MONday, APRIL 25, 2016 | www.x254.co
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Employers warn against wage increase Federation’s executive director jacqueline mugo tells government not to raise workers wages during labour day celebrations without consultation with stakeholders
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leicester city star riyad mahrez wins pFA’s player of the year award
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T Standoff at IEBC as
Cord protesters clash with police
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here was a standoff at the offices of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) today after protesters who invaded the poll agency’s headquarters clashed with police. Opposition leaders had yesterday vowed to storm the offices at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi today to eject IEBC chairman Isaack Hassan and other commissioners out of office claiming they are not competent enough to handle next year’s elections. And their supporters invaded the offices along University Way early today but were repulse by security officers. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Cord MPs march along University Way towards IEBC offices. Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome addresses reporters at IEBC offices where he warned that only a few Cord leaders would be allowed in. Anti-riot police officers watch as Cord protesters demonstrate outside Anniversary Towers. Protesters hold placards showing they do not have faith in the electoral body.
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Cord protesters in clash with police at IEBC MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
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Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome told reporters that only a few Cord leaders would be allowed into IEBC offices to present their grievances while the rest will be locked out to allow other Kenyans seeking services to be served. “We are not going to allow anybody to eject the officials from their offices,” Koome warned. “Please be advised, any nonsense will not be allowed,” he added. “This is a public office and any Kenyan is free to come and get services from this office. If two, three Kenyans appear, there is no problem but not 50 people,” he said Police have since been directed to facilitate access to the leaders according to Koome but with exemption of their followers. “Let no one lie to himself that he can intimidate anyone in this city,” a visibly irritated Koome said. “As the County Commander, I want the residents of this city to enjoy their lives. Don’t wake up one morning and start intimidating me,” he said. The opposition had on Saturday announced at a rally in Kibra’s Kamukunji grounds that it would today mobilise its supporters to come out and protest and all regional offices of the electoral body to force the IEBC commissioners to quit. But the commission yesterday termed the move as an unnecessary threat which is uncalled for. “The statement attributed to the CORD coalition that they will storm IEBC on Monday is therefore, unfortunate, unnecessary and uncalled for”, IEBC said in a statement to newsrooms last evening. “The Commission will not be manipulated or intimidated or succumb to pressure in the performance of its mandate,” read the statement signed by IEBC’s Communication Manager Andrew Limo. Cord is accusing the
commissioners of having worked in cahoots with the ruling Jubilee coalition to rig the 2013 general election and maintains that the agency was used to block its Okoa Kenya initiative. Both IEBC and Jubilee leaders have denied the claims. But the electoral body is now facing pressure from different sector with church leaders and workers also calling for its disbandment. National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Secretary General Peter Karanja on Friday said there was a lot of misgivings regarding IEBC’s capacity to handle the general election in 2017. “Kenya cannot afford another wave of violence or mere police intervention to restrain a disgruntled citizenry from systemic electoral malfunctions,” he warned. His sentiments were backed by Cotu chief Francis Atwoli who also said he is backing calls to have the commissioners leave. “IEBC commissioners must just go home if we are to have peaceful elections, I support Raila Odinga on that and I have also consulted with workers and that’s their position,” Atwoli said yesterday. At the IEBC offices, police insisted that they had not been notified of the protest and that they would not allow it to go on. “We have not been notified. Why should one think he can do whatever he wants?” he asked. “That will be setting a wrong precedent. We have law governing this country,” Koome said at IEBC offices. Cord supporters meanwhile continued to protest outside the offices and they were soon joined by MPs allied to the coalition. Cord Principals Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka were reportedly held up in a meeting strategizing on their indefinite occupation of IEBC offices to force out the commissioners.
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1. ODM lawmakers blow their whistles as they march to IEBC offices on University Way. 2. Cord protesters demonstrate on the road after they were repulsed by police after trying to storm IEBC offices early today. 3. Cord principals Moses Wetangula, Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka at Mr Odinga’s Capitol Hill office earlier today before they joined the protesters.
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4. Police officers stand guard at IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers to stop Cord protesters from invading the offices.
NE WS 3 NEWS MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
Munya: Devolution summit was a success
The Council of Governors (COG) has termed ‘inconsequential’ the absence of senators at the just-concluded devolution conference that took place in Meru. Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya said the event was successful despite senators’ decision to give it a wide berth. Munya said more than 6,000 delegates from different institutionss attended the conference with all government ministries represented. “Individual people made their own decisions not to attend, that however did not deter the majority of other delegates from attending and to my assessment the conference was a success even without the Senators,” Munya said today during an interview on Citizen TV. Most Senators who spoke to XNews last week said they were isolated in the preparation of the conference and that the event was only going to be used by governors for self-glorification thus their decision not to attend. But Munya faulted the Senators for advancing their political goals through
using important fora like the conference which is meant to celebrate the gains of devolution. Most senators are on record having declared their interests to become governors and it is believed it is the major reason they skipped the conference. However, Munya told those aspiring to be Governors to only convince the electorate that they are the best candidates and not to fight the current office holders. “When you want to be a Governor, all you need is to convince the electorate but not to fight current officer holder, it’s unfortunate that senators did not attend the conference yet they want to be Governors,” he said. The Meru Governor said the absence of senators at the conference was not even recognised by the delegates. “There were powerful presentations by various people and government intuitions therefore the absence of senators was not even noticed,” he said. “We expected the President to attend but he did not turn up because of Cabinet summit and later he proceeded to
Centre for Multiparty Democracy chairman Omingo Magara addresses the press Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya confers with opposition chief Raila Odinga during the close of the Devolution conference in Meru on Friday. Munya has said the econference was a success despite senators snub.
a Heads of State meeting in Uganda,” he added. The COG boss dismissed some of the reasons fronted by Senators on why they did not attend the conference as generalisation of coun-
ties. “General accusations that counties are corrupt is wrong and unfair, I’m not disputing that some counties might be having issues but that doesn’t mean that there is corruption in all
counties,” said Munya. “Some counties are doing great work to their people. There are independent institutions mandated to deal with corruption, let them do their duties but general accusations is unfair to the Governors,” he said. On health crisis that has been witnessed in some counties, Munya said significant progress has been made in improving healthcare at the counties with most counties doubling up the budget for buying hospital equipment. He cited Mandera County where currently there are 16 doctors up from only two. He said the major problem has been moving doctors from the National government to county government which he said the medics resisted for a long time. “The reality is now dawning on Doctors that they are no longer under national government but county governments, this has not been easy though,” said Munya. @hillary_x254
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NEWS BRIEFS Mali arrests hotel attacks mastermind Authorities in Mali say they have arrested a Mauritanian man suspected of masterminding deadly attacks on hotels in the country last year. Fawaz Ould Ahmeida is accused of planning, among others, the November attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in the capital Bamako that left 20 dead. Security services said he had been plotting to carry out attacks on Western targets in Bamako this weekend. They said he was a member of the al-Murabitoun jihadist group. Al-Murabitoun, an affiliate of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM), has said it carried out the Radisson Blu attack. Security officials accuse Mr Ould Ahmeida, alias Ibrahim 10, of being involved in an attack on the Terrace bar and restaurant in Bamako in March 2015, in which five people died. As well as the Radisson Blu attack, they say he is also believed to have planned the siege of the Byblos hotel in central Mali in August, in which 13 people died. And he has been linked to an attack last month on the Azalai Nord-Sud hotel in Bamako, where the EU mission is based. He was detained on Thursday in a Bamako suburb, allegedly with a large number of weapons and explosives in his possession.
Darfur retains state system in referendum Sudan’s western region of Darfur has voted to retain its current multi-state administrative status, the electoral commission says. More than 97% of voters in a referendum chose to remain as five states rather than form a single region, it said. The vote was boycotted by major rebel and opposition groups which say a united region would have more autonomy. The referendum was part of a peace process to end 13 years of conflict that has left 300,000 people dead. The electoral commission said 3.08 million people out of 3.21 million eligible voters turned out for the referendum earlier this month. Rebels have long sought more regional powers to end what they see as Khartoum’s interference in land ownership conflicts. The vote was held amid ongoing insecurity and many of Sudan’s 2.5 million displaced people were not registered to vote.
Employers issue wage increase warning ahead of Labour Day fete
Employers have cautioned the government against any plans to increase workers minimum wage during this year’s Labour Day celebrations. The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) instead wants government to come up with alternative structural means to address the employees’ minimum salaries. And the federation has proposed an ad hoc committee drawn from the government, human resource experts and FKE to be a tasked to look into the matter before any wage increases are announced. FKE executive Director Jacqueline Mugo while addressing a press conference in Nairobi yesterday, faulted the traditional practice in which the government always announces an increase in the minimum wage during every Labour Day celebration. She said such announcements are not based on any market research. “We are appealing to government to shelve its ceremonial announcement on the minimum wage increment and instead engage stakeholders. Wage increment does not reflect the real picture since the economic and social situations are constantly changing hence this has a ripple effect on employers,” she said. She said it is a high time the federation employed scientific parameters in wage determination such as productivity and also strengthen relevant labour market institutions such as productivity center of Kenya, the wages council, the national labour board among others. Historically the government has almost yearly announced increases for minimum wage earners during the Labour Day celebration marked every 1st of May. And sources intimate that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security plans to increase
Federation of Kenya Employers executive director Jacqueline Mugo at a past press conference. She has cautioned the government against announcing any wage increases for workers at this week’s Labour Day fete. PHOTO: CAPITAL FM
the minimum wages and salaries on Sunday during this year’s Labour Day celebrations. Speaking yesterday during Labour Day prayers at St. Stephen Church Jogoo Road, Central
Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli called on the government to increase the minimum wage for workers by 40 percent. FKE meanwhile plans to
hold the African Employers summit next month to discuss issues such as unemployment and enterprise growth in Africa. @hillary_x254
Cruz and Kasich team up to block Donald Trump Ted Cruz and John Kasich are joining forces in a last-ditch effort to deny Donald Trump the Republican presidential nomination. Within minutes of each other, the pair issued statements late Sunday saying they will divide their efforts in upcoming contests with Cruz focusing on Indiana and Kasich devoting his efforts to Oregon and New Mexico. The strategy -- something the two campaigns have been working on for weeks -- is aimed at blocking Trump from gaining the 1,237 delegates necessary to claim to GOP nomination this summer. The extraordinary moves reflect the
national strength Trump has shown and the inability of Republicans who oppose the New York billionaire to come together to stop him. Dividing up some of the remaining primary states by putting forward one strong alternative to Trump in each could be enough to take away delegates and curb Trump’s run to the nomination. Trump is the only candidate who can realistically get a first-ballot victory -there’s no mathematical path for Cruz or Kasich to clinch the nomination heading into the convention. The billionaire is poised for a strong performance Tuesday, when Republicans in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut
and Rhode Island head to the polls. Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roe said in a statement the Texas senator will focus on the May 3 Indiana primary. He called Trump at top of the GOP ticket “a sure disaster.” He added: “To ensure that we nominate a Republican who can unify the Republican Party and win in November, our campaign will focus its time and resources in Indiana and in turn clear the path for Gov. Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico.” Kasich’s chief strategist, John Weaver, said in a separate statement: “Due to the fact that the Indiana primary is winner-take-all statewide and by congressional district, keeping Trump
from winning a plurality in Indiana is critical to keeping him under 1,237 bound delegates before Cleveland. We are very comfortable with our delegate position in Indiana already, and given the current dynamics of the primary there, we will shift our campaign’s resources West and give the Cruz campaign a clear path in Indiana.” Trump blasted the arrangement on Twitter. “Wow, just announced that Lyin’ Ted and Kasich are going to collude in order to keep me from getting the Republican nomination. DESPERATION!” Trump wrote Sunday night.
NEWS 5
MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
Morning newspaper summaries Stop intimidating us, IEBC must go, Raila vows Knec; Why 2016 national IEBC tells Cord: WE are ready ahead of march: Opposition exams will be set afresh:
to receive you, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission yesterday told the Opposition, which has threatened to storm the IEBC offices today. In a statement issued last evening, the IEBC said it was ready to engage every Kenyan, but told the Cord to stop intimidating it. “The Commission will not be manipulated or intimidated or succumb to pressure in the performance of its mandate. It will hold steadfast to the law and render fair and just decisions,” the electoral body said.
politicians are today expected to lead hundreds of supporters to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission offices in Nairobi to demand the removal of its top officials following the collapse of Okoa Kenya Initiative. The Opposition wants a new commission put in place ahead of next General Election. The term of the current commissioners expires towards the end of 2017. Cord leader Raila Odinga said the push to reconstitute IEBC had only started.
The 2016 national examination questions set by the previous team have been discarded. The new Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) team hired to stop cheating and other malpractices is working on fresh questions. The team is burning the midnight oil to ensure this year’s Standard Eight and Form Four exams are not only different from those prepared by their predecessors, but are also protected from leakage and other irregularities.
Dubai group lifts Nairobi’s skyline with 35-storey tower: A Dubai-based
investor has launched an ambitious plan to build a Sh5.52 billion towering complex in Nairobi comprising a shopping mall, office block and a hotel modelled on Singapore’s Iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Abcon International LLC, a real estate and drugs company, has teamed up with six local investors to develop the property on a 3.57 acre piece of land it acquired at a price of Sh650 million four years ago.
Former AP boss Kaunya Final call for Papa Wemba: Mother Africa mourns her Wemba, one of the leading Congolese music icon Papa Wemba: returns from exile, given Papa musicians of all times, collapsed and died After close to five decades of entertaining hero’s welcome: Former senior AP while performing at a concert in Abidjan, music lovers, popular Congolese rhumba and
KQ says deal with pilots allows transfer to rival firms: Kenya Airways is relying
soukous legend Papa Wemba has died. Papa Wemba, 66, collapsed on stage on Saturday night during the Femua Festivals in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He was pronounced dead on Sunday morning. The musician, whose real names are Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, last staged a concert in Kenya in 2014 during the by-monthly Koraga Festival.
on a clause in its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with pilots to justify a planned transfer of close to 40 of them to its rival, Ethiopian Airlines. KQ, as the national carrier is known by its international code, says CBA the pilots assented to four years ago gives it leeway to redeploy them to other airlines, including those based abroad.
Gender rule bill could pass Waiguru seeks separate CORD: We will not be this week: The National Assembly is probe team: Former Devolution stopped in our quest to expected to pass the long awaited Gender Rule Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru wants eject IEBC commissioners: Bill, as women MPs reach out to men MPs for a commission of inquiry to be formed to
Bidco starts construction of Sh4bn soda and juices plant: Bidco Africa has started
officer Oku Kaunya has returned from exile, where he fled at the start of the cases against six Kenyans by the ICC. Kaunya, a former AP Training College commander and his family went into exile in 2010 after they expressed fears for their lives. He had been involved in a power struggle with his boss, then AP commander and now Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua.
numbers. The bill seeks to create more seats in the House to meet the constitutional twothirds gender rule, where no one gender will be more than two thirds of the members in the House. Speaker Justin Muturi will also make a crucial ruling on whether the Public Accounts Committee or a Special Committee should probe political parties’ audit reports after MPs clashed in their opinions.
Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday night. His death plunged the Lingala music fraternity into double mourning following the demise of former Africa International bass guitarist Shaba Kahamba in the Netherlands the same week. Papa Wemba’s death is a big blow to Congolese music enthusiasts worldwide as he was one of the finest Lingala composer and vocalist ever.
investigate claims on her role in the National Youth Service scandal. Waiguru yesterday said she had written to President Uhuru Kenyatta requesting the team’s formation to look into the allegations made by one suspect, Josephine Kabura, about an alleged scheme she formed to swindle the agency out of its money. Kabura claimed in an affidavit that the former CS used her influence to steal Sh791 million.
Opposition leaders yesterday vowed to withstand any Government force employed to stop them from camping at the electoral agency offices. Cord principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka said they will not be intimidated by the presence of the police to bar them from camping at the IEBC offices. “If they try to stop us using tear gas, the whole world will be watching,” they said.
construction of a Sh4 billion beverage plant in Thika whose planned commissioning mid next year could upset the industry’s domination by industry bigwigs Coca Cola and Del Monte. The factory, which is being funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), includes a production and bottling facility for non-carbonated still drinks, carbonated soft drinks and water.
Top stories from X News global partners
Sudan student killing U.S. Cyberwar Aims to Hillary Clinton’s plans for sparks wave of protests: Cripple ISIS Operations the next economy: Sometimes Thousands of Sudanese students have entered and Recruiting: US has opened relief makes triumph all the sweeter. That is their second day of protests following the how Hillary Clinton must feel after this week’s death of a student in North Kordofan, central Sudan. Abubakar Hassan, 18, was killed on Monday at Kordofan University by a gunshot wound to the head after intelligence agents opened fire on students taking part in a peaceful march. The students were walking to the student union building to nominate pro-opposition candidates for their campus elections, said Amnesty International. A further 27 students were reported to be injured after the clashes. “We gathered at 5am to submit our candidates then suddenly they fired live bullets at us,” said Mohammed Shaga, a 24-year-old medical student at the university. Another student told Amnesty that he saw the intelligence agencies arrive in trucks and start shooting.
www.theguardian.com
a new line of combat against the Islamic State, directing the military six-year-old Cyber Command for the first time to mount computer-network attacks that are now being used alongside traditional weapons. The effort reflects President Obama’s desire to bring many of the secret American cyberweapons that have been aimed elsewhere, notably at Iran, into the fight against the Islamic State which has proved effective in using modern communications and encryption to recruit and carry out operations. The National Security Agency, which specialises in electronic surveillance, has for years listened intensely to the militants of the Islamic State, and those reports are often part of the president’s daily intelligence briefing. www.nytimes.com
Democratic primary in New York, when she broke a losing streak by beating Bernie Sanders. She is now almost certain to be her party’s presidential candidate in November. After a 50-year slog through American politics, even the cautious Clinton was emboldened to declare that “Victory is in sight!” Clinton is experienced. In an age of extremes she has remained resolutely centrist. Yet, rather than thrilling to the promise of taking the White House or of electing America’s first woman president, many Democrats seem joyless. And America as a whole is seething with discontent. It may dodge putting a populist, an ideological extremist or a socialist in the White House in 2017. www.economist.com
Obama and Merkel unite over trade deal: Barack Obama
and Angela Merkel have called for talks over a transatlantic trade deal to be completed this year as fears mount that the opportunity to reach an agreement is slipping away. The US president used a visit to Hanover in Germany on Sunday to try to breathe new life into the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which has been beset by political opposition in the US and Europe. “I am confident we will get this done,” Obama said, talking about completing the negotiations this year. But he said time was “not on our side”, calling on all European leaders to support the deal and not “let this opportunity close”. Obama was in Germany where he waded into the Brexit debate, urging Britain to remain in the EU. www.ft.com
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BUSINESS
CBK EXCHANGE RATES April 22/2016) (As of Friday
1 US DOLLAR 1 UK POUND 1 EURO 1 S.A RAND 1 KSH/USH 1 KSH/TSH
High financing costs not good for real estate growth: study
Kenya’s real estate sector has suffered a massive blow from a low uptake in mortgages as a result of high financing costs and high land prices within Nairobi, a study has revealed. According to the study dubbed the Nairobi Mortgage and Rental Affordability report, Kenya has only 22,000 mortgages with a population of over 44 million equating to one mortgage for over 1,950 Kenyans. The skyrocketing land prices are majorly driven by inadequate availability of land for development, says Cytonn Investment’s Real Estate Research Team led by Shev Arora. Lack of proper funding for real estate development has also resulted into excessive debt financing leading to increased financing costs owing to the extended project time frames. The report also indicates that housing construction costs are relatively high owing to the high cost of construction material accounting for 70 per cent of the total construction costs, hindering the growth of real estate. Numerous permits and certification fee and charges further drive costs up where for instance architect fee accounts for over 4 per cent of the overall construction costs. However Cytonn, a fast-growing regional realtor and investment firm is optimistic that the number of good houses within the country are set to boom following the entrance of
international major players such as the Africa Development Bank among others. The report comes barely two months after Cytonn Investments and Finlandbased Company Taaleri Private Equity Funds increased their commitment to finance additional real estate projects locally. Under the allocation, which was signed in February, Taaleri will provide further development capital that will
be deployed to the real estate sector through Cytonn Real Estate, whose deal pipeline now stands at Sh56 billion. This was revealed after an executive team from Taaleri, led by Founding Partner and Legal Counsel Marko Backström and Private Equity Analyst Pontus Oinonen, visited Cytonn offices in Nairobi to complete documentation as well as visit Cytonn’s ongoing development projects. Cytonn Real Estate, an affiliate company,
has been undertaking a number of real estate projects in Kenya, with an 85per cent focus towards the low to midincome segment of the housing market. Last year, they broke ground for Amara Ridge in Karen, while the 400-unit lifestyle community in Ruaka, The Alma, which will cost Sh2.5 billion as well as the gated community in Karen, Situ Village, which will costs Sh4 billion shall be breaking ground during the first half of the year. enock_x254
(From Left) Johnson Denge, the Real Estate Service Manager of Cytonn Real Estate and Shiv Arora, Head of Private Equity Real Estate at Cytonn Investment Management Limited briefing media today at a Nairobi Hotel.
BuSINESS DIARY ‘Black & White’ debate at The Hub E . Africa The Hub East Africa, an incubator for aspiring entrepreneurs, is set to host an event dubbed the ‘Black And White Debate on Tuesday, April 26 at 2:00 pm in Nairobi. Black & White events are lively debates held every month with the aim to show that there is no single truth on how to start or grow a successful business. The inspirational
session is open to everybody with an entrepreneurial spirit and attendance is free of charge. Interested parties are invited to attend from 1:00 pm where guests will be served free tea and cookies. The debate starts at 2:00 pm and runs until 3:30 pm. The affair will be held at The Hub East Africa, along Waiyaki Way, in Nairobi.
Early stage venture capital firm and global innovation accelerator, Nest in collaboration with Kenya’s leading online mobility solution, Ma3Route are set to host an event dubbed ‘ What’s Next Mobility’ scheduled for Wednesday April 27 from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The event, to be held at the Strathmore Business School Auditorium, is a monthly speaker series that features a panel discussion and innovation showcase.
The affair has been known to draws in innovative corporations, NGOs, entrepreneurs, media and other stakeholders to discuss the future of a particular sector. This month’s focus will be on the future of tech-enabled mobility solutions in the logistics and transportation sectors. As it is the tradition at #WhatsNext, all panelists will share some insight into the future looks like and what they see as the next big thing in the sector.
Debate on transport, tech to be held in Nairobi
Atlas issues profit warning, says earnings will be 25 pc lower Atlas African Industries Limited, a public limited liability company incorporated in Guernsey and registered in Kenya has issued a profit warning, stating that the company’s earnings for the 18 months ended December 31, last year will be 25 per cent lower than those reported in the previous year “In compliance with the Fifth Schedule of the Continuing Obligations of the Capital Markets (Securities) (public Offers, Listing and Disclosures) Regulations 2002, as amended, Atlas hereby issues a profit warning due to the likelihood that the Company’s earnings for the 18 months ended 31st December 2015 will be more than 25 per cent lower than last audited results to June 30, 2014,” the company said in a statement viewed earlier this morning. This follows guidance given by the company in relation to expected revenue and loss in public announcements made between July and September 2015 Inits statement, Atlass stated that accordingly, the significant decrease in
earnings relate primarily to accounting adjustments relating to restructuring of the Group, which are being confirmed by the audit process, and which were previously announced in public announcements by the Company. “As announced previously the Kenyan business, which was the majority of the trading activity, has been liquidated due to the global economic environment, in particular the curtailment of investment in the oil and gas sector,” the firm explained. “It is important to note the current reporting period was increased to 18 months, and these results are being compared with 12 month audited to June 2014,” added the statement. This is as per the public announcement made early 2015 relating to the change in reporting periods. The Company expects to release the audited 18 month audited accounts on or before April 29. Dennis_x254
MEAN 101.0389 145.4283 114.6522 7.0534 32.7573 21.6340
BUY SELL 101.2294 101.1342 145.7344 145.5814 114.8894 114.7708 7.0741 7.0637 32.9180 32.8376 21.7738 21.7039
Government, stakeholders in fresh push to ban ivory trade The government will partner with stakeholders to push for a global ban on ivory trade, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Natural Resources, Dr. Margaret Mwakima has said. “My commitment is to mobilise resources so that we are able to give our wildlife the security they deserve, we also want to work with like-minded stakeholders to actually close all the markets for these products and to seal every loophole that can lead to any transit,” said Mwakima. She, however, said it will be hard to root out the illegal trade if some countries are still open to the business. Speaking at the Africa Wildlife Foundation Headquarters in Karen, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General Kitili Mbathi said the ivory burning event slated for April 30 will play a key role in creating awareness that ivory trade indeed has no economic value, but a loss to the society. The event is expected to attract global leaders. “We believe that our ivory is only worth anything when it is on our elephants or our rhino horn, on the rhinos. Kenya doesn’t believe that there is any economic benefit to it. And more than that, we are hoping to use this event as a start of our campaign to try and push for a global ban in the trade of ivory,” Mbathi said. Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association chief executive Dickson Kaelo urged the government to review the remuneration of the wildlife rangers as well as providing latest equipment to boost morale. “It’s hard for many of us to appreciate because often we have seen elephants and lions while inside a vehicle. We have no idea what it feels like to be in a place where there is an elephant and there is no vehicle, you don’t have a mobile phone, you have no access to a helicopter, and you have to walk to protect it,” Kaelo said. He also called for more training of community rangers whom he said play a great role in wildlife conservation and local communities’ wildlife protection awareness. US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said his government will continue supporting the KWS by providing the latest equipment to enhance security at game parks. He also called for civic education of local communities on the value of wildlife. “We are working as well to raise public awareness, on these issues. Here in Kenya we have Sh1.5 billion worth of programmes that will dramatically increase our assistance to KWS, so that we are part of the solution to save elephants,” the ambassador said. kevin_x254
BUSINESS 7
Impact investing meet to begin in Nairobi MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
A conference bringing together corporate entities, startups, government and those in the field of academia will be held on Wednesday in Nairobi to discuss how businesses can leverage on social and environmental investing. The conference comes at a time when studies show that companies that embrace the ‘people, planet and profit’ model are more competitive, profitable and stronger than those that don’t. The conference, dubbed Private Sector Conference on Sustainable Inclusive Business, targets major sectors of the economy including health, tourism, horticulture, renewable energy and IT with a view to showcasing the potential rewards that businesses can reap by striking a balance between profit making and social and environmental responsibility. “Businesses do not operate in a vacuum and should therefore contribute towards making the world a better place. We believe that this is a sustainable way forward. This is because when solutions are making business sense it will last, other that donor depending projects that could disappear tomorrow,” said Karin Boomsma, the Project Coordinator of Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB), the Knowledge Centre, the organisers of the conference. The conference to be held in Catholic Universty, Karen also seeks to move the conversation on the conventional understanding of corporate social responsibility as a philanthropic exercise, to entrenching the practice in the daily operations of businesses. “Corporate Social Responsibility has a new meaning, do your business in a responsible way with a positive impact on people, planet and profit. Make your
therise
Britam Holdings Limited
Britam Holdings Ltd was the week’s top gainer after edging upwards by 19.8 per cent during the period under review. The share price was up to Sh13.30 from the previous week’s close of Sh11.10. The stock recouped a 15.3 per cent loss made the previous week mainly driven by local retail investor demand. Yearto-date, its share price has gained 2.3 per cent.
thefall
Crown Paints Kenya Limited
Crown Paints Kenya Ltd was last week’s top losing stock following a 10.7 per cent slide in its share price over the course of the review period’s trading. Crown Paints Ltd shares ended the week at a price of Sh50.00 from their previous closing price of Sh56.00. The stock which is trading on a profit warning is expected to release its financial results in the coming weeks. Its shares have shed 18.0 per cent of their value year-todate. Analysis by Amana Capital info@ amanacapital.co.ke
business’ DNA ‘good’, rather than doing something ‘good’ on the side, without feeling responsible for the impact of your own business chain,” said Knowledge and Networks manager Hamilton Omollo at SIB. The conference is also an attempt by SIB Kenya to make the burgeoning number of entrepreneurs and small businesses part of the sustainable inclusive business agenda owing to the key role they play in job creation and growing the economy. The conference comes at a time when studies show a surge in social and environmental
investing to more than $50 billion (Sh5 trillion) in total assets globally. In the next 10 years, researchers predict, this “impact investing” has the potential to grow to about 1 per cent of total managed assets, which would result in $500 billion (Sh50.6 trillion) in capital directed at social and environmental impact. This comes as customers also indicate their willingness to pay extra products and services from companies that show commitment to positive and environmental impact. A 2014 study by global research Institution Nielsen
showed that over half of the global respondents, 55 per cent, were ready to pay extra for products coming from companies that had advanced the course of CSR a 5 per cent jump from 2012. Locally, corporate bodies and the government have advanced the sustainable inclusive business model with companies committing huge resources in foundations that advance social and environmental wellbeing. Kenya Power for example allocates one per cent of its after tax profits to CSR which covers environmental conservation while Safaricom
Foundation spends tens of millions annually on education, environment, medical and capacity building. Airtel Kenya was earlier this year named ChangeMaker Company of the year at the Bharti Foundation Annual ChangeMaker Awards for its I-Afrika biogas project at a street boys’ rehabilitation centre that taps into the alternative energy to alleviate the current pressure on the environment, improve health and sanitation and reduce costs on firewood fuel consumption at the centre. Dennis_x254
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BUSINESS
Kenya to host Africa’s maiden employers’ summit in Naivasha MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
Kenya will host the continent’s first-ever employers summit by Business Africa in collaboration with the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) next month. The summit, backed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), the largest network of the private sector of the world, seeks to provide opportunity for chief executive officers of various firms to challenge African governments and policymakers to create employment for the youth. The affair is set to take place at Enashipai Resort & Spa, from May in Naivasha, Kenya. FKE chief executive Jacqueline Mugo last week announced the hosting of the summit, adding that it will focus on promoting business growth and entrepreneurship for job creation in the continent. The Summit is a follow-up to a roundtable held early 2013 dubbed ‘Sustaining Growth and Accelerating the Pace of Job Creation in Africa’ and another symposium held in Casablanca, Morocco later the same year on developing a job creation strategy for African countries – evidence and experience regarding sectoral strategies. Key issues to be discussed at the event include how African governments can tap and sustainably exploit the private sector’s ability to address high unemployment levels as well as the strategies needed for countries to embrace labour policies that will promote enterprise growth. In Kenya the challenge of unemployment still
persist with the overall unemployment at 12.7 per cent. President Uhuru Kenyatta has been invited to grace the event. The highlevel affair will also bring together top executives and resource persons from
Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Benin, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Egypt and Ghana. Dennis_x254
Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) chairman Linus Gitahi at a past media briefing.
Obama cautions UK against leaving EU ahead of vote
It could take the United Kingdom up to 10 years to negotiate trade deals with the US if it leaves the European Union (EU), US President Barack Obama has said. “It could be five years from now, 10 years from now before we are able to actually get something done,” he said. There are also fears that Britain would also have less influence globally if it left the EU. President Obama had previously said the UK would be at the “back of the queue” for trade deals with the US, if it left the EU. He said the UK would not be able to negotiate something with the United States faster than the EU terming it its biggest trade partner. He also warned that the UK would have “less’ influence in Europe and as a consequence, less influence globally if it left the EU. The UK’s referendum on whether the country should stay in the EU or leave will take place on June 23. UK Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who cochairs Vote Leave, added that it was “extraordinary” the US should urge
the ILO, IOE, Business Africa as well as top business and policy leaders from the government and the private sector. The Summit will also be attended by employer representatives from Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of
Britain to be part of a “dysfunctional organisation”. However, Home Secretary Theresa May said it was “perfectly reasonable” for the US president to give his views on trade relations among US, the UK and the EU. Voters will take his views “on board” and make their own judgments, she said. President Obama is pushing hard for a proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal, to cut tariffs and regulatory barriers between the US and EU countries. Speaking at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Hanover, Obama said US and the European Union should “keep moving forward” with the negotiations. The US president’s fresh intervention in the EU debate comes as Democratic US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton also made it clear she thought Britain should remain in the bloc. The Vote Leave campaign, however termed Clinton’s comments “hollow”, but a Downing Street source said “we should listen to our closest friends and allies”.
Tea taxes review underway to boost revenue
Kenya is reviewing taxes and levies on tea production after industry executives and farmers said the charges were putting them at a competitive disadvantage. Producers of Kenya’s No. 1 export earner complained about a 1 per cent levy on tea sold at a weekly auction in Mombasa and a 16 per cent value added tax on tea processed and consumed locally. Kenya is the world’s leading exporter of black tea, a crop that offers a livelihood to thousands of small-scale growers who have complained not enough cash reaches them. The country earned Sh125.25 billion from tea exports last year on output of 399.21 million kg. According to Reuters, slightly stronger shilling means officials expect earnings to slip to Sh115 billion to Sh120 billion this year. Top buyers of Kenyan tea include Britain, Afghanistan, Egypt, Sudan and Pakistan. Kenyan officials have also been holding marketing trips to Asia in a bid to increase sales of the commodity to countries like China. A Kenyan department of agriculture team is reviewing taxes and levies, the department’s principal secretary Richard Lesiyampe, told Reuters, adding that a report was due out shortly. “It will really help us to see what kind of levies, what kind of licences and fees that we can indeed waive,” he said. The port of Mombasa hosts a weekly auction of tea produced in East African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
New eco-friendly air conditioners launched Samsung Electronics East Africa has launched its new range of air conditioners to meet growing demand in energy efficient, less space consuming, and eco-friendly products in the property sphere. The country has in the past few years experienced a property boom with contractors taking advantage of vertical space for more returns from commercial and residential commercialisation, leading to growing demand of single unit air conditioners and chillers as opposed to several
units. “Samsung is continuously innovating to meet the property market demands by offering unique cooling experiences, resource conservation and efficient recourse allocation with our new range of Air conditioners and Chillers,” said Samsung EA Ltd Vice President and Managing Director Hyung Jung Park. Speaking during the launch, Park said Samsung will endeavour to expand the capability of the products with the escalation of major projects in a
Managing Director and Vice President of Samsung East Africa Electronics East Africa Hyung Jung Park (right) takes Architectural Association of Kenya president Waweru Gathecha through the features of the newly-launched DVM s Eco AC System, as Nandakishore Nair (left) looks on.
various counties. The new range of smart products come at a time when air conditioners are becoming a necessity with the recent adverse temperatures experienced in various towns in the country including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. According to the firm, the temperature is likely to continue in the years to come due to climate change, global warming, industrialisation and other factors thus the need for air conditioning systems that operate more efficiently and are less expensive to operate. The president of the Architects Association of Kenya (AAK) Waweru Gathecha applauded the move saying smaller, economic, efficient compatible air conditioners and chillers are a specific area of interest to architects and engineers for elegant architecture and design of living spaces and value for the customers. He said the focus has been to release space for other purposes in the building by omitting plant rooms and integrating air conditioners and chillers that are better elevated, well concealed and of a greater effect aesthetically. Dennis_x254
MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
ACCESS RIP
Music icon collapsed during a concert and was pronounced dead on way to hospital sunday.
A
frica h a s come to a standstill hours after a shocking video circulated online showing Papa Wemba slumped on stage behind a group of dancers, before they rushed to his aid. Born in 1949, Wemba, whose real name was Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, began his singing career in religious choirs. He helped modernise Congolese rumba music, with the genre that emerged - soukous - influencing music across Africa. Together with his bands Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi and Viva La Musica, he racked up hit after hit, including L’Esclave and Le Voyageur. . He has also consistently maintained a high profile in world music with such great hits as “L’Esclave” (1986), “Le Voyageur, Maria Valencia” (1992), “Foridoles, Dixieme Commandement” (1994), “Emotion” (1995), “Pole Position” (1996), “Bakala dia Kuba” (2001), Pub-
lished by Xtra
and “Somo Trop” (2003). He appeared in two feature films, Life Is Beautiful (1987) and Wild Games (1997). Fashion Influence and cat and mouse with the law… Wemba was also a style icon, the driving force behind the cultural movement the Sapeurs, whose young men spend vast amounts on designer clothes. His look was inspired by his parents getting dressed up on Sundays. They were “always well put together, always looking very smart”, he said in a past interview. But the artiste was not without controversy; in 2004, he was convicted of people-smuggling in France and spent three months in prison. The conviction related to a racket whereby illegal immigrants were taken to Europe posing as members of his band. A Belgian court convicted him of the same crime in 2012, handing down a fine of €22,000 (£17,143; $24,690) and suspended prison sentence of 15 months. He was also once jailed in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) for allegedly having an affair with a general’s daughter. Tributes to ‘icon’ Congolese President Joseph Kabila has expressed his condolences.
Publishing Limited, Chancery Building, Valley Road. Printed by
Tributes have been paid to the singing star on social media with Wyclef Jean hailing him as one of Africa’s biggest artistes. Congolese minister of culture and arts, Baudouin Banza Mukalay Nsungu paid tribute to the singer saying: “Papa Wemba is a golden voice, an artiste who has established himself through his work. The proof is that he died on stage”. The minister called his death a “great loss for the country and all of Africa. Kinshasa rapper Youssoupha mourned the band leader in a tweet (in French), saying, “Like my community, I am devastated by the death of Papa Wemba. “He was the icon of our culture, of our lifestyle. This is a huge loss.” Papa Wemba’s last post on his social media page read ‘We will be tonight at Anoumabo from 3 (Abidjan) live broadcasts of the RTI and tomorrow at Khorogho at 21 hours (Abidjan), Good festivities to all and to all!’ Papa Wemba was expected to perform in Nairobi Kenya and later on in the year in Luanda, Angola but that was never to be. Rest in peace Papa—another music legend gone too soon. @kevin_x254
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ACCESS
WEDNESDAY MONDAY, APRIL 26th 25,NOVEMBER 2016 2014
centrestage
review of GLoBAL eveNTS Hot
topics
K
This weekend saw the colourful but private wedding of Denno who is Kakaka Empire’s Talent Manager. The low key celebrations were attended by almost all talent affiliated to Kaka Empire. An after party featuring Jalang’o among other friends went on until the wee hours of Sunday morning
KaTE HuDson’s Themed Joint Birthday Party
Lil Kim is white now
Before
Now
Shock met Lil Kim fans when she posted pictures of herself looking all white and stretched. The tiny rapper best known for being the girlfriend to fallen rapper notorious BIG has undergone an MJ like transformation. Many fans are sad and sunken.
Gospel music artistes Masika and Kinyanjui in road accident
Chris Martin.
Rachel Zoe. Demi Moore.
Gospel music artiste Mercy Masika was yesterday morning involved in an accident on the Thika Superhighway. The accident involving Mercy Masika’s car and another Gospel artiste Dominic Kinyanjui who sings in the Kikuyu dialect happened on the Thika superhighway near Githurai. The Wako Mwema singer suffered minor injuries for which she was treated a n d discharged at the Aga khan hospital. Masika and her husband were driving to Thika to an award ceremony organized in honour of the artiste when the other car hit them from behind. Masika
Lil Kim
Jeniffer Meyer, Kate Hudson and Derek Blasberg.
Dennis Njenga
Kaka Empires’s Denno is hitched
ate Hudson was a blushing bride on Saturday night – but there wasn’t a groom in sight. The actress’ 37th birthday festivities continued with her annual «Hot Mess» party, a joint celebration of she, jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer and author Derek Blasberg›s special days, held at her Pacific Palisades, California, home. “It was some night,” Hudson wrote of the party, alongside a photo with the birthday stars. «Love you guys #NothingLikeAJointBday #AprilBabies #AnnualHotMessParty #WeddingEdition. Hudson and Meyer were dolled up in all white, and both donned tulle wedding veils. Meyer turned 39 on Saturday, and Blasberg turned 34 on Friday. Kate Hudson celebrated her day earlier in the week, on Tuesday. The festivities drew the likes of Demi Moore and Chris Martin , who were spotted arriving at the bash.
ACCESS MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
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FASHIONparade
@
@BaFta CraFt aWards 2016
Jing Lusi: From China with style. eLeanor tomLison: She looked sleek in black.
BehinD the sCenes glam
emiLy Berrington: She opted for the laid back style
sarah hadLand: She stole the show in this blue peplum ensemble.
Almost two months after the 2016 edition of the BAFTAs, The Television Craft Awards, a sequel to the British Film Awards, took place last weekend to honor the behindthe-scenes talent in film production. The honorees stepped out in style for the award ceremony, giving the popular celebrity faces a run for their fashion money. Take a look:
Letita Wright: Black don’t crack.
@mercy_x254
lyriclab DiamonD Platnumz taste the Feeling anthem
Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz is in this Swahili version of Coca Cola’s Taste the feeling soundtrack giving it a lovely RnB sound in his native Bongo lyrical prowess. The Coca-Cola Company is celebratting some of Africa’s renowned artistes as it brings the taste the feeling campaign to life. Fally Ipupa from Democratic Republic of Congo, and Diamond from Tanzania will be featured in the anthem
for Francophone and Swahili. This is one lovely translation and rendition from Diamond, as always.
Jorgie Porter: Showing the right amount of skin
willy Paul Featuring sauti sol gaBu, Frasha anD DJ Joe mFalme waBe
P Units Gabu and Frasha have incorporated Kenya’s top DJ Joe Mfalme in this party song dubbed Wabe. This is a typical party song in witty and cunning lyrics a trademark of the P- Unit duo. The Audio produced by Ulopa Ngoma (Side B) & Man Child incorporates a dancehall ‘genge’ fusion beat that flows well with the lyrics to the song. DJ Joe Mfalme’s scratch skills come in handy in this one. Let us just say this is another good one!
take it slow
Controversial gospel music artiste Willy Paul is finally taking it slow. He features all boy band superstars Sauti Sol in this new track dubbed Take it slow. The message is quite clear, ‘life is no rehearsal’, whatever you do, and you got to take it slow. It is not necessarily a gospel song, though its advisory value would automatically qualify it for the title of ‘a gospel track’. The vocals blend well in this track produced by Teddy B (Signature Scope) / Savara (Sauti Sol). The video is directed by Young Wallace. Lovely!
CLASSIFIED MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016 Due to the relocation of our warehouse, our company is selling cargos with a surprising price. Time is limited, first come first served.
concrete mixer
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Configuring the vertical lift system. The railway can rise to 10-floor high, 30 meters height.
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WEATHERFORECAST MONday 25/4/2016
sunny
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21ºC 73%
TUESday 26/4/2016
More sun than clouds
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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. Friday’s Solution
Sudoku
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SPORT 13
Kipchoge defends London Marathon title with new record as Sumgong also wins MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
Eliud Kipchoge successfully defended his London Marathon title last evening in a course record to seal his place in Kenya’s Olympic marathon team. Kipchoge won the race in 2 hours, 03 minutes and 05 seconds, just eight seconds shy of World record held by Dennis Kimetto. He beat competition from compatriot Stanley Biwott and Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele both of whom finished second and third respectively. Kipchoge not only broke the course record held by Wilson Kipsang of 2:04:29 when he won the 2014 race, but also improved on his personal best of 2:04:00 from his victory in Berlin last year. Biwott finished second in personal best of 2:03:51 while Bekele finished third at 2:06:38. The race zeroed down to Kipchoge, Biwott and Bekele as they crossed the 27km mark in 1:14:49. However, Bekele’s legs wilted against the might of Kenyans as he fell back with Kipchoge and Biwott cruising on past the 30km in 1:29:12. And with about three kilometers to go, Kipchoge broke clear of Biwott and sprinted home well ahead of his compatriot. He celebrated by raising his finger as he made the final turn but appeared to realise just before the line that he could have broken Kimetto’s world best time. Kipchoge is the first man to win backto-back London marathons since Martin Lel of Kenya in 2008. “With six kilometres to go it was a tie between going for the world record time and winning. I am happy I have ran the course very well,” he told the BBC. “I am really happy with the programme I’ve been undergoing and I’m happy with the course record today. “The crowd is what pushed me. It is a wonderful crowd in every kilometre, except in the tunnel, they cheer you and it keeps you moving.” In the women’s category, Jemima Sumgong survived a bad fall late in the race to win her first London Marathon title. Sumgong banged the side of her head off the road when three runners went down after clashing at a drinks station, but she rejoined the leaders and eventually outpaced last year’s winner, Tigist Tufa of Ethiopia, over the last mile. It was also her first major marathon victory since Rotterdam three years ago. She sprinted home in two hours 22 minutes and 58 seconds. A group of seven, all from Kenya or Ethiopia, were bunched together through the halfway point, passed in 1:10:45, and 30km in 1:41:39. The decisive moment came just before the 35km checkpoint when the tight bunching caused a collision with Jemima Sumgong, Aselefech Mergia and Mary Keitany all falling hard to the road. Repeatedly clutching her head as she
pursued the leaders, Sumgong seemed to come off the worse in the collision and the Kenyan was the only faller to regain contact with the pack. She soon hit the front with real purpose against all odds. After a string of near misses with second-place finishes in New York, Boston and Chicago to her name, Sumgong claimed her biggest win to date in 2:22:58 with Tufa second in 2:23:03. World half marathon record-holder Florence Kiplagat didn’t enjoy the best preparation coming into this race but came home third in 2:23:39 while former international race walker Volha Mazuronak, from Belarus, ran a sizeable negative second half split of 70:35 to claim a surprise fourth in a lifetime best of 2:23:54. For Biwott, in the men’s category, it was the second time he has finished runnerup in London after 2014. He was fourth behind winner Kipchoge last year. Former Olympic and world track champion over 5,000 and 10,000m Bekele showed a return to form after a niggling series of injuries. Kipchoge, a 5000m world champion back in 2003, drew upon some of his famed speed from the track as he covered the closing 2.2km in one of the fastest times in history at the end of the marathon, 6:16, to finish just eight seconds adrift of Kimetto’s illustrious mark but still a course record and also a personal best by 55 seconds. Biwott moved up to sixth on the world all-time lists in second place with 2:03:51 and, despite losing ground on the leaders in the last quarter of the race, Bekele finished third in 2:06:36 off less than two months of structured training. Eritrea’s 2015 world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie claimed fourth in 2:07:46, a personal best by one second, just ahead of Kipsang in fifth in 2:07:52. Callum Hawkins ran an even-paced race to finish as the top Briton in eighth place in 2:10:52 to make the British MORE ON THIS STORY team for Rio.
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www.capitalfm.co.ke
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1. Kenya’s Eluid Kipchoge reacts after winning the London Marathon in Britain last evening. He broke the course record to retain the title he won last year. PHOTO: GERRY PENNY/EPA 2. Jemima Sumgong crosses the finish line to win the women’s race of the London Marathon in Britain last evening. PHOTO: GERRY PENNY/EPA
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3. Jemima Sumgong celebrates after winning the women’s race of the London Marathon. PHOTO: GERRY PENNY/EPA
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SPORT
Mathare remain top despite draw as Rangers stun Tusker 1-0 at Nyayo Mathare United returned to the summit of the SportPesa Premier League table despite being frustrated to a one-all draw by visiting Muhoroni Youth at the Nyayo National Stadium yesterday evening. Tusker FC who were at the top moving in to match day ten failed to keep their place after suffering a 1-0 loss at the hands of Posta Rangers in an early kick off at the same venue. Both teams finished with 10 men after Ranger’s Dancun Otieno and Tusker’s Shafik Batambuze were sent off with 10 and five minutes remaining respectively for second yellow cards. Joseph Mbugi scored the allimportant goal from the penalty spot after Joseph Nyaga was brought down by Eugene Asike. However, Humphrey Mieno would have salvaged a draw for Tusker with three minutes left but he skied a glorious chance six yards out after being picked up by Danson Kago from the right. It was a pleasant result for Mathare who got into the pitch just 15 minutes after the Tusker match, but their high spirits were sunk two minutes into the match when Wycliffe Ochomo scored for Muhoroni with his seventh goal of the season. The burly forward picked up a long ball from Paul Muchika, pulled it down with one touch before side footing into the bottom left of Robert Mboya’s net for the opener. Mathare however got themselves back on level terms on the quarter hour mark via a beautiful Whyvonne Isuza effort. The creative midfielder volleyed in from inside the box after Crispin Oduor had battled with three markers on the right before floating in an enticing cross. The match was a balanced affair, most of the contention being reduced to the midfield and both goalkeepers were never tested much. Muhoroni should have doubled their tally in the 23rd minute but Abbas
Muhoroni Youth’s Moses Arita controls the ball as Mathare United’s Robinson Kamura closes down on him during their Sportpesa Premier League match at Nyayo Stadi um yesterday. The teams drew 1-1. PHOTO: CAPITAL FM
Akinyemi miscued his shot after goal scorer Ochomo had picked him up at the edge of the box. Mathare’s defense had been shaky with Ochomo proving too much to handle. However, the sugar belt side’s finishing was not at its best and Mathare escaped unpunished. At the start of the second period, Mathare head coach Francis Kimanzi altered his central defense pairing, bringing in Robinson Kamura for Dennis Orenge. Kamura has been away from the team for the last three months as he was away in Norway for a Mathare Youth Sports Association exchange program.
Ochomo’s threat would be eliminated, but not due to Kamura’s introduction. The striker picked up a knock on his ankle and limped off, being replaced by Moses Arita. Muhoroni tactician James Omondi also hauled off the rather quiet and subdued Sammy Ndung’u for Lwamba Bebeto as he sought to add some spice in his attack. Other matches played over the weekend saw Sofapaka earn their first league win of the season when they beat City Stars 1-0 at Nyayo stadium. Goalkeeper turned-striker Barnabas Tiema scored the solitary goal on 67 minute to silence the pre-match favourites.
Champions Gor Mahia also beat visiting Sony Sugar by a similar margin at the same stadium while Western Stima stunned Bandari 2-0 in Kisumu. Chemelil Sugar won against Ushuru by a solitary goal in Chemelil. Veteran striker Hilary Echesa made all the difference scoring in the 16th minute after Ushuru goalkeeper Shabaan Odhoji had exposed himself coming off his line in an attempt to clear a dangerous Samuel Olwande ball from the right wing. Kakamega Homeboyz beat Thika United 2-1 at the Mumias Complex, the same venue where the match between AFC Leopards and Ulinzi was
abandoned following crowd trouble. Mathare United now remain top with 21 points after ten games while Tusker is perched on second with 20 points. AFC Leopards remain third with 18 points, one ahead of fourth placed Posta Rangers. Kakamega Homeboyz are firth with 16 points followed by Western Stima and Gor Mahia on sixth and seventh places respectively. Both have 14 points with the power men having a better goal difference to the Champions. Sofapaka remain rooted at the bottom with six points, same as Sony Sugar. MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke
Wenger has top four ‘worry’ for Arsenal Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 19 years is a “worry”. The Gunners missed the chance to climb from fourth to third after Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Sunderland. “We care about that and we worry about it as well because it’s a fight,” said Wenger of their top-four ambitions. “It is frustrating because we play to win the title and the fact that we do not win it is of course frustrating.”
Arsenal, who have not finished outside the top four in the Premier League since the 1995-96 campaign, are 12 points behind leaders Leicester with three games left to play. They are also just five points above fifth-placed Manchester United, who have a game in hand, with the top four qualifying for the Champions League. Arsenal found it difficult to create chances against a committed Sunderland side, who moved out of the relegation zone with the point.
And Wenger said it is the time of the season when some clubs will face easier fixtures. “There are two leagues at the moment,” he said. “The teams who are taking it a little bit easier - you see some games and you think you would like to play them now, the teams who are safe and are not going for Europe. “And then you have the teams who are going for something at the front and the teams who are fighting not to go down, and they are different games.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (right) during his teams match against Watford in an English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in London. Wenger says he is worried for Arsenal’s top four chances. PHOTO: ANDY RAIN/EPA
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Mahrez voted PFA’s player of the year MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez has won the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award. Mahrez has scored 17 goals and made 11 assists in 34 league games to take Leicester to the cusp of the title. The award was voted for by the Algeria international’s fellow professionals. He becomes the first African player to win the award. Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, 20, was named PFA Young Player of the Year, while Manchester City forward Izzy Christiansen won the Women’s Player of the Year award. Mahrez, 25, held off competition from Tottenham forward Harry Kane, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, West Ham United midfielder and fellow Leicester men Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante to win the award. Mahrez was handed the prize at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday hours after scoring in his side’s 4-0 win over Swansea City as leaders Leicester moved to within five points of the title. He dedicated the award to his teammates. “All the credit is for them, seriously,” Mahrez, who joined Leicester from French second-tier side Le Havre in January 2014, said. “And for my manager and the staff. Without them I wouldn’t receive this award and I wouldn’t score. It’s the team spirit, and I want to dedicate it to them.
“It’s extra special because if the players vote for me it’s because they’ve seen I’ve been great this year so I’m happy. “Without my team-mates I wouldn’t get this award.” One year ago, Alli was getting ready to play at Rochdale for MK Dons having been loaned back to the League One club after signing for Tottenham for an initial £5m in February 2015. This season he has scored 10 times in 32 top-flight games to help Spurs challenge Leicester for the title. In addition, Alli has made six senior appearances for England, scoring in a 2-0 friendly win over France last November. Alli was unable to collect the award in person as Tottenham host West Brom on Monday, but former Spurs player and manager Ossie Ardiles collected the prize on his behalf. “Thank you Ossie, the Tottenham legend for receiving this award for me,” Alli said in a video message screened at the awards. “Sorry I can’t be there tonight but we have a big game tomorrow.” Leicester and Tottenham have provided eight players between them for the Professional Footballers’ Association Premier League Team of the Year. Mahrez is one of a quartet of players from league leaders Leicester, while Alli is one of four men from Spurs. Ozil, a PFA Player of the Year nominee, misses out.
Leicester City forward and Algerian International Riyad Mahrez poses for a photo with his Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year trophy presented to him in London last night. Mahrez is the first African to win the award.
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monday, aPRIL 25, 2016 | www.x254.co
Mathare reMain top despite draw
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Leicester City striker celebrates acoring against Swansea yesterday as Coach Claudio Ranieri (INSET) urges his charges on. PHOTOS: EPA
Actualise the dream, coach Ranieri urges as Foxes push closer
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laudio Ranieri has told his Leicester City players “not to let the fantastic moments pass” and “make the dream a reality” by winning the Premier League. The leaders beat Swansea 4-0 last evening to go eight points clear of second placed Tottenham. “This is the right moment to push,” said manager Ranieri, whose team need a maximum of five points from their final three games to secure the title. “I talked to my players before the game and said that it has been a dream so far, so now make the dream reality.” He added: “I told them give everything then we won’t regret.” Leicester faced Swansea without striker Jamie Vardy, who was suspended. Any doubts that the Foxes would struggle without their 22-goal top scorer were removed as Leonardo Ulloa, his replacement, scored twice after Riyad Mahrez’s opener. Marc Albrighton completed the scoring to give Leicester their biggest of the season. “This was an important win because everybody
wanted our answer without Vardy - and that was a fantastic answer,” added Ranieri. “Ulloa was fantastic. He held the ball up, attacked and defended and scored two goals, so well done to him. He was top scorer last season and he doesn’t lose his ability.” The win puts pressure on Tottenham, who play West Bromwich Albion on Monday. Anything less than victory for Spurs means Leicester will be confirmed as Premier League champions by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino warned that he does not expect his side to slip up, saying: “I think we are as strong as at the start of the season. “The data is similar at the beginning to now, because now we can see the finish line. “We haven’t arrived yet, this is important, but our motivation is good and then you can run more. It is always in our mind and we are in a very good moment. “We need to fight to achieve big things like winning the title.”
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