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WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
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WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
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Fill in the blanks with the numbers 1-9. every row, column and 3x3 box must contain all nine digits with no repeated number. Yesterday’s Solution
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WEEKEND EDITION, DecEMBER 16-18, 2016 | www.x254.co
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KPMG to audit voters register from Monday Firm beats eleven other competitors to win the iebc tender that will see the voters list combed for a period of 30 days amid opposition from political quarters
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House recalled to decide fate of degree rule for MPs
P
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale who requested Speaker Justin Muturi to recall the House to debate the rule and decide its fate.
arliament has been recalled from recess to decide the fate of a new law that would make it mandatory for MPs to have a degree certificate as a minimum educational qualification before they are allowed to vie. The special sitting on Tuesday afternoon could see a showdown of sorts between those supporting the new rule and their colleagues who are against it. MPs already approved the law in its previous reading fears have since been raised from both sides of the political divide that the proposed rule would lock out several aspirants seeking parliamentary seats without basic degrees. National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, on the request by Majority Leader Aden Duale, has convened the special sittings on Tuesday next week to decide the fate of the Election Laws (Amendment) (No.3) Bill, 2015.
The law was hurriedly passed just before MPs went on recess early this month. With exactly eight months to the next year elections, truth has dawn on the lawmakers that some of their colleagues may not be eligible for elections forcing them to go the drawing board. Already, Opposition parties; Amani National Congress (ANC) and Wiper Democratic Party have opposed the new rule terming it as unconstitutional, discriminatory and a suppression of democracy. The two parties now want the recommended law dropped as it defeats the rules of ‘natural justice.’ The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had proposed amendments to the Elections Act to raise the bar for academic qualifications required of candidates seeking parliamentary seats starting from the next General Election in 2017. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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NEWS
House recalled to decide fate of degree rule for MPs WEEKEND EDITION, DECEEMBER 16-18, 2016
From Page 1 The resistance is likely to spill over to the county assemblies, where, too members will also be required to have a diploma from recognised universities before being cleared to vie for elections for the 2017 polls. And on the floor of the house on Tuesday afternoon, both Cord and Jubilee could face off in attempts to introduce a transitional clause to allow IEBC to defer the law until 2022. X News has reliably established that a section of Jubilee and opposition MPs opposed to the clause, have been involved in tense campaigns to have the requirement dropped or postponed. Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter (URP), Matuga’s Hassan Mwanyoha (ODM) and Nominated MP Robert Mutemi (Wiper) are said to be leading the onslaught to drop the law saying that it will turn Parliament to be a ‘house of elites’. Their efforts seem to have yielded fruits so far after the House leadership gave into pressure over the provision. Majority Leader Aden Duale is understood to be preparing to
propose a reversal of that change. “What we are going to do is that we will introduce a transitional clause so that the law becomes operational in 2022,” Duale said in an interview yesterday. However, Marakwet East MP David Kangogo Bowen (URP) and Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town, ODM) have all thrown weight behind the law saying that for a legislator to make good laws he/she must be educated. “The earlier the process is started, the better it would be for those who want to contest in the next General Election,” Kaluma said. On the other hand, most of the MPs opposed to the law say it should not be used as a measure of one’s leadership skills as uneducated politicians have in the past proven their ability to lead. MPs have had to walk out of the chambers every time when it comes to Committee of the Whole House, the technical stage in the legislative process, which often includes inserting words and phrases in Bills and putting in what would be useful for the country.
The National Assembly in session. MPs have been recalled for a special sitting on Tuesday next week.
The Elections Act currently states that only the President, Deputy President, governors and deputy governors are required to have a degree. Majority leader Aden Duale is on record accusing some of his colleagues of lacking the necessary grasp of the contents of the bills
passed in the house. In 2012, changes were made at the last minute when the law was being prepared in the last Parliament but MPs lowered the limit so that candidates for seats in both Houses of Parliament and the County Assemblies were exempted from the rule.
@ hillary_x254
KPMG to audit voters register from Monday
Audit firm KPMG has been awarded a contract to conduct an audit of the voters register ahead of next year’s General Election. IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba who made the announcement today said the exercise will start on Monday and will continue for a period of 30 days. Recommendations of the audit report will be forwarded to Parliament as soon as the exercise is completed ahead of implementation. The Commission has also forwarded to Parliament various concerns on timelines as stipulated in the new electoral law, which Chiloba said has several inconsistencies. “Audit of the register begins today and end on 18th January. The process will carried out by KPMG,” said the electoral body on its Twitter account. Opposition leaders have opposed attempts by the IEBC to proceed with the audit saying that the current team had no legal capacity as new commissioners have not assumed office. The commission’s secretariat has however insisted that they are putting their house in order in readiness for the August 8, 2017 General Election, and the audit will be the first thing to be done. “Eleven firms that expressed interest have been evaluated and we have settled on KPMG. The process must start in earnest,” IEBC asserted.
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WEDDINGS At least four passengers died early today after a bus they were travelling in from Nairobi to Mombasa plunged into a valley in Mazeras next to Bonje area in Kilifi County. Coast Traffic Commandant Emmanuel Okanda they Friday morning busy trying to rescue some of the passengers who remained trapped in the wreckage. More than 20 others were rushed to hospital following the accident. According to a witness, the bus belonging to the TSS fleet veered off the road at around 6am. Okanda has since described the area as a black spot.
@wilson_x254
NEWS 5 WEEKEND EDITION DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
EACC: Counties stinking with corruption Devolution may not succeed if the runaway corruption in the counties is not tamed, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has warned. EACC chief executive Halakhe Waqo (pictured) said the regional governments are stinking with graft posing a huge danger to the success of devolution. Mr Waqo who spoke when he appeared by the senate committee on Justice and Legal Affairs today painted a grim picture in which massive corruption in thriving in the counties. He said nearly all counties are under investigations over corruption related issues. The County chiefs were accused of hiring relatives and close friends especially in the procurement department in what is seen as a scheme to engage in corruption with ease. Waqo enumerated that out of 411 cases they have presented in court this year, 200 are from counties involving various county executives, assemblies and Governors. “Actually devolution is under threat, there is a lot of corruption at the counties posing a danger to devolution,” Waqo said. Also forming the bulk of the cases currently in court includes high profile cases such the NYS saga and Anglo leasing.
The revelation by Waqo corroborates the report of the Auditor General recently released which showed massive corruption going on in the counties. Waqo told the committee that seven counties have completely failed to comply with the prescribed ethics code. The seven include Meru, Busia, Siaya, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Murang’a and Isiolo. The failure by the seven to comply with the Anti-corruption code, Waqo said, is posing a major threat to the fight against corruption at the
counties. Waqo however insisted that the seven counties will be forced to comply with the code before the end of the year. “We will now go to court and compel them to comply, as we enter the electioneering period, we are leaving nothing to chance,” he said. The CEO said 90 percent of corruption cases in the country are on procurement especially in government. He said through the intervention of the commission a total of Sh2.6 billion have been
averted from being stolen. “This money could have actually gone to the wrong pockets had we not intervened,” Waqo said “People rush to government tenders because there is a lot of money in the procurement and kickbacks involved are also of good amount,” he added. Chairman of the committee and Busia Senator Amos Wako asked the CEO why the commission takes a long time to investigate and conclude cases despite starting on a high note. “There is always high publicity with high profile cases then two days later, the entire process normally goes quiet. What normally happens is that some of the investigators are compromised? Waqo said investigations normally take time as the officers have to ascertain documents and have correct information that can sustain a case in court. “I understand the frustration of the public, but investigations take time some go even for one year others even ten years. We must make sure that we have solid documents before presenting our case to the DPP,” Waqo said. @sam_x254
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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
Auditor General Ouko sides with MPs over CDF queries The Auditor General yesterday backed Members of Parliament on the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) saying the kitty’s board should answer to any audit queries raised. The Auditor General through his three assistants who appeared before the parliamentary CDF committee yesterday said the accounting officers are the fund’s board management. The three-David Gichana, Silvester Kiiru and Alex Rugera said the people who incur the last expenditure of funds are the CDF management board who should therefore answer the audit queries raised by the Auditor General and not MPs. They said MPs work is only to conduct technical duties as far as the management of CDF is concerned and also to determine whether the public got value for money on the projects started by CDF. “When we communicate our audit queries they go straight to specific funds management board and not Members of parliament,” Gichana told the committee. The Auditor General also disowned a story published by one of the media house accusing 273 Mps of embezzling CDF funds through non-existence projects within their various constituencies. Kiiru said they have never compiled any such report linking MPs to misuse of CDF funds. “The media most of the time mis-report our reports, they quote figures which we don’t have and therefore we are not responsible for the story published by
Auditor general Edward Ouko PHOTO: COURTESY
the standard on how 273 Mps looted CDF funds. All our reports are in our website for verification” Kiiru said. Kiiru said while conducting their audit on CDF, they don’t deal with MPs but CDF management boards and therefore any report linking MPs on how they have used the funds does not originate from them. “The accounting standards and practice world over dictates you only put the audit queries to the last user of the fund who is authorized by the government to incur expenditure who in this our case are the CDF board and not MPs,” Kiiru said. Rugera explained that MPs are not members of the board but the law allows them to attend the meetings by the virtue of their position as head of the constituency. He explained to the Mps that due lack of resources and manpower only a sample of
CDF projects were audited. MPs were not happy with the story which they claimed have made the society to see them as looters of the fund meant to assist them. “The story which tarnished the names of most MPs quoted your report, how then can you tell us that you are not responsible for the figures quoted,? asked Homabay Town Mp Peter Kaluma. Gichana explained that one of their mandate is to advise the government on whether the CDF is being put to correct use. “We found that there are a number of facilities ranging from hospitals to classrooms which were built by CDF but have never been occupied or used in such cases we conclude that there was no value for money and we did not mention any MP as being directly responsible or have looted some funds,”
Adama Barrow set to declare himself Gambia’s president The Gambia’s President-elect, Adama Barrow, has told the BBC he will declare himself president on 18 January despite incumbent Yahya Jammeh’s rejection of the election result. He said his team was preparing for his inauguration and he urged Mr Jammeh to respect the will of the electorate. The election commission declared Mr Barrow winner of the 1 December poll. Mr Jammeh has launched court action to annul the result after initially accepting defeat. His security forces have seized control of the election commission’s headquarters in the capital, Banjul. The Gambia has not had a smooth transfer of power since independence from Britain in 1965. Mr Jammeh first seized power in a coup in 1994, and many of his critics have been jailed or forced into exile. Mr Barrow, a property developer who was the candidate of a coalition of seven opposition parties, defeated him by four percentage points. In the interview with the BBC’s Umaru Fofana, Mr Barrow said Mr Jammeh’s move to annul the election had come as a surprise. Mr Jammeh had phoned to congratulate him soon after the election and had stated that “our system is the best” and “nobody can rig” the elections, Mr Barrow said. He ruled out a recount or re-run of the election: “We are not supporting anything as at now. Our position is very very clear. I’m president-elect. We advise the president to cooperate.” Asked about his inauguration, Mr Barrow said: “We have a team that is working on our inauguration. We are working on it; on the 18th, I’m the legal president of this country.”
NEWS 7 WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
NEWS PICTORIAL PAKISTAN OBSERVES PESHAWAR ANNIVERSARY: People release lanterns in the sky as they pay tribute to victims of Army Public School (APS) attack, on the eve of the second anniversary of the Peshawar school attack, in Lahore, Pakistan, 15 December 2016. In December 2014 Taliban militants attacked the army-run Army Public School in the north-western city of Peshawar, where about 150 people, mostly students, were killed. PHOTO: RAHAT DAR/EPA
MAY IN EU SUMMIT TO DISCUSS BREXIT: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May (right) chat prior to the start of an European Summit meeting in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. EU leaders meet for a one-day summit which mainly focused on the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement on migration and the EU Internal Security Strategy. The 27 leaders were later scheduled to meet informally for a dinner to discuss the Brexit process. PHOTO: OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA
CHASING THE GUINNESS RECORD:
Dominican singer Carlos Silver sings during a Guinness World Record attempt for the most hours singing by an individual, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 16 December 2016. Silver performed more than 105 hours to surpass previous record holder Sunil Waghmare of India. PHOTO: ORLANDO BARRIA/EPA
HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME:
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds’ daughter James touches her father’s star during a ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, USA, last evening. PHOTO: MIKE NELSON/EPA
WEEKEnD EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016 | www.x254.co
BUSINESS
CBK EXCHANGE RATES 1 US DOLLAR 1 UK POUND 1 EURO 1 S.A RAND 1 KSH/USH 1 KSH/TSH
New e-trade platform to link Kenya with regional partners Policy makers in developing countries will be able to access cutting edge technical and financial assistance on when the ‘eTrade for all’ initiative - a product of e-commerce - launches its new web platform in April, an United Nations official has said. While global trade has been stagnant for several years, e-commerce has been growing rapidly, accelerating upwards from $16 trillion (Sh1.6 quadrillion) in 2013 to $22 trillion (Sh2.2 quadrillion) in 2015, and emerging as a powerful driver of economic growth, inclusive trade, and jobs. The e-Trade for all initiative was launched in July 2016 by a consortium of international organisations, regional development banks, and national agencies to support developing countries with seven key policy areas, ranging from strategy development to payment solutions and skills upgrading. In November, the Internet Society (ISOC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) became the most recent institutions to join the initiative. More are expected to come on board in the next few weeks. “I’m delighted that the eTrade for all initiative is gathering pace. It is a potential game-changer for employment in developing countries,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said. “E-commerce is like literacy,” he
explained. “Those who need it most do not yet understand its value.” Key to the initiative is an online platform, which will make it easier for developing countries to navigate the supply of technical and financial assistance from partnering institutions. Developing countries will also benefit from the exchange of knowledge and information, and the sharing of best practices on e-commerce. The initiative stresses the importance of implementing gender-sensitive projects. Its guidelines recognize that women and men often engage in business and e-commerce in different ways, and as such, there is a necessity to ensure that the development of e-commerce is inclusive and accessible to all. UNCTAD’s work on e-commerce for development is currently supported by Finland, Sweden, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom. “Access to the internet is estimated to have the potential to generate more than 140 million new jobs in the developing world,” the UK mission to the UN in Geneva said in a statement. “This is why the UK supports UNCTAD playing a leading role in this field and we welcome the development of the ‘e-Trade for All’ project and look forward to seeing its implementation next year,” the statement said. The online platform will be launched
UNCTAD Secretary-General, Mukhisa Kituyi presening the World Investment Report 2016 dubbed ‘Investor Nationality: Policy Challenges’ to the media, during a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, June 17, 2016. during the UNCTAD E-Commerce Week, scheduled to run from 24th to
28th April, 2017 in Geneva. @enock_x254
Dutch investor moves to cash in on Kenya’s Sh100bn dairy sector DOB Equity, a leading Dutch family office, is investing in Countryside Dairy Ltd, the Nyahururu-based dairyprocessing firm, to allow the firm to scale up its production capacity and expand its reach across the lower income market. By investing in Countryside Dairy Ltd, the private equity fund with offices in Kenya, Tanzania and the Netherlands will be seeking a slice of the Sh100 billion Kenya dairy sub sector. Established in 2014 and located in the dairy-producing heartland in Kenya, Countryside Dairy is an integrated milk processing company with a high-quality processing plant and an installed processing capacity of 100,000 litres a day. DOB Equity announced that it had taken up a stake in Countryside Dairy Ltd for a publicly undisclosed sum as part of a commitment to increase social impact investment deals in Kenya. A report dubbed the Kenya National
Dairy Master Plan 2010 estimates that the Kenya dairy sub sector is valued at more than Sh100 billion and is the single largest contributor to Kenya’s agricultural GDP - higher than Tea and horticulture. Countryside Dairy delivers highquality pasteurized fresh milk to lowincome areas, including Nairobi’s slums. Its strategic focus and business model is based on serving the underserved low-income segment of the population, which has an estimated market demand of over 100 kilograms per capita. DOB Equity explains that individuals with lower incomes suffer from a chronically high prevalence of unsafe, often raw and contaminated milk products that pose a serious health risk. Countryside Dairy currently distributes its flagship Countryside Dairy Fresh milk product to markets in Nairobi, Eldoret and Nakuru. It
also has plans for retail milk products that would guarantee low-income consumers access to high-quality, fresh milk products at lower prices. This latest investment will expand DOB Equity’s current equity portfolio in the regional dairy sector, where it already holds a stake in Tanga Fresh, the Tanzania-based dairy processor. “Our latest deal in the East African dairy sector will allow Countryside Dairy to beef up its supply chain and offer better purchase prices to farmers, while guaranteeing product traceability,” said Brigit van Dijk-van de Reijt, CEO of DOB Equity. Countryside Dairy Managing Director, George Mwangi, who is also a former East African Cables Managing Director, said the entry of DOB Equity will help to further boost the firm’s efforts to enhance value for Kenyan Dairy farmers. Currently receiving raw milk from more than 20,000 farmers drawn from Nyandarua and Laikipia
Counties, Countryside Dairy plans to expand its catchment area. Ralph Jansen, investment manager at DOB Equity, said that the new partnership with DOB Equity will further give Countryside Dairy access to the world-renowned dairy processing technical capabilities in the Netherlands. “We have undertaken extensive feasibility studies that point to a latent demand for affordable, fresh, and pasteurized milk products. The formal market for processed milk is still in its infancy and valued at only $570 million, with an estimated potential value of $2.8 billion (Sh286.2 billion) annually as the dairy market matures. Currently, only 13 per cent of total milk products are traded formally,” Saskia van der Mast, Investment Manager at DOB Equity added.
@kevin_x254
MEAN 102.1006 129.6750 108.6389 7.4671 35.2594 21.3320
BUY SELL 102.0006 102.2006 129.5350 129.8150 108.5161 108.7617 7.4571 7.4771 35.1759 35.3429 21.2621 21.4018
KRA intercepts containers with concealed cargo worth Sh75 Million Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted 24 forty foot containers of concealed garments and milk powder at the Port of Mombasa in the largest single seizure by the regulator. The concealments were detected after subjecting the containers to a scanning process. Out of the 24 Containers, 21 contained new garments and shoes disguised as cold rooms being imported by horticultural farms. Three containers had a consignment of milk powder disguised as flasks and sewing machines. It is estimated that the Government would have lost approximately Sh75 million had the tax evaders managed to sneak the cargo out of the Port and into the country without being detected. KRA has embraced more intelligence sharing, risk management and use of scanners at the Port of Mombasa. These measures have enabled the Authority and other state agencies at the Port detect a higher volume of contraband goods being sneaked into the country. To enhance vigilance in the war against counterfeits, KRA has acquired and installed three additional scanners at the Port. Joint collaboration with other state agencies in combating this smuggling syndicate will continue, culprits will be prosecuted and the goods involved forfeited to the state, the Authority said in a statement. KRA further reiterated its determination to “firmly continue enforcing Customs & Border Control regulations as part of the broader campaign to seal revenue leakages while facilitating legitimate trade.” @kevin _x254
Kenya Airways increases capacity on Mombasa route National carrier Kenya Airways has increased capacity on the Mombasa route to meet rising demand this holiday season. The airline will deploy its Dreamliner, Boeing 787, on December 23rd and 24th. The Dreamliner has a capacity of 234 seats, 30 Premier Class and 204 Economy, compared to the 96 seats on the Embraer 190, 12 Premier and 84 Economy, that serves the route. The Dreamliner will also operate the route on January 2nd and 3rd. “We have seen increased demand on the Mombasa route ahead of the festive season necessitating the need to increase capacity. Kenya Airways plays a major role in boosting the economy of Mombasa during the festive season when demand mainly driven by the domestic market increases,” said Kenya Airways Director of Marketing and Communication, Chris Diaz. Kenya Airways normally operates 10 flights on the Nairobi – Mombasa route. The airline has also seen increased bookings on the Kisumu route. @kevin _x254
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BUSINESS
ICT pegged as key driver for economic development in 2017 WEEKEND EDITION, DECEEMBER 16-18, 2016
Embracing digital services, especially in the banking sector, will bolster business innovations, create employment and boost economic growth in 2017, Liquid Telecom Kenya CEO Ben Roberts has said. He projects that greater internet access, digital technology and mobile transactions will reduce costs, and bring banking services to 60 per cent of Africans by 2025 with more than 90 per cent using mobile wallets. “I’ve spent my time working on this kind of connectivity rollout and watching the impact and adoption of connectivity by our customers to change their business,” he said. “As we end 2016, it is time to look at the progress of the digital revolution that this connectivity has enabled with African born innovation to change the way business is done in these sectors,” Roberts added. The banking sector has been partnering with or chasing after the hugely successful mobile money revolution to bring banking to the unbanked. Equity Bank launching its own MVNO has quickly taken a decent market share of mobile money, and James Mwangi, the lender’s CEO, predicts branchless banking to be the future. Overall, the banking industry seems to be leading the way with investment in technology adoption to transform businesses, with some of the most talented African CIOs being attracted to the banking sector where they can best develop their skills. The internet has been ranked among the most powerful tools to improve
L-R CEO Liquid Telecom Kenya CEO, Ben Roberts and Kenya Power CEO, Dr. Ben Chumo cutting a ribbon during the commissioning of a power substation at the East Africa Data Centre offices. transparency, streamline service delivery and automate revenue collection. In Kenya, e-government has made great steps at a national and county level with the government taking a leading role in ICT. Developments such as online visa applications to enter Kenya and eCitizien, a digital payments platform
to pay for government services online, make it easier for citizens and visitors to interact with the Government of Kenya. “E-government, of course, can greatly improve financial efficiency. Yet it seems there is quickness to blame a system like Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) when a corruption scandal breaks,” says Roberts.
He commended systems like IFMIS saying they do increase transparency and will lead to a long lasting cultural change in government whereby procurement wastage becomes a thing of the past. “Resistance to change will come from cartels that profit from inefficiency, but the progress will continue,” he said. @enock_x254
Deacons, F&F in pact to bring contemporary fashion to Kenya F&F a clothing range of UK retailer, Tesco, has made its entry into the Kenyan market just as the festive season gears up. Listed retailer Deacons PLC has acquired the exclusive rights to bring the F&F brand into Africa, starting with Kenya and is set to open its doors at The Hub Karen in Nairobi today (Friday, December 16, 2016). This brings to fruition a partnership with Tesco, the British retail giant that has more than 6,900 shops across the United Kingdom and the world. Speaking during the official signing of the partnership, Deacons Plc Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Muchiri Wahome was enthusiastic about F&F’s ability to connect with Kenyan consumers. “Deacons has always promised to make Kenyans look and feel good. We are continuing this mission by bringing F&F to Kenya since the brand brings high quality fashion at amazing prices. F&F is single-minded in its pursuit of offering people across the world increasingly stylish clothes at remarkable value,” said Mr Wahome. He added that the new brand will help the company offer its customers more value while at the same time, boost
the firm’s competitive advantage in the market. “The brand is about international flavour at very competitive price points. Therefore, we have no doubt that the brand will connect with Kenyans, we identified a gap in the market and F&F is our solution to plug it,” he added. The F&F stores by Deacons Kenya Ltd will build on and complement a
significant foundation already in place to connect customers to their desired lifestyle in the East African market while also positioning the company for even faster regional growth in the future by expanding customer reach and adding new lucrative opportunities. F&F is Tesco’s flagship clothing brand, available at more than 2,000 locations in 26 countries across the
world. This diversity and international focus means the brand has perfected the art of offering contemporary apparel that fits with global lifestyles, without compromising quality, design exclusivity and value. This promise is offered across its full suite of clothing and accessories for women, men and children that is now available in Kenya. @enock_x254
Deacons East Africa PLC CEO Wahome Mutahi and F&F Global partnerships Managing Director Marcus Chipchase during announcing of a business partnership between the parties and an announcement of a new outlet store at the Hub mall in Karen. Photo:Gitobu/X-News
Liquid Telecom receives approval for Sh48 bn Neotel acquisition Pan-African telecommunications group, Liquid Telecom has received unconditional approval from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for the ZAR 6.55 billion (Sh48 billion) acquisition of South African communications network operator, Neotel. This follows approval from South Africa’s Competition Commission during October 2016. The acquisition will see Liquid Telecom’s partner, South African investment group Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH) get a 30 per cent stake in Neotel. The combined network assets and service platforms will give Liquid Telecom unrivalled reach across Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, enabling it to offer access via a single connection to over 40,000 km of cross border, national and metro fibre networks across 12 countries, including Kenya. Commenting on the approval, Nic Rudnick, CEO of Liquid Telecom, said: “We are delighted to have received regulatory approval to complete this transaction. The combined companies will create an unparalleled footprint covering key markets across the continent, giving Liquid Telecom a significant competitive advantage through the breadth, depth and flexibility of our consolidated networks.” “We will offer the highest quality and most extensive connectivity on the continent. We appreciate the efficiency with which this transaction was dealt with by both ICASA and the Competition Commission,” he added. Albertinah Kekana, CEO of RBH said their decision to partner with Liquid Telecom and Neotel is in line with their diversification strategy which seeks to invest in high growth sectors. “Together, we are well positioned to expand through telecommunications infrastructure and services sector in other key markets beyond South Africa,” he said. Speaking on behalf of Neotel, NonExecutive Director in Charge, Kennedy Memani confirmed that the approval of this transaction will leverage the strengths of Liquid Telecom, Neotel’s staff and customers will benefit from the stability, planned expansion and increased investments into the business, enabling Neotel to reach its full potential in South Africa and across the African continent.. Liquid Telecom has made other acquisitions, such as a joint venture in Botswana and the acquisition of Tanzania’s leading ISP Raha. @enock_x254
WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
ACCESS Sultry, saucy and sensational songstress Victoria Kimani recently launched her album titled ‘Safari’ in the country. After giving the record a spin, the ‘GOTA’ hitmaker sat down with XACCESS to break down the details of the personal and professional safari she has been through in curating the album.
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hat was your vision for ‘Safari’? To tell a story and my journey and I wanted to do it musically. I wanted the music to sound like the different places I had travelled to. It’s not just a typical African story, it’s an African nomad story. Somebody who’s moving around, somebody who has been influenced by different sounds and different cultures and so I wanted to fuse all that together in my music and I think it’s the most appropriate way to describe myself right now at this point in my life. Are there any Kenyan artistes that you would love to collaborate with? King Kaka was one of them and I was able to finally work with him so it’s was a super-cool experience but there are definitely more. There’s Redsan and a bunch of other people on my list. When is your next show in Kenya going to be? By the Grace of God, I’m trying to perform here on New Year’s. I’m trying, I’m really trying to get organizers to book me because sometimes it is a little hard getting shows here but hopefully I’ll have something for the fans really soon. And if it doesn’t play out that way I’ll still perform here soon enough. How would you describe your fashion style? [Whoops] I think it’s funky, it’s eccentric,
AN AFRICAN NOMAD’S MUSICAL JOURNEY
Victoria
sometimes it can be dramatic but it’s ultimately free. It’s not so rigid that I have something set for everyday that I put something on, like ‘this is what I’m going to wear today’. I’m a free spirit I just dress depending on how I feel and I’m also influenced a lot by our culture as Africans. How many wigs do you have? I have right now, I think 8 wigs. I’ve changed them three times already in the span of one day. The morning wig was red and the evening one is black. Kenyan food or Nigerian food? Kenyan food! Are you kidding me! My stomach seriously cannot handle Nigerian food [laughs]. I can’t even begin to talk about the indigestion that I’ve been through! Even the side dishes I cannot handle! Kenyan food all the way in fact right now I’m craving some ugali, Sukuma wiki and some kachumbari, that’s my favourite actually. Future plans? My plan right now is to take ‘Safari’ to the world. This is the main project that I had as an ode to Chocolate City and after the label then it has to be bigger and better. It has to go into the world. Nigeria was just a platform, it’s not a place I had planned to live in permanently and it’s time for ‘Safari’ to reach further. @christine_x254
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@christine_x254
Ali Kiba meet up with Yvonne Chaka Chaka sparks rumours of collaboration
T
anzanian singer and superstar Ali Kiba was on a recent trip to South Africa where he was reportedly set to perform at the Mkhaya Migrants Awards. After meeting up with living legend, singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka and a social media post that read ‘’It was a great honor and pleasure to meet Mama Yvonne Chaka Chaka who I have loved and admired all my life. Thank you for hosting us and sharing your memories, advice and guidance. I am truly grateful and looking forward to our project #KingKiba,” the internet is abuzz with collaboration rumours. Yvonne Chaka Chaka later added fuel to the flames by posting a picture of the two singing together with the caption, “Mom and the boys @officialalikiba was good working with you.”
After going incognito for the past 10 weeks, socialite Kim Kardashian has made a tentative but striking return on the app just in time to hawk some merchandise for the holiday season. The official KIMOJI Instagram account got an update through a video of --presumably Kim’s—a backside twerking on the app, accompanying this was a picture of a body in a red bra and underwear set and cleavage on full display. The reality star was also spotted at friend, Shelli Azoff’s Christmas gettogether at The Forum in LA, later in the day as she made her foray into public life once again. This comes two months after the Paris robbery that made international headlines in October.
makes X-Rated return to Instagram
Trump may take 2016 ‘King of Petty’ award for Twitter tech summit snub US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday held a tech summit where all of Silicon Valley’s biggest names met to discuss matters affecting the tech industry, notably absent was Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. It has been revealed that the reason behind the move was due to a botched emoji deal between Trump’s campaign team and Twitter. The custom emoji would include the hashtag #CROOKEDHILLARY which would have come into play during the October 9 Presidential debate. Dorsey claimed that the emoji would have caused legal trouble adding, “We believe that political advertising merits a level of disclosure and transparency that branded political emojis do not meet, and we ultimately decided not to permit this particular format for any political advertising.”
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ACCESS
WEEKEND WEDNESDAY EDITION, 26th NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2014 16-18, 2016
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SPORT
Real Madrid reach Club World Cup final WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 36 games by beating Club America 2-0 to reach the Fifa Club World Cup final. Karim Benzema gave the European champions the lead with a clipped finish after a Toni Kroos pass. And Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win - and a place in Sunday’s final against Kashima Antlers - by drilling a second in added time amid some confusion. Referee Enrique Caceres briefly asked for a video assistant consultation before allowing the goal to stand. This year’s Club World Cup is the first tournament to use video assistant referees. A pitchside monitor is available to referees to review decisions. However, Caceres did not view the incident on the monitor before restarting the game and awarding the goal. In the other semi-final, referee Viktor Kassai stopped the game after being alerted to an incident by his assistant, then viewed footage on a monitor and gave a penalty to Kashima Antlers in their win over Atletico Nacional. The Club World Cup features champion club sides from each of Fifa’s six continental confederations. Before Real Madrid’s match began, there
scored. The Portuguese then had a shot blocked and headed wide before scoring. Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said the uncertainty that surrounded Ronaldo’s late strike needs to be ironed out as new uses of technology are trialed. Referee Caceres initially called for a video review, before independently deciding that there had been no infringement in the build-up to the goal. “Things have to be clearer. We cannot control what they want to do to improve things with technology but things have to be clearer,” the former France international said. The tournament is the first time that a pitch-side monitor has been available for referees to view footage to help them make “match-changing decisions”.
was a minute’s silence at the Yokohama Stadium, in tribute to the victims of the air crash on 28 November that killed 71
people, including 19 players and staff of Brazilian team Chapecoense. Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d’Or for a
fourth time earlier in the week, had hit the post with a glancing header from Lucas Vazquez’s cross before Benzema
Karim Benzema (C) shoots to score the 1-0 lead during Real Madrid’s FIFA Club World Cup 2016 semifinal match between Club America and Real Madrid at the International Stadium Yokohama, in Yokohama, Japan, yesterday. PHOTO: KIYOSHI OTA/EPA
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FKF offers to fund expanded League WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa has said they are willing to incur extra expenses of bringing in two additional teams into the league as the Federation goes on with its push for an 18-team league next season. Mwendwa said this on Thursday evening as he was being cross-examined at the Sports Disputes Tribunal on the second day of full hearing in a case presented by the Kenyan Premier League. He said they are willing to forego their annual grant of Sh10mn from KPL as well as top it up with a Sh5mn sum which sponsors SportPesa have expressed willingness to add, and will increase it from within their own accounts to ensure the league goes on without hitch. “Each team is entitled to Sh7.5mn a season in grants and that makes it Sh15mn for the two extra teams. In our own small calculations with experience in running the National Super League, Sh5mn is enough for all the administrative costs of these two teams. So with Sh20mn, we will be able to effectively have these two teams play,” Mwendwa told the Sports Tribunal. He adds that the Federation has its coffers full and it will be no problem financing the two teams with a Sh70mn per year sponsorship from SportPesa, Sh125mn per year grant from FIFA and a further Sh20.5mn per year from CAF. The FKF head gave this as one of his prayers to the tribunal, on top of asking
FKF President Nick Mwendwa and his lawyer Ken Ochieng peruses documents filed by KPL when he appeared before the Sports Dispute Tribunal yesterday. PHOTO: CAPITAL FM
it to throw out the case presented by KPL. The league governing body in its initial move had asked the tribunal to interpret a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between them and the Football Kenya Federation over management of the league. FKF however now argues that the MoU signed on their behalf by the previous
President Sam Nyamweya and his Secretary General Michael Esakwa contravenes its own Constitution as it gives the KPL more powers than it should have, thus insubordinating the Federation. “This MoU signed created a body called a Joint Executive Committee and is given more power to run the league which in fact is the function
of the National Executive Committee according to Article 34 of the Constitution,” Mwendwa noted. According to him, giving KPL the powers to decide a vote when it’s tied at the JEC level is a huge contravention of FIFA, CAF and FKF’s statutes. He also went on to allege that the MoU signed in September last year which is the bone of contention did not have the
blessings of FIFA and was not the initial document which was agreed on and brokered by a delegation led by Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi in April. Mwendwa went on to play an audio recording of the press conference addressed by Nyantakyi alongside a delegation from FIFA after brokering a truce between KPL and FKF when the war over expanding the league went ugly in March 2015. “The agreement signed in 2015 was a clear departure of the FIFA mediation process. Why delay the whole signing for a document that was initially set to be signed by June? We feel that the Federation got a raw deal,” Mwendwa posed. He also argued that contrary to requirement, the said agreement was signed without a resolution of the FKF NEC nor the KPL shareholders. However, the KPL legal counsel Geoffrey Obura objected saying both sides had discussed and agreed to sign the document. FKF has also provided the tribunal with a new agreement to end the war between them and KPL and asked it to consider adoption of the same. The case was adjourned to Tuesday morning where Obura is expected to continue grilling Mwendwa after which the tribunal will give a date for the ruling. MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke
European clubs reject expanded World Cup
The organisation representing Europe’s leading clubs has rejected calls for the World Cup to be expanded. Earlier this month, Fifa president Gianni Infantino proposed a 48-team tournament consisting of 16 groups of three countries each. The European Club Association (ECA) say the number of games played in a year is already at an “unacceptable level”. “We urge Fifa not to increase the number of World Cup participants,” said ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Fifa’s council will discuss Infantino’s proposal at a meeting on 9 January but the 46-year-old made expansion part of his election manifesto because he wants to allow more countries the chance to compete at football’s flagship event. The number of teams competing at a World Cup last increased in 1998 when the tournament expanded from 24 to 32 countries but any change to the current structure would not be likely to take effect before the 2026 World Cup. Rummenigge added: “We have to focus on the sport again. Politics and commerce should not be the exclusive priority in football.” The ECA represents more than 200 clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Chelsea.
DRIBBLING UNMATCHED: Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (Front) dribbles during the first half of the NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards, at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, USA, 14 December 2016. PHOTO: MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA
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Journeyman’ Nkata ditches Tusker for Bandari WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 16-18, 2016
Sportpesa Premier League coach of the Paul Nkata has ditched Champions Tusker FC for Bandari, it has been confirmed. The Ugandan’s exit from the Brewers comes barely a month after guiding Tusker to league and domestic double in 2016. X- Sport has learnt that Nkata will pen down a two year contract with Bandari FC which has been under the tutelage of former Kenyan international Ken Odhiambo. Nkata, formerly at SC Villa and URA in Uganda, joined Tusker at the start of the 2016 season from Muhoroni Youth and became the first coach in the club’s history to win a double – the Kenyan Premier League and GoTV Shield Cup. At the KPL Awards, Nkata threw his future in the air when he referred himself as ‘Johnnie Walker’ in an apparent reference to his journeyman status having arrived in Kenya to take charge of Nairobi City Stars before he moved on to Muhoroni in the 2015 season alone. Tusker Chief Executive Officer Charles Obiny confirmed that they have agreed to part ways to allow Nkata tackle a new challenge. “He came and told us that he had an approach from Bandari. We had a meeting with him and we agreed on mutual consent to allow him take on
Former Tusker coach Paul Nkata with the KPL trophy after the team won it this season.
a new challenge because as a team, we don’t want to come in between his progress and growth,” Obiny said. A source at the Football Kenya Federation confirmed papers over the deal had been presented in their offices
late last evening. Under Nkata’s watch, Tusker won the crown with 61 points, seven clear of deposed title-holders Gor Mahia who had held on to the KPL title for three years running since succeeding the
PHOTO: COURTESY
champions in 2013. After accepting the KPL award, Nkata gave no indication of making the stunning switch from Ruaraka to the coast. “I’m happy for the award and after
hard work recognition serves as a big motivation. We have a big challenge ahead and I’m already looking forward to the Champions League. We need to do a lot if we have to make an impact in the competition,” he said. He then offered his gratitude to the Brewers with whom he won a domestic title for the first time in a coaching career that started back at home at Uganda Revenue Authority and Sports Club Villa where he was a former player. “I have not been accorded this kind of respect back home but it’s not a big deal. The interesting thing is that we can show away from home what we can offer,” the 56 year-old who has seemingly left the KPL champions in a lurch declared. On his next move, Nkata said more details will be revealed in the coming few days. Bandari who ended the season under Ken Odhiambo finished 11th on 37 points in a campaign that saw them ranked as early season title contenders after winning the 2014 GOtv Shield and recruiting heavily in the off season. Bandari sacked former Harambee Stars coach Twahir Muhiddin who led them to the domestic cup in 2015 following a slump of form after a bright start to the 2016 season and Odhiambo took over at the start of the second leg.