2016012020 xnews

TUesday, deCeMBeR 20, 2016 | www.x254.Co

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PRESIDENT KENYATTA URGES JUDGES TO EXPEDITE LAND AND CORRUPTION CASES

NEWS

KENYATTA SAYS LAND AND CORRUPTION CASES DELAYING DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY

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BUKINA FASO MAJOR INJURY CONCERNS AHEAD OF 2017 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Why the government cancelled NGO’s license

The government has suspended operations of a US-based organization that sought to offer Kenyans civic education ahead of next year’s General Election.

The government yesterday clarified that International Foundation for Electoral Reforms (IFES) was suspended because it was not registered therefore lacks the legal status to operate in the country.

Efforts by XNews to reach the Directors of the IFES but according to information available in the organizations’ website indicate that the NGO has been in operating in the country since 2003.

The organization also conducted similar function of voter registration, civic education, capacity building, and advocacy for women and youth participation in elections, consensus building and early conflict response in the 2013 general elections.

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GOR MAHIA YOUTH BACK TO WINNING WAYS SEEING OFF WESTERN STIMA IN KPL U-20 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Drama and theatrics over Election Laws D rama ensued today morning at Parliament buildings after Cord allied lawmakers blocked the Speaker from accessing the chambers ahead of a special sitting to make changes to the election law.

The drama rekindled the ugly scenes witnessed in December 2014 during a special sitting of the National Assembly convened to discuss the controversial security amendment Bill.

The opposition legislators expressed their displeasure that e Cord leadership in the House including Minority leader Francis Nyenze, his deputy Jakoyo Midiwo and Whips such as Chris Wamalwa and Thomas Mwadeghu were not consulted about today’s sitting as required by the law.

Led by outspoken Mbita Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo and his Kibra counterpart Ken Okoth, the enraged legislators blocked National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to agitate against what they claim is a plot

Mbita Mp Millie Odhiambo walks barefoot at parliament entrance today.The opposition Mps caused drama today morning over the electoral laws.

PHOTO: GITOBU IKUNDA/X-NEWS

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NEWS

Drama and theatrics by Mps in parliament over Election Laws TUESDAY, DECEMBER20, 2016

From Page 1

by the Jubilee administration to change the election law in their favor to rig the August 2017 General Election.

Heavily armed anti-riot police officers blockaded Parliament buildings to the extent that members were frisked and not allowed to drive inside with their vehicles.

“We are forced to alight at Hotel Intercontinental and walk all the way, we are properly frisked before being allowed inside the parliament premises. Whatever the case we shall protect the constitution and nothing will deter us from doing so,” said an agitated Millie Odhiambo.

She added: “Did they call us here to frustrate and treat us like strangers?

We know there schemes and must fight to protect the interests of the citizenry. I want to tell Uhuru Kenyatta (President) that his time round he shall not rig the elections.

At the time we went to press, the Speaker and a number of legislators from the political divide including Senators Johnstone Muthama (Machakos) and Bonny Khalwale (Kakamega) were in a Kamukunji to address the ensuing matter that had already turned ugly even before the main sitting.

The House is expected to debate the laws and regulations that will guide the 2017 General Election.

The MPs in their numbers vowed to stay put until Mr Muturi consults their leaders in the House dominated by the ruling Jubilee Alliance.

“The gazetted time for this sitting was 9.30. It’s way past that time. They are now trying to play games by blocking us. Even in the afternoon we shall not have a sitting,” Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch (Ford-Kenya) said.

Ugunja MP OPiyo Wandayi escorted outside Parliament chambers after athe chaotic parliamenty proceeding last year during the controversial Security Bill in 2014.

He added: “We will not allow Jubilee to sneak in the Mace.The only sitting that can now be properly constituted is the one at 2.30.”

Tongaren MP and Ford Kenya Secretary General Eseli Simiyu downplayed the urgency and the need of the special sitting arguing that what the Jubilee coalition was seeking could be achieved without the change of the law.

“If technology breaks down you do not need to change the law for an alternative, you repair it. There is no urgency for this sitting. It could have waited for the members to come from the December recess,” argued Eseli.

The rival coalitions are fighting

over proposed amendments to the Elections (Amended) Act and other elections regulations where Jubilee wants elections results transmitted manually incase the IEBC ICT fails.

The chairperson of the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, Samuel Chepkonga, is expected to introduce new clauses to the Elections Act allowing the IEBC to come up with other ways besides technology to identify voters.

“Without prejudice to the preceding provisions of this section, the Commission shall put in place an alternative and complementary mechanism for identification and transmission of election results that is

simple, accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent,” section 44 (8A) states.

Chepkonga will also move several amendments to the Bill, adjusting major timelines.

Section 44 of the Elections Act, 2011, is to be amended in subsection (4) by deleting the word “eight” appearing in paragraph (a) and substituting the word “six”.

This means that the law will be amended to allow the IEBC more time to procure elections the technology to be used to identify voters and transmit results. @wilson_x254

Why the government cancelled NGO’s license From Page 1 The Non-Governmental Organization Coordination Board yesterday asked the International Foundation for Electoral Reforms (IFES) to cease its operations in the country blocking Sh2 billion electoral assistance from the United States.

NGO Coordination board executive director Fazul Mahamed said that the organization is working illegally in Kenya as it is not registered and therefore lacks the legal status to operate in the country.

The Directive comes only a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta condemned civil societies operating in the guise of civic education whereas they were ‘pumping monies’ in the country to influence regime change.

Civil Society Organizations however condemned the move by the

President saying its an attempt by the State to muzzle the working space of Civil Organizations in the country.

NGOs have been a thorn in the flesh of the Jubilee administration since they came to power in 2013.

“The purpose of this communication is to direct the IFES to immediately cease operations in the country, including the implementation of the Kenya Electoral Assistance Programme,” the NGO coordination board executive director Fazul Mahamed said in a letter.

IFES is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is involved in a program to have the country “actively participate in the electoral process by voter registration, civic education, capacity building, and advocacy for women and youth participation in elections, consensus

building and early conflict response.”

Fazul also wants the immigration department to review the status of all foreigners working with IFES a move that could trigger deportation of illegal staffers.

“The above provisions have not been adhered to and therefore all foreigners including IFES Chief of Party, Michael Yard are working in Kenya illegally,” Mr Mahamed wrote.

The board observed that IFES has opened and is operating several bank accounts in the country, contrary to the law which they want freezed immediately.

“By a copy of this letter, the Central Bank of Kenya is advised to immediately preserve all bank accounts and any other funds held under the name IEFS and take appropriate legal action,” Mahamed said.

The letter has been copied to Usaid, IFES, the Central Bank of Kenya Governor, and the Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho.

The letter comes at a time Jubilee allied lawmakers led by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale claimed that IFES Chief of Party, Mr Yard, “was part of a scheme” by foreigners to make Cord leader Raila Odinga a puppet president.

Duale and his team demands that the electoral commission tables in Parliament details of the money it receives from foreign donors as well as a list of employees seconded to the agency by the aid groups.

They claimed to have details showing that the Cord coalition was working with foreign powers to influence the August 8, 2017 General Election in their favor. @wilson_x254

Media Houses faces tought times as more lay offs expected next year A changing media environment including the digitization of structures has left media staffers to grapple with layoffs.

Industry giants including the Nation Media Group and the Royal Media Services have this year retrenched part of its staff with the management blaming it on a shrinking revenue stream and the need for online platforms resulting in job redundancies.

Only today morning, the management of NMG announced its plans to fire some staff members in January.

An internal memo by Head of corporate and regulatory affairs Clifford Macharia said the company will undergo reorganization of all its operations in 2017.

According to the letter, the company is seeking to transform into a modern twenty first century digital content company.

“We are satisfied that this process is beginning to deliver the intended benefits including the digital division recording the fastest growth in 2016. Regrettably this will result in a reduction of our workforce through job redundancies.” Read part of the memo.

He added: “This will allow us to grow our new revenue streams while securing our current print and broadcasting businesses in a much more efficient and effective manner.”

The media house said the changes will be carried out with due respect to employees and in accordance with the law.

This is the second time the media house is laying off staff.

In June this year, the group fired some of the employees and closed down Nation FM, QTV and Rwanda (KFM) in a bid to embracing a digital first business model.

Late in October, Royal Media Services (RMS) too laid off part of its saying the arguing that the difficult business environment in the broadcast industry had cut revenues and left it with no option but to rationalise its departments.

“The past two years have witnessed various developments within the broadcasting industry that have adversely affected our business environment. As a result, the company is left with no choice but to reorganise its operations which will affect our team,” Group managing Director Wachira Waruru said.

Last year MediaMax Limited and the Standard Media Group underwent similar tribulations.

Most of the emerging media outlets are said to be struggling to keep up in the now- becoming- tough industry.

NE WS 3 NEWS

Expedite land cases, Uhuru tells Judges TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked Judges to expedite land and corruption cases saying the two are impediment to government development agenda.

Speaking yesterday at State House, Nairobi, when he witnessed the swearing in of 28 High Court Judges, President Kenyatta said Kenyans want to see results are at the end of the day.

The President told the Judges to avoid giving unnecessary staying orders which at the end of the day deny majority of Kenyans justice.

“Kenyans at the end of the day want to see results. This issue of going and being given stay doesn’t augur well and Kenyans are annoyed by this,” said President Kenyatta.

The President exuded confidence that the many land cases pending in courts will be concluded faster as they have been an impediment to the government agenda of wooing more investors.

Out of the 28 judges sworn in yesterday, 19 of them will serve in the Environment and Land Division.

“There are many thousands of cases that are pending to do with land. This has been a major problem, they have been interrupting and interfering with

our ability to do business,” said the President.

President Kenyatta also said with the swearing in of more judges, corruption cases will now dealt with easily and concluded.

“We look forward to the new year. We hope we will begin to see cases being adjudicated rapidly, being completed and concluded” he added.

He pointed out that when prosecutors and investigative agencies cooperate, Kenyans would soon get results they are expecting He assured Chief Justice David Maraga of his support for the Judiciary as it discharges its mandate of giving Kenyans justice.

The President pointed out that with prosecutors and investigative agencies cooperating there is no doubt Kenyans would soon get results they are expecting. The Ceremony was conducted by Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi and was also attended by the Chief Justice Maraga and Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.

Those who took the oath of office included Onyiego John Nyabuto, Cherere Thrispisa Wanjiku Wamae,

President Uhuru Kenyatta with the 28 Judges that were sworn in at State House Nairobi yesterday.

Ogola Daniel Ogembo, Gitari Lucy Waruguru, Ngetich Rachel Biomondo, Kemei David Kipyegomen, Onginjo Anne Colleta Apondi, Matheka Teresia Mumbua, Nyagah Jesse Njagi.

Others were Antonina Kossy Bor, Onyango Jane Muyoti, Ochieng

Christine Atieno, Eboso Benard Mweresa, Obwa Milicent Akinyi, Mbugua Lucy Ngima Hiubu, Matheka Nelly Awori, Angima Yuvinalis Maronga, Yano Charles Kimutai, Kullow Mohamed Noor, Olola James Otieno, Oundo Mary

Clausina, Njoroge Francis Mwangi, Kemei Jemutai Grace, Komingoi Loice Chepkemoi, Ohungo Dalmas Omondi, Cherono Enock Chirchir, Ongondo George Martin Atunga and Mbogo Charles Gitonga. @sam_x254

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NEWS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov shot dead in Ankara A Turkish policeman fatally shot Russia’s ambassador to Turkey yesterday night in front of a shocked gathering at a photo exhibit.

The officer then, pacing near the body of his victim, appeared to condemn Russia’s military role in Syria, shouting: “Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!”

Turkey and Russia have condemned the attack in Ankara, the Turkish capital said the attack is an attempt to disrupt efforts to repair ties between their countries, which have backed opposing sides in the Syrian civil war.

The gunman, who was wearing a dark suit and tie, fired at least eight shots, at one point walking around Ambassador Andrei Karlov as he lay motionless and shooting him again at close range.

The assailant, who was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-yearold member of Ankara’s riot police squad, was later killed in a shootout with police. Three other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said.

The assassination came after days of protests by Turks angry over Russia’s support for President Bashar Assad in the Syrian conflict and Russia’s role in the bombardment and destruction of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.

The gunman shouted about Aleppo in Turkish, and also yelled “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for “God is great,” continuing in Arabic: “We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad.”

Russia’s Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot yesterday in Turkey.

PHOTO: COURTESY

The attack, condemned by the White House and the United Nations, was another sign of how Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State group, is struggling to contain multiple security threats.

The spectacle of 62-year-old Karlov’s assassination by a member of the Turkish security forces at a photography exhibit meant to highlight Russian culture reinforced the sense of unease over the region’s conflict and complex web of alliances and relationships.

It came a day before a key meeting

about Syria to be held in Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killing of Karlov as an attempt to damage Russia-Turkey ties “and to thwart a peace process in Syria which Russia, Turkey and Iran have been actively trying to promote.”

Putin said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed in a phone call that Russian investigators would fly to Ankara to conduct a joint probe with their Turkish counterparts.

“We must know who was directing the killer,” Putin said in televised remarks.

He ordered top officials to strengthen protection of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow and asked Turkey to increase

security at the Russian mission in Ankara.

Erdogan said: “This is a provocation to damage the normalization process of Turkish-Russian relations. But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation.”

Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when he was gunned down.

The gunman, also fired shots in the air, sending panicked audience members running for cover, and smashed several of the framed photos hung for

the exhibition. The floor was splattered with blood, and the ambassador’s eye glasses lay a few feet from his body.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman got into a 15-minute shootout with police before he was killed, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The shooter’s family home in the western province of Aydin was later searched and his mother, father and sister were detained, the news agency said, without citing sources. The man’s house in Ankara was raided and his roommate, also a police officer, was also taken into custody, it said.

The White House condemned the assassination, saying “this heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable,” President Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team while on vacation in Hawaii Outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned what he called a “senseless act of terror,” for which “there can be no justification.”

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey’s apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.

IMF chief convicted over payout

A French court has found International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence but did not hand down any punishment.

As French finance minister in 2008, she approved an award of €404m ($429m; £340m) to businessman Bernard Tapie for the disputed sale of a firm.

Ms Lagarde, who always denied wrongdoing, was not present in court, having left Paris for Washington DC. The IMF board said it retained “full confidence” in her leadership.

She said she would not appeal against the ruling: “There’s a point in time when one has to just stop, turn the page and move on and continue to work with those who have put their trust in me.”

The French government also confirmed its confidence in Ms Lagarde, who was reappointed to a five-year term at the IMF in

February.

On Friday, she told the trial she had always acted in good faith and the suspicion she had lived under for the past five years had been an “ordeal”.

Cases at the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) may not be retried but can be appealed against on grounds of procedural errors.

Ms Lagarde’s lawyer said his team would consider appealing, Reuters reported.

Ms Lagarde, 60, was tried on charges of “negligence by a person in position of public authority”.

Accused of allowing the misuse of public funds, rather than actual corruption, she could potentially have been sentenced to a year in prison and a fine of €15,000, but escaped a sentence and emerges from the trial without a criminal record.

Explaining the verdict, which took many by surprise, Judge Martine Ract Madoux said: “The context of

the global financial crisis in which Madame Lagarde found herself in should be taken into account.”

She also cited Ms Lagarde’s good reputation and international standing as reasons.

The CJR is composed mostly of politicians rather than judges, and handles allegations of crimes committed by cabinet ministers in office.

CJR trials are rare but in a similar judgment in 1999, it found another French politician, Edmond Herve, guilty of negligence over a contaminated blood case but did not punish him.

The earlier decision rested on a legal article which allows courts to deliver a guilty verdict but withhold actual punishment.

A lawyer for Ms Lagarde, Christopher Baker, told the Associated Press: “The result of this last five years is nothing, which leaves us in kind of a complicated and strange situation.”

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde was found guilty of fianancial negligence by a French court but was not handed any ounishment PHOTO: COURTESY

NEWS 5

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

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NEWS

Electoral College seals Trump Presidency amid opposition from White House TUESDAY,DECEMBER 20 , 2016

The US Electoral College has certified Donald Trump as president, despite a last-ditch effort to deny him the White House.

Six weeks after winning the polls, the Republican has secured the 270 votes needed to formalise his victory.

Reacting to his win, Mr Trump promised to “work hard to unite our country and be the president of all Americans”.

Electors had been flooded with emails and phone calls urging them not to support the billionaire.

The voting process is usually a formality, but was clouded this year by claims that Russian hackers tried to sway the presidential election.

Texas ultimately put the presidentelect over the 270 threshold, despite two of its electors voting against him.

The New York Times reports that four Democratic electors also cast their votes for someone other than Mrs Clinton.

The result will be officially announced on 6 January in a special joint session of Congress.

“I thank the American people for their overwhelming vote to elect me as their next president of the United States,” Mr Trump said in a statement after the result came in.

“With this historic step we can look forward to the bright future ahead. I will work hard to unite our country and be the president of all Americans,” he added.

He added that he was “honored & humbled to be officially elected today as the next Vice President of the United States of America” - drawing thousands of “likes” and retweets.

The movement to block Trump had fought hard to convince Republican electors to abandon their party’s candidate.

Millions of Americans signed an online petition to that effect, while thousands of anti-Trump protesters gathered at state capitols across the country.

In Pennsylvania, over 200 demonstrators braved sub-zero temperatures, chanting, “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!” and “No treason, no Trump!’”

In Maine, protesters beat drums and waved signs saying, “Don’t let Putin Pick Our President,” - a reference to allegations that Kremlin-backed hackers tried to sway the election in Trump’s favour.

Numerically, Trump’s opponents never stood much chance. To keep him out of the Oval Office, 38 Republican electors would have had to defect.

Even that would probably only have delayed the inevitable.

If no candidate reaches 270 in the Electoral College, the House of Representatives must vote on the next president, and the Republicancontrolled chamber would most likely have chosen Mr Trump.

US President elect Donald Trump at a past function during camapigns.PHOTO: SHAWN THEW/EPA

No trace of Malaysia Plane two years on, Experts says

A file picture dated 06 March 2015 shows a man in front of a Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 mural painting at Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to media reports quoting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on 03 April 2016, Australia will examine a piece of airplane debris thought to be from missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 which was found on 31 March 2016 on the coast of Rodrigues Island, in the island nation of Mauritius, off the east African coast.

No trace of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 that disappeared while flying to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board in 2014 has been recovered after two years of searching.

Experts leading the hunt for the plane have said the plane is unlikely to be found in the current search area, and recommended looking further north.

With the search to end soon, Australian officials say it will not be extended.

Australia’s Transport Minister Darren Chester said the search would not likely go beyond the scheduled end of January or February 2017 as the report does not give a “specific location” for the aircraft.

The governments of Australia, Malaysia and China, who are funding the search, had previously agreed that “we will be suspending the search unless credible evidence is available”

that identifies the location, he said.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), tasked to coordinate the search, convened a review with a multi-national team of aviation and science experts in November.

Its latest report based on that meeting, said “there is a high degree of confidence that the previously identified underwater area searched to date does not contain the missing aircraft”.

Search vessels have been looking in a 120,000 sq km (46,332 sq miles) part of the southern Indian Ocean.

Experts identified a new area of approximately 25,000 sq km to the north of the current search area that had the “highest probability” of containing the wreckage.

“The participants of the First Principles Review were in agreement on the need to search an additional area representing approximately 25,000 km²”.

This was the last area the plane could possibly be located, given current evidence, the report said.

Their conclusion was based on new flight simulations and analysis of satellite communications, as well as drift modelling patterns based on the timing and locations of the discovery of debris.

Some debris pieces confirmed to be from MH370 have been found along the African coast and islands in the Indian Ocean by private citizens in recent months.

The experts also said the plane was on an “unstable flight path” and that its wing flaps were in a retracted position, in line with earlier findings by the ATSB that the plane made a rapid and uncontrolled descent.

The ATSB said it had presented the recommendation to the Malaysian, Chinese and Australian governments.

At the moment, only one vessel is left searching for the plane.

xnews | TUESday, DECEMBER 20, 2016 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

Speaker Muturi recalls MPs to approve new budget calendar The National Assembly is today scheduled to hold a special sitting where legislators are expected to consider and approve a revised calendar which will see next year’s Budget Statement read in March as opposed to the customary second week of June.

House Speaker Justin Muturi recalled MPs to alter the House Calendar for Parliament to resume its Sittings on January 24 as opposed to February 7 next year in order to discuss Budget related issues including the Division of Revenue Bill and the Supplementary Estimates.

The National Treasury plans to have it read early to ensure the 2017/2018 Budget is appropriated in good time for smooth operations of the budget before and after the 2017 General Election set for August 8.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Henry Rotich wants MPs to scrutinise and approve the Budget Statement in January next year so it can be passed in April.

The special calendar shows Budget estimates will be submitted to Parliament by end of January and not end of April.

MPs have in the past two weeks been meeting Cabinet Secretaries, Independent and Constitutional office holders in order to get their input on proposed budget ceilings capped on the respective recurrent and development expenditure estimates.

The change of dates will also require Kenya to reach an agreement with other East African Community (EAC) nations so they can allow her to read the Budget earlier.

In EAC, budgets are read on the same day, which also ensures no member country comes up with taxation measures contrary to the agreements and protocols signed by the member states.

Speaker Muturi had earlier this year warned of a possible financial crisis if the election date remained in August as Parliament would possibly have adjourned sittings two months before the elections.

The Elections Act requires parties to finish their nominations 60 days to the General Election.

He had argued that in an election year, it would be difficult to get the requisite quorum to approve the Budget in June.

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

Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Henry Rotich (Pictured) wants MPs to scrutinise and approve the Budget Statement in January next year so it can be passed in April.

International investors to set up Sh20 billion incubation park in Athi River CIFAL International and China International Investment will launch a Sh20 billion project to construct an incubation park in Athi River. The organisations have broken ground on the Sino-African Incubation Park is expected to support Africa in exporting their products to global market.

The CIFAL Global Network is part of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The Network comprises 15 International Training Centres (CIFALs) and aims to serve as a platform for capacity-building of government authorities and civil society leaders on topics related to sustainable development, as well as on global mandates and goals of the United Nations. Since its inception in 2003, the Network has trained more than 60,000 beneficiaries through over 600 training and knowledge-sharing events (as of December 2015). It reached more than 10,000 beneficiaries from 75 countries in 2015.

The first phase of the project will cost an estimated Sh500 million to set up a promotion centre and an industrial park. Speaking during the launch, CIFAL International Managing Director, Anna Tao said construction of the project will be undertaken by Qingjian International Group in four phases over the

CBK EXCHANGE RATES

next three years.

“From investment, construction, operations, industrial incubator, trade platform services, equity investment and other projects, the Sino-African Incubation Park will be a solid bridge to connect Sino-African industries and introduce competitive edge of industries in Kenya,” Ms Tao explained.

The park will provide a one-stop shop for business services such as exhibitions, offices, warehouses as well as public e-commerce office services.

In the first phase, the park will launch industries in medical, chemical, cosmetics, foodstuff, machinery, building materials as well as household appliances.

“It will also provide enterprises with supporting resources and services such as logistics and distribution, product or technology testing, catering staff meals, office supplies, marketing and advertising materials, communications and many more,” she added.

The investment is expected to support Kenya’s manufacturing sector. The move comes at a time when solid growth continuing in infrastructure, agricultural production, manufacturing and other industries has positioned Kenya to be listed among the fastestgrowing economies in East Africa.

MEAN 102.2417 126.5236 106.6050 7.2696 34.9467 21.3221

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Government in move to triple power capacity by 2020

The government is building more power plants as it seeks to triple the country’s electricity capacity to 6,766 megawatts by 2020, from about 2,327 megawatts.

Most of the new capacity will be from renewable sources including geothermal, the Energy Regulatory Commission has confirmed.

Kenya and the World Bank are currently in talks about financing a $150 million (Sh15 billion) solarand-wind project in the country’s remote, off-grid northeastern region.

“We anticipate firm positions on where this project will be situated,” before inviting international bidders to tender, Ben Chumo, Managing Director of electricity distributor Kenya Power Ltd., said during an earlier announcement in Nairobi.

Chumo said construction of the solarand-wind project is expected to start by mid-2017. Electricity consumers in the remote northeastern region are currently served by diesel-fuel generation.

Kenya Power plans to add 1.5 million new customers to its 5.4 million client base next year, taking the number of people connected to the national grid to 70 per cent, from 62 per cent, Chumo said. The move comes just as the electricity distributor launched a nationwide survey to crackdown on illegal connections. The utility company discovered fraudsters were cashing in on the states multibillionshilling Last Mile Connectivity Project.

Rusinga Festival to offer creatives free platform to showcase their work This year’s edition of the Rusinga Cultural Festival will offer creative groups and individuals a free platform to showcase their work in a move that seeks to popularize the domestic tourism sector.

The Rusinga Festival, an annual celebration of the Suba culture through music, sports, food, art, exhibitions, dances, fashion, stories and books, is set to be held from the 23rd to the 24th of December, 2016.

As a result of assimilation and intermarriage with the Luo, the Suba culture has come under pressure and the language is now listed in UNESCO’s Red Book of Endangered Languages. The Festival seeks to recognize this culture while promoting domestic tourism by drawing in thousands of visitors each year.

The festival was founded by Anne Eboso and is hosted at Rusinga Island, Homa Bay County every year.

“Rusinga Cultural Festival provides a platform for flourishing the creative economy,” the group said in a statement issued yesterday.

The festival seeks to recognize, celebrate and appreciate all aspects of the Abasuba culture (one of the marginalized communities in the country). It seeks to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of the Suba to promote the Suba Islands – Rusinga and Mfangano as tourist destinations; to provide a platform for the local organizations and groups to showcase, market and sell their products and services as well as to open up the cultural industry as an opportunity for cultural practitioners.

The festival also aims to create networks between the community and corporate, learning institutions, NGOs, diplomatic mission, parastatals and government institutions and to provide a forum for discussing things affecting the community e.g. health &sanitation, HIV, banking, social security protection.

In 2014 alone, the aevent drew in over 4.000 visitors, attracted 11 corporate sponsors and featured a dozen events over two days.

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BUSINESS

Kenya in fresh move to deepen bilateral ties with Tanzania TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

Kenya has made moves to deepen bilateral ties with Tanzania following the two countries’ recent Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC).

Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador DR. Amina Mohamed arrived in Dar es Salaam over the weekend for 3rd Session of Kenya/ Tanzania Joint Commission for Cooperation.

The Kenya/Tanzania JCC sought to review implementation of 2nd Session & explore new areas of cooperation.

The meeting followed up on commitments reached during the 2nd Session and Tanzanian President John Maghufuli’s recent visit to Kenya.

She conferred with Dr. Augustine Mahiga, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation.

At the meeting, the CS and Dr. Mahiga signed Agreed Minutes of 3rd Kenya/Tanzania Join Commission for Cooperation.

“The Minutes detail agreement reached on areas of cooperation in broad clusters of socio-economic & political affairs,” Dr. Mohamed said in a recent statement.

She added that Kenya and Tanzania have agreed to establish a Mid-Term Review mechanism to monitor and evaluate the implementation of JCC agreements.

“Frequent review of implementation of agreements will be critical in unlocking the benefits of bilateral cooperation,” the CS added.

The move comes roughly two months after the Kenyan government submitted the the Ambassador’s name to be the

Foreign Minister, Dr. Augustine Mahiga (Right) and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Dr. Amina Mohamed sign Agreed Minutes of 3rd Kenya/Tanzania Joint Commission for Cooperation. next head of the African Union (AU) Commission.

President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed in early October that Kenya had submitted Ms Mohamed’s name for the post.

Tanzania recently reaffirmed East Africa’s support for Amb. Dr. Mohamed’s bid for the AUC Chairperson post.

Tanzania is a strategic partner of Kenya in many areas, particularly trade, security, education, agriculture and energy.

In September 2014, Tanzania became

the largest export destination of Kenyan goods within East Africa. Kenya’s total exports to Tanzania in 2011 were valued at $488 million (Sh49.9 billion) as compared to $390 million (Sh39.9 billion) in 2010.

Kenya’s imports from Tanzania were valued at $185.4 million (Sh19 billion) in 2011, an increase from $126 million (Sh12.9 billion) in 2010.

In the years between 2007-2008, Tanzanian exports to Kenya increased by 17 per cent. The balance of trade still favours Kenya.

FDI[edit] Many Kenyan firms have operations in Tanzania. Some of which are Kenya Airways, Kenya Commercial Bank (Tanzania), Equity Bank (Tanzania) and Nakumatt.[citation needed] In 2009 Kenyan investment was estimated at over Kes. 160 billion (US$2 billion) making Kenya the second largest FDI contributors in Tanzania. @Dennis_x254

Heart to Heart Foundation to cater for heart surgery fees following successful fundraiser Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are set to receive life changing heart surgeries that will be supported by The Karen Hospital’s Heart to Heart Foundation.

The surgeries will be performed at The Karen Hospital in 2017, through funds raised during this year’s Heart to Heart Foundation Fundraising Gala Dinner.

In Kenya, heart conditions among children are congenital and acquired, with adults suffering from coronary artery or rheumatic heart diseases.

There are approximately 200,000 new cases of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and 10,000 cases of congenital heart disease in children annually.

Congenital heart disease results from a child being born with heart defects such as - a hole in the heart, while RHD results from untreated strep throat infection caused by streptococcal bacteria. RHD causes damage to their heart valves, which

if allowed to progress, may become fatal. Lack of access to healthcare and financing play a role in the persistence of RHD in developing countries as cost of these surgeries range between to Sh450,000 to Sh1.5 Million.

“Heart conditions present a heavy emotional and financial burden to families, and relieving such burden gives us hope. Each year, the Heart to Heart Foundation aims to raise funds to aid more children to get access to treatment and care. The foundation owes its success to the support and goodwill of individuals and corporations, the commitment of its founders, board members and the team of volunteer professionals,” noted Dr Dan Gikonyo, Co-founder and Cardiologist at The Karen Hospital during this year’s Heart to Heart Foundation’s Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner.

Since its inception, the foundation

has raised funds to enable the hospital perform heart surgeries for children whose parents/ guardians cannot afford treatment due to financial constraints. So far, over 350 children from needy backgrounds born with congenital heart diseases and acquired heart disease have undergone surgeries and are living more productive lives.

Established in 1993, with the aim of improving the quality of life for children affected by heart diseases, the Heart to Heart Foundation is also involved in promoting, assisting and establishing projects and programmes that increase access to cardiovascular services, educating the public on heart diseases, as well as the promotion and undertaking of activities aimed at preventing heart diseases.

Speaking at the event, the Heart to Heart’s Foundation Executive Director, Juliet Nyaga reiterated the foundation’s commitment in

supporting control, prevention and treatment of heart diseases in children in Kenya.

Other fundraising initiatives that the Foundation organises annually include, The Heart Run and Goat Derby event. Funds raised from these initiatives enable the foundation to manage and treat children with heart conditions through open heart surgeries and prevention of rheumatic fever that subsequently predisposes children to rheumatic heart disease.

The Karen Hospital is a private multispecialty hospital that offers world class medical treatment at affordable costs. With state of art facilities and medical equipment, the Karen Hospital is recognized as one of the most equipped private hospitals in the country. @Dennis_x254

World Bank partners with Kenya, low income countries to support livestock sector The World Bank has reignited its partnerships with with Kenya along with other low and middle-income countries to support livestock subsectors through the launch of a new multi-partner publication.

The publication, titled ‘Measuring the Role of Livestock in the Household Economy’, provides guidance for effectively including livestock in multitopic and agricultural household surveys.

“The livestock module template provided in this Guidebook can be used by survey practitioners and stakeholders to generate householdlevel statistics on livestock, its role in the household economy, and its contribution to livelihoods. It builds on a variety of multi-topic and agricultural/livestock household survey questionnaires implemented in low- and middle-income countries, and on lessons learned from the implementation of comprehensive livestock questionnaires, as part of multi-topic household surveys, in Niger, Tanzania, and Uganda,” said the global lender in a recent statement.

The guidebook comes at a time when many rural households in low- and middle-income countries depend on livestock for their livelihoods.

Sustainable livestock systems can contribute to reducing poverty, ending hunger, and improving health, and can also be key in addressing environmental degradation and climate change, and preserving biodiversity.

Measuring livestock systems and the socioeconomic benefits they generate remains a challenge due to a lack of highquality, nationally representative data.

Livestock is often neglected in many national statistical operations and, as a result, decision makers are unable to design evidence-based livestock sector policies and investments.

The Guidebook is the result of collaboration between the World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) team, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics, and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

It also comes just months after the Government of Kenya launched the Kenya National Agricultural Insurance Program, which is designed to address the challenges that agricultural producers face when there are large production shocks, such as droughts and floods.

“This program has the potential to have a significant impact on Kenya’s economic development. This program aims at improving farmers’ financial resilience to these shocks and will enable them to adopt improved production processes. @Dennis_x254

BUSINESS 9

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

Swiss firm, Mt. Kenya Resort ink deal to boost eco-tourism sector Global hospitality management and hotel operator, Swiss International has stepped up its plans to open a dedicated leisure and conference resort at the foot of Mt. Kenya today.

As part of the firm’s strategic plans to expand its local interests, Swiss International, has announced the formal signing of a management contract with Mlima Kenya Holiday Homes Ltd to co-develop and manage the proposed Swiss International Resort Mount Kenya property near Nanyuki town.

The signing of the crucial management contract deal granting the Swiss International exclusive branding and operator rights now sets the stage for the construction a US$ 70million (KShs 7billion), 5-star resort in Nyeri County.

The development of the resort-largest private investment in Nyeri County- at the Mt. Kenya Holiday Homes project site will play a key role in boosting eco-tourism opportunities around Mt. Kenya.

Prior to the management contract signing, the two entities had earlier this year (April, 2016) entered into a memorandum of understanding to jointly explore the opportunity to develop the resort at the Mt. Kenya Holiday Homes project site.

The agreement entered between Mlima Kenya Holiday Homes Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ronald Ndegwa and Swiss International CEO, Mr. Henri Kennedie commits the two organisations to co-develop the proposed hospitality centre with an early 2018-projected opening date.

The signing of the Swiss International Resort Mount Kenya Management Contract follows the recent sealing of a similar agreement for the running of the new Swiss International Lenana Hotel.

The new Swiss International Lenana Hotel is located along Lenana road at the former Lenana Mount Hotel location.

Speaking at the Management Contract signing event, Swiss International CEO Mr. Henri Kennedie said the proposed Swiss International Resort Mount Kenya,

Swiss International CEO Henri Kennedie (left) with Mlima Kenya CEO Mr. Ronald Ndegwa at the Swiss International Resort Mt Kenya Management Contract signing ceremony. The proposed Swiss International Resort Mt Kenya set for an early 2018 opening will act as Swiss International’s flagship hospitality property in Sub-Sahara Africa. will act as the firm’s flagship property in Sub-Sahara Africa.

The Swiss International Resort Mount Kenya will feature an architectural concept designed by globally renowned Hospitality architect Mr. John G. Henry and a team of carefully selected local architectural and project management specialists. The development will feature a total of 236 villas, townhouses hotel rooms & suites and an Event and Conference Centre for 1,000 participants.

Complementing the current Mt. Kenya Holiday Homes concept and development, Swiss International Resort Mount Kenya will facilitate the completion and offer for sale to

individual owners: 82 Villas (4 bedroom) and 54 Townhouses (2 and 3-bedroom).

“In the coming years, we are confident that Swiss International Resort Mount Kenya will be acknowledged as a top destination and a platform for significant events in Kenya,” Mr. Ronald Ndegwa, the CEO of Mlima Kenya Holiday Homes Ltd, remarked.

“Our partnership with Swiss International, which is known for providing exceptional hospitality service, will be a vital building block to support the success of the resort” “Home buyers have a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a home in a luxury resort,” he added.

On his part, Mr. Henri W.R. Kennedie,

Chairman and CEO of Swiss International said: “This project is indeed one of the most exciting projects for us. It is a resort with full-fledged leisure and event facilities and that provides with amenities whatever the guests’ can think of which completely aligns with what we want to see in our properties.”

Swiss International has continued to show its commitment to the African region. Lately, the company opened a hotel in Nairobi; Swiss International Lenana.

With the arrival of Swiss International Resort Mount Kenya, the chain will add its 6th property in Africa. @Dennis_x254

US Embassy in Nairobi calls on innovators to apply for SelfHelp Fund

The US Embassy in Nairobi is seeking applications for its Ambassador’s SelfHelp Fund (SSHF) to provide small grants to registered self-help groups, youth groups, and community based organizations, and specific types of educational institutions and medical facilities.

The programme’s objective is to assist groups in the development of projects that improve living conditions in their communities.

“This Fund will not support the start of a project or activity, but may fund the expansion of an existing project.,” the group said in a statement, noting that the deadline for applications is December 31, 2016.

The programme will fund a variety of projects, including those that focus on: Kenyans with special needs, protection of the environment, water, incomegenerating activities and medical equipment The Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund entertains proposals in the range of $1,000 to $10,000 (Sh102,000 to Sh1 million). However, the average grant awarded is $3,000 to $7,000 (Sh307,000 to Sh717,000).

“Eligible applicants are Self-Help Groups that are registered through the District Gender and Social Development Office and should have been registered and working together successfully for at least two years before making application to the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund,” a spokesperson on behalf of the organization has said.

NGOs are not eligible for grants.

“The Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund does not support requests from individuals or for individual profit.

This Fund will not support the start of a project or activity, but may fund the expansion of an existing project,” the spokesperson added.

The Embassy of the United States of America to Kenya , located in Nairobi, is home to the diplomatic mission of the United States to Kenya.

26 per cent of Kenya healthcare costs paid out-of-pocket Almost a third of healthcare costs in Kenya are paid out-ofpocket, signaling an urgent need for medical care sector reforms, a new report from research group, World Development Indicators has revealed.

On average, 26.1 per cent of payments made to healthcare providers come directly from a patient’s pocket. Some patient’s however, pay for all their medical care needs with cash since many lack health insurance covers. This is compared to 6.5 per cent in South Africa, 11 per cent in the United

States, and 13.6 per cent in Canada.

Rates are worse in Tanzania where 23.2 per cent of healthcare costs are paid out-of-pocket, 41 per cent in Uganda and 32 per cent in Ethiopia.

In many low and middle income countries, out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures are high, and can be a significant financial risk to the poor, states the analysis.

“Universal health coverage (UHC) is about people having access to needed health care without suffering undue financial hardship,” states the report, which admonishes governments for failing to meet

their citizens’ needs.

The analysis comes at a time when international insurers are seeking to fill a large gap in Kenya’s healthcare sector.

Kenya’s insurance industry, for instance, is set to benefit from a Sh20 billion injection from LeapFrog, a US-based company that is seeking investment opportunities in Africa. The company has launched talks with Kenyan underwriters struggling to raise funds to meet new regulations that peg capital to the risk taken by insurance companies.

The company’s Global co-Lead for health investments Dr.Felix Olale said, “Low health insurance penetration, coupled with an increase in utilisation of services has an enormous impact on the ability of consumers to access and afford quality health care. By moving into health, we are taking a unique approach and addressing the challenge from both sides- investing in both health insurance companies and health service providers.”

Michael Fernandes, Global CoLead responsible for Asia said that Leapfrog’s focus is on investing

in companies that are re-thinking traditional approaches by finding new customer-centric ways to solving health problems.

“By focusing on bridging the gap in products and services that are most relevant within emerging markets, we can bring health services closer to the consumer and improve patient outcomes, while making top returns for our investors,” Fernandes added.

Leapfrog’s investment in Goodlife follows its 2014 multi-million shilling investment in Kenyan health insurer, Resolution Insurance.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

ACCESS

12

THE HIGHLIGHT REEL OF THE WORLD 2016 has been an eventful year to say the least and a way to commemorate the weirdness that every year inevitably brings is through yearly Google trends. And so what out.

must have taken the public’s attention for a Election is still grabbing headlines as the year draws to a close and a hot topic no matter how we look at it. Naturally, the biggest topic out of the conversation was Donald Trump’s win and as we head into the New Year we wait to see how that outcome will pan out.

A worldwide event would inevitably result in a spike in Google searches and the Olympics were no exception. Stars were made at the sporting event while some hang up their boots and retired into legend.

Controversy marred the Rio Olympics even before the Opening Ceremony commenced.

Talk of insecurity, contaminated water, the Zika virus, pollution and a myriad of other problems had tongues wagging and keyboards tapping. Breakout star from the event had to be US gymnast Simone Biles who turned into a pop culture phenomenon

The Google Year in Search 2016 highlights

pitch when playing the game turned from harmless fun to a real danger and ultimately transformed to a cash grab. With users acquiring injuries and getting robbed in an

updates and tedious in-app purchases.

‘How To’ searches shows rather disturbing trends in the local

Pokémon Go

query was ‘How to lose weight fast’ which seems like a globally relatable inquiry but the

Just a few months ago it seemed you couldn’t go online without being swamped

O

@kevin_x254

break up still as ugly as ever

ver the weekend, Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian’s relationship unravelled on social media for the entire world to see. Blac Chyna’s Instagram account was reportedly hacked and her DMs exposed, Rob posted videos on his Snapchat of an empty house explaining that Chyna, her son, Cairo and their daughter Dream had left him. Rob recently posted a picture of his daughter online with the caption ‘Never thought a woman would try to take my happiness when all I wanted was to make her happy. Man this is awful.’ Which was promptly followed by a comment from Blac Chyna, ‘Rob stop it man! I sent u this pic!!!’ and Chyna deleting all photos of Rob Kardashian from her new Instagram account. So much drama!

HOT TOPICS

BlacRob

with images, updates and information

Miss World Kenya named finalist at the Miss World pageant

E

velyn Njambi did what few beauty queens from the country have done. The 23-yearold student was named one of the top 5 finalists at the 66th edition of the Miss World competition. Although the crown ultimately went to the multi-lingual Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico, a 19-year-old student while 1st runner up belonged to the Dominican Republic and 3rd place to Indonesia, Evelyn did Kenya proud. The top 5 finalists came from the countries, Kenya, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Dominican Republic and the Philippines. In her social media the beauty queen has commented, “Grateful to God for top 5 #missworld2016. Super humbling .Thank you Kenya and world for praying and voting.”

to bleach skin professionally’ was apparently searched so much that it warranted a spot on Google’s Year in Search tallies.

Celebrity Deaths

It would be a sin to leave out some of the notable people who have passed on this year, and in that sense, this year has been a doozy. Prince, David Bowie, Christina Grimmie, Alan Rickman and Muhammad Ali take the top 5 spots and although they are gone they are

@christine_x254

Mzazi Foundation holds Charity Drive

O

n the 18th of December, several celebrities joined radio personality Mzazi Willy Tuva on a charity drive at the Machakos Girls Rescue center. The event was graced by; Mzazi, Jimmy Gait, Bahati, Mr. Seed, Ommy Dimpoz, Alicios, Radio Citizen’s Syombua Mwele, Pastor Edward Ngaira, Focus, Eric Manyikah, Sameer Bry, Urban Touch Crew, Melody Sinzore, Aruna and a Joseph Lendrix foundation representative. Speaking at the sidelines of the event Mzazi Willy said, “Everyone can make a difference, what you consider a small gesture is really big to someone in need. I thank all the celebrities who came through to help and especially Jimmy Gait for coming with his corporate partners After 40 Hotel.”

ACCESS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

11

THERE IS NOTHING LEFT FOR EITHER OF US IN THIS RELATIONSHIP.

Dear Cathy,

Dear Dr X,

I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost 7 years and I feel that we were very young when we first got together. We have both turned into different people, we barely have anything in common anymore. I’ve been trying to break up with him for the longest time now but I don’t think he understands that we have grown apart. There is nothing left for either of us in this relationship. I just want to split amicably but I don’t want to hurt his feelings.

I still care for him but I am in no way in love with him anymore. I don’t know how he would react because he has been through a lot of let downs in his life but I just can’t hold out anymore.

My boyfriend cannot get a clue!

-Dr X

-Cathy

3

greatest Christmas tree displays in the world

T

he Christmas tree has become an icon of the holiday season, arguably even more so than the actual event. Some of the biggest attractions in the world are Christmas trees during the festive season. Here is the rundown;

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

2016 will mark the 84th year that the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lights up the West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The tree will remain lit until 7th January with thousands of vacationers and tourists clamoring at the centre to catch a glimpse of the tree. This tree in particular carries historical significance as even before the first formal tree went up, workers lined up beneath a Christmas tree on the Rockefeller Plaza construction site to collect their paychecks during the height of the Great Depression.

@christine_x254

The holidays usually bring out the best in people but if you are trudging through all the festivities alone, it can turn into a depressing exercise. We have you covered, so that this year you can truly have yourself a merry little Christmas and don’t have to feel like you are missing out on anything.

@christine_x254

Do something for somebody else

more grateful person.

Instead of dwelling on the people who are not in your life, look to people who do need you in theirs. A little bit of charity work will definitely raise your spirits and could actually change someone else’s life however large or small the gesture might be. So go spend some time with children in an orphanage or contribute and volunteer to a charity that helps the elderly. A little bit of good goes a long way and if anything you might

Call up family

Do something for yourself

No social media

An obvious tip would be to keep far away from social media. You will be inundated with images of friends and family doing holiday activities and it is only natural to feel excluded from the festivity, so turn all your notifications off. Studies have also shown that heavy social media use is linked to depression and with Christmas thrown into the mix, the result will inevitably be something negative.

Although malls can be said to be so humdrum with Christmas activity that they do not usually seem notable, the Galeries Lafayette in Paris, France is an exception. The department store chain has been operational since the early 20th century and the Christmas tree display has become something of an art exhibit. Themes are changed each year but each is breathtaking in its beauty and 2016 took on ‘a paper tree for an arctic Christmas.’

Start some new traditions

Lagoa Floating Christmas Tree

@chrstine_x254

Although they are not in your presence physically, they will inevitably be in your thoughts so give in to the urge and reach out to family and friends. Catch up in whichever way you can and let them know that you are thinking about them.

Communicating with the people in your life could also ease some of the pang that feeling lonely causes.

This seems like a selfish thing to do but since you are alone, you might as well do something to make you happy. This is the time to splurge on something flashy and ridiculously priced. Take a trip if you can, buy yourself something nice, treat yourself to a nice spa day at home, eat all the things you stay away from for most of the year. You could even spend the entire day in your pajamas if it tickles your fancy.

Galeries Lafayette

The Lagoa Floating Christmas Tree happens to be the largest floating Christmas tree in the world and has in the past won the Guinness World Record for this feat. The annual lighting of the tree is a celebration with fireworks and performances in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Just let him down softly, waiting around for some big epiphany to hit him will not make it hurt any less. If anything it will make the break up unfold in a worse way. Explain to him that you are no longer in love with him but still care for him and the both of you can move on to other things and people. Don’t make it confrontational or express your personal frustrations with the relationship in a manner that is accusatory because simply, these things happen. There’s no need to drag out a goodbye that is still a goodbye no matter how you slow you try to make the punch.

tips to surviving

CHRISTMAS ALONE

emerge from the experience a much

Spending Christmas alone can be an opportunity to build a better understanding of yourself. Start some new traditions that you could do every year despite the company you may or may not have.

Send your agonising queries to christine@x254.co

12

ACCESS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

BEST DRESSED FROM THE 2016 EMMYS

NIECY NASH whitehot in a fitted white gown

ARIEL WINTER in a bedazzled floor length gown

SOFIA VERGARA in a nude body-hugging number

TORI KELLY was old Hollywood glam in this black number

PRIYANKA CHOPRA was effortlessly chic in a oneshoulder gown

Another year of great prime time shows equals to another year of great fashion. The 2016 EMMYS were glamourous but more than that they featured one of the most diverse red carpets to grace the Microsoft Theater. Here’s who we loved;

Our rating: ★ ★ ★

BEST

@mercy_x254

PRIME TIME GLAM

@mercy_x254

Our rating: ★ ★ ★

WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS

John and Laura are a young, professional couple who desperately want a baby. After exhausting all other options, they finally hire Anna the perfect woman to be their surrogate - but as she gets further along in her pregnancy, so does her psychotic and dangerous fixation on the husband.

The couple becomes caught up in Anna’s deadly game and must fight to regain control of their future before it’s too late.

RATING:

PG-13 GENRE:

RUNTIME: 93 minutes CAST: Chestnut, Regina Hall, Jaz Sinclar

Drama Morris

THE WILD LIFE RATING: NR GENRE: Action & Adventure RUNTIME: 90 minutesCAST: Kaya Yanar, Cindy Marzahn, Dieter Hallevorden Things are larger-than-life on a tropical isle that is pure wild animal paradise. Then Robinson Crusoe, a marooned human, arrives in the midst of a furious storm, and their lives are forever changed by this bewildering new “creature.” No matter their differences, castaway human and quirky animals embark on an hilarious new adventure, building the island’s first tree-house and surviving together.

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS kept it Grecian

Our rating: ★ ★ ★

RATING: NR GENRE: Action & Adventure RUNTIME: 91 minutes CAST: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman, Anita Dobson

The film documents true events that occurred in 2006, when the town of Ipswich was shattered by the discovery of the bodies of five women. The residents of London Road had struggled for years with frequent soliciting and curb-crawling on their street. When a local resident was charged, and then convicted, of the murders, the community grappled with what it meant to be at the epicenter of this tragedy.

CLASSIFIED 13

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

Due to the relocation of our warehouse, our company is selling cargos with a surprising price.

Time is limited, first come first served.

concrete mixer

PRICEUSD Quantity Conditions

180 litre

3000 USD 10

Brand new

350 litre

5000 USD 10

Brand new

350 litre

Name Duvet

Mattress

10

Capacity

Used

500 USD

Price USD

Photos

Configuring the vertical lift system. The railway can rise to 10-floor high, 30 meters height.

Duvet and mattress Quantity

size

Photos

20 USD

300

2.3m*2.5m

200 USD

200

1.5m * 2m

Do not accept the bargain Retail does not accept

double-sided mattress with heating and cooling function, Composite with coconut palm mattress and spring

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WEATHERFORECAST SUNNY

26

26ºC 38%

WEDNESDAY 21/6/2016

MORE SUN THAN CLOUDS

26 6:25 AM 6:36 PM

26ºC 42%

6:25 AM 6: 37 PM

THURSDAY

26

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

SUDOKU

TUESDAY 20/12/2016

14

SPORT

Injury Concerns for Bukina Faso TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte says he has is not concerned over a number of injuries to key players going into next month’s African Nations Cup finals.

He has named several players with problems in his preliminary 24-man squad, including Charles Kaboré, Préjuce Nakoulma, Jonathan Pitroipa and Bertrand Traoré.

“I am confident they can recover in time,” Duarte insisted.

The squad is due to begin a training camp on 27 December.

Bakary Koné is another player from the 2013 squad that finished as runners-up in South Africa who has an injury concern.

Injury has ruled out Aziz Kabore, who plays for Valenciennes in France, while there is a first call-up for Blati Toure.

The 22-year-old was born in Ivory Coast, played as a junior in Spain but is now at Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus.

“Blati Touré is a player I adore. I’ve watched him since he was at Evian TG I France but I was told he was Ivorian, but he called me to assure me he is 100 percent Burkinabe,” Duarte explained.

“He hasn’t yet trained with us but he is player with the quality to make a positive addition.”

Also included are the uncapped Morocco-based Ernest Aboubacar Congo, called up last month for the

2013 Africa Cup of Nations runners up Burkina Faso pose for a team photo in a recent match. The team is readying for the next month’s extravaganza in Gabon.

first time for last month’s World Cup qualifier against the Cape Verde Islands, and Issoumaila Lingane of Hapoel Ashkelon in Israel.

Besides Aziz Kabore, the most significant absence is first choice goalkeeper Daouda Diakite, who was seriously injured three months

ago playing for AS Vita Club in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Stallions have lined up two friendly matches as part of their preparations for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

They will face a local Morocco side on 4 January during their 12-day camp in

the North African country.

They will complete their warm-up with a game against Mali, another Nations Cup-bound side, three days later. Paulo Duarte’s men will then travel to Gabon for the tournament which kicks off on 14 January. @amos_x254

Were satisfied with debut season

Jesse Were has described his first season at Zesco United as satisfactory but added that he is looking forward to more productive 2017 campaign after the club failed to retain the FAZ Super Division title.

The Kenyan international striker joined Zesco at the start of 2016 from Nairobi club Tusker and enjoyed a prolific run in the just-ended the 2016 campaign with 19 competitive goals, 15 in the league and another four in the CAF Champions League.

His goals in Africa were critical in helping Zesco make history when the club became the first Zambian side to reach the CAF Champions League semifinals.

“I can say that my first season was great because I achieved a lot with the team despite being my first season,” Were said.

“My target in 2017 is to help my team reclaim the league title which we missed out in this just concluded year.”

Were also reflected on some highs and lows for him in 2016.

“My most memorable moment is when we reached the semifinals of the Champions League.

“The most disappointing moment is when we were knocked out of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Zesco will play in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup after finishing second in 2016 behind Zanaco.

“I believe the experience from the Champions League will help us in the Confederation Cup,” Were said. Source: Zesco United FC. @amos_x254

Gor youth beat Stima as chemelil reach quarters

Gor Mahia Under-20 bounced back from thier opening group B loss with a 2-1 win over Western Stima at the ongoing Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Under-20 championships on Monday afternoon at Nairobi’s Camp Toyoyo Grounds.

Hillary Ojwang handed Gor a first half breakthrough before Nahashon Thiong’o doubled their lead in the second half.

Stima’s Victor Ogendo pulled one back for his side but could not fashion an equalizer as Maurice Onyango’s charges held on to claim three vital points.

Led by the senior side’s forward and Harambee Stars call up Amos Nondi, Gor underlined their intentions to bag all the three points right from the start with a barrage of early attacks on the opposition.

The breakthrough finally came in the 35th through Ojwang to give the junior K’Ogalo side a first half advantage.

The second half started with both sides displaying flashes of fine attacking football, but it was

Chemelil Sugar’s Mulisya Mohammed celebrates his gaol as the junior millers side beat Sony Sugar 2-0 to reach the last eight of the on-going KPL U-20 Championships at the Camp Toyoyo grounds on Monday.

Gor who would double the lead through Thiongo after a lapse of concentration in the Stima’s defensive unit at the hour mark.

Stima pulled one back ten

minutes later through Ogendo, but could not afford an equalizer that would have set them just a draw from a quarter final spot.

Following the result, all group C

teams are level on three points after two outings each.

Ulinzi is however on the summit because of their strong goal difference, having trounced Posta Rangers 4-1 in the mid morning fixture in the same venue.

Posta had floored Gor by 2-1 goals in the first match on Saturday while Stima defeated Ulinzi by a solitary goal.

In another match, Muhoroni Youth bounced back to winning ways beating Sony Sugar 2-1 in a group A match. Muhoroni had been whipped 4-0 by Mathare in the opener, but can now make the last eight with a win in the final group match on Wednesday.

Sony Sugar has bowed out, and will only play the last match as a formality having lost their opener to Chemelil Sugar.

Chemelil is already through to the quarters, leaving Mohoroni and Mathare to fight for the other ticket of group A. MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

SPORT 15 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

ISUZA named Mathare’s finest Midfielder Whyvonne Isuza has been named Mathare United’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) as the club recognized their star performers for the 2016 season in an awards ceremony held on Monday.

Isuza also won the Midfielder of the Year award took home a total of KSh80,000 and a personalized trophy, coming barely a week after he finished first runners up in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) FOYA Midfielder of the Year category.

Speaking after the event, Isuza said he was optimistic awarding players will go a long way in motivating them to give their best.

“I’m happy for the award because it is always good to be recognized for working hard. I want to thank my teammates as well as the coaching staff for the support this season. It is a good initiative in terms of motivation to the players,” Isuza said.

Robert Mboya was recognized as the best goalkeeper while George Owino, beating his three other compatriots, Wycliffe Kasaya, Peter Odhiambo and Geoffrey Atiel while George Owino carried the day for the Defender of the

Year award.

Owino was also feted for having enjoyed more playtime than any other player, after he clocked over 2,700 minutes this season.

Obadiah Ndege won the best striker award having struck seven goals in the in the league, just one shy of Isuza although he registered more assists.

Andrew Juma won the Most Improved Young Player award. The last category, Best Community Service Award, had eight players tying in points.

David Mwangi, Daniel Mwaura, Alphonce Ndonye, Peter Odhiambo, Lennox Ogutu, Vincent Okello, Derrick Onyango,and George Owino took home Ksh. 5,000 each to make a total of Ksh 40,000 reserved for the category.

All other individual awards attracted KSh40,000 prize money.

Club’s founder and Chairman Bob Munro graced the awards ceremony, the first of its kind in history.

Mathare finished seventh in the 16-team KPL log with 44, under the tutelage of veteran coach Francis Kimanzi.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

ISUZA VOTED MOST VALUABLE PLAYER FOR MATHARE UNITED AS CLUB HOLDS AWARDS GALA

Griezmann wins Franch player of the year

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane celebrates scoring a late goal against Everton yesterday night at Goodison Park. PHOTO: FRANK SEGUIN/EPA

Athletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann was named French footballer of the year by France Football magazine on Monday.

A week ago, the Atletico Madrid forward finished third behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or world footballer of the year award also organised by France Football.

The 25-year-old was named best player and took top goalscorer honours at the Euros in the summer, where France lost the final on home soil to Ronaldo’s Portugal.

Griezmann was also named best player in Spain’s La Liga last season but lost another final to Ronaldo as Real Madrid beat city rivals Atletico to lift the Champions League in May.

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Chemelil Sugar reach KPL U-20 quarters

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Major concerns for injury hit Bukina Faso

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Mane stuns Goodison with late derby winner

S

adio Mane’s goal deep into injury time sank Everton and settled a scrappy Merseyside derby in Liverpool’s favour at Goodison Park.

The Reds’ £34m summer signing from Southampton reacted first to a loose ball after substitute Daniel Sturridge’s shot had hit the post in the fourth of eight minutes of stoppage time.

Everton, who had lost goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to injury in the second half, have now won just one of their past 20 meetings with their local rivals.

Liverpool - who moved up to second - created the better chances, with Stekelenburg and his replacement Joel Robles saving well from Roberto Firmino.

There was a flashpoint in the second half when a dreadful tackle by Ross Barkley on Jordan Henderson sparked angry scenes and the Everton midfielder was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card from referee Mike Dean.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s celebrations at the final whistle carried an extra edge as Mane’s late strike sealed three points they desperately

needed to keep in touch with Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Liverpool are six points behind Antonio Conte’s side and will surely take great satisfaction from digging out a vital victory that was based on grit rather than the flowing football that has been their trademark this season.

The hosts’ high tempo start put the Reds on the back foot but as the game went on they exerted greater control and in the end deserved the win simply for looking the more dangerous side and creating the better chances.

And once again Sturridge proved how important he can be to Klopp and Liverpool’s cause despite being marginalised or injured for much of the season - with the run and shot that struck the post before Mane swooped to win the 227th Merseyside derby.

Liverpool needed to bounce back from the stumbles of a shock 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth and a home draw against West Ham United.

They have done so in style with away wins at Middlesbrough and now Everton.

Everton’s record in Merseyside derbies has been a tale of almost unbroken misery since their last

win, a 2-0 win against Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool in October 2010.

There are, however, signs of improvement and they will feel unfortunate not to hold out here and concede so late on.

For the first 45 minutes they adhered to boss Ronald Koeman’s demand for a high-intensity pressing game but ran out of steam after the break, not helped by the loss of James McCarthy to injury.

Substitute Gareth Barry may still possess the old guile, but sadly for him and Everton the legs are also ageing and he was miles off the pace though his substitute appearance did take him second behind Ryan Giggs in the list of most Premier League games played.

Everton also failed to give sufficient support to main marksman Romelu Lukaku and Koeman will surely be looking to address this problem in the January transfer window.

There are signs that the Toffees are now moving in the right direction, despite suffering their first home Premier League defeat of the season - but Koeman still has much to do.

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