asset Financing Loans

Train for a career wiTh highesT remuneraTion and brighT fuTure

The loan is meant to assist U & I existing clients to acquire business assets like motorbikes,Laundry Machines e.t.c

Intake In progress for the followIng courses advanced dIploma/ dIploma/certIfIcate

Technical courses l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

ElEctrical EnginEEring MEchanical EnginEEring PluMbing and MEchanical sErvicEs basic ElEctronics Plant EnginEEring WatEr EnginEEring MachinE oPEration sWiMMing Pool MaintEnancE rEfrigEration and air conditioning radio and tv EnginEEring tElEcoMMunication EnginEEring architEctural draughtsMan shiP building and civil EnginEEring Motor vEhiclE and autoMotivE EnginEEring adult Education KcPE, KcsE, gcEo, gcEa coMPutEr PacKagEs

commercial courses

FEATURES

English languagE l hotEl and catEring ManagEMEnt l food & bEvEragE Production l Pastry & baKing l accounting and auditing l coMPutEr EnginEEring l EntrEPrEnEurshiP and industrial ManagEMEnt l salEsManshiP l booK-KEEPing and accountancy l huMan rEsourcE ManagEMEnt l ProcurEMEnt and logistics l businEss adMinistration l storE ManagEMEnt l Public rElations l Early childhood dEvEloPMEnt Education (EcdE) l dschool World lEarning gaMEs (juMP start E-lEarning)

Loan Balance 5,000 - 100,000 Loan Term Maximum 1 Year Repayment frequency: Weekly/Bi-Weekly/ Monthly

l

Minimum Requirements 1. Bank statement for the last six months 2. U&I Microfinance Bank Account 3. Proforma invoice from the dealer l Imarisha Loan Targets medium entrepreneurs to assist them in accessing working capital or capital expenditure for their business 1st Loan Kshs.150,000

We have trained couple of thousand students over the years who are competently contented.

Repayment period maximum 24 months.

contact: adMissions sEcrEtary: #0710726310 shah Mansion, MoKtar daddah strEEt, oPPositE jEEvanjEE gardEns Po. box 43545-001, nairobi, technicalinstitutegroups@yahoo.com

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 Romance is in the air today, Aquarius. It’s the perfect time to make yourself look your best and invite that certain someone to dinner. Even if you’re already happily married, why not take advantage of the auspicious mood and plan a special date with your spouse?

Email: info@uni-microfinance.co.ke

WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 You have allowed yourself to become complacent about your career. You have the ability to make a major step up, so why not do so? All that is required is a bit of effort on your part. Figure out what your ideal job would be and then pursue it. Or better yet, create it!

Contacts:1st Floor Asili Complex, RiverRoad Tel 020 2367288 Cell 0713 112 791

TUESday 5/1/2016

SUNNy

MoRE SUN THaN cloUdS

25

24

25ºc 61%

WEdNESday 6/1/2016

6:32 aM 6:44pM

25ºc 59%

6:32aM 6:44pM

THURSday

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 Today, you crave a little style. Sensible shoes and practical clothes get the boot in favor of fashionable shoes and luxurious fabrics. Your passion and sense of romance are at an all-time high, Pisces, so you might as well take advantage of it for all it’s worth.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 It isn’t just royalty who gets to live happily ever after in fairy tales, Aries. The conditions are ripe for attracting a special person into your life. There is no need to rely on “expert” advice for attracting a soul mate. It’s your own unique qualities that will beckon to the right one.

SuDOku

12

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 While you may feel the urge to put on a pair of boxing gloves and duke it out with your family, Taurus, try putting on an oven mitt instead. Cooking a meal or performing other domestic chores will help take your mind off your troubles with your family.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 You have an urge to hop on a plane and leave the country, Gemini. It seems that this is the only way to free yourself from the mountain of professional and social obligations that are piling up. How can you ever hope to attend all of them, or even half? Have you considered that you may not need to?

FIND THE KEYWORD IN RED AND SMS IT TO 22333

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 That’s not to say that you can now sit back and rest on your laurels - quite the contrary! Now is the time to put your original ideas to the test. But this time you have the backing of the higher-ups. Don’t be nervous; just do what you had planned to do all along.

RINGTONES: 30 KSHS PER DAY Nipe Nafasi You will receive a sms “2 download. . . ”Go to this Glory to Glory link using GPRS or WAP & download your content.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 You have a wonderful, nurturing nature, Leo. Those around you reap tremendous benefit from your caring soul. Just as you are receptive to the needs of others, so too should you be aware of your own needs. You deserve to be on the receiving end of your own gentle touch.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21 Is this the divine muse you’ve heard others talk about? Possibly, or perhaps it’s just your own natural talent shining through at last. Today is also auspicious for relationships, so be sure to take time for friends and loved ones both old and new.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 You’ve been by yourself long enough; it’s time to start interacting with other people. In addition to having heaps of fun, you’re likely to have some encounters that will prove beneficial in the long run.

Group situations are great, but don’t overlook the pleasures of an intimate one-on-one encounter.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 And this is just the boost you’ve needed, as some people set your self-confidence a bit on edge.

Just don’t let others destroy your vision of happiness. Continue to walk toward your goal and don’t hesitate when small obstacles appear left and right.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 You have especially keen vision today, so make sure to take note of everything of interest that you observe. What you discover today, along with the people you meet, could combine in a powerful way at some future date. Your work also benefits from your attention to detail.

Barua Muganga

KENYAN HITS! Dumbala Remix Msaidizi Fundamentals Mungu Baba Uwepo Wako Milele Dongo Dongo Ulibeba Sobei Cheiso Worship You Sambaza Defender Tosheka Kereka Ningwendete Queen Ahuirania Ti Mundu Ndirakurekie

KENRAZY Visita, Madtraxx, DNA & Jay A

GLORIA MULIRO KEN WAMARIA RUFFTONE & GSU MERCYLINAH MARION SHAKO GERALDINE ODUOR EUNICE NJERI EMMY KOSGEI BMF FT MERCY WAIREGI ALICE KAMANDE DADDY OWEN MOG DK KWENYE BEAT JOAN WAIRIMU LOISE KIM N.D GITHUKA BETTY BAYO & MR SEED SIMON

KEN4 GM4 KT4 RUFF4 LIN4 SHA4 GER4 EN4 KOS4 BMF4 KAM4 DAD4 MOG4 DK4 VAN4 LK4 GAK4 BET4 SIM4

Kinyukia Kahora

JOAN WAIRIMU

VAN4

Nanena Adonai Zawadi Sitalia Tena Bongo Lala Sitalia Tena Hatarudi Nyuma Mapenzi Solo Penzi Langu Matokeo Born Again Lingala Ya Yesu Fanya Kitendo Muziki Ni Dawa Makeke Kitanzi Miss Hizo Naona Mbali Nime Wasamehe Hakuna Silaha

Ex: HC4 to 22333

BAHATI DJ LAPOZE JEMMO & DENNO BEN GITHAE HADASSAH PAUL EMMA OMONGE MASSMASILYA LAURENT MUGISHO MR. BISCUIT SIMON KIDUM & JULIANI KIDUM NGANGALITO KIDIS GLORIA MULIRO EKO DYDDA PITSON BEN GITHAE RINGTONE JIMMY GAIT GLORIA M & WILLY P ALA C DENNO SOLOMON MUKUBWA SARAH KIARIE

TIB4 HC4 GON4 GIT4 WT4 JC4 HOB4 HOK4 JAG4 SIM4 DUM4 DUM4 LIT4 PIG4 GM4 KEB4 BOM4 GIT4 RING4 JG4 GM4 ALA4 GON4 SOL4 SK4

This is a subscription service. Cost per message is KSH30. Content Delivered daily. A Joining fee of KSH30 applies.

Phone must be WAP/GPRS ENABLED to download ringtones. Errors will be billed. To DEACTIVATE OR UNSUBSCRIBE, SMS STOP followed by the keyword i.e. STOP HC4 to 22333 or *100#. A deactivation fee of KES 30 will be charged unless passive deactivation is requested.Customer Support: 0711035333 or 0734488668 , SUN - FRI, 8:30AM - 6pm, SAT 9am - 5pm. or email: ke@smshelp.info.

PLAY 13 TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1. “The results ___ (election-night report) 6. Rainy day footwear 14. Jittery 15. Desirable canine trait 17. Running tracks 18. Like some business buyouts 19. Roundworms 21. Singular 22. Honda model 23. Notifies 25. Come together 26. Tiny particle 28. Grassy borders 29. IV sites 30. Horse feet 32. Child expert LeShan 33. Gamblers 34. Big deal 37. Movie house guides 38. With “t,” a clump of grass 41. “Sling Blade” actor Robert 43. Den 45. Naked, in Nantes 46. Pep 47. Team heads

49. Part of a packaged foods giant 50. Sort that’s reluctant to spend 52. “No, No, Nanette” number 55. Aunt, to Simone 56. Reunion question 57. Bernese Alps peak 58. Ones who are frequently online 59. Prepare for dining out Down 1. Simultaneously 2. Bacchus, notably 3. Glossy paints 4. Imam’s religion 5. Snapple rival 6. Mouth bling 7. Busy as ____ 8. Bulgarian cash units 9. “___ to Joy” 10. Gentleman 11. Doctor 12. Swallow greedily 13. Like perfume or some candles 16. Early capital of Macedonia 20. Furtively 23. Antipathy 24. More, in a phrase 27. Roadside inn

31. Insatiable 33. Rom. neighbor 34. Agee’s “___ in the Family” 35. Oubliette 36. Intimidate 38. Shake up 39. Former MTV personality Daisy 40. Sample bottles 42. Fatah co-founder 44. Traveled like Huck Finn 48. Mrs. Cliff Huxtable 50. Eye woe 51. Tae ___ do 53. “Either you say it ___ will!”

54. Native American land, casually

Yesterday’s answers

YOURSAY Parents should remove Ndunda from his post Listening to Kenya National association of Parents (KNPA) Secretary-General Musau Ndunda speak on the raging issue of hiked school fees leaves a lot to be desired.

Instead of petitioning President Uhuru Kenyatta to take action against rogue schoolteachers, he is has written a letter requesting to be allowed to go to State House and “tell Uhuru the truth” on the matter. This is not only sad, but outrageous.

“We are writing to President

Kenyatta through the Cabinet Secretary for Education Fred Matiang’i so that we can meet him and tell him the truth.

And if he invites us now, we are ready to go to State House,” he was quoted saying in a news Daily.

My question today goes to all parents, when and where did you ever vote Ndunda to represent and speak for you?

Was his election mandate eternal till death? If not when is the next election? When and where does he collect

these purported views he claims to represent Kenyan parents? And finally have you ever been consulted as a parent?

If we allow quacks and greedy individuals like NDunda to run our education sector, nothing good will be realised and the sector will continue to experience challenges.

Kenyans and parents must say no to people like Ndunda and send them to where they belong, Jail.

— Wuod Betty, Starehe

More should be done to curb border abductions Kenya Foreign policy has been peaceful coexistence with her neighbours and peaceful resolution of disputes. However, this policy has in a number of times been abused by its immediate neigbours. Few years ago, Uganda boldly claimed Migingo Island which is part of Kenya’s territory. This aggressive act by the Uganda government almost brought to an end the cordial relations the two countries have enjoyed in the past years. In the recent past, Kenya has witnessed aggression from Ethiopia with the recent attack and abduction of four Kenyans. This is even after a peace agreement

was signed between the two governments witnessed by President Kenyatta and Ethiopia Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. It is sad that the government has gone mute and is yet to act on the abduction of the four Kenyans with no one bothering to find a lasting solution to the perennial attacks from Ethiopia. It is time for a paradigm shift in the Kenya foreign policy. Kenya should adopt a defensive foreign policy against all her external aggressors to protect her territory, boundary and citizens.

— Anne, Kangemi

January cons on the loose, be warned Kenyans prepare to face hurdles and glooms that come with the month of January, they have to be aware of the fact that con men and women will never allow you to enjoy your hard-earned cash and because they are broke too, they will pounce from left and right they will be offering you

brown grass painted green.

They will pile pressure on you to take challenges using inspirational quotes. This is the time when Kenyans lose colossal sums of money in pursuit of fake jobs and some end up being shipped to the Middle East for plums jobs that end up being agony

and anguish. To the youth, people do not go to school to be employed. Before you pay anyone to employ you or to link you to any employer inquire if the person has a better life. How many chances has he/she created for himself or herself?

— Aggrey Mboya, Kasarani

ICC should move in to quell Burundi violence The International Criminal Court (ICC) should showcase its might in violence deterrence by taming the escalating violence in Burundi and South Sudan.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has a task to quell the violence in the East Africa states while practising her secondary role as a deterrent to violence. While Central Africa Republic (CAR) was conducting its elections last week after two years of violence, Bensouda issued a stern warning that she was keenly watching how the polls would be conducted and take action against anyone involved in incitement

to mass violence. Whether it was out of fear of prosecution or obedience to the rule of law there was no violence cases reported in Bangui and thus ICC was able to deter violence.

The ICC ought to intervene in Burundi and other warring African states to avert further violence since the African Union has seemingly dragged its feet to do its job.

The Hague-based court has the jurisdiction and capacity to make an impact by putting would-be violators on notice that impunity is not assured especially in troubled African continent.

— Nderitu, Kamkunji

Government should construct Likoni bridge The National government should prioritise the construction of the Likoni Bridge to spur tourism growth and end the perennial problems associated with ferry breakdowns.

The Likoni ferry crossing has been a pain for motorists and commuters for years, and it is high time a permanent solution was implemented.

Year after year, there are reports of ferries stalling in the channel and frequent breakdowns, leading to

commuters getting injured in scrambles for the few operational ferries.

Calls for a permanent bridge have not been heeded, leading to the recent ultimatum by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho that if the National government will not build it, he will use his office to invite contractors to bid for the job.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala needs to push the issue in Cabinet to secure a firm commitment and budgetary allocation.

Other than tourism, business have been affected with goods taking long to get to the market which subsequently affect the economy.

A permanent bridge will save time wasted at the channel, reduce incidents of tourists and other travellers missing their flights and other functions, end cases of faulty ferries getting stuck at sea as well as ease movement in Mombasa.

— Kamotho, Donholm

Garissa university re-opening win for country Garissa University College reopened its doors after the worst terror attack ever in Kenya which led to the death of 148 students nine months ago. The reopening is a clear indication that Kenyans have the resilience and what it takes to defeat terrorism. It comes as a blow to forces who believed such cowardly attacks would deter the positive spirit of the Kenyan people. It also reinforces the notion that Kenya will always rise and bounce back even when faced with the worst

kind of challenges. It is my hope that students from other parts of the country will not refuse admission to the university as a result of the past experience. This will in turn cement the will to stand together as Kenyans from all parts of the country, support and protect others as our Muslim brothers did to Christians in the recent Mandera bus attack. The government should also ensure there is maximum security in and within the institution, to avert another similar attack.

— Anne, Embakasi

Send your letters to news@X254.co | Letters will be edited for summary and clarity

14

SPORT TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

SPORTS BRIEFS

Serbian Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Germany’s Dustin Brown during their tennis match in the Qatar Open competition yesterday, in Doha. He took just 51 minutes to win his first game of 2016.

Russia to meet IAAF staff over doping scandal

Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko will meet the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) inspectors next week to discuss the country’s efforts to clear up the doping scandal that resulted in Russia’s suspension from international athletics. A group of IAAF experts is expected to visit Russia on January 10-11.

“The IAAF commission will arrive on January 10, and I am planning to meet with them on January 11,” Mutko said in a phone interview with R-Sport. This comes barely a week after European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen said Russia were unlikely to return to international competition in time for next year’s Rio Olympics. Russia’s athletics federation was banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations for alleged involvement in widespread doping.

An IAAF inspection committee is due to visit Russia in January.

Saracens to sign South Africa flanker, Burger

Premiership champions Saracens have agreed to sign South Africa flanker Schalk Burger on a two-year contract. The 32-year-old will move to Allianz Park in the summer following spells with Japanese outfit Suntory Sungoliath and Super Rugby side Stormers. Burger has earned 86 international caps and won the World Cup with the Springboks in 2007. “Schalk will add a huge amount of experience and quality to our young pack,” said Sarries boss Mark McCall. “To be able to add one of the world’s finest players to the group is extremely exciting. “He is a man who has achieved everything there is to achieve in the game of rugby.” Burger made his international debut for South Africa in 2003 and has featured in four World Cups.

He made seven appearances at the 2015 tournament and was widely regarded as one of South Africa’s top performers as Heyneke Meyer’s side recovered from the shock of losing to Japan to finish third. “I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to play in both the Premiership and the European Champions Cup,” said Burger.

Cricket abandoned due to heavy rain in Sydney

A full day’s play of cricket was lost due to persistent downpour at the SCG, with West Indies still 248-7. Rain continues to frustrate Australia in their bid for a series whitewash after day three of the third and final Test was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Sydney earlier today. The covers were never taken off at the SCG as heavy downpour forced the loss of a full day’s play by late afternoon, further threatening the chance of a result, with Australia leading 2-0. It is the first time a whole day’s play of Test cricket has been washed out at the SCG since 1990, when rain wreaked havoc between Australia and Pakistan on day five. Only 11.2 overs were bowled as rain ruined day two on Monday, the touring Windies reaching 248-7. West Indies duo Denesh Ramdin (30 not out) and Kemar Roach (0) remain unbeaten at the crease and are scheduled to resume their first innings on Wednesday, depending on weather.

Djokovic wins season opener at Qatar Open

Novak Djokovic opened his season with a 6-2, 6-2 first-round win over German qualifier Dustin Brown on Monday at the Qatar Open.

The top-ranked Serb avoided the post-season exhibitions last month after an exhausting 2015 season in which he won three major titles and reached the final in the other.

The Qatar Open was the only tournament in 16 played in 2015 in which Djokovic failed to reach the final, instead losing in the quarterfinals.

Last year, Djokovic won a career-best 11 titles and finished with an 82-6 record.

“Obviously you never know how you’re going to start from the blocks,” Djokovic said. “I think I used the offseason very well

to train to get my body in the right shape, and I think it was a very good start.”

Spaniard Daniel Munoz De La Nava posted the first upset of the tournament, defeating fifth-seeded countryman Feliciano Lopez 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5.

Seventh-seeded Jeremy Chardy of France beat Qatari wildcard Mubarak Shannan Zayid 6-1, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Brisbane International after suffering an arm injury in practice two weeks before the Australian Open.

“I hurt my forearm in practice a couple days ago and need to precautionary withdraw with the Australian Open starting,” she was quoted as saying by Brisbane tournament

organisers.

“Brisbane Tennis is such a special event especially being defending champion. I look forward to seeing all my fans next year.”

The Russian was due to face compatriot Ekaterina Makarova in first round action later on Tuesday, but will be replaced by a lucky loser.

The 28-year-old five-times grand slam singles champion will rest up before she aims for her second Australian Open title when the year’s first major gets underway in Melbourne on January 18.

Sharapova has won five grand slam titles and her single Australian Open triumph came in 2008.

Dakar Rally shortened due to bad weather The second stage of the Dakar Rally yesterday was shortened because of poor weather conditions, race organisers confirmed.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain had already forced the cancellation of Sunday’s opening stage because of safety concerns, a day after 10 people were injured when a car crashed into spectators during the prologue.

The weather was again expected to have an impact on yesterday’s stage, with race director Etienne Lavigne confirming it had been shortened by at least 150 kilometres.

“It’s going to rain for most of the nigh on the special, then it should stop to begin again in the afternoon,” said Lavigne.

“We are going to do our best to ensure that the stage will take place in the best possible conditions.”

With the opening Prologue near Buenos Aires last Saturday, the two week-race has been broken into 13 stages, with a rest day

on January 10, taking riders on a winding path through Argentina and Bolivia.

The original route included time in Peru as well, but in August the country decided to withdraw from the race due to forecasts predicting particularly nasty weather due to El Nino.

The Peruvian government decided that it would be more appropriate to have all state services ready for action should a national emergency arise as a result of the weather.

This gave the event’s new Sporting Director, Marc Coma, himself a fivetime Dakar champion, the challenge of rerouting the course to avoid entering Peru.

By mid-September, Coma and his team had charted a new route, leaving the dates, number of stages and length of stages the same as originally planned.

The type of terrain riders will face did change however, with fewer dunes and more technical

track during the opening days en route to the rest day at Salta. Adding to the difficulty is the first marathon at Stage 4, a 429 kilometre special section that starts and ends at San Salvador de Jujuy.

High altitudes and alternating rocky and sandy terrain challenge the riders during the first half of the initial marathon, while the second half is marked by a climb even higher as competitors enter Bolivia with the goal of reaching Uyuni.

There is a second marathon stage is planned for after the rest day, and as always, there will be no assistance available to riders during either of the marathons.

Other features unique to this year’s event include the longest Fiambala dune section since the event moved to South America during Stage 10.

It’s also the first event since the inaugural Dakar that won’t include a previous motorcycle class winner, ensuring that the Number 1 plate will go to a first-time victor in 2016. Agencies

SPORT 15

United’s playing style ‘not exactly what Adidas want’ Manchester United’s playing style is not what kit sponsor Adidas “want to see”, according to the chief executive of the German sportswear giant.

United began a £75m-a-year deal with Adidas at the start of the season.

Herbert Hainer told Suddeutsche Zeittung “business with United is going very well” but expressed doubt about the

team’s “way of playing”.

Manager Louis van Gaal’s possessionbased approach has been criticised by fans, former players and the media.

Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Swansea was their first win in nine games, their worst run in 26 years.

In that time, the Red Devils slipped out of the top four in the Premier League and

went out of the Champions League at the group stage.

Their record-breaking deal with Adidas is worth £750m over 10 years.

Hainer said: “We sell more jerseys than expected, the foreign share is 60%. We are satisfied, even if the actual way of playing of United is not exactly what we want to see.”

TRAILING: Manchester United players Wayne Rooney (right), Michael Carrick and Juan Mata at the re-start after Norwich City’s opening goal at Old Trafford last month. United lost the match 2-1. Kit sponsors Adidas say the team’s playing style is not ‘exactly what they want to see’.

Discipline key for Mido in Zamalek return Ahmed ‘Mido’ Hossam says maintaining discipline will be key as he returns to coach Egyptian champions Zamalek for a second time.

He replaces Brazilian coach Marcos Paqueta, who was sacked on Sunday.

Mido will be working alongside Hazem Emam, who has been appointed as the club’s football director.

“We’ll work towards the future, to rebuild the team, maintain discipline and set a new clear working system,” Mido told Al Ahram newspaper.

Emam is also a former Zamalek player and while they did not play together at club level, they played alongside each other for Egypt at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.

The duo were in Qatar working as TV analysts when the decision was taken and are set to return on Monday and start

work immediately as the team prepares for Tuesday’s league match against Dakhlia.

“Time is limited which makes it impossible to make any changes before tomorrow’s game. I will depend on the current formation for the game against Dakhlia,” he said.

“Then I will focus on the determined players, who’ll be selected to play based on their effort and determination to play and win.”

The former Libya coach Paqueta had only been in charge since November and oversaw just five games during which time they won just once, drew twice and lost twice.

The results left Zamalek fifth in the Egyptian Premier League, one place and one point behind their great rivals Al Ahly.

“I still believe that Zamalek is the strongest team this season, even more than Al Ahly,

and is capable of defending its title,” Mido insisted.

“It’s still too early to tell who will win this season’s title - it is only in week 12 and both Ahly and Zamalek have three games in hand.”

Mido retired from playing in 2013 and took on his first coaching role in January 2014 when he took over at his former club Zamalek.

During his first season in charge, Zamalek finished third in the league and secured a place in last year’s Confederation Cup. He also won the Egypt Cup, making him the youngest Egyptian manager to win a major trophy.

But at the end of July 2014 Mido was replaced by Hossam Hassan following some modest performances and results as well as differences with the club management.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

xnews | tuesday, JanuaRy 5, 2016 | www.x254.co

kit SponSorS AdidAS not hAppy with mAncheSter united’S plAying Style

Real Madrid sack manager Benitez

Rafael Benitez has been sacked as manager of Real Madrid after just seven months in charge, with club legend Zinedine Zidane replacing him.

Spaniard Benitez, 55, was relieved of his duties following a meeting of the club’s board on Monday. Real B team coach Zidane, 43, has been promoted to first-team boss. The Frenchman, a former Real player and World Cup winner, said: “I am going to put my heart and soul into this job so that everything works out well.” Benitez’s final game was Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Valencia which left them third in La Liga, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

Zidane is the 11th coach to be

appointed in Florentino Perez’s 12 years as club president across two spells. The length of his contract has not been made public.

His first match in charge will be Saturday’s home La Liga game against Deportivo la Coruna.

Perez is yet to explain why the board of directors took the “difficult” decision to dismiss Benitez, who once coached the club’s youth teams. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, he said: “Let me make clear that this is a great professional and a great person. “I want to acknowledge the dedication of Benitez during his time as coach of Real Madrid.” Benitez lost only three of his 25 games in charge of Los Blancos and also took them into

p15

Rafa Benitez who was sacked by Real Madrid after just seven months as manager. INSET: Real legend Zinedine Zidane who was named the new boss.

the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare.

An 8-0 home win over Malmo and a 10-2 victory against nine-man Rayo Vallecano - the first time Real had reached double figures since 1960 - were amongst his most notable successes, but it would seem a combination of factors both on and off the pitch led to his downfall.

One was the 4-0 home defeat by Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season in November. His defensive tactics were also criticised, while there were reports of a rift with star forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

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

Paul Marshall-CEO, Fred Bunei-Finance Manager, Josiah Musee-Advertising Manager, Peter Obuya-Editor

ADVERTISING CONTACT DETAILS:

0722980807

020 2716525/6

Email: sales@x254.co

Mary - 0723060734, Irene - 0721404674, Rose - 0712993803, Boniface - 0721541406, Robert 0718401663, Paul -0720486845, Paul N.-0719708320.