20160405 xnews

TUESday, APRIL 5, 2016 | www.x254.co

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police recruits to be deployed to hostile areas National police service commission chairman johnstone kavuludi says working in regions prone to cattle rustling, banditry and terrorism is the best way to serve the country

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NEWS

Harambee starlets jet out to algiers for women’s afcon qualifiers against host

Resurgent gor mahia eye thika scalp in tomorrow’s midweek clash at nyayo

The key factor in Ruto’s ICC ruling

A

ll eyes are this evening cast on the ICC trial Chamber IV judges who are expected to deliver a key ruling in the case against Deputy President William Ruto and his co-accused Joshua Sang.

Judges Chile Eboue-Osuji, Olga Herrera Carbuccia and Robert Fremr will today at 7pm rule whether or not the two have a case to answer.

Evidence to prove that a network was established and used to commit crimes

CORRUPTION: Icelanders demand resignation of leader People gather during a protest on Austurvollur Square in front of the Icelandic Parliament in Reykjavic, Iceland yesterday as they called for the resignation of Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugson.

Gunnlaugson is one of several world leaders, celebrities, dictators and oligarchs including 72 former and current world leaders named in leaked papers suggesting that they have connections with secret ‘offshore’ companies designed to evade tax scrutiny in their countries. The leak involves 11.5 million documents from one of the world’s largest offshore law firms, Mossack Fonseca, based in Panama. The investigation dubbed ‘The Panama Papers’ was undertaken and headed by German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), with the collaboration of reporters from more than 100 media outlets in 78 countries around the world.

See story on page 4.

PHOTO: BIRGIR POR HARDARSON/EPA

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in the Rift Valley during the 2007/8 Post Election Violence will be the main consideration in ruling whci will have far-reaching implications on Ruto’s political career.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Committee to look into City transport chaos A committee consisting of matatu stakeholders, Nairobi County officials and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has today been formed to address the problem of congestion in the capitals central business district which has been blamed on the public service vehicles.

At a joint press conference today, Nairobi County deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke said the committee will be tasked with restoring order and sanity among public service vehicles in the city.

“The committee will seek to restore order within the public service sector which will include courtesy, observation of transport rules, cleanliness of vehicles, avoidance of noise pollution, touting and co-existence with other city businesses,” Mueke said.

Only last week, governor Evans Kidero revoked parking licences for all public service vehicles entering the CBD and ordered that they seek fresh permission.

This was after traders and business people I the CBD threatened to stop remitting taxes to the county government saying City Hall had failed to control the rogue matatus that blocked

Published by Xtra Publishing Limited, Chancery Building, Valley Road. Printed by Standard Media Group, Mombasa Road.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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NEWS

Existence of network key as ICC judges deliver landmark ruling on Ruto case TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

From Page 1 According to Nabil Orina, an international law expert, the judges will analyse three elements of the existence of the alleged network which Ruto and Sang are said to have used to commit crimes of murder, forcible transfer of population and persecution.

In their submissions, Sang wanted his case to be terminated while Ruto is pushing for a no-case to answer verdict as well as an acquittal.

And Orina believes that should the judges find that the prosecution presented convincing evidence to establish the existence of the network, Ruto and Sang’s membership and how they used the said network to commit the crimes, the duo could be put to their defences as the case moves to the next level.

In his view, the case will otherwise fail to meet the threshold of crimes against humanity which has been the main anchor point for the prosecution.

“They have to look at all the elements of the crime, whether the alleged network existed, whether these crimes were committed by the network and if the accused persons were connected with this network – a determination has to be made on all that – whether there is sufficient evidence to put them on defence,” he explained.

During the oral submissions of the motion of no-case-to-answer, Presiding Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji emphasised to the prosecution that it was mandatory it explained and sustained its allegations about the network with evidence.

He asked the prosecution to explain – if without the alleged network, the crimes committed in the Rift Valley would have amounted to a crime

ICC Judges (from left) Olga Herrera Carbuccia, Chile Ebuoe-Osuji and Robert Fremr who are today expected to deliver the ruling on whether William Ruto and Joshua Sang have a case to answer.

against humanity which is the required threshold of the ICC. Judges in their written ruling which will be submitted to the concerned parties and the media via email, will explain if the prosecution established a prima facie case – that warrants the accused persons being put on their defence or if the evidence is inadequate to support and sustain the continuation of the trial as claimed by the defence.

“The standard base the trial chamber is going to apply is whether the evidence that is before the record can reasonably sustain a case, and if it cannot, then it means it’s a determination that the prosecution’s case has collapsed beyond any help and in the end they have

Committee to look into City transport chaos From Page 1 business entrances through haphazard parking.

And in doing their work, the new committee will look to implement previous reports of decongestion of the city and transport sector and implementation of short and long term solutions that shall include introduction of city routes.

“The committee shall further develop a terminal outside the CBD and will have to reorganise all the Sacco’s aiming to make them bigger and stronger. In addition to exploring introduction of holding places for the PSVs to ensure that they enter the city in an orderly manner,” Mueke added.

He said the committee will stand until the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport

Authority is formed.

He gave the PSV’s up to Thursday this week to submit to the formed committee copies of their permits for physical verification and authenticity.

Those who fail to abide by the deadline risk having their licences revoked.

On his part Matatu Owners Association Chairman Simon Kimutai said that the new measures given by the county government is not geared to kill their business and that will only make the sector more orderly.

“The new regulations given by the county do not in any way target to kill our business but is aimed to bring normalcy in the way we do business,” he said. hillary_x254

to terminate and acquit the accused persons.”

On the basis of the evidence submitted, the judges will terminate the case, “if they find that it cannot on a trial fact sustain a conviction even if the defence were not to say anything.”

The decision of the motion of no caseto-answer will be for individual charges with both Ruto and Sang separately facing the three counts.

The judges will look at the evidence presented for every charge and issue separate rulings for each one of them.

“Looking at whether there is a case to answer the court must determine on every charge – the alleged goal of each accused person in regard to this

Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke at a press conference with executive member for Transport Mohamed Abdullahi and Matatu Owners Association Chairman Simon Kimutai. A committee has today been formed to address the city’s transport chaos.

(network) and the crimes they are accused of must be assessed together with the elements of crimes against humanity,” Orina argues.

Despite the fact that the two are jointly charged as indirect co-perpetrators in the case, they submitted separate applications on the motion of no caseto-answer.

Ruto filed a motion seeking for an acquittal while Sang’s application was a motion of no case-to-answer, which according to Orina, is “one and same thing.”

“There’s is a possibility that the chamber can say we don’t see from the evidence on record that the role that accused person ‘A’ played the alleged role – so

it’s a possibility the chamber can say there is no sufficient evidence to put accused person ‘A’ on their defence but there is evidence to put accused person B on their defence,” he explained.

The prosecution however, links Ruto and Sang to the network drawing a coordination aspect of how the network operated with each of the accused playing a role to support activities of the network used to commit crimes against humanity.

“The difficulty with this is that these guys are alleged to have used their political network and the other is alleged to have used the media together with businessmen to come together to commit these crimes.”

“So if you say one of them did not do this, then the organisation network is destroyed and if you destroy the network it means that you have destroyed one of the elements that is required for sustaining crimes against humanity – if the case against one collapses the case against the other collapses,” Orina explained.

The ICC Prosecutor when asking judges to admit evidence of five recanting witnesses said without their evidence, she would be deprived of ‘significant’ evidence.

The Appeals Chamber overruled the decision of the trial Chamber and Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is on record having said her evidence was weakened.

The judges will also review other arguments of the parties including counter accusations of witness bribery, intimidation, coaching and issues of their credibility and reliability to determine if there is a case or no case.

MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

NE WS 3 NEWS Land agency, ministry bury the hatchet

The National Land Commission and her parent ministry have jointly formed a liaison committee to help synergize strength between the two institutions and end their conflicts in solving land disputes. for the benefit of Kenyans in resolving land matters.

The liaison committee to be co-chaired by the Principal Secretary State Department of Lands and the Chief Executive National Land Commission has been tasked with helping the commission and the ministry meet the public expectation in carrying out their mandates.

NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri noted that for the last two years, the differences between the commission and the ministry over the interpretation of various provisions in the land statutes were blown out of proportion and they now want to work together.

“Today as the top leadership of the ministry of lands and the National Lands Commission, we commit to work together as a team, synergize our strengths and lead a team that will work towards achieving the aspirations of the people of Kenya on land matters,” Swazuri said. Swazuri said it was unfortunate that the differences between the ministry and the commission occasioned delays in decision making by banks, law firms, planners, surveyors and other stakeholders in the sector. “It is unfortunate that for over slightly two years, the differences between the ministry of lands and the Commission on the interpretation of various provisions in the land statutes were blown out of proportion occasioning delays in decision making within the land sector,” he added.

tuESday, aPRIL 5, 2016

New police recruits to be deployed in hostile areas New police recruits will serve in insecurity-prone areas upon completion of their training, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has said. NPSC Chairperson Johnstone Kavuludi said that the 10,000 whose recruitment drive was carried out yesterday will be posted to areas with security challenges.

“Those selected should be prepared to be sent anywhere in this country, especially those regions where security is wanting,” Mr Kavuludi said on Sunday.

He added: “There are parents who are calling me and asking me to assure them that their children will not be taken to hostile areas after finishing training. I have told them they will be taken there.”

He said working in areas that are prone to cattle rustling, banditry or terrorism was the best way to

National Police Service Commission boss Johnstone Kavuludi. He said new officers will be deployed in hostile areas.

serve to the country. “There is nothing wrong with being posted to Garissa because one will not live there forever,” he said.

He encouraged parents with sons and daughters keen on joining the service to allow them to turn up in large numbers during the

Varsity funding crisis looms as student enrolment goes up Enrolment to public universities this year will increase by nearly 7,000 students, setting the stage for a funding crisis in the institutions of higher learning.

The ministry of Education recently announced tough rules to guide university funding in which Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said money will only be disbursed based on the number of accredited courses a university offers unlike in the past where it was informed by the number of admitted students.

“We shall fund our universities based on the number of accredited courses not the number of admitted students,” Dr Matiang’i announced last month.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps) has announced that 74,389 students who sat their KCSE exams last year will join public universities this year.

This represents an 8.9 percent increase from the 67,790 students who were admitted to the institutions of higher learning last year and a further increase from the 53,010 admitted the previous year.

A sharp rise in the enrolment of students in public universities has continued to stretch the High-

er Education Loans Board’s (Helb) capacity to fund university education for needy applicants with their budget almost stagnant.

The high enrolment rate has also been exerting pressure on university teaching staff and facilities at a time when the institutions are struggling to raise cash for upgrades.

First Year students who joined campus last September only got their Helb cash in January this year, halfway through the academic year.

The freshmen completed the first semester without support from Helb after the Treasury delayed t h e release of Sh2.4 billion for the students’ upkeep and tuition fees.

KUCCPS maintained t h e

recruitment so that they can get enlisted. The police boss encouraged graduates who were yet to get jobs but have either degrees or diplomas to join the police force as they would have an opportunity to further their studies or even attain managerial positions.

He also expressed confidence that the recruitment would be free of irregularities unlike two years ago when the court was forced to annul a similar exercise after it was found to have been marred with graft.

“Recruitment is free of charge and very fair,” assured Kavulundi. KNCHR has claimed that the police employer has ignored critical guidelines that could act to compromise the validity of the exercise. KNCHR through the vice chairperson George Morara said that NPSC omitted the two tier recruitment process which involves first advertisement and short listing followed by physical, medical and aptitude tests and verification of the candidates’ documents. @wilson_x254

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

minimum entry requirements for male students at grade B of 60 points and a B- of 58 points for females this year.

This is the second admission by KUCCPS, which replaced the Joint Admissions Board (JAB) in February last year.

Official data shows that public universities had 363,334 students last year, up from 195,528 in 2012. This has put pressure on the government to create new jobs for the graduates whose number stood at 62,000 in 2002.

Analysts have blamed the upgrades of mid-tier colleges for the reduced number of graduates with technical skills required to boost Kenya’s industrial sector.

This has seen the country witness a rise in graduates with liberal arts degrees in a job market that is already saturated. @wilson_x254

Hospital cellings are boring.

Drive Safely!

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NEWS TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Panama papers: 18 Africans named At least 18 high-profile Africans have been named in a massive data leak exposing the financial activities of some of the world’s rich and famous and their use of tax havens.

More than 11 million documents, known as the Panama Papers, were leaked by an unknown source at one world’s most secretive companies, Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

They were passed to German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, which then shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

The documents reveal that Mossack Fonseca assisted companies and individuals to utilise tax havens in numerous ways.

For some - such as Sudan’s former President Ahmad Ali al-Mirghani, Kenya’s Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal or ex-UN chief Kofi Annan’s son Kojo Annan - offshore companies were used to buy and sell expensive real estate in London.

Mounir Majidi, the king of Morocco’s personal secretary, used an offshore company to buy a luxury yacht in 2006 - a transaction that Mr Majidi’s lawyers maintain is above board.

Other revelations are more murky.

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma’s nephew, Khulubuse Zuma, is named as a representative of two offshore companies that acquired oil fields in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2010.

Mossack Fonseca later opted to end its relationship with Mr Zuma›s companies after questions were raised about the transaction.

K h u l u b u s e Zuma’s spokesman said that he has never held an offshore bank account, but declined to comment on his role in offshore companies.

Some of those named have previously been found guilty of money laundering activities and are serving time.

Former governor of Nigeria’s Delta State, James Ibori, was convicted of such activities in 2012. Four offshore companies connected to Ibori are named in the Panama Papers - one of which was used to buy a $20m (£14m) private jet.

Mau Mau veterans now want Kimathi’s grave identified

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga (left) hands over court files of the late Dedan Kimathi to Mau War Veterans Association Secretary General Gitu wa Kahengeri at freedom corner in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park. The war veterans now want the Kenyan government to compel the British government to identify the exact location where freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi was buried so that his body can be exhumed and the hero given a deserving send off.

Icelanders demand resignation of Premier over links to tax haven

Iceland’s Prime Minister is facing calls to resign after leaked documents revealed personal financial arrangements that critics say have shattered public confidence in his leadership and will affect the country’s

international reputation.

Protesters packed streets outside the country’s Parliament in Reykjavik on Monday as opposition lawmakers called for a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Sigmundur David

Gunnlaugsson. Meanwhile, Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has cut short a personal trip to the United States, Iceland’s national public service broadcaster RUV reports, citing his press secretary.

Gunnlaugsson is one of a number of world leaders facing scrutiny since a group of news organizations jointly published reports Sunday drawing on millions of documents hacked from Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm that allegedly helped elected leaders and top officials set up secret shell companies and offshore accounts.

The reports accuse Gunnlaugsson, who has led the country since 2013, of having ties to an offshore company, Wintris Inc., that were not properly disclosed. The claims contained in the leaked documents have not been verified. They were obtained from an anonymous source by German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and then shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Gunnlaugsson (pictured) told Iceland’s TV2 Monday that he felt “betrayed and disappointed” by the accusations and wouldn’t step down.

“I have not considered resigning, nor

am I going to resign, because of this matter,” he said.

The leaked documents have implicated several world leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif.

In Africa, kins, aides and close allies of Presidents Jacob Zuma (South Africa), Joseph Kabila (Congo) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda) have all been named in the documents.

And in Kenya, deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal’s family was linked to 11 shell companies also named in the tax haven ring.

A Kenyan man who vanished with Sh1.9 billion of pyramid scheme money also set up two offshore dummy companies and is among several other Kenyans named in secret records of the Panamian law firm notorious for helping register firms evading tax.

Mossack Fonseca said in a statement yesterday that while the firm “may have been the victim of a data breach, nothing we’ve seen in this illegally obtained cache of documents suggests we’ve done anything illegal, and that’s very much in keeping with the global reputation we’ve built over the past 40 years of doing business the right way.”

NEWS 5

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Morning newspaper summaries Tunoi petrol station Kenya pyramid loot Ruto’s mum; My pain and meeting took place - JSC: stashed in tax haven: The man prayer for son on ICC: Sarah The Judicial Service Commission has apparently confirmed that the central figures in the Judge Tunoi bribery scandal did meet at a petrol station on Waiyaki Way. The Tunoi tribunal begins hearings today into allegations that suspended Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi was paid $2 million ( Sh200 million) to help deliver a favourable judgment in an election petition against Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero in August 2014. Both Tunoi and Kidero have denied the allegations.

who vanished with Sh1.9 billion of pyramid scheme money set up two offshore dummy companies and is among several Kenyans named in secret records of a Panama law firm notorious for helping register firms for oligarchs and dictators. Using a Nairobi law firm, Iseme, Kamau & Maema Advocates, Peter Alfred Ndakwe, the chairman of Clip Investment Sacco Ltd, registered the two shell companies Sun Jopkins SA and Pentkinson SA to hide the ownership of 11 local companies.

Cheruiyot Samoei, 73, is fasting and has tightened a traditional leather belt around her waist, wishing her son, Deputy President William Ruto, well. Every time Ruto travels to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, she ties her stomach with the traditional Kalenjin leather belt known as leketiet. Leketiet is worn by women so that they can derive strength during trying moments, such as Ruto’s trial at the ICC which she says has brought pain to her family.

Rift Valley nervously D-day for Ruto as ICC awaits ICC verdict: There is makes crucial ruling: The

Wetang’ula: Cord split widens amid blame game:

International Criminal Court will today decide if Deputy President William Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua arap Sang will be put on their defence on the crimes against humanity charges. Judges Chile EboueOsuji, Olga Herrera Carbuccia and Robert Fremr will rule on whether or not the two have a case to answer, a decision that will have far-reaching implications on the Deputy President’s political career.

The rift in CORD deepened following the chaotic presidential launch by Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s that ODM leader Raila Odinga skipped. Yesterday, Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar described Raila’s decision to skip the event in Kakamega in favour of a trip to Tanzania to meet President John Magufuli as demeaning to the Opposition coalition. “It is demeaning for him to have gone for a holiday in Tanzania. He ought not to have missed the function,” he said.

State House to defend need IEBC to buy new vote kits for an extra Sh1.2 billion: ahead of polls: The electoral

Aspiring policeman dies as 10,000 recruits are picked: A 23-year-old man collapsed

much anticipation in the Kalenjin-speaking Rift Valley in particular and Kenya in general ahead of the landmark ICC ruling on the “no case to answer” application by Deputy President William Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua Sang’. The decision to be delivered today could go either way; the three-judge bench of Chile Eboe-Osuji, Robert Fremr and Olga Carbuccia will decide to either let the case proceed or terminate it.

State House has a date with Parliament today to justify the need for an additional Sh1.2 billion in the current financial year. State House Comptroller Lawrence Lenayapa is scheduled to appear before the Administration and National Security Committee of the National Assembly. The Supplementary Budget for the 2015-16 financial year prepared by the National Treasury was tabled in the National Assembly last week.

commission is set to buy new electronic equipment to identify voters because the current ones will be obsolete days to next year’s elections. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chief executive Ezra Chiloba said his team would dispose of the 34,600 controversial gadgets used in the 2013 General Election. The equipment would be replaced with a new version of electronic voter identification devices (Evids).

and died in Kwale County yesterday as the National Police Service picked 10,000 new officers. Mwarika Rika Mwalimu became paralysed and collapsed at Kwale’s Baraza Park after running six kilometres, as thousands of desperate youth countrywide tried their luck to join the force. The officer in charge of the exercise, Mr Moses Awiti, said Mwarika had presented himself for the recruitment exercise earlier in the day.

Allowances cut pulls down AG’s monthly pay to Sh2.6m: Attorney-General

Githu Muigai’s pay has dropped 20 per cent in the past three years, signaling the effect that the Jubilee government’s austerity measures have had on his allowances even as he remains in the league of public service super earners. Treasury documents show that Prof Muigai’s monthly pay, including basic salary and allowances, in 2015/2016 dropped to Sh2-67 million, down from Sh3.28 million in the 2012/13 fiscal year.

Bear market stockbrokers’ profits: A tough

eats 2015

operating environment saddled by high interest rates and a surge in inflation saw 16 out of Kenya’s 21 stockbrokers’ 2015 profits drop, according to financial reports published by close of last week. The industry reported a cumulative net profit decline of 35 per cent to Sh823.5 million in 2014, as revenues shrank with a steady rise in expenses and the fall in brokerage commissions with reduced trading volumes.

Kenyans spent Sh117.6n on imported cars last year: Kenyans splashed Sh117.6 billion on imported cars last year, highlighting the appetite for luxury goods by the growing middle class. This marked a 15.6 per cent growth in the value of vehicle imports into the country compared to Sh101.7 in 2014 and Sh83.4 billion a year earlier.

Motor dealers have attributed the jump to a growing appetite for cars.

Top stories from X News global partners

Icelandic PM faces Trump Enlists His Wife to The furore from the no confidence vote Improve His Image With Panama papers will only over Panama Papers Women: Donald J. Trump, he of grow bigger: Within a day of the wives and high-profile romances, first articles appearing, the worldwide fallout disclosures: Iceland’s prime minister glamorous likes to boast of his prowess with women. But from a massive leak of financial documents,

is under fierce pressure to step down after leaked documents showed his wife owned a secretive offshore company with a potentially multimillion-pound claim on the country’s collapsed banks – representing what opponents said was a major conflict of interest. As opposition parties called a vote of no confidence in Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson for later this week, as many as 10,000 protesters gathered outside parliament in central Reykjavik for an evening protest, chanting, banging drums and barricades, and blowing whistles. Some waved bananas, symbolising the belief of many that they were

among female voters, he is having less success, with women viewing him unfavorably by more than three to one, according to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll. Now, in an apparent effort to shore up his support among women after a series of missteps, Mr. Trump is enlisting his wife, Melania, on the campaign trail. Wearing a short baby-blue dress, Mrs. Trump joined her husband on stage at the Milwaukee Theater on Monday night for his final rally in Wisconsin — a subdued event with a crowd that was less than capacity — before the state’s primary on Tuesday.

living in a banana republic.www.theguardian.com

www.nytimes.com

dubbed “The Panama Papers”, was already huge, with several countries announcing that they would investigate suspected tax evasion and other wrongdoing. The journalists who have been combing through the trove allege that around 140 political figures, including Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have links to the holders of the offshore accounts through family members, friends or associates. More revelations are expected this week. The furore will only grow. A group of investigative journalists from 78 countries began publishing stories exposing the hidden wealth of national leaders and state officials. www.economist.com

Allergan drops 22% on new tax inversion curbs:

The Obama administration helped wipe more than $20bn off the market value of Allergan by revealing plans to deter tax avoidance that threaten the Dublin-based drugmaker’s proposed combination with US rival Pfizer. Allergan’s share price fell more than 22 per cent in after-market trading on Monday on fears that the moves to halt tax-cutting deals, known as inversions, would scupper the company’s deal with Pfizer. After two years of US companies stoking controversy with deals that shift their headquarters to countries with lower tax rates, the proposed moves marked Washington’s most aggressive effort to crack down on the trend. Pfizer’s $160bn takeover of Allergan, is the biggest proposed inversion to date. www.ft.com

To enquire about digital advertising with these international brands, email julian@x254.co

xnews | TUESday, APRIAL 5, 2016 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

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

Tough operating environment hinders banking sector: report Kenya’s banking sector has suffered under the stress of a tough operating environment, characterised by high interest rates according to a Full Year year report for 2015 by financial services group Cytonn Investments.

Nonetheless, the industry experienced a slight growth in 2015.

The growth was majorly experienced in assets, deposits, profitability and products offering, leveraging on, diversification to alternative channels.

Speaking when releasing Cytonn financial report 2015, Finance and Investment Manager Maurice Oduor said the growth was only marginal since 2015 was a difficult year most companies.

“Last year was a difficult year not only for us but across all other companies but we hope 2016 will be fair since the first quarter has been promising,” Oduor said.

“2015 divided the industry players in haves and have-notes,’’ he added.

According to the full 2015 report released today, the listed banking sector’s aggregate gross loans and advances grew by 17.0 per cent to Sh1.8 trillion in December 2015 from Sh1.5 trillion in 2014.

During the period under review, deposits surged by 14.5 per cent to Sh2.0 trillion in December 2015 from Sh1.8 trillion in 2014 whereas total assets grew 14.9 per cent in December 2015 to Sh2.8 trillion, from Sh2.4 trillion in 2014.

Cytonn has attributed the growth banks

responding to the needs of the Kenyan market for convenience and efficiency through alternative banking channels such as mobile, internet and agency banking’ Branch network expansion strategy both in Kenya and in the East African community region as well as

increased use of alternative channels, such agency, mobile and internet banking.

Going forward, Oduor called on the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to ensure their tax collection target is achieved as it will be the only solution to

the above named challenges.

The report further ranked Equity Group Holdings as the top in Franchise value rankings with National Bank emerging the last. enock_x254

NEW REPORT: Finance and investments manager Maurice Oduor during the release of a full year 2015 banking sector report at the Stanley Hotel in Nairobi today.

MEAN 101.4292 144.1408 115.3925 6.8885 33.2450 21.5619

BUY SELL 101.3283 101.5300 143.9778 144.3039 115.2583 115.5267 6.8758 6.9012 33.1626 33.3273 21.4912 21.6326

KQ JKIA lounges rank second best after Taipei National carrier Kenya Airways’ Lounges at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have been rated the second best after those in Taipei, Taiwan by SkyTeam passengers in a recent survey. The state of the art Lounges in JKIA, Nairobi were opened at the end of 2014 and have consistently won international awards over the past two years.

“We are proud to be rated among the top in our service delivery. More so because this recognition is not just a vote about our product facilities offered, but also combine our customers’ very clear perceptions about our service standards,” commented KQ CEO Mbuvi Ngunze on the accolade.

The Simba Lounge and Pride Lounge are for the exclusive use of Premier World passengers flying from or transiting through Kenya Airways’ JKIA hub. The lounges are also used by Sky Priority passengers from the airline’s SkyTeam partners who rated them amongst the top in the world.

Pride Lounge, which is set on 991 square metres, features a circular layout overlooking the airside. It will provide premium hospitality complete with a Cigar Room, Piped music (sectional), Washrooms and showers, a Kiddy Zone and a Dining/ Working area.

Simba Lounge spans 360 square metres.

Features of the rectangular lounge are: Smoking Zone, Family Lounge, Business Experience Centre, Piped music (entire facility), Washrooms and showers, Noise Proof Quiet Zone for sleeping and a Dining/Working area. kevin_x254

Loan app Branch raises Sh933m, prepares K-rep Bank rebrands to Sidian, to expand its operations across Africa backs local business growth

Nairobi and San Francisco-based mobile microfinance company Branch has raised $9.2 million (Sh933.8 million) in funding from Venture Capital (VC) firm Andreessen Horowitz to fund its expansion across Africa.

The funding will allow for the hiring of new talent in Kenya as it positions itself for further growth and expansion into new markets.

The drive was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a US-based VC firm that has previously backed top international technology companies such as Facebook and Airbnb.

Alex Rampell, the partner who invested on behalf of the fund, commented on the deal: “The combination of smartphones, digital money, and machine learning offers an opportunity to leapfrog oldfashioned credit infrastructure, and that’s precisely what Branch is doing”.

Seed investors Khosla Impact and Formation 8 also participated in the Series A round.

“Over the last few months we’ve been growing rapidly. With this latest round of funding, we’re able to expand further to meet the huge demand for our credit product in Kenya and enter new markets,”Founder and CEO Matt Flannery said.

Flannery founded Branch after a decade of founding and running Kiva. org, the micro-lending website that today operates across 80 countries.

This week, the company disbursed its first loan in Tanzania, marking an important milestone towards its goal to expand to several African countries and disburse 1,000,000 additional loans to its customers.

Already, around 150,000 people in Kenya are using the app and the Branch App enjoys a 5* rating on the Google Play Store.

On average, each customer has taken out 3 loans each, ranging from Sh 250 to Sh50, 000 approving loans within minutes, making the process smooth and stress-free for its customers.

The socially conscious technology company launched the Branch app in May 2015 to provide financial services to the rapidly expanding middle class in Kenya through its innovative Android phone application.

This enables Branch to meet the growing demand for credit among millions of Kenyans and disburse loans within minutes into customers’ mobile money wallets, while maintaining low default rates.

“Our product is simple. Forget about bank queues and month-long processes. Branch is like a bank in your pocket, there for you at all times”, explained Daniel Szlapak, Africa Director. enock_x254

Commercial lender K-rep bank has announced that it will now be known as Sidian Bank, a transformation that will enable the financial institution to provide robust financial products and services that will drive the growth of enterprises in Kenya.

The 32-year old bank, whose new tagline is “Own Tomorrow”, will leverage people, processes and technology to deliver its ambitious strategic plan, which kicked off last year.

Speaking during a media briefing at its Kilimani Branch, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Titus Karanja, said the rebranding is part of the business’ transformation plan that envisions moving the bank from tier 4 to tier 2 in 2019.

“With our rebranding now on course and enhanced capital, Sidian Bank is strongly positioned to deliver robust and innovative financial services to current and future customers, through execution of our growth strategy,” said Titus.

Explaining why the bank picked the name Sidian, Titus said the new name is inspired by the Obsidian rock, which is formed from volcanoes. The rock is one of the first commodities used for barter trade.

Titus noted that the bank has invested in technology and product innovation whose intention is to tailor make financial services packages that respond to the unique needs of each enterprise.

“Our revamped bank has a unique business model as we are not only championing a bank for entrepreneurs but also an institution that is managed by entrepreneurs,” said the CEO. Sidian Bank has developed various products to cater for all entrepreneurs and also aims at revamping its consumer banking division, in order to attract new customers.

The bank has also initiated a massive service improvement exercise geared at enhancing the overall customer Dennis_x254 experience.

BUSINESS 7

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Kenya, France ink Sh28 billion pact to boost their economy Kenya and France yesterday signed five deals that will inject close to Euro 250 million (Sh28.8 billion) into the Kenyan economy President Uhuru Kenyatta and French President Francois Hollande witnessed the signing of the agreement after the two heads of the state held bilateral talks covering a wide range of topics among them, infrastructure.

Euro 120 million (Sh13.8 billion) of the kitty will be used to finance the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, Euro 15 million (Sh1.7 billion) will fund part of the country’s road development programme, Euro 60 million (Sh6.9 billion) will finance Kenya’s Meru Wind Farm, whereas Euro 19 million (Sh2.2) will be injected into the famous Ruiru II Dam & Water Supply project.

The president extolled the shared values between Kenya and France describing France as not only as a true friend, but also a partner in development.

“We are here to deepen our relationships with the French government. We strongly believe in strengthening people-to-people relations and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends,” President Kenyatta said.

The head of the state confirmed that security matters were given first priority in their bilateral talks.

“Both France and Kenya are victims of the terrorism, a global problem my country has consistently said needs a global approach in resolving,” Uhuru said.

Kenyan leaders, including Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed,

confirmed the deals as key in bringing economic prosperity to the country.

Commenting on the deal, French President Hollande said the duo has formed a strategic pact that will boost intelligence sharing and help in the deradicalisation of young people.

“We have agreed to work together to counter terrorism as we commit to

ensure conflict do not spread and we will extend our cooperation not only in Somalia but also in South Sudan and Burundi,” said Hollande.

Going forward, delegates form the two countries discussed the partnership provided by the French Development Agency in various field including infrastructure, water and sanitation,

energy, micro-finance sector, investment, culture, sports as well as education.

The president also highlighted concerns to grow French tourism in Kenya as the duo commended the increase in trade between the two nations, noting the growing gap in favour of France. enock_x254

Property investment summit set to begin tomorrow in Nairobi This year’s edition of the East Africa Property Investment (EAPI) Summit is set to take place tomorrow and will run until April 7, 2016. The affair, which is East Africa’s Leading real estate forum, will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Upper Hill.

The event will once again feature leading real estate development and investment companies from 16 countries, including representation from all country members of the East African Community. The summit will for the first time, hold an accompanying trade exhibition, breakaway discussion rooms and a site tour for delegates to view Africa’s third tallest building, Britam Tower. This year’s summit will discuss real estate opportunities and future potential, as East Africa emerges as the fastest growing region on the continent.

CFC Stanbic gets Sh13 billion loan for trade finance

French President Francois Hollande shakes hands with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta upon his arrival on April 4, 2016 at the Elysee Presidential Palace.

Kenya-based organic fertiliser start-up secures deal with two global manufacturing companies Wanda Organic, a Kenya-based startup, has signed a deal with two global firms from the Philippines to set up an organic fertiliser manufacturing plant

BIZ BRIEFS

in Kenya. The two Philippines-based companies, ELR Family Trading Inc. and Richfund International will oversee the manufacture of Plantmate Bio-

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett (centre) at a ceremony commemorating the partnership between Wanda Organic, ELR Family Trading Inc. and Richfund.

Organic Fertiliser in Kenya.

“It’s commendable to see more young Kenyans venture into agriculture and we are committed to supporting such initiatives” Agriculture Cabinet Secret art Willy Bett noted during the signing agreement on Monday.

“The government will continue to support such ventures by the youth,” Bett added.

Currently, Wanda Organic imports and markets Plantmate Bio-Organic Fertiliser, which is produced in Philippines from plant and animal wastes.

The fertiliser has been in its pilot testing phase since 2014 in Machakos, Makueni Counties, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nakuru and Laikipia Counties.

The company has been training farmers and conducting demonstrations on the benefits of organic fertilizer in order to build demand for these products in preparation for its local production phase.

Wanda Organic founder and Managing

Director Marion Atieno Moon says the agreement marks a critical step to sustainably maximize productivity of small holder farmers in Kenya.

“Poor agronomic practices have led to increased erosion and reduced soil fertility in Kenya. Furthermore, limited access to quality fertilizers and organic matter for smallholder farmers have contributed significantly to poor productivity resulting in food insecurity as well as low earnings for smallholder farmers,” she explained.

“Through this partnership, Wanda Organic will also set up semimechanised factories across the country via joint venture partnerships with entities that can supply raw materials for the fertilizer,” she added.

Moon is among seven recipients of a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under Feed the Future to pilot a private sector-oriented innovation with the potential to transform rural family farms.

Financial services firm CFC Stanbic has secured a $135 million (Sh13.7 billion) dual tranche loan to be used for general corporate purposes including trade finance. Dubai-based Emirates NBD Capital, the investment banking arm of Emirates NBD, and Mashreq, another Dubai lender, were the initial mandated lead arrangers and book-runners for the financing, according to a statement from Emirates NBD. The announcement comes barely a month after CFC Stanbic Holdings announced a 14 per cent decline in after-tax profits to Sh4.90 billion buoyed by a 9.1 per cent dip in non-interest revenue to Sh7.64 billion from Sh8.41 billion in FY14. Nonetheless, net interest income increased by 9.9 per cent to Sh9.30 billion on the back of a 19 per cent growth in its loan book.

Balala appoints new acting MD for KICC

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has appointed Nana Gecaga the acting Managing Director of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) effective April 1, 2016.

Prior to her appointment, Gecaga was the Marketing and Special Programmes advisor to the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.

Gecaga has been instrumental in bidding for International conferences to Kenya having secured the bid to host the MTV Africa Music awards in 2009. She will use her experience in international marketing to bid and position Kenya as attractive location for Meetings, Incentives Travel, Conferences and Exhibition, (MICE) tourism. She will be responsible for coordinating the two main upcoming international conferences.

8

BUSINESS TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Nigeria cracks down on small traders to boost tax revenue

Officials in Nigeria have started cracking down on the country’s small traders, who account for almost half of Africa’s biggest economy but do not pay taxes.

The country’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has announced plans to target the sector to boost tax revenues by 33 per cent this year to offset a slump in oil revenues that has plunged Africa’s top crude producer into its worst crisis for decades.

Authorities in Lagos, a city of 21 million where one-room businesses are everywhere, are sending officers out on street patrols to register entrepreneurs and make them pay tax for the first time, according to a report by Reuters.

Lagos State, which generates a third of Nigeria’s $500 billion (Sh50.7 trillion) GDP, has set up a special court to try those chased down by a new “Rapid Tax Prosecution Unit”.

According to Reuters, Large firms have begun receiving phone calls from officials demanding tax returns. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has used full-page newspaper adverts to warn that companies that fail to file will be punished after April 1.

“Prosecution and jail term for defaulting tax payers will be a tool that we will be actively using,” Lagos state attorney general Adeniji Kazeem said.

He noted that in light of these matters, tax officers would carry out their duties aggressively.

Following the President’s directive, Lagos state tax collections rose by 12

per cent in January, officials say. For 2016, the government has set the FIRS a tough target of raising 4.95 trillion naira (Sh2.52 trillion) in taxes, up from 3.73 trillion naira (Sh1.9 trillion) last year.

“Really, there is no room for failure.

Please ensure you deliver,” Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun told tax officers in February. “The nation will depend on

drifting off the official books.

A dollar shortage has forced firms onto the black market to find hard currency to fund imports, pushing transactions outside the banking system and beyond the reach of tax authorities.

Buhari has resisted calls to devalue the naira, which might attract investment and bring in dollars.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at a past function. He said his government will now target small firms to boost revenue.

KPMG, Safsin cut links with firm over President Zuma link Accountancy firm KPMG and South African investment bank Sasfin have cut ties with a company owned by the Guptas, a family of Indian-born businessmen over their relationship with South African President Jacob Zuma.

Local chief executive Trevor Hoole said he had decided to stop auditing Oakbay Resources and Energy, a Gupta mining firm, after consulting regulators, clients and KPMG’s internal risk departments.

“This decision was not taken lightly but in our view the association risk is too great for us to continue,” said Hoole.

There will clearly be financial and other consequences to this, but we view them as justifiable.” Oakbay confirmed the end of the 15-year relationship and said it understood it had been a “very reluctant decision” for KPMG. Sasfin spokeswoman Cathryn Pearman said the bank had resigned as Oakbay advisers.

The three Gupta brothers moved to South Africa from India at the end of Apartheid in the early 1990s and went on to build a business empire that

FIRS to fund the budget.”

Buhari appointed Babatunde Fowler head of FIRS after he proved an effective tax chief in Lagos, where in the four years to December 2012 monthly tax revenues surged by 70 percent.

In 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as the continent’s biggest economy. But two years on parts of the economy are

stretches from technology, media to mining.

They have also forged a close relationship with Zuma, whose son, Duduzane, sits on the board of at least six Gupta-owned companies, according to company registration papers.

Zuma has denied numerous allegations of the relationship allowing the Guptas to wield undue influence.

However, parts of corporate South Africa are turning their backs, especially since Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas alleged last month that the Guptas had offered him the top job at the Treasury before Zuma fired Jonas’s boss, Nhlanhla Nene, in December.

Pearman declined to give reasons for Sasfin’s decision to resign, but confirmed it had been taken two days after a newspaper report suggested the Guptas may have had a hand in Zuma’s abrupt sacking of Nene.

PSG Capital, the investment banking arm of Stellenbosch-based PSG Group, was listed as an adviser to Oakbay in its purchase of struggling miner Optimum Coal from Glencore in December.

Authorities respond to incriminating Panama Papers

The release of incriminating documents known as the ‘Panama Papers’ has caused authorities across the globe to open up investigations into the activities of the world’s rich and powerful.

Following the leak of the cache of leaked documents from a Panamanian law firm, which showed possible wrongdoing using offshore company structures, governments are taking steps to address the issue.

The Panama Papers have exposed the financial arrangements of high profile politicians and public figures, having named over a dozen Africans in the process. Among those named in the documents are friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin and relatives of the leaders of China, Britain, Iceland and Pakistan, and the president of Ukraine, Reuters reports.

Financial institutions and implicated individuals responded to the leak of more than 11.5 million documents with denials of any wrongdoing as prosecutors and regulators began a review of the reports from the investigation by the U.S.-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and other media organizations.

China has moved to limit local access to coverage of the matter with state media denouncing Western reporting on the leak as biased against nonWestern leaders. France, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands are among nations that have commenced investigations, and some other countries, included the United States, said they were looking into the matter.

Insurance contributes more risk to financial system, survey now reveals A research by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed that life insurers have contributed more risk to the financial system as a whole since the global financial crisis.

The analysis, part of the Global Financial Stability Report, suggests supervisors and regulators should tackle risks by looking more systematically at the role the insurance sector as a whole plays in the financial system, through a macroprudential approach. The IMF said policymakers, regulators, and supervisors must go beyond guarding against the solvency and contagion risks of individual firms and address the fact that insurers are increasingly vulnerable to the same risks as other parts of the financial system. Changes in the investment behavior of insurers are not the main driving force behind this increase in systemic risk. The share of higherrisk assets has remained broadly constant over time for insurers in the countries included in the analysis.

However, there are notable firmlevel differences: smaller, weaker, and

less capitalized firms in a number of countries appear to have taken on more higher-risk asset investments in recent years to resurrect their fortunes.

Moreover, companies with a greater proportion of minimum investmentreturn guarantee products, such as investment-oriented life insurance policies with minimum guarantees or certain types of annuities, and higher levels of guarantees have investment portfolios with larger amounts of risky assets. Life insurers have longer-dated liabilities than assets, so a drop in interest rates affects them adversely. The IMF said the prolonged period of very low interest rates has heightened this vulnerability, especially in the United States and Europe. “Market-wide factors, such as higher observed correlations across asset classes, means large changes in asset prices affect life insurers in increasingly similar ways,” said Gaston Gelos, head of the Global Financial Stability Analysis Division at the IMF. Changes in product offerings, such as the increased reliance on annuities in

the United States, may explain more sensitivity to low interest rates, and the use of derivatives may explain their greater exposure to the rise and fall in financial markets.

These developments call for a greater emphasis on macro prudential policies.

Insurance supervisors should look not only at individual companies (the micro prudential approach), but also at commonalities and the impact among firms and countries. . “One such measure could be capital buffers, which insurers can build up during economic upswings and use during downturns,” said Gelos. Valuing insurers’ assets and liabilities at market prices can increase transparency and encourage greater asset-liability matching, according to the IMF. However, regulators must pair valuation rules with countercyclical measures, such as the type of adjustments foreseen in the European Union’s Solvency II regime, to avoid forced selling of assets by insurers in a downturn.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

ACCESS topstory

Last saturday PeoPLe across Kenya marKed the first anniversary of the massacre of 148 PeoPLe at Garissa university.

T

housands gathered at the college, with about 100 taking part in a run to commemorate the victims.

Later, prayers and candlelight vigils were held in Garissa and in Nairobi, led by government officials.

Four al-Shabab militants shot students in their dormitories before rounding up and killing dozens more.

It was the deadliest attack in Kenya since al-Qaeda’s bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi in 1998, which killed 213 people.

It’s been one year since 148 people were killed in an attack on Garissa University College Despite the stepped up fight against Al Shabaab terrorists in Somalia and at home, Kenya’s security services say that some Kenyan high schools and universities have become a place of radicalization, this according to a CNN article When four Al Shabaab attackers entered the gates of Garissa University College, in northeastern Kenya, on the morning of April 2, 2015, there was a former law student present. In fact, he was one of the men holding a gun.

Abdirahim Abdullahi had dropped out of the University of Nairobi, one of the leading law schools in the country. The Kenyan-born son of a local chief in Kenya’s northeastern county of Mandera, Abdullahi had disappeared from his family in late 2013, and his father reported him missing. Abdullahi resurfaced that fateful Thursday, authorities say, taking part in the massacre and was in turn killed in a shootout with Kenyan security services.

Those who join militant groups are largely from Kenya’s disadvantaged groups, youth often lured by the hope of financial help. But Abdullahi is believed to be an example of the militants’ newer targets. Kenyan high school teachers

YEAR LATER 148 WAS JUST NOT A NUMBER

miLey cyrus

BoBBy Wines

Miley Cyrus’s cat fight Miley Cyrus seems to love all animals, but it doesn’t appear that all animals love her back.

The soon-to-be The Voice coach made light of a recent cat attack when she shared photos of her bloody wounds on Instagram.

HOT TOPICS

MCSK denies association with suspended CEO

E

oKoth

mbattled Music Copyright Society of Kenya CEO Mr Maurice Okoth has reportedly resigned. MCSK put up a Public Notice in one of the dailies that stated that ‘Mr Okoth is no longer an Employee of MCSK’. He was suspended due to several claims of misappropriation of funds and pending criminal cases.

The notice went further to state that MCSK will not be held responsible for any transactions carried out

by Mr. Okoth in MCSK’s name.

Ouch!

reportedly told CNN that -- in addition to the kids from Kenya’s slums -- the terror groups are also targeting welleducated youngsters.

Authorities blamed poverty as the force pushing young people toward terror groups. They also cited corruption and alleged abuses by security services also lead many of Kenya’s youth to extremist organizations.

“Most of those joining Al Shabaab are doing so because they believe they cannot get justice locally,” said Khalid.

“So they then opt to join terror groups in search of what they consider to be justice.”

Some of these disaffected young men, teachers and authorities say, are from Nairobi’s Eastleigh a Somali-dominated neighborhood called “Little Mogadishu “It’s a fact that in a number of learning institutions there is evidence of recruitment going on,” said Kenya Ministry of Interior spokesperson Mwenda Njoka. “It’s a problem. It’s a continuous struggle between the forces that are trying to recruit our young sons.” The Kenyan government says it is working on a plan to combat violent extremism. While it has yet to release a framework for the plan, the Ministry of Interior says civil society organizations, religious organizations, and the National Counterterrorism Centre will play a large role in stemming radicalization in all spheres, particularly in schools and universities targeting the nation’s young men and women. So one year later we can only remember the fallen and hope that nothing that tragic strikes again. @duncan_x254

WHEN STYLE MEETS COUNTRY …

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Prezzo is the new drama queen!

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roducers have learnt that controversy and controversial personalities make great shows. After Vera Sidika’s exit from the infamous Nairobi Diaries TV show, enters rapper Prezzo. Prezzo announced his entry into the ‘girldrama’ show via social media saying: ‘@nairobidiaries tonight on @ k24 & see why u can’t stop the rain from storming #SeasonTwo#2200hrs

Prezzo With sidiKa

ACCESS

ART&CULTURE

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

aboutLove

Don’t continue to message the same person over anD over again if they’re not answering you.

The main garment worn by the Maasai is the shuka, which is a basic piece of fabric that can be worn in a variety of ways, depending on the personal style of the wearer. It was initially made out of animal skins, mostly cowhide but never elephant skin, but cotton is now the main material. The fabric is rubbed with color or dye to make it red, becoming a sort of camouflage with the red dirt of that part of Africa. In the dry grass plains the shuka can be white to camouflage with the grain.

A young man in warrior hood can be recognized by his appearance. The hair is grown out and braided in very intricate patterns. They wear earrings and bracelets, as well as beaded necklaces that hang down the front and back of their bodies. They also wear symbols to show off their achievements. The body is decorated with white limestone chalk in intricate nonsymbolic patterns, and the hair is colored red with ochre and animal fat.

Beads in particular have some meaning to the Maasai, with red beads having a connection to blood, blue beads having a connection to the heavens and the Gods, and green beads having a connection to prosperity, fertility of the land, and peace. All other colors are purely decorative.

MISTAKeS

A

TO AVOId wHen dATIng OnLIne

llow us to tell you what not to do by pointing out these 7 mistakes. After all guys, it’s a new world out there and you need to know how to get that perfect someone.

Not picking the right profile photo Though it may sound counterintuitive, don’t post your best looking photo. Play it safe and true by posting a normal, everyday photo. Have the confidence and trust in yourself to do so.

Always make sure you upload high quality photos. There’s no excuse.

Lying in your profile Do we even have to go over this? Lying about who you are, what you do, and generally anything else of significance is not the right way to start any relationship.

Not using proper grammer when messaging We’re not saying you should be William Shakespeare, rather, it’s simply the

laziness and texting language of today that feeds into poor language skills. You have all the tools at your disposal to write a decent message — the Internet, and let’s not forget spell check. When someone receives a message in this day and age and the grammar is off, you come across as not caring. Next.

Using language that indicates you’re dating other people Getting down to the nitty gritty of messaging, do not, we repeat, do not message someone and then offer to meet them in the next couple of weeks because you’re ‘going out of town’.. In other words, you snooze you lose. As a good rule of thumb, according to Men’s Fitness: If you aren’t available for a date within seven days of messaging them, then don’t even bother messaging them.

Using inappropriate or offensive language It’s safe to say you shouldn’t mention anyone’s race, body types, or reference

Dear Ezra,

HOw dO I ReIgnITe THe

Dear Dr X,

Maasai beads, braids and colours…

I have been dating my girlfriend for two years now and I feel like we have fallen into a routine?

How do I get the spark back?

— Ezra.

any areas on the body. Men should never mention physical characteristics of their own body parts when they’re first messaging someone Stick to safe subjects and common ground and don’t forget to act like a gentleman, no matter how rebellious your nature may be.

Continuously messaging someone Don’t continue to message the same person over and over again if they’re not answering you. If you’ve messaged them and nothing has come of it, then take the hint. In this case, it might not be seen as you being persistent, rather creepy. Neither women nor men owe you a reply. Just take the hint and move on.

Being an insecure online dater Dude, you’re on a dating site — don’t deny it, own up to it. Online dating doesn’t have the same stigma attached to it as it used to, and it has become more than acceptable, almost the norm.

asK Dr X

Let’s see what we can do; Prioritize your relationship. Relationships need to be maintained; they don’t just look after themselves.

Organize stuff that you both like to do ahead of time. Attention is a gift and an exchange of attention forges closeness.

Give good compliments. Compliments are powerful; use them.

So many couples come to feel that it is their role in life to point out what is ‘wrong’ with their partner and assume that ‘what is right with them’ is understood and doesn’t need saying. This is a big mistake! Find things to compliment your partner about regularly.

Be intimate no matter what. I think people are all too prepared sometimes to throw away perfectly good relationships just because they have been led to believe they “shouldn’t have to” make efforts.

Make an effort, it that is the person you want and love, it will be worth it.

Dr X.

Send your agonising queries to adhyambo@x254.co

ARTSHOCK THe ART In THe

T

he Montréal Botanical Garden is recognized as one of the world’s greatest botanical gardens with its collection of 22,000 plant species and cultivars but the biggest attraction here is the art work done on plants to resemble traditional figures, cartoons and wildlife.

OUR ROOTS

10

ACCESS TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

11

FASHIONscoop

@ THE 2016 ACM AWARDS @mercy_x254

WHEN STYLE MEETS COUNTRY …

T

he annual American Country Music Awards ushered in the month of April in style as Hollywood came together to award the best in this genre, even as Katy Perry and Dolly Parton treated guests to a powerful duet a n d a little booty shaking. Sample the best and worst dressed:

Katy Perry: And the award for worst dressed goes to…

Dolly Parton: In fashion age is just but a number.

Kacey Musgraves: and bust detail.

Jane Kramer: She was all about showing skin.

Carrie Underwood: Mermaid in mesh.

DELMOLTON

A successful investment banker struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. Despite pressure from his father in law to pull it together, Davis continues to unravel. What starts as a complaint letter to a vending machine company turns into a series of letters revealing startling personal admissions. Davis’ letters catch the attention of a customer service rep and amidst

of her own, the two form an unlikely connection.

Our rating: ★ ★ ★ Rating: R Genre: Drama Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper Runtime: 1H 40 min.

Our rating: ★ ★ ★ Rating: R Genre: Sci-Fi Cast: Sharto Coplay, Haley Bennet, Cyrus Arnold Runtime: 1H 30 min.

ly original wild-rides to hit the big screen in a long time: You remember nothing. Mainly because you’ve just been brought back from the dead by your wife. She tells you that your name is Henry.

Five minutes later, you are being shot at, your wife has been kidnapped, and you should probably go get her back. Who’s got her? If you can survive the insanity, and solve the mystery, you might just discover your purpose and the truth behind your identity!

-

Our rating: ★ ★ ★

HARDCORE

film lab

BEST

Lauren Alaine: Slaying it in blue high-low fashion.

HENRY

Melissa McCarthy headlines The Boss as a titan of industry who is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she messed over is so quick to forgive and forget.

THE

Rating: R Genre: Comedy Cast: Melissa Mccarthy, Kristen Bell, Kathy Bates Runtime: 1H 39 min.

12

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DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 Are you questioning your attractiveness or your ability to make an impression on someone special? Did you use bad judgment at some point, and you’re now afraid that you’ve hurt your reputation? A decision you make at the end of the day will relieve these anxieties.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 This is a day to think about your private life, Aquarius. Expect to be particularly sensitive to all kinds of demands from those close to you. You have the power to create greater harmony at home, specifically in your relationship. Take stock of everyone’s desires and consider any limitations in fulfilling them.

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WEATHERFORECAST WEDNESday 5/4/2016

sunny

23

23ºC 74%

THURSday 6/4/2016

More sun than clouds

24 6:33 am 6:38pm

24ºC 71%

6:33 am 6:38pm

FRIday

25

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

Yesterwwwday’s Solution

PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 You would like nothing better than to spend much of the day planning fun activities for the future. But, alas, demands from your family, friends, or boss force you to concentrate on the here and now instead. Still, don’t abandon your wonderfully pleasing ambitions altogether.

Sudoku

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 Over the last three weeks you’ve analyzed your relationships on a deep and profound level. New people with attractive qualities could be tempting you to make a change. But is this a good time in your life to start up friendships or love relationships? Are you willing to accept the upheaval such changes would create?

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 Your capacity for seduction will be at its peak, so why not use it to your advantage? The men and women at work, in particular, will yield to your wishes today. Your influence extends to all levels of the organization. If you’ve been thinking about asking your boss for a raise, do it today!

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 If you don’t have children, perhaps the constraints and demands of your professional life are weighing heavily on your mind. Don’t worry - these feelings shall pass. Expect an opportunity to get free of the ties that bind. Even though it will only be a temporary respite, take advantage of it!

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 This attitude is unlike you. Co-workers notice your change in personality but still treat you with consideration and respect. You’re fortunate to be able to draw upon a considerable wealth of kindness and good karma that you have built up over the years.

LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 It’s as though you carry around an overstuffed sandbag and each step requires a huge effort! This would be a good day to identify the source of the trouble. Ask if you aren’t sabotaging yourself and letting your subconscious resist the goals you have so deliberately set. You have a deep inner mystery to solve.

VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 21 If only you’d give yourself enough time to pursue these ideas! Today, realize that concentration is the key to accomplishment. Put away periodicals, computers, phones, and other such distractions and you might well be surprised by the wealth of inspiration that comes to you.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 Impulse and intuition take a back seat to your excellent self-control. The day ahead presents one opportunity to let go of the inhibition that sometimes stymies you. Yield to your instincts a little and see what happens. A little more socializing wouldn’t hurt, either. You’re certainly entitled to some fun now and then!

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 But have you really been able to reject tradition entirely? Have you rid yourself of all the outmoded conventions that confined earlier generations? If not, today you’ll be inspired to revamp your role models and lighten your workload. Equality in the home is just as important as equality in the workplace.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 You might have to deal with a co-worker who steps on your toes or runs roughshod over your gentle nature.

Defend yourself with your favorite weapons - silence, laughter, and perspective. Let your adversary tangle himself or herself in desperate attempts to justify their behavior.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1. Warm greeting 8. Inquisitive (var.)

13. Dow Jones data 14. Like a literary Dodger 16. Software trial 17. Bull breed 18. Cleaned a slate 19. Cat-sized marsupials 21. ___ Island (neighbor of the Statue of Liberty) 22. Purposely ignore 23. “___ better to keep your mouth closed...”

24. Fashion designer’s monogram 25. “Groove ____ the Heart” (Deee-Lite ditty) 26. Prefix meaning “bone” 27. Ready for harvesting 30. Covert WWII org.

31. Reach rival 33. Barely audible 35. Polygraph’s detection 36. Tempting 40. Aunt in “Oklahoma!”

42. Getting the job done 43. Sodium iodide, chemically 46. Genesis brother 47. Musical conclusion 48. “Death Be Not Proud” poet John

50. Port of Japan 52. Cantina fare 53. Speaker 54. “Gothic” or “Graffiti” 56. ___ Motel (trysting spot) 57. Unimportant sort 58. Uncool 59. Pain relief Down 1. ___ Brothers 2. Alloy components 3. Capital city since 1960 4. Fixed charges 5. Like some ports 6. These, to Thierry 7. Baltic Sea republic 8. Influential person 9. Hockey’s Bobby and others 10. Balance 11. “When ____ talks, people listen” (1980s ad line) 12. Most tasty 13. Have ____ in one’s bonnet 15. Ropes in 20. Plays on words 22. Opposite of NNW 25. 978-1-4036-4509-0, e.g.

26. ___ equal basis 28. Phillie or Cub, for short 29. “Think nothing ____!”

31. J. Paul Getty, for one

32. Exile (to) 34. Public contempt 35. “___ Me” 37. Last name in “The Lord of the Rings” 38. State of “Parks and Recreation” 39. Espionage org.

41. Cheerer-up 44. Advil competitor 45. Tardy 47. Songstress Simon 48. Had the nerve 49. “____, meeny, miney, mo” 51. Persuaded 52. ____’clock scholar 55. “Hiroshima, ___ Amour”

Yesterday’s answers

YOURSAY Stop judging Collymore, his newly-wed bride

Kenyans are so quick to jump into conclusions after Safaricom chief executive officer Bob Collymore tied the knot with one Wairimu Kamiru, Kenyans branded Wairimu a gold-digger and after breaking up with her husband and father of her twins, that I understand Bob is so fond of.

Kenyans never pause for a moment to imagine, what if she was truly a victim of abuse in her marriage and Collymore was her blessing and saviour from a man who did not appreciate her.

Isn’t she beautiful? Have you done your research to know her net worth, her education background?

Have you stopped to think that this may be the best thing that can happen to her husband?

Everything is never what it seems. Kenyans must shun the trait of judging others and hold back their presumptions.

If she in deed started cheating on him openly, then her husband does not deserve her. If a woman cheats on me, I will blame the woman, not the man she cheats with. Here is the thing: We all live in a world of temptation. Even when married, people always flirt. At the work place. At school and everywhere. It takes one being decent enough to know how far they can take it. Whoever cheats, and doesn’t protect his or her partner from knowing is the bad one.

We are all made of flesh. The same way men can’t resist a provocative younger woman is the same way some women can’t resist a man with money.

But before you call someone a gold digger, remember it is not your money she is digging. And a man may be naïve, but he will always know when he has to give money in order to win a woman. All in all, it is a fair game, because everyone gets what they want.

If you believe in destiny, it wasn’t meant to be that she will leave her husband and marry Bob. And maybe they will both find happiness and they will be fulfilled. I have seen all manner of ethnic stereotype and slurs, and I wonder what if she was from any other tribe, what people would have said.

If I told you to list down 10 women who you think

are gold diggers, I am sure you will discover that gold-digging knows no tribe. And if a woman decides to live off men, what exactly is your beef?

Whatever happened to people just minding their freaking business?

They will be fine. Even if they will not be, kindly worry about inflation, global warming, next year’s election. Anything.

And can we just give the Kikuyu women a break.

Stereotypes to quote Chimamanda Adichie once again, are not necessarily untrue, but they are always incomplete. Human beings are human beings. There are bad people everywhere. If you look through your family tree you will see bad people there. You probably have a man whore in your family. You probably have badly behaved female cousins, single mothers, divorcees, etc.

Some of these things we accuse Kikuyu women of are not exclusive to them.

Hating on them does not improve your situation in life or makes you a better person. You probably have decent Kikuyu colleagues or friends from college. When bereaved they have probably contributed towards your sick relative or the funeral arrangement. They have probably bought you beer. You have probably dated and slept with one and may be broke up on better terms. And a woman from a different tribe, or your tribe has probably ruined your life.

Us men from Western Kenya like to focus on marriages that fail when you marry Kikuyu, yet there are some that succeed. I have a relative, who even after her husband died she still identifies with the family.

Even as we denigrate Kikuyu women, we also don’t acknowledge that being a widow in Western Kenya is not one of the easiest things. I know many widows who have been dispossessed their husband’s wealth, abused and humiliated. Part of the reason being that we refuse to acknowledge death in West Kenya as a natural process. In every death, even when it is an accident, we read something sinister.

— Silas Nyachwani

Graft war should extend to private sector The State Law Office must advise the Executive on the precise ways to kill graft even as it insist that there are enough laws to fight the vice.

With the government now beginning to step a little harder on the accelerator in the drive against corruption, the conspicuously missing area of concern is the private sector.

Indeed, the operatives in the government who turn the wheels of graft are inspired by the prospect of the huge potential gains in deals with wayward private individuals, companies, and organisations.

In his State of the Nation address last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta outlined the ongoing government measures, including the seizure of assets acquired with the proceeds of corruption. Assets worth more than Sh1.6 trillion.

The anti-graft war calls for a comprehensive and systematic approach. The proposed legislation to get private companies and charity organisations fully involved and committed to the war against corruption is long overdue.

Of particular significance, therefore, is the apparent involvement of the private sector in the coming up with the Graft bill. The proposed law contains recommendations by the umbrella Kenya Private Sector Alliance.

The apparent buy-in by the private sector is a significant step in the war against graft.

Indeed, some of the key drivers in the endemic corruption in the public sector are private firms and other organisations.

Private firms, for instance, are the ones that often pay bribe

to win government tenders.

And non-governmental organisations are also known to be avenues through which some individuals enrich themselves.

The war on graft, therefore, cannot be won by merely focusing only on one sector.

It calls for a comprehensive approach that the Bribery Bill, 2006 seeks to address.

If passed, private organisations will be required to implement tough measures to stop their employees from giving or receiving bribes. Since it takes two to tango, it is noteworthy that the Bill seeks to ensure that both the givers and the recipients of bribes are severely punished. The MPs should vigorously debate and enhance the legislation.

— Nderitu

Push to resettle people on forest land wrong The world’s forest capacity is reducing each day as a result of unending encroachment by human population. This trend not only depletes the forest’s ecosystem but also diminishes the natural resource capacity of the earth, a major contributor of the climate change. The pace at which the human race is plundering the forest leaves is alarming considering that the human generational phase of life is active and growing by day. This brings me to the recent Cabinet decision to take part of the 17000 hectares of the Mau Forest to settle illegal occupants. In fact, Lands ministry is in the process of generating title deeds to be given to the community members who are occupying the forest.

This to me is not only a step in the wrong direction

by the government but will also reverse the gains made in forest and environment conservation and management. The government should have explored different alternatives to resolve this issue.

The Mau Complex has always been a contentious matter. Any progress made to resettle and conserve the forest has been met with political disapproval and discontent from leaders seeking political mileage. The Cabinet should rethink and reevaluate its decision on the hiving of part of forest land and seek further clarity on the alternative solutions. We should not sit and watch the Mau Complex shrinking in volume. It should be preserved and protected in time and for the coming generation.

— Hussein Cheptot

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

14

SPORT TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

SPORTS BRIEFS Pakistani coach quit after T20 quarter exit Waqar Younis has resigned as Pakistan Cricket head coach following his side’s group-stage exit at the World Twenty20. The 2009 champions won of Pakistan’s four matches, against Bangladesh, and suffered defeats by India, New Zealand and Australia. “I am resigning from my post with a heavy heart,” said the 44-year-old former fast bowler, who has ended his second spell in charge. Waqar’s resignation comes a day after Shahid Afridi, 36, stepped down as Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain. The team were jeered by a huge crowd at Lahore airport on their return from India.

Then, in his post-tournament report to the Pakistan Cricket Board, Waqar blamed Afridi’s “poor captaincy” for the team’s performance. In a critical six-page document, Waqar said he did not want to “shift the blame to anyone.”

Starlets jet out to Algiers for AFCON women’s qualifier tie

Harambee Starlets departed the country today for the Friday’s African Women Cup of Nations qualifiers against Algeria in Algiers.

Host Algeria eliminated Ethiopia’s Lucy with a 2-1 on aggregate on March 26 at Addis Ababa Stadium, but will now face a Starlet side ready to advance to continental showpiece following last year’s impressive show in the Olympics qualifiers where they lost to South Africa in the second round at Machakos Stadium.

Kenya advanced to the second round of the qualifiers after Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) withdrew from the qualifiers.

Starlets head coach David Ouma said his side is up to the task and is exuding confidence ahead of the first leg to be played in Algeria on Friday.

This will be the first time the sides will meet in a continental championship qualifier.

“We are up to the task. It’s an open challenge for both teams where the

winner from this round qualifies to the main tournament, hopefully it will be us,” he said.

Dalila Zarrouki’s 85th minute header made sure the North Africans earned Algeria a 1-1 draw in Ethiopia, and a slot in the second round of qualifiers.

During the first leg, Algeria beat Ethiopia 1-0 to carry an advantage to the second leg of the qualifiers.

Loza Aberra opened the scores for Lucy in the 34th minute, but it was not enough to enable her side go to the

next round.

On other second leg fixtures, Tunisia will take on Ghana, Senegal will play against Nigeria, Rio 2016-bound Zimbabwe will face neighbours Zambia in another qualifier while Mali will entertain Equatorial Guinea with Egypt and Ivory Coast taking on each other.

Botswana will face another Africa’s representative in the Rio Games South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.

Riara varsity to hold basketball try-outs The Riara University men and women’s basketball teams will this week conduct an open try-outs for walk-on spots at Nyayo Gymnasium.

Players will be evaluated during a pair of trout sessions scheduled for Thursday and Friday evening under the guidance of Coach Zedekiah Ong’ang’a.

Eligible candidates must not be involved with any other University at the moment. Participants are also advised to bring with them their KCSE results slip, birth certificate and national Identification Cards.

Riara University men’s team, Bucks takes part in the Kenya Basketball Federation division 1 league while the ladies, Riara Queens are participating in the Nairobi Basketball Association league for the second year.

Conte could change very little: Ex-Blue

Antonio Conte appointment as Jose Mourinho’s long-term replacement does not make sense, says ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton. Mourinho, 53, was sacked in December amid suggestions he had fallen out with several senior players. Conte, who arrives with a reputation as a disciplinarian, will take over in the summer after signed a three –year deal. “If he comes in and starts hitting the players with a whip are they going to respond?” asked Sutton. Under Mourinho, Chelsea won the Premier League title by eight points last season and also lifted the League Cup. But they lost nine of their opening 16 league games this term and were 16th in the table, one point above the relegation places, when Mourinho was sacked.

Kenya skipper Neddy Atieno in action against Tunisia during a past match. This will be an opportunity for Kenya that performed well during the Olympic qualifying matches, but later lost to South Africa.

Resurgent Gor face Thika United in midweek tie SportPesa Premier League defending champions Gor Mahia will move to eighth place for the first time this season if they beat Thika United in tomorrow’s mid-week match at Nyayo National Stadium.

Gor who registered their first win after seven matches last weekend are currently 12th on the log with seven points, but a win against Thika will see them move above City Stars who are currently eighth with nine points after ending AFC Leopards unbeaten run with 1-0 defeat.

K’Ogalo beat Kakamega Home Boys 3-0 in their first league win last weekend while Thika played a barren draw with Posta Rangers.

Brazilian coach Ze Marria had

promised to introduce Samba style at Tok-Komwanda when he took over from Scot Frank Nuttal and his style seem to be paying off. More importantly, he wants to keep the rhythm and snatch the second win for the reigning champions who find themselves playing catch up with leaders Tusker FC. Thika are currently 14th in the 16man table with only three points from seven matches. Sony Sugar and Sofapaka occupies the last two positions with three points respectively.

The brewers are currently perched top with 14 points, same as slum boys, Mathare United and AFC Leopards though the Ruaraka-based

side enjoys a massive goal difference.

With four million January acquisition of Rwandan Jacques Tuyisenge paying dividends on his debut when he scored and provided an assist, Gor’s forward problem may be a thing of the past.

Tuyesinge (pictured) will have Jacob Keli, who also registered his name in the scoring chart for the first time this season last weekend and Enock Agwanda, who has two goals so far to his name-making a lethal attack line for any defence.

Gor is yet to loss to Thika United since 2009. Their last meeting last season, K’Ogalo managed a double with identical 2-0 wins in both legs.

SPORT 15 TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Barca seeks redemption against Atletico

Barcelona players Lionel Messia, Luis Suarez and defender Gerard Pique during the team’s training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Sat Joan Despi, Catalonia, northeastern Spain ahead of their clash with Atletico Madrid in a Champions League quarter final first leg match at Camp Nou tonight.

PHOTO: ALBERTO ESTEVEZ/EPA

Barcelona will continue their quest of becoming the first team to retain the Champions League trophy when they welcome La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou for the first leg of their quarterfinal tonight.

Camp Nou will not have the same aura it elicits ahead of big matches after the Catalans suffered what may be considered their heaviest defeat when they lost 2-1 to rivals, Real Madrid in an ElClassico match last weekend.

And they are meeting a side that is only six points below them in the La Liga table but both have made it all the way to the final of this competition in recent years and have desires to do so again this time around.

Barca have won four of the last 10 editions of the European competitions though one thing they’ve failed to do, apart from beating a 11-man Chelsea at regular time is to defend the Big ears. The only team to have achieved that fete is AC Milan in 1990.

The Clasico defeat may well have damaged the air of invincibility that Barca had built up, but they still boast of having won 11 consecutive matches at the Camp Nou before that defeat, and had only failed to win in front of their own fans once all season, winning 22 and drawing one of their other 23 home matches.

It was their first defeat at the Camp Nou for almost 14 months in any competition and was the first time they had lost a match home or away since

October.

Even with all the records favouring the defending champions, Atletico was the last opponent the European giants would have wanted.

The nearest challengers to Barcelona domestically are Atletico, who in contrast have built their success on the foundation of a solid defence. Diego Simeone’s side bounced back with a commanding 5-1 win over Real Betis on Saturday, having seen a nine-match unbeaten streak surprisingly ended by Sporting Gijon in their previous outing.

They reached a third successive Champions League quarter-final by edging past PSV in the first ever knock-out tie in the competition to go to penalties with the score goalless after 210 minutes.

Atletico eliminated Barcelona at the same stage in 2013-14 season drawing 1-1 at Camp Nou and wining 1-o at home to set the stage for a Madrid final which they lost Real Madrid.

It will be a boost for Diego Simeone troops if defender Diego Godin shrug off a hamstring injury to start.

Athletico forward Angel Correa has likened the quarter-final tie to a final and urged his colleagues to play their hearts out.

“We all know how Barcelona play,” said Correa.

“We will try and play a good match and play it as if it were a final. We’ll try to have a good result so we can then advance at home with our people.”

Bayern Munich will have date with Benfica in the other quarter at Allianz Arena in Munich.

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Barca seeks redemption against atletico

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Joyce Zakary is one of the local athletes who were banned after testing positive from banned drugs during last year’s World Championships.

INSET: IAAF President Sebestian Coe.

Kenya faces Rio ban over WADA non-compliance

K

enya is anxiously awaiting International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) verdict on a possible ban from Rio Olympics games after it failed to beat the April 5 deadline set by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on doping claims.

This is the second time Kenya missed another deadline which was extended after the country failed to put up proper mechanisms by February, the first date set by WADA for the Athletics-rich nation to comply with its Code of conduct. WADA had set conditions for Kenya to set up a vibrant local Anti-Doping body (Kenya Anti-Doping Agency-ADAK) with full time staff and proper funding, and also set up proper legislations for its operations.

All the above, except the legislation bit has so far been put in place but Parliament failed to pass the Adak bill by last Friday and the MPs proceeded for a two-week recess, leaving the country staring at a possible ban from August’s Rio Olympics games and other future international competitions.

WADA’s compliance review committee met in Montreal today and was expected to declare Kenya non-compliant. The verdict of the meeting is expected to come out on May 12.

IAAF president Lord Coe had earlier said he is ready to ban Kenya if it is declared WADA non-compliant.

Kenya was placed in the ‘watch-list’ of nations at risk of breaching WADA’s code and given until April 5 (today) to show it was tackling cheating in sport after the country failed to beat the first deadline, which expired on February 11.

Parliament went on recess last Friday without passing the legislation and extra funding, ensuring this latest deadline will be missed The bill has gone through a preliminary reading, but two more hearings and presidential assent are still required before it can be passed into an Act of Parliament.

The bill, when enacted will criminalise doping with perpetrators set to serve a jail term not exceeding five years. @elvince_x254

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