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THURSday, MARCH 31, 2016 | www.x254.co

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New law to allow breastfeeding in offices MPs passed the historic clause yesterday to compel employers to create lactation time for mothers at work. safaricom is among companies already offering such facilities

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Rugby sevens side jets out to Hong Kong tourney amid injury to regular players

New Zealand athlete who abused Kenyans as corrupt to face off with Kipsang in May

MPs call for more venom against graft

Story on Page 2

Bridging political barriers

Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi poses for a photo with Nairobi City County governor Evans Kidero and his deputy Jonathan Mueke at City Hall today. Mr Mudavadi had paid the governor a courtesy call at his office during which they warned against divisive politics. Dr Kidero urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to address the issue of national cohesion saying the remarks by leaders are dividing the country along political lines. The Governor said Nairobi is the hotbed of Kenya’s investment and politicians must be restrained to avoid scaring away potential investors.

We had no option but to kill the lion, says KWS

Following the outcry sparked by the killing of a lion in Isinya on Wednesday, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has sought to justify the actions of its rangers, saying the decision was taken as a last resort to safeguard public safety.

KWS Corporate Communications Manager Paul Udoto explained that rangers who had been deployed from their Kajiado station gunned down the lion named Mohawk to avoid further injuries to other people after it wounded a motorcyclist.

Furious Kenyans including conservationists have questioned why the service did not use tranquilisers to disable the carnivore as is the norm.

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EACC recovers Sh525 million hidden abroad A total of Sh525 million which was stolen from Kenyans and stashed in offshore accounts has been recovered.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) told MPs yesterday that the money which was hidden in Jersey Island by former Cabinet Secretary Chris Okemo ...

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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MPs call for more venom in the fight against corruption THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

MPs have asked the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko to hasten the prosecution of those involved in graft including those who facilitated the cheating experienced in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee said there is no way results of over 5,000 candidates could be cancelled while those behind the leakage of exams have not been prosecuted.

“We want to see quick prosecutions from your office. It is painful for the parents and the students too,” committee chairman Samuel Chepkonga told Mr Tobiko who was appearing before the legislators to seek for a supplementary budget.

Nyeri Women Representative Priscilla Nyokabi who is the committee vice-chairperson said there is need for the DPP to inject more ‘venom’ in his prosecutions saying the country is soon becoming a laughing stock due to widespread corruption.

“We don’t want to be a laughing stock when we travel to other countries and are identified as thieves just because we are from Kenya,” Nyokabi said.

But Mr Tobiko defended his office from blame and instead pointed an accusing finger at the judiciary saying it is the courts that halt the fight against corruption.

“The office of the DPP is duly discharging its duty as mandated but we all know that it’s the courts that’s stalling the whole process,” Tobiko said.

Chepkonga however told the DPP to do his work and leave conviction to the courts.

Legal and Justice Affairs committee chairman Samwel Chepkonga in a past sitting. Members of his committee yesterday demanded tougher actions from the DPP and EACC to curb rising cases of garft.

“All we are asking for is that we want to see quick prosecution but for the conviction, leave it to the courts,” said the Ainabkoi MP. He told Mr Tobiko to quickly conclude investigations on those accused of having aided cheating in last year’s exams.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on Tuesday told Parliament that more Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) officials, school principals, parents and students are due to be arrested

over the leakage of the exams.

Matiang’i who appeared before parliamentary education committee said the investigating agencies have made significant progress and more teachers and parents will be nabbed soon.

The previous week, Matiang’i and his Interior counterpart Joseph Nkaissery disbanded the KNEC board and ordered the arrest of nine officials including chief executive officer Joseph Kivilu.

The officials have since been

suspended by the new board.

The two Cabinet secretaries said the officers were involved in examination irregularities that saw the results of about 2,709 KCPE candidates and 5,100 KCSE candidates cancelled.

“Some of the officers at the council are under investigations over examination printing scam known as chickengate. Surely we cannot allow an important institution such this to be run that way,” said Dr Matiang’i. sam_x254

Rangers had no option but to kill Mohawk: KWS From Page 1 But in his explanation, Udoto said the rangers who were deployed from their Kajiado base did not have tranquilisers and had to wait for a team from Nairobi more than 40 kilometres away.

“At 8am this morning (Wednesday), a team of KWS rangers from the Kajiado Station were deployed to Isinya Township after they were informed about presence of a lion. They guarded it while waiting for the veterinary and capture team from Nairobi who were dispatched at around 9.30am,” he stated in a statement issued late yesterday.

But the situation soon turned ugly after locals surrounded the animal while making noises which KWS say scared the lion.

“At about 10.30am members of the public surrounded the area where the lion was, which was about 7km from Isinya Town, on the IsinyaKiserian road. The lion which was lying down got scared from the many shouting people who had surrounded it,” he explained.

This he said caused panic and police who shot in the air to disperse the crowd added to the confusion and the lion pounced on a motorcyclist amid running battles.

It was at this point that the rangers decided to gun Mohawk down.

He indicated that the lion was identified as a predominant male named ‘Mohawk” and had been involved in territorial fights in the last couple of weeks.

“Isinya is about 30-40 kilometres to the south of the park free of fencing which is part of the seasonal migration area, and Mohawk was trying to establish new territory,” the statement added.

The KWS statement said the lion was aged 13 years and was born in Nairobi National Park.

Conservationists have questioned the killing, saying the situation could have been handled better.

The 27-year-old man wounded by the lion was identified as Evans Mburu Murigi who is being treated at the Isinya District Hospital.

MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

EACC recovers millions hidden abroad Newest lawyers in town From Page 1 and former Kenya Power Managing Director Samuel Gichuru will be sent back to the country.

EAC chief executive Halakhe Waqo told the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee that they have received communication from the UK government that the money will be sent back.

“I want to inform this committee that we have made significant progress in recovering some of the money hidden outside the country and we will receive Sh525 million from the UK government,” Waqo said.

Waqo said the recovered funds will be channeled to a social project according to the UK policy on recovered loot. As such, the money will be used to buy ambulances for the ministry of health.

The ambulances he said will be officially launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“According to the UK policy, such funds should be channeled to a social project and not the exchequer as we thought

and therefore it is the ministry of health that will benefit from it as it will be used to buy ambulances,” he said.

The Sh525 million was hidden in an account in Jersey Island belonging to Windward Trading Ltd after the company pleaded guilty to four counts of money laundering before the Royal Court of Jersey.

The matter is linked to former Kenya Power boss Samuel Gichuru and former Namable MP Chris Okemo, who are both fighting extradition charges.

“It is through the good international relations that we have had with our UK counterparts that has resulted to the recovery of the funds,” Waqo added.

“Sometimes it baffles me when I hear people criticizing the commission for not doing enough in the fight against corruption,” he went on.

The CEO also told the Samuel Chepkonga led commission that the EACC has also made significant progress in the Anglo leasing and

Chickengate scandals.

He said they have also recovered Sh52million from the Chicken gate scandal and have received positive communication on the Anglo Leasing scam.

Smith and Ouzman Ltd directors Christopher Smith were jailed for bribing officials of the defunct IIEBC and KNEC bosses in order to get printing contracts.

The Anti-graft commission has already grilled the officials alleged to have received the bribes including the former IEBC CEO James Oswago and chairman Issack Hassan.

Waqo appeared before the committee seeking additional funding through a supplementary budget.

The committee however put the CEO and EACC officials to task to explain what they have achieved so far that merits the demand for additional funds. sam_x254

A group of new High Court advocates pose for a photo after being admitted to the bar by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga today. 162 were admitted today in a busy week for Dr Mutunga in which a total of 488 new advocates shall have been admitted by end of tomorrow.

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MPs approve law to allow breastfeeding in offices Working mothers will soon start breastfeeding their babies in the office after MPs approved a bill which will force companies to set aside special lactation areas for employees with children.

The breastfeeding stations would include breast pumps for expressing milk and fridges. The bill also states that employers must give time for women to breastfeed.

“All employers shall in the workplace establish lactation stations, which shall be adequately provided with necessary equipment and facilities,” reads the clause contained in the Health Bill 2015.

“An employer shall grant all nursing employees break intervals in addition to the regular times off for meals to breastfeed or express milk,” it adds.

The new law is not about dealing with a stigma around the matter since breastfeeding in public areas is considered normal in Kenya.

Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai (pictured) who chairs the health committee that sponsored the Bill said it is instead about making companies provide a conducive

environment for working mothers.

She said it will help women work and at the same time improve children’s health.

MPs agreed that there is need to allow mothers to bring up healthy babies by allowing them greater periods to breastfeed. Lack of such facilities has meant that mothers leave their children

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

REA to put up Sh12.8b power plant in Garissa

at home and only breastfeed them after work. This they said has forced some to opt to reduce the breastfeeding period for their babies, in what health experts warn places the health of their babies at risk. Currently it is extremely rare for organisations in the country to have specific areas for women to breastfeed their children. One employer who does already provide creche and breastfeeding facilities is the mobile network Safaricom.

The director of human resources told the BBC that introducing the facilities had improved productivity. “We are very big on doing new things and for that to happen you must create an environment where employees feel comfortable,” said Maria Shipiri. The same proposal was rejected by the previous parliament after business groups threatened to stop employing women if forced to provide breastfeeding facilities.

The Health Bill 2015 now needs President Uhuru Kenyatta’s assent to become law.

Global warming to blame for hot weather, says weatherman

@peter_x254

The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is targeting to pump 500 megawatts of renewable energy to the national grid beginning July this year.

The project will be funded at a cost of Sh12.8 billion through a concession funding from the Chinese government. REA board chairman Simon Gicharu has said that the project to be situated in Garrisa will offer more than 1000 jobs to the locals.

“This project that commences July will create 1000 jobs as well as improve the livelihoods of the people in northern Kenya,” Dr Gicharu said.

The project will also focus on increasing renewable energy for electrification of off-grid areas and households that are far away from the grid.

“We are also targeting to connect more than 625,000 households to the grid especially those who are off the power lines,” Gicharu added.

He added: “This has a huge social economic status in the region.”

REA chief executive Nganga Munyu said that the plant will feed the northern region with cheap power to boost its economic progress.

The project is expected to set up more than 210000 solar panels of 260 Watts each.

Gicharu said the firms intend to put up more than 100 Solar Mini grids firms in different regions across the country in the next financial year.

According to the authority this will reduce the cost of power and also significantly reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 43 000 metric tons per year.

In its completion, REA targets to power all primary school to facilitate the digital learning program. The government is aiming to connect all schools to the grid by May this year. @wilson_x254

Now everyone can drive Now you can pay by mpesa securely Hotline: 0704773300 www.rockyschool.co.ke

A man quenches his thirst with water in the streets of Nairobi recently.

Tempratures in most parts of the country have soared in recent weeks with the weatherman now blaming global warming for the heat.

The high temperatures being experienced across the country are as a result of global warming, the weatherman has said.

Assistant Director of Meteorological Services Samuel Mwangi said the extraordinary heats currently being experienced are not normal and that human actions are to blame for it.

And the weatherman is now appealing to the public and government to quickly put in place both mitigation and adaptation measures to help ensure that the rising temperatures are kept in check.

“Among the immediate adaptation measures should be the planting of trees and reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere,” Mr Mwangi advised.

He said the last three months are the hottest ever recorded adding that the net effect was the weakening of systems that would have ensured the timely onset of the rains in the country.

On Tuesday this week, Nairobi record one of the highest temperatures at 31 degrees Celsius while Lodwar in Turkana County recorded 40.2 degrees Celsius.

And as such, Mwangi said rains will delay this year and the season could even see depressed rainfall across the country.

“We are headed for a late onset of the rainfall season mainly because the high temperatures in January and February led to weakening of systems that would have helped to establish the rainfall systems including the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ),” he explained.

“With the onset of the long rains, the temperatures will also drop owing to the cloud cover. With reduced insolation owing to the clouds, we will see the tempratures coming down,” he added.

He was speaking yesterday at Meteorological Services headquarters in Nairobi.

The seasonal forecast has indicated that that Nairobi and the central highlands should begin experiencing rainfall anytime from now.

“We usually have the onset of the long rains season of March through to May beginning on 20th March, but as you can see the month is ending,” said Mwangi. @hillary_x254

Hospital cellings are boring.

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NEWS BRIEFS UN investigating CAR ‘bestiality’ report

UN officials say they are investigating “extremely troubling” claims of sexual abuse by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Last year, there were 69 allegations of child rape and other sexual offences by peacekeepers from 10 missions. One advocacy group says it has passed on new reports to the UN that a soldier made four girls have sex with a dog.

The UN said it was looking into the “exact number and nature” of the claims. The new reports of abuse were made by the Code Blue campaign run by the advocacy group Aids-free World. The group says the abuse was reported to have happened between 2013 and this week. It says the bestiality claims, dating back to 2014, involved a commander with French forces.

The girls, one of whom later died of an unknown disease, were each paid 5,000 Central African francs (about Sh860), the report says.

Other allegations centre on troops from France, Gabon, the CAR and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Forces were deployed in 2014 to help restore order in CAR after the president was overthrown the previous year and sectarian violence gripped the country. A UN statement on Wednesday said the allegations involved some of its staff, as well as non-UN peacekeepers.

Niger soldiers killed in Boko Haram attack Six soldiers from Niger’s army were killed in an ambush by Boko Haram militants, the country’s interior ministry said. The attack happened near the town of Diffa close to the border with Nigeria early on Wednesday. It comes two weeks after a Boko Haram assault on a military convoy in the same area that left one soldier dead. The Islamist group is based in Nigeria but is being tackled by a multinational force, including soldiers from Niger. In the latest attack, three other soldiers were wounded. Niger’s military deployed aircraft to try and track those responsible soon afterwards.

Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou has been praised in the West for rallying neighbouring countries to fight Boko Haram.

On Wednesday, the country’s constitutional court confirmed the result of the second round of presidential elections, which saw Mr Issoufou re-elected with more than 92% of the vote, a result the opposition dismissed. Mr Issoufou will be sworn in on Saturday.

Tanzania to cut wages of civil servants to reduce wage bill

Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli engages in a street clean-up exercise in the capital Dar es Salaam in January. He has vowed to slash the salaries of top civil servants in one of the austerity measures to reduce the country’s wage bill.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has promised to slash the salaries of senior civil servants, cutting the top wage threshold by almost two-thirds.

He told supporters that it was shameful that some top officials were earning $18,000 (£13,000) a month, while others were paid as little as $140.

Officials not ready to accept the new $7,000 monthly wage limit should “start looking for alternative jobs”, he said.

Mr Magufuli has promised to cut

wasteful public expenditure in office.

The changes would come into effect in time for the start of the next financial year, which starts on 1 July, the president said. He likened the gulf in wages to a few “angels residing in heaven”, while the majority “languished as if they were in hell”, Tanzania’s The Citizen newspaper quotes him as saying.

Junior civil servants would see their salaries increase as part of the new policy, Mr Magufuli added. The

president was speaking from his home town of Chato in north-western Tanzania in his first visit since taking office last October.

He also used his speech to announce a drop in the current income tax rate from 11% to 9%.

“It’s true we want to collect tax, but we must also understand what the working class takes home,” he said.

On Tuesday, a US government aid agency withdrew $472m (£331m) of funding for a Tanzanian

electricity project after criticising the government’s handling of elections in Zanzibar. The president appeared to react to the move in his speech by criticising over-reliance on foreign aid: “We need to stand on our own.

Work hard so that Tanzanians can get rid of donor dependence.”

Nicknamed the bulldozer, Mr Magufulil has announced a range of cost-cutting measures since coming to power including cancelling official celebrations for independence day.

Libya’s unity government in Tripoli power bid Leaders of Libya’s new unity government have arrived in the capital, Tripoli, by boat in an attempt to take control.

Over recent days, Tripoli’s airspace has been intermittently closed to stop the Presidency Council, which has been based in Tunisia, from arriving by air.

Libya’s UN envoy called for “a peaceful and orderly handover”. But hardliners in the coalition that controls Tripoli are opposed to the UN-brokered deal aimed at reconciling a nation split by five years of conflict.

In a televised address, the head of the Tripoli authorities, Khalifa Ghweil, said he regarded the politicians as interlopers and said they were not welcome. He urged “the illegitimate

outsiders to surrender and be safe in our custody or to return to where they came from”.

Late on Wednesday, journalists from a television channel supportive of authorities in Tripoli said it was taken off air after gunmen stormed its offices. It was not clear to whom the gunmen were affiliated. Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi

by Nato-backed forces.

From 2014 it has had two competing administrations, one in Tripoli backed by powerful militias and the other about 1,000km (620 miles) away in the port city of Tobruk.

In the first hours after the politicians’ arrival at the navy base, militias on

armed pick-up trucks were seen securing most parts of the capital. But by early evening, gunfire from rival groups started ringing out.

It is not clear what their plan is, but things are now tense.

Many of the brigades in western Libya have fallen in line behind the Presidency Council. However, the reality is that these are the very same militias who led and facilitated the existence of the rival authorities in Tripoli since 2014.

Their continued prominent role means their status will not change it simply puts any new government at their mercy. Ultimately they are Libya’s rulers. Militia allegiances often shift out of convenience and

with the need to survive.

Key to any progress and long-term transformation of Libya will be having a government that can control these brigades.

UN envoy Martin Kobler said the politicians’ arrival in Tripoli - after at least two failed attempts to fly in marked “an important step in Libya’s democratic transition and path to peace, security and prosperity”.

In a statement, he “urged all public bodies, including official financial institutions, to facilitate an immediate, orderly and peaceful handover of power”.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said it was “not the time for obstructionists to hold back progress”.

Trump back-tracks on abortion remarks amid massive outcry US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump briefly called for “some form of punishment” for women who have abortions, if it became illegal.

His initial comments made during a town hall event with cable network MSNBC sparked a wave of criticism.

However, Mr Trump quickly reversed his position, saying only the person who performed the abortion should be punished.

But he maintained: “My position has not changed.”

The front-runner supports a ban on abortions, with certain exceptions.

Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973 after a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

Only the Supreme Court or a constitutional amendment has the power to overturn Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal.

Once a Democrat, Mr Trump has been criticised for supporting abortion rights in the past.

However, some anti-abortion groups criticised Mr Trump’s initial comments as extreme.

“Mr Trump’s comment today is completely out of touch with the pro-life movement and even more with women who have chosen such a sad thing as abortion,” said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund.

“No pro-lifer would ever want to punish a woman who has chosen abortion.”

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken critic of Mr Trump’s stance on women’s issues.

“Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse. Horrific and telling,” said Mrs Clinton after his latest comments.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participates in a Town Hall event at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 29 March 2016. Mr Trump called for punishment to women who abort before quickly back-tracking amid outcry.

PHOTO: TANNEN MAURY/EPA

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Mr Trump’s closest rival in the Republican race, also condemned the billionaire.

“Once again Donald Trump has demonstrated that he hasn’t seriously thought through the issues, and he’ll

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say anything just to get attention,” Mr Cruz said.

His spokesman Brian Phillips added on Twitter: “Don’t overthink it: Trump doesn’t understand the pro-life position because he’s not pro-life.”

Republican leaders have expressed concern about Mr Trump’s prospects in the general election because polls show that the New York businessman is extremely unpopular with female voters.

Mr Trump has come under fire for disparaging women including former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and TV presenter Megyn Kelly.

“If Trump’s words about women calling us ‘disgusting’, ‘slobs’ and ‘fat pigs’ - didn’t scare us, this should,” said Kate Black of Emily’s List, a group committed to electing female Democrats who support abortion rights.

His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested on Tuesday, accused of a minor assault on a female reporter. Mr Trump has vehemently defended Mr Lewandowski.

Anti-abortion activists traditionally have avoided placing blame on women who undergo abortions, but have focused on those who perform the procedure.

In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban.

Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women’s access to abortion.

The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states.

US to transfer more Guantanamo inmates The Pentagon plans to move roughly a dozen inmates from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to at least two countries.

The transfers come as the Obama administration takes steps to close the controversial facility, which has been called a recruiting tool for jihadists.

The prisoners are expected to leave Guantanamo in the coming weeks.

However, the military did not disclose the prisoners’ destinations.

Tariq Ba Odah, a Yemeni man who has been on a long-term hunger strike, is among the prisoners being transferred, an official told Reuters.

About 91 detainees currently remain at Guantanamo, down from about 800 in 2002.

President Barack Obama has said he wants to transfer the men to their home countries or to military or civilian prisons in the United States.

Guantanamo Bay is located on an American naval base in south-eastern Cuba. Former US President George W Bush opened it to accommodate foreign terror suspects after the 9/11 attacks on the US. One of the key complaints from human rights groups is that many detainees have been held there without charge or trial.

Mr Obama says the prison costs about $445m (£316m) to run annually and it represents a threat to national security.

However, some Republicans in Congress have resisted the closure of Guantanamo, saying the inmates are dangerous and do not belong in civilian prisons.

Top stories from X News global partners

UN Secretary General Melting of Ice Sheet Could Turning to Punjab: candidates to compete Flood Coastal Cities by Pakistan’s army strikes publicly for first time: 2100: For half a century, climate scientists quietly: The Easter Sunday suicideCandidates for the world’s top diplomatic post, United Nations secretary general, are to compete openly for the job for the first time as the current holder, Ban Ki-moon, prepares to step down at the end of this year.

The contenders are to explain their ideals and intentions in front of representatives from the 193 member nations next month at the UN general assembly and many will also hold unprecedented public debates in New York and London, co-hosted by the Guardian, facing questions from individuals and civil society organisations from around the world.

The London hustings will take place on 3 June in Central Hall Westminster, where the first UN secretary general, Trygve Lie, was chosen.

www.theguardian.com

have seen the West Antarctic ice sheet, a remnant of the last ice age, as a sword of Damocles hanging over human civilization.

The great ice sheet, larger than Mexico, is thought to be potentially vulnerable to disintegration from a relatively small amount of global warming, and capable of raising the sea level by 12 feet or more should it break up.

But researchers long assumed the worst effects would take hundreds — if not thousands — of years to occur. Now, new research suggests the disaster scenario could play out much sooner.

Continued high emissions of heat-trapping gases could launch a disintegration of the ice sheet within decades, according to a study published Wednesday. www.nytimes.com

bombing that killed at least 72 people in Lahore prompted a string of army raids across Punjab province, with suspected terrorists arrested and weapons caches seized. Yet a leaden television address by the prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, avoided all mention of this. Unsurprisingly. For months he has resisted the army’s demands to be unleashed on the multifarious terror groups of Punjab, a province controlled by his faction of the Pakistan Muslim League since 2008. The generals point to their successes in Sindh, where the paramilitary Rangers, granted special powers, tamed the militants and criminal gangs of Karachi. But Mr Sharif wants no such thing on his patch. www.economist.com

Googles Pichai given $100m pay package: Sundar

Pichai, head of Google, was handed a pay package valued at $100.5m early last year, even before he was elevated to become chief executive of the world’s biggest internet business, according to figures released on Wednesday. Google had already revealed a restricted stock award that would make Mr Pichai’s 2016 package worth around twice as much as his 2015 total, potentially putting him at the top of the league table of highest-paid US chief executives. The Indian-born engineer took over as chief executive of Google last October, when the internet company recast itself as the tech holding company Alphabet and split its different businesses into freestanding units.

www.ft.com

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BUSINESS

High interest expenses sink National Bank to S h1.2b loss National Bank of Kenya (NBK) has recorded a loss of Sh1.2 billion for the 12 month period ended 31 December 2015, attributing the fall to high interest expenses, heavy provisions and loan impairment, which increased by Sh3.2 billion over the period.

These results are compared to a profit before tax of Sh1.3 billion that the lender reported during same period the previous year.

The Bank’s non-performing loan portfolio increased sharply towards the end of 2015, undoing a gain of Sh3.3 billion in profit before tax posted by the bank in quarter three (Q3) of the same year.

Speaking while releasing the results, the Bank’s Acting Managing Director Wilfred Musau said the reduction in profits resulted from bad debt provisions and higher interest expenses.

“Increasing provisions is a prudent practice in accounting. We have further put elaborate structures in place to manage the recovery of this position,” Musau said.

During the period under review, the bank grew its assets by 1.6 per cent to Sh125 billion, whereas net loans and advances grew by 3.3 per cent to Sh67.6 billion while customer deposits grew by Sh 5.6 billion to reach 110.6 billion.

NBK’s net interest income, however, declined by Sh0.4 billion to Sh6.4 billion.

This was attributed to an increase in interest expense which rose by a significant 50 per cent to Sh 5.9 billion

on account of tight liquidity in 2015.

Operating expenses increased marginally by 7.1 per cent to Sh7.5 billion against Sh6.9 billion in 2014 on account of stringent cost cutting measures put in place by the management.

In the year under review, the Bank continued to expand its network in order to bring products and services closer to customers.

“We have a total of 80 branches, ATM network of 140 and over 1500 agencies

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

micro-finance business wing in further differentiating services to its customer base. The Bank delivers differentiated service lines for Shariah compliant banking known as National Amanah, Premium Banking for high net worth individuals, Corporate and retail banking as well sections dedicated to Chinese business.

Musau said the differentiated segments have performed exceedingly well in the market. enock_x254

National Bank of Kenya ‘s Harambee Avenue branch.

Total Kenya posts Sh2.6 billion pre-tax profit following ERC’s downward revision of oil prices Total Kenya’s pretax profit rose 15 per cent in 2015, due to stronger sales and cost-cutting measures, the fuel marketer said in a report released earlier today.

The group, which is the leading supplier of petroleum and gas products in the East African region, said it made a fullyear pre-tax profit of Sh2.62 billion, compared with Sh2.28 billion a year earlier despite volatility in global oil prices and depreciation in the local currency.

Total Kenya, which is a unit of French multinational oil and gas company Total, said finance costs fell sharply to Sh39.42 million in 2015 from Sh272 million the previous year.

The group’s earnings per share rose to Sh2.57 from Sh2.26.

Total Kenya’s announcement comes just two weeks after the country’s

nationwide. Our customers continue to enjoy access to over 1,000 other ATMs belonging to the bank’s partners around the country,” pointed out Musau.

NBK has recently also been awarded for its high level automation of business processes.

Mr. Musau said NBK would continue to invest in new product lines and service differentiation in line with Bank’s transformation program. Within the year, the bank has plans to launch a

CBK EXCHANGE RATES

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) marginally reduced pump prices in its latest review.

The marginal decline was attributed to improved costs in the month of February compared to January as well as lower prices in the international markets.

Based on the new price cuts, a litre of super petrol has fallen by 92 cents to retail at Sh85.58 per litre in Nairobi, diesel by Sh2.18 to Sh65.70 while kerosene dropped by Sh2.53 to Sh42.15 per litre.

ECR Director General Joseph Ng’ang’a said in a statement that there has been a resurgence in the price of crude oil in the international market, with the price retailing at $40 (Sh4,054) a barrel influencing the future pricing of petroleum products locally.

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BUY SELL 101.6176 101.5249 145.1400 144.9836 113.8667 113.7439 6.6135 6.6030 33.2439 33.1643 21.6203 21.5514

JW Marriott and AVIC partner to build Sh40 bn Nairobi complex Beijing-based company, AVIC International Real Estate Kenya Limited and luxury hospitality giant JW Marriott have signed a partnership deal that will see the two entities build largest hotel in the East Africa region at a cost close to $400 million (Sh40.5 billion).

Situated in Nairobi, the hotel will reshape the skyline of the city as well as upgrade its profile as an International business hub offering employment opportunity to over 15,000 Kenyans upon its completion.

Speaking during the deal’s signing ceremony, General Manager AVIC International Real Estate Kenya, Wang Long said China has invested in Kenya more than any other country in the region and it will continue to do so. ‘’We have invested close to $400 million (Sh40.5 billion) and as such the complex will serve as AVIC’s headquarters in Africa integrating a super five-star hotel with a high street shopping experience,’’ said Long.

“Furthermore, the complex seeks to spearhead the entire region in development of commercial complexes as it shapes globalized high value profitable products,” he added.

With a total construction of 270,000 square meters, the complex will comprise six main towers, one of which will be a record-breaker with 42 floors above ground at a height of 173.5 metres, the highest block in not only Kenya, but across the East Africa region. enock_x254

KRA official picked to lead global tax body A career Kenyan tax administrator has been appointed to lead the recently-established Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB) Secretariat.

Mr. James Karanja will lead the TIWB, a global scope initiative that was launched mid last year at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The initiative seeks to help developing countries bolster domestic revenues by strengthening their tax audit capacities through ‘learning by doing’ targeted tax audit assistance. The TIWB Secretariat, supported by an oversight board of stakeholders, will operate as a clearing house to match the demand for auditing assistance with appropriate expertise. The Secretariat, composed of OECD and UNDP staff and based at the OECD in Paris, will also facilitate full-time or periodic deployment of experts.

Mr Karanja, the current Head, International Tax Office at KRA will lead the TIWB’s Secretariat, with

effect from April 1 2016as the first Head of Secretariat.Speaking, when he announced the appointment, KRA, Commissioner General, Mr. John Njiraini, said the picking of a youthful Kenyan to head a global tax body speaks volumes of the growing positive repute that KRA, continues to enjoy among its international peers.

As part of a national commitment to support International Tax administration efforts, Kenya recently, joined the league of 93 global nations; united to address the economic vices by signing the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. The appointment, Mr. Njiraini, noted, serves as a tribute to Kenya’s commitment to develop world-class tax administration personnel at the Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA).

“The appointment is expected to cement KRA’s co-operation with the OECD,” Mr. Njiraini said.Mr Karanja has been instrumental in

leading Kenya’s compliance with the international standards with exchange of information and signing of the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. “I am delighted at the prospect of taking up this very strategic opportunity to channel resources towards helping strengthen audit and inspection capacities of developing countries tax administrations in need of expertise in key areas vital to our interests,” said Mr. Karanja An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Mr. Karanja holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Nairobi and due to conclude his Masters in Public Policy and Management at Strathmore Business School. He also possesses various professional diplomas and certificates including CIAT Transfer Pricing Advanced Diploma, Prince II Project Management, Arbitration, Revenue and Customs Administration. kevin_x254

BUSINESS 7

Economy to grow 5.9 per cent in 2016 THURSDAY, MARCh 31, 2016

The Kenya’s economy is projected to grow at 5.9 per cent in 2016, recording an improvement over the 5.6 per cent estimated for 2015, says a new World Bank Group economic report released today.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to improve further to 6 per cent in 2017.

The report, dubbed ‘Kenya Economic Update (KEU): KaziniKazi: Informality Should Not Be Normal’, attributes the positive outlook to low oil prices, good agriculture performance, supportive monetary policy, and ongoing infrastructure investments.

According to the report, Kenya experienced strong economic performance in 2015, and has exceeded the average growth for Sub Saharan Africa countries consistently since 2009.

The KEU reviews Kenya’s economic performance in the context of three global factors which have been discussed for some time, and are now in full force.

These include: industrialized countries’ monetary policy adjustment; the end of the commodity price boom, and the rebalancing of Chinese economy.

The report adds that the interaction between these global factors with domestic policy and conditions will

Kenya ranked 16th in Visa openness survey Kenya has been ranked 16th in a Visa openness survey of 55 African nations, signalling the need for travel reforms in the country and across the continent.

This is according to a new influential index of how open the region is to allowing the free movement of people to build its economy.

The study, which is the product of a collaboration of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), McKinsey & Company and the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Africa, found that Seychelles, Mali, Uganda, Cape Verde and Togo round up the top five countries in terms of visa openness, respectively.

It discovered that despite moves to develop partnerships across the continent, only 13 out of 55 African countries offer liberal access, which means providing visa-free travel or visa on arrival services to all Africans. Furthermore, only 9 African countries, including Kenya, offer eVisas (electronic Visas), which make travel easier for their regional counterparts.

“Free movement by people is the hallmark of regional economic integration, facilitating trade and economic growth across the continent.

Free movement of people impacts considerable economic benefits of both temporary and long term to the economies in the region,” stated the report.

It stated that in addition to traditional sectors such as tourism, immigrants increase economic efficiency by filling gaps in low- and high-skilled labour markets and increase economic efficiency by reducing labour shortages.

Immigrants also remit considerable amount of money to support livelihoods and investments in their countries.

Despite these prospects, Africans still need visas to travel to 55 per cent of other countries on the continent. By comparison, North Americans need visas to travel to 45 per cent of African countries, the survey, dubbed ‘Africa Visa Openness Report 2016’ has confirmed.

The report comes at a time when many representatives from the African Union (a continental partnership consisting of 54 African countries) has affirmed that opening up the region to unrestricted travel could help bolster economies, create employment and improve the livelihoods of millions of people.

“What if Africa could start today to fast-track connectivity, attract investment and talent into a greater number of countries, promote business opportunities across borders and expand horizons for the continent’s young people, all with a simple policy decision? To a great extent, African countries have the power to do just that by taking a look at their visa regimes,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB Group.

Speaking in the report, he added that having an open visa policy does not require large resources or complex systems.

“Countries can apply positive reciprocity but also open up unilaterally. And it can be done through a number of smart solutions. As a result of opening up, countries such as Seychelles, Mauritius and Rwanda have seen a big impact on tourism, investment and financial services,” he explained.

“Yet Africa largely remains closed, with Africans still needing visas to travel to over half of the continent. These headlines go against the continent’s goal to truly become ‘one Africa.’

And still we know that it is the free movement of people, together with the free movement of goods, services and capital, which is the lifeblood that will sustain Africa’s integration,” he said.

Adesina noted that visas alone are not the whole answer when it comes to a more robust outlook.

“At the Bank, we are working on supporting African countries to plug their skills gaps, promoting talent mobility and border-less business for African entrepreneurs to move freely to set up shop,” he said.

Dennis_x254

determine Kenya’s growth in the near term.

“The prevailing global conditions call for a more vigilant policy stance which is supportive of growth,” said Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Director for Kenya.

However, the report reveals that Kenya’s economy remains vulnerable to domestic risks that could moderate the growth prospects including the possibility that investors could defer investment decisions until after the elections and that election related expenditure could result to a cut back in infrastructure spending, and lastly

security remains a threat, not just in Kenya but globally.

Furthermore, amendments in monetary policy in industrialized countries could trigger volatility in financial markets putting the currency under pressure.

The KEU, whose special focus is on jobs notes that Kenya is creating more jobs now, but mainly in the informal sector projecting that in the next ten years, nine million youth will enter the labour market as a majority will continue to find jobs in the informal sector, the report adds.

“Kenya is not short of jobs; it is short of high productivity jobs,” said Jane

Kiringai, the Bank’s Senior Country Economist for Kenya and the lead author of the report. “To increase productivity of jobs in the informal sector, policy interventions could be geared towards increasing access to broad skills beyond formal education, creating linkages between formal and informal firms, and helping small scale firms enter local and global value chains.”

To create more and better jobs, it is also imperative to reduce the cost of doing business which is necessary for a robust private sector, the report adds. enock_x254

8

BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Consolidated Bank posts Sh48 m profit as lender signals recovery Financial services provider Consolidated Bank has recorded a pretax profit of Sh48.8 million up from a loss of Sh274.2 million over a similar period in 2014.

This, said the lender, represents a 118 per cent jump in pre-tax profit for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The continued recovery is mainly attributed to growth in normal business revenues and a significant increase in recovery of bad debt in 2015. It is also attributed to the write backs on the non-performing loans increasing by a significant 580 percent to Sh492.3 million up from Sh72.3 million in 2014.

Consolidated Bank CEO Thomas Kiyai said the lender has been focusing on debt recovery which has helped it earn the success it has been able to realise.

“When I joined the bank, we decided to focus on debt recovery; we strengthened the unit whilst creating an early recovery unit to engage and handle accounts showing signs of possible default early on before they become non-performing. This approach has clearly borne fruit,” he explained.

The results come at a time when the government plans to merge the bank with National Bank of Kenya, Development bank of Kenya and other State-owned lenders in a bid to sell government assets to private investors.

The bank’s total non-performing loans fell to Sh1.55 billion in 2015, down from over Sh2.33 billion in 2014 while the overall loan book remained on an even keel, growing slightly to Sh9.2 billion.

Kiyai admitted that the bank has had a history of bad debts which has eroded shareholders’ funds. To this, Kiyai said that the bank is working to recover much of the debt.

“On this, we have made significant progress as can be discerned from our

to contain costs and overheads, cutting back on expensive deposits, strengthening the focus on growing non-funded income as well as enhancing operational efficiencies,” Kiyai said.

Consolidated Bank Kenya’s Japheth Kisilu signing the banking industry’s commitment to Sustainable Finance.

Aga Khan Academy Mombasa has held its first democratic Junior School election with a structured election campaign in a move to cultivate leadership and teach students the importance of an ethical election process.

“It’s better to do it now to make the children slowly aware of things they are supposed to do, and for them to understand the campaign process,” said Kristine Leabres, teacher and Lower School Team Lead at the Junior School in the Academy.

In 2015, the World Economic Forum reported that 86 per cent of its survey respondents agreed there was a leadership crisis in the world today. In Kenya, a 2011 survey done by Gallup Inc before the 2013 Kenyan general elections found that only 27 per cent of Kenyans believed there was honesty in the election process.

Against this backdrop, the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa election process started with a nomination process where Senior School representatives gave advice to the young voters on the meaning of leadership and service, its importance and the significance of choosing the right leaders and not friends.

In 2011, a report dubbed the Round Five Afrobarometer for Kenya showed that around 33.4 per cent of voters have been offered these incentives.

The report indicates that teaching young children the discipline of not being influenced by money before they get to voting age is a key platform in achieving a mature, liberal democracy.

Dennis_x254

Magufuli vows to cut civil servant salaries

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has promised to slash the salaries of senior civil servants, cutting the top wage threshold by almost two-thirds.

He told supporters that it was shameful that some top officials were earning Sh 1.8 million ($18,000) a month, while others were paid as little as Sh14,000 ($140) a month.

Officials not ready to accept the new Sh 700,000 ($7,000) monthly wage limit should “start looking for alternative jobs”, he said.

Mr Magufuli has promised to cut wasteful public expenditure in office.

The changes would come into effect in time for the start of the next financial year, which begins on July 1, the president said.

He likened the gulf in wages to a few “angels residing in heaven”, while the majority “languished as if they were in hell,” Tanzania’s The Citizen newspaper quotes him as saying.

Junior civil servants would see their salaries increase as part of the new policy, Mr Magufuli added.

books,” he added.

Going forward, the bank is hoping to have even better results this year with more write backs of already provisioned for bad debt expected to improve the bottom line.

“The bank has also been working

Aga Khan Academy launches drive to cultivate liberal democracy

The president was speaking from his home town of Chato in north-western Tanzania in his first visit since taking office last October.

He also used his speech to announce a drop in the current income tax rate from 11 per cent down to 9 per cent.

“It’s true we want to collect tax, but we must also understand what the working class takes home,” he said.

On Tuesday, a US government aid agency withdrew $472 million (Sh47.8 billion) of funding for a Tanzanian electricity project after criticising the government’s handling of elections in Zanzibar.

The president appeared to react to the move in his speech by criticising overreliance on foreign aid.

“We need to stand on our own. Work hard so that Tanzanians can get rid of donor dependence,” he said.

President Magufuli has announced a range of cost-cutting measures since coming to power, including cancelling official celebrations for Independence Day.

US-based Consumer electronics maker Vizio unveils app-controlled TV Vizio, an American-based privately held company making consumer electronics has launched aproduct that could signal the end of conventional remote-controlled TVs. The television has lagged behind in terms of meaningful innovation. Of course, screen resolution has gotten better, and TV sets are thinner than they’ve ever been. But the way we control our TVs and consume content through them haven’t changed since the invention of the remote control.

With its new P-Series televisions, Vizio is pushing the industry towards a welcome eventuality: a world without TV remotes.

The company’s new line of televisions comes with a speciality Android tablet that acts as the TV’s remote, yet it also has an app available on the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. So any Apple or Android smartphone or tablet can be a fully-functional remote as well.

While the TV does come with an extremely pared-down remote, it can

really only accomplish the most basic functions. Vizio has made it clear that the smartphone or tablet is the way we should control TVs from now on.

The VizioSmartCast app pulls in data from all of the online or cable services to automatically show sources for what you want to watch.

To do this, Vizio worked with Google to center the entire TV-watching experience around content, not content providers. You choose what you watch on your phone, and then send it to the TV. Flipping channels?

Phone. Choosing a movie on Netflix?

Phone, and everyone in the room can have a say if they have the app.

It’s more than a Chromecast-enabled TV, in that the dedicated app can control all settings of the television.

Also, the SmartCast app congregates all your services in one place.

The experience doesn’t end when you choose something to watch, Vizio wants the second screen to be important throughout the experience.

The included tablet is a nod to how people are watching TV in 2016.

Vizio is going to let you indulge in a second-screen experience no matter what. And if you don’t need it, hand it off to someone else in the house to watch Netflix on, and use your phone as the remote. kevin_x254

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

ACCESS topstory

I

t would be safe to say this in whispers lest there be a heatwave of uproar “Humans encroached Nairobi, turning it into a concrete jungle and chasing all the wildlife out of their lush green forests bestowed to them by God.” They pushed them out and caged them in parks and their only importance is that of being seen.

Perhaps it’s this notion that hit the stray lions leading them to revolt and in the quest for freedom and justice.

Unknown to humans a day of revolt was beckoning. A day for revenge was set on the 11th of March 2016. A Friday to be specific.

It seemed perfect. It is that day when humans are tired and all they might be thinking of is a night of clubbing.

Runway Fashion Competition to Premier Soon

FASHION scoop

THE ONES WHO SURVIVED AND THE ONES WE LOST

The breaking out was successful and panic was strife, wooden doors were put under lock and key especially around the sprawling Kibera slums.

Windows were rolled up by those privilege to drive on the outskirts of Langata after word went round that Lions were on the loose. The War had just began.

The first attempt to reclaim Nairobi, nonetheless proved futile. Three Lions, that were said to be headed towards Kibera were captured, like freedom agitators they were put back to where they “belonged”, in a cage.

An easy calm returned and accolades were poured to the agents who ensure that animals stay where they “belong.”

Nonetheless, the Lions had a counter offensive, a week later and a gain on Friday, another revolt occurred and the battle front was along

A new television show dubbed The JW Fashion Show is set to grace your television soon.

The show which is seeking to have competition on the fairest beauties and designers will premier this Saturday at the Junction.

HOT TOPICS

The Revolution Elton John Sexually harassed Guard?

Drama is set to happen in the law courts of California after Elton John’s bodyguard sued for sexual harassment.

The former personal security guard sued the British singer over claims of unwelcomed touching.

However John’s lawyers termed the accusations as baseless.

Elton John

Cabbannas.

This battle went a step further as injuries were reported, given that the King of Jungle had a one on one with a man.

Nonetheless, the King lost and again he was taken back to the cage. This seemed not to go down well with the Animal Kingdom and a third attempt was made this week.

Another daring escape, and the frontline was set at Isinya, the King was out again. Armed with stones, bows and arrows, Humans are said to have

attacked.

And in retaliation, the King of the Jungle fought back, slapping a man riding on a Boda Boda.

However, yesterday it took nine G3 rifle bullets to silence the beast, a beast that was perhaps the freedom fighter of the Animal Kingdom.

The beast is dead and you can now roam freely tapping on your smartphone devoid of guilt that the Lions were here before you!

@duncan_x254

Prof. Jay to Sing till his last Breath Hip Hop star now MP in Professor Jay whose real name Joseph Haule has vowed to continue his music career. Jay who was earlier in the year elected into Tanzanian parliament has answered to his fans and nay sayers that he will not stop being the entertainer he is despite having to handle matters of building the nation and helping wananchi.

Prof Jay

11

10

ACCESS

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY, MARCH 26th NOVEMBER 31, 2016 2014

CAMPUSVIBE

all round news and updates from universities Daystar to host a Night of prayer

USIU listens to Larry Madowo Larry Madowo had a special moment with students from USIU’s school of Journalism. Larry, the NTV news anchor and the host of the Trend a show aired every Friday on trending matters, called on students to exercise truth and honest while it comes to media as a profession. .Larry was sharing his experiences on the media world having grown from hawking in Gikomba to walking the corridors boardrooms of the media world.

After the long Easter break, the prayer mode at Daystar will still be on. The institution will be hosting a night of prayer dubbed Awakening Nights, today.

The night will begin at 8pm and is scheduled to end at 10pm at the school amphitheater on their Athi River campus.

Strath emerge tops at Great Rift Rugby S trathmore Leos emerged top on Sunday after crushing Kabras Sugar 10-0 during the just concluded Great Rift 10 aside rugby.

It was a joyous victory for the Leos who first won the title in 2009 and having joint winnership in 2010, and 2011 editions.

@duncan_x254

Strath students undergo career workshop

A

In the efforts of strengthening the labour force from Strathmore a career workshop was held today at the institution. The guest speakers included Kiprono Kittony the chair of Kenya National Chambers Commerce and Linus Gitahi the former CEO of Nation Media Group.

The event was attended alumni and graduating students who were keen in listening.

Linus Gitahi

Kiprono Kittony

Another life lost at Moi University

string of deaths have been reported at Moi University after another student was found dead yesterday at his hostels.

This is the third death incident to be reported within a span of one month.

Edwin Kabiru was found lifeless under unclear circumstances.

Edwin who was a third year student pursuing a BA in Swahili is among the growing list of reported

hot date

New

The 7th edition of Urban Night will go down tomorrow at the Michael Joseph Centre starting 7PM. Entry is from Sh1500 and the dress code is strictly 60s.

search bar I

Urban Night

nstagram is taking stalking to a whole new level.

The popular social media app is now testing a new search bar that’ll let you search a specific person’s followers, as well as who they’re following.

The search bars appear under the “Followers” and “Following” section within the app.

Although it sits atop of the page, the search bar appears to disappear on its own after a while. But,

if you force quit the app by swiping it away for example within iOS’s multitasker and then relaunch the app, it returns; that is, if it was blessed onto your account in the first place (Instagram is testing it among a only select group of users.)

Needless to say, the addition of a search bar to the Followers and Following sections is going to take stalking/creeping to the next level!

deaths at the institutions.

Earlier before his death another student was killed by his comrades for an alleged theft of a laptop.

After the murder of one of their own in a separate incident one student was killed after an accident when a group of Moi students were travelling to visit a sick friend who was at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

11

ACCESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

ShoeS for the dry weather SeaSon

FASHIONscoop

For the official occasion.

For weddings or church services.

For the out and about days.

For chilling at the beach or poolside.

For the indoors.

For the days when you need a little elevation.

TOP

Locally, they are known as ‘Jesus sandals’, but their professional name is lace-ups derived from their unique lacing system that can be as short as regular shoe laces or long enough to tie around the entire leg depending on taste and preferences. Lace ups are a must have especially in the cold weather since they are easier to move around in than regular flip flop sandals and the best thing is that they come in all varieties; flats, high heels and sporty style. Have a look:

Lucy haLe

Short femaLe ceLebritieS She possesses a fierce personality which probably makes up for her mere 5’0” height.

Being a Kardashian though, this is no problem since stilettos are always at her arms’ reach.

Kourtney KardaShian

ariana Grande

@mercy_x254

Lace it up

The singer and Nickelodeon actre ss only stands at 5’2 ”, which makes her fit her acting role as a blonde teen desp ite being 22 years of age. Her height is not a problem thoug h…

Her good looks ma ke it hard to even no tice how short she is.

The Pretty Little Liar also stands at 5’2” but her height does not restrict her from bringing intrigue to the films in which she stars and recently, the world discovered that she could sing quite well!

12

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DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 Perhaps this involves a relationship that hasn’t really manifested yet, or maybe you and your beloved have had a dispute of some kind. Don’t worry too much. You should hear some reassuring words before too long.

Sounding desperate or scared could push him or her in the opposite direction.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 That’s fine, but you should exercise restraint. If it’s a new relationship, your partner could be scared off. If it’s a long-term involvement, your friend might feel at a disadvantage. Channel the feelings into a poem, song, or painting. If you must voice them directly to your friend, keep the terms general.

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WEATHERFORECAST TUday 31/3/2016

sunny

28

27ºC 46%

TUEday 01/4/2016

More sun than clouds

28 6:34 am 6:40pm

27ºC 46%

6:34am 6: 40pm

Wednesday

27

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 Are you afraid you’ll be tempted to spend more than you can afford now? You probably will, but that’s no reason to stay away. Leave your checkbook and credit cards at home. Take only a minimal amount of cash.

If you see something you can’t live without, take the name and number of the vendor for later.

Sudoku

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 At first this might make you a little uncomfortable, since you’ve never thought of this person in that way before. Don’t do anything rash. Think about it first. Maybe there’s potential, maybe not, but don’t jump at it or dismiss it out of hand. Who knows? This person could prove to be your ideal mate!

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Your friend misses you, too, so don’t think you’ll be alone for long. Try to fill the hours until your partner returns with activities that you love, such as reading or artistic pursuits. The time should then go quickly and you’ll be back together before you know it. Hang in there!

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 A financial goal you’ve been hoping to reach very soon might seem right around the corner, Gemini, but there still seem to be a thousand things you have to do before it’s actually realized. Make a list of whatever needs to be done and then tackle each task one at a time until the goal is reached. Get busy!

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 Some of your colleagues may have been procrastinating a little and now everything has to be done at once.

Don’t get too frustrated, however. There are unspoken reasons for their behavior that they haven’t shared with you. Just do the best you can and hope that others will as well.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 Have you been planning to travel, perhaps for business, Leo? You might receive word that your trip has to be postponed, which could be disappointing. However, bear in mind that this is only a delay, not a denial. All signs are that you’ll make that trip, so don’t panic. Think of it as more time in which to prepare.

VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 21 A proposed get-together with a love interest might have to be postponed until much later tonight or perhaps another evening, %. This could make you a little blue. Your insecurity might even get the better of you. Does your friend not want to meet? Accept that there’s a reason and go with the flow.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Don’t panic if your friend doesn’t show up at the allotted time. It doesn’t mean that no one is coming!

There probably has been a traffic jam, last-minute phone call, long line at the supermarket, or some other mundane delay. Be patient and your friend will show up eventually. Hang in there!

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 This person has a lot of worries, and is apt to lay them all on you if you let it happen. You won’t want to drop everything that you’d planned to work on today. Tell your friend that you should get together for dinner or coffee and you’ll talk about it, and then finish your tasks as quickly as possible.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 This is unfortunate, because your concerns are probably misplaced. There may be a few adjustments to make, but nothing a little belt-tightening for a few days can’t fix. Find something inexpensive but fascinating to do like reading or watching a documentary. You’ll forget your troubles and learn something in the meantime.

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13

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1. Spyro ____ 5. “No ____, Bob!” (Waldo Faldo’s line) 9. Hi-tech tome 14. “Who does he think ___!”

15. New mtge., e.g.

16. Brain surgeon’s prefix 17. 1997 film that doesn’t feature a canine 19. Outfits 20. Astronomer who lost part of his nose in a duel 21. Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor Seiji 23. Egyptian ___ (cat breed) 25. Hypodermic 30. Primitive building material 33. Crime scene evidence 35. Where Anna met a king 36. First name in rock 37. Mae of film 39. Like most ears 42. Harvard rival 43. Shirley who was painted gold in “Goldfinger” 45. Former spouses 47. A Gelfling in “The Dark Crystal” 48. Deck 52. Torment 53. “___ and Abner” (old radio show) 54. King Hussein’s capital 57. Finnish mobile phone maker 61. Range fixture 65. Leader of the Untouchables

67. Missed by ___ 68. Oven insert 69. Comment after a trip?

70. Sacha character 71. Scand. country 72. Oodles Down 1. 41st monogram 2. Senior or junior 3. Capitol of Latvia 4. Lung disorder 5. Before 6. Make again 7. “The Wizard ____” 8. ___ whale 9. Duelist’s warning 10. Arthur of TV 11. “Days of ___ Lives” 12. Round figure 13. Bout enders 18. Puts in the oven 22. With “n,” a Las Vegas casino mogul 24. Elec., e.g.

26. Frivolously 27. Code talker language 28. Deviousness 29. Buddy of “The Beverly Hillbillies” 30. Frittered away 31. Thai Buddhist 32. Plant firmly 33. Socially inept person 34. Early Eagles coach Earle, nicknamed“Greasy” 38. Carroll creature

40. “Sell by” date (abbr.)

41. Start a card game 44. Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave 46. Publicity feat 49. Broadway lyricist Rice 50. Borden brand 51. Response to the boss 55. 1989 bestseller about the IRS “____ Unto Itself ” 56. Warm-hearted 58. ____ sabe (friend) 59. “The Heat ___” (Glenn Frey hit) 60. Seeks an answer from 61. Day of rest (abbr.)

62. Calender abbr. (var.)

63. ___ de vie 64. German one 66. Assented to

Yesterday’s answers

YOURSAY IEBC bias on Okoa Kenya raises eyebrows

The long-term implications of the IEBC blockage of Okoa Kenya Constitutional Amendment Initiative, launched in 2014 pursuant to Article 257 of the Constitution, should now take the Cord fraternity back to the drawing board for serious reflection on whether or not to accept the Electoral Agency as is currently constituted to supervise the 2017 polls. This is so because it was thought that after mismanaging the 2013 General Election, IEBC would make an effort to redeem its image of partisanship by handling the Okoa Kenya Amendment Initiative with a measure of independence, competence and fairness.

Unfortunately, the polls body once again failed the credibility test and thereby missed the opportunity to attract the confidence of a considerable number of voters. It is on that basis that few people now believe the agency lacks what it takes to manage next year’s polls.

In order to put things into perspective, it is necessary to trace back the events leading to the IEBC invalidation of Okoa Kenya Amendment Initiative. The initiative itself was launched in 2014 pursuant to Article 257 of the Constitution. The promoters of the initiative (read Cord) had the time to ensure all the requirements were met. In this regard, the promoters appointed a Committee of Experts to draft the Bill and supervise the acquisition of signatures. In addition, Cord spent resources to ensure everything required was

done prior to the delivery of the draft Bill and the signatures to IEBC for verification as required by law. But the polls agency took inordinately long time to verify the signatures and forward the Bill to next stage, prompting Cord leaders to visit IEBC offices for a meeting on the matter. IEBC top-brass failed to honour the meeting.

On March 17, 2016 a group of Jubilee MPs, in fact party brigands, released propaganda information couched as a press statement alleging that the signatures Cord had presented to the IEBC were not genuine and urged the Electoral Body not to proceed to the next stage of forwarding the referendum Bill to the counties.

IEBC invalidated most signatures submitted to it

by CORD on untenable grounds.

Clearly, this has raised a lot of questions begging for answers: First, has the IEBC become a mouth piece or a tool for ratifying Jubilee propaganda? Second, given the sequence of events as outlined herein, was the whole scheme jointly choreographed by IEBC and Jubilee Coalition to appear real? Third, won’t it have been more reasonable for IEBC to invite Cord to send a representative to the verification of signatures? Forth, given that IEBC had taken too long to act on the draft Bill and signatures submitted to it, how could the polls agency manage to accomplish the task within a week after Cord Principals stormed into their offices? What had they been waiting for all along? — Eliud Owalo.

Reform key agencies ahead of elections With surveys indicating waning faith in the Judiciary and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the state and largely MPs ought to initiate key reforms ahead of the general election next year.

It is true that the two institutions

are facing integrity and administrative issues which must be resolved soonest. Dwindling trust in such key institutions is a grave concern as the country heads to the polls. It must be remembered that lack of trust and faith in the judiciary is what plunged us into chaos in 2007

after the opposition declined to seek redress in court citing those shortfalls.

This is a concern that all stakeholders must look into sooner than later to avoid such skirmishes.

— Nderitu

Country should not rush to overhaul the 8-4-4

Last year, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) embarked on a review of the much-maligned 8-4-4 system of education.

To help chart a way forward, it invited the public to give views on the successes and failures of the 8-4-4 system introduced in 1985.

This system was based on eight years of primary education, four years of secondary education and four years of university education.

From the outset, the concept was noble. There was much hope riding on the new education system, which was expected to equip dropouts at all levels of schooling, notably after KCPE and KCSE, with adequate skills for self-employment or gainful employment in the formal and informal sectors.

As such, the new system was designed to promote selfsufficiency among learners.

Two decades and millions of graduates later, what was

touted as a catalyst to Kenya’s dash to prosperity is falling apart.

Public confidence in 8-4-4 is at its lowest. Because, alas, the system does not equip learners with self-reliant skills, instead, it promotes dependency.

The system is exam-oriented and promotes rote learning, which denies learners the power to think outside the box.

To keep up with the pace, cases of exam cheating to guarantee good grades are rampant.

And despite the good grades, those who passed were woefully incapable of applying knowledge in practice and logic in solving problems at the workplace.

In 2012, a task force chaired by former Moi University Vice-Chancellor Douglas Odhiambo proposed measures to have the 8-4-4 system replaced.

The task force proposed a 2-63-3-3 system that included two years of pre-school, six

years of primary, three years of junior secondary, another three in senior secondary and three years at the university.

Another round of debate on the development of a new curriculum is welcome. It is hoped that candid discussions with all stakeholders will pave way for a superior system that prepares learners well for life after school.

Before overhauling the current system, experts should carefully consider the merits and demerits of each system to avoid a backlash. There would be no need to change the system and re change it later due to inefficiencies.

Notably the 8-4-4 system is being bedevilled because of being result oriented and only for mentally articulate, which was the same case why the 7-4-3 was abolished.

Let’s recheck the right course with the current economic, skills, market and social demands going forward.

— Nderitu

State should curb cholera to avert more deaths

The fact that 135 people have died from cholera since June last year is an alarming signal about the state of the sanitation and the capacity of the counties to treat and manage an otherwise preventable disease.

According to the Ministry of Health, 12 counties have reported cholera outbreaks, raising questions about the level of hygiene in these regions and the capacity of devolved governments to police public eating places and food handlers and to guarantee

public health and safety.

There is a need for more focused campaigns to contain the spread of the disease and to provide timely interventions, including medication and monitoring of food distribution chains as a preventive measure.

The relevant agencies should also conduct a study to establish the cause of the sudden increase in cholera cases with a view to addressing the problem at the source.

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

14

SPORT THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

SPORTS BRIEFS MPs receive Memo to amend Sports Act Parliament’s Labour and Welfare Committee yesterday received the second Memorandum on the proposed amendments to the Sports Act 2013 following recommendation from a stakeholders forum held early this month. The committee which is chaired by Matungu MP David Were was presented with the draft which seeks to amend the Sports Act at a workshop organised by Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

During the event, 35 local Sports Federations were feted after a successful completion of module in Governance and Management under the programme titled “Towards Accountable Governance and Management of Sports in Kenya”. The Sports Governance programme is implemented by a tripartite partnership of Centre for Multi-Party Democracy (CMDKenya), Strathmore University and Sports International, jointly with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Were is the Private Member Sponsor of the Bill. The committee included marathoner and Cheranganyi MP Wesley Korir. Top federation officials, including chairmen, CEOs and Secretary Generals were presented with certificates after a successful programme whose main aim is to impact accountability in sports governance. Among the federations that took part in the programme are Athletics Kenya, Kenya Rugby Union, Kenya Premier League, Kenya Volleyball Federation, Kenya Sports for the Deaf Federation, Kenya Paralympic National Committee and Kenya Hockey Union.

Four regulars ruled out as Rugby 7s goes to Singapore

Menengai Cream Homeboyz winger Alvin Otieno will debut for Kenya during the fourth and fifth rounds of the IRB series Rugby Sevens in Hong Kong and Singapore Sevens.

Otieno is one of four changes effected by head coach Benjamin Ayimba in the Kenya squad that garnered eight points in the last leg in Vancouver Sevens in Canada.

Otieno will be part of the travelling 12 alongside Frank Wanyama, Nelson Oyoo and Robert Aringo. The quartet replace Leonard Mugaisi, Oscar Ouma, Billy Odhiambo and Dennis Ombachi

who are all ruled out through injury.

The team is in Pool A for the Hong Kong Sevens alongside Samoa, France and New Zealand. They kick off their fixtures with a match against Samoa tomorrow in a midday fixture that begins at 1.10pm East African Time before playing New Zealand at 6.40am on Saturday. They wind up their preliminary fixtures with a match against France at 10.18am the same day.

Kenya is currently seventh on the 21 team log with 87 points. New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji occupies the

top three positions while Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Zimbabwe pull the tail with a point each.

Kenya squad to Hong Kong and Singapore include: Andrew Amonde (KCB, Captain), Collins Injera (Mwamba), Humphrey Kayange (Mwamba), Biko Adema (Nondescripts), Oscar Ayodi (Menengai Cream Homeboyz), Augustine Lugonzo ( Menengai Cream Homeboyz), William Ambaka (Kenya Harlequin), Frank Wanyama (Kenya Harlequin), Nelson Oyoo (Top Fry Nakuru), Robert Aringo (Resolution

Impala Saracens), Samuel Oliech (Resolution Impala Saracens), Alvin Otieno (Menengai Cream Homeboyz) Non-Travelling Reserves: Samuel Motari (Resolution Impala Saracens), Alex Olaba (Pan Africa Strathmore Leos) Technical Bench: Benjamin Ayimba (Head Coach), Paul Murunga (Assistant Coach), Geoffrey Kimani (Strength & Conditioning Coach), Lameck Bogonko ( Physio), Newton Ong’alo (Team Manager)

Sorenstam to captain Europe at Solheim Annika Sorenstam says she is going to have “fun” being European captain at the 2017 Solheim Cup. Vice-captain when the United States regained the trophy last year in Germany, the 45-year-old Swede said: “I can not tell you how excited I am.

“I had hoped and dreamed that this opportunity would come along. This is really going to be a lot of fun.”

Europe will attempt to win back the trophy at Des Moines Golf Club in Iowa next August.

Sorenstam played on two winning sides, at Loch Lomond in 2000 and at Barseback in 2003, and was also instrumental in two victories as a vice captain in 2011 and in 2013.

No player has won more matches for Europe than Sorenstam.

Her record of 22 victories is equalled

by England’s Laura Davies, who played in nine more matches than the Swede.

Kenya’s Edwin Shimenga tackles England’s Will Mathews during their match for the Rugby Sevens Tournament in Singapore last April. Kenya goes to the tournament this year without four regulars who are sidelined with injuries. PHOTO: HOW HWEE YOUNG/EPA

Ulinzi holds Bandari to preserve unbeaten run Ulinzi Stars ensured their unbeaten run remained intact by salvaging a point away to GOtv Shield champions Bandari after settling for a 1-1 draw at the Mbaraki Complex on Wednesday.

It was a high tempo game played under the sweltering heat of the coast in which either side would have walked away with maximum points.

Shabaan Kenga equalized for Bandari at the stroke of half time after youngster Cliff Kasuti had put Ulinzi ahead with a 10th minute goal.

“It was a tough match and for us getting a point is good. I am happy having scored my first goal for Ulinzi

and hopefully I can build on from these results,” Kasuti, signed last year from the Kenya Secondary School ball games told Capital Sport after the match.

Bandari coach Twahir Muhiddin was disappointed by dropping points at home for the first time this season and he heaped blame on his striking force which lost many scoring opportunities.

“It is high time that our forwards wake up because these chances that we are losing will come to haunt us soon.

Today we dropped two points because this is a match we should have won, especially looking that at some point

our opponents were drained by the weather conditions,” Muhiddin said.

Ulinzi’s pace died after the half hour mark after being affected by the hot conditions that saw temperatures soaring to 35 degrees.

Just as has been their tradition, Ulinzi started with bullet pace, Kevin Amwayi on the left and Kasuti on the right doing much of the donkey work.

It was Kasuti who opened the scores when he tapped home in the 10th minute after Bandari keeper Wilson Obungu failed to put a stronger arm from Mark Bikokwa’s cross to see the ball fall graciously on the 18-year old,

who easily slammed home into an empty net.

Bikokwa had a superb opportunity to double the lead two minutes later, but he failed to beat Obungu on a one-onone after racing into the box from the halfway line.

The hosts started building on and Kenga was the chief destroyer, also using his pace on either wing to attempt and destabilize an Ulinzi defense that had only conceded once before this match.

MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

SPORT 15 THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Gary Neville sacked by Spanish side Valencia Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville has been sacked

by Valencia after less than four months in charge of the Spanish club.

The 41-year-old, who is part of the England coaching set-up, was given his first managerial job in December.

Valencia won three of their 16 league games under the former television pundit, and 10 of 28 games overall.

Neville said he wanted to stay but results had “not been to my standards” or those “required by this club”.

He added that he understood “we are in a results business”.

Neville’s younger brother Phil is also part of the Valencia coaching team and will be retained.

Neville first faced calls to quit after a 7-0 loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg in February.

His last match in charge was a 2-0 home defeat by Celta Vigo just before the international break.

He has spent the past six days with the England squad for friendly games with Germany and the Netherlands.

Former Liverpool assistant manager Pako Ayestaran, 53, will take charge for the rest of the season.

Pako joined the club as assistant coach in February in a move that Neville insisted was his decision.

“I’m the head coach of Valencia, I will be the head coach of Valencia for the rest of this season. If I leave, Pako will leave.

He’s come to be part of my coaching staff,” Neville said at the time.

“I understand it might look like there’s something going on. There absolutely isn’t.”

Valencia owner Peter Lim also co-owns Salford City along with the Neville

Gary Neville reacts at a past press conference as Valencia head coach. The club sacked him yesterday after less than four months into the job. PHOTO: CHRISTIAN BRUMA/EPA

brothers and former Manchester United team-mates Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.

Neville’s management career began with a Champions League loss to Lyon at the Mestalla and it was not until 13 February that Los Che clinched their first of only three league wins.

Cup competitions provided some respite for Neville, with seven wins coming in the Copa del Rey and Europa League.

Neville retired in 2011 after 602

Manchester United appearances and 85 England caps. He won 16 trophies at United and represented his country at five major tournaments.

Six-time Spanish champions Valencia are 14th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining.

On Saturday they face Las Palmas, who are one place below them, and meet four of the top six - including both Barcelona and Real Madrid - before the end of the season.

New Zealand athlete to face Wilson Kipsang in Manchester after calling Kenyans ‘corrupt’ New Zealand athlete Zane Robertson was not a familiar name with most local fans until last week when he called Kenyans corrupt in a social media post.

Robertson who a few months ago was training in Iten before moving his base to Ethiopia took to Facebook to vent out his displeasure with a misdiagnosis in a Kenyan Hospital, that claimed almost cost him his life.

“In athletics, not every race is a good result.

Learning with experience as I go.

“Today I finished (sic) in the hospital in a country I can get some much needed help that I couldn›t get in the weeks before the race. Over the last few weeks I›ve been fighting off what I thought was a flu, turns out to be a Sinus infection. Taking the bad with the good NYC I will be back healthy and fit for the next one,” said Robertson.

But it was his comment after a “get well soon” comment by Kenyan Journalist Elias Makori that set the flurry of reactions from

a section of Kenyan elite runners.

“Get well soon. But Africa is not as bad as you portray it to be. There are pretty good medical services in Kenya, especially Nairobi,” said Makori who is based in Eldoret where Robertson was staying.

But the lanky runner hit back with a demeaning reply: “I’ll never step inside Nairobi where my friend was almost executed by a gunman in daylight on the street. I don’t feel comfortable at hospitals in corrupt countries.”

And in a month’s time, the New Zealander will come face to face with a Kenyan in former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang at the Great Manchester Run on May 2.

Although the two athletes are worlds a part in terms of stature, it will be interesting to see how they interact in the warm up area even with Robertson having made it clear that his main focus will not to better the Kenyan but to break his country’s national

10km road record.

The Commonwealth 5000m medallist has pledged to ‘push the limits of beast mode’ on the streets of Manchester, with Jonathan Wyatt’s 20-year-old 10km record his target.

Robertson already holds the national records at 15km, 20km and half-marathon, and Wyatt’s 28:04 is the next step for the confident Kiwi at the IAAF Gold Label event, with him having run the distance in 28:10 when claiming victory at the Marugame Half Marathon in January 2015.

In Kipsang, Robertson will face a strong challenge, but he is a competitor Robertson knows well as he has trained with him while splitting his time between Kenya and Ethiopia.

Robertson moved to Iten with his twin brother Jake when they were 17 in a bid to improve themselves among African runners, and the 26-year-old is now living in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. @elvince_x254

16 |

news

FRIday, FEBRuary 21, 2014

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 | www.x254.Co

Why EPL might radically change from next season British football could be radically changed if the UK votes to leave the European Union, according to experts and leading voices in the game.

Some fear so-called Brexit could lead to more than 100 Premier League stars losing the right to play here, others say it may give home talent a chance.

The UK will decide if it wants to stay in the EU in a referendum on 23 June.

“Leaving the EU will have a much bigger effect on football than people think,” said football agent Rachel Anderson.

“We’re talking about half of the Premier League needing work permits.

“The short-term impact would be huge but you could argue it will help in the long term as it could force clubs to concentrate on home-grown talent.”

Players with an EU passport are currently free to play in Britain, but those without must meet Home Office criteria, the most important being they are established internationals for leading nations.

An analysis of squads in the first two tiers in England and the Scottish Premiership has revealed a total of 332 players would fail to meet the current standards.

Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Watford could lose 11 players from their squads, while Charlton Athletic would need to find 13 replacements.

In fact, only 23 of the 180 non-British EU players currently playing in the Championship would get work permits, and most of those are former internationals from Ireland or Commonwealth nations with British passports.

Most remarkably, none of the 53 non-British EU players in the Scottish Premiership would qualify for a permit on the basis of their international career alone.

That is the same situation for 63 non-British EU players in League One and 46 in League Two. The list of players potentially at risk of losing the right to play in Britain includes two of the undoubted stars of the Premier League season, Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante and West Ham’s Dimitri Payet, although both played and scored for France this week.

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady, the face of the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, has already written to club bosses throughout the UK warning them a vote to leave would have “devastating consequences”.

But supporters of the various Leave campaigns have dismissed this as scaremongering, with Brian Monteith of Leave.eu telling the BBC a post-Brexit UK would be able to lower freedom-of-movement restrictions on the rest of the world which would “broaden the talent pool, not reduce it”.