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WEDNESday, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 | www.x254.co

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Governors fight for increased county allocation County chiefs have accused the treasury of sidelining them in deliberations on estimates Earlier presented to senators, vow to take their own for consideration

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NEWS

Kenya to set up anti-doping center in nairobi, says sports cs hassan wario

FKF poll losers challenge Okumbi’s appointment as stars head coach

You belong to Kamiti, Duale tells Waiguru L

Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru. RIGHT: National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.

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eader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale has hit back at former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru accusing her of trying to get a ‘human shield’ to cover up her corrupt dealings.

Ms Waiguru yesterday filed an affidavit in which she named Duale who is also the Garissa Town MP alongside Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Deputy President William Ruto’s personal assistant Faouk Kibet as people who tried to influence the payment of millions of shillings in fishy deals at the National Youth Service (NYS).

But in a rejoinder today, Duale accused Waiguru of trying to divert attention from Josephine Kabura’s affidavit which blamed her for the whole saga.

As such, he said Waiguru is corrupt and should be already suffering in prison.

“I want to tell Waiguru that she can run, looking for human shield like Duale but your place is in Kamiti,” Duale said at a press conference at Parliament Buildings today.

The Majority Leader who addressed journalists alone, unlike on previous occasions where Jubilee MPs have often flanked him, said “they gave Waiguru a job and sacked her because she’s corrupt.”

“Waiguru is a small person. We gave her a job and sacked her because she is corrupt. She should go and suffer in the corridors of courts,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

AG dowplays fears of gender crisis in 2017

Attorney general prof Githu Muigai speaks at the Panafric Hotel in Nairobi today during a workshop on Gender Rule. He downplayed fears by the Gender Commission of a constitutional crisis come 2017.

Duale hits back at Waiguru as NYS scandal gets dirtier From Page 1

In her affidavit, Waiguru who stepped down from her docket in November accused Duale of calling NYS Deputy Director General Aden Harakhe during investigations into the scandal to intimidate him.

Waiguru said on June 18 last year, Duale texted and called Harakhe advising him that he required political support and that leaders from his region came from United Republican Party (URP).

“I played no role whatsoever in the fraudulent activities at the NYS, but have become a convenient scapegoat. During my tenure as the Cabinet Secretary, I did all within my powers to ensure observance of the requisite laws,” she says.

However, Duale says the former CS is trying to introduce petty politics to rock Jubilee.

“Anne Waiguru should provide any iota of evidence to the investigative authorities and I will respond. Let her not drag people’s names and introduce nonexistent petty politics,” he said in a tweet yesterday before adding today that “the Jubilee boat is very intact and we’ll not allow corrupt individuals like Waiguru to rock it.”

He said Waiguru has touched a ‘live wire’ and that he is ready to deal with it.

“Anne Waiguru should stop this theatrics and carry her own cross. When the reports by PAC on Huduma Centre are out, she will be mentioning many names including that of Jesus.

Waiguru has touched a live wire. I will go for her. I have taken a sabbatical leave from Cord and Kericho,” he added. sam_x254

Attorney General Githu Muigai has downplayed fears by National Gender and Equality commission (NGEC) that the country may face a constitutional crisis, if Parliaments fails to enact the two-thirds gender rule.

The AG said the government has put in place sufficient mechanism to realise the gender parity ahead of the 2017 General Election.

Addressing a stakeholders’ forum convened this morning at a Nairobi hotel by National Gender and election Dialogue forum dubbed ‘securing the space for women’s’ participation in governance a head of the 2017 polls”, Githu revealed that his office had already submitted to the National Assembly a constitutional amendment bill drafted by a technical working group, that if passed will see more than two-thirds of elected and appointed leaders are from the each gender.

“We have various discussion at different levels on how we will realise the gender parity as envisaged in the Constitution; I believe the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2015 will resolve the puzzle on how to achieve the constitutional twothirds Gender Principle in both Parliament and the Senate,” said Githu.

The bill which was tabled last year in Parliament, proposes to amend section 97 and 98 of the Constitution to ensure the National Assembly and the Senate comply with the parity rule by reserving special seats for political parties represented in Parliament.

Further, the draft bill proposes a sunset clause that gives a period of 20 years within which

Parliament is expected to have complied with the principle under Article 27 of the Constitution.

The bill has since received backing from the National Gender and Equality Commission, civil societies and women parliamentarians, calling for its immediate passage as it sets a deadline for Parliament to realise gender parity.

However, the AG said while there was a number of proposals by various actors to amend the Constitution to address the two-thirds gender principle, he proposed to the stakeholders to build consensus to formulate the best methodology to realise the same.

“I know we got some other two bills pending before the House including the one developed by the Kenya Women Parliamentarians (KEWOPA), the other fronted by Chairperson of Legislative Committee Samuel Chepkonga and some other initiatives such as Punguza Mzigo, we need to have consensus and get the matter solved fast before the next elections,” he said.

On the other hand, NGEC chairperson Winfred Lichuma urged male legislators to actively participate in the push for the gender rule realisation.

“We are calling for more male involvement for us to be able discuss and implement the gender rule,” said Lichuma.

She advised that civic education should be carried out to dispel the cultural and traditional beliefs so as to affirm that women too are leaders like their male counterparts. hillary_x254

1.5bn set aside to end county border rows The National government has moved in to end territorial wars among counties that have been sparked by control of revenue collection in border towns and mineral resources.

While issuing title deeds to squatters in Nyeri yesterday, Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said the government will spend Sh1.5 billion for fresh demarcation of county boundaries in an attempt to arrest the growing number of disputes across various counties.

He said the funding was necessary to finance surveying, inspection, reaffirming and maintaining of national and international boundaries.

“We are glad our budgetary proposal for national and international boundaries of Sh1.5 billion for the 2016/2017 Financial Year has been approved. It will used to resolve boundary disputes especially those breeding tension among counties,” said Kaimenyi.

The government will put up visible landmarks including beacons, road signs and other

conspicuous symbols such as signposts at county boundaries after the survey.

He cited boundary fights in counties such as Meru, Isiolo, Kericho, Kisii, Nyamira, Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado where border controls are sparked by battle for resources like minerals and revenue collection at busy border towns.

Makueni, Kajiado and Machakos counties claim ownership of the multi-billion shilling Konza City project land. The highlypoliticised fight between the counties has contributed in delaying the Vision 2030 project.

Elsewhere, Meru Governor Peter Munya is also caught up in a row with his Isiolo counterpart Godana Doyo over claims of encroachment. The dispute recently degenerated into an armed conflict.

Kericho and Kisii residents have also been fighting over borders along tea plantations with each party arguing that the other has encroached on their land.

Kisii and Nyamira counties have both laid claim to Keroka, a busy

and famous township located on the Kisii-Narok Highway.

The Senate recently discovered disparities between the Districts and Provinces Act of 1992 and the Ministry of Land maps demarcating boundaries of some of the counties.

This prompted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ask Parliament to establish an independent commission to address the boundary fights.

Kenya is also locked in a border dispute with Uganda, South Sudan and Somali whose row is before the UN court.

Alarmed by the grave implications of the move by its war-torn neighbours, the government has reopened negotiations with Somalia and Uganda over their claim to a huge maritime territory considered rich in oil deposits and fish, which the ministry of Foreign Affairs says could effectively turn Kenya into a landlocked country. wilson_x254

NEWS 3 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Governors demand Sh900m for health

Council of Governors chair and Meru Governor Peter Munya speaks at Delta House, Nairobi during a past function He has said the Ministry of Health owes counties close to Sh7.2 billion for free maternity services.

County chiefs to table separate budget estimates to senators Governors were expected to present their estimates of county allocations to the Senate today as they criticized the National Treasury for sidelining them.

The senate’s Financial Committee was set to discuss the county allocations presented to them last week by Treasury.

But Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya accused Treasury for acting in bad faith by presenting to the Senate estimates that were not jointly agreed upon.

He said during the National and County Government Coordinating Summit held at Sagana Lodge chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, they agreed to form a committee to come up with agreeable figure.

The committee comprising Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, representatives of governors, Commission on Revenue Allocation and Controller of Budget, was set up on the recommendation of the President to try and unlock the impasse.

“As governors we were surprised to learn from the media that Treasury has already presented the estimates to the Senate without our input, this was in bad faith and only meant to derail gains of devolution at the County level,” Munya said.

The Meru Governor said the county chiefs cannot do anything at the moment as the process is now a parliamentary process.

“The negotiations has now moved to the next level, it’s a parliamentary process and we urge the Senate to help us get a fair share of the revenue,” Munya said.

However Nominated Senator Zipporah Kittony, who chaired the joint committee, urged the Council of Governors to

present their estimates and it will be considered alongside that presented by the Treasury.

“I want to assure you that time is not barred, kindly provide us with your estimates and it will be discussed by the Finance committee on Thursday before a final figure is reached,” she said.

Munya said the reduction of budget from 33 per cent to 30 per cent in the 2016/17 financial year was only meant to taint County governments as incapable of performing.

Last week, the Division of Revenue Bill proposed that Sh302 billion be allocated to the counties, an increase from Sh294 billion last year.

Munya was accompanied Wyckliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Paul Chepkwony (Kericho) and Julius Malombe (Kitui) Wajir Senator Abdirahman Ali Hassan accused the national government of playing lip service on matters of devolution.

“It’s unfortunate that the National government keeps playing lip service on matters of devolution. Everything done by either the National government or the County government is for the benefit of the public and, therefore, both levels of government need to have a conversation and agree on a figure,” said Hassan.

The Wajir Senator who is also a member of the Health committee assured governors that recommendations can still be done on the estimates presented by the Treasury to the senate last week.

“It’s not all done we can still make recommendations just bring us your estimates for consideration,” Hassan said.

A total of Sh900 million meant for the health sector is still being held by the National government despite the function being 90 per cent devolved.

Council of Governors Health committee chairman Jack Ranguma (Kisumu) yesterday told a joint Health and Transport Committee of the Senate that the move has hampered delivery of health services

by County governments.

“How does the National government expects us to provide quality healthcare if they devolve the function but retain the money? This situation is frustrating us,” said Ranguma.

His Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya, who is the Council of Governors (CoG) chairman in charge of Finance said most of the health functions carried out by the National government is mostly funded by donors yet the National government still holds on to funds allocated to counties.

Oparanya said the implementation of the free maternity is now daunting task to the County Governments as there is no money to maintain it.

“The number of patients keep on increasing at the county hospitals yet the facilities remain the same and there is no money

to maintain them, then governors will be branded as failures. This is the kind of problem we are facing and we need your help as the Senate,” Oparanya said.

Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya said the Health ministry owes counties close to Sh7.2 billion for free maternity.

Munya said for effective delivery of free maternity services by the County Governments, the disbursement of funds should be done directly to counties and not to the Ministry as it is currently.

“This money should come to us directly without passing through the Ministry of Health. It is a violation of the Constitution for the National Treasury to give counties money through ministries,” Munya said.

He told the Health committee to persuade their colleagues in the Senate to push the government to release funds meant for Health. “The reality is 90 per cent of the health function is devolved but it is sad that the National government keeps more than 50 per cent of the money allocated to the health sector yet it only controls 10 per cent. We urge you to help solve this impasse,” Munya said. @wilson_x254

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NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

NEWS BRIEF

Burundi to release 2, 000 prisoners Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has said he will release 2,000 prisoners detained since protests broke out against his rule in April. He made the announcement following talks with UN chief Ban Ki-moon in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura. Mr Ban’s visit was the latest in a series of diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the unrest. South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma and four other African leaders are due to visit Burundi tomorrow in further attempts at ending the unrest. Mr Ban said Mr Nkurunziza’s promise to release the prisoners was “an encouraging step”. Mr Nkurunziza had also given him an assurance that he would hold “inclusive dialogue” with the opposition, Mr Ban said. “Burundi’s political leaders must be ready to summon the courage and the confidence that will make a credible political process possible,” the UN chief added.

South Africa jails Czech mafia to 35yrs A South African court has sentenced a Czech businessman to 35 years in jail for attempted murder and kidnapping.

The charges against Radovan Krejcir, seen as the kingpin of Johannesburg’s criminal underworld, date back to a drug deal in 2013. He was accused of ordering the kidnapping a man whose brother had disappeared with 25kg of crystal meth. The man testified that Krejcir poured boiling water over his head. Krejcir seems to be synonymous with drama, having tried to escape from custody a number of times, says the BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg. Months prior his arrest in 2013, he made local and international headlines when he survived an attempt to kill him using guns hidden behind a car number plate operated by remote control.

Passenger plane goes missing in Nepal A small Tara Air plane carrying 21 people has gone missing in a mountainous region of Nepal, the airline’s media manager said. The Twin Otter plane took off from the city of Pokhara on Wednesday morning and was scheduled to land in the town of Jomsom, Tara Air media manager Bhim Rai said. The total flight time was supposed to be 19 minutes, but contact was lost eight minutes after takeoff. Eighteen passengers, including two foreigners, and three crew members were on the plane, Rai said. An army helicopter and two private helicopters have been deployed in the search.

Donald Trump wins big in Nevada Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has easily won the US state of Nevada icementing his lead in the race for the party’s nomination.

Trump who had been projected to win the vote garnered 45 percent compared to his rival Marco Rubio who came second with just 24 percent.

Victory in the western state sealed Mr Trump’s lead after consecutive wins in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Party officials said they were looking into reports of double voting and not enough ballots at one caucus site.

Some volunteers also wore clothing in support of Mr Trump, but officials said this was not against the rules.

Nevada, typically a swing state with a substantial Latino population, is crucial to the election process.

Hillary Clinton won the state on Saturday in the Democratic race.

Correspondents however say voting was poorly organized with delays, long queues, people not knowing where to vote and poor ballot security characterizing the process.

They however say theere were no visible signs of voting irregularities.

The Nevada Republican Party said there had been “no official reports of voting irregularities or violations”.

A Republican National Committee spokesman told Associated Press said reports of double voting were concerning.

Some 30 delegates - more than 1% of the total - are up for grabs in the Nevada caucuses, the first

Republican’s Donald Trump addresses supporters at South Point Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday. He has eased to victory in the nevada primaries winning 45 percent of the votes. PHOTO: MIKE NELSON/EPA

Republican test in the west of the United States.

For the Democrats, Mrs Clinton beat rival Bernie Sanders by five percentage points, and both candidates are now focusing their campaigns on the black vote in South Carolina, where the next Democratic vote takes place on Saturday. The aim of the primary and caucus races in the coming months is to determine which candidates will stand for the two main parties in the November presidential election.

The next Democratic and Republican votes will be crucial ahead of the “Super Tuesday” round on 1 March - when about a dozen states choose their party

candidates, with about a quarter of all nominating delegates up for grabs. Donald Trump has consistently polled high in Nevada with a double-digit lead. The latest poll by CNN/ORC gave him 45 percent of support, followed

by Senator Marco Rubio with a distant 19 percent and Senator Ted Cruz with 17 percent.

That is exactly what Trump got with Ted Cruz coming third with 20.5 percent.

Though Nevada has relatively few delegates, it will be seen as a test on how the Latino vote is spread amid Mr Trump’s staunchly antiimmigrant campaign.

The billionaire from New York locked horns with Texas Senator

Ted Cruz on Monday, attacking his campaign tactics and describing his rival as “sick”. It comes after Mr Cruz fired his campaign spokesman over a doctored video that discredited Senator Rubio’s views on the bible.

Mr Cruz hit back on Tuesday, accusing Mr Trump of “vacillating” on his campaign issues and policies. Marco Rubio, meanwhile, has been urging registered Republicans to turn out in force for the caucuses.

“I need your vote tonight!” Mr Rubio, considered the preferred candidate among more moderate Republicans, told a rally on Tuesday.

Rivalry between Mr Cruz and Mr Rubio - both Latino senators - has also intensified in recent days, with both candidates attacking each other on the campaign trail.

Elsewhere, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who is trailing the Republican pack alongside Ohio Governor John Kasich, hit the headlines after suggesting US President Barack Obama had been “raised white”.

For his part, John Kasich is focusing campaign efforts on the bigger states of Virginia and Michigan. The caucuses, which began at 17:00 local time (01:00 GMT Wednesday) and lasted three hours, allow Republican supporters to hold an open discussion about their favourite candidates before they vote in a secret ballot.

The Republican field, which numbered a dozen one month ago, has been whittled down to five, after one-time establishment favourite Jeb Bush dropped out of the race in South Carolina last weekend. @peter_x254 and Agencies

US investigating 14 cases of Zika virus spread sexually The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has said it is investigating 14 new reports of possible sexual transmission of the Zika virus.

The cases include several involving pregnant women, the CDC said.

The public health body made the revelation as it published new guidance on sexual transmission

of the virus. The guidance has been issued in response to confirmation of the first case of Zika in a non-traveller in the continental United States.

That case was linked to sexual contact with an infected partner.

The CDC is advising all men who have travelled to an area active with the Zika virus to use

condoms or abstain from sex for the length of the pregnancy.

There is no evidence yet that women can transmit Zika virus to their sex partners, but more research is needed to understand this issue, the health body said.

Scientists last week said a study involving pregnant women in Brazil “strengthened” the

WHO’s executive director for Outbreaks and Emergencies Bruce Aylward during a press briefing in Geneva on the response to the Zika virus. US medical authorities are investigating 14 new reports of possible sexual transmission of the virus.

PHOTO: M. TREZZINI/EPA

theory that Zika is linked to the microcephaly birth defects in babies. The defect can cause babies to be born with abnormally small heads and affect their cognitive development. The research confirmed the presence of Zika virus in the amniotic fluid of two women who had had Zika-like symptoms during their pregnancies. Brazilian experts say this suggests the virus can infect the foetus. The primary method of infection of the virus remains mosquito bites. Experts say women who are pregnant should try to avoid the insects.

On Tuesday, Margaret Chan, the head of the World Health Organization, said the world faced “a long journey” to defeat Zika.

Speaking in Brazil, where most cases have been recorded, she said it was a “very tricky, very tenacious, very difficult” virus.

NEWS 5

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Morning newspaper summaries Waiguru links Duale, Waiguru blames NYS Waiguru drags Ruto Retailer Tuskys in Farouk, Murkomen to scandal on Ruto aide, allies into NYS scandal: turmoil as owners eject Waiguru has stoked fresh chief executive: Kenya second NYS: The Sh791 million NYS scandal allies: Corruption scandal at the Anne controversy after she sensationally linked largest retail chain Tuskys was yesterday took a new twist yesterday after former CS Anne Waiguru dragged Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen into the mess, claiming he had threatened her against pursuing investigations. Waiguru says Murkomen told her to tell Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers to drop the investigations into the scandal or “face unspecified consequences if I did not adhere to these demands”.

National Youth Service took a decidedly political twist yesterday with former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru accusing aides and allies of Deputy President William Ruto of witchhunting. In filings to the courts, Ms Waiguru also disowned Ms Josephine Kabura Irungu, the businesswoman who claimed that she facilitated business with NYS and shared in the spoils.

senior Jubilee politicians to the National Youth Service scandal. The former Devolution Cabinet secretary filed an affidavit at the High Court in Nairobi yesterday in which she adversely named National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and DP William Ruto’s personal assistant Farouk Kibet.

thrown into managerial turmoil after the third generation heirs of the familyowned business dramatically ejected its chief executive, Dan Githua, accusing him of mismanaging the company. The eviction, which was done in the glares of cameras, came just two weeks after the retail chief operating officer left in unexplained circumstance.

Uhuru names Tunoi Uhuru forms tribunal to Spotlight on President Films board gives tribunal: President Uhuru Kenyatta probe Tunoi: President Uhuru Uhuru aides as he agrees Google a week to take yesterday beat a hasty retreat and Kenyatta has yielded to pressure and to Tunoi probe: President down gay song video: The suspended embattled Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi. The President also appointed a seven-member committee to investigate the Sh200 million bribery claims levelled against the judge. This came a day after President Kenyatta had declined to yield to the Judicial Service Commission’s recommendation asking him to form a committee to look into the

appointed a forms a tribunal to investigate embattled Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi. The turnaround came a day after he said this would create a constitutional crisis and after Attorney-General Githu Muigai and State House legal advisers were accused of misleading the President to contravene the Constitution.

Uhuru Kenyatta has suspended Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi just a day after he had declined to form a tribunal to probe Sh200 million bribery claims against him. The President’s U-turn to appoint the seven-member tribunal has now turned the spotlight on his legal advisers. He named the team on the last day of the 14-day constitutional deadline.

Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has ordered Google to pull down a video that the agency says is inappropriate for promoting gay relationships. Chief executive Ezekiel Mutua Tuesday said it had written to Google Kenya and other arms of law asking them to take action against creators and distributors of the music video titled, Same Love.

Ruto camps in Malindi: Governors, State wrestle Pilot who bullied officer Home Afrika eyes over cash cut: Governors and after flying Ruto held, to Sh15bn injection for the National government are locked in face charges projects: Property : A pilot accused of new a stalemate over reduction of funds to

The government is solving land issues at the Coast so that it is no longer capitalised on during campaigns, the Deputy President has said. “The government wants to resolve, once and for, all the land problems at the Coast so that no one can use them as a campaign tool again,” William Ruto said. “We have already issued title deeds and more are being processed,” he further said, and noted that the Jubilee Party is pursuing an inclusive government that will accommodate everyone come 2017.

the counties by three per cent. Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya has questioned the rationale for reducing the budget from 33 per cent to 30 per cent in the 2016/17 financial year. “Since the onset of devolution, the amount allocated to counties has never been reduced and we are concerned it has been cut at a time revenue is increasing,” he said.

assaulting a policewoman in Nyandarua where he had flown Deputy President William Ruto has been arrested. Alistair Patrick Llewelyn was taken to Kinangop Police Station at 5pm yesterday to record a statement for an hour. Local police said he was locked up and would appear at the Engineer Law Courts today to answer to a charge of assaulting police officer while on duty.

developer Home Afrika plans to raise up to Sh15 billion over the next 18 months to finance ongoing and new projects. The money will be raised in the form of debt and equity, signalling a possibility that the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm could issue new stock to current shareholders or to strategic investors.

“We are looking at raising between Sh10b to Sh15b, ,” said CEO Dan Awendo.

Top stories from X News global partners

UK downgrading of US investigates 14 Israel’s proposed new Deutsche Börse lines human rights sets Reports of Zika Virus law hits out at Arab up swoop for LSE: Deutsche Börse is in advanced talks to take over dangerous precedent, Spread by Sex: Health parliamentarians: On the London Stock Exchange Group, in a in the United States said they February23rd, a committee of Israel’s says Amnesty: Britain is setting authorities megadeal that would create a European were investigating 14 new reports of the parliament, the Knesset, began debating a

a dangerous precedent by undermining human rights and contributing to a worldwide “culture of impunity”, Amnesty International has said in its annual report on the state of human rights. Plans to scrap the Human Rights Act, the UK’s absence from EU refugee resettlement schemes, proposed new spying laws and the alleged downgrading of human rights as a Foreign Office priority in favour of commercial deals are all cited by the group as evidence of a trend. Amnesty’s UK director, Kate Allen, said: “The UK is setting a dangerous precedent to the world on human rights.

www.theguardian.com

Zika virus possibly being transmitted by sex, including to pregnant women.

If confirmed, the unexpectedly high number would have major implications for controlling the virus, which is usually spread by mosquito bites. Scientists had believed sexual transmission of Zika to be extremely rare. Only a few cases have ever been documented. But if all the women in the cases the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is examining test positive for the virus, officials believe there is no way other than sex that they could have contracted it. www.nytimes.com

new law which will allow it to suspend its own members for “expressing support for terrorism”. While the law is not specifically directed at any political faction, its thrust is clear. It was tabled by the government in response to a meeting three weeks ago between three Israeli-Arab Knesset members and the families of a number of Palestinians who had been killed trying to murder Israelis. The members of Balad, an Arab-nationalist party, also took part in a moment’s silence in memory of the young Palestinians. By calling them “martyrs”, the MPs enraged many Jews.

www.economist.com

champion presiding over many of the world’s leading financial markets. Shares in the 215-year-old institution located in the heart of the City of London rose more than 13 per cent as it confirmed the two groups were discussing what it claimed would be a “merger of equals”.

The move echoes previous efforts in the past two decades to fashion the two exchanges into a single mighty entity.

Under the leadership of Xavier Rolet for the past six years, the LSE has gone from defensive prey, to challenging its German counterpart for the crown.

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xnews | WEDNesday, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

Interswitch tightens online security amid fraud cases Digital payments and commerce company, Interswitch East Africa, has attained the Payment Card Industry Information (PCI) PIN security Certification, bringing to the fore the need to maintain strict security standards in online payment transactions.

The move comes after the finance industry recorded rising cases of cybercrime within the sector, which cost the country Sh15 billion in losses annually, according to a study dubbed; the Kenya Cyber Security Report 2015.

Interswitch’s certification follows the introduction of Payment Card

Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), which the firm got in 2014 under the Paynet brand.

The entire payment chain, from the cardholder, to the bank right through the merchant relies on the highest levels of security to ensure confidence of protection in card and online payments.

“Attainment of PCI PIN Security certification is an assurance that customers’ confidentiality of PIN is safeguarded. This assurance applies to customers of all institutions that use Interswitch for payments processing,” said Bernard Matthewman, Interswitch

East Africa CEO. The Personal Identification Number is a Cardholder Verification Method that is used to verify the cardholder at the point of transaction.

Ensuring the confidentiality of cardholder PINs throughout the payment processing cycle requires adherence to a set of globally recognized security requirements where such protection requires the implementation of specific controls to assure that the intended level of security is achieved by all participants in the payment process.

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

Currently, Interswitch undertakes payments processing for over 40 per cent of the financial institutions in East Africa who have outsourced debit and credit card issuance, electronic financial transaction switching, ATM management and other financial services though the number is expected to double in 2016.

Since being founded in 2002, Interswitch has grown rapidly and consistently, resulting in a current transaction volume of over 350 million transactions per month and more than US$32 billion a year across its platforms. enock_x254

CEO of Interswitch EA (K) Bernard Matthewman with Interswitch Group CEO Mitchell Elegbe during the Interswitch corporate brand unveil in Sept 2015 at their new offices in Orbit Place in Nairobi’s Westlands. The payments company is now the first and only institution to attain PCI DSS and PCI PIN security standards certifications in Kenya.

Price of property may fall due to volatile global economy: Experts The price of local property is likely to fall owing to a volatile global economy and could increase prospects for Kenya’s real estate sector, experts say.

“With the oil industry across the globe in a crisis and China facing an economic slowdown, our local economy expects slower growth over the upcoming months,” states a report from real estate dealer, Certiorari Properties.

The realtor says this may lead to a slight price correction on numerous overpriced properties across the country, thereby making it possible for an increasing number of potential buyers to afford them.

Certiorari Properties, however, has warned that recent price

adjustments within the sector will be short-lived as the global economy may stabilise later in the year.

The realtor’s announcement comes weeks after leading real estate advisory firm Hass Consult said property prices in Kenya have increased by 3.6 per cent.

Certiorari, which was founded in 2014, announced in January that its first project is set to break ground in March this year. While the group did not disclose the details of their development, the realtor has been managing some properties across the country in locations such as Loresho, Runda, Kitusu, Karen and Kileleshwa.

“Together with our strategic

partners in this industry, we are finally getting into development with our first ever project scheduled to break ground in March this year,” a spokesperson said on behalf of the realtor.

Certiorari was off to a somewhat shaky start, having entered the Kenyan real estate market roughly a year ago.

“We faced a myriad of challenges last year,” the group admitted in a statement.

However, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to braving the sector. Certiorari has expressed confidence that 2016 will offer new opportunities for growth and expansion within the real estate industry.

Dennis_x254

MEAN 101.8038 143.3286 112.1244 6.6743 33.7218 21.5022

BUY SELL 101.7094 101.8982 143.1656 143.4917 112.0033 112.2456 6.6671 6.6816 33.6414 33.8022 21.4331 21.5713

KCB M-Pesa issues Sh7bn in loans, signals growing demand KCB Group and Safaricom through mobile banking product, KCB M-PESA, has so far issued loans worth Sh7 billion to about five million customers, signalling a growing demand for micro credit, also known as ‘small loans’.

The platform, which was launched last March, saw the service averaging Sh130 million in loans a week. By October of the same year, the platform had disbursed roughly Sh4.2 billion in loans.

Out of the Sh7 billion disbursed, 98 per cent of the loans are repaid, with 50 per cent of the borrowers coming back to borrow more, KCB Group Chief Executive Joshua Oigara said in a recent announcement.

Speaking during the third regional credit information sharing conference on Tuesday held in Nairobi, Oigara expressed confidence in the platform.

“The trend we have seen is that most customers borrow in the morning and return the money in the evening same day despite the loans being offered with a repayment period ranging from one month to six months,” he explained.

He noted that a majority of KCB M-Pesa users borrow an average of Sh3,000. The loans are at an interest rate of 2 per cent per month with credit facilities ranging from Sh50 to Sh1 million instantly on their mobile phones.

The customer’s loan limit is determined by a number of factors including but not limited to, the amount of savings that the customer has, the customer’s usage of M-PESA, and their savings on other KCB platforms. The customer can also save, place standing orders or make fixed deposits on their phones.

It has been implied that the service is especially useful to young customers, who make up the majority of the service’s users.

Local meat packer locks horns with beef producers in Dubai

Quality Meat Packers will fly the Kenyan flag at the Gulfood Exhibition in Dubai, raising hopes for the country’s growing meat industry. As Kenya’s only individual exhibitor, this is an opportunity to show that Kenyan companies like QMP can produce food that meets international expectations in terms of food safety, packaging, cold-chain maintenance and other customer criteria, the group said.

These sentiments come at a time when the global food industry is eyeing Africa as the next major investment frontier. The Gulfood Exhibition is the largest of its kind in the Middle East and Africa and is already ongoing at The Dubai World Trade Centre. It will run up until February 25. The exhibition will host 5,000 exhibitors from five continents representing 120 countries in the world. This is an important platform to learn from global trends in food manufacturing.

Founded in 1970, Quality Meat Packers

Limited operates the largest privately-owned Halal slaughterhouse and meat processing plant in Kenya. QMP offers customers affordable and quality beef, lamb, chicken and ready to eat meat products.

Quality Meat Packers has sponsored more than 20 chefs and product users around Kenya to attend the show.

“QMP is humbled and proud to be participating for the fourth time in the annual Gulfood Exhibition held in Dubai.

We are excited that this marks our return to the UAE market and look forward to building and strengthening partnerships in the Middle East and African markets to enhance QMP’s positioning as a leading producer of HALAL meat and poultry from Kenya,” said Mr Diamond FazalVelj, Managing Director.

QMP will be showcasing their full range products including beef, chicken, lamb, goat, sausages, delicatessen and ready to eat meats.

Kevin_x254

BUSINESS 7

Illegal imports, interest rates sink Mumias Sugar to Sh1.58 billion loss WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Illegal sugar imports and financial expenses have further sunk Mumias Sugar Company to a Sh1.58 billion half year loss, the firm has said.

The company loss widened to Sh2.26 billion from Sh2.08 billion recorded the year before.

The sugar company attributed the massive loss to high finance costs and illegal sugar imports which further lowered the price of sugar across the country. ‘’During the six-month period, high interest rates coupled with a depreciated Kenya shilling adversely affected the company in terms of high cost of finance and foreign exchange losses,’’ read a

Airtel wins Gold Award for initiative to improve healthcare, sanitation Airtel Kenya has received praise for its efforts to help in environmental conservation through the implementation of a biogas plant in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, which is part of the Immanuel Afrika (I-Afrika) initiative to spur development.

The telecommunications firm has been named ChangeMaker Company of the Year for Corporate Social Responsibility for Environnemental Conservation through its I-Afrika biogas project at the 2015 Bharti Foundation Annual ChangeMaker Awards.

The company received the highest honour (Gold) for its biogas initiative.

Airtel Kenya’s project, which was commissioned in October 2014, was recognised for its efforts in alleviating the current pressure on the environment, improve health and sanitation and reduce costs on firewood fuel consumption at the centre hence saving it thousands of shillings that could have been used on gas and coal.

The ChangeMaker Awards honors companies within the Bharti group that have embedded CSR into their operations and are driving meaningful impact within their countries of operations.

The Award was presented to Airtel Kenya by Bharti Enterprises Chairman and CEO Sunil Bharti Mittal.

Immanuel Afrika (I-Afrika), a street boy rehabilitation Centre, was started during the height of Kenya’s post-election violence in early 2008.

Currently, the centre is home to more than 150 former street boys. Located in the outskirts of Kikuyu Divison, in Lusigetti

town, the organisation aims to rehabilitate street boys and enroll them in school or vocational education. Those with families are reconciled and reintegrated, and those without make I-Afrika their permanent home.

Since the biogas plant was commissioned, it has consistently provided renewable and cheap source of fuel – enough to boil water and prepare breakfast for the kids in the morning. Before adopting the initiative, the centre would spend more than Sh8, 000 on 2 tonnes of firewood per month. Now, the money that could have been used for this expense is being utilized to cater for other critical needs for the children such as School fees.

The bio-slurry removed from the digester at the end of the process is usually used by the organization as natural fertilizer in their small farm, resulting in better crop harvests.

“We are honored to receive this award for the project that has greatly improved the living standards of the children at the I-Afrika Centre, providing a safe, renewable, low cost source of alternative fuel to firewood,” said Airtel Kenya CEO, Adil El Youssefi who was speaking on behalf of the group.

“We are proud of The I-Afrika Biogas project and its impact on the community and its role in preserving the environment. We are grateful to the Center for giving us the opportunity to partner in this project,” he added. “ Last August the project also received regional recognition for the CSR Initiative of the year.

Dennis_x254

statement from the firm.

It said high operating and administrative costs saw the firm post a pre-tax loss of 9 per cent higher than the loss incurred during same period the previous year.

Furthermore, finance costs for the troubled company almost doubled to Sh732.6 million up from Sh378.7 million in the six-month period ended December, according to a statement.

The heavily-indebted firm has been over the recent years struggling with cash flows forcing the government to step in bailouts as part of its turnaround to bring the firm back to profitability.

Mumias said net revenue for the period

rose by 11 per cent from a year ago to Sh 2.98 billion, while administrative expenses shot up to Sh 1 billion from Sh820.9 million.

Among other challenges that geared the firm to its loss were shortage of raw materials and a lowering sugar price.

However, the firm is optimistic that it will be back to its profitability in the next six months as it seeks a further Sh 2 billion additional bailout from the government.

The government has used high tariffs to protect its sugar farmers though the policy has encouraged smuggling of cheaper sugar imports. enock_x254

8

BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Investor pulls plug on Sh15b Kinangop wind power project over land dispute The construction of a Sh15 billion wind power project by a joint venture between Macquarie Group and Old Mutual Investment Group has been halted over land disputes, the developer Kinangop Wind Park has said.

Once completed, the project in Nyandarua County, Central Kenya could have produced more than 60.8 megawatt (MW) of power. However, its progress has been stalled by residents seeking compensation for their land.

Farmers and residents last year had opposed the project, claiming it would force them to sell off their land, adding that the turbines could cause health complications though the developer denied the allegations.

The residents alleged that the land was acquired fraudulently and that the undertaking did not meet the International standards hence posing health hazards to the whole community.

Kinangop Wind Park CEO James Wakaba said the construction of the multibillion project was halted due to never-ending protests from area causing unsafe environment for the team to implement the project.

‘’KWP regretfully announces that it is no longer in a position to construct and operate the 60.8 MW Kinangop Wind Park project due to the ongoing impact of civil commotion,’’Wakaba said. ‘’Subsequent to the protests, there have been a number of further serious security events in the area with the most recent occurring in February 2016,’’ he added.

The project had aimed to provide electricity to an estimated 150,000 Kenyan homes by 2018.

Backed by Africa Infrastructure Investment Fund and Norfund, the project was further expected to boost consumption of renewable energy translating to cheap electricity.

The failure of the project is a setback for the East African nation’s drive to increase its power generation capacity by 5,000 MW in the five years ending 2017.

Kenya’s other wind power projects include the 300 MW Lake Turkana Wind Power site in the north eastern where wind power accounts for approximately 2 per cent of the country’s energy on the national grid.

The project in Nyandarua County, Central Kenya could have produced more than 60.8 megawatt (MW) of power.

Mars recalls chocolate in 55 countries after bits of plastic found in snack bar Chocolate maker Mars has ordered a recall of chocolate products in 55 countries.

The recall comes after a customer in Germany found bits of plastic in a Snicker bar traced back to the Mars factory in the southern town of Veghel, Netherlands in January.

The products affected in the UK alone include ‘Funsize Mars’ and ‘Milky Way’ bars and boxes of ‘Celebrations’, whereas in the Netherlands, ‘Mars’ and ‘Snickers’ bars were also affected.

A Mars Netherlands spokesperson said: “We cannot be sure that this plastic

was only in that particular Snickers. We do not want any products on the market that may not meet our quality requirements, so we decided to take them all back.”

However, the recall will only involve products manufactured at the Dutch plant covering mostly countries in Europe and does not extend to the US, where Mars is based.

The company has not said how many bars are affected or how much the recall will cost.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has advised consumers not to eat the affected products and to

conduct Mars’ consumer care.

The products in the UK include Mars, Milky Way, Snickers and Celebrations in various package sizes.

Mars is one of the World’s leading food companies, with 29 chocolate brands including M&M’s, Galaxy, Twix, Bounty and Maltesers.

It also makes Wrigley gum, Uncle Ben’s Rice, Dolmio pasta sauce and Pedigree pet food.

The company is one of the largest privately owned businesses in the US and had global sales of $33bn last year.

LG to unveil new Stylus 2 at 2016 mobile congress LG Electronics (LG) will unveil its new LG Stylus 2 at the 2016 Mobile World Congress. The unveiling will mark LG’s highlight at the show featuring the enhanced sequel to the G4 Stylus. The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016 kicked off on February 22 and will end tomorrow in Barcelona, Spain. The exceptionally-priced 5.7-inch handset shares many of premium features available on LG’s flagship models but also includes a pen with a nano-coated tip for more accuracy compared to the previous rubber-tipped pen.

The device features a set of proprietary functions developed specifically for the LG Stylus 2 to enhance the user experience such as Pen Pop, which toggles a popup menu when the stylus is removed to offer shortcuts to Pop Memo and Pop Scanner.

Also new to LG Stylus 2 is Pen Keeper, which prevents the stylus from being misplaced by displaying a popup message when the phone is detected as being in motion when the stylus bay is empty. The new Calligraphy Pen font also allows one to write as beautifully and decoratively as if using a fountain pen.

Only 7.4mm thin and weighing 145g, the LG Stylus 2 is noticeably thinner and lighter than its predecessor. The handset delivers a unique design statement with the incorporation of a Protruded Flat Display in the front, Spin Hairline pattern on the back and metallic frames on all its edges. The LG Stylus 2 sports a hefty

3,000mAh removable battery and a SD card slot to allow users to enjoy a variety of multimedia content on its large 5.7inch screen.

“LG Stylus 2 provides both the big screen and premium notetaking functions of a premium large phone at a price of a midtier phone,” said Mr. SongwooChoen, Mobile Communication product manager. “This device is another example of our commitment to the masstier segment where there is so much opportunity for growth and creativity.”

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

ACCESS top story

FASHION SCOOP

11

In the vIdeo the pIlot seemIngly comes out of nowhere and hounds the polIcewoman who Is, sadly, on phone

Giving police brutality a new spin: The curious case of Ruto’s private pilot W ho knew Kenyans would live to see the day when an errant aircraft pilot would crown himself some sort of guerrilla helicopter security officer?

On Tuesday morning a shocking video went viral showing a helicopter pilot assaulting a policewoman. The pilot who had been hired by Deputy President William Ruto to fly him to a church service at Ndunyu Njeru, Kinangop showed an ugly side to the human condition that is disgraceful to its core.

In the video the pilot seemingly comes out of nowhere and hounds the policewoman who is, sadly, on phone. The pilot then flings some choice words her way and then proceeds to seize her police swagger stick; what follows is sickening to watch. The pilot pushes and shoves her a few times even as chaos erupt in the crowd around them. The strange thing about the video, except of course for the blatant attack, is the manner in which it happened. While watching the video there is a distinct feeling that the pilot, one Alister Brown, had a deliberate intent to degrade the policewoman. The amount of physical force exerted and the almost childlike arrogance the captain exhibited almost make us think that he enjoyed doing what he did. This apparent foreigner, who actually happens to be a Kenyan citizen, in some way feels that whatever they do is above the law even though what they are doing in essence is a pointed attack at the law itself. It’s not every day we can claim to have witnessed a civilian telling a police officer to ‘do their [expletive] job!’ Although it was nothing short of shameful what happened in Nyandarua County on Sunday, this occurrence did give people an opportunity to discuss an important issue that has affected each of us especially if you are a woman.

Social media exploded with the hashtag #DeportRutosPilot trending with many

differing opinions. For one, some felt that Kenyans have a legendary dislike for law enforcement and this support might have struck some as hypocritical. Others actually saw the bigger picture that this was a woman being assaulted by a man in front of a crowd and yet again nobody did anything. The events that inspired the My Dress, My Choice movement spring to mind. A woman was harassed in public and no one did anything to stop it. Brown even went as far as to say that the policewoman, who we now know is called Mercy Wandera would have to answer to the Deputy President if something happened to the chopper.

Even though it was quite obvious that his duties started and ended at flying the helicopter and not protecting the aircraft.

Not everything about the incident is disheartening however, Deputy President William Ruto did show solidarity with the police officers and demanded immediate action. The DP’s office has also taken thorough measures to distance itself from the pilot insisting that he was not one of their members of staff. Communication secretary, David Mugonyi, in true Kenyan fashion stated that, “If you hire a taxi and the taxi-man misbehaves, will you be responsible?” Taking the metaphor into account, if you hold public office then the answer is yes. Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet ordered the arrest of the pilot and he is currently in custody. Mercy Wandera clearly deserves more than a statement being filed at a police station, she deserves an apology.

Whereas she too needs to change her template on phone use while at work, she did not deserve such degradation, much less from a man and in public.

Only time will tell if fairness will rule the day for suffering such a public injustice. @duncan_x254

10

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

HEALTH &FITNESS

Believe it or not a small serving of whisky can actually help us stay away from this silent killer

W Health benefits of

WORKOUT

whisky

e’ve heard that wine is heart healthy and goes down smooth with dinner but it’s not the only kind of alcohol our bodies can reap benefits from. It’s no secret that too much of anything is poison and that does ring true especially with drinking but there’s a wealth of great things whisky can do for our health when enjoyed in moderation.

Boosting brain power Each one of us has had a night we can’t quite recall the details of due to over consumption of alcohol which

is very damaging to our health. But when limited to one drink, ellagic acid contained in whisky improves our mental health and slows down brain decline as we get older. It also cuts the risk of suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Reducing risk of stroke When consumed moderately, that is, one drink per day, whisky can help lower the risk of suffering from a stroke.

Whisky helps reduce the amount of cholesterol in the body and prevents the accumulation of cholesterol in veins

HOME IMPROVEMENT

and arteries. This greatly lessens the chance of us suffering from strokes.

Reduces the risk of cancer Believe it or not a small serving of whisky can actually help us stay away from this silent killer. Single-malt whisky in particular is brimming with antioxidants which can help neutralize cancer cells in the body. In the event that one ends up suffering from cancer, whisky can aid in the prevention of damage in the cells caused by chemotherapy.

BEFORE

BEFORE

‘

Orange peel’ or cellulite can be a real annoyance specifically if you are a woman. You might have worked out to our level best but just can’t get that bit of dimpled skin off your thighs. The problem might be more pronounced as we age but can be present even in teenagers.

Even though there exists quite a few myths about cellulite the fact remains that cellulite is just plain old fat, meaning where there is a will there’s a way.

llulite e c o t e y b Say good xercises e e s e h t h t wi Lunges

These target the lower half of the body.

Lunges help tone and build muscle in the thighs, glutes and calves. They can increase flexibility in our hips and are an essential in strength training. The exercise might be as simple as stepping forward with one foot and following it up with the other repeatedly but lunges are an effective exercise for getting our legs moving and burning off that stubborn fat.

Squats

The very same exercise that has become popular for toning up your bum can also do wonders in getting rid of cellulite. Squats firm up the hips and thighs and in fact help increase our overall body strength. When done with weights such as dumbbells can provide a comprehensive full body workout.

Cardio

Since cellulite is fat, the more weight you lose the less fat in the body you have which means doing exercise that get our heart rates up is a very good thing. Running and walking especially give our bodies a great workout while targeting problem areas.

Going uphill while running can also tone our bums while we are at it.

AFTER

AFTER

BREAThInG nEW LIFE InTO

I

furnIture

t might happen that you are in the market for some new furniture but current prices prove to be too steep, so what to do?

Reupholstering old furniture can transform your entire home while still being pocket friendly.

Depending on the theme you are aiming for, it’s easy to match your personal tastes this way than with store bought furniture. Even new fittings can be refurbished by adding some new material or a fresh coat of paint right on top.

spaces?

WITh REuPhOLSTERY

The great thing about switching up the look of furniture is that it can be done more than once. If you get tired of the way something looks it’s easy to change it as long as the body of the piece is sound. An old out dated armchair can be turned into a centre piece of a living room or just an ornamental seat and even then it can be changed into something else according to your liking. Reupholstering is also a great way to elongate the life of furniture if it has sentimental value.

If the piece means something too you and looks worse for wear this is a good way to give it new life without having to throw it out. If a leg of a couch is broken or dented it can easily be fixed and the rest can be salvaged. Even cushions can be repaired without really altering the actual chair.

You can choose fabric from a professional or just go on the hunt on your own and keep renovating your home.

DIY wIth a genDer reveal partY This might be a new thing but gender reveal parties are becoming more and more popular these days. If you are a dutiful friend with an expectant girlfriend then this might be on the agenda for you. Gender reveal parties are basically gettogethers where the gender of the baby is exposed to the parents-to-be. This normally done after an ultrasound, which then means that as a BFF you

will have to collude with the doctor or ultrasound technician so as not to inadvertently divulge the information to the parents.

There’s a number of fun ways to host a gender reveal party without it resembling a typical baby shower. Of course the usual necessities are included; guests, food and music but that’s exactly where the fun lies.

As we all know blue is for boy

DIY and pink is for a girl and those are generally the colours that you can use to denote gender although you can always try something new it’s all up to preference. One trendy way of doing this has been through the use of food. Baking a cake or individual cupcakes in the colour that stands for the baby’s gender and icing them in neutral colour or both of the colours amps up the surprise

factor. When the parents bite into the cake or cut a slice of the cake the secret will finally be disclosed.

Party games can also be added into the mix where guests can vote on or guess the gender of the baby and the winners get to take home party favours. Make special invitations teasing the order of the event, have fun with it and make a memorable day.

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY OCTOBER 28, 24,2015 2016

FASHIONScoop

@ NYFW

Block heels Lady Gaga style by Marc Jacobs.

11

S shaped sole heel by Derek Lam.

Sequin MJ style by Proenza Schouler

3D lace shoes by Delpozo Hipster feather pumps by Tory Burch.

Infant heel on gigantic sandal boots

by Vera Wang.

Strutting abSurd footwear

w

hen it comes to high fashion, there is a very thin line between what makes sense to the ordinary eye and what makes sense to the fashionista’s eye, which is why most of the time we are left wondering what fashion designers’ idea of ‘tasteful’ revolves around given the absurd looking items showcased on the runway during fashion shows.

Here is a collection of the most outrageous shoes that walked down different runways during the just concluded New York Fashion Week. @mercy_x254

HOT

TOPICS

Duale

MurkoMen

duale and Murkomen deny‘meeting waiguru

The drama around the NYS scandal continues. Now Murkomen and Duale are denying ever meeting former CS Waiguru after she allegedly implicated them in the latest bout of affidavits .KOT has gone on rampage with #Waigurudeals#Duale#Murkomen with memes mocking the two legislators who have been known largely as JAP die hard supporters.

tusky’s spoilt brats evict Ceo When you shop at Tuskys you should know that you will be shopping under new management as the CEO Dan Githua was forcefully evicted yesterday by siblings of the directors. Young boys and girls some in sagging jeans had the CEO flee (literally) from his office. Apparently the CEO was sitting and warming chairs in the office past his expiry date which was, according to the kids Jan 23rd. Word on the corridors of Tuskys is that Dan was arrogant.

The board of directors have however come out to distance themselves from the shameful eviction as a case of kids behaving badly, the drama continues.

Dan Githua

ohangla marathon coming soon You have one more day to the much anticipated Ohangla Marathan at the Skyworld Lounge, Tomboya Street. The marathon will be graced by reigning queen of the drums Lady Maureen among other veteran singers

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AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 You could feel some hesitation about taking a new job or upgrading your home. Nevertheless, you’re being given a terrific opportunity. If you don’t seize it, you’ll likely regret it for the rest of your life. What’s occurring is for the best, so stretch your arms up high and reach for that brass ring!

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More sun than clouds

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PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 Travel is definitely in the picture, as is continuing your education in some way. It could be something simple, such as enrolling in a cooking class at an adult education center. Or perhaps you’re going to fulfill a lifelong ambition and apply to business school. Good for you!

6:42 am 6:50 pm

FRIday

24

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 Take a long lunch on an outside terrace, weather permitting. Breathe deeply until the stress subsides. You may need to concentrate on finishing only one or two minor tasks today and put the rest off until tomorrow. Remember, too much stress can take its toll on your health!

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 A change of scene is in store for you, Taurus. It’s unclear whether or not this is a voluntary move, but it’s clear that chaos and confusion reign over the next few days. There is much to be done.

Fortunately, your organizational abilities will serve you well. The move is completed in record time!

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 Fortunately, those fears are unfounded. There is a lot of upheaval occurring at work. You’re best advised to steer clear of it, if you can. If you continue to do your job well, you’re likely to receive a bonus or promotion as a result of your efforts. You’ve earned it.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 You’ll likely meet someone today or perhaps you’ve just met someone who has a strong influence on you, Cancer. You can’t get this person out of your mind. It isn’t clear whether this is a one-time fling or a long-term romance.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 Your own intuitive faculties are operating at a very high level, and therefore your insights could prove valuable. This knowledge could be used to advance your own career and financial interests, so you may want to spend an hour or two writing down your thoughts.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21 And today you certainly move ahead in the race as you add yet another technological wonder to your home. What is it this time? A scanner, digital camera, DVD player, or all of the above? It’s a small indulgence for all the hard work you do.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 You’ve discovered all the free investing information available over the Internet, and you absorb it like a sponge. Your natural fiscal sense enables you to separate the nonsense from the sound investment advice. Your portfolio and your mood benefit immediately!

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 It’s likely to be a most unusual day, so keep your wits about you and your mind open to all possibilities.

If an intriguing new business opportunity comes your way, don’t accept it right immediately. Take down all the information and review it when life has settled down somewhat.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 The latest technological advances have really captured your interest. Making films, in particular, gets your creative juices flowing. Perhaps it’s time to sign up for a weekend workshop or splurge on that video camera you’ve been eyeing. The diversion will do you a world of good.

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13

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1. “Hell ____ no fury like a woman scorned” 5. Recipe smidgen 9. Praised enthusiastically 14. New Age singer 15. Court org.

16. Modern chair designer 17. Time for discounted drinks 19. Scam decoy 20. Wed in secret 21. Fourth note in the F major scale 23. UFO crew 25. Flutists’ kin 30. Feature of some pagan religions 33. Weekend TV show, for short 35. Japanese sport 36. French author Zola 37. Informed 39. Type of lily 42. Countless number 43. Give a wide berth 45. Melville book 47. Covert WWII org.

48. Fruity beverage created in 1934 52. Slackens 53. Simple signatures 54. Lake in the Sierra Nevada 57. Start of a rumor 61. Object of an old French cheer 65. Law 67. “____ a Grecian Urn” (Keats poem) 68. ____ to riches

69. Vitamin amts.

70. Povich co-anchor 71. Greek war goddess 72. French bridge Down 1. Mirthful syllables 2. Really uptight 3. Key error 4. Transpire 5. “I am such a dope!”

6. Gave ____ story (fish for sympathy) 7. Oreo part that’s often eaten first, to Nabisco 8. Jean of the screen 9. Make like new 10. Relaxed reaction 11. Citadel’s rival (abbr.)

12. Sushi selection 13. Upgrade from dial-up 18. Legendary Himalayan creatures 22. Blood-type letters 24. Obscenity 26. Belief systems 27. 1862 battle site 28. Patio pieces 29. Hurls 30. Lets 31. Paris pal 32. Get ready to surf, perhaps 33. Colleague of Kroft 34. Astronomical dazzlers 38. There are seven in a semana 40. Weaponized burst featured in “Goldeneye”

41. Gravy thickener 44. Weight-loss plan experts say doesn’t work 46. “There’s ____ every crowd!”

49. “____ pig’s eye!”

50. On leave, maybe 51. D flat’s equivalent 55. Mediterranean port 56. Boundary-pushing 58. Within: pref.

59. Open ___ of worms 60. Take it easy 61. “Wild Thing” rapper Tone-____ 62. Old English letter 63. Half a corned beef sandwich?

64. Ending for harp or bass 66. Equal (prefix)

Yesterday’s answers

YOURSAY Kenya must change tact in war against corruption

Githong’o performance in Uganda polls wanting

Since 2003, Kenya has put in place numerous strategies and mechanisms to curb corruption but little seems to have been achieved.

Retired President Mwai Kibaki implemented a policy of “zero tolerance” to corruption with the formation of the anti-corruption commission. At its inception, the commission was lavished with money and resources and commanded huge support from Kenyans and the international community.

Parliament created several pieces of legislation, including the Public Officer Ethics Act in 2003, which was also an important milestone in the war against corruption. With the change of guard, President Uhuru Kenyatta has made several strides to win the war on graft where he has set out tough austerity measures. He even tabled a List of Shame with names of 175 government official including five Cabinet Secretaries. The citizenry lauded the move as a bold step to kill the corruption scourge.

However, with recent emerging scandals including the sensational Eurobond and the NYS scandals it is true to say that all the mechanism put in place by successive regimes to FIGHT graft have failed.

Agreeably, with all indicators put in to play, there have never been political will to deal with the vice. We do not need more laws or a new institution to tame graft.

You flip over the pages of Michela Wrong’s book, ‘It’s Our Turn to Eat’ and what first comes in your mind is a story of Kenyan whistleblower John Githongo, Civil Society expert and former Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics under Kibaki government who accused top ministers of large-scale fraud and described Kibaki administration as the most rapacious regime ever.

When the Commonwealth listed him as one of the observers for the just-ended Ugandan General Election, people saw a messiah sent

For instance, in the recent damning affidavit by NYS suspect Josphine Kabura, senior ranking officers are alleged to have shielded culprits to albeit investigations or arrest in the saga.

Sadly, they are still in office. No one seems to care. To some of this officers the President does not require to consult to sack or even detain.

They should have been sacked as soon as they were mentioned.

Claims of complicity in covering up wrongdoing and framing some individuals to shield others only confirms the anecdotes which have been circulating in public about the activities of the EACC. It is a betrayal of the public trust to conspire to shield the corrupt when taxpayers pay these officers to do the exact opposite. More broadly, time has come for the nation to engage in serious examination of the country’s anti-corruption strategy with a view to establishing its major undoing.

It is impossible to eliminate graft unless people see that senior officials can face serious sanctions, including jail sentences, for stealing public money or shielding suspects.

That can only happen when we have political goodwill and institutions committed to protecting the public interest rather than hobbled organs out to cover the corrupt.

— Nderitu, Donholm

Is Jubilee boat sinking ahead of 2017 election?

Having sensed defeat at the Presidential vote in 2017, Jubilee’s only solace is trying hard including using unorthodox means to have control of Nairobi City.

They have been meeting and even burning midnight oil to strategies how to wrest the seat from Cord. Part of their strategy is to use corruption as their basis to unseat the incumbent, Governor Dr.

Evans Kidero.

This evening, led by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, went to court to seek ‘search’ orders in both Dr. Kidero’s office and residence. What they are going to search is what is only known to them. They were granted the orders and the search is on tomorrow. Jubilee must be hurting. They have lost ground. Even roaches in

their households know that there is something wrong.

They can’t win any seat, even in their backyard. My message to Jubilee is simple; the DIE IS CAST. Kenyans are tired and they will show you the door very early in the morning.

Trying to pull a Museveni on Kenyans will not bear any fruit. Kenya is not Uganda.

Forget about the Presidency & Nairobi — Philip Etale

to berate Museveni of election ills and reprieve Ugandans, especially the less fortunate Opposition leader Kissa Besigye from the fetters of oppressive and discriminative regime.

But the opposite is true.

While the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) gives the just concluded election a mixed bill of health, citing intimidating atmosphere, Commonwealth observers led by former Nigerian President Obasanjo and The East African Community (EAC) mission led by former Tanzanian president

Ali Hassan Mwinyi hitherto remain quiet on the independence and transparency of the polls.

Neither our own John nor any African observer blew the whistle or dared tell Museveni ‘you are wrong’ on extending your three decades rule, and ‘you are wrong’ on quashing democratic space and harassing your competitors. Does this mean that our on John and other African ombudsmen have fallen short of their integrity?

Can we trust them anymore?

— Phabian Jr

Waiguru’s affidavit reveals rot in government In a new twist of events, former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru has sensationally linked top Jubilee aides in the already murky waters of the NYS scandal.

From the new turn of events, the saga is nowhere near to end. The truth is far from reach. Kabura, EACC, DCI and ‘whistle blower’ Waiguru have different versions of the financial pilferage at the Youth Service.

She has confirmed the fears of opposition Chief Raila Odinga that corruption was deeply entrenched at the heart of NYS. After more than six months of controversy, denial and blame game Waiguru has finally decided to speak out after what seems to be a fallout with her former bosses.

On Monday she was summoned by EACC for the second time after businesswoman Josephine Kabura, a suspect in the scandal, swore an affidavit alleging that the former CS received millions from the fraud. Waiguru filed an affidavit at the High Court in Nairobi yesterday in which she adversely named National Assembly Majority Leader Aden

Duale, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Deputy President William Ruto’s Personal Assistant Farouk kibet.

Interestingly, her affidavit comes at a time that Kabura, who had claimed she was the heart of the scandal, appeared for the first time to the anti-graft agency and handed her sworn affidavit. Presumably, pressure and the urge to clear her name from the list of shame pushed her from kowtowing her bosses. Arguably, Waiguru linking Duale and Murkomen is one way of fighting to clear her name after she was implicated by Kabura, but on the other end a tragedy to the presidency and leadership of Jubilee. Kenyans can now understand why President Uhuru defended and protected Waiguru until he succumbed to pressure from the Opposition and the citizenry. Notably, the presidency knew all the schemes but sadly Waiguru has spilled the beans. In my view, it will be hard for the President to assure Kenyans that he has what it takes to wage war against the graft dragon. — Nderitu, Donholm

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

14

SPORT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

SPORTS BRIEFS I might not defend AK top seat, Tuwei hints

Acting Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jack Tuwei may not vie for the 2017 AK National elections. Tuwei said he may leave the office to “young blood” following pressure from the government. Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario said the there is need to hold inclusive elections “soon” that will have both young and retired Athletes in the running of the sports. If the government succeeded in “chasing away” the old bones in the local sports leadership, AK will join Football Kenya Federation where the government played a big part in sending home Sam Nyamweya whom we understand was coerced to drop from the polls in the last minute. Wario has accused most Kenyan Sports administrators of “overstaying in office.” Asked whether he will defend his seat in next year’s polls, Tuwei who took over from suspended Isaiah Kiplagat said: “It’s always good to bring new blood but they must be ready to take up the role.”

“The problem with Kenyan sport is that most of those leaders have overstayed on these position. We need to bring in new blood to take over,” Wario said.

Kenya to set up anti-doping centre in Nairobi: CS Wario Kenya will set a “small” regional blood testing facility by next year in a bid to help cub the runaway doping in the local sports.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario said the test facility will be ready by the time Kenya host the 2017 IAAF World under 18 championship in Nairobi. Wario, who was speaking during local TV show said after the completion, the multi-billion facility will curb many doping case and see the cost of tests which is currently done in South Africa drops.

The CS, however could not say

how much the facility will cost just stating it is “very expensive.”

“It’s is running into billions,” Wario said on Cheche Show The announcement comes as the country tries to please International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) which has warned the country of a possible ban from future major championships including the August Olympics should it fails to commit her fight against the vice.

To show that it is doing something, newly-formed Kenya AntiDoping Agency (KADA) will test

its capacity to do the test during the Beyond Zero marathon set for next month.

This will be the second test of the body which is yet to fully personalise its activities due to lack of legislations, coming after their first test done during the national cross country champions held on February 13 at Uhuru Gardens. The test was done with help of the Regional Anti-Doping Agency (RADO) Wario also said the country found herself to this position duo o lack of paper trail on doping until the

Ex-UK cricket captain named PCA president Former England captain Andrew Flintoff has been elected the new president of the Professional Cricketers’ Association. The all-rounder succeeds fellow Lancastrian David Lloyd to become only the seventh president in its history. Flintoff, 38, said: “This is a huge honour, especially as it will be the Golden Jubilee of the PCA in 2017.” He played in 79 Tests, 141 oneday internationals and seven Twenty20 internationals between 1998 and 2009.

Flintoff, who played a key part in two Ashes series wins in 2005 and 2009, was also voted BBC sports Personality of the year 2005. Only John Arlott, Jack Bannister, Mike Gatting, Sir Ian Botham, Chris Broad and Lloyd have previously been president at the PCA, the representative body of past and present first-class cricketers in England and Wales.

F1 commission approves plan to adopt safety gear Formula One (F1) Commission approved plans to adopt a structure to protect drivers from debris, sources at governing body the FIA said. A new eliminationstyle qualifying format, with the slowest drivers knocked out in succession, could also be introduced this year. A deadline for rules to make faster cars in 2017 has been delayed until April 30. All the changes still need to be rubber-stamped by the final step of the legislative process, the FIA World Council. The FIA told teams earlier this month that it wanted to introduce a device called a ‘halo’ which is designed to guard against impacts from large airborne debris.

This came after the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association made it clear it felt that it was time for the ‘halo’ to be introduced after years of research. The ‘halo’ has been deemed the best compromise in terms of increasing safety with the fewest sideeffects, such as compromised vision or extrication in the event of an accident.

NEW FACILITY: Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario at a past function. He today announced plans by the government to set up anti-doping centre in Nairobi to curb the issue of doping among local athletes.

formation a task force last year.

“You need to be fair to me, I was not there 15 years ago and there is no document that said there was doping in Kenya until I set up the task force,” said Wario who also asked Parliament to fast track the bill to legalise the process.

The process is at draft 6A. A validation workshop for the document took place today in Nairobi and it is expected to be passed to sports CS

by Monday who is expected to forward it to the Attorney General for tabling in Parliament latest next week.

KADA will also do research on the doping athletes to have a broader knowledge n the effects of the drugs on the athletes body.

Wario said according to research, the drugs have dire consequences on the athletes, including fatality issues. The government will also take control of certifying the managers who control athletes.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jack Tuwei has maintained the country is being target unfairly for doping.

Tuwei argues that Kenya’s performance at the 2015 IAAF World Championship in Beijing, China where the country topped the medal standing could have played a part in the major scrutiny

by World Anti-Doping Agency which has threatened to put the country under watch list of the doping country that should be banned.

Another reason, according to Tuwei is the fact that Kenya win most events which are organised outside the continent, something he argues may not go well with the hosting nations.

“If you are number one, people will expect a lot from you. If you’ve been number one in most event and people will have a lot of focus on you,”

​New changes as Road to Anfield tourney date set It will take the winner of this year’s Standard chartered - Road to Anfield soccer tournament nine wins to book a slot to Liverpool FC home ground in April.

The winner will get a fully paid four-day trip at Anfield, home of English Premier League side, Liverpool to represent Kenya at the Standard Chartered Trophy Final in addition to a free clinic by Liverpool legend and coaches who will help teams prepare for the finals.

This year’s tournament however has seen several changes which will block out several teams with the organiser restricting the number of participating teams to 28 while the media slot was also chopped by one. Last year’s quarter-finalist Mediamax and Capital FC have been left out in this edition which will see only Radio Africa, Nation Media, Standard Media Group and Royal Media Services taking

part in the one-day tournament.

The winner of the five-aside tournament which has been drawn into four pools from six last year will book a direct ticket to England. This is also another change from the last edition where the Kenyan winner proceeded to the regional phase for the final. This year’s tournament has attracted 28 teams divided into four pools of six. The winning team will play at Anfield and also attend a premiere league match.

The reduction in the participants may have been brought about by the unavailability of the venue with the organisers forced to squeeze all the 28 matches into one day. This follows the decision to drop the regional knock-out format which was introduced last year.

The final will be preceded over by Liverpool legend John Banes who will attend the final this Saturday at Kasarani. Banes, a former

footballer, rapper and manager-turned football pundit will conduct clinics for local coaches and player. Defending champions Postal Corporation were seeded top in the pool A alongside Team Tusker, Pan Africa Insurance Group, TNS, Nation Media Group.

SportPesa Premier League side Posta went all the way to the final where thy lost 3-2 to South Korea last year. Posta won the regional staged held in Kenya after edging out Ugandan Roofing Group in the final. Other past winners are Pan Africa Insurance and Standard Group are also other past winners.

Standard Media Group will be searching for their second trip to Liverpool, but first they must go past Team Cherokee, IBM, National Airport Service, Safaricom and Nairobi Bottlers in group B. The top two team will proceed to the quarter final.

SPORT 15 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

FKF poll losers contest Okumbi’s appointment as Stars’ head coach whether the federation has a legal mandate to run football as a society.

According to Sport Act 2013, all sports organisations that were registered under Societies Act ceased to be with coming in operation of the new Sport Act 2013 which gave all sports Federations and clubs until July 31, 2014 to comply by re-registering afresh.

“Be that’s the case, that FKF conducted their elections as a society, then we have no problems with that, but the appointment of the national technical bench was over-stepping of their mandate because they are not a sports organisation but a society,” argued Iganji.

Iganji argued that the elections did not follow due process bringing to the attention of the Tribunal that the five term of FKF officials had expired by the time the elections were done.

“The only people who were mandate to give notice of the elections is the national executive committee, yet term expired on October 29, 2015.

“The election that was done

by FKF, even disrespected the federation’s constitution and should be nullified,” he said, adding that the Tribunal has been so lenient to FKF further stating that the court should force FKF to comply with the law (sports Act 2013).

But Ombati rubbished I g a n j i ’s claims that the elections were convened illegally stating that FKF constitution Newly-appointed Harambee Stars head coach Stanley Okumbi provides that the during his unveiling two weeks ago. A group led by FKF polls sitting chairman loser have challenged his appointment. remains in office until

A group led by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) election losers have termed the appointment of Stanley Okumbi as Harambee Stars head coach Stanley Okumbi illegal.

Appearing before Sports Dispute Tribunal, lawyer Benson Iganji representing the splinter group led by Gor Semelang’o and Sammy Shollei in a case in which the duo are challenging the recent FKF elections which brought in Nick Mwendwa as the new Football boss. Iganji who was responding to FKF attorney Ken Ombati’s submission that FKF conducted their elections as a society and not a sports organisation punched holes into the opposite bench further, urging the court to nullify the elections.

Ombati argued in his submission that FKF organised the elections as a society, with Tribunal chair John Ohaga challenging him

such a time that a new office comes in to place. In his replying submission, arguing that the case has been overtaken by events.

This was in response to Iganji’s submission that new election be organised and new office led by Semelang’o, Sholei and Abas be recognised and allowed to organise the polls.

Semelang’o group through their lawyer said they made an attempt to register after the Sports Registrar recognises the application within 14 days which is Requirement by the Sports Act 2013.

Iganji also want the branch and subbranch elections nullified. But Ombati said the branch official were not before the court and that there were no evidence to warrant the nullification of the elections. Ombati, however came under a lot of pressure to answer question from the tribunal member, Njeri Onyango whether the Sports Act underrides the FKF constriction.

“That depends with where you sit. Am not going to tell Iganji what he needs to do,” said Ombati.

When pressed further to tell the court what “should be done”, Ombati stated: “Apply for contempt of court. Am not going to come here and say that my client refused to comply (with Sports Act), in fact, today I’ve changed my stand that they’ve applied.”

Ohaga further probed Ombati even pre-emptying what will happen should Semelang’o group be transited into a full organisation: “Let’s cross the bridge when we get there,” said a comical Ombati whose comment threw the house in laughter before asking the Tribunal to give the new office time to run the federation.

“Fifa statute is not in the Kenya constitution. Fifa is registered in Switzerland and is not part of the International laws recognised by Kenyan,” argued Iganji on whether the Fifa statues overrides the constitution of Kenya. @elvince_x254

Man City faces Kiev in Champions League clash Tonight will represent Manchester City with an early chance of booking their place in the Champions League last 16 since 2012 when they face Ukrainian Dynamo Kiev in the first leg.

City will be without five key players, but they welcomes back fit-again Eliaquim Mangala as they travel to Ukraine with hopes of booking early slot in to the next group, something they’ve failed to do in their last three seasons ever since they first qualified for the Champions League in 2011/12.

Wingers Kevin de Bruyne and Jesus Navas, mid-fielders Samir Nasri and Fabian Delph as well as striker Wilfried Bony remain out for City as they face Kiev amidst recent poor form including

three straight defeats in both domestic and league cups. City finished top of Group D ahead of Juventus, Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach to reach the knock-out stages. Kiev who will only miss Andriy Yarmolenko first appeared in the knockout stages of the Champions League since 1998/99.

City Manager Manuel Pellegrini rested his star names and fielded six teenagers in the 5-1 FA Cup defeat t at Chelsea on Sunday, but will pick from the pool that faced Tottenham in City’s last Premier League game, in addition to Mangala.

The France defender has been out since January 6 with a hamstring injury.

Pellegrini justified his decision to field a weakened team against Chelsea as

he believes it will give his side the best chance to progress in the Champions League.

“We had to make a difficult decision against Chelsea, but it was the only choice we could make in this moment,” said Pellegrini.

Dynamo Kiev have not played a competitive game since a Champions League group-stage win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on December 9 due to Ukraine’s winter break. The last time an English team won a Champions League match in Ukraine was way back in 2007 Manchester United beat Kiev 4-2, taking the tally to five winless record from English opposition against Ukrainian opposition in the Champions League.

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1. 27.02.16 2. 27.02.16 3. 27.02.16 4. 27.02.16 5. 27.02.16 6. 27.02.16 7. 28.02.16 8. 28.02.16 9. 28.02.16 10. 28.02.16 11. 28.02.16 12. 28.02.16 13. 28.02.16

18:00 18:00 19:00 20:15 20:30 22:00 00:05 14:30 16:00 17:05 17:30 18:00 19:30

sms charged at 2/=

Southampton vs Chelsea Watford vs Bournemouth Montpellier vs Lille Sporting Gijon vs Espanyol West Bromwich vs Crystal Palace Reims vs Bordeaux Real Sociedad vs Malaga Palermo vs Bologna Nantes vs Monaco Manchester Utd vs Arsenal Augsburg vs B Monchengladbach Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao Liverpool vs Manchester City

2.87 2.34 2.56 2.30 2.56 2.66 2.24 2.57 2.47 2.93 2.61 2.24 2.93

3.13 3.24 2.99 3.20 3.10 3.09 3.20 3.15 3.06 3.14 3.41 3.26 3.29

2.55 3.08 2.99 3.20 2.88 2.77 3.31 2.83 3.06 2.50 2.61 3.26 2.30

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24 2016 18:00 18:20 19:00 19:00 20:00 20:00 20:10 20:30 20:30 20:30 21:00 21:15 22:00 22:00 22:45 22:45 22:45 22:45 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:00 23:30 23:30 23:30

B3737 B9685 C3842 P5663 B6545 U9543 H2253 T4275 X5858 S3872 L9565 E9924 R9848 D6628 U4926 N7383 X9453 Q9374 A6869 K5492 M6694 W3628 C9546 W7362 F5398

Al Ain vs Al Jaish Al vs Muharraq SC vs Ahli AL Khalil PribramU19 vs Benfica Youth Free State Stars vs Ajax Cape Town Sporting Braga vs Sion Robur Siena vs Foggia Al Ahli Jeddah vs Nasaf Qarshi Maritzburg Utd vs Bidvest Meinz U19 vs Heidenheim U19 Mamelodi vs Mpumalanga BA Monte Azul SP vs Atletico Votuporanguense Sporting Cristal vs Alianza Atletico Madureira RJ vs Macae RJ Bangu RJ vs Volta Redonda RJ Derby vs Blackburn Dynamo Kiev vs Manchester City Hibernian vs Morton Bradford PA vs Boston Utd PSV Eindhoven vs Atletico Madrid Capivariano SP vs Sao Bernardo Atletico Linense SP vs EC Agua Santa SP Colegiales vs Dep Riestra Atletico Huila vs Independiente Medellin Jaguares d. Cordoba vs Atletico Bucaramanga UTC Cajamarca vs Real Garcilaso

1.66 1.51 6.25 2.17 1.65 2.47 1.42 3.93 1.45 2.02 2.17 1.41 1.86 2.08 1.79 3.37 1.31 2.03 4.53 2.42 1.93 2.01 3.22 2.27 2.31

3.41 3.48 5.25 3.13 3.73 3.23 3.72 3.18 4.40 3.13 3.22 4.08 3.27 3.15 3.32 3.26 4.52 3.30 3.30 2.88 3.09 3.07 3.07 3.02 3.01

3.95 5.80 1.30 2.93 5.33 2.47 5.63 1.82 4.90 3.28 2.87 6.04 3.62 3.10 4.53 2.19 7.53 3.09 1.86 2.78 3.60 3.37 2.07 2.87 2.81

772

wednesday, february 24, 2016 | www.x254.co

group challenges fkf’s appointment of harambee stars head coach stanley okumbi

Lionel Messi sprints away in celebration after scoring Barcelona’s first goal in their 2-0 win over Arsenal last night at the Emirates Stadium, London. He scored again from the spot to grab a brace.

PHOTO:ANDY RAIN/EPA

Lionel Messi ended his hoodoo against Petr Cech in style by scoring two decisive goals as Barcelona all but condemned Arsenal to a sixth successive exit at the last-16 stage of the Champions League.

The 2015 World Player of the Year crowned a blistering a counter-attack involving Suarez and Neymar to sweep home a fine finish and open the scoring after 71 minutes.

The Gunners had battled gallantly to give themselves a chance going into the second leg at the Nou Camp in three weeks’ time with both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud come close to putting the home team in the lead. However, it was Messi who scored his first goal against keeper Petr Cech at the seventh attempt before adding another seven minutes from time.

Arsenal substitute Mathieu Flamini floored the diminutive Argentine with a mistimed challenge and he got up to send Cech the wrong way from the spot. It was his eighth goal against Arsenal in the Champions League.

Suarez hit the post and Cech saved from Neymar as Barcelona took control with the tie now well out of Arsenal’s reach. Arsenal went out to Barcelona in 2010 and 2011 and that was after a draw and a win at Emirates Stadium - so their chances can be all but written off after this defeat.

The Gunners had their chances, but they came to nothing, with Oxlade-Chamberlain a culprit when he allowed Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to save from a huge opportunity before Giroud saw a second-half header well saved.

p15

Messi stings Arsenal

It is, perhaps, on nights like these that those calls for Wenger to sign a world-class striker carry greater resonance because even the smallest opportunities have to count and Arsenal were unable to do so.

“Realistically it is very, very difficult, if not impossible. We have to go there and fight. We had the chances, we didn’t score,” manager Arsene Wenger said after the game. “Barcelona are a great team. We put a lot of energy in the game and technically we were very average.

The regret I had was once we looked like we dominated the game, we give the goal away. Similar to Monaco last season, naive, and that is frustrating. When we looked like we could win the game, we just gave it away,” he added.

Barcelona’s front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar had far more touches in the Arsenal half than Arsenal’s attacking trio of Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez managed in the Barcelona half.

The big fear before the game was that Arsenal would be unable to keep Barca’s big three quiet for 90 minutes no matter how hard they tried - and so it proved.

Although defender Gerrard Pique is poised to miss the second leg after picking a second yellow at the Emirates, Barcelona manager Luis Enrique was satisfied with his team’s showing.

“I am happy with everything. There was nothing that I didn’t like. Nothing. The result is really good, but the tie is not over. We will have to go out to win,” he said after the match.

In another similar encounter, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich gave away a two-goal lead as Juventus produced a remarkable second-half fightback to give themselves hope going into the second leg in Germany.

The Bundesliga leaders overwhelmed their Serie A counterparts in the first half, and took the lead when Thomas Muller slotted in from inside the penalty area before Arjen Robben curled in the second early after the restart. Juve pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when Paulo Dybala tucked home. And the comeback was complete when Stefano Sturaro poked in from close range after a pinpoint header from Mario Mandzukic. @peter_x254

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