201701017 xnews

TUesday, JanUaRy 17, 2017 | www.x254.co

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HALF OF KENYA’S FOOD PRODUCE GOES TO WASTE

AGRICULTURE CABINET SECRETARY WILLY BETT ADMITS HIS MINISTRY CANNOT ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF FOOD PRODUCED LOCALLY, BLAMES NATIONAL CEREALS BOARD

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NEWS

MATHARE’S ERIC JOHANNA SNUBS GOR, BRAVE UGANDA CRANES TAKE ON BLACK CHOSES SWEDISH SIDE VASALUND IF STARS OF GHANA IN AFCON GROUP OPENER

MPs want drought declared disaster

More oil wells discovered in Turkana Kenya remains on course to become an oil exporting country after British exploration company Tullow Oil today announced the discovery of an onshore well in Turkana County.

Tullow Oil announced that the finding the well, dubbed Erut-1, maintains the possibility of the existence of over one billion barrels in the arid county.

“This is an exciting discovery from a bold exploration well that proves that oil has migrated to the northern limit of the South Lokichar basin,” said Angus McCoss, Tullow Oil exploration director.

The discovery is a gross oil interval of 55 metres with 25 metres of net oil pay at a depth of 700 metres. The overall oil column for the field is considered to be 100 to 125 metres.

This marks another milestone in the country’s search for the mineral after its first significant oil discovery in 2012 through the Ngamia-1 well.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Lawmakers say voter registration could also experience low turnout as most pastoralists have migrated to neighbouring countries in search of pasture. Story on PG 2 Women react as they wait for their turn during a food distribution in Kaikor, Turkana County in the past. MPs from arid counties have asked the government to declare drought and the ravaging hunger a national disaster.

PHOTO: DAI KUROKAWA/ EPA

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

MPs want now drought menace declared a national disaster At least seven MPs have called on the government to declare the current drought that is ravaging most parts of the country a national disaster.

The lawmakers, mainly drawn from the North Rift counties of Baringo, Turkana, West Pokot and Samburu, asked the government to move with speed and save the lives that are now at risk of death due to starvation.

Led by Tiaty’s Asman Kamama, the group that also included Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria), Christopher Nakuleu (Turkana North), Protus Akujah (Loima), William Cheptumo (Baringo North) and Baringo County Woman Representative Grace Kiptui, said the matter should now be declared the a national disaster in order to get the attention and help it deserves.

“The government should declare the current drought a national disaster because if it fails to rain in one month then all cattle will die then human beings will start following suit,” Mr Kamama said.

He singled out Baringo North, some parts of Baringo South, Samburu, Marsabit and Isiolo as the worst affected areas that require urgent intervention both from the national government and the county governments.

He also called on the national government to hand over the supplies of food to Red Cross and World Vision as they have better network in the affected areas.

“World Vision and Red Cross have proved over time that they have better network and staff on the ground hence they should be given the task to distribute food the affected residents,” said the Tiaty lawmaker whose constituents are now surviving on wild fruits to try and keep the pangs of hunger at bay.

“This isn’t the age of eating wild fruits.

President Kenyatta should declare drought national disaster,” added Mr Nakuleu.

The MPs called on the government

Some of the North Rift MPs during the press conference at Parliament Buildings earlier today. They called for a speedy intervention into the ravaging hunger in their counties.

to deploy water tankers to strategic areas and in schools. They said the government through the contingency fund should give each resident Sh6, 000 in order to buy food within their local markets.

Cheptumo called on the government to seek international support in order to end the ravaging hunger.

“Schools now risk being closed for lack of food. There is need for long term solution to this problem so that it does not recur,” said the former assistant minister.

Nakuleu said Turkana County is the worst hit with some schools already closed down.

He said most pastoralists in Turkana

have already moved to South Sudan, Uganda and Ethipoia in search for water and pasture - a move he said has already caused conflict with the neighbouring communities.

He expressed fear that majority of potential voters from the region may not register as voters as they are not in one place.

“I call upon IEBC to consider having mobile registration centres so that our people can register because voting is a constitutional right,” he appealed.

He slammed the government for being slow in putting up long term solutions to the problem that occurs every year.

He faulted the government for failing to act on various reports

including periodic warnings from the metrological departments on the weather patterns.

“Government ignored early warnings of the impending drought and now here we are,” Nakuleu said.

The legislators absolved themselves from any blame saying the matter to provide food security to the residents lies with national government and the county government.

“Our work is just to legislate and put to task the implementing authority which we have actually done. We don’t have the resources and capacity to launch mega projects in the constituencies,” Kamama said. @sam_x254

Mass voter registration slowly picks up The mass voter registration drive which began yesterday has gathered momentum after a slow day one countrywide.

More people came out to register at various polling stations as with numbers soaring beyond those recorded on day one.

At Githunguri Primary School Centre in Ruiru, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) clerks had recorded about 30 voters by early afternoon today.

“People have showed up in good numbers and the process has gone on smoothly,” Claid Arua, a clerk explained.

Compared to past MVR exercises,

voters seemed to have been convinced to turn up in large numbers in 2017.

According to IEBC, there are nine million Kenyans who had not registered as voters of which the commission was hoping to get between four million to six million voters.

Political parties including the ruling Jubilee Party and the Opposition adopted voter registration as the basis of their campaign lines as they use every opportunity to woo their supporters to register as voters, a drive that may see IEBC surpass its target of registering about six million voters.

Those who turned up to register

said the process was easy and fast, making it convenient for them to pop into their registration centres and resume their businesses.

“This process has been very easy. I have come with my family, I have registered and now I have my voter’s card. It’s important to have a voter’s card,” one voter in Nairobi said.

Social media users used their accounts to post their registration details and challenged others to also register and post their registration details.

Others went on even to advise social media users to send their ID Numbers to 22464 to check if they were registered.

MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

Potential voters queue to register at the ACK Holy Trinity Parish in Kibra, Nairobi today.

Principals unhappy with new fee guidelines Secondary school heads have expressed their displeasure with a directive from the Education ministry ordering them to cease collection of extra levies aside from normal school fees.

The institution heads argue that Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi’s directive is bound to slow down school operations as funds raised through school fees are inadequate in the sustenance of the institutions.

Led by Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Rarieda Sub-County Chairman James Okoyo, the principals termed the guidelines as unfair as most schools face huge financial constraints with swelling interests from loans accrued.

“Many schools have bus loans alongside other infrastructure development loans and these can only be paid for through the board of management levies,” Okoyo said.

Dr Matiang’i has warned that any school head found to be flouting the guidelines would be dealt with firmly.

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang also warned that the ministry would not tolerate head teachers who ask for more money, warning that tough action would be taken against them.

Education guidelines stipulate that variations to a fee structure in a secondary school is subject to approval by the ministry.

In the fees guidelines, students in day secondary schools are expected to pay Sh9374 and those in boarding schools Sh53553 while the government pays Sh12,860 for every student in public secondary schools and Sh37210 for specialneeds institutions.

Schools are required to spread the charges over three school terms at the ratio of 50:30:20.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has also voiced his support to school heads saying 37 per cent of teachers were being paid by parents and therefore school fees needed to be increased to meet the cost of tutors.

However Okoyo insisted that with the meager funds that government usually brings to schools, they would be unable to hire the board of management teachers. @harrison_x254

NE WS 3 NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

Striking doctors appeal to Kenyans for understanding Striking doctors have from yesterday taken to social media to share their woes with Kenyans in an effort to seek understanding of the public about their work boycott.

The medic’s union, the Kenya Medical Practitioner and Dentist Union (KMPDU), rallied doctors across the country to share their experiences and working conditions for Kenyans to understand why they want the contentious CBA with the government implemented. And they obliged by taking to Facebook and Twitter to share their salary woes and display desperate working conditions even as government maintained that their demands were unimaginable.

“Today doctors are sharing their experiences at work that made them go on strike to have this CBA implemented,” KMPDU tweeted.

The officials appealed to Kenyans to understand them and discard government narrative that they were driven by greed in their push for better remuneration and working conditions

in health facilities. “Doctors have been on strike for 44 days now (yesterday) as they fight to have the CBA implemented to redeem public health sector #CBAforkenyans,” they explained. Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar shared the plight of the medics and called on the government to honour the CBA. “Corruption costs us more than the cost of the CBA demanded by doctors. #GreedyPoliticians must honour the CBA,” he tweeted.

The developments came even as Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu dashed hopes of an end to the strike which is in its second month. Mailu held that the salary demands by the doctors can only be implemented if they are removed from the civil servants’ category.

“The issue with doctors is that they do not want to be categorised as civil servants. At the moment, doctors are already earning more than civil servants in the same job group,” Mailu told a press conference in Nairobi yesterday.

MINISTRY OF LANDS AND PHYSICAL PLANNING

PUBLIC NOTICE The Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning is in the process of digitizing land records at the Ministry Headquarters, Ardhi House, Nairobi. The current programme involves Correspondence Records Registry and Nairobi Central Registry.

Digitization of land records is intended to improve the delivery of services through electronic land transactions.

This is to notify Members of the Public that there will be minimal disruption of provision of services from Monday, 9th January 2017 to Tuesday, 14th February 2017.

The affected services will include issuance of Land Rent Clearance Certificates, Consent to transfer and charge and other related land administration processes.

All other services shall continue to be offered normally.

In the event of an urgent matter or emergency, assistance will be provided at the Ardhi House Customer Services section.

The Ministry apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused.

Prof. Jacob T. Kaimenyi, PhD, FICD, EGH, CABINET SECRETARY

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NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

Half of Kenya’s food produce goes to waste Nearly half of the food produced in the country goes to waste, the government admits.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett made the revelations today even as millions of Kenyans continue to starve due to the drought currently ravaging most parts of the country.

Bett said his ministry could not account for more than 30 per cent of cereals produced in North Rift alone and over 50 per cent of horticultural products produced by small scale farmers in the country.

He blamed the loss on state departments including the National Cereals and Produce Board for dereliction on their mandate and a production mismatch between farmers and the market.

However, he was quick to reassure the country that there was enough food to sustain the country to the month of June even as the State is considering more mitigation mechanisms as the dry spell continues.

Currently, more than two million Kenyans are at risk of starvation because of a prolonged drought occasioned by a depressed wet season during the short rain period last year.

“It is a fact that as a nation we have continued to lose food over the years. Nearly half of our stocks are wasted as those responsible fail to fully take control of their work,” Bett said.

He spoke during the official opening of the First Africa Post Harvest Congress held at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi today.

The minister maintained that the country had more than 21 million bags of maize (90kg) which could support the country.

He quickly dismissed claims that the government is already importing food from neighbouring countries.

“According to the State Department of Agriculture the current stocks of our basic staples – maize, beans, rice, sorghum and millet are sufficient to last the country up to June 2017,”

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett speaks during the official opening of the First Africa Post harvest Congress at the Norfol;k Hotel in nairobi today. The minister admitted that the government cannot account for half of local food production. PHOTO: G. IKUNDA/X NEWS

he added.

The minister also confirmed that they have been allocated Sh230 million to effect the livestock uptake programme meant to support pastoralists and dairy farmers in the affected areas.

Tullow discovers more oil wells in Turkana From page 1 The company in partnership with Canadian exploration company Africa Oil restarted drilling in Turkana last month as they stepped up the hunt for additional oil resources in Kenya’s north.

Tullow had earlier in the year announced that it had set aside Sh22.5 billion of the group’s Sh50 billion capital expenditure to Kenya’s pre-development, exploration and appraisal expenditure for this financial year.

The company’s chief operating officer Paul McDade last year raised the country’s hopes of commercial exploration after he said Tullow would begin production of crude oil ready for exportation by June this year.

McDade during a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta said that initial production would be at 2000 barrels per day transported by road from Turkana to Eldoret for onward delivery by train to the port of Mombasa, a distance of 1,089 kilometres.

Tullow’s count of the Turkana oil reserves so far stands at 750 million barrels, which is considered commercially viable at the current prices of $52 (Sh5200) a barrel.

Tullow will after the recent discovery drill a pair of appraisal wells (Amosing-6 and Ngamia-10) but after that it is planned for drilling operations to return to the northern portion of the basin for @harrison_x254 further exploration.

“We have already bought 1,800 animals, we gave Sh170 million to Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) of which they have already bought 1,500 animals in Kilifi, Samburu and Tana River counties and we have just received reports that

animals are being affected severely in NorthEastern Baringo, the Tiaty area, so we are also moving there. We expect the next allocation will still go towards off-take because we have been warned that this drought could persist well into April or June,” stated Bett.

Separately, Water and Sanitation PS Fred Sigor has said that his ministry has already disbursed more than Sh5 billion to mitigate water related challenges across the country.

Prof Sigor said that recent assessment shows that the worst affected areas are in the country’s semiarid south-east regions as well as some parts of central and western Kenya.

“For counties at the Coast and in the south-east, the poor short rains of 2016 followed an equally poor long rains season, and for some, a poor short rains in 2015 as well,” Prof Sigor told a news conference after launching a water conference at a Nairobi Hotel.

Only last week, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri asked administrators in areas hit by drought to ensure no Kenyans die of hunger maintaining that the government had enough food reserves.

Mr Kiunjuri said the government will from this week begin distributing food in the affected areas starting with schools.

“I don’t want to hear that any Kenyan has died of hunger or that students are staying away from school due to starvation. So I’m asking all the county administrators to take charge,” he said.

He announced that the government will be releasing Sh9.2 billion to go toward various measures aimed at mitigating the situation even as he cautioned the livestock sector will be hardest hit.

An inter-ministerial team is expected to release a comprehensive report on the drought situation at the end of this month. @wilson_x254

UK to reject ‘partial’ EU membership The UK will not retain “partial” membership of the EU once it leaves, Theresa May will say in her much-anticipated Brexit speech.

The PM will tell other European countries the UK wants to trade with them “as freely as possible” but will not be “half-in, halfout” of the EU. Her speech is expected to include further hints Britain could leave the EU single market. Downing Street said she would set out 12 negotiating objectives.

The government has so far revealed few details about what it wants to secure from the Brexit talks, which it is promising to trigger by the end of March. Labour has urged Mrs May (pictured) to push for a “deal that works for trade”.

The prime minister’s speech will be closely watched for signals on its involvement in the single market (which allows the free movement of goods, services and workers between members) and the customs union (which means members do not impose tariffs on each other’s goods and impose the same tariffs on goods from outside).

EU leaders have said the UK cannot “cherry

pick” access to the single market while restricting the free movement of people, while Mrs May has suggested curbing

migration will be her top priority.

Addressing an audience including foreign ambassadors in central London, Mrs May will say the UK will be “the best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too”.

She will tell the remaining 27 EU member states: “We will continue to be reliable partners, willing allies and close friends.

“We want to buy your goods, sell you ours, trade with you as freely as possible, and work with one another to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more prosperous through continued friendship.”

Mrs May, who backed Remain in the referendum, will call for a “new and equal partnership” with the EU, “not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out”.

“We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave.”

NEWS 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

xnews | TUESday, JANUARY 17, 2017 | 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

Nairobi County to invest Sh1bn in intelligent traffic light system The Nairobi Urban Transport Improvement Programme has announced plans to invest Sh1.4 billion in an intelligent traffic lights (ITF) system aimed at easing traffic jams within the city.

To be funded by the World Bank, in conjunction with the Government of Kenya, the plan will involve installation of new sensor-powered traffic lights as well as the redesigning of road junctions.

The ITS includes sensors on traffic cameras that will control the lights, making the platform more effective as compared to the current count-down system.

Deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) system will allow roads with heavy traffic to flow freely and do away with traffic officers who will be redeployed to a centralized control room.

The system is being implemented by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and a team of consultants led by Germany-based HP Gauff Consultants. It is scheduled to kick off after 11 months of design and planning.

The consultants are also expected to develop tender documents for contractors who will work on redesigned intersections and bus stops.

KURA Acting Director General Engineer, Silas Kinoti says the Authority is looking at over 400 junctions in Nairobi alone that have proved to be causes of traffic snarl-ups.

“But the consultants will prioritize on

Vehicles stuck during a traffic jam at a main road in Nairobi, 13 July 2016. According to a government report, the time wasted in traffic jams represents a cost of Sh580 million a day in lost productivity. The economic loss caused by traffic is attributed to poor infrastructure planning not ready to the increase in population and vehicles, a report by the country’s Transport and Urban Decongestion Committee stated.

EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU 100 junctions that are most affected and install the ITS in the first phase based on the budget we have,” added Kinoti.

He says the roads currently being upgraded by KURA such as Ngong Road and Outering Road have ITS embedded in the plans, with the Yaya Centre junction identified as one of

the intersections that will have a trial system.

The Authority said the ITS is a cheaper option compared to adding more lanes and flyovers, adding that the cameras will ensure drivers and pedestrians comply with the traffic lights.

HP Gauff Managing Director, Michel

Fest said his firm is confident they will be able to bring Nairobi to the same level as developed cities across the World with manageable traffic movement.

“We have the expertise, experience and passion to implement this project to the fullest,” he said. @enock_x254

MEAN 103.9150 126.3272 110.5019 7.6872 34.7400 21.4022

BUY SELL 103.7928 104.0372 126.1861 126.4683 110.3856 110.6183 7.6767 7.6976 34.6511 34.8290 21.3289 21.4755

Jambojet acquires next-generation aircraft in bid to address delays

Low cost carrier, Jambojet has acquired a brand new Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 next generation aircraft, which is expected to improve the airline’s operations across its network.

The new aircraft is leased from Abu Dhabi Aviation and will replace one of the current two Q400 aircraft Jambojet is using. Currently, the airline operates two Q400s and two Boeing 737s.

“We selected the Q400 aircraft because it has the speed and range required to service all our current domestic destinations and targeted regional destinations. It has proven to be the right aircraft for this market. In addition, the aircraft’s cabin will provide a quiet and very comfortable experience for our passengers,” said Jambojet CEO Willem Hondius.

The delivery of the plane is expected to help the no frills airline address delays and stabilize its flight schedule across the country, especially the coastal routes including Ukunda (Diani), Malindi and Lamu.

“This new next generation aircraft has lower operating costs and will help us optimize our operations in terms of increasing the service quality as well as improving economics,” the CEO added. The 78-seater aircraft is expected to start operations in a couple of days’ time. @kevin_x254

Tullow Oil discovers deposits in Sluggish credit growth to slow Kenya’s economic growth, IMF warns Kenya’s northern exploration block The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Kenya’s economic growth rate will slow this year from about 6 per cent last year, due to sluggish credit growth and as investors take a wait-and-see approach before the Presidential election in August.

Armando Morales, IMF representative in Kenya says the closure of two banks will greatly slow down the rate of credit growth this year especially to Small and Medium sized Enterprises, a group responsible for the country’s economic growth.

“Stricter supervision of banks by the Central Bank and the closure of two mid-sized lenders had cut credit growth before the rate cap came in,” he explained.

He says the capping of interest rate at just 4 per cent above the CBR rate will further decelerate growth, adding that the country’s economic growth is likely to remain within the 5 to 6 per cent range of the past five years despite the slowdown.

“We expect a deceleration of growth for several reasons, but I think the most important reason we are considering is the potential impact of the interest rate cap on credit growth,” Morales said.

Data shows that banks’ lending rate grew by just 5 per

cent year-on-year immediately after the capping of interest rates in September 2016, down from 17.8 per cent in December 2015.

According to Morales, the forthcoming general polls will delay investment but the government’s investments in infrastructure, including roads and railways, would support demand and economic growth.

Experts had earlier warned of Kenya’s dwindling economic growth this year, but the government maintained that it has put in place enough contingencies to shield the country from the negative effects of election politics.

It is evident that the recurring effect of election on economy has started showing off with over half a year to elections.

Job losses, the high cost of credit and increased adoption of technology turned it into a year the business sector and Kenyans would like to forget.

Just yesterday, Airtel Kenya announced plans to lay off a third of its staff, citing a tough business environment, saying that the job redundancies seek at improving the company’s output. @enock_x254

Tullow Oil, Africa’s leading independent oil exploration company, has discovered oil in the Erut-1 well in Block 13T in Northern Kenya, increasing prospects for the country’s future as an oil exporter.

The mining company today announced that it had found a gross oil interval of 55 metres with 25 metres of net oil pay at a depth of 700 metres.

The overall oil column for the field is considered to be 100 to 125 metres.

The objective of the well was to test a structural trap at the northern limit of the South Lokichar basin. “The Erut-1 well was drilled ten kilometers north of the Etom-2 well and shares important characteristics,” Tullow said in a statement issued earlier today.

The mining company added that fluid samples taken and wireline logging all indicate the presence of recoverable oil.

Erut-1 successfully shows that oil has migrated to the northern limit of the South Lokichar basin and has de-risked multiple prospects in the area, which will

now be considered in the Partnership’s future exploration and appraisal drilling programme.

“The PR Marriott Rig-46 drilled the Erut1 well to a final depth of 1,317 metres and will now move to the southern part of Block 10BB where it will spud the Amosing-6 appraisal well.

Tullow operates Blocks 13T and 10BB with 50 per cent equity and is partnered by Africa Oil Corporation and Maersk Oil both with 25 per cent.

“This is an exciting discovery from a bold exploration well that proves that oil has migrated to the northern limit of the South Lokichar basin. This extends the known hydrocarbon limits of the basin beyond the successful Etom discovery into the underexplored northern part of the basin where we have several undrilled prospects.

Following the scheduled appraisal wells at Amosing-6 and Ngamia-10, further exploration drilling of this area is now being planned,” Angus Mccoss, Tullow Exploration Director, commented.

BUSINESS 7

P&G in Sh50m deal to provide Counties with clean water

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

Multinational consumer goods manufacturer, Procter and Gamble (P&G) in partnership with humanitarian aid group, World Vision has announced plans to invest Sh50 million to provide Kenya’s at risk counties with clean, safe water.

The programme targets poor Kenyans in 12 counties who do not have access to clean and safe water. The move is part of P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) initative that has been active for over a decade.

It comes at a time when UN Habitat estimates that over 50 per cent of hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water related diseases.

“If everyone everywhere had clean water, the number of diarrheal deaths would be cut by 34 per cent. This shows that there us great need for interventions that will make clean water available to people and this partnership aims just to do that,” said Mr. Vivek Sunder, P&G Managing Director.

Counties that are set to benefit from the programme include Makueni, Machakos, Kitui, Kajiado, Taita Taveta,Narok, Kisumu, Isiolo, Marsabit, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo and Homa Bay. Under the programme, more than 75, 000 Kenyans will be trained on water treatment and storage facilities aimed at improving sanitation and hygiene awareness.

Water Cabinet Secretary, Eugene Wamalwa lauded the programme saying investments in water supply and treatment can help in generating revenue as well as reduce funds directed towards health care investment.

“The government, through my Ministry, is committed to investing in water supply treatment and infrastructure across the country. I commend P&G and the World Vision for partnering with the ministry of water and irrigation to provide solutions for clean drinking water for Kenyans,” he said.

Water and Irrigation PS Professor Fred Segor addresses the media today during the P&G partneship with World Vision to provide clean water to Counties.Photo By Edwin Gitobu/Xnews Country Director for World Vision Kenya, Mr. Dickens Thunde said that the World Vision Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) strategy in Kenya emphasizes the need to increase access to safe drinking water for rural communites. He added that it highlights

the importance of combating WASHrelated diseases through capacity building and community behaviour change programmes.

“World Vision Kenya’s WASH programme, aims at improving inclusive household access to sustainable drinking

water for targeted areas by 30 per cent by the year 2020 and improving inclusive household access to sanitation facilities and hygiene practices by 25 per cent by 2020,” said Mr. Dickens. @enock_x254

KRA deal will disrupt tax collection in Kiambu County Waititu warns

Kabete Member of Parliament, Ferdinand Waititu has moved to court to stop the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the Kiambu County Government has entered into with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for revenue collection.

Waititu is contesting the agreement, which was signed last Tuesday, saying that it was done without public participation, education, awareness or sensitisation.

The legislator claims in an urgent application that it was approved without the endorsement of the Kiambu County Assembly. The MP said implementation of the MoU will affect Kiambu County and will mark the beginning of confusion in the system of tax collection in the county.

The Kabete MP now wants Kiambu County and KRA restrained from issuing demands, enforcing and implementing the MoU pending determination of the case. Waititu is also seeking an order to compel the respondents to release the MoU documents to him and the County Assembly of Kiambu.

Waititu claims that the MoU is a violation of the Constitution by failing to subject it to public participation through the County Assembly.

He has accused Kiambu County Government of delegating powers to the tax man which it does not have.

He added that KRA and Kiambu County have usurped judicial powers to inflict penalties and effect recoveries of properties levies, fines, penalties, debts, taxes, commissions and other charges regardless of any outstanding disputes.

Stop comparing Kenya’s SGR project to Morocco, Ethiopia, KR tells public The Kenya Railways Corporation (KR) has come to the defended the cost of the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway following concerns that Kenya is footing a higher bill as compared with other railway projects in the continent.

The Corporation Managing Director Atanus Maina says the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is built based on the needs of the country which is to primarily ease the moving goods to and from the port of Mombasa. Maina explained that Kenya’s objectives for the railway are different from those of other countries like Ethiopia, and that the dynamics of rolling out the massive

infrastructure projects are different.

“Ethiopia are constructing class two railway dictated by their demands.

Their cargo volumes are less than 10 million tonnes, so we cannot do a class two here. The port of Djibouti does less than 7 million tonnes while the port of Mombasa is doing nearly 30 million tonnes per annum.

Our SGR has a capacity of about 22 million tonnes per year, with double stack capability,” he explained, adding that the cost implications will differ.

“Ethiopian corridor has enough level crossings as it passes through areas where they don’t have a lot of people. For Kenya, the area is heavily

inhabited. We had to do a lot of bridges and we needed to have more stations and land compensation, this will definitely have a huge impact on cost,” he noted.

Maina said Kenya has 33 crossing stations with overpasses in large sections to allow wildlife migration while Ethiopia has 18 stations. He urged Kenyans to stop comparing the locomotives with the bullet trains in Morocco citing that locomotives are not supposed to be beautiful.

“The Moroccan government has identified they need to move five million people between Tangier and Casablanca which is a very popular location for tourists and they want

to move as many people as they can.

Bullet trains are passenger trains only, our lines are both passenger and freight but mainly freight since we do not have such passenger demand,” he said.

He also adds that Kenya does not have the power capacity to run an electric train. Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam is expected to generate 6,000MW with the first 750MW coming into the grid this year.

Phase one of SGR from Nairobi to Mombasa stretches for 472 Kilometres at a cost of Sh327 billion while the Ethiopia’s first fully electrified cross-border railway line

in Africa, linking Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, to the Red Sea port of Djibouti – a stretch of more than 750km – cost the country Sh340 billion. Ethiopia’s railway track runs parallel to the abandoned EthiopiaDjibouti railway, built more than 100 years ago.

The railway was 70 per cent financed

by China’s Exim Bank and built by China Railway Group and China Civil Engineering Construction while Kenya’s was also 90 per cent financed by the same Exim Bank.

“Exim Bank did due diligence on the costs of the SGR, they could not finance something that has inflated figures,” Maina said

8

BUSINESS

Experts predict Jubilee win as polls threaten business stability TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

Internal political uncertainty in Kenya and across a number of key nations will pose a much greater risk to businesses on the continent than the effect of international geopolitics, market analysts from Control Risks, a multinational research consultancy group have said.

The firm states that the Jubilee Party is likely to secure another term in office.

“However, due to opposition pressure, it is likely the months ahead of the polls will be marked by instability and localised violence in particularly contentious constituencies,” said a report from the group.

In a report dubbed ‘ RiskMap 2017.

East Africa’, Control Risk analysts argue that African nations vying to emerge as the commercial gateway for foreign direct investment offer opportunities but also unknown threats for business.

The experts add that low oil prices and global economic sentiment will be the primary drivers of instability across the continent.

“African businesses will remain vulnerable from failing to accord cyber security risk the same value as more established security or political threats,” explains the report. “Better governance has improved the business

environment but plain sailing is not assured.”

It has emerged that macro-economic instability, fuelled by low oil prices and global economic sentiment, will continue to be the main driver of business risks across East Africa in 2017.

However, governance improvements and the embedding of certain democratic practices and norms will limit the scope of potential for deterioration, but challenges will still persist. The research indicates that in the coming months, businesses will become increasingly vulnerable until

the impact of cyber risks on their operations and reputation is as well understood as the effects of political and security risk.

“Macro-economic and domestic political changes are driving African nations to reinvent themselves in the hope of becoming Dubai or Singapore style commercial hubs. This will present lucrative new opportunities for business, but equally engender unknown risks and require a deeper understanding of the local political and regulatory environment,” commented Daniel Heal, Senior Partner for Control Risks East Africa.

An opposition supporter runs past a burning barricade set up in Kibera, Nairobi as he joins others to protest against Member of Parliament (MP) Moses Kuria of the ruling Jubilee coalition who allegedly called for the assassination of opposition leader Raila Odinga, 14 June 2016. The incident cames after weeks of protests led by opposition leader Raila Odinga against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). EPA/DAI KUROKAWA

Ashok confirms plans to set up assembly plant in Kenya Ashok Leyland, an Indian automobile manufacturing company headquartered in Chennai, is planning to establish an assembly plant in Kenya following engagement with their leaders in India.

Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Adan Mohamed confirmed the plans earlier today in a statement.

The announcement comes just days after President Uhuru Kenyatta called on Indian companies to invest heavily in Kenya.

“I want to encourage Indian companies to invest in Kenya, especially in the following fields — cotton, textile industry, agri-business, fertiliser and medical equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and our blue economy,” he said.

“I would encourage Indian investors to work and cooperate closely with

their Kenyan counterparts, especially those in the private sector,” Kenyatta added.

The Head of State was speaking at the Kenya-India Business Forum in New Delhi last week.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that in the past three years, investment by Indian companies in Kenya had increased by roughly Sh350 billion as a result of business reforms by the Kenyan government.

“I have personally visited Kenya and I can testify that the environment for doing business has improved significantly,” Mr Kanoria said at the business forum last Thursday.

Ashok Leyland’s new move comes at a time when international vehicle manufacturers have shown renewed interest in Kenya’s automobile market.

Ashok Leyland had said last year that it was in talks to establish its first Africa-

based assembly plant in Kenya. The vehicle maker is expected to make an initial investment of $4 million (Sh406 million) to $5 million (Sh507 million) in the Kenyan assembly unit and ramp up the investment to $10 million (Sh1 billion) subsequently.

The factory will assemble both buses and trucks for the local market. “We are setting up a bus assembly plant in Kenya through a wholly-owned subsidiary.

This plant will have an annual capacity of 1,200 buses,” Ashok Leyland Senior Vice President (Global Buses), Thyagarajan Venkataraman said.

“We have incorporated the company in Kenya. We are trying to get a local partner or we may do it ourselves. We are in the final stages of identifying the location and the plant is expected to be up and running in eight-nine months,” CFO Gopal Mahadevan said

in an earlier address.

Mahadevan noted that African markets are currently being addressed mostly by Chinese players. He added that the manufacturer has the potential to establish its presence with its new range of cost-competitive trucks and buses. “Kenya is a very strategic market for us and also more appropriate centre geographically,” he said.

Ashok Leyland is the 2nd largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in India, 4th largest manufacturer of buses in the world and 16th largest manufacturer of trucks globally.

Operating six plants, Ashok Leyland also makes spare parts and engines for industrial and marine applications. It sells about 60,000 vehicles and about 7,000 engines annually. @Dennis_x254

CS Mohamed jets to Davos to discuss economic growth prospects with world leaders World Leaders have today converged in Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum 2017 that focuses on the 4th industrial revolution, sustainable economic growth, trade facilitation as some of the key highlights of the event.

Kenya is represented in the forum

by Industry, Trade and Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary, Adan Mohamed who is also a member of the Forum’s Stewards Board on the Future of Production.

Cabinet Secretary Mohamed is scheduled to speak at the Global alliance for Trade facilitation session, the future of production; exploring regional strategies, the Trade Ministerial session, the International Trade and Investment session as well as hold a number of bilateral meetings with business leaders, investors and Government representatives.

“This forum is important in addressing critical economic drivers such as global Trade and Investment.

Addressing trade facilitation for instance is a critical enabler that aims to ensure smooth and faster movement of goods across borders, simplified trade procedures, rules and regulations, easily accessible information on trade procedures and information upon consolidated publication of Trade information, enhanced customs cooperation among Members”, said Mr. Mohamed.

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos is described as the foremost creative force for engaging the world’s top leaders in collaborative activities to shape the global, regional and industry agendas at the beginning of each year.

For over four decades, the World Economic Forum’s mission – improving the state of the world – has driven the design and development of the Annual Meeting programme.

WEF is a Swiss nonprofit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva.

Recognized by the Swiss authorities as an international body, its mission is cited as “committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas”.

The Forum is best known for its annual meeting at the end of January in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland.

The meeting brings together some 2,500 top business leaders, international political leaders, selected intellectuals, and journalists for up to four days to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

ACCESS REGISTERING A 9.10 AS A STRESS SCORE MEANS IT’S LESS WORK THAN PHYSICIANS GET UP TO BUT MUCH MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE DESK JOB.

C look.

areer Cast recently released the ‘Least Stressful Jobs of 2017’ list and if you are looking to switch up your professional trajectory then these might deserve a

Hair stylist

11

Although this might seem like a shocking entry, apparently being a hair stylist is not a stressful job, more with the type of clientele a hair stylist might deal with than anything else. Straighter hair might demand less time than kinkier hair types plus African women are

Working in a pharmacy is apparently a breeze, but getting there is very much not. Earning a degree in the medical field is hard work, including pharmacy.

is no telling the amount of work you might have to do or

University professor

Most of the stress that comes along with being a lecturer might not necessarily be related to teaching. who come into class, engage in a 2-hour soliloquy and leave, some even spring pop quizzes on students when they don’t feel like teaching and let’s not forget about the assignments and exams that get ‘marked,’ so this one might have some merit to it. But school administration does have obligations and duties that might push this job to 8.17 on the stress scale.

Least Stressful

Pharmacy Technician

Working in a pharmacy is apparently a breeze, but getting there is very much not. Earning a degree in the medical Career Cast though, once you get one, dispensing drugs is smooth sailing. Registering a 9.10 as a stress score means it’s less work than physicians get up to but much more than your average desk job. Pharmacy is more of a bridge between health professions and is an easier way to help people without all the nitty gritty.

Jeweler

the career choice. Jeweler is described as ‘ a person who

OF designs, makes, sells, or repairs jewelry, watches etc.’ Great, that helps get a better picture of the kinds of stresses that might demanding than if they were employed. Artists work as they go, but that does not explain the 8.95 stress score. But working in the service industry is a task by itself.

featuring Khaligraph Jones has incorporated Alicios who has made a special appearance in the song giving it a breath of fresh air. The Khaligraph, Alicios collabo is one worth looking forward to.

@kevin_x254

Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones is set to release yet another hot collaboration, this time with sassy singer Alicios Theluji who is currently riding high with her hit single ‘Anita’.

The two artistes who had a private studio session recently were hesitant to reveal details of the collaboration but hinted that something was ‘cooking’ and the announcement would be made at the right time. Christian Bella in his latest track dubbed ‘Ya Nini’

HOT TOPICS

Khaligraph, Alicios collabo in the offing

T.I questions Kanye, Steve Harvey involvement with Trump T.I is not stopping soon. After penning President-elect a letter early this week, he is back again. In a series of three Instagram video posts, T.I who is now one of America’s most politically outspoken artists, called out Kanye West and comedic powerhouse Steve Harvey for playing into Donald Trump’s “hidden agenda.” West and Harvey have both taken private meetings with the Presidentelect, which has caused an uproar across social media platforms and media outlets alike.

Awilo Longomba bounces back with ‘Rihanna Congolese Lingala legend Awilo Longomba has released his anticipated single titled “Rihanna”; featuring Africa’s championing diva from Nigeria, Yemi Alade. “Rihanna” is a massive soukous banger with a solid ear-worm hook. The Congolese icon blatantly flirts with Mama Africa comparing her to Barbadian singer Rihanna, over a VTek crafted Coupé-Décalé influenced instrumentation tailored to have everyone on the dance-floor within seconds. This collaboration is part of Awilo’s expansive come back path in which he hopes to collaborate with various artistes from the African continent in a bid to fuse Lingala with current African pop tunes.

10

ACCESS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY NEED TO BE DISCUSSING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THAT IS WHEN SHE MAKES ALL HER COMMUNICATIONS.

Dear Lily,

@christine_x254

coffee table books about Africa you need in your life THE CIRCLE OF LIFE: Wildlife on the African Savannah

By Anup and Manoj Shah ‘Two brothers take readers on a fascinating tour of the African Savannah, documenting the region’s storied animals. This volume chronicles life and death on the savannah, as lions, giraffes, wildebeest, elephants, gazelles, zebras, hippos, hyenas, baboons and many more species give birth, play, hunt, feed, groom, sleep, mate, migrate and die.’

-Amazon/Google Books DINKA: The Great Cattle Herders of the African Sudan

By Angela Fisher This seminal volume on the indigenous African Dinka group is a landmark documentation of a vanishing people in war-torn Sudan. In breathtakingly poignant images, [they] present a story that started with their first visit to the Dinka thirty years ago. Living in harmony with their cattle, the Dinka have survived years of war only to find their culture on the brink of vanishing forever.

Where the White Nile River reaches Dinka country, it spills over 11,000 square miles of flood plain to form the Sudd, the largest swamp in the world.

-Amazon Tribes

By Art Wolfe Tribes is more than a simple document of body art: it is a bold celebration of the pageantry and patterns of everyday life.

Tribes offers a rare glimpse into the world’s most fascinating cultures. Taken tribe by tribe, the variety of adornment and cultural experience Art Wolfe has discovered is astonishing; taken as a whole, the collection of photographs is a testimonial to the power of human creation and spirit.

-Amazon UnBounded

By Boniface Mwangi UnBounded is a collection of engaging personal stories that takes us through some of the people, places and events that have shaped Boniface, easily one of Kenya best known photographers and activists.

It is a portrait of the child, the man and some of the human, harrowing and even humorous episodes that he has witnessed and photographed.

This book tells of the two remarkable women - his mother and grandmother - who influenced his character and inspired his drive to raise awareness about poverty, inequality and corruption.

-Amazon

Dear Dr X,

M

y husband of nearly 15 years recently found out that he has a 20-year-old son by a former girlfriend. He had no idea that this child existed and I don’t blame him for any of it because they lost communication for a very long time. The problem is this former girlfriend, who is unmarried, has now seen the revelations as an opportunity to insert herself into our lives. My husband decided to start taking some financial responsibility for his son but the mother is getting a bit too involved and it’s making me uncomfortable. There is nothing that they need to be discussing in the middle of the night and that is when she makes all her communications. I don’t want to seem rude but I’m not feeling the way she is trying to carry on with my husband.

I can’t stand my husband’s ex girl’s moves

Maybe you should relax before jumping to conclusions over here. Yes, this must be a huge shock to the both of you and it is weird that she took so long to tell your husband about it but that might not necessarily mean that something shady is going on. If she is actually getting involved in your marriage then politely tell her to back off but if she is just trying to catch up with an old friend, whom she just happens to share a child with, then don’t jump the gun just yet. Tell her to make her calls at a time that everyone will be comfortable with to avoid future inconveniences and cut her some slack while you are at it. She did raise their son alone for 20 years.

-Dr X

-Lily

Do you feel like you are being unappreciated when all you do is give?

Well is the other person giving as much as you are? Should you reel it back in? Neediness seems to be something underhand that strikes without much notice.

Here’s how to suss it out.

signs you might be

@christine_x254

You are too invested in your partner

T

his actually sounds like an oxymoron.

Being invested in someone or a relationship is usually a great thing, but it’s one thing to be interested and another thing completely to be obsessive. If you build and plan out your entire day round the goings-on of your significant other, then there is a problem. You should not have to quit everything at the drop of a hat because of the person you are seeing. Have some independence, do your own thing, even when you are free.

You go along with things too easily

So let’s say you might just be a laid back person and most things don’t bother you, that is different from this. Being chilled out and going along with things despite what your real feelings might be is a sure sign that you are needy.

There will be times that you will agree to do something just to please your partner but this should n o t over-

write the number of times that you are actually doing something to make yourself happy. You will come off as a pushover.

Your identity is tied to the relationship

If your happiness and who you are somehow both linked to the person you are with, it might be time to reassess the validity if the relationship. You were whole before you met your current boyfriend/girlfriend and will continue being a whole person without them. You should still be able to identify things that you do and enjoy alone, no matter who you might be with.

Friends are a thing of the past

Remember them? The people you used to spend your time with before you became consumed with your relationship? Your friends should still be a priority because they are also in a relationship with you. It’s easy to get lost in a relationship early on when things are intense but after a couple of weeks you should have calmed down enough to carry on with your usual routine.

Don’t get sucked in.

You are constantly trying to please your partner

Now there is nothing wrong with trying to make your significant other happy but that should not be your prime directive. Your actions should not be dictated by their reactions. When your grand gestures are not met with the same grandness, mistrust tends to creep in.

Send your agonising queries to christine@x254.co

ACCESS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

11

NRF FOUNDATION GALA

ALEXIS GLICK went for the traditional polo-neck.

DANIELLE FERDINANDO chose a lace mashup.

W

ith charity programmes, come glam galas and red carpet affairs especially in Hollywood where everyone is all about the spotlight, and looking good in it.

Many celebrities have launched or are part of mega foundations serving different visions around the world and early this week, the NRF Foundation pioneered by the likes of Richard Branson held their 2017 gala on matters retail.

Check out the ladies on the purple carpet:

Our rating: ★ ★ ★

RATING:

PG-13

GENRE: Drama, Special Interest CAST: Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, BJ Novak

A

THE FOUNDER

RUNTIME: 115 minutes

true story of how Ray Kroc, a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California.

Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Writer Robert Siegel details how Kroc maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire.

XXX: RETURN OF XANDER

Our rating: ★ ★ ★

Our rating: ★ ★ ★

@mercy_x254

BEST

SAVVY SHIELDS brough her Miss America pose to the show.

MONICA WEILLER stunned in beige.

KAVITA SHUKIA was stylishly conventional.

RATING: R GENRE: Comedy, Drama CAST: Elle Fanning, Annette Bening, Allison Elliot RUNTIME: 118 minutes

D

RATING: PG-13 GENRE: Action & Adventure, Drama

20TH CENTURY WOMEN

uring the summer of 1979, a Santa Barbara single mom and boardinghouse landlord decides the best way she can parent her teenage son is to enlist her young tenants - a quirky punk photographer, a mellow handyman and her son’s shrewd best friend to serve as role models in a changing world.

CAST: Vin Disel, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev RUNTIME: 110 minutes.

Athlete turned government operative Xander Cage is coming out of a self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora’s Box. Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed

in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments.

CLASSIFIED TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017 Due to the relocation of our warehouse, our company is selling cargos with a surprising price.

Time is limited, first come first served.

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Configuring the vertical lift system. The railway can rise to 10-floor high, 30 meters height.

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WEATHERFORECAST TUESDAY 17/1/2017

SUNNY

27

26ºC 34%

WEDNESDAY 18/1/2017

MORE SUN THAN CLOUDS

27 6:37 AM 6:48 PM

26ºC 32%

6:38 AM 6: 49 PM

THURSDAY

28

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

Yesterday’s Solution

SUDOKU

12

SPORT NE WS133

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

West Ham reject second Marseille bid for Payet

West Ham have rejected a second bid from Marseille for France forward Dimitri Payet.

The improved offer from the Ligue 1 side - reported to be £1m higher than an initial £19m bid - was turned down by Hammers chairman David Sullivan.

Marseille president Jacques-Henri Eyraud flew to London yesterdat to try and persuade West Ham to sell Payet.

But the Hammers chairman is said to be taking a tough stance and refusing to be bullied into a quick sale, with the club having no financial need to sell.

Manager Slaven Bilic says Payet, 29, no longer wants to play for the club.

Payet is not currently training with the first team and will continue to work with the under-23s.

The Premier League club said they would prefer Payet to apologise to supporters and return to first-team training.

Club captain Mark Noble has expressed his frustration with Payet saying he has not spoken to the player for “two or three weeks” Payet, who signed from Marseille for £10.7m in June 2015, excelled in his first season with the London club, scoring 12 goals and earning a nomination for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

In February 2016 he signed a new contract running until the summer of 2021.

Australian Open: Serena starts record bid with win S ix-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams progressed to the second round with a straight-set win over Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic.

The American, 35, won 6-4 6-3 in 79 minutes against the 19-year-old in scorching conditions in Melbourne.

The world number two, who is chasing a record 23rd singles Grand Slam title, said she “has nothing to lose”.

“Every match I’m playing for fun. I get to travel the world and do what I do best play tennis,” she added.

Williams lost the

Australian Open final last year to Angelique Kerber but won Wimbledon to equal Steffi Graf ’s Open era mark of 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

She has barely played since the US Open last September because of injury, and lost in the second round of this month’s Auckland Classic, but eased doubts about her form and fitness with a typically p owe r f u l

performance in temperatures of around 35C. Williams will face Lucie Safarova in the second round after the 29-year-old Czech saved nine match points before beating Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-1.

Safarova saved five match points on her own serve in the second set and another four in the tie-break.

“It’s not fun,” said a stunned Wickmayer. “I think she served very well on certain points and other points I didn’t go for enough.

“But it’s normal when you have match point and you want to play it a little bit safe. Then after, you realise it’s not the best option.”

Fifth seed Karolina Pliskova, who beat Williams in last year’s US Open semi-finals, went through thanks to a 6-2 6-0 victory over Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo.

“Even when you’re not playing your best, somehow you have to win,” said the 24-year-old.

“I know I can be dangerous deep in the tournament, quarters and semis, and when there are big players I can beat them.”

Serena Williams of the USA reacts before her win against Belinda Bencic during round one of the Women’s Singles of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia earlier today.

PHOTO: JULIAN SMITH/EPA

14

SPORT TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

Johanna heads to Sweden Midfielder Eric Johanna will not be joining Sportpesa Premier League giants Gor Mahia after he chose to sign for Swedish Division One side Vasalund IF. The move comes as a huge surprise after the Kenyan international who had agreed in principle to sign for the 15-time League champions.

Johanna attended trials at Swedish side AIK Fotball in August last year where he featured for their junior side in two matches but failed to land a contract before returning home to Mathare until the end of the season.

The midfielder hinted to XSport that he is set to arrive in Sweden on January 23, and is expected to sign a three-year contract.

“It is true I was to join Gor Mahia, however my dream of turning pro has always been alive. After I did my trials abroad last year, I have been hopeful for this opportunity,” said the player who netted five times for the Francis Kimanzi coached Mathare last term and managed to cement his place in Stanley Okumbi’s Harambee Stars first team.

Meanwhile, Gor’s defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma is expected to jet out of the country today for his new home FC Kolkheti in Georgia.

The promising talent bid farewell to his fans promising to fly high Kenyan flag in the Eastern Europe country.

“I say a big thank you to my fans in

Algeria have themselves to blame - Mahrez

Mathare United midfielder Eric Johanna is expected to pen a three-year contract with Swedish Division One side Vasalund IF, next week.

Kenya for the amazing support both at club and national team level. I say thank you to the Gor family for giving me the platform to showcase my ability and for my invaluable

nurturing.

Jericho All Stars left back Maqbul Mohammed and Muhoroni Youth’s Mike Simiyu have been lined up to replace Ouma.

Highly rated Maqbul was a standout performer for the Sportpesa Super 8 Premier League side – helping them to a second spot finish last year.

Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez admitted his side were not at their best as they were held 2-2 by Zimbabwe in their Africa Cup of Nations opener.

The Leicester winger scored both his side’s goals - the second an 82nd-minute equaliser that prevented a shock loss to the rank outsiders.

“We knew the first match was going to be difficult,” Mahrez said.

“We didn’t perform in the first half but played very well in the second half and should have scored more goals.”

He added: “We only have ourselves to blame. We need to keep working and play well in the second match against Tunisia.”

Zimbabwe’s performance was a surprise to many, with few predicting they would be anything other than makeweights in Group B, which also contains Senegal.

The second round of Group B matches takes place on Thursday.

Uganda Cranes face litmus test in Ghana AFCON opener Ghana and coach Avram Grant want to go one better than in 2015 when they lost the final to Ivory Coast on penalties.

Striker Asamoah Gyan and West Ham midfielder Andre Ayew were part of the team two years ago, and their experience and quality is expected to help the Black Stars see off Uganda.

Uganda pair Murushid Juuko and Khalid Aucho are both suspended.

The Cranes are at the tournament for the first time since 1978, when they lost to hosts Ghana in the final.

That history adds a little extra spice to the Group D match.

More recently, however, Uganda held Ghana to a 0-0 draw in Tamale in October in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Grant’s side will therefore certainly not underestimate their opponents, who are staying alongside them in the same Port-Gentil hotel.

The Black Stars are in Gabon looking to win an elusive fifth title - their last came in 1982.

Uganda have never done better than

that runners-up spot 39 years ago.

Ghana are ranked ninth in Africa and 54th in the world while Uganda are 18th in Africa and 73rd in the world.

Uganda Cranes fans in jubilation after thier nationaln team qualified to for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1978.

PHOTO: EPA

955700

SPORT 15 TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

Egypt play Mali as El Hadary eye history

Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary will become the oldest player to compete at the African Nations Cup finals if he plays against Mali tonight.

But El Hadary, who turned 44 on Sunday, is not certain of his place as Egypt insist a choice has yet to be made between their three goalkeepers.

Mali are monitoring the fitness of Monaco midfielder Adama Traore, who has not trained because of a knee problem.

Coach Alain Giresse led the team to the 2102 semi-finals, when Gabon co-hosted.

He will be hoping to at least repeat the achievement but preparations have been hampered by a disrupted journey from the team’s pre-tournament base in Morocco.

The countries have met only once before in the tournament with Mali shocking Egypt 1-0 in a 1994 quarter-final through a Soumaila Traore goal.

Egypt have been champions a record seven times with the 1959, 1986 and 2006 successes coming as hosts. The other titles were won in Sudan (1957), Burklna Faso (1998), Ghana (2008) and Angola (2010).

Mali came closest to glory in 1972 when they lost the final 3-2 against Congo-Brazzaville after conceding three goals within seven minutes during the second half in Yaounde.

The Pharaohs of Egypt are ranked third in Africa and 35th in the world while the Eagles of Mali are 13th in the African listings and 64th in the world.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

WEST HAM REJECT SECOND MARSEILLE BID FOR UNSETTLED FORWARD DIMITRI PAYET

Louis van Gaal: Former Man United, Barca manager retires

DR Congo’s Junior Kabananga wheels away in celebration after scoring the own-goal in their opening match against Morocco last night.

PHOTO: EPA

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x-Manchester United and Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal says he has retired from coaching after a 26-year career.

Van Gaal, 65, has been out of work since being sacked by United hours after winning the FA Cup in May 2016.

“I thought maybe I would stop, then I thought it would be a sabbatical, but now I do not think I will return to coaching,” Van Gaal was quoted as saying in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Van Gaal also had spells in charge of Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ. He made the announcement yesterday after receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Dutch government for his contribution to football. He cited family issues for his decision, with De Telegraaf saying it was partly motivated by the sudden death of his daughter’s husband last month. “So much has happened in my family, you become a human being again with your nose pressed to the facts,” he added.

The Dutchman also revealed he turned down lucrative offers to continue his coaching career in the Far East.

DR Congo stun Renard’s Morocco D

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15 Uganda’s Onyango ready for Ghana test

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R Congo put their difficult Africa Cup of Nations build-up behind them to beat Morocco in their Group C opening fixture, despite finishing with 10 men.

Florent Ibenge’s side, who went on strike over unpaid bonuses on Friday, almost trailed early on at Stade d’Oyem when Mbark Boussoufa struck the bar.

But Junior Kabananga put them ahead before substitute Lomalisa Mutambala was booked twice in 16 minutes.

Morocco’s Youssef El-Arabi missed with two headed chances late on.

The substitute glanced wide from a setpiece delivery and then met a cross cleanly to force a parry from DR Congo keeper Ley Matampi. The Leopards were down to nine men for several minutes in the closing stages when they lost defender Gabriel Zakuani to injury having made all of their substitutions.

The Northampton Town player returned for six minutes of injury time, as Ibenge’s side saw out pressure to ensure Kabananga’s guided finish from 10 yards put them top

of their group. Morocco - managed by twotime Cup of Nations winner Herve Renard are bottom of the group after the first round of fixtures, as defending champions Ivory Coast and Togo drew 0-0 earlier in the day.

Renard, who guided Zambia to the title in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, has been told by the country’s FA that reaching the quarter-finals is a minimum requirement.

But despite managing 62% of possession and 15 shots against a side eight places above them in Fifa’s rankings, they were unable to turn their numerical advantage into a positive start.

In the earlier fixture at the Oyem Stadium, Togo frustrated defending champions Ivory Coast to a barren draw to pick up their first point in their opening match.

Jonathan Kodjia came close for Ivory Coast but his toe-poke was well saved by goalkeeper Kossi Agassa.

At the other end, Sylvain Gbohouo rushed out of his goal to save smartly at the feet of Mathieu Dossevi.

Late on, Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier

headed wide from an unmarked position in a rare clear-cut chance. Neither side found their fluency, not helped by a poor pitch, and even from early on the game had the look of a stalemate.

Wilfried Zaha, making his competitive debut for Ivory Coast after switching international allegiance from England, looked just about the liveliest player on show.

Switching wings regularly, he cut in off the right to send a shot just over and later ended a good run from the left with an effort that was well blocked.

Both sides were guilty of wasting set-piece opportunities. Togo’s corners left a lot to be desired, while Ivory Coast fared no better from a series of free-kicks.

Aurier should have snatched a winner for the Elephants but nodded wide from six yards.

Four of the five games at the tournament have now been drawn.

Today, Uganda take on favourites Ghana at Port-Gentil from 7pm with Egypt and Mali also squaring off at the same pitch later from 10pm.

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