201602018 xnews

THursday, FEBRUARY 18, 2016 | www.x-news.co.ke

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Ombudsman opposes part-time job for commissioners chairman otiende amollo terms the austerity proposals by the attorney general defeatist arguing that full-time bosses earn even less

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NEWS

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ICC blow for Kenya victims

T Former International Criminal Court Prosecutors Luis Moreno Ocampo. He is accused of carrying out shoddy investigations on the Kenyan cases.

he Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) of the International Criminal Court has said victims who participated in Kenya Case II will not receive any reparations from the fund.

Kenya Case II had President Uhuru Kenyatta, former public service boss Francis Muthaura and former police chief Hussein Ali as the accused.

The cases against the three have since been withdrawn by the International Criminal Court prosecution citing lack of evidence.

TVF Executive Director Pieter de Baan said that because there has been no single conviction in the cases, there is no possibility of compensating

victims who participated in the case.

“The Trust Fund may only redress victims in the case after a conviction and in the form of reparations so ordered by the court. The Trust Fund mandate to implement reparations on behalf of the court therefore may only occur in instances of a conviction.”

“If there is no conviction of a perpetrator at the ICC, then regretfully neither the court nor the Trust Fund is in a position to compensate victims in relation to the case. The Trust Fund is not permitted to award reparations (including compensation) to victims in Kenya where no conviction by the court exists,” Baan explained.

Continued on page 2

Ruto vows to inflict more pain on Jubilee in Kericho Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has vowed to inflict more pain on the newly formed Jubilee Party after beating it in last week’s by-election in a Bomet County ward.

Mr Andrew Maritim of the People Patriotic Party of Kenya back by governor Ruto beat Jubilee’s Richard Leitich by about 2,000 votes during the mini-polls that saw both camps invest heavily in the camopaigns.

Bouyed by that victory, Ruto has promised another defeat to the Jubilee party in the forthcoming Kericho senatorial by-elections slated for March 7.The Bomet Governor is engaged in supremacy battles with his namesake and Deputy President William Ruto in Rift valley politics.

They are supporting KANU’s Paul

Sang against Aaron Cheruiyot who is flying the Jubilee Party flag.

Governor Ruto said they will hold a major rally today to popularize their candidate.

“We are not taking anything for granted, we are having a major political rally tomorrow (today) to formally introduce our candidate to the people and basically just to sell our policies,” he said last evening.

The Bomet Governor said a number of leaders had already confirmed attendance to the meeting.

He said West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo and his Narok counterpart Stephen ole Ntutu (URP), Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, defiant

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Continued on page 2

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto speaks at a previous campaign rally in his county. He has vowed to ensure another defeat to the Jubilee party in the forthcoming Kericho senatorial by-elections. Only last week, his candidate beat a Jubilee party flagbearer in a by-election at Nyangores Ward in Bomet.

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NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

ICC deals blow to Kenya PEV victims

From Page 1 The Common Legal Victims Representative of Victims in Kenya Case II, Fergal Gaynor, represented 233 victims.

The case was withdrawn in December 2014 due to lack of evidence against President Uhuru Kenyatta who was the remaining accused person after charges against former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali and exhead of the Civil Service Francis Muthaura were dropped.

Since the case flopped, the victims have not received any reparation or assistance from the court.

“We have repeatedly contacted the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) to communicate to them the urgent need for assistance to PEV victims in Kenya under the TFV’s general assistance mandate. Unfortunately, to my knowledge the TFV has yet to provide assistance to even one victim in Kenya,” Gaynor tsaid.

TFV works closely with the Victims Participation and Reparation Section (VPRS) to ‘implement court-ordered reparations awards against a convicted person and support families in situations where the court is active with physical rehabilitation, material support, and/or psychological rehabilitation.’

But even without a conviction, victims participating in the case are not cut out of assistance.

According to the ICC website; ‘TFV can act for the benefit of victims of

crimes, regardless of whether there is a conviction by the ICC.” Head of ICC Outreach Programme in Kenya, Maria Kamara said that ‘victims have the possibility to request for reparation at the end of a trial and if there is a guilty verdict. In a situation where a case did not go to trial, reparation is not applicable.’

Charges against President Kenyatta were withdrawn in December 2014.

Gaynor says it is unfair that victims he represented have not received any assistance even after he made the request.

“I do not have any information from the TFV as to when it might be able to provide assistance to victims in Kenya.

The TFV’s inaction in Kenya is obviously deeply disappointing to many victims, especially those who were first informed of the TFV’s existence and mandate by ICC staff in Kenya in 2010.”

Gaynor further directed his protest to the government of Kenya which he says has a responsibility to compensate victims of the 2008 Post Election Violence.

“The tragedy is that the thousands of Kenyans who lost so much, and suffered so seriously, during the PEV are also the principal victims of the obstruction of justice in the Kenyan cases. The government’s failure to act on its repeated promises to deliver fair compensation to the victims – in particular those who now live in

Gov. Ruto vows to inflict more pain on Jubilee party

From Page 1

Jubilee MPs Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills), Zakayo Cheruiyot of Kuresoi South and Johana Ng’eno of Emurua Dikirr are in this team and will attend the rally.

“We have all agreed to support the KANU candidate for this race. We are only giving our people an alternative to choose their proffered candidate,” Ruto said just after being grilled by the Senate Finance committee.

Tomorrow’s rally by the perceived rebellious group from the Jubilee Alliance is meant to counter the visit made by Deputy President William Ruto yesterday.

The Bomet Governor said the major undoing of the Jubilee government is lack of commitment to devolution.

“The rebellion that you see on the ground coming some of the Jubilee strongholds is due to the laxity and lack of seriousness to devolution. People want services on the ground not empty promises,” Ruto said.

In his visit to the area yesterday, the Deputy President pleaded with the resident to vote for the Jubilee candidate as an expression of confidence in which he is a senior member.

“On behalf of the Jubilee leadership and the government, I wish to wholeheartedly apologise to the people of Kericho for the unfulfilled projects. It has not been our intention to create an impression that we have abandoned you and if that has happened, I am truly sorry,” Ruto said.

“I have heard that you want to vote the other side so that Jubilee notices you. But that is wrong. Even if you want to punish me, please do not use a whole tree, just use a small stick,” added the Deputy President. sam_x254

The International Criminal Court building at The Hague in the Netherlands. The Courts Fund says victims in Kenya Case II will not get any compensation.

Nyanza and Western – adds salt to their wounds.”

Local efforst to compensate victims of past injustices including those of the post-election violence in 2008 have been rather slow.

In March last year, President Kenyatta

also issued a public apology to the victims while announcing a Sh10 billion restorative justice fund which has however not yet been released.

Delays by Parliament in adopting the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission report has however

derailed the process of implementing its recommendations which among others articulates for the reparation of victims of past injustices including PEV. MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

State to hold forum on gender rule The government will next week convene a women meeting to discuss and evaluate the realisation of the constitutional two –thirds gender rule in the legislature ahead of the 2017 elections.

The meeting organised by the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs will seek to look at measures the government is putting in place to ensure women’s equal access and equity to full participation in power structures and decision-making.

Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, the Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Ms Sicily Kariuki said that the meeting will be looking at ways and coming up with a strategy that will help tackle issues that thwart women from development.

“It brings together stakeholders in the gender equality and women’s empowerment space to discuss critical developments in the country including the implementation of key government gender policies, and agree on a framework for continuous engagement,” said Cs Sicily Kariuki.

Ms Kariuki further said that the consultative meeting will also discuss ways to deal with the runway gender based violence that has affected a large number of household and to find an approach of implementing Affirmative Action.

The forum under the umbrella of the Gender Sector Coordinating Group; a platform that brings together government agencies, private sector, civil society organizations, development partners and higher institutions of learning will be chart out a holistic approach to addressing the

gender parity in economic development.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that the forum will examine the women economic empowerment initiative by the government channelled under Affirmative Action Fund for women, youth and Persons with disabilities (PWDs) which also be focussing on coming up with policies that addresses weaknesses that have hindered women from utilizing the funds.

“The government policy is to ensure that 30 percent Public Procurement Preference and Reservations go to Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,” added Ms

Kariuki, “The same applies to initiatives such as the Women Enterprise Fund, Youth Enterprise Fund, and UWEZO (empowerment) fund which is designed to transform the lives of women, youth and persons with disabilities” she added.

The two-day meeting kicks off on Tuesday and will attract industry leaders in private sector, ambassadors and government officials will seek to raise awareness and develop a common strategy on the implementation of key gender priorities. hillary_x254

Gender and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki. Her ministry has convened a forum to evaluate the realisation of the two-thirds gender rule and the government’s commitment to allocate 30 percent of state tenders to youth and women.

NEWS 3 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

CAJ rejects part-time jobs for commissioners Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has described as “complete nonsense” the Attorney General’s argument that making independent institution commissioners part-time will help the country save money.

Chairman Dr Otiende Amollo, who backs the push to reduce the number of commission members, has however opposed the proposal to make them serve on part-time basis. He said the move could prove more costly to the tax payers, saying part-time commissioners earn more than those on permanent basis.

“Part-time commissioners earn much more than those of us who are full-time because we can attend a hundred meetings in a week and we’ll not be paid a cent. But as long as you’re part-time, the many meetings you attend there’s an allowance.

“If you analyse the allowances of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) who are hired for a shorter period, it’s higher than that of those of us who are full-time so the proposal is completely defeatist,” he said.

He said the pre-supposition that

Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) chairman Otiende Amollo at a past press conference. He has opposed Attorney General Githu Muigai proposal to hire independent institution’s commissioners on part-time basis.

commissioners can work part-time is based on the faulty premise that they do not have much to do.

“I for one do three times what I used to do in my law firm and quite honestly, I’m quite happy to leave,” he says. Unlike National Assem-

bly Speaker Justin Muturi, Otiende believes the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) members should be reduced from the current nine to the constitutional three member minimum, but is against making commission-

TV stations content verification deadline now set for March 1 All Free to air broadcast stations have until March 1 to submit their broadcast content for verification, Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has said. The board said all television stations will have to submit their content to Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for vetting and classification in order for their programmes to be allocated time when it should air. Addressing students at Alliance Boys High School yesterday during the unveiling of an initiative dubbed ‘We Are What We Consume,’ the board’s chief executive Ezekiel Mutua accused some media houses of violating broadcasting regulations by airing content which should be rated 18. He blamed the media for airing content that violates the broadcast code, warning them of unspecified

action if they do not desist from the practice. “Media outlets are deliberately broadcasting content which should be rated 18 during watershed period of 5am and 10pm; this is eroding the morals of our youth and children,” said an angry Mutua. He said the media plays a crucial role in educating the public and should not be used to inculcate bad morals. “The media is a catalyst for development, the custodian of public interest, watchdog of society, and should tell the story of the voiceless,” added Mutua.

Television and Radio stations in the country have in the recent past found themselves on the receiving end, following accusations by the board that they were broadcasting content that does not meet the threshold. However, Mutua explained that the

board’ ambitious initiative of ‘We Are What We Consume,’ seeks to protect the youth and young generation from disruptive media content aired by some TV stations. He advised members of the public to be wary of misuse of technology, adding that the public should have a say when they feel offended by what is being aired by the media. The board has resolved to talk directly to media consumers to ad their voice to the need to have a responsive media that respects their needs. The board was recently entangled in war of words with Netflix, an American Internet streaming media for not conforming to the ratings and classification regulations as provided for under the Kenyan law.

ers part-time, saying it could compromise the operations of the commission.

“The powers of the commissioners do not diminish whether you make them part-time or full-time. So you will be having somebody who

is part-time and therefore does not understand fully what is going on in the commission, but with executive authority over those who are serving full-time. And that’s what we have at EACC now, it is inappropriate,” he says.

The conflict of interest that could be created by making commissioners part time, Amollo argues, would also be inappropriate.

“Can you imagine the case of EACC; a Commissioner of EACC who is practicing and who somebody approaches to defend them in a corruption matter? Nothing stops them from defending that person,” he says. “And you can imagine they might be defending a case that was investigated by EACC over whom they have authority.

I support the idea of reducing the number of commissioners once the current ones have served their term but the idea of making them parttime is complete nonsense.

Similar to any idea of merging commissions because each has a distinctive jurisdiction.”

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Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) chief executive Ezekiel Mutua at a past media briefing in Nairobi. He has directed all TV stations to submit their content for verification before March 1.

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NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Kenyan teacher in race for Sh100m Award A Nairobi school teacher who gives classes against violent extremism is one of 10 finalists up for Sh100 prize for the world’s best teacher.

Mr Ayub Mohamed who teaches business and Islamic studies at Eastleigh High School has been nominated by the Varkey Foundation, which works to improve the education of the underprivileged children.

Only three years ago, the government had accused the school of acting as a recruitment ground for Islamic militants.

In a leaked report from 2013, the National Intelligence Agency reportedly said that alShabab militants had been recruiting at Eastleigh High.

The school is located in the Eastleigh suburb of Nairobi and dominated by Somalis, something that has earned the estate the popular nickname of “Little Mogadishu”.

But Mr Ayub said he has been teaching at the school for five years now, during which he has been discussing de-radicalisation in his religious education classes.

He said he was excited and humbled by his nomination telling the BBC that he believes that teachers can contribute to global efforts against terrorism.

“If teachers gave students critical thinking skills and confidence they would be able to reject extremists demands,” he said.

Analysts believe many of his ilk are needed if given the scale of the global jihadist crisis.

While governments are focusing most of their resources on military might as they try to crush the extremists, Mr Mohamud is in another battle - helping ensure the youth are not tempted to swallow the jihadist ideology and turn to violence.

Education has been highlighted as the key to fighting global terrorism because most of those recruited into extremist terror groups

NEWS BRIEF

28 killed in Turkey blast At least 28 people have been killed and 61 others injured in Turkey following a powerful blast in the capital Ankara.

Officials said a vehicle full of explosives was detonated as military buses were passing by on Wednesday evening.

President Recep Erdogan has vowed to retaliate the attack. “Turkey will not shy away from using its right to self-defence at any time, any place or any occasion,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Funerals are expected to take place later today. No group has so far said it was behind the attack although Turkey’s prime minister says the deadly bombing was carried out by Kurdish YPG militia based in Syria, and nine people have been arrested. Ahmet Davutoglu said the fighters worked in co-operation with militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey.

Turkey carried out strikes on PKK forces in north Iraq late on Wednesday, reportedly targeting some 70 militants.

Mr Davutoglu said some senior PKK fighters were among those killed.

Meanwhile, reports say a military convoy has been hit by a blast in south-east Turkey.

Eastleigh High School teacher Ayub Mohamed in class. He has been nominated alongside 10 others for the 2016 Best Teacher Award by Varkey Foundation.

are often unable to reason logically and so do not have the skills to counter jihadist ideology.

Ayub was nominated alongside nine other teachers who have been shortlisted for the award, including a US Air Force officer who teaches in an Indian red light district and a

Japanese teacher who gets his message across using Lego. In its second year, the award was set up by the Varkey Foundation, the charitable arm of the Gems international education firm. The first winner of the Global Teachers’ Prize in 2015 was US teacher Nancie Atwell,

who donated the $1m prize money to the school she set up in Maine. The winner of the Global Teachers’ Prize 2016 will be announced on 13 March. @peter_x254 and Agencies

Social media blocked as Ugandans vote Social media platforms are down in Uganda and the country’s voters choose their new leaders.

The government had earlier warned voters against using their phones within the precepts of voting booths and told the media not to broadcast any election results.

And as voting got underway today morning, Ugandans were unable to log onto either Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp

accounts. As a result, many have turned to VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to communicate with each other.

Unconfirmed reports say the government through the Uganda Communications Council gave out an order blocking social networking sites to eliminate ‘sharing of information which may incite the public during voting’.

People across Uganda began

voting in presidential elections, with incumbent Yoweri Museveni (pictured below) seeking to extend his 30-year rule.

Seven opposition candidates are taking part in the race, widely seen as the tightest in the country’s history. Mr Museveni’s two main challengers are veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi.

Mr Mbabazi asked those unable to log onto twitter to try VPN “I hope voting is going well at your polling station? To access Twitter, Whatsapp and Facebook use Tunnelbear VPN,” he tweeted.

Ugandans are also voting in parliamentary and local elections.

Polls opened at 7am today with more than 15 million people expected to cast their ballots.

A candidate needs to secure more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright and avoid a run-off with the second-ranked contender.

Human rights groups have reported an intensifying government crackdown on opposition leaders, their

supporters and the media during the election campaign.

Mr Museveni, 71, has been in office since winning a five-year guerrilla war in 1986, and he is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.

His final term was meant to end in 2006, but in 2005 he won a campaign to lift the constitutional term limits. Mr Besigye has unsuccessfully challenged his former comrade-in-arms in the last three presidential elections Mr Mbabazi is another former ally of President Museveni. He served as prime minister in 20112014, when he was dismissed after announcing he would launch a rival presidential bid.

During the election campaign the two opposition candidates accused the president of corruption and criticised his economic policies. Mr Museveni dismissed the allegations as fiction. Major issues for voters also include persistently high unemployment and poor quality of public services.

@peter_x254

NEWS 5 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Morning newspaper summaries TNA MPs now oppose NYS fishy payouts rise Tough test for DP Ruto Kenyan doctors raise plan to dissolve: The National to Sh1.6 billon: The amount of as Kericho turns hostile: alarm over influx of Alliance legislators have rubbished money lost in the National Youth Service Deputy President William Ruto received foreign medics: Kenyan the merger plans of the ruling Jubilee scandal could be as much as Sh1.6 billion, a hostile reception in Kericho, where parties and instead want the alliance’s constituents to go it alone at the 2017 General Election. An MP who is privy to secret merger meetings, but who did not want to go on record, said President Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA and Deputy President William Ruto’s URP will not merge but work together ahead of the Tuesday, August 8, 2017, polls.

according to a new report seen by the Nation. The report reveals that further investigations into the NYS scandal had shown that hundreds of millions of shillings were paid to 15 additional companies beyond the Sh791 million that has been in the public domain. The report shows that EACC was investigating payments amounting to Sh869 million to the additional companies.

South Rift leaders accused him of abandoning the region after Jubilee ascended to power. Mr Ruto and his confidante, Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter, received stinging criticism from the leaders, who complained that the Kipsigis community had been taken for a ride after President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto ascended to power in 2013.

doctors have sounded the alarm over a swelling number of unlicensed foreign medics who are flying in to the country for consultancy services that results into referral of hundreds of to overseas hospitals every year. Some Kenyans hospitals have been holding medical of specialty camps for diseases such as cancer are invited to train local practitioners and offer consultancy services.

medical Bitter debate over move Banks fight attempts to Tunoi offered to retire if Untested committee cleared him: supplies pose grave to bar Kidero from include more lenders in Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi offered danger to Kenyans : Patients office: A proposal to bar Nairobi illegal fees suit: Commercial to resign, rather than face the Special Judicial Service Committee over a Sh200 million bribe allegation, the Star has learnt. The judge met Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and gave an undertaking to quit, if the JSC Special Committee cleared him. However, the JSC rejected the offer and established the committee that ommended President Uhuru Kenyatta form a tribunal to investigate him.

and people seeking to avoid contracting HIV may be at risk of infections because the medical supplies they use have not been tested for quality for three years now. A machine for testing quality of syringes, needles and surgical gloves among others has been lying idle at the National Quality Control Laboratory, the director Hezekiah Chepkwony said in Mombasa on yesterday.

Governor Evans Kidero from public office sparked bitter exchanges in the National Assembly yesterday. Debate on the report by the Agriculture committee, which investigated the sugar crisis at Mumias Sugar Company and the managers’ role, had been pending for a long time and the controversial amendment by Mumias MP Benjamin Washiali ignited fireworks.

banks have assembled big guns in the fight against a class action suit that is seeking to have all lenders charged with levying illegal fees dating back to 1989.

Kenya Bankers Association reckons that allowing businesswoman Rose Wanjiru to amend a suit she filed on behalf of all account holders could change the scope of the case and will be unfair to them.

fourth consecutive year, according to the new County Allocation of Revenue Bill at the Senate. The Bill tabled in the House on Tuesday details how the 47 counties will share the money and now awaits approval by both Houses of Parliament.

The Treasury has proposed that the devolved units share Sh302 billion in the next financial year.

development projects will drop by Sh65 billion in the next financial year in fresh austerity measures. National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has presented proposals which impact on budgets of several ministries, departments and commissions. The new measures come as a surprise considering governments tend to spend more in election years, like 2017 for Kenya.

Former Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni has been appointed chairman of Prudential Life Assurance Kenya, a subsidiary of UK’s Prudential Plc, adding yet another feather on his decorated boardroom cap. The appointment marks Mr Naikuni’s third boardroom appointment since leaving Kenya Airways in October 2014, and at least the ninth active directorship.

More illegal sugar seized How counties will share State budget for Naikuni’s Prudential raises at Joho firm: The controversy Sh302 billion: Nairobi will development drops appointment surrounding the closure of Container get the highest share of the billions of by Sh65b: State spending on board positions to 9: Freight Stations owned by Mombasa shillings earmarked for counties for the Governor Hassan Joho’s family deepened yesterday, after the taxman impounded more contraband goods.

The Kenya Revenue Authority announced it had unearthed a list of cargo that included imported sugar and ethanol the Autoports CFS, causing confusion over the consignment.

Top stories from X News global partners European states deeply Chinese Missiles Suspicion falls on Fed eyes increased risks divided on refugee crisis Underscore a Growing Egypt’s security forces for US economy: Many Reserve policymakers saw before key summit: Europe’s Conflict Risk: China’s after the violent death of Federal increased risks facing the US economy deep divide over immigration is to be deployment of surface-to-air missiles on AFTER Giulio a young Italian: as they assessed the market turmoil laid bare at an EU summit in Brussels a disputed island in the South China Sea, on Thursday, with German chancellor Angela Merkel struggling to salvage her open-door policy while a growing number of countries move to seal borders to newcomers along the Balkan routes. A debate on the migration crisis over dinner on Thursday evening will do little to resolve the differences, senior EU officials predict. Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, has avoided putting any new decisions on the agenda in an attempt to avoid fresh arguments. Leaders of European countries met in Prague on Monday. www.theguardian.com

at the very moment that President Obama is trying to buttress American influence in the region, underscores the growing risk of conflict among the Chinese, their neighbors and the United States. A day after Mr. Obama gathered 10 leaders from Southeast Asian countries for a summit meeting in California, a United States official said the Pentagon had evidence that China had placed missile batteries on an island that is part of an archipelago claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, as well as by China. www.nytimes.com

Regeni, a 28-year-old Italian student at Cambridge University, disappeared in Cairo on January 25th, someone pulled out his finger and toenails, burned him with a cigarette and beat him to death.

His tortured, half-naked body was found nine days later on the side of a desert road. The Italian autopsy on Mr Regeni “confronted us with something inhuman, something animal”, said Angelino Alfano, Italy’s interior minister. Cairo was swarming with police on January 25th, the fifth anniversary of the uprising against Hosni Mubarak, the ousted dictator. www.economist.com

that has erupted in 2016 amid plunging commodity prices and confusion over China’s currency policies. The central bank’s minutes for its January meeting released on Wednesday showed that Fed policymakers were wary of rushing to premature conclusions about the implications of the month’s financial turbulence, but most agreed that the outlook had become more clouded and uncertain. Several argued that it would be “prudent” to wait for more evidence about the underlying strength of the economy before further interest rate increases. www.ft.com

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xnews | THURsday, FEBRUARY 18, 2016 | www.x-news.co.ke

BUSINESS

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

MEAN 101.7999 145.7675 113.5625 6.4624 33.5266 21.4932

BUY SELL 101.7028 101.8971 145.6050 145.9300 113.4389 113.6861 6.4550 6.4698 33.4455 33.6077 21.4236 21.5628

Kenya receives international backing to eradicate rampant offshore tax evasion

Kenya has signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters as part of strategic efforts to tackle cases of international tax avoidance and evasion. The ongoing efforts to address international tax avoidance in Kenya have received global support, amongst international tax authorities meeting in Paris, France.

Speaking, when he addressed the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, Steering Group Meeting in Paris, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General, John Njiraini, said that the Tax Authority, is looking forward to the speedy ratification of the agreement.

The signing of the crucial agreement, by the Kenyan Ambassador to France, Ms Salma Ahmed, in the presence of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Deputy Secretary General, Douglas Frantz, makes Kenya the 94th jurisdiction to

join the most powerful multilateral instrument against offshore tax evasion and avoidance.

The country, he said, has already made tremendous progress in strengthening local capacity

for addressing international tax avoidance.Such progress, he noted, includes KRA’s recent establishment of a formal structure to address International Tax Avoidance and to support tax information

exchange with other signatories of the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in tax matters. Njiraini said that the recent enactment of Tax Procedures Bill into law, now demonstrates the

Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General, John Njiraini who addressed the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, Steering Group Meeting in Paris.

Konza Technology city expected launch sparks frenzy as SMEs jostle for space The launch of the multi-billion-shilling Konza Techno City project dubbed Africa Silicon Savannah has sparked an investment frenzy among investors.

The project has had its fair share of challenges with the delay in enactment of a Bill enabling the government to sign contracts with developers.

But now small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have lined up to take space at Konza City as they seek to benefit from tax incentives, tap knowledge from multinational firms and higher learning institutions that will be housed in the 5,000-acre site.

Craft Silicon, Kooba through East Africa Capital Partners (EACP), JamboPay, NaiLab and TechnoBrain are among the firms that have expressed interest for space at Konza.

Craft Silicon is seeking 10-acre of land where it plans to invest Sh1.5 billion. Venture capital fund, EACP, intends to build a Sh1 billion data centre while Koobaand is seeking 2.5 acres.

JamboPay plans to invest Sh450 million.

The tech city will be part of special economic zones set to replace the export processing zones and in the first five years, it is expected to create more than 17,000 jobs.

EACP chief executive Richard Bell said the classification of Konza as a special economic zone, its location near the national power grid and the geographical location are some of the reasons why the company is interested in Konza city.

“We plan to invest Sh1 billion. Konza is situated near the national power grid which means we will have quality provision of

electricity that is a key requirement in data centre operation,” said Bell.

Kamal Budhabhatti, Craft Silicon founder and chief executive, said setting up at Konza would enable his firm and other SMEs to benefit from the proposed tax exemption.

Craft Silicon plans to relocate its headquarters from Nairobi’s Waiyaki Way. “We have applied to get about 10 acres of land right at the border, where we will set up a development and research centre. We have budgeted about Sh1.5 billion over a period of three years in terms of the infrastructure,” said Mr Budhabhatti.multi-billion

Craft Silicon is a trailblazer in Internet banking software, providing solutions for core banking, microfinance and electronic and mobile payments in almost 40 countries in four continents.

It is also one of the largest software providers in Africa. More than 80 per cent of software exported from Kenya comes from Craft Silicon.

JamboPay, an innovative electronic payments services provider based in Kenya with operations in Uganda and Tanzania, is also looking to tap the talent pool at the Konza city. wilson_x254

An artistic impression of the Konza Techno City dubbed ‘Africa Silicon Savannah.’

seriousness with which Kenya takes international tax avoidance.The new law (Tax Procedures Act) imposes stiff penalties for engagement in international tax avoidance schemes.

The penalty imposed can be as high as double the tax avoided.

Such a stiff penalty, Njiraini explained, reflects Kenya’s desire to stamp out retrogressive practices, which multinational operators use to avoid paying their fair share of tax.“At the end of the day, we do not see that there is any significant difference between straight tax evasion and abusive tax avoidance, which works to abnormally lower tax exposure,” he said.

In recent days, Kenya’s strengthened capacity has also enabled it to offer regional leadership on the recently concluded phase of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project.

The Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, was developed jointly by the OECD and the Council of Europe in 1988. kevin_x254

KQ apply breaks on Douala flights over airport closure Kenya Airways has cancelled all flights to Douala Cameroon from March 1 to 21 due to closure of the international airport for repairs.

The national carrier said in a statement that its fights to Douala via the Central African Republic, which had been scheduled for Tuesday and Saturday, will now terminate in Bangui.

“Authorities in Cameroon issued a NOTAM ( Notice to Airmen) announcing the closure of the airport for repairs between March 1 and March 21,” Kenya Airways said in a statement issued in Nairobi yesterday.

The six flights Kenya Airways has to Douala per week scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday via Douala culminating in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport will now be direct to Yaoundé.

According to the national carrier, passengers who had already booked to travel on the affected days will be rebooked on a new schedule and notified by the customer relations team.

The changes comes as the Kenya Airway’s subsidiary Jambojet celebrates flying its millions customer attributing it to county executive and leisure travel to the coastal region since its inception two years ago. enock_x254

BUSINESS 7

Sh15b needed for El Nino disasters as cholera, malnutrition hit region THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Kenya and its regional counterparts will require roughly Sh15.7 billion to address El Nino-related disasters, a report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has said.

Across eastern and southern Africa, millions of children are at risk from malnutrition, hunger, water shortages and disease, Unicef warned yesterday.

The fund said two years of erratic rain and drought combined with one of the most powerful El Niño events in the past 50 years had contributed to recent crises across the continent.

In Kenya, El Niño-related heavy

rains and floods are aggravating cholera outbreaks across the country.

Unicef is, therefore, appealing for roughly $155 million (Sh15.7 billion) in humanitarian aid to help El Nino affected countries across the region The situation is being aggravated by rising food prices, which are forcing families to implement drastic coping mechanisms such as skipping meals and selling off assets, resulting in almost 1 million children being in need of treatment for severe acute malnutrition in the region, Leila Gharagozloo-Pakkala, Unicef Regional Director for Eastern and

M-Kopa CEO, Jesse Moore takes Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore through the newly launched M-Kopa 400 20W home solar system with the first solar-powered digital flat screen TV.

M-KOPA launches Solarpowered digital TV set Green energy financier M-KOPA has launched its first solar-powered digital flat screen TV targeting low income customers in areas with no access to the national electricity grid.

The move by the solar energy provider seeks to help millions of Kenyans achieve their dream of TV ownership as it upgrades its best performing customers to make M-KOPA+TV available to tens of thousands before the end of the year.

The new M-KOPA 400, has the capacity to produce 20W solar home system, comes along with a 20W PV panel, a 16” digital TV, two lights, a torch, a phone charger, and a radio and is available for a deposit plus a year of daily payments of Sh 125.

According to the Kenya Audience Research Foundation 2015 establishment data, TV only reaches 31 per cent of the adult population on a daily basis leaving 69 per cent in total darkness.

M-KOPA’s own customer research shows that over 80 per cent of M-KOPA customers are interested in acquiring solar TV, with the primary reason being so that their families can learn more

about the evolving world.

“Owning a TV is lifechanging for our off-grid customers. Many of them have traditionally had to pay to watch in a café or bar, or missed out on news and current events because they could not afford to be connected to information,’’ Jesse Moore, CEO at M-KOPA said.

Adding: ‘’We are now going beyond the grid to offer TV to homes all over Kenya.

It’s great for the family to be able to watch together in the comfort and safety of their home.”

Customers who have finished paying off their M-KOPA payment plans will now extend their Sh 50 per day payment plan to upgrade to the “M-KOPA + TV” system.

Customers with good credit standing with M-KOPA will receive a phone call or SMS to advise them when they become eligible to upgrade.

After completing the 2-year payment plan, customers own the television and solar power system outright will then enjoy viewing without any ongoing bills.

With Sh 50 per day customers will be able to turn dirty fossil fuel into a renewable digital enock_x254 home.

Southern Africa said yesterday.

“The El Niño weather phenomenon will wane, but the cost to children, many who were already living handto-mouth, will be felt for years to come,” she warned.

Releasing its latest briefing on the impact of El Niño on children in the region, Unicef said Lesotho, Zimbabwe and most provinces in South Africa have declared a state of disaster in the face of growing resource shortages. In Ethiopia, the number of people in need of food assistance is expected to increase from more than 10 million to 18

million by the end of the year.

UNICEF also noted that, in Ethiopia, two seasons of failed rains mean that nearly 6 million children currently require food assistance, with school absenteeism increasing as children are forced to walk greater distances in search of water.

In Somalia, more than two thirds of those in urgent need of assistance are displaced populations, while in Kenya, El Niño-related heavy rains and floods are aggravating cholera outbreaks.

Meanwhile, in Lesotho, one quarter of the population is affected. This

aggravates grave circumstances for a country in which 34 per cent of children are orphans, 57 per cent of people live below the poverty line, and almost one in four adults live with HIV/AIDS. In Zimbabwe, an estimated 2.8 million people are facing food and nutrition insecurity. The drought situation has resulted in reduced water yields from the few functioning boreholes exacerbating the risk to water-borne diseases, especially diarrhoea and cholera.

Dennis_x254

8

BUSINESS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Growing incomes boost growth of retail sector Rising levels of urbanization and disposable income have continued to fuel the growth of Kenya’s retail sector giving the industry the second-highest penetration rate in the region.

Kenya’s formal retail penetration rate, which ranges from 30 per cent to 40 percent, is the second highest in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the latest report from the Oxford Business Group (OBG).

This, estimates the Group, places Kenya at roughly half the level of South Africa, where formal retail is estimated to stand at 60 per cent of overall activity.

The report shows that the rising levels of urbanization and disposable income will continue to fuel growth in Kenya’s retail sector in 2016 and beyond.

“Demand for quality outlets and a

broader range of shopping options drives the construction of floor space,” says the report.

The Oxford Business Group, which is a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, has stated that the average value of consumer spending has risen by as much as 67 per cent, making Kenya the continent’s fastestgrowing retail market.

This has been led by large blue-chip domestic companies in a number of segments, which will continue to expand and diversify as more international brands enter the marketplace.

Though most of Kenya’s formal retail capacity is concentrated in central Nairobi and Mombasa, there has been growing development of formal space

in cities such as Kisumu and Eldoret in recent years.

The potential of other cities to meet the same levels of development is being driven in large part by the devolution process, which has led to higher incomes in counties outside the capital.

Kisumu, Kenya’s third-largest city, has see the development of three new shopping malls opened in the twelve months to November 2015, bringing the total in the city to seven. One of the three new centres, the 27,000 squaremeter Lake Basin Mall, was developed at a cost of Sh2.5 Billion and now stands as the largest mall in the region.

Similar projects pegged on the growth and expansion of Kenya’s middle–class are evident in places such as Ruaka, Kiambu, Kieran and Kitengela.

Home management made easy with boosted Nubryte Flex The NuBryte Flex is an expansion of the NuBryte Touchpoint network, ideal for secondary or lesser-used rooms.

The simplified device enables the NuBryte Touchpoint smart features throughout a home at a more affordable price. These features include sensors that detect temperature, humidity, energy usage, as well as motion detectors, which expands security coverage in the home, with a more traditional light switch styling.

The NuBryte Flex fits into single gang, double gang, triple gang, and four gang light switch terminals, is Wi-Fi equipped, and can be accessed and controlled from any NuBryte Touchpoint or remotely, through the product’s mobile app, so users can easily monitor and maintain their home from anywhere.

It’s a Complete Smart Home Solution, all in one!

NuBryte is a complete smart home solution, in one single platform. No need to purchase and install dozens of different, single-function gadgets that may or may not all work together.

It Brings Smart to Any Home.

This gadget is a winner due to the fact that loved the fact that there is no additional wiring that has to be done in your home. If your house has a light switch*, it can go smart with NuBryte!

To install it, one simply replaces their home’s current light switch (es) with NuBryte – and are set to experience the nubryte brilliance.

Affordable Home Automation.

More than often, people that home automation is an expensive affair. Well, here is a surprise.

With all the many smart home features that NuBryte brings, it’s quite affordable. The featurepacked NuBryte is on sale at only$199 (sh.19,900) for a single switch Touchpoint, and $229 (sh. 22900) for a double switch Touchpoint, it’s easier than ever to have smart lighting, subscription-free home security, and family management tools in your home.

You may however not need a NuBryte Touchpoint in every room, so with Flex, you can extend many of the same NuBryte features – making a whole home solution even more affordable.

Kevin_x254

An artistic impression of the Sh2.5 billion Lake Basin Mall in Kisumu. The potential of other cities to meet the same levels of development is being driven in large part by the devolution.

Islamic finance laws KRA crackdown unearths fresh containers to be set, says Githu loaded with contraband at Mombasa port

Ongoing investigations at container freight stations in Mombasa by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have unearthed several containers loaded with contraband.

Investigators at Autoport Container Freight Station (CFS), which was ordered closed last month, have discovered a fresh list of cargo containers loaded with imported sugar and ethanol products.

The investigators, who have been undertaking a multi-agency verification exercise on all containers currently held at Autoport and Portside CFS’ among others, have unearthed a further 20-containers of contraband sugar, imported from Brazil.

The sugar consignment, which was discovered at Autoport CFS, had been mis-declared as floor sanding machines and related hardware tools that have an estimated tax value of Sh36million. The verification, has

also stumbled upon a single 40 foot container suspected to contain 135 drums of a liquid product suspected to be ethanol of an estimated tax value of Sh11 million.

Speaking, when he confirmed the discovery, KRA Commissioner Customs & Border Control, Mr. Julius Musyoki, said the consignment would be subjected to further assessments.

Once formally confirmed to be holding contraband items, Musyoki, said the consignments will be forfeited to the State for destruction.

Such destruction, Musyoki said, should serve as a stern warning to unscrupulous traders engaging in contraband commodities trade.

“We are also in pursuit of the listed importers, for whom we shall be seeking to arraign in court,” Musyoki said.

“The contents of this containers,

will also be destroyed as part of our measures to curb this practice. KRA, will not relent on this front, as we strive to guarantee revenue collection and national security,” he added.

In recent weeks, KRA has managed to plug potential revenue leakage holes in the lucrative import cargo sector with a raft of new customs procedures.

The new procedures cover the running of existing Container Freight Stations (CFS) under a more stringent and tightly controlled regime. To provide the necessary legal muscle to underpin the new regulations, KRA gazetted the new regulations and procedures governing the operation of transit sheds late last year; in line with the provisions of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, and East African Customs Management Regulations.

Dennis_x254

Kenya is on track to setting up laws and regulations governing its emergent Islamic finance sector, the National Treasury through Attorney General Githu Muigai has revealed. These laws are meant to be put in place as the National Treasury moves to aid the issuance of a new Islamic law-compliant bond known as a ‘sukuk’.

The Treasury has said it is looking at the possibility of issuing the ‘sukuk’ in the 2016/17 fiscal year, starting in July, but has not offered further details. Islamic finance caters for investors who want to follow Islamic rules on avoiding direct payment or earning of interest, which are viewed as usury under Islamic law. African countries have been changing their laws to accommodate Islamic finance in order to benefit from increased investment and trade

flows from the Middle East.

“We want to be able to facilitate the issuance of the bond,” Githu said, adding that the process will be completed in a maximum of nine months. “We are in full flight with the review of that entire regulatory framework,” he said on the sidelines of a conference on Islamic Finance in Nairobi.

Githu said that the state is moving to expand the range of financing available for infrastructure projects like roads and power plants.

“We realize the significance of this market and that is why we need to tap it and tap it fast,” Muigai said, adding that Kenya was vying to be the hub for Islamic finance in East Africa.

Kenya’s central bank licensed two sharia-compliant banks in 2007. kevin_x254

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

ACCESS topstory

I

Lady Jaydee

n the recent past we have heard incidents more so from Nyeri County that men are being battered, with some having their privates interfered with.

However, the conventional mode of domestic violence is still rife, with more women being battered in comparison to men.

According to data from the Economic Survey, Kenyan Women are nearly four times more likely to suffer from gender-based violence than their male counterparts.

Even so, a debate of whether it is women who provoke the beating is a hot potato with the reasons as to why some men beat their women to death being too hot to handle.

At a debate in Malta 2012, a former leader in the government caused world uproar after suggesting that it is women who provoke men into getting physically abusive with them.

In the US, feminists fried Stephen A. Smith after claiming that it is women who provoke men into physical violence and i t

FASHION scoop

11

Women are nearly four times more likely to suffer from gender based violence than their male counterparts

took Whoopi Goldberg’s intervention to rescue him.

Nonetheless, overtures of having women as catalysts are whispered and manifested in celebrity cases including that of Rihanna and Chris Brown, where Rihanna later admitted to have been provocative.

But what really angers a man to the point of beating his wife to death, especially in the African context where such cruelty is considered taboo?

Control and Entitlement These two are conjoined, and having a woman destabilize the control tendencies of a man can result in excessive aggression, which might at times be physical.

Selfishness and Superiority It is common knowledge that man is naturally selfish, sometimes wanting to have moments alone, and at the same time express superiority. If again these two elements in a man’s consciousness are erased or threatened, physical abuse may suffice.

Possessiveness and Manipulativeness Ownership, characterized by giving dowry, results in having the woman as a property, which then makes the man

Tanzania court okays Lady Jaydee’s divorce Judith Wambura Mbibo aka Lady Jaydee is now officially single. This is after a court granted her divorce request.

Jaydee had filed for divorce in 2014 with claims that her husband cum manager better known as Gardner G. Habash aka ‘Captain’ was a cheat filled with infidelity and drugs intoxication.

GENDER

A debate of whether it is women who provoke the beating is a hot potato with the reasons as to why some men beat their women to death being too hot to handle.

based violence: What makes a man tick?

HOT

hopes to shift blame on others, the woman in such a situation might be seen as part of the blame. Apart from nature, nurture factors may also contribute to a man getting violent with his wife, the main culprits in this case being having being brought up in an abusive or violent family set up.

@duncan_x254

P-Square in Trouble

TOPICS

Steve Mbogo chickens out of Presidential bid The self-proclaimed billionaire Steve Mbogo has chickened out of his presidential aspirations. Mbogo had earlier noted with gusto that he is ready to unseat president Uhuru Kenyatta come 2017. Mbogo is now seeking an MP’s seat in Starehe.

Should Maina Kamanda be worried?

have excessive confidence of possessing and manipulating the woman at will. In some cultures, this can also necessitate physical beating.

Externalization Of Responsibility and Denial Due to the hard economic times, men sometimes get frustrated with the role given to them by the society; fending for their families.

When a misalignment occurs where a man is in denial, and

Mbogo

The ‘Personally’ hit maker brothers Peter and Jude Okoye aka P-Square are in a serious tweef. This is after Peter ranted about his brother’s inconsistencies and lack of focus with his company. Jude’s Northside Ent. which manages the duo is said to lack proper structures. Peter has hit out at Jude calling him a mere ‘attachment’ and warned the public against working with Northside.

P-Square

10

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26th NOVEMBER 18, 20162014

CAMPUSVIBE

all round news and updates from universities

USIU-A to offer an Undergrad in Animation

MOI and JKUAT Universities to Tender Laptops

Moi and JKUAT universities will be responsible for tendering laptops to class one students.

Over 1.2 Million laptops and other devices are expected to cover all the forty-seven counties.

The rollout of the program is expected to deliver 983,271 laptops for children in standard one. It is expected that 2 9 4 , 9 8 1 laptops and 23,951 teacher d i g i t a l devices will be supplied to schools by July.

Daystar Hosts First 2016 Academic Bazara

Students of Daystar University were treated to an academic Baraza where the Head of the academic department and the Dean discussed matters concerning academia.

The discussions also delved into other pressing matters that the students wished to address, which included frustrations from the institution, fear of not graduating due to delay in course delivery and having courses cancelled.

The Baaraza was hosted at the school’s ampithere and was organized by the Students Association.

Soon there will be an Undergraduate Degree in animation in Kenya after USIU-A and France’s college of Animation signed an MOU to have a curriculum developed.

The animation program, which will be offered by USIU-Africa’s School of Science and Technology, seeks to fill a content development gap in Kenya’s film industry and nascent animation sub-sector.

This will also see the gap in animation content production filled, given there is a huge demand for local content and animation is one of the channels to fill the gap.

You can Learn through your smart-phone with Strathmore

Y

our smart phone can help you earn a degree at Strathmore after the University signed a strategic partnership with One University Network.

It simply works like this, your course will be offered via an android app with oversight from Strathmore University faculty and assistance from a network of certified learning coaches. The Strathmore University app will contain all class materials including videos, readings, and

interactive exercises. In addition, students will be provided with an experienced learning coach with subject matter expertise to assist them through completion of the classwork.

After successfully completing the classwork, in order to demonstrate that they have met the rigorous learning standards of Strathmore University, students will be required to complete a supervised final examination at a secure testing center.

hot date

Batman V Superman V Samsung Safaricom

al Internation

The Safaricom International Jazz Festival 2016 will go down this Sunday at the Moi International Sports Centre with the guest performer Branford Marsalis. Tickets go for Sh300 for students and Sh1000 regular. They are available at select Safaricom Shops in Nairobi, The Safaricom Michael Joseph Centre and through M-Ticketing (Dial 1511).

A

s the release of Batman V Superman approaches, reports have emerged that Samsung might have a treat for comic fans in the form of a specialedition Galaxy S7 Edge.

It is reported that the Samsung S7 edition of Batman v Superman will be decked out with wallpaper, ringtone, and a design based on the movie, and they wont stop there: there might be more releases of other special designs of the Galaxy S7 and its curvededge equal including one inspired

by the 2016 Winter Olympics, while another will reportedly be done in collaboration with a popular South Korean singer.

Samsung has yet to confirm or deny the existence of any of these special-edition smartphones, let alone the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge themselves.

Still on the Galaxy S7, a promo video for the smartphone indicates that the S7 may be resistant to water or waterproof altogether.

It just keeps getting better by the day.

11

ACCESS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

@The Grammy awards afTer parTy

FASHIONscoop

Bella Hadid: All black everything.

Allesandra Ambrosio: Super glam.

TOP Love, gossip and conspiracy are the themes of this series characterized mostly by Latina cast members who can get as dramatic as it gets, with the setting based on a plush Hollywood suburb. The show has four seasons as of now and it has managed to gather a loyal following especially from women.

@mercy_x254

The show Goes on The Hollywood community lives by the virtue of ‘the party don’t stop’, which is why earlier this week the glamorous vocal celebrities got together for an after party soon after the 2016 Grammy Awards were concluded.

The pack, led by award winner Taylor Swift headed out to drink to the victory but not before changing from the Grammy gowns into hot and heavy pieces suiting the occasion.

Have a look:

Kacey Musgraves: Light and right.

Hailee Steinfied: Loving the chocker detail.

Miranda t ad Kerr: Re to salsa.

Zendaya: Strapping it up.

shows ThaT are acTually novelas The show is a culmination of comedy, drama and biography which is probably why you might not notice its soap opera appeal despite comprising a vast Latina cast with an ‘out of this world’ story line.

devious maids

Jane The virGin

Despite being played by an African American cast, the show qualifies as a soap opera due to the nature of its storyline: poor girl meets rich girl, exchanges sexual favors with rich girl’s father, gets into cat fights with the rich girls mother with some murder incidents here and there.

The haves and have noTs

12

CLASSIFIED

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

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WEATHERFORECAST

DAILYHOROSCOPES

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 The problems aren’t Earthshaking, but they still need to be handled and could take up a lot of time that you’d rather spend doing something else. Giving in to your frustration could waste more time than simply handling the situation and moving on, however. Try to keep your cool, Aquarius.

recruiting

people of

Contact Admissions Secretary Ngara Arcade, Ngara Road P.O.BOX 31487-00600 Nairobi Email: stedwardshighschool@yahoo.com

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 A part of you could want to sequester yourself somewhere and read, while another part of you feels that you should get out, go somewhere, and do something. You may be more impatient than usual with squabbles between colleagues or family members. Relax with a good book in the evening!

company,

WEDNESday 18/2/2016

sunny

28

27ºC 44%

THURsday 19/2/2016

More sun than clouds

25 6:42 am 6:51pm

25ºC 58%

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 An argument with your partner could have you feeling very disheartened and somewhat depressed today, Pisces. Yet you probably are too shaken up to feel like discussing it with him or her. Spend the day keeping yourself busy and working off your frustration.

6:42 am 6:51 pm

FRIday

25

Fill in the blanks with the numbers 1-9. every row, column and 3x3 box must contain all nine digits with no repeated number.

Yesterday’s Solution

Sudoku

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 There could be some sort of minor physical imbalance or you might be suffering from eyestrain. This could put you a little out of sorts with yourself and everyone else, particularly if you’re stressed about work responsibilities. Avoid computers, if possible, and take time during the day to run or go for a brisk walk.

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Today, Taurus, you might find yourself getting more irritated than you usually would at the quirks of friends, colleagues, partners, and children. At times like this it’s best to remain centered and make the effort to be your usual warm and friendly self.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 However, Gemini, career matters may also be pressing, so you’re likely to be in a bit of a quandary.

At this time, the wisest decision is likely to be to take care of your personal life first. Professional matters will still be waiting for you tomorrow.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 This isn’t likely to be anything serious, Cancer, but it could be enough to put your nose a little out of joint. Changes in your neighborhood might interfere with your daily routine. A neighbor or relative could be ill and you might feel obligated to help them out a little.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 The situation could cause some petty friction with family members, but that will pass. However, you’ll be able to muster all your innate skills and get the money matters handled, which will leave the rest of the day to do what you want. Hang in there.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21 The healing of a temporary rift with your partner is likely to take place today, with a lot of honest communication and more apologies than are necessary. You might find that a lot of issues have come out in the open and that there is a new understanding between the two of you.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 You could find yourself spacing out at times and unable to concentrate on any tasks at hand, so try to stay focused. Some irritating letters or phone calls could come your way, but nothing that you can’t deal with. See an exciting movie tonight.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 You could experience mental blocks that you find difficult to get beyond. Don’t let it get to you. The blocks will pass. Just put the project aside and get back to it later. A phone call from a friend might bring some disconcerting news that could cause you to want to pass it on to others.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 This could cause some inner conflict, and you may have to face a choice. Only you can make that choice, but take care to be objective and take all the facts into consideration. Don’t get yourself all emotionally worked up. This will only exacerbate the situation.

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

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

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PLAY 13

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1. Facts, for short 5. ___ time (ASAP) 9. Crosswise, shipwise 14. Big top noise 15. Horse offspring 16. Breaks in relations 17. 1967 Erma Bombeck best-seller 19. Playing hard ___ 20. Muscle 21. Susan of “All My Children” 23. Little drink 25. Haydn’s homeland 30. “This can’t lose” 33. Online advertising metric (abbr.)

35. Green hazard 36. ____ Up 37. Kind of wave or stroke 39. “Hogwash!”

42. Spot where a cat picks up kittens 43. Rolling Stones ballad 45. Seaweed eaten in Japan 47. Mil. ranks 48. Submissive spouses 52. Gigantic 53. Ancient Chinese dynasty 54. Vampiress 57. On-line bread 61. Temporary pattern of behavior 65. Prudent 67. Lumberjack, e.g.

68. “What ____ for Love” (“A Chorus Line” song)

69. Coal deposit 70. Signs of the future 71. Gestures of approval 72. O’Neill’s “Desire Under the ___” Down 1. Popular accts.

2. “Chicken Little” turndown 3. Young deer 4. Get one’s bearings 5. “No ____, ands or buts” 6. Christmas in Cannes 7. Half of Mork’s farewell 8. Clunker 9. Michelangelo and Monet 10. Thumbnail sketch 11. Three D followers 12. Scarfed down 13. Ariz. zone 18. New wrinkle 22. Billiard stick 24. Breaded entree with melted mozzarella, briefly 26. At that time 27. Yankees and Red Sox, e.g.

28. Prone to bungling 29. She played Endora on “Bewitched” 30. Reflections 31. “Oh ____ can you see...”

32. Go bottoms up 33. Wide divide 34. Numerical prefix 38. Words of advice, perhaps

40. “Ouch!” relative 41. Original “ER” cast member La Salle 44. Accountants, e.g.

46. Harvard and Yale 49. Female gametes 50. Sit tight 51. Completely cover 55. “___ it in a heartbeat!”

56. Fanatical 58. Biblical victim 59. Close with a bang 60. ____ and haws 61. Vietnamese dish with rice noodles 62. Garment border 63. Fill with wonder 64. Legislator (abbr.)

66. Beer buyers’ proofs

Yesterday’s answers

YOURSAY Will Besigye onslaught shake Museveni?

A showdown looms as Ugandans vote in a hotly contested presidential election today pitting the incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) who has been in power for 30 years, against the opposition politicians led by Kizza Besigye.

Museveni came to power when most of the citizenry eligible to vote in the election were not yet born. According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, at least 28 million of the 35 million Ugandans, according to official 2014 census figures, are aged 30 and below.

Largely in Africa and other democracies, Uganda remains one of the countries that is yet to embrace presidential term limits after Museveni orchestrated a change in the Constitution in 2005.

In Uganda, police intimidation has been used to deter the opposition from active politics, a reason that could have catalysed his stay in power for three decades.

Dr Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), never had the opportunity to sell his policies in previous elections as he was constantly in prison on trumped-up charges.

In fact, he lost three elections. His recent arrest

on Monday dampened the hope of a free and fair elections. The other candidate, Amama Mbabazi, has had his fair share of run-ins with the authorities.

But going by the raucous campaigns, it is easy to conclude that Museveni will not have it easy this time round.

After 30 years of one man at the top, opposition rallies are teeming with mammoth crowds hankering for an alternative. The feeling that Uganda is adrift is ever growing.

In my view, countries that hold regular elections, key economic indicators are positive and life is generally better. Democracy reigns.

Museveni is inclined with his ability to keep the nation in stability and order after the civil war.

The electorate who are at a crossroad will have a chance to choose between the perceived stability and change to steer more developments.

It will also be all eyes in Uganda by her neighbours looking for a free and fair election to avert chaos as happened in Burundi.

— Nderitu, Donholm

Retirees best placed to serve in parastatals In a circular dated February 3, 2016 Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua directed Cabinet secretaries not to appoint any public servant to boards of parastatals.

This is because the Constitution provides that a full-time State officer shall not participate in any other gainful employment. This means up to 80 senior civil servants sitting in various boards will be replaced.

About a decade ago, the government came up with a policy that all vacancies in the public sector must be advertised in the media for all eligible Kenyans to have an equal chance of competing for them.

This was meant to convince all and sundry that employment in the public sector is devoid of

nepotism, tribalism and that issues of gender and regional balance must be taken into consideration.

However, sampling through the names of candidates who have at one time or another been shortlisted for whichever vacancy in the last five years or more, one can detect that names of about 100 popular individuals in top careers often appear. Are top jobs in the public sector a preserve of a clique of people?

The government should come up with a policy that reserves short-term renewable jobs such as chairpersons and members of boards for qualified and energetic retirees to tap their experience to grow the organisation.

— Mzungu Mweupe.

NEWS JOB OPPORTUNITy X News, Kenya’s first and largest circulation free newspaper and Kenya’s only Cannes award winner needs brilliant, passionate, young staff to help us win more awards and achieve new firsts.

SportS JournaliSt X News is the news breaking newspaper of Kenya, covering today’s news today. Reporting to the various desk editors, the ideal candidates will demonstrate a passion for news and unbiased approach to its reportage.

Key responsibilities • To seek out and investigate breaking stories.

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• To create and upload news content to digital platforms.

• To online report or real-time blog ‘live’ stories.

• To build contacts in order to maintain a flow of news • To attend press conferences and events that generate stories • To work closely with the news team, photographers and editors; If you fit this description and you want to be part of the most innovative media house in the region, send us your application and a detailed CV to hr@x-news.co.ke with the subject SPORT We are also recruiting a Social media intern.

If interested, send us your application and a detailed CV to hr@x-news.co.ke with the subject INTERN.

note: If you have worked at one of the old fashioned media houses, you will need to impress us that you have the capacity to shape a new tomorrow rather cling to yesteryear.

X News is an equal opportunity employer. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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

14

SPORT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

SPORTS BRIEFS Messi breaks La Liga gaol-scoring record

Lionel Messi became the first player to reach 300 La Liga goals as he scored twice in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Sporting Gijon last night. Barca are six points clear at the top of La Liga table thanks to last night’s win which extending their Spanish record to 31 wins. Messi opened the scoring from just outside the box for goal number 300 but Carlos Castro levelled moments later. The Argentine added his second from a pass by Luis Suarez, who then had a penalty saved before curling home a third goal. On Sunday, Messi missed a chance to write this record and instead opted to roll a penalty into Suarez’s path for the Uruguayan to complete his hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Celta Vigo.

Suarez however did not return the favour in Gijon, and keeper Ivan Cuellar guessed the right way to keep out his penalty kick. Barcelona have now failed to score seven of their 15 directly taken penalties this season. La Liga strugglers Sporting named a weakened team, instead prioritising Saturday’s trip to Real Betis with loan signing Alen Halilovic starting against his parent club. Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is from Gijon and started his career with Sporting. “I’m not very sentimental,” he said. “I come to Gijon every summer and Christmas, so I see my family a lot. But it’s always a pleasure to come to the Molinon, and it’s been a very nice day all round for me.” “It is a privilege to have Messi whoever you are playing against. Suarez’s goal did us a lot of good because it took off some of the pressure.”

Nike drops Pacquiao over stand on gayism

Nike has terminated its relationship with Eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao for his stand on gay relationship. Pacquiao had described homosexuals as “worse than animals” during a TV interview in his native Philippine where he’s campaigning for a Senatorial post. The 37-year-old, later apologised for his comments, but Nike could not hear any of it, when they terminated their relationship. “We find Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent,” said a Nike statement. “Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community.” The sportswear company added: “We no longer have a relationship with Pacquiao.” His original remark was made in a television interview and he initially appeared unrepentant, writing on Instagram that he was “just telling the truth of what the Bible says”. In his now much published comment, Pacquiao said: ‹It›s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? The born again Christina boxer-cum-politician added: ‘Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female. If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals.’ However, he later wrote on Facebook he was «not condemning LGBT», while still voicing his opposition for gay marriage. “I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me,” he wrote on his Facebook Page.

Kenya Motor Sports Federation has been handed another Sh45 million to prepare for the new rally season which kicks off later in the month amid claims of corruption among top directors.

KMSF gets Sh45 for rally season amid graft claims Kenya Commercial Bank Group has given Sh45 million to the National Rally championship ahead of season kick-off despite corruption allegation against Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) top directors.

Investigation into under-dealings at the motorsport Federation are underway after millions of shilling meant to develop the sport were allegedly paid to some top directors.

Despite graft allegations, KCB, the sponsor of the Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC) committed more money ahead of the season opener on February 27.

Interestingly, the millions of shillings will be bestowed on KMSF to run the next eight rally series for this year across selected counties in the country.

The first leg of KCB KNRC will be headed to the Plains and hills of Kajiado County in what will arguably be a sensational season starter for the national rally season.

“We are committed to continued investments

in supporting sports in the country and beyond in our resolve to nurture and develop talent to compete at national and international realms,” said Angela Mwirigi, KCB marketing director said during the cheque hand over.

According to KMSC, the organiser of the KCB Kajiado Rally, the scrutineering stage will be at the Shell petrol station along Waiyaki Way on February 26. The flag-off will be at KCB Kajiado branch on February 27 and the prize giving will be at the AIC Primary School, Kajiado, in the evening.

The Kajiado Rally is expected to be a tough one for drivers considering the rally route is relatively new to most drivers.

Organizers have focused on new routes that the drivers will be informed about once the official time for drivers’ reconnaissance is designated.

Approximately 50 rally cars will be flagged off for this year’s KCB Kajiado Rally.

Several top drivers are raring to go in this year’s KNRC series. Leading in the list of contenders

is tehAfrica Rally Championships (ARC) and KNRC champion Jaspreet Chatthe. . “To be very honest it will be a different strategy in 2016. On the continent front we will be targeting a few events on this side of Africa which is Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda but not Zambia, South Africa and of course Ivory Coast, ”, said Chatthe.

Chatthe will drive a lighter machine this season having already converted his Mitsubishi Evo X from group N to an R4 he used last season.

The KNRC 2W champions Leonardo Varese and Navigator Mwangi Kaigwa are ready to challenge their arch rivals the Eric Bengi team.

This year the KCB Rally tracking has been improved by the inclusion of mobile technology. The Mobile application will make it easier for rally enthusiasts to track and monitor their favorite rally drivers and navigators through their mobile phones. @elvince_x254

KVF split on Agala, Wanja recall after loss to Egypt Opinion are divided at Kenyan Volleyball Federation (KVF) whether to recall back experienced trio of Praxcides Agala, Janet Wanja and Esther Wangeci ahead of the final phase of Olympics qualifiers in March.

Head coach Japheth Munala, who missed the chance to qualify to Rio at the continental stage after losing to Egypt, hinted of a possible recall of the trio who were dropped because ‘they are old’.

His opinion was however rubbished by KVF technical director David Lung’aho who is also the Team Manager to the side.

Munala, who arrived back in the country yesterday said the door is not shut for the trio whose absence were greatly felt in Cameroon, but Lung’aho who was sacked from the seat about three months ago before being promoted to the Technical Director position said the new call ups played well,” and should be maintained in the squad.

The comments give a hint of what could be going on in the team that barely six months ago was a giant slayer.

After the loss, there were talks that that internal wars within the technical bench could have played a part with sources within the

team saying the coach doesn’t have free hands in picking his preferred squad.

KVF executive will have a meeting this Saturday to decide whether Kenya will take part in the last phase of qualifiers, the intercontinental qualifiers in March.

Only one team from this stage will join the already qualified host Brazil, North America representative, USA, Russia (Europe), Argentina (South America), Cameroon, (Africa), Serbiaand China.

Malkia Striker player Janet Wanja reacts during a past match. Her exclusion together with others has been linked to the poor performance of the volleyball team during the Olympic qualification games in Cameroon.

@elvince_x254

Ronaldo fires Real Madrid to deserved win over Roma

Real Madrid took a big step towards the Champions League quarter-finals with 2-0 victory at Roma in the first leg of their last-16 tie last night.

Christiano Ronaldo and substitute Jesse struck Real’s goals in the in the second to hand new coach Zinedine Zidane a deserved victory going into the return leg.

Roma had their chances, particularly on the counter, with Edin Dzeko hitting the side-netting however, Jese’s low drive late on leaves Roma with it all to do in the second leg. A goal will perhaps have been especially sweet for Ronaldo, who had walked out of a news conference on Tuesday after being questioned about his record in away matches this season.

He had not netted away from the Bernabeu since 29 November and, although he was quiet for large periods of Wednesday’s game, a clever bit of skill produced the breakthrough.

Chasing on to a long pass, Ronaldo took one touch to bring the ball under control and gave himself a sight of goal before firing into the top corner, with his effort taking a nick off Roma skipper Alessandro Florenzi.

The 31-year-old could

have had more after that, notably heading just wide of the far post, but the strike means he now has five away goals in the Champions League this season; more than any other player. The appointment of Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid head coach may have been a bit of a surprise but the Frenchman has made a good start, winning five and drawing one of his six league games so far.

Zidane had plenty of experience of the Champions League as a player, famously scoring a stunning winner for Real against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 final, but this match represented his first experience of the competition as a manager.

With leaders Barcelona seven points ahead of Real in La Liga, coupled with their expulsion from Copa del Rey, the Champions League is increasingly becoming the only competition Real have a chance of winning.

Real have historically struggled against Italian sides, having not knocked one out of a European competition in 29 years, but coach Zinedine Zidane outlined his desire to secure an away goal by naming an attacking

side that included Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez, with the injured Gareth Bale remaining in Madrid. In the first half, the Spanish side’s play was industrious rather than fluid, but Ronaldo’s goal caused the game to open up and Real had further chances to add to their lead with the Portuguese and Benzema going close.

As Roma pushed forward and chased an equaliser, Jese charged at a tiring defence to grab a second that should be enough to see Real through.

Roma scraped into the last 16 after winning just one of their group stage matches and were beaten 6-1 by Barcelona in the process.

Real Madrid, in contrast, won five of their six group games, scoring 19 goals.

However, the Italians had a good game plan against Real - soaking up the pressure and hitting them on the counter - and until Ronaldo scored it was an effective tactic, with the pace of former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah causing Real plenty of problems.

They also had a strong claim for a penalty when Dani Carvajal went in strongly on Florenzi inside the area, but nothing was given. With a little more luck, the result could have been different.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with team mate Sergio Ramos and Coach Zinedine Zidane after scoring his team’s first goal against Roma in their Uefa Champions League round of 16 first leg tie at the Olimpico Stadium in Rome last night.

PHOTO/P CLAUDIO/EPA

SPORT 15 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016 | www.254.co

Ronaldo, jesse on taRget in Real madRid’s 2-0 win oveR Roma

p15 Michael Olunga during an interview at Tele2 Arena, the home of Djurgardens FC in Stockholm, Sweden. He has signed a four year contract with the Swedish top flight club.

Olunga signs four-year deal in Sweden

K

enya international Michael Olunga has formally signed a four year deal with Swedish top division side Djurgarden after an impressive month-long trial.

The 21-year-old former Gor Mahia striker has been undergoing trials with the club during which he has scored in two of three friendly matches he has played, coming on as a substitute in all occasions.

“Yes I have signed 4years deal,” said Olunga who termed the contract a good one.

“He’s very ambitious and purposeful, he trains hard and always wants to learn and take the next step,” the club’s sporting director Bosse Andersson said.

“The development potential is huge so with the peace and quiet of our Djurgården environment he can develop into a striker able to play in the biggest leagues in Europe. He has an extreme ability to score and we are very happy he has impressed us.”

“That’s Michael’s own ambitions and he has the characteristics required for it.”

Olunga, whose nickname is Engineer due to his university studies as well as his football talents, admits he can be a slow starter.

“In the beginning I have to get going, but once I get started I tend to get on a roll with my scoring,” he told the club’s website.

“So far I have only played friendlies but it feels like a good level. Olunga who was last season loaned to Gor Mahia by liberty Academy feels his new club will put him on the map for bigger European teams to notice his talent.

Only last year, he had asked Arsenal to sign him in a published video to manager Arsene Wenger.

“Everything is very well organized and the quality of the training camp has been very good. It feels like it’s a good springboard to the big European leagues,” he added.

Although the contents of the deal are not yet clear, initial reports indicate the deal is worth Sh11 million per year.

Djugarden will pay Liberty an initial Sh 8.5 million with add ons as the player progresses.

Before he left for Sweden last month, Olunga had vowed to prove himself at the club.

He was last year voted Kenyan Premier League’s most valuable player in a season in which he scored 19 league goals for club and a further 10 for the national team. @peter_x254

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