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MONday, MARCH 21, 2016 | www.x254.co

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state house defends parastatal appointments senior director of communication munyori buku says president considered the face of kenya even as he blended old age with youth in latest jobs

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NEWS

Harambee stars teddy akumu injured as he is hit by an object in guinea

Real madrid’s gareth bale breaks British la liga scoring record

Cord now links Jubilee to stalled Okoa Kenya bid

T

he opposition coalition Cord has today accused the ruling Jubilee alliance of frustrating its push for a referendum to amend the constitution.

Cord is seeking to change various laws through popular vote and already submitted their signatures to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for verification.

But the coalition is now accusing both IEBC and Jubilee of a collusion to frustrate the Okoa Kenya movement.

In a statement read by Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi today, the coalition said Jubilee is interfering with the work of IEBC

in the verification of the signatures.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Discussion to let counties share court’s revenue

County governments may soon get a slice of the court’s revenue if a law is enacted to facilitate the sharing.

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has asked governors to discuss the division of revenue between the Judiciary and county governments at their upcoming summit.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Cord leader Raila Odinga addresses the media at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi today as co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka and Siaya senator James Orengo look on. The coalition has accused Jubilee of working in collusion with IEBC to frustrate the Okoa Kenya drive.

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President Obama in historic Cuba visit He becomes the first US leaders to set foot on the island-nation in nine decades following years of frosty relationship.

Story on page 5

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NEWS

Cord claims Jubilee in conspiracy with IEBC to stall Okoa Kenya bid MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

From Page 1

They cited recent remarks by Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale and nominated MP Johnson Sakaja in which the two legislators claimed that the 1.4 million signatures presented to IEBC by Cord were fake.

“Elements of Jubilee leadership claimed that the Okoa Kenya signatures were fake and inadequate.

The signatures had been solely presented to IEBC and not shared with any other entity or person, but we heard our rivals Aden Duale and Johnson Sakaja speaking authoritatively on a matter being handled by an independent institution,” Kalonzo said.

Duale last week led eight Jubilee MPs in dismissing the Okoa Kenya drive claiming that the said signatures are fake.

“We have reliable information that the signatures Cord presented to the IEBC are not genuine,” Duale said at a press conference in Parliament.

Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja said Cord had committed fraud in relation to the signatures.

And Kalonzo accused IEBC of working in cohorts with the Jubilee leaders to scuttle the process of the verification of the signatures so that the country does not go to a referendum.

“The statements being made by

Cord leader Raila Odinga addresses the press at the Serena Hotel today as his co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka and Mombasa senator Hassan Omar look on. The coalition has accused Jubilee leaders of trying to frustrate the Okoa Kenya initiative.

Jubilee leaders clearly indicate that Jubilee and IEBC is one and the same thing,” Kalonzo said.

Cord leader Raila Odinga warned IEBC not to be used by the Jubilee Coalition over the matter saying the issue is so weighty to be taken lightly.

“The matter we presented to IEBC is so weighty and of national concern and IEBC should not take it lightly as they are currently doing. The commission should not allow itself to be used by Jubilee,” Odinga said.

Kalonzo lamented that despite IEBC

promising to verify the signatures within three months, the electoral body has failed to get back to them on the progress of the verification process.

“On the day we submitted the signatures, IEBC agreed to work and verify them within the period of three months as stipulated in the constituion. It is close to six months since we submitted the signatures and IEBC is yet to get back to us. But we have remained patient and exercised restraint. We

NTSA gets more vehicles

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia flags off new cars that will be used by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in their operations to bring sanity on the roads. The event took place at Uhuru gardens in Nairobi today.

have chosen the path of dialogue and consultations,” he said. He however warned that their patience is running out given the casual manner in which IEBC is handling the matter of signature verification.

“That Bill has issues that are critical to the future of our nation which is currently plagued with corruption, marginalization of communities and regions and grim attempts to roll back the gains of the struggle for the second liberation,” Kalonzo said.

The Okoa Kenya Movement which

includes civil society groups and CORD, is pushing for a raft of amendments to the Constitution including reforms at IEBC. Hours after the press conference, IEBC took to its twitter page and announced that it will release the results of the Okoa kenya referendum initiative signature verification this week.

“We are doing all we can to have the verification on Okoa Kenya signatures completed, released as soon as possibly, certainly within the week,” the commission tweeted. sam_x254

Mutunga calls for talks to let counties get share of court’s revenue collection From Page 1 Mutunga said there is a legal provision for the National government to give part of the money as a special grant, after the Council of Governors (COG) approached the Judiciary with a request to share the county courts’ revenue.

“The Council of Governors should tell the Executive to allow money collected from county courts to be divided as a special grant before the law changes,” the CJ said.

He said for now, the money has to be sent directly to the exchequer in line with the law.

“If the Judiciary says for instance that 50 per cent of revenue that we have collected should come to you directly by being converted to a special grant, we won’t have a problem with it. We are looking for a way out though,” added Mutunga The CJ said a register should be set aside for county matters that would have to be dealt with at the specified court.

“Tell the CoG chair to push this issue of the grant. He raised it before with the President and I think he agreed,” he said.

Governors have indicated that they will use the upcoming third annual devolution conference to press ahead with the push for more resources.

Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya and his deputy Salim Mvurya have said some functions supposed to be discharged by the county governments had not been devolved together with adequate funds, which has threatened operations at the county level.

Mr Munya, who is also the Meru governor, lamented that counties are still underfunded to enable them deliver more and better services.

“We still have many challenges, the largest being underfunding. We have many functions but no allocations to run them. For instance, in the current budget that is before Parliament, we have been allocated an additional 41,000 kilometres of roads that counties are supposed to manage but there is no allocation even of a single cent. Is that fair? That is one way of ensuring that we fail,” lamented Mr Munya. The county boss asked the public to support them in the fight for resources saying it was for their betterment and interest. wilson_x254

NEWS 3 MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

KMTC applicants to seek place online

Uhuru holds talks with Museveni

State defends appointments to parastatal jobs Parastatal appointments made by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday last week through a gazette notice were balanced and represents the face of Kenya, State House has said. Senior Director of Public Communication Munyori Buku in a press statement today said the appointments were fair and accused the opposition of spreading lies over the same.

“The appointments are national and fully reflect the face and fabric of Kenya. The President picked able Kenyans who will lend a hand in the government’s ongoing transformation of Kenya. He has also combined the vibrancy of youth with the experience of age,” Buku said.

The appointments published in the Kenya gazette on Friday last week saw former secretary to the cabinet Francis Kimemia (pictured) make a return to the public service

just months after he was cleared of corruption allegations.

Mr Kimemia was appointed chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC).

Former Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey was appointed chairman of the Tourism Fund while former police commissioner Mohammed Hussein Ali was appointed to chair the NGO Co-ordination Board.

Ronald Osumba who was Peter Kenneth’s running mate in the last general election was appointed chairman of the Youth Advisory Board.

And Buku says the appointments were balanced. “Take Mr Ronald Osumba, for example. He is young and has great ideas on youth affairs and empowerment. The President appointed him chairman of the Youth Advisory Board. Mr Paul Tergat is an athlete of unparalleled abilities. In his heyday, he broke records without number in long distance and the marathon. He has been appointed chair of the Kenya Academy of Sports Council,” Buku said. Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Moses Wetangula over the weekend criticised President Kenyatta over the appointments saying the Head of State only rewarded individuals from two ethnic communities. Odinga said all Kenyans pay taxes equally and therefore parastatal appointments should be equally distributed.

“We pay taxes equally but when appointments are made its only two communities that are rewarded. Does it mean the government only belongs to two communities,” posed Mr Odinga. @sam_x254

President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) welcomes President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda to State House Nairobi today. The two leaders later held bilateral talks.

Students who wish to join medical training colleges will now be required to apply online in a digital move aimed at enhancing efficiency in enrolment at the institution.

Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTC) Director Peter Tum said manual registration had been abolished as it was prone to fraud and manipulation by aspiring students due to the high enrolment demand. “The system will be verifying applicants, removing any bureaucracy in the admission process which paves way for people coming in through the backdoor,” Dr Tum said.

He said that the e-registration was already running as the colleges aimed to digitalise all systems to reach all prospective students in the country.

“All prospective students are within reach and thus no one will claim they have been left out,” The portal is easy to use and offers students an option to select two courses,” said Tum. He added: “Students will access online payment methods, choose their preferred courses and also get

their results online. We are already training staff on Ifmis and e-procurement at all the campuses.” KMTC contributes about 80 per cent of the country’s medical personnel from its 42 campuses.

Last year, the medical training colleges were marred by admission hitches after the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) blocked its planned student enrolment.

KUCCPS claimed it was the only mandated body by the constitution to place students in any higher institution of learning, a fact the leadership of KMTC did not ascribe to.

On its part the college argued that it has an academic board that ensures that all academic courses meet the required criteria unlike the placement body that do have such a criteria. According to the director the institution seeks to enrol close to 7500 students across its campuses students during the September intake this year. @wilson_x254

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NEWS MONDAY,MARCH 21, 2016

State unveils new center for survey The Government has put up an Ultra- modern center in Nairobi at a cost of Sh831 million to regulate all mapping and survey operations in the country.

The Kenya Geo- spatial Data Center (KGSDC) will accommodate Kenya National Spatial Data infrastructure (KNSDI) secretariat and the Kenyan Geodetic Reference frame (KGRF) to enhance efficiency in Survey and Mapping services.

The building includes an administration block which will house a printing press, a workshop, a civil and external works section, conference rooms, a cafeteria as well as photogrammetry and cartography centres.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony of the new center by the State Department of Public Works at the Survey of Kenya headquarters at Ruaraka in Nairobi, the Director of Surveys, Cesare Mbaria said that the center will serve as a nerve center of survey and mapping operations.

“The center will reduce the pressure of accommodation because it will house officers in geodetic work, geospatial data, and officers in other units.” said Mr. Mbaria. Mr. Mbaria said that proper utilization of the building with modern technology will enable the Survey Departments to improve service delivery to Kenyans. He said that the Centre will be operational before the end of the month and will be expected to reduce paper work and digitize all the operations to reduce land disputes in the country.

Kenya prepares to torch largest ivory stockpile

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday visited the Nairobi National Park ahead of a planned destruction of massive stockpiles of ivory in April.

Kenya will torch 120 tonnes of ivory, just 17 short of Kenya’s total stockpiles and 1.5 tonnes of rhino horn; the entire stockpile.

The ivory will be burnt on April 30 in the Park, in an event organised by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) with the support of the anti-ivory trade charity Stop Ivory.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta visited the Nairobi National Park to review arrangements for a massive ivory burn event in April,” State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu said in a statement.

Before the ivory destruction, Mr Kenyatta will host a historic gathering of African leaders to address the elephant-poaching crisis in the first meeting of the Giants Club, a wildlife-protection initiative. The leaders will include African Heads of State, numerous conservation experts, eminent corporate leaders, high-profile philanthropists, and Hollywood figures to work towards the goal of developing a more cohesive, continent-wide response to the poaching of elephants and the trade in illegal-wildlife trophies.

“The fact that this summit will be the single biggest summit of its kind in Africa’s history, is an

President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to lit a stockpile of ivory at a past function at the Kenya Wildlife Services headquarters in Nairobi. Mr Kenyatta will preside over a similar function on April 30, 2016 as Kenya torches the largest ever ivory stockpile.

encouraging sign that there is sufficient political goodwill on the continent to enable our collective conservation efforts to succeed,” Esipisu noted.

According to scientific reports, between 2010 and 2012 some 100,000 elephants were lost to poaching across Africa.

The Giants Club was founded by the Kenyan-based elephantprotection charity Space for Giants, to combat the poaching crisis by bringing together political

leaders, corporate heads and conservationists to protect Africa’s remaining elephant populations.

“Organisations such as the Giants’ Club play a massive role in influencing global opinion and ensuring these successes can be repeated and replicated across Africa, and the globe. By standing together, we can we make owning ivory and rhino horn an abhorrence,” Esipisu said.

Kenya Airways, which signed a Declaration to Prevent Wildlife

Trafficking, will be one of the keys supporters of the ivory burning event. The Declaration by the global transport players is ambitious with eleven commitments which require signatories to commit to supporting global efforts to prevent illegal wildlife smuggling, through putting in place real measures where the transport industry specifically can help shut down routes exploited by traffickers.

www.capitalfm.co.ke

Africans vote in ‘Super Sunday’ as Senegal holds referendum Elections yesterday took place in five African countries, while Senegal held a referendum on reducing presidential terms.

A presidential run-off went ahead in Niger even though the opposition candidate was in a French hospital.

Congo-Brazzaville has cut all telecommunications for two days to prevent “illegal publication of results” of its presidential election.

Elections were also held in Benin, Cape Verde and Zanzibar.

In Congo-Brazzaville , riot police used tear gas to disperse dozens of opposition supporters who alleged vote irregularity after voting ended in the capital.

Opposition groups are reported to have been denied access to the counting of ballots.

Before voting day, Congolese Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou had ordered telephone operators to cut all communications - telephone, text messages and the internet.

Only a few official numbers were excluded from the ban.

The government had also outlawed the use of motor vehicles nationwide

during the vote, except for those with special permits.

The opposition had condemned the communications blackout, saying it would prevent election monitors from doing their job, and warned of rigging.

General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko is seen as the strongest challenger to President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Mr Sassou Nguesso has been in power since 1979, except for a fiveyear period after losing elections in 1992.

The constitution was changed after an October referendum to remove term and age limits which would have prevented the 72-year-old from standing again.

In Niger, the opposition called for a boycott of the election, alleging fraud.

Correspondents say they had not seen many voters in the capital, Niamey.

President Muhamadou Issoufou is expected to win a second term in a contest also featuring former prime minister and parliamentary speaker Hama Amadou.

Mr Amadou was jailed in November on baby-trafficking charges, which he denies. He was flown to Paris last week for medical treatment.

His medical condition is unclear, but his health reportedly deteriorated in prison.

One of the world’s poorest countries, Niger faces a growing jihadist threat and was attacked by militants from al-Qaeda and Boko Haram on Thursday.

In February’s first round, Mr Issoufou got 48% of the vote while Mr Amadou came second with 17%.

In Zanzibar, security was tight after violent protests over recent elections.

It was reported that there were not many voters in the polling stations.

The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) had urged its supporters to boycott the poll.

October’s election was cancelled after CUF candidate Seif Sharif Hamad declared himself the winner before results were officially announced.

CUF says the annulment was because it had won, while the electoral commission said there had been widespread fraud.

With the CUF boycotting, President Ali Mohamed Shein of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi, which is in power across Tanzania, looks set to be reelected.

As the polls closed, election official

Salum Kassim Ali said he had not “received any big complaints. The vote counting is under way and the results will be out as soon as possible, and within 72 hours”.

A woman cast her vote in Pemba island, Zanzibar as the island voted in a repeat election yesterday.

PHOTO: /EPA

NEWS 5

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

Obama in Cuba for historic visit President Barack Obama arrived in Cuba for a historic visit to the island and talks with its communist leader.

He is the first sitting US president to visit since the 1959 revolution, which heralded decades of hostility.

Speaking at the reopened US embassy in Havana, he called the visit “historic”.

He also spent time in the old city.

Mr Obama will meet President Raul Castro, but not retired revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, and the pair will discuss trade and political reform.

The US president emerged smiling from Air Force One with First Lady Michelle and their daughters Sasha and Malia.

Holding umbrellas, the party walked in light drizzle along a red carpet to be greeted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Two hours after landing, Mr Obama greeted staff from the US embassy with the words: “It is wonderful to be here”.

“Back in 1928, President [Calvin] Coolidge came on a battleship. It took him three days to get here, it only took me three hours. For the first time ever, Air Force One has landed in Cuba and this is our very first stop.”

He added the trip was a chance to for him to lay out a “vision for a future that is brighter than our past”.

The Obamas later began a walkabout in historic Old Havana.

The tour was meant to see them interacting with ordinary Cubans on the streets, but this part of the itinerary was marred by a tropical storm.

They huddled under umbrellas before visiting the national cathedral.

President Obama’s visit is the highpoint of a recent easing of ties, which included the opening of embassies last year.

But only hours before his arrival, protesters calling for the release of political prisoners were arrested in the capital, Havana.

Police took away dozens of demonstrators from the Ladies in White group, formed of political

US President Barack Obama (front) waves upon his arrival to the Cathedral Havana, Cuba, yesterday. Mr Obama is in a historic visit to Cuba until March 22 to seal the process of rapprochement with the Communist-ruled island. Obama is accompanied by his wife Michelle, his daughters Malia and Sasha, and his mother-in-law Marian Robinson.

PHOTO: ROLANDO PUJOL/EPA

prisoners’ wives, from outside a church where they attempt to hold weekly protests.

Correspondents say the visit - the first by a sitting US president for 88 years marks a huge turnaround in US-Cuban relations.

It is hard to overstate the significance of this trip because as recently as 18 months ago, the idea of a US president setting foot on Cuban soil would have been unthinkable, the BBC’s North

America editor Jon Sopel says.

It represents the opening of a new chapter in the affairs of the two nations, our correspondent says.

Mr Obama and Raul Castro will sit together at a state dinner, there will be a joint news conference and they will discuss trade.

The White House has made it clear President Obama will meet political dissidents, whether the Cuban authorities like it or not. That is

expected to include members of the Ladies in White group.

Although the US president is not scheduled to meet Fidel Castro, Cubans were reminded of their former veteran leader on Sunday as newspapers published pictures of him meeting Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.

Analysts suggested the release of the pictures underlines conflicting sentiments within the Communist Party over hosting Mr Obama.

Deadly bus crash kills 13 students At least 13 people died and 34 were injured when a bus on a highway in Spain lost control and crashed into a car Sunday morning, according to the government of Catalonia.

The bus carried 57 passengers of different nationalities, including many exchange students, according to the Erasmus Student Network.

“The students were on their way to Barcelona, coming back from the ‘Fallas’ festivity in Valencia,” Erasmus said in a statement.

They were students at Catalan University and their bus was one of five returning from Valencia, Catalan officials said.

The accident happened on a highway near Freginals, in Catalonia. Authorities have yet to identify the nationalities of the victims.

To the families, Erasmus said on its website, “we send our deepest condolences.”

Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont declared two days of mourning.

Catalan Interior Minister Jordi Jané explained that there were 57 passengers on the bus. The minister explained that the passengers were students at Catalan universities, Earlier reporting had the number of deaths at 14, but the Catalan government said 13 students died in the crash.

Top stories from X News global partners

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As he arrived, Obama used a Cuban phrase meaning “what’s up?” when he tweeted: “¿Que bolá Cuba? Just touched down here, looking forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people.” “This is a historic visit,” Obama said as he greeted US Embassy staff and their families at a Havana hotel. “It’s an historic opportunity to engage with the Cuban people.” www.theguardian.com

eyebrows within the Jewish community.

He is from the city with the country’s largest Jewish population, and he made his fortune working among the Jewish machers in New York’s real estate industry. His Palm Beach club, Mar-aLago, was effectively marketed as a Jewish alternative to the town’s private clubs that had historically excluded Jews. His daughter Ivanka married an Orthodox Jew and converted. But he will be facing a wary crowd today at the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

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European Union declared Turkey to be a “safe” country for asylum seekers—a necessary precondition for sending migrants back there under international law. The following day, a suicide bomber killed at least four people, all of them foreigners, on Istanbul’s most popular pedestrian shopping street (pictured).

Turkey has now endured five big terror attacks since October, at a cost of nearly 200 lives. Residents of Turkey would therefore disagree with the EU’s assessment: the country no longer feels safe for anyone.

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taking the three-hour flight that has eluded his predecessors for the past 88 years. Stepping off Air Force One in Havana alongside his wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia, Mr Obama began a three-day trip that the president hopes will help loosen the grip of the Cuban regime on the country’s economy and on its politics. “Back in 1928, President Coolidge came on a battleship and it took him three days to get here,” Mr Obama later told US diplomatic staff in Havana, referring to the last presidential visit to the island only 90 miles off the Florida coast. www.ft.com

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xnews | MONday, MARCH 21, 2016 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

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

MEAN 101.5810 144.2467 111.2947 6.6118 33.0968 21.5395

(AS OF 18/3/2016)

BUY SELL 101.4844 101.6776 144.0944 144.3989 111.1722 111.4172 6.6036 6.6201 33.0161 33.1775 21.4698 21.6092

Uhuru, Museveni meet stakeholders in Nairobi over pipeline route deal President Uhuru Kenyatta and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni are scheduled to hold discussions with oil company executives in regard to a route for a pipeline to transport the two countries’ oil. At the meeting, top on the agenda is the construction of the Uganda-Kenya oil pipeline, a key plank of the Northern Corridor infrastructure projects.

Resolving the pipeline route is crucial to helping oil companies involved in Uganda and Kenya to make final investment decisions on developing oil fields.

Just last week, Tanzania’s presidency said Total, which has a stake in Uganda’s crude oil discoveries, had set aside $4 billion (Sh406 billion) to build a pipeline from Ugandan fields to the Tanzanian coast and that Tanzania wants the threeyear construction schedule shortened, Reuters reports. The announcement raised the stakes in a competition to secure the pipeline with Kenya wants Ugandan oil to be exported across its territory and the pipeline to link up with Kenyan oil fields.

Kenya has initially fronted the northern route through Lokichar as its preferred route, because as part of the Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project, it would transform

infrastructure and the way of life of the people in the towns and counties across its path. Among others, officials from Tullow Oil, Total and China’s CNOOC received invites to today’s meeting.

Total has, however, previously raised security concerns about the Kenyan route. It is believed that if constructed on the preferred route, sections of the Kenyan pipeline could run near bordering country of Somalia, from where militants have launched attacks on Kenya and could pose great danger to the construction.

Industry officials have, however, given the choice a green light saying that connecting Kenyan fields, which have estimated total recoverable reserves of 600 million barrels, with those in Uganda would make the pipeline project cheaper because costs would be shared.

Both Kenya and Uganda, which the government says has a total 6 billion barrels of crude, have yet to begin commercial production.

Tullow Oil and partner Africa Oil first struck oil in Lokichar in northwest Kenya in the year 2012.Africa Oil and Tullow were 50-50 partners in blocks 10 BB and 13T, where the discoveries were made. Africa Oil has since sold a 25 percent stake in those blocks to A.P. Moller-Maersk.

President Uhuru Kenyatta with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni. The two leaders are meeting oil company executives in Nairobi today.

BuSINESS DIARY KQ signs declaration to prevent wildlife trafficking Speed networking event at the Pride Inn Hotel Events planner, La Bonita will host a Speed Networking event on Thursday, March 24 at the Pride Inn Hotel in Westlands, Nairobi. The affair, to be held at 5:30 pm, serves to expose attendees to entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. It is a structured and fast paced

networking event allowing participants to interact with other like-minded individuals in a series of brief one-onone information exchanges.

Tickets will cost Sh2,500.

Interested parties are advised to contact La Bonita Events on 0735537001/0722573003.

Microsoft TukoWorks entrepreneurship training forum in Kileleshwa The Africa Centre for Women and ICT will host a networking and entrepreneurship forum in Kileleshwwa on March 30, 2016. The event, dubbed “Microsoft TukoWorks Entrepreneurship Training”, will be held from 9:00 am. It seeks to link entrepreneurs to potential partners and business opportunities.

Entrance is free. There will also be free attendance and exhibition space for business owned and managed by youth, women and persons with disabilities.

The event will be held at the African Centre for Women and ICT building, along Makueni Road in Kileleshwa, Nairobi.

National carrier Kenya Airways has signed a declaration to prevent wildlife trafficking. Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze signed the declaration on behalf of the airline joined by 40 other leaders in the transport and conservation sector. The signing of the declaration was led by His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge.

The initiative aims to support efforts to prevent the growing trade in illegal wildlife and products around the world, with the taskforce for transportation playing a major role in ensuring such illegal products, including ivory, do not move through their organisations.

Kenya Airways was a founding member of

the task force and is one of the signatories to the Declaration of the United for Wildlife International Taskforce on the Transportation of Illegal Wildlife Products signed at Buckingham Palace, London.

“Kenya Airways has a zero tolerance policy regarding illegal wildlife trade and by being signatories of this declaration we are reinforcing our stand. We work closely with other government agencies, especially at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), to ensure illegal products are not being transported on our aircrafts,” said Mr Ngunze.

He noted the threat facing wildlife, especially in Africa where poaching has been on the increase. The initiative comes

in the wake of a surge in wildlife poaching across Africa with elephants and rhinos among the worst hit and Kenya preparing to burn the largest ivory stockpile, of 120 tonnes, next month. Other signatories from Africa to the declaration include South African Airlines and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), of which Mr Ngunze is the current chair.

The Declaration by the global transport players is ambitious with eleven commitments which require signatories to commit to supporting global efforts to prevent illegal wildlife smuggling, through putting in place real measures where the transport industry specifically can help shut down routes exploited by traffickers. kevin_x254

Licence fee waiver to support youth employment

The Nairobi County Government will waive permit and license charges for traders as part of an initiative dubbed; Ignite Kenya Youth Night Market, a move aimed at creating employment opportunities for young Kenyans.

Governor Evans Kidero who is set to grace the launch of the pilot night market at the Comesa grounds on Friday said the plan to waive licence fees is a momentous milestone in developing the country’s economy.

“The initiative is in line with our County

Strategic Plan that is geared towards promoting a 24-hour economy so as to improve our socio-economic lives in the county,” Kidero said.

“The night markets are one way of addressing the serious youth unemployment challenge which is not unique to Nairobi County but a countrywide challenge, we’re calling on the youth to take up the opportunity to make some extra income,” said Anne Lokidor, the Nairobi County Executive in charge of youth affairs.

She said the youth will have an opportunity on select weekends every month to sell merchandise where Nairobi county government will provide security for traders from 4:00 pm to mid night. Lokidor said the county government resolved to waive the Sh2, 500 license fees that would have been payable by the traders, in addition to waiving permits to allow for the distribution of publicity materials. She said City Hall will also put the Nairobi County fires trucks and ambulances Services to attend to any emergencies.

BUSINESS 7

World Bank okays Sh20bn to Kenya

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of US$200 million (Sh20 billion) to Kenya. The credit will help citizens in the counties by improving the way key devolved services such as healthcare and local road maintenance are delivered to them. “Kenyans want devolution to work, and so do we at the World Bank. The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) was established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zerointerest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives.

This program presents a great opportunity for both national and County Governments to

therise Eaagads Limited Eaagads Ltd was the week’s top gainer after edging upwards by 18.5 per cent during the week. The share price was up to Sh24.00 from the previous week’s close of Sh20.25. The stock’s turnover was however low, only moving Sh20, 000 worth of shares. Yearto-date its share price has shed -10.3 per cent of its value.

Pan Africa Insurance

thefall

Pan Africa Insurance Holdings Ltd was last week’s top losing stock following a 14.1 per cent slide in its share price over the course of the week’s trading. Pan Africa shares ended the week at a price of Sh47.25from their previous closing price of Sh55.00.The insurer’s profit before tax for FY2015 dropped 95 per cent to Sh54 million from Sh1.15 billion in FY2014.

The loss was mainly driven by the increase in claims provisioning that reduced the company’s net asset value combined with the use of a more conservative internal discount rate to value business for impairment testing purposes. Its shares have shed 21.3 per cent of their value yearto-date.

Analysis by Amana Capital info@amanacapital.co.ke

work together to deliver services to the ordinary citizens, efficiently and effectively,” said Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Director for Kenya.

The new Kenya Devolution Support Program-forResults, which was approved just days ago, will support the county and national government to improve results in five core areas:

public finance management systems: human resource management; planning and monitoring and evaluation systems; civic education and public participation, and intergovernmental relations.

This program seeks to support all counties that opt to participate in it, and is significant as it offers a dedicated effort and financing

for Kenya’s devolution.

Also, the program will be implemented through Government’s own systems and policy framework to ensure sustainable impact and scale. “‘The Annual Capacity and Performance Assessment will provide a systematic review of capacity strengths and weaknesses, and will enable capacity providers at

national and county levels to more directly target support to gaps that emerge,” said Christopher Finch, Senior Social Development Specialist and Task Team Leader.

The Kenya Devolution Support Program-forResults is unique in that it brings a results orientation to capacity building by introducing performance-

based transfers from national government to counties. The performance based grants, which are 80 percent of the credit, create incentives for counties to participate while providing additional resources for investment..

This program is fully aligned with the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS). kevin_x254

8

BUSINESS

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

Aga Khan Foundation, Davis and Shirtliff to light up slums The Aga Khan Foundation has partnered with Davis & Shirtliff, one of East Africa’s largest suppliers of water related goods, to provide solar equipment for over a hundred schools in a bid to improve learning conditions in schools located in informal settlements.

The project, which commenced on January 18, is expected to be completed by end of April 2016. It is estimated that over 40, 000 pupils from Nairobi and Mombasa counties will benefit from improved conditions at the schools.

“The schools are in very congested and heavily built up slum-encroached areas. This makes the classrooms dark even during the day hence the need for proper lighting to facilitate effective learning,” said Norman Chege Solar Manager at Davis & Shirtliff.

In addition to improving lighting in classes, the project is also expected to substantially enhance security measures within the schools and their environs.

“We have completed the first phase that entailed installation of the equipment for 28 schools. The second phase where we are hooking 75 schools to the solar powered systems starts next week,” said Chege.

The first phase entailed supply and installation of solar kits in schools in Nairobi which include Kayole, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mukuru kwa Reuben, Lunga Lunga, Mukuru Fuata Nyayo, Dandora and Soweto. The second phase will cover Nairobi and Mombasa. Specific localities earmarked in the latter phase include Kibera, Mathare, Likoni, Changamwe and Kisauni.

The project has been funded by the Aga Khan Foundation while Davis & Shirtliff will undertake the implementation.

The project, which commenced in January ,will end in April 2016. It is estimated that over 40,000 pupils from Nairobi and Mombasa counties will benefit from improved conditions at the schools.

Dennis_x254

Samsung digs deeper into Kenyan market, unveils phone, targets growing middle-class Samsung Electronics East Africa has announced plans to delve deeper into the Kenyan market by targeting the country’s growing middle-class population.

The group has decided to take on a customerbased approach as it seeks to reaffirm its presence in the region by offering products and solutions tailored to the needs of its clients.

As part of its ongoing growth strategy, the tech company has introduced to the Kenyan market the newest addition to the Galaxy family of products; the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. New data reveals that the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge lead the industry with refined design and unparalleled connectivity to a host of products, services, and experiences.

“We empower consumers with technology to help them get more out of life and will continue to push the frontier of what’s possible,” said Jung Hyun Park, Vice President and Managing Director, Samsung Electronics East Africa.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge come at a time when consumer spending has been on the rise with more Kenyans having disposable income.

According to a Standard Chartered study dubbed ‘The Emerging Affluence Report 2015’, Kenya’s emerging middle class is wealthier than peers in developed economies such as Britain and the United States.

The study indicates that emerging affluent people in Africa and Asia plan to save as much as 30 per cent of their household income in the next year up from 26 per cent in the past year. This is more than six times the proportion set aside by people in Britain and the US. Samsung has been keen to cash in on this market, having launched a raft of products in Kenya over the past few years.

Their latest move comes with the launch of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge which can deliver fast wired and wireless charging technology.

Samsung continues to push the boundaries of hardware, software and services to create devices that are designed to improve how consumers connect, share, organize and get more out of life. The company is redefining what is possible, beyond the limits of today’s technology, by introducing a constellation of seamless mobile experiences.

Samsung has also partnered with leading Telecoms company Safaricom to offer data and warranty services for its devices.

Dennis_x254

Jung Park (left), Vice President & MD of Samsung Electronics East Africa, John Macharia (centre), the Head of Creative Marketing & Peter Gitonga, Head of Training IT & Mobile Division take a selfie with the new Samsung Galaxy S7 edge foloowing its launch.

Nakumatt Holdings will not “pump the breaks” on expansion strategy Regional retailer, Nakumatt Holdings has reaffirmed its commitment to deepen formal retail penetration in the region.

The consumer goods distributor, in one of its latest announcements, has said the chain will not pump the breaks on its ongoing expansion strategy as it plans to open its 60th store in Emali town, along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, in the coming days.

In one of its more recent moves, Nakumatt this month opened the doors to its second supermarket in Kakamega Town. The new Nakumatt Midtown Supermarket, completes the remodelling and opening of the three West Kenya based, supermarket stores, which were acquired from, Yako Supermarkets Limited, late last year.

“With a branch network of 59 stores across East Africa, Nakumatt is steadily playing a key economic development role by deepening formal retail penetration across the region,” the retailer said in a recent statement.

Speaking, when he confirmed the opening of the retailer’s 59th store, Nakumatt Holdings Regional Strategy and Operations Director, Thiagarajan Ramamurthy, said plans are at an advanced stage for the opening of the firm’s 60th store in the days to come. In the meantime, as part of a Sh260 million investment strategy on its three Busia, Bungoma and Kakamega, stores, Nakumatt has now completed its Western Kenya market enhancement strategy.

Nakumatt Holdings also stepped up its business development strategy with the launch of its first dedicated active sports gear departmental store last week. The launch of the Sh100million Sports Planet branded sports goods store, marks the start of a product diversification strategy for Nakumatt, as it seeks to enhance its market reach in the sports retailing sector.

Speaking at the launch of the new Sports Planet store, Nakumatt Holdings, Business Development lead, Neel Shah said plans are at an advanced stage to rollout similar concept stores at other locations in Kenya and the wider East Africa region.

Dennis_x254

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

ACCESS W

ho is Noels?

I am a hardworking down to earth Kenyan, my stage name is Noels my real name is Juma Ogutu.

What is your genre on music?

Right now I have not settled on any genre, I prefer to sample on what we have on the field. Currently I feel that hip-hop is kind of working for me.

When did you start your music career?

To me music is my passion, I started in primary school way back in 2002, buy I decided to be serious immediately after high school this is in 2007.

What is your first song?

My first song was recorded with Calif record it is called Niwewe.

What is it all about?

It is about the beauty and fun of falling in love with a beautiful lady.

Who inspires you into music?

The happenings of day to day life inspire me. Life has so many lessons to learn from and from these I get courage and write few words that I turn into music.

What is your opinion of the Kenyan music industry?

It is very tough. As a new entrant you need to work harder than the rest in order to cut a niche for yourself.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself as an accomplished musician, entertainment whole of East Africa, and Africa if not the world.

Apart from music what else do you do?

Currently I double as a budding artiste and a chef. I do the art of cooking at Tribeka. @duncan_x254

IN NOEL’S KITCHEN‌

FACT FILE:

newacT

Juma Ogutu believes in hard wOrk. he is a chef by prOfessiOn and wants tO try his luck in cOOking music.

Age:26 Your FAvorite Sport: Football Your FAvorite Quote: You have to work harder than you are working.

Your FAvorite ArtiSte: Wyre

fashion Parad e

10

10

ACCESS

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY MARCH 26th21, NOVEMBER 2016 2014

FASH-

@The Daily FronT row awarDs

G n i P fliP oin n trends, wblees c em io the ing fash best ens carpets. ,

@mercy_x254

@mercy_x254

:

DiD GiGi ha p Ruffled u mess.

lyz e the ed ver ana ts’ r g owe hile to jud lm even rds, h itself, a tend ic and fi ow Aw scene ylists, R s st . n t u m ron ers, ines shio from aily F he fa design magaz rds D t ion Awa est n The s o the b nd fash Row icons u c a g fo nt with nd rdin Fro dels awa rs, mo Daily eekend Gaga a the o e y edit year’s er the w d, Lad rs. Se e l v e s n o i f n r e Th plac ge ng wi l La k i too as Kar emerg ht. h d ig c i n u d s a he H t f a l Bel looks o t bes

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Karrueche Tan: Deep into the equinox mode.

JeniFer loPez: Subtle in white. whiTney PorT: All draped up.

KaTe huDson: How to wear flair pants.

nicole richie: A touch of Africa.

lyriclab Akothee ft Mr flAvour

Give it to Me

Kenyan singer Akothee is once again in a collaboration. This time, the East meets the West in the latest release single titled Give It To Me that features Nigerian singer – Flavour.

Give It to me is a simple feel good song that encourages fans of the duo to dance to their music. The song is not lyrically rich but passes for a good club banger due to the catchy beats. The video done by Godfather productions is of great quality while the Audio by Mastakraft sounds great.

korede Bello ABBAss ft victoriA kiMAni

MunGo PArk

PArty like A ModA Rap superstar Abbass Kubaff is in a party mood and calls upon sassy singer Victoria Kimani to join him in the party. The duo partner in the track titled Party like a moda. The lyrics to the song are quite explicit and thus not suitable for all audiences. Victoria Kimani’s vocals are great as usual but lack the lyrical power.

The message is not clearly cut out in this track making it just another rap that clearly needs a wrap!

After the success of Godwin, a semi-gospel and pop song which topped many music charts in Nigeria, singer and songwriter Korede Bello is back again with his latest single dubbed Mungo Park. A playfull yet meaningful track produced by Don Jazzy.

His lyrics are witty and the delivery great.

The video is well directed taking a comic trail set up in a school environment. For his age and audience, this is an instant hit!

11

ACCESS MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

review of top weekend gigs

CENTRESTAGE HOT topics

Khloe Kardashian not at Rob’s birthday bash

CELEBS, STUNNERS AND CHAPOS D

ennis Itumbi made good his promise to feed 5000 street children on his birthday. Moi Avenue Primary school the venue for the day was already thronged by as early as 6 am.Driven by a personal mission to share and care Dennis was joined by a battalion of celebs and friends who for the better part of Saturday made chapatis, entertained and fed the street families. Even though it became a tad unruly later on, it was a grand gesture. Among those who showed up and stunned in the makeshift kitchen included comedians, actors, event organizers, musicians and even politicians.

Rob’s 29th birthday was celebrated in merry with the whole of the Kadarshians showing up apart from Khloe!

Apparently she was sick.

However, there are questions of to whether, Khole was truly sick or it’s a prolonged beef after they had a spat with Rob.

Khloe

Kansime: I have no apology please Sensational Ugandan actress Anne Kansime is not in any way going to apologize. Kansimee who came under fire for supporting M7’s presidential bid said that she will not be apologizing because she was exercising her democratic right.

Kansimee was under fire from a section of her fans and the main opposition party FDC.

Kansime

Corazon Kwamboka debut talk show Socialite Corazon Kwamboka seems to have learnt a few lessons here and there from Vera Sidika.

Corazon, is said to be launching her new talk show on TV. The socialite who seems to be trailing closely to what Sidika does, will be recording herself with a phone at home and discussing b e d r o o m matters.

Kwamboka

12

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DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 You could be daydreaming about flying to exotic places and doing unusual things, such as touring the ancient sights of India or going on safari in Kenya. Such dreams are possible, Capricorn, so you might want to look into it.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 No matter how profound your idea or how convincing your explanations, the other person just isn’t ready to believe it yet. Don’t be pushy. Maybe this person needs to sleep on it for a couple of nights, or maybe they just need to do their own research.

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WEATHERFORECAST Monday 21/3/2016

sunny

29

28ºC 39%

TUEday 22/3/2016

More sun than clouds

30 6:37 am 6:43pm

28ºC 35%

6:36am 6:43pm

Wednesday

30

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

Sunday’s Solution

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 Perhaps you’re planning a vacation with your family or a romantic partner. You could well be caught up in the excitement that seems to be the driving emotion today. Friends could offer advice, Pisces, but you aren’t in the space to accept it, as your self-confidence is high.

Sudoku

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 Go right ahead and let them think whatever they want. You’ve got some real issues to think through, and decisions with important consequences to come up with. You’ll be able to smooth their ruffled feathers later. Right now, just focus on taking care of yourself.

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Don’t pass them up, however. You could make some fortunate contacts or even some new friends at these parties. You enjoy being around people, Taurus, but today you might find it a bit tedious.

You’re probably looking forward to being at home and cuddling with a romantic partner.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 Dear friends might be involved in some way. You’re likely to be very busy during the day, perhaps tying up loose ends. Your mind is probably going a thousand miles an hour, so you’ll need to wind down before going to bed tonight. You don’t want to lose any sleep.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 The truth is, you’ve got a lot of important things on your mind. Others might be offended or even amused at your distance. Try not to worry about this too much. You need to take care of resolving those problems you’ve been ruminating on before worrying about everyone else’s reaction.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 You could feel you’ve spent too much on decorations for your home or on entertaining family and friends. Don’t worry! You’ll make up for it, and besides, you can’t take it with you, you know. Watch your spending, Leo, but don’t turn into a miser.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 21 Relations with family, friends, and neighbors are likely to be warm and congenial. Today could involve a lot of time on the phone or out running errands. Expect a surprise encounter with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. You’ll spend some time reminiscing and catching up.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 A rush of humanitarian spirit and a desire to do some real good might find you looking into various charities in order to find those you might want to help. It perhaps would be best to find one group that suits you and give only to that one. Save other worthy causes for another time.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 You, along with a significant other in your life, could be very busy trying to make time to see each other today, Scorpio. Later, when you’re finally alone, your phone could be ringing nonstop, further intruding upon your time together.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 You’re likely to find this exciting and stimulating, but you could also feel a bit flustered. You might also not be at your most outgoing right now. This could be a better day to listen than to try to talk. Sometimes that impresses people more than anything you might say, Sagittarius.

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

KENYAN HITS! Dumbala Remix Msaidizi Fundamentals Mungu Baba Uwepo Wako Milele Dongo Dongo Ulibeba Sobei Cheiso Worship You Sambaza Defender Tosheka Kereka Ningwendete Queen Ahuirania Ti Mundu Ndirakurekie

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PLAY

13

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1. Baby’s father 5. Org. that guarantees bank holdings 9. Capital of Bangladesh 14. Vat ending 15. Puppy start 16. Having roof overhangs 17. European airline 19. Ship fronts 20. That’s why they call ____ blues 21. Night, in Nicaragua 23. Tease good-naturedly 25. Actor Gene 30. Poitier film of 1967 33. Obesity meas.

35. Soldier’s period of service 36. “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin ___” 37. Old Mercury model 39. Filthy quarters 42. Gare du ___ (Paris train terminal) 43. Ordnance supplier 45. Greek consonants 47. Scale stats 48. “Changing the subject...”

52. Left home 53. Start of MGM’s motto 54. Stereotypical southerner 57. “I believe ___!” (Response to “Is Santa real?”)

61. Greta of the silver screen 65. “Seinfeld” subject 67. Bone in the leg 68. Poker declaration

69. “___ looks like a duck...”

70. “___ the Sheriff ” (Clapton classic) 71. Late Chinese leader 72. Small birds Down 1. Capital of East Timor 2. ____ above 3. Dotty 4. College major, for short 5. New Deal agcy.

6. Country music partner of Brooks 7. Childish retort 8. Cousin of the Fonz 9. ___ Mode (“Personal Jesus” band) 10. Bit of wry laughter 11. Coin of Macao 12. Garden spot of Greater London 13. Paid pitches 18. Bonnie and Clyde job 22. Chapeau 24. Résumé addenda 26. Word in a hateful organization 27. Nickname for Detroit 28. Redirect, as one’s eyes 29. Geeks 30. Baum character 31. Road furrow 32. Do lines?

33. Britain’s P.M. until 2007 34. Actress Loy 38. TV’s warrior princess 40. Keep an ___ to the ground 41. Fiji’s capital

44. Dinghy or wherry 46. Calligraphy stroke 49. Sigma follower 50. Beefalo or tangelo 51. “___ ironic... don’t you think?”

(Alanis Moriswette lyric) 55. “I’ve Gotta ____” (Sammy Davis, Jr. ditty) 56. Opposin’ 58. Player of 45s 59. Monogram ltr.

60. Administrative grps.

61. Popular Volkswagen model 62. Start of an children’s alphabet book, maybe 63. President after U.S.G. 64. Premed topic 66. Gerundial suffix

Thursday’s answers

YOURSAY Competence not politics should guide State jobs The recent appointments of parastatal board heads by President Uhuru Kenyatta have elicited diverse reactions from different quotas.

Some claim that the president picked old faces, others say that the appointments lacked gender and region balance while others have seen constitutional dents on the matter.

All these apparently have no basis as they are all Kenyans and deserve the posts. The issue of contention should be drawn from their competence and abilities. Are they qualified?

Do they have what it takes to head the parastatals?

To a large extent, the changes appeared motivated by political considerations rather than competence and a desire to reform and revitalise the parastatals.

Some of the appointees have poor track records, having presided over the collapse of some once-successful parastatals.

This goes against the promise that this administration made in regard to transformation of public corporations. In 2013, President Kenyatta set up a parastatal reform task force led by Mr Abdikadir Mohammed and Mr Isaac Awuondo and committed to turning around the corporations.

Related to that, the task force made farreaching recommendations, among them the dissolution, merger, or reorganisation of most of the corporations because they were non-performing, duplicating roles, or simply irrelevant and a drain to the economy. The

objective was to have few, lean, and effective corporations.

The task force underlined the imperative for effective management of the organisations through competitive appointments devoid of political manoeuvres or considerations.

The corollary was that poor management had been the major cause of the collapse or ineffectiveness of most corporations. A survey conducted by the National Treasury a few years ago revealed that only 51 of the 262 parastatals were able to sustain themselves.

The rest depended on the Treasury. In fact, it was estimated that the Treasury provided 40 per cent of the resources going to the parastatals, which were expected to generate their own resources and keep themselves afloat. Past experience has demonstrated that political appointees to the boards were the curse of the corporations as these people exert undue pressure on the management without regard to public sector rules and common governance practices.

Such boards routinely meddle in the day-today management operations and from some of the cases now being investigated, it has emerged that they push the executives into dubious deals that lead to financial losses.

The point, therefore, is that the drive to reform the parastatals must not be sacrificed at the altar of political expedience. Appointments to the boards must be based on competence, and ability to deliver.

—Nderitu

Women rights: Lets deal with poverty first Women rights are for those who have an income. In order to effectively tackle their rights, we need to tackle poverty. Many poor women in Africa still receive little or no education and, are unlikely to find a job which will enable them earn a decent living

and are certainly not equalin fact they are at the bottom of the pile. Tgese women face so many problems that their ‘rights’ area long way from their minds. However, I have seen change in them when they graduate from business-centured training

programmes which, not only give them business skills but improve their self-esteem.

Organisations like Handin-Hand Eastern Africa are giving deprived women the know-how to work their way out of poverty.

— Pauline Ngari, Nairobi

Varsities should remain true to their mandate

Why should a Chemistry lecturer teach a class of 300 students and call it development? At Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) a class has a maximum of 60 students. Why should we make KU a market place and call it development. Tell me which journal is published by KU? Which educational conference preceding has KU hosted under Madam Olive Mugenda. KU is an educational institution and its chief trade should be on education, not building Unicities, buying hotels at the coast, and starting secular TV stations for the sake of making money.

Even MKU had an international conference

recently. If an institution is involved in research work it will get lots of funds from donors. Yes, Stanford has a TV station, but is purely for academic purposes in what is called the MOOCs. KU is offering everything including Agriculture, yet it does not have any land under agriculture! Aren’t we wasting our sons and daughters? I hope the next VC at KU will restore the learning culture, not the buildings culture.

Oxford has less fancy buildings than KU but offers one of the best in research and education.

Why have many buildings and overlapping courses without enough lecturers? — Caroline

Kisii youth should not insult their legislators

Kisii residents should not mudsling their Members of Parliament.They have made outright choices and voted them without prejudice or favour. Frequently, they have looked keenly and asked to God give us our own. Kisii residents have had their best share in voting their best candidates.

Kisii constituencies then are the best placed in economic ladders and their indices show

high youth employment, excellent road infrastructure, excellent established income generating activities, excellent water and electricity supply hence high per capita income and improved standards of living.

Let us not point fingers to these Hon. Members who have successfully served Kisii residents since 1967 and brought credible economic transformation and

revolution.

The youth of Kisii should settle their minds, energies, professional skills and experience to continue serving in high profile positions created by able political leadership. I besiege everyone to desist from continues insults because when able youth stand out to seek political leadership you deny them.

— Hillary

The cry of citizens imprisoned in own country

When we knock at the firmly shut doors of opportunity, we are told there is no room inside because we are not from a particular community thus we should accept and move on.

But the answers to these troubled questions are blowing in the wind. Even if we may never have them articulated, they have been hovering just outside our consciousness. They trouble us just as the ten plagues of frogs, gnats, flies, and hail plagued the Egyptians in the Exodus story.

When people tell us to accept and move on, many of us groan like the ancient Hebrews

being forced to produce bricks without straw.

We cry out to God, ‘Please set us free!’ We cry to the politicians ‘Let us go! Let us find some space to think, to worship God, to be human, to be Kenyan, outside the bars and walls and fences of tribe and party. The bars in which we are currently constrained and imprisoned.

We’ll head out into the wilderness - risk hunger, thirst, exposure, death - but we can’t sustain this constrained way of being, of thinking, of living, much longer.

— Njonjo Mue

Send your letters to news@x254.co | Letters will be edited for summary and clarity

14

SPORT MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

SPORTS BRIEFS Rosberg wins Grand Prix after Alonso crash

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg won a dramatic Australian Grand Prix, after a huge crash for McLaren’s Fernando Alonso.

A bad start dropped Lewis Hamilton from pole to sixth but he fought to second. Rosberg took advantage when the race was stopped following Alonso’s high-speed barrel-roll to switch strategy and overhaul early leader Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Vettel’s strategy gamble on super-soft tyres mid-race failed and he finished third ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo. A thrill-a-minute race, with action throughout the field, provided the start to the season for which F1’s bosses were hoping. But its unpredictable nature meant it was impossible to form a definitive judgement on the exact relative competitiveness of the Mercedes and Ferrari teams who will dispute the season. The race arguably turned as a result of the terrifying accident involving Alonso and Esteban Gutierrez of new team Haas on lap 17. Trying to pass the Mexican on the run down to Turn Three, Alonso’s front right wheel tagged the right rear of the Haas and launched into a barrel roll, coming to rest upside down in the barriers.

Akumu to miss Stars match after being hit by an object Harambee Stars midfielder Teddy Akumu picked an eye injury that could keep him out of Wednesday’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E qualifier against host Guinea Bissau.

Akumu who plies his trade with the Zambian side Zesco United was named in the traveling squad by coach Stanley Okumbi Sunday and was supposed to link up with the rest of the team in Bissau for the first leg of the 2017 qualifiers.

But the former Gor Mahia player

who has marshalled Kenyan midfield alongside Captain Victor Wanyama was hit by an object in the eye during Zesco United’s African Champions League clash against host Horoya in Conakray, Guinea on Sunday.

Harambee Stars have their work cut out, and with the extent of the injury still unknown, it is not yet clear whether Akumu will make the trip. His absence will definitely dent Stars who are currently third on the standings.

The national team jetted out of the country today on a chattered pane but without their influential captain Wanyama of Southampton. Wanyama and the rest of the professional players are expected to link up with the team in Bissau tomorrow.

Stars will however missed the services of Belgium based Ayub Timbe Masika who turns out for Lierse SK who is out with an injury as well as Greece based Paul Were who has problem with

his traveling documents.

Head coach Stanly Okumbi dropped Gor Mahia trio of Collins Okoth, Harun Shakava and Francis Kahata when he named his final squad yesterday.

But other interesting names appearing on the Stars list include Kariobangi Sharks duo of Patillah Omoto and Michael Ovellah Ochieng and Posta Rangers’ inform striker Timothy Otieno who made the trip. @elvince_x254

Harambee Stars players Michael Olunga and Teddy Akumu arrive for a previous training session at Nyayo national Stadium. Akumu might miss Kenya’s game on Wednesday in after being hit by an object in Bissau yesterday.

William’s stunned on return to Indian Wells

Victoria Azarenka spoilt what would be Serena Williams’s third title in India after a 14-year absence when she stunned the world number one to claim the BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells.

Williams was hoping to be the first female player to win three Indian Wells titles after taking a self-imposed 14 year sabbatical from the event amidst allegations of racial abuse from fans after sister Venus withdrew minutes before their semi-final in 2001. The emotion of the occasion was obvious in a tearful speech after the match when she told the crowd that their cheers “meant a lot to me”. But Azarenka, the 2012 champion took advantage of the American’s wayward serve and erratic ground shots to earn a 6-4 6-4 win.

Before Sunday’s matches, tournament chief Raymond Moore caused controversy when he claimed the women’s tour “ride on the coat-tails of the men”.

Neville under pressure as Valencia lose again

Gary Neville faced criticism from Valencia fans as his side suffered a third successive La Liga defeat, losing 2-0 at home to Celta Vigo. Some called for Neville to go, with the ex-England defender having overseen only three wins in his 16 league games.

Celta went ahead through ex-Manchester City striker John Guidetti with 10 minutes to go and added a second through Hugo Mallo four minutes later. Valencia are six points above the relegation zone with eight games to go. The club went out of the Europa League last week, despite beating Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of their last-16 tie, and still have to face four of La Liga’s top six in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal and Sevilla during their run-in.

Goalkeepers: Arnold Origi (Lillestrom, Norway), Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia) Defenders: Dennis Odhiambo (Thika United), Musa Mohammed (Gor Mahia), Omar Mbongi (Ulinzi Stars), David Owino (Zesco United), James Situma (Tusker FC), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg United) Midfielders: Victor Wanyama (Southampton FC), Johannah Omollo (Antwerp), Patillah Omotto (Kariobangi Sharks), Johannah Erick (Mathare United), Clifton Miheso (AFC Leopards), Anthony Kimani, David Kingatua (Bandari FC), Strikers: Michael Olunga (IF Djugardens), Timothy Otieno (Posta Rangers), Jesse Were (Zesco United), Ovella Ochieng (Kariobangi Sharks).

Kenyan boxer Okwiri through to Olympics

Kenyan boxer Rayton Okwiri sealed his qualification for Rio, 2016 Olympics after beating Egyptian Walid Sedik Mohamed in the men’s welter weight bout over the weekend.

Okwiri, who was the only Kenyan boxer standing after the rest of the 13 member team were knocked out, sealed the slot with a gold on the final day of the AIBA African Olympic qualification event in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

On Thursday, the Kenya Prisons officer, 29, who missed out in the London 2012 games booked

an early ticket to Brazil when he eliminated Ghana’s experienced Azumah Mohammed in their semi-final bout.

And the Saturday win gave him his second career gold medal for the all Africa Game.

Okwiri a bronze medalist in 2011, also boast of a top podium finish at the 2014 Lions Cup in Sri Lanka.

Peter Mungai Warui who came closest to qualifying at the quarter finals was denied the Rio spot by Cameroonian Simplice Fotsala.

Meanwhile neighbours Uganda

who sent six participants qualified two boxers; Kennedy Katende (men’s light heavy) and Ronald Serugo in the men’s fly weight category.

Kenya sent the highest number of participants, 13 boxers in total including Olympian Benson Gicharu (bantamweight), Rayton Okwiri (welterweight), Nick Abaka (middleweight), Simon Mulinge (flyweight), Nick Odhiambo (lightweight), Victor Odhiambo (light-welterweight), Humphrey Ochieng (lightheavyweight), Fred Ramogi

(super-heavyweight), Peter Mungai (light-flyweight), Elly Ajowi (heavyweight).

The women’s team included Christine Ongare (flyweight), Teresia Wanjiru (lightweight), Elizabeth Akinyi (lightweight).

Full list winners in the AIBA African Olympic Qualification Event Women’s 51 kg: Zohra EzZahraoui, Morocco Women’s 60 kg: Hasnaa Lachgar, Morocco Women’s 75 kg: Khadija Mardi, Morocco.

@elvince_x254

SPORT 15 MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016

Real Madrid’s Welsh forward gareth Bale celebrates after scoring against Sevilla last evening. The goal took his La Liga tally to 43, surpassing Gary Lineeker’s record of 42.

PHOTO/EPA

Madrid’s Bale breaks British record in La Liga

Gareth Bale became the leading British goal scorer in La Liga history as Real Madrid thumped Sevilla 4-0 at the Bernabeu last evening. The Welshman twice hit the woodwork and had a strike disallowed before tapping in his 43rd goal in the Spanish top flight to surpass Gary Lineker’s tally of 42.

The Welshman was in scintillating form despite just returning from injury.

He looked sharp from the start, his pace and movement causing problems for the Sevilla defence, and teeing up Benzema’s stunning opener with a low cross from the right.

And after seeing Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico tip his drive onto the post and then being ruled offside when he flicked in Ronaldo’s header, he finally passed ex-Barcelona and England striker Lineker’s tally with a simple

finish from six yards after the break.

Although he was withdrawn after 70 minutes, the Bernabeu crowd gave him a standing ovation.

His form will inspire manager Zinedine Zidane when he leads his charges to the Nou Camp to face champions Barcelona in their next La Liga match on April 2, after the upcoming international.

It will be the Frenchman’s first time as manager against their fiercest rivals.

Back at the Bernabeu, Madrid took the lead through Karim Benzema’s wonderful half-volley, before Sevilla’s Kevin Gameiro missed a penalty.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese then scored either side of Bale’s goal to seal the win.

Third on the table, Madrid’s chances of winning their first La Liga title since 2012 remain minimal, despite both of the teams above them dropping points

over the weekend.

Zidane’s side are still 10 points adrift of arch-rivals Barcelona in the title race.

Luis Enrique’s men were held to a 2-2 draw by Villarreal.

Wales forward Bale, 26, has become a firm favourite at the Bernabeu since his world record Sh85 billion move from Tottenham in September 2013, scoring his 43 league goals at an impressive rate. Despite suffering with several injuries since arriving, Bale’s strike-rate has not suffered - netting more than once every two games in his 76 La Liga appearances so far.

Earlier, there had been doubts whether he would even start Sunday’s game.

Bale is set to miss Wales’ two friendly games next week because of fitness concerns and the impending birth of his second child.

Kenya posts worst result at the USA world indoor Kenya fished a distant 25th in the just concluded IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, USA with only two Bronze medals.

Captain Augustine Choge and Margaret Wambui Nyairera spared Kenya the embarrassment of finishing without any medals when the duo returned Bronze each in the men’s 3000 meters and women’s 800 meters respectively.

It was a poor show by Kenya who, six months ago topped the world outdoor standings in Beijing, China.

The outing in Portland was even inferior especially due to the fact that even little known Athletics nation,

Burundi finished above Kenya.

Burundi came fifth with a gold and silver. 18-year old Ethiopian Yomif Kajelcha denied the defending champion Caleb Ndiku, Isiah Koech and Choge the gold medal over 3000m at the Oregon Convention Center.

Ethiopia, with two gold, two silver and a bronze topped the African charts and second overall behind hosts United States of America who swept the charts with 23 medals (13 gold, six silver and four bronze). Koech lead through to 1600m before Ndiku briefly showed at the front. With just over five laps to go, Djibouti’s Youssouf Hiss Bachir then took his

turn directing proceedings, hitting the 2000m checkpoint in 5:43.33.

Bachir and Ndiku continued to control the pace at the front for the next two laps with Choge steadily moving behind them through the field in anticipation of striking for home over the last two laps. As the runners went through their gears, the leading five of Kejelcha, Choge, Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider, Ndiku, and USA’s Ryan Hill started to separate themselves from the rest of the field and passed the bell in the order. Kejecha hugged the curb and wisely refused to give way or allow any gap on the inside while in full flight over the final lap. @elvince_x254

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016 | www.x254.C0

Bale Breaks British la liga record

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Marcus Rashford celebrates with teammates Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard after scoring Manchester United’s lone goal in the derby victory againt City yesterday.

PHOTO: Nigel rOddis/ePA

Derby victory revives United’s top four hopes

Manchester United revived their hopes for a top-four finish by beating city rivals, Manchester City 1-0 yesterday evening in a derby at the Etihad stadium.

Louis van Gaal and his United side’s dream of booking a ticket for the Champions League next season would have been over had they lost to City.

However, teenage striker Marcus Rashford slotted in the only goal of the match early in the first half to give his team a “big chance” of European qualification.

It was United’s first win at the Etihad Stadium since December 2012.

Van Gaal’s side are sixth in the Premier League, but lie just a point behind their local rivals in fourth.

“The gap would have been too big if we had drawn or lost. It would have been very difficult,” Van Gaal said after the match.

“Now it is in our own hands but we have to win our games. We have more home matches than away and we don’t lose so much at Old Trafford - so we have a big chance.” “I thought we played fantastic in the first half and the second half was a test of survival

because we were very tired,” he added. The loss leaves City clinging by a thread on fourth place in the table, one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham in the race for Champions League places.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini who has seven games before he leaves the seat to current Bayern Munich manager, Pep Guardiola was so disappointed with the result that he stormed out of the post-match interview.

‘I’m talking about the game and nothing more” said Pellegrini when asked about his team’s recent slump and whether City has been derailed by the move to replace him with Pep Guardiola this summer. City who played the match without Captain Vincent Kompany received more casualties to their injury ward with goalkeeper Joe Hart and forward Raheem Sterling picking up injuries. The two are likely to miss next month’s Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain.

Pellegrini’s side have won just four out of 11 games since Guardiola’s appointment was confirmed at the start of last month. elvince_x254

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