201602012 xnews

WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016 | WWW.x254.cO

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council of governors calls for more bvr kits Munya challenges IeBc TO PROVIDe MORe BVR KITs anD cReaTe MORe RegIsTRaTIOn cenTRes In WaRDs TO cOVeR MORe elIgIBle VOTeRs as cOMMIssIOn cOMPlaIns OF BuDgeTaRy cOnsTRaInT

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NEWS KENYA VOLLEYBALL TEAM BEGINS OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS IN YAOUNDE

TRIBUNAL COULD CALL FOR EARLY AFC ELECTIONS OVER WRANGLES

Why Jubilee is eying Nairobi Governor seat C ontrol of businesses and properties, political clout and prestige, close monitoring of the revenues in the Capital city are some of the main reasons analysts have cited as the driving force behind the government’s push to win the Nairobi Governor seat.

According to Barrack Muluka, a political commentator,

“Any government would like to control the politics of the Capital city because of clout and prestige and also due the fundemental reason of plenty resources in Nairobi.”

— Barrack Muluka

any government in the world would like to have control of its Capital city.

“It is a vital position that any government would like to control its capital city,” Muluka told X-News.

Muluka said the government is keen to not only grab the Nairobi Governor seat, but also get majority of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to provide the decorum

“The Sh200million bribery allegations against Justice Philip Tunoi is a political scheme against me by cartels strategising for the 2017 elections.”

— Governor Evans Kidero

“Jubilee formed the government and its unfortunate that Nairobi is being controlled by an opposition Governor.”

—Bishop Margaret Wanjiru

that comes with Nairobi being the East and Central business hub.

“The fundamental reason why the Jubilee government wants to control Nairobi is the plenty of resources that comes with it. In addition, the Presidents’ community members are business people and would want to know how their revenues are used in the city,” said Muluka.

Continued on page 2

“I have been called out to vie for Nairobi Governorship but will first hold consultations before I see way forward.”

— Former Devolution CS Anne Waiguru

“What is clear is that as Jubilee we must reclaim the City and we will eventually get the right candidate.”

— TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja

Kidero risks paying Sh577m lost in Mumias sugar export deal Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero risks paying Sh577 million lost in an export scheme should Parliament adopt recommendations in

a report on the crisis facing the local sugar sector.

Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali has sponsored amendments seeking to

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compel Kidero to bear responsibility for taxes allegedly lost during his tenure as Mumias Sugar Company managing

director. Washiali in an exclusive interview with K24, said in his additional recommendations that alleged Mumias exports

were a ploy to defraud the government of feasible tax.

“Neither the management nor the board of the company could confirm that

the sugar actually left the country,” said Washiali. The report was retabled on Wednesday for processing during the current session after a number of western Kenya MPs complained of plans to kill it.

Washiali said although Kidero submitted documents showing that the consignment left the country, the current management was at pains to prove that indeed the sugar left the country.

Continued on page 2

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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

Uhuru wants county budgets slashed

President Uhuru Kenyatta has told County Governments to cut their expenditure by 50 per cent as part of austerity measures to curb unnecessary spending in the devolved units.

Speaking at Sagana State lodge in Nyeri during the closing of the 5th National and County Government Coordinating summit, President Kenyatta told the governors to channel the proceeds to development projects.

Of major concern to the Head of State is the unnecessary foreign trips made by the Members of the County Assembles (MCAs) with no tangible results to show for it.

“MCAs in particular have been accused of excessive spending; while reports of abuse of power, privilege and county resources by county executives have been a feature of our national discourse,” said Uhuru.

Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) have been on the receiving end of public wrath for engaging in what is seen as unnecessary trips at the expense of public coffers.

Last year, 16 MCAs from Migori County were accused of spending Sh5.8 million travelling to Dubai to learn about waste disposal among other issues while their Elgeyo Marakwet counterparts travelled to Congo for a brainstorming session on infrastructural development in the sports industry.

According to audit report for the 20132014 financial year, the Migori County Assembly spent more than Sh8 million on foreign trips to Canada, Rwanda among other places.

President Uhuru Kenyatta (centre) with Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya and Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya during a joint press conference at State Logde Sagana in Nyeri county. He called on the county bosses to reduce their budgets by half as an austerity measure.

President Uhuru yesterday said to build on the successes of devolution, the summit agreed that overall funding in absolute terms to County Governments be increased annually.

“The National Government is providing the counties with all the necessary budgetary support, technical and human resources, policies and legislative instruments to address the challenges that the county governments face. We will continue to support them, and we ask for

continued cooperation,” The president added.

Uhuru, who was accompanied by Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya, said the summit agreed on the 50 per cent reduction in travel and allowance expenditure across all government organs.

“The Summit also agreed on the adoption of a policy of austerity aimed at releasing more resources from recurrent expenditure to development.

The National and county governments

committed to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in travel and allowance expenditure across all government organs,” he said.

President Uhuru said budget estimates for the 2016/2017 financial year would be lower than the current year and therefore Governors should brace for tough times ahead.

He said the reduction on travel allowances stand to save the government billions of shillings with allegations of waste and inappropriate

spending by the MCAs and other senior officers in the National government.

“There have also been repeated accusations of waste and inappropriate budgeting and spending. MCAs, in particular, have been accused of excessive spending; while reports of abuse of power, privilege and county resources by county executives have been a feature of our national discourse,” he said. sam_x254

Kidero risks paying Sh577m Political schemes as push to win lost in Mumias sugar deal Nairobi governor seat intensifies

From Page 1 “Documents provided by the management in an attempt to prove that the sugar was indeed exported are not verifiable,” Washiali said.

He said the board of directors, through its chairman Dan Ameyo, submitted that the board would carry out a forensic audit on the exports, like it had done on the company’s sugar imports, and file its findings within six months.

“In view of the fact that there is little evidence that Mumias Sugar Company did make any sugar exports to the regional market between 2006 and 2009, the House recommends that the government recovers from the then managing director Evans Kidero the lost VAT revenue amounting to Sh577 million which it would have realised had the company made the exports,” said Washiali (pictured).

He also wants Kidero to “take full responsibility and be barred from holding public office since the fraudulent transactions took place during his tenure as the chief executive.”

Kidero, who has been at the center of accusations of the near collapse of the sugar company has in the past distanced himself from any corrupt

dealings during his tenure.

Last year a Nairobi businessman Jacob Juma filed an application seeking to have accounts of Governor Kidero frozen.

He claimed Kidero received Sh650 million on behalf of Mumias Company and failed to deposit it and hence the need to grant orders to freeze the accounts before the funds are moved.

“It is important that Kidero’s accounts be frozen to the tune of Sh650 million pending the hearing and determination of this application, to protect this case otherwise it may be rendered nugatory since he is likely to hide this money,” said Juma in his court papers. wilson_x254

From Page 1 Martin Andati, a political analyst told X-News that majority of people with major investments in Nairobi are deemed to be Jubilee supporters and they will be keen to know who controls their revenues.

“The current business community and professional are concerned by the quality of services offered by the county and feel the Kidero administration has failed,” Andati said. On the recent announcement by former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru that she plans to unseat Kidero, Andati dismissed her candidature, saying she has no chance of clinching the Jubilee ticket being from Kirinyaga County.

“The Nairobi politics is controlled largely by voters from Muranga and partially Kiambu, the fact that Waiguru is from Kirinyaga she has no chance to be given the Jubilee ticket,” Andati said.

Dagoretti South MP, Dennis Waweru said the matter on how to take over the leadership of Nairobi County is being discussed by the Jubilee Alliance top brass and he was not willing to divulge more information. “It will be premature

to comment on the matter at the moment, but I can confirm to you that it is being handled by the Alliance and we are drafting a formulae on how to grab the Senate seat and have at least two-thirds of MPs in Nairobi,” Waweru told X-News.

Bishop Margret Wanjiru who has also declared interest to be the next governor of Nairobi said it will be appropriate for Jubilee to control the City if they are in power.

“Most business people in this City are Jubilee supporters and they have now realised Kidero is not serving their interests hence the clamour to have one of their own,” she said.

“Kidero leadership has not taken care of Jubilee supporters’ interests, yet they are major shareholders in the city in terms of business and property ownership,” she added.

The push by the government to control Nairobi County is getting intense with latest revelation by Deputy President William Ruto that the government must win the seat in the next polls.

In a video doing rounds social media, the Deputy President is on record, saying the party will do whatever it takes to take the seat

away from the Opposition.

“There is no way Jubilee is going to be in power and operate from a city that is governed by the Opposition,” the DP said early this week “Na mimi nataka niwaambie safari hii, hatuwezi kuwa tumeshinda kura ya rais wa Kenya na tukose kushinda kura ya gavana wa Nairobi. Hiyo haiwezekani (And I went to tell you this time round there is no way we are going to win the presidential election and miss out on the Nairobi gubernatorial seat. That is not possible),” the DP said.

Ruto has claimed that Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) will use all means possible to oust Kidero and have a Jubilee governor come 2017.

“This time round, let come what may, up-down, right-left, we must get this Nairobi gubernatorial seat,” he added. Nairobi gubernatorial seat has attracted many contestants and the incumbent, Evans Kidero, will face a fierce battle in 2017.

Among those who have indicated they are likely to run include Waiguru, Sakaja, Wanjiru, Miguna Miguna and Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko. sam_x254

NEWS 3 WEEKEND EDITION FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

Implement TJRC report, MPs tell Uhuru

Chairman of the defunct Truth Justice and Reconcilliation Commission(TJRC) Bethwell Kiplgat handing over its report to President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013.

Legislators wants full implmentation of the report.

Four MPs allied to the Cord coalition have asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to fast track the full implementation of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report.

The lawmakers, Ken Okoth (Kibra) Fatuma Ibrahim (Wajir County), Mohammed Diriye (Wajir South), Bernard Mule (Matungulu) accused the Executive of reluctance to implement the report, claiming some of those adversely mentioned are serving in government.

While addressing the media after attending the 32nd anniversary commemorations for the victims of Wagalla Massacre, the MPs said failure to implement the report could be a miscarriage of justice to the victims of past injustices.

“The only way the government can restore hope among the victims is to have the TJRC report adopted and implemented in totality without any alterations” said Mule who spoke on their behalf.

He said the casualties of historical injustices had been alienated by successive governments and it was time Jubilee regime have all historical injustices addressed and

PEV survivors caution leaders against inflammatory remarks Survivors of the post-election 2007/08 violence want political leaders to refrain from making remarks that may trigger animosity among communities.

Speaking today morning at a Nairobi hotel, during the 32rd anniversary of the Wagalla Massacre, the victims led by Jackline Matere wants the National Cohesion and Integration commission (NCIC) to tame leaders propagating hate speech and inciting Kenyans.

The victims said owing to current political confrontation between the ruling Jubilee and opposition leaders, Kenya risks facing a similar political violence ahead of the 2017 General Election.

“No one would want to revisit the 2007/08 skirmishes; it’s unfortunate that we have not learn from our past, we may fall back to a similar situation if the conduct our political leaders is not checked,” said Matere.

She took issues with some of the utterances coming from elected leaders and warned that the situation may be aggravated further as the 2017 polls near, adding that, political temperatures in some parts of the country are already rising.

Matere said the country cannot afford to go back to the dark period because of a few selfish leaders who do not have the interest of Kenyans at heart.

“As a victim of election violence in this country, I cannot stand to witness again what happened in 2007 polls; I don’t want to see fellow Kenyans go through that

again.” She narrated to the audience of how she was attacked and raped in her house in Mathare slums in January 2008 “Like other women across the country, I was raped and impregnated; now I have a seven-year-old kid,” she narrated.

Wajir Women’s Rep Fatuma Ibrahim said it is unfortunate elected leaders still do not understand the importance of living in peace and harmony.

“It’s my humble appeal to my fellow leaders both at the National and county level, that lets preach peaceful co-existence among communities instead of inciting communities against others,” she said.

Ibrahim urged the Kaparo-led commission to tighten the noose on hate mongers and inciters so that Kenyans can enjoy the existing stability.

Yesterday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Gen. (Rtd.) Joseph Nkaissery warned Samburu leaders against inciting locals to take the law unto their hands.

Nkaissery spoke after he held a consultative meeting with the leaders from Samburu County after eight people were killed in what was said to be an act of cattle rustling between the Samburu and Turkana communities.

“Leaders who incite their communities against others will pay for their deeds,” warned Nkaissery, describing banditry and cattle rustling is an archaic and backward act. @hillary_x254

victims compensated appropriately.

“The passage of our new Constitution in 2010 was a clear indication that the plight of victims will be addressed, we therefore expect nothing less than President Uhuru administration ensuring that all victims of the past injustices get justice, devoid of their political inclination,” he added.

Ibrahim said President Uhuru should ride on the goodwill of Kenyans rendered his government and address the historical injustices once and for all as he promised in his state of nation address in Parliament in March last year.

“There is lack of commitment from the Jubilee government to implement the TJRC report,” she said. “The President needs to sort out this matter expeditiously; so that the all aggrieved persons get justice,” she added.

Ibrahim, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Legal Affairs, said the National Assembly might have been arm-twisted by the Executive to delay the TJRC report from being tabled in the House, months after the report was adopted by the

relevant committee.

“The prolong delay of tabling the TJRC report might have been influenced by the Executive because that has been the norm in the Jubilee dominated House,” she said.

Ibrahim said TJRC report should not be mended or repealed in any manner, warning that they have already develop a strategy as the Opposition to immediately table report in the House.

She said almost two years after President Uhuru was given the report, his government had not developed any single policy or structure to be able to implement the TJRC report.

Victims, who attended the commemoration ceremony, called on MPs present to rally their colleagues in the National Assembly to have the report tabled and adopted as a sign of commitment of addressing the past inequalities.

They further petitioned President Uhuru to hasten the disbursement of the Sh10 billion he pledged to give them as compensation during his State of the nation address last year. @hillary_x254

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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

Clinton, Sanders clash at debate over President Obama backing Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clashed over support for the president in their first debate since the New Hampshire primary.

Clinton sought to cast herself as the protector of Barack Obama’s legacy, sharply attacking Sanders for criticising the president.

“The kind of criticism I hear from Senator Sanders, I expect from Republicans,” Clinton said.

Nevada and South Carolina, states with large minority populations, vote next.

At the PBS NewsHour televised debate, Clinton repeatedly emphasised her ties to Obama who is extremely popular among minority voters.

Meanwhile, Sanders took pains to tailor to his message of economic fairness to address disparities in black communities.

Clinton also stressed her pragmatism, questioning Sanders’ pledges to provide universal healthcare and free higher education.

“We have a special obligation to make clear what we stand for which is why we can’t make promises we can’t keep,” Clinton said.

Immigration reform was also a major topic of discussion. Both candidates supported creating a path to citizenship for the nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US and they decried a recent uptick in deportations by the Obama administration. Criticising the anti-immigrant positions of Republican front-runner Donald Trump, Sanders said immigrants should not be scapegoats for economic uncertainty. “We have got to stand up to the Trumps of the world, who are trying to divide us,” Sanders said.

Kiir re-appoints Machar as deputy to seal peace pact South Sudan President Salva Kiir has reappointed bitter rival Riek Machar as vice-president as part of a peace deal aimed at ending more than two years of war, state television reported. The civil conflict erupted in December 2013 after Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup.

Since then thousands have died and more than two million have been displaced. South Sudan is the world’s youngest country and one of the least developed. It split from the North in 2011. Amid a threat of sanctions from the UN, the two sides signed a peace deal in August last year.

Fighting was supposed to stop immediately but there have been frequent violations.

The men also agreed to share out ministerial positions, and a presidential decree read out on state television confirmed Machar’s reappointment. It returns the government to where it was before the war broke out.

Machar, who is not currently in South Sudan, has welcomed the move, telling the BBC he could return within three weeks if security arrangements were implemented.

“I’m eager to ensure peace returns to the country, political stability is maintained, the permanent peace is respected – I am confident we can do this,” he said.

Pressure will now grow for the men to form a transitional government another part of the peace agreement, says the BBC’s James Copnall, a former Sudan correspondent.

The UN and African Union have accused both sides of carrying out atrocities - last month an AU-backed report alleged that 50 civilians had suffocated after government troops locked them in a shipping container.

The armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) termed

Sudan People’s Front and opposition Sudan Liberation Riek Machar addresses journalists at a past news conference held in Khartoum, capital of Sudan late last Year. Machar has been reappointed as the Deputy President by his former boss-turn-rival President Salvar Kiir to seal the peace agreement signed between warring factions.

PHOTO: EPA/STR

the Thursday appointment of their chairman as South Sudanese First Vice President a ‘surprise’ but welcomed the move as a step forward in the implementation of the peace agreement signed in August last year.

The peace agreement has stipulated that President Kiir will appoint a First Vice President who will be a nominee of the SPLM-IO. Kiir in an earlier decree number 59 removed James Wani Igga from the position of Vice President and reappointed him to the position of (second) Vice President, falling junior to Machar. Machar’s Press Secretary James Gatdet Dak when contacted for reaction to the news of

the appointment said they welcomed it. “We welcome the move. It is a step forward in the implementation of the peace agreement. The rushed appointment has however come as a surprise. We thought my Chairman and Commanderin-Chief of SPLM/SPLA (IO), Comrade Dr. Riek Machar, should have arrived in Juba first before the appointment is issued,” Dak said on Thursday evening. “We hope President Kiir will not come up with another rushed surprise by forming a national unity government without my chairman in Juba. He should also wait for the list of our nominated 10 ministers which our chairman should submit in person

in Juba,” he added.

Dak said the next step should now be for President Kiir’s administration to support the opposition faction in transporting the nearly 3,000 elements of joint police and military forces to the national capital, Juba, so that Machar can travel to the capital to form the unity government.

He added it may not take less than two weeks before the forces can arrive in Juba.

Observers however say the coming of the opposition forces to Juba is serious test to the government on the peace deal with senior political and military leaders opposed to the implementation of the security arrangements in the capital.

Create more registration centres, IEBC told

Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya addresses the media today morning. Governors have called for more voter registration centres.

The Council of Governors (CoG) have called on the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) to create more voter registration centres even as the Commission seeks more funding to meet the demand.

Speaking in Nairobi earlier today, CoG chairman Peter Munya claimed that some Wards in North Eastern counties are vast and would require allocation of more BVR kits for the mass voter registration exercise slated to kick off on Monday.

“Some of the Wards in Marsabit have a big geographical area than some counties. Having only two BVR kits in this wards will disadvantage the whole process,” he said.

However, IEBC chairman Isaack

Hassan differed with Munya, saying his commission had put everything in place and that it was operating in a constrained budget owing to the limited resources allocated to it.

“We have a budgetary deficit of close to Sh1 billion. We have only received Sh500 million from the National Treasury and a similar amount from the European Union ( EU),” said Hassan.

Munya said since it is the mandate of the national government to fund IEBC, adding that county government can only offer the technical support.

He also urged the commission to conduct the exercise with professionalism as it would create confidence and good perception

among the electorate.

“As the CoG we urge IEBC to conduct a noble exercise that will create confidence among the electorate and the political class ahead of the 2017 polls,” he said.

IEBC maintained that they are eager to kick start the exercise as they had already disbursed some of the materials to some counties and are targeting more than four million new voters in the first phase of the exercise, adding that IEBC has also increased the number of registration clerks to 5,736 who will be deployed to cover 24,559 registration centres in 1,450 county assembly wards across the country. The commission is targeting to register four million voters during the exercise.

NEWS

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WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

Uganda decides: Issues, candidates and the election as poll date nears Ugandans vote in presidential, parliamentary and local elections on February 18, in the third polls since the restoration of multi-party politics in 2005.

President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 30-year rule and, is vying against seven opposition candidates for a fifth term, he faces his toughest challenge yet.

There are just over 15 million registered electors, out of an estimated population of 37 million.

President Museveni has been in office since winning a five-year guerrilla war in 1986. At the age of 71, he is one of Africa’s longestserving leaders, and has brooked little opposition to his rule.

His final term was meant to end in May 2006, but in 2005 he won a campaign to lift the constitutional term limits.

Museveni faces criticism from the West over the country’s worsening human rights record, and has responded by accusing Western donors of interfering in Uganda’s internal affairs.

Kizza Besigye has stood against his former comrade-in-arms President Museveni in the last three presidential elections on behalf of the main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Amama Mbabazi is another veteran of the governing National Resistance Movement (NRM) to fall out with President Museveni.

He served as prime minister in 20112014, when he was dismissed after announcing he would launch a rival presidential bid. He is standing as an independent for the GoForward pressure group.

Ugandan media reports say the government is concerned at Mbabazi’s challenge, as he is an insider with extensive connections, who could possibly siphon off votes from NRM supporters looking for fresh faces at the top.

The other candidates are unlikely to have any meaningful impact on the outcome of the elections.

Both Mbabazi and Besigye have had their rallies broken up over allegations that they were unsanctioned.

The state has also restricted opposition access to the media.

In January police raided a printing press in Kampala where the FDC manifesto was being printed, and the government barred the independent

President Yoweri Museveni (top) and his fiercest rival, Forum for Democratic Change candidate Kizza Besigye. Ugandans will go to the polls on February 18. There are just over 15 million registered electors, out of an estimated population of 37 million.

NTV Uganda channel from NRM rallies over what it deemed to be poor coverage of President Museveni’s campaign.

African Centre for Media Excellence analysis of December coverage says the state-owned Uganda

Broadcasting Corporation gave President Museveni 44 per cent of its airtime, Mbabazi 24 per cent with Besigye getting a paltry four per cent.

Despite discontent over public services and transparency, and a

stronger-than-usual opposition challenge, President Museveni is widely expected to win re-election.

The failure of the opposition to field a joint candidate after talks in October 2015 is one factor, and the desire to maintain stability another.

Top stories from X News global partners SYRIA; Cessation of hostilities ‘within a week’ agreed at Munich talks: A cessation of hostilities is to come into force in Syria within a week, US secretary of state John Kerry has said. In an agreement brokered between the US, Russia and other powers in Munich, a UN task force will work over the coming days “to develop the modalities for a long-term, comprehensive and durable cessation of violence”. Humanitarian aid is to be delivered to besieged areas across Syria in the next few days. The cessation deal explicitly excludes Islamic State and al-Nusra front, against whom military action will continue. www.theguardian.com

Donald Trump Criticizes Pope Francis as ‘Very Political’ for Mexico Trip: Republican presidential candidate

Donald J. Trump has a message for Pope Francis ahead of the pope’s trip to pray with migrants along the Mexican border The pope is planning to go to the Rio Grande next week while on a visit to Mexico, will offer prayer and show solidarity with suffering refugees. However, Mr. Trump thinks otherwise, in an interview with the Fox Business Network on Thursday, the Republican presidential candidate, who has proposed building a wall along the United States’s southern border, suggested that Francis was serving as a pawn of the Mexican government. www.nytimes.com

A law to strip dual- Zuma highlights South citizen terrorists of Africa’s risk of credit French nationality downgrade: Jacob Zuma, South president, acknowledged for the moves a step forward: The Africa’s first time on Thursday that Africa’s most French government has undertaken a raft of counter-terrorism measures since last November’s terrorist attacks in Paris. But one of them has absorbed the country’s political energy and divided its political parties like no other: a proposal to strip French-born dual citizens convicted of terrorism of their French nationality.

So there was relief in government on February 10th, when the proposal passed its first legislative hurdle. France’s lower house of parliament approved, by 317 votes to 199, a bill to write such a change for French-born dual citizens into the constitution. www.economist.com

industrialised nation was at risk of seeing its credit rating downgraded to junk status.

In an unusually somber state of the nation address at the opening of parliament, Mr Zuma pledged that his government would cut out wasteful spending and address business concerns about policy uncertainty in the important mining sector, infrastructure bottlenecks and the poor performance of state-owned companies. In a bid to rein in spending, Mr Zuma said overseas trips would be “curtailed.” www.ft.com

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WEEKEnD EDITIOn, FEBRUARY 12-14, 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

CBK publishes banks lending rates to boost transparency

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has decided to publish the average lending rates for various loan products by banks in order to promote transparency in pricing of credit by commercial lenders.

The CBK has also opted to publish the overall average weighted lending rates for commercial banks. The move is expected to increase transparency and enable the public to making informed borrowing decisions.

“Lack of transparency in pricing of credit by the lenders can expose borrowers to high lending interest rates,” the CBK said in a statement released yesterday.

“In order to promote transparency in pricing of credit by the commercial banks, the Central Bank of Kenya has decided to publish the average lending rates for various loan products by banks as well as the overall average weighted lending rates by the commercial banks,” the statement added.

The overall average weighted lending rate for each commercial bank refers to the weighted average rate across all loan categories (corporate, business and personal) and maturities.

The weighting is based on the loan volume for each loan category or maturity.

The published interest rates by the Central Bank of Kenya are the average weighted lending rates for each type of loan product and the overall average weighted lending rates for each bank as at the end of a specified time period.

Lack of transparency in pricing of credit by the lenders can expose borrowers to high interest rates.

As a result, the actual rates charged by the banks may be higher or lower than the published average rates.

The actual rates are based on negotiations between the bank and the borrowing customers.

“It should be noted that the published interest rates only constitute banks’ lending rates.

Over and above these rates,

banks may levy other fees and charges, including administration fees, processing fees, valuation fees, legal fees and commitment fees, among other. Therefore the effective rates charged by individual banks may be higher than these published interest rates depending on the other fees and charges levied on loan products by the specific bank,” the CBK

Reprieve for Total Kenya after winning Sh150m land tussle Oil marketer Total Kenya has won a reprieve after the court stopped a Sh150 million demand

by Muvir Holdings, a company which won a legal battle over a parcel of land in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area on which a petrol station had been constructed.

The controversial land had previously been leased to Chevron Kenya, formerly Caltex Oil Kenya, which had built a petrol station on it. It was later bought by Total Kenya as part of its acquisition of Caltex operations in the country.

Justice David Onyancha in December last year found that the defunct City Council of Nairobi, which was replaced by the Nairobi City County government, had acted lawfully in leasing the property to Muvir Holdings in 2007.

Justice Lucy Njuguna has, however, certified the application by Total Kenya urgent and temporarily stopped Muvir Holdings from demanding Sh154, 503,223 pending the hearing of an application for

stay, which will be heard on March 9.

Chevron Kenya, Total Marketing Kenya and Total Kenya are supposed to pay Muvir Holdings Sh154, 503,223 being special and general damages for use of its land.

Total Kenya however wants Muvir Holdings stopped from demanding the amount until its application at the appellate court is heard and determined.

City Council of Nairobi had granted Chevron Kenya a lease over the property for 33 years from September 27, 1955 subject to certain terms and conditions which it did not however meet.

Total Kenya offers lubricants sold through the service station network. Thetrade channel includes sales of a range of products to all sizes of industrial consumers. The Aviation channel comprises of sales of turbine kerosene and aviation gasoline to local and international air carriers. wilson _x254

explained.

In December 2015, the CBK noted that the overall weighted lending rates for commercial banks in Kenya ranged from as little as 15.5 per cent to as high as 24.6 per cent.

It was noted that in December, Citi Bank and Family Bank had some of the most favourable rates in this category.

Dennis_x254

MEAN 101.7729 147.4631 114.3342 6.4141 33.9777 21.4694

BUY SELL 101.6722 101.8735 147.2956 147.6306 114.2094 114.4589 6.4068 6.4215 33.8950 33.0604 21.3991 21.5398

KCB, companies ink deal to boost mortgage portfolio Kenya Commercial Bank has partnered with Chloride Exide, East African Cables and Crown paints to offer added value to the lender’s mortgage customers. The move seeks to push up the uptake of housing products. The bank said the partnership will benefit existing developers in its book as well as new customers, giving them an enhanced product proposition.

KCB announced the deals during a sendoff ceremony for 30 developers who will be leaving the country for a fact-finding twoweek trip to Brazil. The developers depart on February 29. KCB Chief Business Officer and Managing Director, Kenya Samuel Makome said the bank was keen on partnerships meant to better meet the needs of the modern customer.

In the partnership with East African Cables, developers will enjoy up to 20 per cent discount on cables bought from the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed cable maker. KCB mortgage customers purchasing paints from Crown Paints will access up to 35 per cent in price cuts while those buying solar water heating systems from Chloride Exide will be given at least 25 per cent in discount. They will also enjoy free installation upon purchase.

“We have worked out a comprehensive plan meant to boost home ownership and development across the country, hinged on offering an expanded product proposition” said Mr Makome.

“The Brazil trip is not only aimed to broaden their business scope but also to expose them to modern architectural designs which they could transfer to Kenya upon their return. We hope to transfer technologies and advancements in the developed economies to the real estate industry in this country and our region and positively change the industry altogether,” added Makome.

Kevin_x254

Vivo Energy three-day fuel price cut at Shell stations Vivo Energy Kenya, the company that distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in the country has reduced fuel pump prices at all Shell Service stations.

The firm has said, for the period commencing February 11 to 14, 2016 the price of Diesel will drop by Sh 6.50 per litre, Super will drop by Sh1.10 per litre and kerosene will drop Sh4.90 per litre. The move according to the company is a sign of appreciation to its customers for choosing the high quality products and service offered at Shell service station countrywide.

“We have dropped our fuel prices to thank them for using our service stations,” said Vivo Energy Kenya Managing Director, Polycarp Igathe.

Last year, the company opened 24 service stations across the country,

bringing the total number of Shell service stations in Kenya to 164 the focus that would continue in 2016 as the company continues to deliver more service stations, along with new and exciting high. The move comes weeks after the group’s marketing team went around the country officially opening 16 of the new fuel stations.

Following its growth strategy for 2015, Vivo Energy Kenya opened 25 service stations last year bringing the total number of Shell fuel stations in the country to 164.

To celebrate the success of its expansion campaign the Vivo Energy team carried out opening ceremonies between 11 and 15 of January, offering customers the full Shell experience which included cleaning, training in Shell products, and free fuel for an hour.

BUSINESS 7

KRA moves to boost efficiency with new restructuring in departments WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is in the middle of a restructuring process that will affect critical dockets within the organisation.

The staff changes, which were announced on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, will affect the KRA’s Investigations and Enforcement Department and Human Resources Division.

“As indicated during the media briefing by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government, the changes made were part of a broader Government strategy meant to address weaknesses in the management of the Port of Mombasa but also generally within the import supply chain,” John Njiraini, KRA Commissioner General

said in a statement released yesterday.

Under the new reforms, the KRA has noted that the Investigations & Enforcement Department is being restructured “by injecting into its leadership professional investigative capacity with a view to creating greater impact through detection and deterrence.”

In this regard, the KRA Board of Directors on Monday, February 8, 2016, approved the commencement of a search for a Head of Department with relevant background in crime investigations and intelligence management.

Following this decision, the Board approved the reassignment of Commissioner Jonah Cheruiyoit, current Head of Department to new

Posta launches new secure e-mail service to curb rampant cyber crime The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) has launched an e-mail service aimed at providing its users with a private, secure and protected platform to send and receive their messages.

The service, dubbed ‘Posta Registered Email’, will allow Kenyans to securely send and receive high value and large documents via email.

The launch comes at a time when the country has experienced increasing cases of cyber crime. The country has already lost roughly Sh15 billion to cyber-related criminal activities, prompting ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru to urge internet service providers to lead the war on cybercrime.

In a bid to tackle related threats, the PCK’s new service will allow users to track and determine whether recipients have received their messages as well as conceal sensitive emails and attachments using a code. Users will be able sign documents using a computer mouse and also be able to send large attachments of up to 1GB. PCK CEO Dr Enock Kinara said the product can be used by both companies and individuals using any email like Gmail, Yahoo and

Outlook among others.

Each email will cost Sh10 with the minimum subscription of Sh250 while for companies it will depend on how many users will be involved.

Payments for subscription will be made using both M-PESA and Airtel Money services.

“At the moment we have about 300 users who have started using this digital product through the pilot project and they are all excited. You saw one of the lawyers who spoke about being able to send summons using registered email,” Kinara explained during a launch event for the product.

To subscribe, individuals are required to go to the PCK website and sign up. After this, a ‘registered email’ task bar will automatically get attached on their email page.

Kenya is the first to have registered email in Africa, with countries like China and he US heavily using the solution.

Kinara said the new service is expected to become popular among corporate users seeking an emphasis on security in as far as their communication and documentation is concerned.

duties that are presently under discussion. In the meantime, the position will be held in acting capacity by Mr. David Yego, the former Deputy Commissioner in Customs & Border Control.

Meanwhile, the KRA’s Human Resources Division has undergone changes over the past few months.

“During 2015, major initiatives were launched to reform HR processes with the injection of new leadership and the creation of new roles,”

Njirani noted.

The primary objective of the reforms was to more efficiently deliver HR services and inject greater transparency and professionalism in staff recruitment and promotions.

The new HR framework was expected to expeditiously address staff disciplinary matters, with a view to helping deter malpractices thereby enhancing public confidence in KRA’s work.

Results from surveys recently undertaken show that staff

discontent with HR practices and performance is still unacceptably high.

The implication is that reform objectives commenced in 2015 may not be delivering the desired impact.

“Accordingly, the Board of Directors having reviewed the situation, approved commencement of a search for new leadership for the HR division. In this regard, discussions are in progress with the current Head, Mrs. Rachel Monyoncho, on

transition arrangements,” Njirani said.

“Let me emphasize that the changes undertaken do not in any way relate to integrity questions touching on the character of the two individuals. In both cases, the changes were necessitated by the Board’s wish to change course in order to meet the broader objectives of Government and of KRA as set out in the 6th Corporate Plan,” he added.

Dennis_x254

8

BUSINESS WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

SA sets up drug manufacturing firm to cut cost

South Africa has set up a stateowned pharmaceutical company that would compete with local firms to supply medicines to public hospitals, President Jacob Zuma said in his state of the nation address yesterday.

The move would help its citizens meet the needs of its healthcare services at a lower cost and with less reliance on foreign imports.

Health authorities is one of the world’s biggest market for antiretroviral drugs which have long complained they were paying too much to secure supplies for life-prolonging HIV/AIDS drugs to state-run hospitals.

Since 2007, South Africa’s governing party the African National Congress (ANC) has been playing a key role in the development of the country’s pharmaceutical sector.

It is also a shareholder in a venture called the Biovac Institute, which imports vaccines for the Department of Health’s childhood immunisation programme.

«Total dependence on foreign companies makes us vulnerable to supply as well as finance deficits, and the pharmaceutical industry creates the fifth highest importing deficit in the country’s current account,” says Vivian Frittelli, CEO of South Africa’s National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NAPM) in a statement.

“A country which does not have quality health expectations will also not be able to provide a reasonable life expectancy and viable workforce,” she added.

NBK to gift loyal customers on Valentine’s Weekend

National Bank of Kenya has announced it will host loyal customers this weekend to a “Yellow Valentines”, as part of a national customer reward programME. The announcement came after the bank recorded its best performance in 48 years in quarter three (Q3) of 2015, attributing the results to the lender’s ongoing restructuring initiative.

The programme will celebrate major transformations at the bank under the theme “yellow, the color

of transformation,” across all its 80 outlets countrywide where customers will be treated to yellow valentine gifts including yellow chocolate, yellow candy and yellow cupcakes at branches by yellow-clad employees in a plan set to delight customers.

Furthermore during the weekend, customers paying for shopping with a National Bank Visa card will also enjoy a 3 per cent discount “St Valentine’s Day is an annual festival that celebrates romantic

National Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Munir Sheikh Ahmed will serve customers as a teller at a yet to be disclosed branch.

IMF boss Lagarde bags second term nomination at institution The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, has been nominated for a second five-year term at the helm. The IMF is an organisation comprising of 188 countries. Its main job is to ensure the stability of the world’s monetary system, which it describes as the system of exchange rates and international payments that allows countries to transact with each other.

The former French finance minister was the only nominee for the directorship. Commentators had said there were no obvious challengers for the job.

MsLagarde, 60, received support from the UK, Germany, China, and France, among other countries.

She has led the IMF since 2011 and is its first female director.

“The period for submitting nominations for the position of the next managing director of the International Monetary Fund closed on Wednesday, February

love, friendship and admiration.

Every year on 14 February people celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to partners, family and friends. At National bank of Kenya, we want to use this day to say a special ‘thank you’ to valued stakeholders and appreciate them for their support,” said Bernadette Ngara, NBK’s director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs.

“We are now in the critical final phase of a very successful

10,”said AlekseiMozhin, dean of the IMF’s executive board.”One candidate, current managing director Christine Lagarde, has been nominated,” he added, before saying the board’s goal was to complete the selection process as soon as possible.

MsLagarde’s current term in office expires on 5 July 2016.

She had said she would seek a

second mandate in January.Her nomination comes amid a demand for her to stand trial in France for alleged negligence around a 2008 compensation payment to a top businessman, Bernard Tapie.

MsLagarde’s lawyer has said the decision to make her stand trial was “incomprehensible” and that the IMF boss would appeal.

The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde.

transformation program that will get NBK to a top tier 1 bank. The special relationship we have our customers continues to turn in great results each year.”

Last September, votes by the bank’s customers won NBK theoverall best bank in Customer Service Award 2015 during the annual Kenya Institute of Customer Service satisfaction survey.

At the same time, the bank has announced that the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Munir Sheikh Ahmed will serve customers as a teller at a yet to be disclosed branch.

Munir’s has continued a fondness for serving occasionally as a teller, an act that has inspired humility and the personal touch in customer service in the Bank’s employees’ community.

Munir launched the transformation programme when he took over in 2013. Since then, the bank has seen the rebranding of the formerly green bank to a unique warm yellow identity in addition to driving a total of 50 other change-focused projects at the bank.

This has resulted to massive growth of the bank now ranked Kenya’s 9th largest lender shooting assets from Sh67billion in 2012 to Sh 122 billion in 2014.

National Bank is expected to announce its audited full year 2015 results in a month’s time. enock_x254

UK companies forced to reveal gender pay gap

UK companies that fail to address pay differences between male and female employees will be highlighted in new league tables under plans announced early today.

The announcement comes as a result of latest figures, which revealed that women in the UK still earn on average 20 per cent less than men.

The move will help the government to tackle the root cause of gender disparity by encouraging more girls to study mathematics and science over the next five years.

Employers must also publish their gender pay gap on their website.

They will have to report every year and senior executives will be expected to sign off the figures personally.

Under the plans announced by women and equalities minister Nicky Morgan, companies will be required to reveal the number of men and women in each pay range to show where pay gaps are at their widest.

The regulations will affect about 8,000 employers across the UK.

Ms Morgan said that women and men must be recognised equally and fairly in every workplace so there was “nowhere for gender inequality to hide”.

“I’m calling on women across Britain to use their position as employees and consumers to demand more from businesses, ensuring their talents are given the recognition and reward they deserve,” she said.

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI directorgeneral, warned that league tables should not be used to name and shame firms, because data could only give a partial picture factors such as the mix of part-time and full-time workers, as well as sectoral differences, needed to be taken into account.

“Where reporting can be useful is as a prompt for companies to ask the right questions about how they can eradicate the gender pay gap,” she said.

League tables refer to a ranking of companies based on a set of criteria such as revenue, earnings, deals or any other relevant metrics.

10

WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

ACCESS

fashion Parade

FACT FILE:

celeb chat FAvorIte Food: Rice and Chicken Stew FAvorIte ArtIste: Missy Elliot FAvorIte sports: Watching Basketball and football at times

IT IS NOW TIME FOR Fena Gitu is a 25 year old female singer and song-writer. Having grown up in a musical household, Fena developed her passion for music at a tender age. In 2008, she won the “Fete de la Musique” singing competition at Alliance Francaise Nairobi, marking the beginning of a bright music career. take on MCSK? MCSK is just MCSK. They should try and be a bit serious. I have not received any of my royalties.I am still waiting though…

Your second album, tell us about it?

Allow me not to talk about the second album just yet. We are still working on it and I should not promise and then not deliver.

But I promise the album will be excellent.

You have worked with some big artistes like Juliani, how was the experience?

It’s been great working with fellow artistes and meeting international artistes and performing alongside them. It has been great and quite exciting.

Juliani is a talented musician and mentor. I enjoyed every minute of our collaborations.

What’s your edge?

Always be phenomenal. And for the up and coming artiste; please be creative.

@duncan_x254

What is your take for the New Year?

It just started, we have ten months to go. Ten months of Awesomeness!

How is your new single coming through?

It’s doing well and we need to spice up people love, given that we are just approaching Valentine. I will release a video soon and more singles for the year.

What are the singles to be released about?

It’s all about feel good music and love that is what I love to do. They have also incorporated a few collabos here and there, so just keep listening and I shall surely deliver.

What sort of challenges to you face as an artiste?

Challenges are many, it’s quite expensive to be the industry, but you have to keep pushing.

It is also quite hard to be a young lady trying to get there and into the mainstream.

What is your

10

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY 26th NOVEMBER WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 2014 12-14, 2016

FASHIONScoop

INSIDE YOUR CLOSET

If your date will be during the day, a flowered skater dress is the perfect choice.

For a flirtatious touch, opt for a little bit of lace here and there.

For a candle-lit hotel dinner, a deep v, long slit dress will do you justice.

If your date is indoors, get sassy with a short and amply revealing dress.

If you will be working prior to your date, a fitting jumpsuit will suffice both situations.

@mercy_x254

HOw TO dRess TO imPRess THis

T

hanks to the Internet, foreign cultures have become part of us and although some are a tad too much for our conservative roots, Valentine’s Day is one of those treasured festivities especially by the ladies.

Here is your ultimate Valentine’s Day outfit guide: lUnless the weather decides to act up, leave the sweaters, scarfs and coats at home.

TOP

home as well. Valentine’s is all about the heels. lRemember to get your nails done…Just incase he pops the pretty question. lLeaver shimmer and glimmer dresses for Christmas and disco parties. lLingerie is your best friend on Valentine’s; you never know where the night will take you!

Rank

Mariah Carey

ValenTine’s day PlaylisT

lLeave sandals and boot at

TiTle

aRTisTe

1 2

Always be my Baby Your Song

Mariah Carey Elton John

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The Vows go Unbroken

Kenny Rogers Whitney Houston Diane Ross and Lionel Richie Beyoncé Ed Sheeran Taylor Swift Rihanna Kelly Rowland

Greatest Love of All Endless Love Halo Thinking out Loud Love Story Stay Motivation

11

ACCESS

WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

WEEKEND PLANNER

your comprehensive gig guide

ToDAY

ToDAY

SATURDAY

AnTi

ne i T n e vAL LES

KnL

INg

hE S

T FOr

TrEAT yOur

WHERE: Vineyard WHO: DJ Protoje TIME: 6pm.

SUnDAY

SUnDAY

WHERE: Ngong Racecourse WHO: Sautisol TIME:6 pm ENTRY: From Sh1000.

WHERE: Marble Club and VIP Lounge, Turkana WHO: Diamond, Willy M Tuva ENTRY:From Sh2500.

Live AnD Die in AFRiKA

ALBuM LAuNch

WHERE: Sarova Panafric WHO: Nameless and Wahu TIME: 6:30 pm ENTRY: Sh2000.

PrESENTS

WHERE: Alchemist WHO: Sarabi TIME: 9pm ENTRY: From Sh1000.

SUnDAY

DiAMonD PLATinUMz

vALenTineS NAIrOBI EDITION

WHERE: Safari Park Hotel and Casino WHO:Gilead and Superband, Oga Obinna TIME: 7 PM ENTRY: From Sh7800.

vALenTine SPeciAL

HOT

TOPICS

Out&About OVEr ThE TOP TrEAT

enGLiSH MARinA

V

alentine is on Sunday.

And of course there are more than a million ways to treat and or surprise your lover.

From perhaps a bed and breakfast and later a walk in one of the many parks in Nairobi, to a road trip to Arusha and back or a chopper ride to the top of Mount Kenya.

Those are options and they come in hand. But to mesmerize and charm your better half how about the English Point Marina?

The English Marina, is an off the moon sophistication, best at serving you with luxury beauty

and serenity.

Located at the shores of the Indian Ocean, the Marina offers a breathtaking and expansive view of an extended blue shimmer to beyond.

From the shimmer blows in a cool sea breeze the wafts off gently into an extended broad walk, and a sufficient deck complete with a swimming pool.

At the hotel be sure to find Deluxe, Luxury and Executive suites contemporary designed with comfort and elegance in mind.

Their spa, better known as Ansui offers peaceful waters, and it is

dNg

is DnG single again this valentine’s?

Davidson Ngibuini aka DNG is rumored to have filed for divorce days before valentine.

Word on the streets of social media is that all was not rosy and the anger manifested on his social page with regrets of having trusted “a snake that had shed skin adds to the fire.

Davinso Ngimbuini the self-declared hype man and publicist, had an elaborate wedding late last year to Yvette Nungari but after his woes with one FM its seems the union has collapsed. Efforts by Access to seek clarification were futile after his phone went un-answered. The big question is who is DNG’s Valentine?

a haven of peace and tranquility primely located at the waterfront of the hotel.

The goal here is to recharge with a loved one hence more reason to take on the ocean facial to ritual body exfoliation and pure massages.

For just under Sh 10,000 you will have had a whole hour of relaxation and just Sh 3,800 for a facial.

We all know Jazz is a winner at ballads and sweet moves, this is where the Jazz restaurant takes over, offering a truly awe-inspiring dining experience filled with market-fresh produce-

including, lobsters, gourmet recipes and a warm atmosphere.

To top it all up, delicious signature pasties baked right before your eyes in an authentic Tandoori Oven and or a sweeter side which includes attractive world-class desserts like personalized candies, pastries and cakes. And finally when the mood strikes, it’s time to unwind with a mouthwatering cocktail at Jazz Bar and it won’t cost you more than Sh 1000.

Happy Valentines’ day! @duncan_x254

Form ones in a limo shocks Murang’a As you maneuver to avoid valentine bills, a Murang’a MCA has left villagers on dusty roads with their jaws dropping after hiring a limo to ferry some form one girls to school. The MCA, grasped the opportunity and pulled a publicity stunt leaving many angry after word went round the he is misusing public money.

12

BUSINESS CLASSIFIED

claSSIFIEd

WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016 TUESday, JaNUaRy 26, 2016

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

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DAILYHOROSCOPES DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 Perhaps a check you’ve been hasn’t arrived on than time,inspired or maybe the bank has forward. made a As a result, yourDec intellectual andexpecting creative faculties are more enough to move CAPRICORN 22 - Jan19 computer error your account. thatvacation. can’t be straightened out,might though it’s going The only is far thatmore theresignificant could beIt’s sonothing many ideas coming you be that you not be able This tripdownside is apt regarding to be than a simple Ittomay career related or involve beopportunity a pain making all ofThink those phone calls.

Basically, all should be going very well for you. toan choose among each carefully before ahead. tothem. expand yourabout education.

Itone could also concern agoing relationship.

Whichever it is, you’re

likely to make the trip and it will probably change your life in subtle ways.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 A temporary setback with regard to your career might have you feeling a bit disoriented right now, Matters involving and AQUARIUS Jan home 20 - Feb 18family might need some attention right now, though in a very positive Aquarius. equipment of some kind involved. determination, efficiency, way.

You’llModern notice that your inner power is might much be higher than Your usualown today, as if you could move Thepractical release abilities could be so profound that you have to spend some time alone today, perhaps away and mountains.

Go for it! should have it taken care of in no time.

from the house, in order to fully grasp it all. At the end of the day you should feel elated because you’ll now PISCES Febsee 19 your - Marway 20 toward getting past some of your obstacles.

WEATHERFORECAST WEATHERFORECAST TUESday WEDNESDAY FRIDAY 26/1/2016 11/2/2016

SUNNy

SUNNY SUNNY

12/2/2016

26 22 25

26ºc 23ºC 25ºc 48% 73%

58%

6:40 6:42aM AM 6:42 AM 6:50pM 6:52pM

WEdNESday MoRE SUN SUN ThAN THAN clOUDS CLoUDS THURSDAY MORE SATURDAYDAY 27/1/2016 12/2/2016 13/2/2016

THURSday FRIDAY SUNDAY

MoRE SUN THaN cloUdS

25 25

25ºc 26ºC

26ºc 56% 56% 54%

6:52 pM

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 Be prepared!

Some equipment with which you work suddenly out of order and you it could take §You could find yourself making a lot of phone callsmight in this regard, go which could keep busy for Feb - Mar 20 a PISCES while get it19 fixed.

A temporary separation from partner also be disappointing. much ofto the day.

Your level of excitement is likely to aberomantic very high, whichcould makes it important that you Other social obligations could get in your way, however.

You might have made these other You may have a lot of physical energy for which you have little immediate outlet.

Take a long walk. remember to take breaks, catch your breath, and definitely get a little exercise.

commitments a long time ago and they may be business related. It might be far later than you’d

hopedMar before ARIES 21 -you’re Apr 19able to see your friend. Better late than never!

Dreams or meditation may have brought up someyourself spiritual andand revelations for you, and you You’ve been working very hard in order to advance in insights this regard, you’re likely to continue to may promptly them upon coming out of your dream meditative This could do so have indefinitely. natural communication skills continue to serve youor well, and your state. physical energy is ARIES Mar 21 -Your Aprforgotten 19 prove frustrating for you!been Try writing them down even if you remember snatches. likely tovery be than it has for a long time.

The only downside is having very timetotogo. yourself!

You’re instronger excellent physical, mental, and emotional shape, so only you should belittle raring Both

6:40aM 6:42 AM

6:42 6:51pM 6:52AM pM 6:52 pM

22 26 25

Fill in blanks withwith the the Fillthe in the blanks numbers 1-9. every row,the column Fill in the blanks with numbers 1-9. every row, and 3x3 boxand must contain all column 3x3 box must numbers 1-9. every row, nine digits and with no repeated contain all nine digits with no column 3x3 box must number. repeated number. contain all nine digits with no Yesterday’s Solution Yesterday’s Solution repeated number.

Yesterday’s Solution

immediate and long-term goals should be easy to achieve while your energy is strong today. Begin working on don’t20 put them off. This high level of motivation should continue for a while.

TAURUS Aprthem; 20 -- May May 20 TAURUS Apr 20 It hasn’t, just delayed.

Unfortunately, thereget isn’t much you can butyou’re wait. Equipment You mightTaurus; want toit’s consult with friends or colleagues, their feedback on do what doing, and you use on the job could go out of whack today, necessitating calling in a repairman. This could set listen to their advice.

They TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20may point out both strong and weak points of which you were previously your workand backthis some anddefinitely make youprove a bit valuable antsy. Trytotoyou. findGo something unaware, should for it! else to do!

You’re feeling sensual and passionate, but you also have much to report concerning new opportunities that have recently come up. Some of these, if implemented, could well change your GEMINI May 21 -- Jun Jun 21 GEMINI 21 life in aMay profound way.21 You’ll want your partner’s opinion, since it concerns him or her as well.

Today you’re likely toon beafeeling especiallyyou’ve passionate, sexy, and desirous a romantic encounter, This could shed light lot of obstacles been encountering lately, of Gemini, and thus enable Gemini.

You might have and a hotdodate scheduled.

However, Once don’t be it has to the be you to release theseeven emotions away with the obstacles. thatsurprised happens,if the sky’s GEMINI May 21 Jun 21 postponed for reasons beyond the control of either you or your partner. limit! Your personal power and self-confidence should be stronger than ever. Go for the gold!

You’ll be glad to see them, however, Gemini, as they’ll have some great news and fascinating information to pass on to you and your family. You’ll want to introduce them to other friends who

CANCER Jun Jun 22 22 -- Jul Jul 21 21 CANCER share your interests.

Prepare for that a highly social evening!

She could news couldturning come as a shock to you.

A crisis on the You job might This could have alter some your other life ever so subtly, it in a more positive direction. couldmake click it necessary for you or your partner to spend most the time from Don’t homeoveranalyze and family. immediately with these new people, realizing that theyofshare a lottoday of youraway interests.

This could be frustrating, particularly if you have to cancel your plans.

Hang in there!

CANCER Jun - Julwrite 21 it off as coincidence either. Just make the most of it! this situation, but22 don’t

These changes could be rather controversial, Cancer, so don’t be surprised if you hear a lot of

LEO Jul and 23- Aug Aug 22 gossip a number of opinions, both pro and con, on the matter. You might want to delve more LEO Jul 2322 Overwork and nerve have you feeling a perhaps little bit under theyour weather today, andothers it might deeply into the factsstrain before forming opinion of your own.

This could prove quite enlightening!

You could find yourself the could center of an attention, Leo, sharing methods with or be a good idea for yougroup. to takeExpect some time alone to rest. can’t do that, at least tryboost to take things leading a discussion compliments from Ifayou lot of people, which could not only easy.ego Some changes in your community might have your neighbors’ tongues wagging. your butunexpected also your enthusiasm.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 If you’ve been striving for success in the field of writing, speaking, or publishing, Leo, you have the

VIRGO Aug Aug 23-Sep 23-Sep 21 21 VIRGO chance for a real breakthrough today. A large sum of money or an opportunity to earn it in one of A creative project of this some kind require a your largerlife expenditure ofas money, time, or other resources What you learn on trip is may likely to alter somehow, it could open new for than you. these fields might come way, have and you’ll definitely want tobe take advantage of it. doors you originally thought, and your this could wondering you’ll able to continue might take New friends and valuable contacts couldyou also come onifthe scene.

Don’t hesitate;with go it. forIt it!

Another a little cornerlike cutting yournot part, Virgo, but you be able to complete it as planned. opportunity this on might come around forshould a while.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21

Whatever it -isOct will22probably have you feeling especially elated and satisfied with your LIBRA Sep 23 23 LIBRA Sep - Oct 22 accomplishments.

You’llLibra, want to even tell everyone, thismay could frustrating since some of are the You might have visitors, a hotand datebut scheduled forprove tonight, but by mid-afternoon Some of them may appear to beortrustworthy some not.

Today, however, your instinctsyou people you want toyou’ll tell might not be reachable You’ll need want their support. might be feeling too tired to go through with it and wondering if youand should cancel.

Have highly attuned and be better than usual attoday. sizing up people you don’t really know.coffee Makeand the snacks home instead of going out, get andinget snacks store! most of at this ability, and don’t let logic itsthe way.

Followfrom yourthe heart!

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22

SCORPIO Oct 23 23 Nov 21 should still be very high, and you should still be strongly motivated Nonetheless, your mood SCORPIO Oct -- Nov 21 Deliveries youwhatever may be expecting could orhas held up. Today you might learn something to might continue itinisthe you’ve beenbe that such positive Let your You want to attend company ofdoing adelayed small group ofbrought friends.

This could be results. business related shocking a neighbor or relative, and gossip might spread very rapidly throughofyour community. imagination flow freely, and keep going. or involveabout a group with which you’reonaffiliated.

Nonetheless, it shows the promise developing into This could haveexperience you reelingineven it might be exaggerated. an enlightening one though way or another.

Accept the invitation and start making your plans!

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

SAGITTARIUS Nov Nov 23 -- Dec Dec 21 21 SAGITTARIUS In the long run, this23 could well prove to be a positive development, although the conditions leading Somephysical good but surprising news about a group with which apt youtomay be affiliated could come your Your mental energies are very and feel that you’re capable of dreams moving to it could beand a bit disconcerting.

Think of high, this as anyou’re opportunity to pursue new hopes and way today, Sagittarius.

Perhaps fundraising activities have been more today successful than make you thought, mountains.

Takenot advantage of this new motivation while youand can, since you could definite that you may have considered before.

Plan carefully then go for the gold. or perhaps is coming way. be Contracts legal papers might be involved. progress on recognition any goal toward whichyour you may striving. or Goother for the gold!

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 This could involve your job, or perhaps these people attend a social event that you host in your home. Either way, some fascinating and useful information could come your way that alters your thinking and nudges it subtly in a new direction. You’ll want to make the most of it. Have fun!.

FIND THE KEYWORD IN RED AND SMS IT TO 22333 Barua Muganga RINGTONES: 30 KSHS PER DAY Nipe Nafasi You will receive a sms “2 download. . . ”Go to this Glory to Glory link using GPRS or WAP & download your content.

Nanena Barua KENYAN HITS! Adonai Muganga KENRAZY Visita, Madtraxx, DNA & Jay A RINGTONES: 30 KSHS PER DAY Dumbala Remix KEN4 Zawadi Nipe Nafasi Barua Msaidizi MULIRO . . ”Go GM4 You will receive a smsGLORIA “2 download. to this Sitalia GloryTena to Glory link using GPRS or WAP & WAMARIA download yourKT4 content. Muganga Fundamentals KEN Nanena RINGTONES: 30 KSHS PER DAY Bongo Lala KENYAN HITS! Nipe Nafasi RUFF4 Mungu Baba RUFFTONE & GSU Adonai Tena You will receive a sms “2 download. . . ”Go to this Sitalia KENRAZY Visita, Madtraxx, DNA & Jay A Dumbala Remix Glory to Glory KEN4 Uwepo Wako LIN4 MERCYLINAH Zawadi link using GPRS or WAP & download your content.

Hatarudi Nyuma Msaidizi GLORIA MULIRO GM4 Nanena Sitalia Tena Milele SHA4 MARION SHAKO KENYAN HITS! Mapenzi Fundamentals KT4 KEN WAMARIA Adonai Bongo Lala Dongo Dongo GERALDINE ODUOR GER4 KENRAZY Visita, Madtraxx, DNA & Jay A RUFF4 Solo RUFFTONE & GSU Mungu Baba Dumbala Remix KEN4 Sitalia Tena Zawadi Ulibeba EN4 EUNICE NJERI Uwepo Wako LIN4 MERCYLINAH Msaidizi GLORIA MULIRO GM4 Penzi Langu Hatarudi Sitalia TenaNyuma Sobei Cheiso KOS4 EMMY KOSGEI Milele SHA4 MARION SHAKO Fundamentals KEN WAMARIA KT4 Mapenzi Matokeo Bongo Lala Dongo You Dongo GERALDINE ODUOR BMF4 GER4 Worship BMF FT MERCY WAIREGI RUFF4 RUFFTONE & GSU Mungu Baba SoloAgain Born Sitalia Tena Ulibeba EN4 EUNICE NJERI Sambaza KAM4 ALICE KAMANDE Uwepo Wako MERCYLINAH LIN4 Penzi Langu Hatarudi Sobei Cheiso KOS4 EMMYOWEN KOSGEI Lingala YaNyuma Yesu Defender DAD4 DADDY Milele MARION SHAKO SHA4 Matokeo BMF4 Fanya Worship You BMF FT MERCY WAIREGI Mapenzi Kitendo MOG4 Tosheka MOG ODUOR GERALDINE Dongo Dongo GER4 Born Again Sambaza KAM4 ALICE KAMANDE Solo Ni Dawa Muziki Kereka DK4 DKEUNICE KWENYE BEAT Ulibeba EN4 Lingala Ya Yesu Defender DAD4 DADDYNJERI OWEN Penzi Langu Makeke Sobei Cheiso EMMY KOSGEI KOS4 Fanya Kitendo Ningwendete VAN4 JOAN WAIRIMU MOG4 MOG Tosheka Matokeo Muziki Ni Dawa Kitanzi BMF4 Worship BMFDK FT MERCY WAIREGI Kereka You DK4 KWENYE BEAT LK4 Queen LOISE KIM Born Again Makeke Sambaza ALICE KAMANDE KAM4 Ningwendete VAN4 JOAN WAIRIMU Miss Hizo Ahuirania N.D GITHUKA GAK4 Lingala Ya Yesu Kitanzi DAD4 LK4 Queen LOISE KIM Naona Mbali TiDefender Mundu BET4 BETTYDADDY BAYO &OWEN MR SEED Fanya Miss Kitendo Hizo Ahuirania N.DMOG GITHUKA GAK4 MOG4 Tosheka Nime Wasamehe Ndirakurekie SIMON SIM4 NaonaNiMbali Ti Mundu Muziki Dawa BET4 BETTY BAYO &BEAT MR SEED Kereka DK KWENYE DK4 Hakuna Silaha JOAN WAIRIMU Kinyukia Kahora VAN4 Nime Wasamehe Ndirakurekie SIMON SIM4

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FIND THE KEYWORD IN RED AND SMS IT TO 22333

FIND THE KEYWORD IN RED AND SMS IT TO 22333

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VAN4

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PLAY 13

WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1. Tagged 8. Weak and thin, as a voice 13. Feign 14. ___ a living 16. Pizza portion 17. Reach an agreement out of court 18. More hideous 19. Shepherd’s pie ingredients 21. Horse halters 22. “As God ____ witness...”

23. Young newts 24. “Riddle-me-___” (nursery rhyme line) 25. ____-O (“Old MacDonald” refrain) 26. Bandleader Shaw 27. Gorged 30. Bradley and Begley 31. In a lather 33. Publication for web 35. 6, on a telephone 36. Squirrels’ hangouts 40. “A Doll’s House” playwright Henrik 42. Iditarod terminus 43. Lennon’s wife 46. “How the Other Half Lives” author Jacob 47. Zen paradox 48. Is blustery

50. Items in a toolset, often 52. “___ Beloved...”

53. Egyptian god of death 54. Triskaidekaphobe’s fear 56. Annul 57. Assurances 58. “___ Defeats Truman” (infamous 1948 headline) 59. Hates Down 1. Stick around 2. 2001 French film with five Oscar nods 3. Trade 4. Fashionable issues?

5. Den 6. List abbr.

7. Kind of diver 8. Easily annoyed 9. Home furnishings chain 10. Butterfly catcher 11. Once in a while 12. Christmas season 13. Lip-puckering 15. Durbeyfield girl, and namesakes 20. Fail to mention 22. Clock numeral 25. Vocalist James 26. Chopping tool 28. Long geological period 29. Extra-wide shoe spec 31. Without an agenda

32. 100% sure 34. Sets apart 35. “Man in the ____” (Michael Jackson hit song) 37. Half hitch, e.g.

38. Raised a glass to 39. Pres. monogram 41. Holding in trust 44. What the weary get, in a saying 45. Young hooters 47. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” novelist Ken 48. Swiss city on the Aare 49. Thesaurus wds.

51. Walk in the wild 52. Detergent target 55. Possess, to Burns

Yesterday’s answers

YOURSAY Cord’s push for plebiscite good, but time bad As Cord pushes for a referendum before the 2017 polls, it will be prudent for the leaders and the government to check all the pertinent issues that could arise from the move.

The proponents and the opponents of the drive need to go beyond their personal, selfish or political interests and soberly reason to grapple with the matter.

Agreeably, since the enactment of the current Constitution in 2010, the audit of the supreme law indicates that there are grey areas that need to be addressed to allow for smooth implementation and cut down on cost which we all agree is enormous.

The issues raised by the Okoa Kenya Initiative such as increasing the amount of revenue to be allocated to the counties, Ward Development Fund (WDF) and disbandment of the IEBC will raise unnecessary political temperatures and could be used for mass mobilisation as was witnessed in the run up to the 2007 General Election.

In my view, the exercise is not economically tenable or sustainable, irrespective of the

benefits it shall bring forth, bearing in mind that the electoral commission currently grapples with a huge budgetary deficit. As per now, it does not have enough funding to verify Okoa signatures as well as register more voters.

For all intents and purposes, it will only disrupt economic activities before the General Election.

The estimated Sh30 billion that would be used in the referendum could be channelled into other development projects that will directly uplift the standard of living of the people.

The fact of the matter is that it will not be prudent to hold a referendum soon, when we are just months away from the General Election.

The journey to attaining this Constitution has been arduous, bloody, and torturous and we should not reverse the gains made so far by trying to outdo each other at the expense of the stability and development of the country.

The referendum can be conducted appropriately at later date.

— Nderitu, Donhom

Will Uganda polls be free and fair this time round?

As the Ugandan 2016 polls draw near - in which the incumbent Head of State Yoweri Museveni is scheduled to defend the seat he has held since 1986 - questions are being raised whether the elections will be free and fair.

Museveni faces challenge from opposition leader Kizza Besigye, female aspirant Maureen Kyalya and Ambaba Mbabazi, a former premier and ruling party stalwart.

According to Besigye, a threefold loser for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Museveni’s rule is destined to end in a few days if the polls would be conducted in a free and fair manner.

Last month, the US administration expressed deep concern over the handling of elections with troops engaging in extrajudicial executions, obstruction, dispersal of opposition rallies, intimidation and arrests of journalists.

While Ugandans have never witnessed power handover through the ballot, many are still apprehensive that it may not be any different this time round. Although Ugandans are ready for the February 18 polls, they are still uncertain about the winner as opposed to the previous years.

— Mzungu Mweupe.

Give us a break, Uber is in Kenya market to stay Kenya is an adolescent country. What else do you call a country whose 42.1 per cent of the population is below the age of 14? Isn’t that a country going through puberty?

You see, puberty creates two problems in one. First, selfconsciousness – You realise your body is changing never to be the same again and you don’t know how to manage it and two, the aftermath– how do you now act manly or womanly enough.

Kenya is an adolescent that is growing at a breakneck speed, rapid, supersonic and promiscuous. The number

of mobile subscriptions has already hit 37.8 million, a towering 88.1 per cent growth in mobile penetration and a staggering (for lack of a better word) 31.9 million internet users which means, the portion of Kenyans accessing internet services stands at 74.2 per 100 inhabitants. That is huge and it’s growing.

Jog your memory didn’t your science teacher use two cans and a string to explain how a telephone works, do you know that topic was scrapped off? Where have you been?

Uber has played right into the hands of this generation. It

has fallen where it will thrive and puberty has set in for taxi operators. Self-consciousness is hitting them hard. The ground is shifting, change is happening, someone, an invisible competitor, has infiltrated their kitchen and is eating a big chunk of the cake!

They are angry and they want to fight. Like all adolescents, they crave a temporary solution to their permanent problems. Let them wake up and see the wind of change, Uber is here to stay.

— Robinson Murage

Kenyans should be wary of betting it’s gambling A few months ago, I did this article about gambling in Kenya and how people were quick to embrace it without knowing the consequences.

In my research, I realised that majority of Kenyans were getting into football matches’ gambling a trend that has seen

people from both sexes and ages going for this cheap and fast money albeit the second thought. Recently, an incident whereby a young man lost more than TSh900,000 after selling his two motorcycles to bet and ended up killing three people, before being killed

by a mob proved me right.

Betting is always a gamble, so bet within you financial means and do not bet on rent money no matter how sure you think the winner is and remember the house/casino wins.

— Anonymous

Orange party’s move to suspend rebels immature The recent suspension of ODM leaders who visited Deputy President William Ruto‘s home is a clear indication of Kenya‘s political immaturity. Indeed, retrogressive political actions seem to be taking shape ahead of next year‘s General Election.

The move by the ODM board

to suspend Kisii deputy Governor Joash Maangi is illadvised. As a matter of fact, Ruto is a national leader and he commands respect from all Kenyans irrespective of their political affiliation.

It is even ridiculous for ODM officials to believe that Kisii leaders visit to the DP‘s home was induced by handouts.

Send your letters to news@254.co| Letters will be edited for summary and clarity

The party‘s action is meant to intimidate supporters from engaging in progressive politics.

Politicians must demonstrate democratic maturity to promote cohesion in the country.

— Njenga Solomon

14

SPORT

Malkia Strikers draw gritty Tunisia, host Cameroon WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

Kenya will serve off her Africa women’s volleyball Olympic qualification against Tunisia tomorrow at Palais des Sports hall in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

This match will elicit the 2014 history where Tunisia painfully denied Kenya the world Championship slot when they beat them 3-2 (25-21, 24-26, 1525, 28-26, 15-10) at Kasarani.

But a lot has changed ever since.

Kenya, the African giants have gone ahead to win Women’s African Nations Championship, which is a record ninth continental title, Gold medals of All Africa Games and another Gold at the Group 3 - World Grand Prix besides finishing 10th at the World Cup. But those achievement will be challenged by another pretournament favourites and African Games Silver medallist Cameroon whom were also pooled in group A. Kenya will entertain Cameroon, last year Africa Nations Championship bronze medallist as they battle for the single Olympic spot, which will see them take part in the world most prestigious tournament for the first time since 2004.

The other group consist of Egypt which is returning to the

BRING IT ON: Malkia Strikers during one of the training sessions. The team will tomorrow face Tunisia and host Cameroon in Rio Olympic qualification matches in Yaounde, Cameroon.

international scene with a revamped squad after a long lull. They will open their campaign with Uganda today. Algeria and emerging Africa powerhouse will tackle Botswana were also paired in this group as host go against 2014 world championship representatives, Tunisia in group A. Unlike Kenya which trained locally, playing built up match against a combined men’s sides, Egypt were in Slovenia preceded by a local training

for two months while Algeria who welcomes back their captain, Lydia Oulmou who play for the French side Hainaut Volley played three built up matches against Tunisia.

Tunisia is coming back to the top of Women›s African Volleyball after they clinched the 2014 World Championship›s ticket after beating giants Kenya in their homelands.

The young players of the team such as Jihen Mohamed and Ahlem Trayi

will join the great experiences in the Tunisian side.Both Botswana and Uganda are fighting to show their progress in the last few years with a great dream to claim the Olympic ticket. First and second runners’ up will earn another opportunity to try and qualify to August’s Rio de Janeiro games through the World Olympic Qualifier. @elvince_x254

Sunderland end Johnson’s contract after sex assault charges

Adam Johnson has been sacked by Sunderland after pleading guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one charge of grooming.

The 28-year-old footballer’s contract was terminated hours after he was dropped for Saturday’s Premier League match against Manchester United.

He will stand trial today on two further counts of sexual activity with a child, which he denies. Sportswear firm Adidas has also cancelled its contract with the midfielder. After Johnson’s arrest in March 2015, the club suspended him, but then lifted the ban following talks with his representatives and the Professional Footballers’ Association.

In his last appearance for the Black Cats, England international Johnson who played while on bail - scored in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

Johnson, who was born in Sunderland, began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City and then to Sunderland for Sh 1 billion fee in 2012. When asked about the winger’s future at a news conference earlier on yesterday, Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce said: “He’ll not be available for this weekend.

Tribunal to call for early AFC polls over wrangles Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) may be forced to call for early elections if AFC Leopards Interim Management Committee (IMC) fails to work together.

IMC was given a temporary mandate to run the office following the unending squabbles between the two factions led by Dan Mule and Mathew Opwora, who are fighting for the club leadership.

The difference between the two camps saw the delay in signing a sponsorship contract with SportPesa after Opwora factions failed to show u citing threat to their lives.

IMC interim chairman, John Ohaga, who is also the SDT chairman said he may be forced to “either give the leadership to the side that is cooperative or call for immediate elections.”

“As it stand, my hand are tied, but I have no doubt in my mind that AFC Leopards will have a sponsor before the start of the season. If they fail to agree then I will have no otherwise but call

for immediate elections or even give the club to the side that is cooperating with us,” warned Ohaga.

Ohaga was speaking yesterday at the SportPesa headquarters where the interim committee was supposed to sign a sponsorship deal with the betting firm before one of the warring factions snubbed the unveiling citing threats.

He said he received a message this morning from Mathews Opwora, who leads one of the warring factions of the club, saying that “my life is in danger’ and therefore could not be present to sign the deal which is understood to be better than the annual Sh30 million offered by another betting firm Betway last month. “It was my hope that we’ll make the announcement this afternoon (yesterday), but as you’ve all seen, only one faction showed up,” he said.

It seems the IMC settled on SportsPesa, who first signed a Sh30 million deal with 10 per cent increment for the next five year with the faction led by

Dan Mule before Opwora penning a Sh30million three-year deal with another betting firm, Betway, a day after Mule signed the SportPesa deal. But the two contracts were cancelled by Sports Dispute Tribunal which called the two protagonists to a negotiation table to come up with the best sponsorship deal for the club. It seems, that Betway and Sportpesa failed to agree on who should take the lead sponsorship role, forcing Ohaga to settle for SportPesa which is understood to have raised their stake.

“Both potential sponsors increased their amounts which forced us to go deeper in trying to identify a suitable sponsor for the club, taking us deeper into the needs of the team and fans,” said Ohaga, who addressed the Media at the Sportpesa offices at Chancery Towers.

“When people express fear for their lives I must take it very seriously and I cannot compel him to come here. I cannot sign the deal without all sides because I have no signatories,” added Ohaga. @elvince_x254

AFC Leopards Interim Management Committee (IMC) John Ohaga addresses the media at Nairobi’s SportPesa head office, Chancery Building on Thursday. He said they will be compelled to call for early polls if the warring factions fail to agree on club matters.

Police to extend HKU lead with win over USIU, KU Former Kenya Hockey Union Premier League champions, Kenya Police will go eight points clear at the top of the table if they beat United States International University-Africa and Kenyatta University this weekend.

Police is currently two points off defending champions, Butali Sugar Warriors and the weekend fixtures against the Students will present them with best chance to exert pressure on Butali, who have played two matches less.

Police is currently top with 48 points while USIU-A is fourth with 31 points. Should Police snatch all the six points, Butali will have to sweat it out in their next four matches as they play catch up with the

officers.

But a match against USIU-A will not be a walk in the park at City Park Hockey Stadium. A win over USIU-A will see them go a point higher above Green Sharks third in the standings.

While Butali will maintain their positon despite the outcome of the weekend matches, Green Shark’s spot is threatened.

Strathmore, currently sixth with 30 points may move three places up should they squeeze a win against KU. KU will also move to third from 10th if they can pull surprise wins over Police and Strathmore.

Nakuru HC will be on the road to face a gamy Western Jaguars on the grass surface at Kakamega. Kenya College of

Accountancy (KCA) will also be on the road to Mombasa where they’ll be hosted

by Mvita XI and Mombasa Sports Club.

Jaguars are three places and five points below Nakuru.

Strathmore University are also breathing fire behind Telkom Orange In the national women’s league.

The scorpions will have a chance to cut Orange’s lead to just two points if they can beat USIU-A on Saturday.

Strathmore are currently second with 37 points to Orange’s 42 though the students have played more matches. USIU-A are fifth with a paltry 21 from 13 games.

@elvince_x254

SPORT 15 WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016

WEEKEND EDITION, FEBRUARY 12-14, 2016 | WWW.x254.cO

TRIBUNAL TO CALL FOR EARLY AFC CLEOPARDS ELECTION OVER FURTHER WRANGLES

p15

Joyce Zakary of Kenya competes in the women’s 400m heats during the World Athletics Championships in Beijing last year. She failed drugs tests at a world championships last year and was temporarily suspended.

SANCTIONS COULD AFFECT RIO OLYMPICS COMPETITION

Kenya now risks Wada ban

Kenya risk a possible ban from the 2016 Rio Olympics after it failed to meet the deadline to prove to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) that it’s tackling cheating in athletics. Kenya’s athletes’ chances of participating in the Olympic Games in Rio now hang in the balance after the Wada put the country on probation for failing to do enough to tackle its drugs problem. Kenya must now within two weeks, prove to Wada that they are in course of eradicating the vice by putting up new legislation and funding or else the country will automatically be declared non-compliant by Wada which may attract sanctions including a ban from Olympics and other major championships.

This comes after a spate of positive drugs tests among the country’s athletes and fresh allegations of corruption at Athletics Kenya (AK). A Wada statement quoted on the BBC said while “some progress has been made” with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak), there is “still a lot of work required”.

Wada added that it had not received the assurances it needed and was still be awaiting “concrete plans” on government funding for Adak, legislation and anti-doping rules despite a series of questions to Kenyan authorities. Russia Athletics is already banned from international competition after allegations of state-sponsored doping

- and must prove it is Wada-compliant before sanctions are lifted.

“The biggest threat is the declaration of non-compliance and the possible consequences of that,” said Christine Wambui Mugera, head of the Regional Anti-doping Organisation in East Africa.

“The International Olympic Committee and other major event organisers, international federations, have the capacity to refuse entry for athletes from a country that has been declared non-compliant.

“But we have to wait to see how this plays out.” For several months, Wada has been trying to persuade Kenya to set up an effective national agency to conduct drug tests

can, but progress has been slow. Legislation has yet to be passed by the Parliament and proposed annual funding of Sh500 million is still to be released for Adak. It now appears Wada has run out of patience.

A taskforce met with Kenyan officials in Nairobi last week and asked for certain assurances by Thursday. But Kenya has now been referred to Wada’s compli “A fully functional Rado is… a vital step for a country of Kenya’s sporting stature to take if it is to effectively protect clean athletes,” said David Howman, Wada’s director general.

“Time is running out, but we are moving,” said Kip Keino, head of Kenya’s Olympic Committee.

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