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WEEKEnD EDITIOn, JAnUARY 6-8, 2017 | WWW.x254.cO

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TOO’S BURIAL NOW TO CONTINUE AS PLANNED THE BURIAL OF THE FORMER KANU STALWART IS NOW SET TO GO ON MONDAY AS EARLIER PLANNED AFTER WOMAN

NEWS

WHO HAD LOGGED A CASE IN COURT OVER THE INVOLMENT OF A SON SHE HAD WITH TOO WITHDRAWS THE CASE

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AILLING FOOTBALL LEGEND KADENGE WISH TO MEET PRESIDENT UHURU GRANTED

NINE MAN ATHLETIC BILBAO STUN BARCELONA IN COPA DEL REY ROUND ROUND OF 16

Doctors reject Government offer on pay increment T

Secretary General of Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union(KMPDU) Ouma Oluga addressing Doctors during the demonstratopon.Doctors have today rejected a 40 percent pay offer by by the government.

he month long Doctors strike is set to continue as Doctors this morning rejected a government offer of 40 percent pay increment made on Wednesday.

The medical workers advisory council met this morning at Railways Club Nairobi and rejected the offer saying they want full implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement of 2013.

The officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) were however set to meet treasury later afternoon. The meeting had not ended by the time of going to press.

“Whatever the government called allowances that they enhanced were outside the CBA we signed in 2013 is nothing and will not be accepted by the Doctors. The Court ruled that document was legally signed and therefore we don’t see any other problem but full implementation of the document,” said KMPDU Secretary General Ouma Oluga “If health was devolved then everything was devolved including the debts, we don’t only devolve good things but everything,” Asked if the Doctors will respond to the plea of millions of Kenyans suffering across the country, Oluga said .said that it’s the responsibility of the government to make Doctors be in hospitals.

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NEWS WEEKEND EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

Jubilee triumphs as Senators pass disputed Electoral Laws

Jubilee Coalition Senators once again put up a spirited fight to ensure they carried the day as the Senate adopted amendments to the election laws.

This means the Elections (Amendment) Laws Bill has been passed with no amendments and will now be transmitted back to the National Assembly and for onward transmission to the President for assent.

Twenty six Senators voted in support of the Amendment Bill while 10 Senators voted against the Bill in the Special Sitting which adjourned at 1145pm.

Senators had earlier clearly shown their division in the debate on the contentious Electoral (Amendment) Laws Bill in the ongoing session characterized by emotions and tempers across the political divide.

Siaya Senator James Orengo who co-chaired the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee on the IEBC Reforms pleaded with the Senators for close to 10 minutes against approving the Bill which, he insisted, was unconstitutional.

“Parliament, this is unconstitutional, let it not pass. I urge you to reject this Bill. I urged Senator Beth Mugo to educate her people. This Government is going to punish you more than it will punish me. You will be running to our office, it will chew you,” he warned.

He has urged Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi who was his co-chair in the

Established in 1969

bi-partisan House team to reject the amendment, noting that supporting the latter would be a betrayal to their days in the struggle for multi-party democracy.

“If Kiraitu votes for this Bill, I will remember forever that the struggles we carried on the streets were for nothing,” he said.

Murungi however went on to back the Bill saying: “The law gives an MP absolute freedom to vote for the Bill. No one should interfere with a member’s freedom to vote. I am sorry but I have to support the Bill.”

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi questioned why the Jubilee Coalition seemed to be walking away from the digital system in favour of analogue.

“Kenya is a hub of technology. Silicon Valley. What is important is the complimentary mechanisms. Who is going to set the mechanism, Is it IEBC? Do you trust them? No! These are the issues. Watch my vote Mr Speaker Sir,” he said.

CORD Co-Principal and Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma) cautioned the House against approving provisions that will undermine the Senate by allowing the National Assembly authority to oversee the delimitation of boundaries, saying it is akin to a former Russian President who reformed themselves out of office.

“I feel embarrassed that we want to pass a provision in the law vesting the authority of boundaries review on

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Wedding Rings, Engagement Rings

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Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro presiding over yesterday’s senate special sittings.

Senators passed the controversial Electoral Ammendment Laws.

the National Assembly. This is purely partisan, six CORD senators rejected the clause and 10 Jubilee voted to support it,” said Wetang’ula.

“Why should we amend clauses that do not exist yet my colleagues from the majority side are supporting the Bill? Let’s stand tall and refuse to be influenced into doing unconstitutional things. The National Assembly has always rejected Senate Bills, why should we back their own?”

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior asked.

Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o clashed with Nominated Senator

Beth Mugo after she demanded that he substantiates claim that the President agreed to the Bill in order to win the August elections.

Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura said the country must guard against any possibility of failure while Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula cautioned that the Bill is dangerous for the country.

This led to the presentation of a Minority Report which was annexed

by CORD members who had opposed the amendments.

Raila leaves for Ghana to attend Nana Akufo-Addo Inauguration Opposition leader Raila Odinga left the country this morning for Ghana to attend tomorrow’s inauguration of President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo.

Odinga was accompanied by ODM Deputy Party leader Hassan Joho who is also Mombasa governor.

“I congratulate incumbent President John Dramani Mahama for his adherence to democratic principles and providing leadership not just to Ghanaians but to the continent at large. His gracious hand over is an example to all on the sovereignty of the will of the people,” Odinga said.

“Raila and his delegation will meet sections of the new administration and return to Nairobi early next week,” his spokesman Dennis Onyango said in a statement.

Odinga will also hold meetings with various officials of the yet-to-be-formed administration.

Akufo-Addo won the election at the third attempt, cementing the country’s reputation as a standard bearer of democracy in a region that has been blighted by civil wars and coups.

He defeated President John Mahama by 53.8 per cent votes, against 44.4 per cent, sparking celebration in the capital Accra.

MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

Members reject salary offer,officials set to meet Treasury to unlock deadlock From Page 1 “We regret the suffering of Kenyans but it’s the responsibility of the Government to take Doctors to the hospitals not Doctors taking themselves to hospital. In as much as it’s the right of Kenyans to go to hospitals when they are sick, its only the responsibility of the Government to make sure Docs are in hospitals,” “You’ve heard what our members have said and we have nothing more to add.

Members are very appreciative of the President consultative meeting,” Oluga added Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentist Union National Chair Samuel Oroko said “Talks continues and from here we are going to have a talk with the treasury,” Deputy Secretary General of KMPDU Hamisi Mwachonda said the union still needs basic clarifications on the offer made by the government.

“What happens to Doctors in other Job groups that were not mentioned by government, we would like a conclusion of this CBA,” Mwachonda said.

Mwachonda said the CBA was not only about monetary offer but other issues as well such as the work environment which was not addressed in the government offer.

“We appreciate the offer, we are not watering it down as it is a step in the right direction. Hope we will have a common ground that will be acceptable to all,” Mwachonda said.

The government on Wednesday presented an offer to the medical workers indicating that Doctors in Job Group M to P will get Sh72,000 from Sh30,000 while those in Job Group Q will take home Sh80,000 from the current Sh30,000.

“The government offer will bring the remuneration of doctors in line with the labour market. Government believes that this is a responsible offer in the context of its obligations to properly manage the country’s finances, as well as taking into cognisance the critical role played by doctors in securing a nation’s health,” read a statement released after the meeting.

According to the statement, the Government also offered a new risk

allowance at a flat rate of Sh10, 000 a month.

“Government also reaffirmed its commitment to ensure equity in the nationwide distribution of doctors; continuous training, and a standard framework of employment across counties – including mechanisms for transfer of doctors and promotions.”

The statement further said that the government offer will bring the remuneration of doctors in line with the labour market.

“The government recognises the important role played by doctors in public life, and is committed to continuing reforms to address challenges in the health sector.”

The high level meeting which was held at State House Mombasa was attended by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, his Health Ministry counterpart Cleopa Mailu, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Chairperson Sarah Serem and the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission Margaret Kobia. @sam_x254

NEWS 3 FRIDAY, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

Too burial to continue after Woman withdraw case The burial of politician Mark Too will go on as planned after the woman who wanted the burial stopped for her son to be recognised has withdrew the case.

Fatuma Hassan had e asked the High Court to ensure her son’s inclusion in the arrangements.

She however told the court this morning that the family of the late Too has agreed to allow her son participate in the burial.

Hassan had complained that the family of the late politician She told the deliberately excluded her son from participating in the burial arrangements of the deceased.

Too, 64, died after a short illness at St Luke’s Hospital in Eldoret on December 31. He had been rushed to the facility under critical condition earlier in the day.

A postmortem confirmed he died from a heart problem shortly after Eldoret lawyer Simon Lilan alleged he may have been poisoned because of his vast wealth which includes 25,000 acres of land.

A requiem mass of the late politician was held today at the AIC Church in Milimani ahead of burial on Monday in his Kapseret home in the outskirts of Eldoret.

“The requiem mass will be held at the AIC Church from 10am,”said Chirchir. “On Sunday morning the body will be flown to Eldoret thereafter we shall have a convoy to the late Too’s Kapseret farm where interdenominational prayers will be held,” read the itinerary released by the family.

Former Judiciary chief registrar Gladys Boss Shollei eulogized Too as a self-appointed leader who always served the public and gave his family the best.

“Mark Too was always a leader without necessarily leading, he was an ambassador without being posted to any country, was always a civil servant without being in the civil service and he always gave his family the best,” Shollei said this morning at the requiem mass.

The late Mark Too at past function.

Too’s burial will now continue as earlier planned.

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NEWS FRIDAY, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

US spy chief James Clapper alleges Russia cyber attack US spy chiefs insisted they have strong evidence that Russia mounted an unprecedented bid to disrupt the American election. The revelation came as Presidentelect Donald Trump has refused to accept their conclusions.

Heads of four top intelligence bodies are expected to brief the president-elect on their assessment of Russian meddling in last year’s vote today.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (picrured below) told a Senate hearing on Thursday he had “very high” confidence in their findings.

“The Russians have a long history of interfering in elections, theirs and other people’s,” he told the Armed Services Committee. “But we have never encountered such a direct campaign to interfere with the election process as we have seen in this case.

“This was a multifaceted campaign. So the hacking was only one part of it, and it also entailed classical propaganda, disinformation, fake news,” said Clapper.

Clapper, National Security Agency chief Michael Rogers, and Marcel Lettre, undersecretary of defense for intelligence, told the committee in a joint statement that “only Russia’s senior-most officials” could have authorised the operation, in which hackers stole Democratic Party files and emails. The information was then disseminated via WikiLeaks, embarrassing the Democratic Party and potentially harming losing candidate Hillary Clinton’s White House effort. “Russia has clearly assumed an even more aggressive cyber posture by increasing cyber espionage operations,” Clapper said.

The Senate Committee hearing comes a week after President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats over the alleged hacking.

John McCain, the Republican chairman of the committee, said “every American should be alarmed” by Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election. There is “no escaping the fact that this committee meets today for the first time in this new Congress in the aftermath of an unprecedented attack on our democracy,” McCain said. Pressed by McCain, former presidential candidate and organiser of the hearing, on whether the actions constituted an “act of war”, Clapper said that was “a very heavy policy call” more appropriate for other entities in the government to decide. Obama struck back at Moscow in late December with sanctions aimed at Russia’s leading spy agencies, the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, and the FSB, the successor to the Soviet-era’s main security agency, the KGB, that the US said were involved.

Grow up, US VP tells Trump

US Vice President Joe Biden has told US President elect Donald Trump to grow and stop making unecessary statements as he is now the President.

US Vice-President Joe Biden has told Presidentelect Donald Trump to “grow up” and criticised his attacks on the intelligence community.

Trump will be briefed today on allegations Russia meddled in November’s US presidential election in which he won after beating his closet rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump has however cast doubt on claims of Russian involvement, and criticised the intelligence community in tweets.

Biden said it was “absolutely mindless” for the president-elect not to have faith in intelligence agencies.

“For a president not to have confidence in, not to be prepared to listen to, the myriad intelligence agencies, from defence intelligence to the CIA, is absolutely mindless,” Biden said.

“The idea that you may know more than the intelligence community knows - it’s like saying I know more about physics than my professor. I didn’t read the book, I just know I know more.”

When asked what he thought of Mr Trump’s

regular attacks on Twitter, Biden said: “Grow up Donald, grow up, time to be an adult, you’re president. Time to do something. Show us what you have.”

He went on to call Trump “a good man”.

Biden said he had read a report by US intelligence agencies that outlined the extent of Russian involvement in the build-up to the US election.

Trump is to be briefed on the report on Friday, and an unclassified version will be made public next week.

Biden said the report clearly details “that the Russians did, as a matter of policy, attempt to affect and... discredit the US electoral process”.

He said the hacking was part of a systematic campaign to undermine Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump’s rival in the presidential race.

And he added that the hacking was far more widespread than had been suspected. Among those known to have been hacked were John Podesta, Mrs Clinton’s campaign manager,

and the servers of the Democratic National Committee.

On Thursday, the Director of National Intelligence, General James Clapper, told a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the hack, and said the motive would be revealed next week. Russia has denied involvement but the US has announced sanctions against Russian officials. Trump has repeatedly rejected allegations that the Russian government hacked into the computers of Podesta or the servers of the Democratic National Committee.

Yesterday, Trump said he was a “big fan” of intelligence agencies, after months of casting doubt on the Russian link, but later went on to raise questions over how the Democratic Party responded to the security breach.

“How and why are they so sure about hacking if they never even requested an examination of the computer servers? What is going on?” he asked in a tweet.

14 million people in Southern Africa face Food security-UN

The United Nations has warned that over 14 million people are at risk of starvation across the Southern Africa region as it continues to face widespread water shortages, as well as reduced crop and livestock production.

Southern Africa is still recovering from the devastating effects brought on by a two-year-long El Nino event that ended in early 2016.

El Nino is known for its widespread impact across the globe resulting in drought, flooding and other natural disasters. But the 2014-2016 event was considered one of worst, ranked as one of the top three strongest since 1950.

Areas across southern Africa were particularly

hit hard by the global anomaly. Many of those countries saw temperatures rise well above average with some of the driest condition in more than 30 years.

David Orr of the World Food Program stated “We have an extremely large food security crisis in southern Africa at the moment, as a result of a couple of years of drought, and in some cases failed harvests. So there are millions and millions of people across this region, who do not have enough to eat at the moment.”

Much of southern Africa is now in planting season and experiencing drought relief as the weather pattern has shifted to a La Nino cycle,

which helps to bring in more rain across some regions.

The long-term forecast suggests that in 2017 much of the region will regain most of its lost grain crop, but it is expected to take another two or more years to return livestock production back to normal levels.

Extreme weather conditions, such as El Nino are forecasted to become more frequent as global warming is expected to intensify in the future.

The UN says that Africa is the most vulnerable region to climate change and lacks proper early warning systems and contingency plans for such disasters.

NEWS 5 WEEKEND EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

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NEWS FRIDAY, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

NEWS PICTORIAL

Newly recruited Houthi fighters man heavy caliber machine guns during a gathering to mobilize more fighters to fight Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, in the old city of Sana’a, Yemen, 05 January 2017. According to reports, the Houthi rebels continued to mobilize more tribal fighters to support their militias and allied troops after the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces claimed to advance multiple offensives on Houthi strongholds in Nihem district, northeast of the capital Sana’a. PHOTO: EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

Peruvian police confront demonstrators from Puente Piedra district who burnt the 25 km Toll point at the Panamerican highway near Lima, Peru, on 05 January 2016. Hundreds of people blocked violently the site that connects Lima to the Panamerican highway, destroying control checkpoints as they protested against the increase of toll point prices on the outskirts of the Peruvian capital area.

PHOTO: EPA/Germán Falcón

Israeli right wing supporters hold a sign supporting US President-elect Donald Trump after the verdict against Israeli Sergeant Elor Azaria, who was convicted over the shooting and killing of a Palestinian man, outside the Kirya base in Tel Aviv, Israel, 04 January 2017. Azaria was on 04 January convicted by the military court of manslaughter over the shooting and killing of Abdul Fatah al-Sharif, 21, while the latter was lying immobilized on the ground in Hebron after he allegedly stabbed another soldier in the West Bank in March 2016. PHOTO: EPA/ABIR SULTAN

Members of the Civil Force and the Armed Navy arrest people allegedly responsibles for attacks against commercial stores during protests against the rise in gasoline prices in the country, in Veracruz, Mexico, 05 January 2017. One person died and close to 600 were detained following five days of protests against the increase in the fuels prices. Luis Monroy.

WEEKEnD EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

Laikipia County touted as one of top 52 places to visit in 2017 Laikipia has been touted as one of the world’s top 52 places to visit in 2017 in a move that is set to once again bolster Kenya’s tourism sector.

Laikipia County, one of Kenya’s 47 counties, was featured on the 47th spot in a recent list of favoured tourist destinations. Canada secured the top spot, the Atacama Desert in Chile came second, Agra in India came third, Zermatt in Switzerland was fourth while Botswana was ranked fifth.

Laikipia, which is located on the Equator in the former Rift Valley Province of the country, has two major urban centres: Nanyuki to the southeast, and Nyahururu to the southwest. Its capital is Rumuruti.

“The Borana Conservancy of central Kenya’s Laikipia region forms part of a 90,000-acre protected area for elephants, lions and cheetahs, among other charismatic megafauna,” said the New York Times list that is set to put Kenya on the map for the umpteenth time.

“Game drives and lodges abound, but a spectacular new property, the five-suite Arijiju, opened in 2016 with guides who take guests on excursions, including fly fishing, trail running, horseback riding and treetop canopy tours. The region is also home to both the Samburu and the Maasai, tribes with equally colorful and fascinating cultures,” added the analysis.

The list comes at a time when global forums held mostly in Nairobi have raised Kenya’s tourism ratings. the list also comes at a time when Kenya has witnessed a rapid transformation of

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tourism segment.

Kenya has seen a steady rise in MICE tourist arrivals over the past few years new research has confirmed. In 2015, the country hosted 117,630 foreign arrivals taking part in MICE activities, representing a 13 per cent increase on the 2014 total, and 15.6 per cent of the total number of international tourist arrivals for the year, according to a recent report from the Oxford Business Group (OBG).

To further boost the segment, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Najib Balala in

Samsung profit estimate surges despite Note 7 battery fiasco Samsung Electronics has reported a 50 per cent profit surge in its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2016 despite last year’s fiasco with its flagship Note 7 phone. The earnings estimate is higher than what the analysts had earlier predicted and would mark its highest quarterly profit since 2013.

In October, the world’s largest smartphone maker had to scrap the Note 7 after batteries caught fire and even replacement devices went up in smoke. The strong results are due to Samsung’s semiconductor and display businesses.

The South Korean tech giant, which has operations in Kenya and other parts of the globe, said it expected to post $7.8 billion (Sh808.9 billion) in operating profit for the months from September to December 2016.

“When you look at the headlines over the last couple of months it’s always been about exploding batteries and doom for Samsung,” Bryan Ma, technology consultant with the International Data Corporation (IDC) said in a recent address.

“But we’ve got to keep in mind that that’s not

their only business, what’s really driving these earnings is strong demand for memory and displays. And they are really, really profitable businesses.”

In an earlier profit forecast for the fourth quarter, Samsung had said it expected the Note 7 recall would mean a $2.1 billion (Sh217.8 billion) hit to their profits.

The company first issued a recall for the Galaxy Note 7 in September following complaints about exploding batteries. After replacement devices deemed safe were also found to overheat and catch fire, the company scrapped the phone entirely.

“Yet the end of the day, what happened with the Note 7 - as painful as it was - bounced right off of Samsung because all their other business helped offset it,” Mr Ma said.

Samsung said that it will “very soon” share details of its inquiry into the cause of the Note 7 problems. The company will disclose a detailed earnings release for the quarter in late January which will give more insights into the performance of its individual businesses.

BUY SELL 103.3667 103.5667 127.1311 127.4089 107.8839 108.1233 7.5726 7.5929 34.9340 35.0984 21.0396 21.1770

African firms to benefit from Canary Islands deal

The Borana Conservancy of central Kenya’s Laikipia region forms part of a 90,000-acre protected area for elephants, lions and cheetahs, among other megafauna. the theme parks and amusement sector, taking them up for value addition, especially in the commercial real estate sector. This is according to a new report that follows a similar analysis by research group, Colliers, which states that the industry is set to be worth an estimated Sh4.5 trillion globally within the next three to four years.

Stronger brand recognition, improved security and higher capacity are driving growth in Kenya’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE)

MEAN 103.4667 127.2700 108.0036 7.5828 35.0162 21.1083

September announced the formation of a special task force to establish a Kenya Convention Bureau, which would promote the country’s MICE segment.

Currently, this is under the purview of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB).

The uptick is part of a welcome recovery in the tourism sector, which saw a slowdown last year on the back of a handful of highprofile terrorist incidents.

Businesses across the continent are set to benefit from a partnership deal with the Canary Islands, a Spanish autonomous island located off the western coast of Africa.

Supported by the European Union (EU), the Canary Islands have turned out to be a stable platform for global companies that need economies of scale to expand in fragmented markets of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Given their best deep-water port infrastructures in the geographical area, their shipping links with more than 40 ports in Africa, their suitable air connections, their 41 direct flights per week to African countries, and their full integration in the EU legal system, many organizations have decided to settle in the Canary Islands can serve as a strategic location to operate with Africa.

Data shows that the Canary Islands have eight airports, six of which are international, catering to more than 34 million passengers who arrive annually.

About 1,500 direct flights a week to and from all the main European cities operate with leading international airlines, given that the tourist industry sees 12 million visitors arriving every year in the region.

The Canary Islands are one of the leading tourist destinations in the world.

Many companies have also taken the opportunity to benefit from tax incentives offered by the Canary Islands. The Islands have always had a different and stable economic and fiscal system to compensate for the distance from the European continent, hence the so-called REF (Régimen Económico y Fiscal in Spanish) under the Spanish legislation and full authorisation of the EU. @enock _x254

Kenyans with unregistered SIM cards to face 6 month jail term, Sh100,000 fine Kenyans who buy SIM cards from hawkers or lose their own and fail to report to the police will face a jail term of up to six months, the Communication Authority (CA) has warned.

In a recent public notice, the regulator stated that the move is pursuant to Section 27C of the Kenya Communications Act, 199. Members of the public have been instructed to ensure that vendors register their required details before they purchase a SIM card.

The regulator has advised members of the public to avoid letting strangers use their SIM cards and to report any change in their required details as soon as possible “Failure to take these precautions may result in a criminal conviction of up to six months in prison or a fine of Sh100,000 or both,” the Authority said in its statement.

The CA has been on a warpath in recent months, having launched a crackdown on local broadcasters and telecommunication companies.

Just days ago, it emerged that amendments to the Kenya Information and Communications Act 1998 make it mandatory for service providers to inform customers of charges for premium services before use.

Mobile phone operators will now be required to disclose charges of premium rate text messages to subscribers

before use in a new law that seeks to seal avenues for unexplained charges on handsets.

The Authority last year launched a new platform dubbed the Radio-frequency Identification (RFID)-based Mail Quality Measurement System that will enable the organisation to independently determine and verify the quality of service offered to consumers of public postal services.

Speaking during the launch at the CA headquarters, Joe Mucheru the Cabinet Secretary for Information Communication and Technology (ICT) said that the advanced system has the ability to automatically read and record timestamp movements of test mails across various postal distribution systems across the country.

The technology can also monitor delivery timelines of letters at key points in the mail processing and the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK)’s transmission network, and can also assess the achievement of the set quality of service targets.

“I wish to assure the players in the postal and courier sub-sector of the Government’s support, particularly in undertaking the requisite reviews of the ICT policy to ensure an enabling environment for this sector to continue growing,” said Mucheru.

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BUSINESS

posts IMF urges government to invest Haco Sh24 billion t on back only in essential mega projects profi of East Africa WEEKEND EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

The International Monetary Fund, an organisation of 189 countries, has urged the governments of Kenya and other economies that it has funded in the recent past to carefully invest in infrastructure development.

“Many countries are talking and planning to increase spending on infrastructure,” the IMF said in a recent statement.

“This is something that the IMF has urged countries to consider for several years, starting with our Fall 2014 World Economic Outlook. Bridges, roads, and highways, along with telecoms, ports and airports are all part of the backbone that supports a country’s growth and the global economy.

Investing in building schools, public housing and hospitals, known as social infrastructure, can provide a powerful impetus for economic activity and jobs in countries.,” said the organisation.

For the past several years, the IMF has analyzed the data and produced new research on the benefits and best way to spend taxpayer dollars on infrastructure. With interest rates still low, the IMF research suggests that debt-financed investment could virtually pay for itself by boosting demand in the short run and productivity in the long run. The IMF has however warned that countries should “invest well, where there is a clear need, and invest efficiently.” these developments come on the back of continued investment spending in infrastructure just as strong consumer spending is expected during this year’s electioneering period.

The government is in the process of widening its tax base especially in the informal sector to finance ongoing infrastructural development in order to spur economic growth in 2017.

David Lipton, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary

exports

Vehicles are stuck during a traffic jam at a main road in Nairobi, Kenya, 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 Fund said last year that African nations need to find the right balance when pursuing infrastructure projects to avoid falling into deeper debt traps, according to.

“Infrastructure projects can be very successful in supporting growth if countries pick the right projects and carry them out in an efficient fashion,” Lipton said in a interview in Nairobi

last May. “Mistakes or inefficiencies can leave a country with more debt than benefits, so it’s important to strike that balance.”

The IMF has warned that sub-Saharan African nations need to contain their fiscal deficits otherwise they may be vulnerable if external financing becomes more expensive. Several African countries have approached

the IMF for assistance since the start of 2015 as high borrowing costs shut them out of international capital markets.

Budget and current-account shortfalls have widened after the global slump in commodity prices led to a plunge in government revenue among rawmaterial exporters.

PPPs to help grow economy, support job creation in 2017

Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) slated for this year are set to help support economic growth and bolster job creation, new data has confirmed.

Kenya is in the process of launching a number of Public Private Partnerships, and conducting capacity building in the Ministry of Finance PPP unit and within the various implementing agencies. This is key to preparing professionals and designing and implementing successful PPP projects.

In September 2016, the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) conducted two innovative events in Kenya to build the capacity of PPP players at the national and sector levels.

“The first was the PPP simulation game funded through the PPIAF knowledge proposals in partnership with the Dutch Government. This was the second in a series of the PPIAF-funded activities, following a similar simulation training carried out in Astana, Kazakhstan,”

states a World Bank report submitted

by Economist, Samuel Baiya and co-authored by Serah Njoroge, a Program Officer at the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF).

“The training focused on postcontract monitoring and was offered to the Kenyan PPP unit as well as implementing agencies that are close to launching their PPP projects. PPIAF anticipated a turnout of 16 participants but got an overwhelming response with 27 participants from the PPP unit, road agencies, the energy sector and public universities,” explined Baiya.

Agency staff are working on pipeline PPP projects with the PPP unit, and the roads sector is working on more advanced projects. Participants were fully engaged in the interactive simulation game, which is geared towards building the capacity of publicsector officials working on PPPs. The simulation requires participants to role-

play and make decisions as either the public sector agency or a private firm.

The game simulates different scenarios that could come up at PPP contract preparation and management phases and is designed to take participants through several complex situations and build understanding of how PPP preparation and implementation differs from traditional public procurement.

The feedback from all participants was very positive.

Director of Kenya’s PPP unit, Engineer Stanley Kamau, said one of the issues they face is capacity-building and the training came at the right time.

The second event held a week later was the PPP certification training. The PPP Certification Program is an innovation of the Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, Multilateral Investment Fund, Islamic Development Bank, and the World Bank Group.

“The program marks an important milestone in the efforts of multilateral development banks to share knowledge, establish standards, enhance professionalism in the delivery of PPPs globally, and raise the quality of PPP projects around the world. At the core of the program is the PPP Guide, a comprehensive Body of Knowledge that prepares candidates for the Certified Public-Private Partnership Professional (CP³P) credential exam,” Baiya said.

Staff from the Kenyan PPP unit and from various implementing agencies underwent the foundation-level training. According to Elizabeth Njenga, the Capital Planning and Public Private Partnerships Manager at Kenya Electricity Generating Company, the training was an eye-opener to the various obstacles that lay in the path towards the implementation of successful PPPs and provided participants with applicable guidelines on effectively initiating and implementing PPP projects.

Haco Tiger Brands has reported a six per cent increase in after-tax profit, which rose to Sh24.7 billion (3.3 billion rand) for the period ended September 2016, Tiger Brands. the group also posted a seven per cent increase in group turnover to Sh249.8 billion (33.3 billion rand).

The company, which is the Kenyan unit of South African group Tiger Brands, made more than half of its revenues last year from exports to East African countries-— indicating increased importance of the crossborder markets to its growth strategy.

Exports to East African neighbours accounted for 53 per cent of Haco’s turnover, up from 44 per cent during a similar period last year.

Exports to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Congo were driven by “successful and targeted marketing campaigns,” said the Johannesburg-listed Tiger Brands in its 2016 annual report.

“Exports have been doing well. I think it is due to growing demand from the regional middle-class,” said Haco Chairman Chris Kirubi, who has a 49 per cent stake in the Kenyan unit.

Tiger Brands has operations in Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Overall, the East African unit had a turnover of Sh7.2 billion (959.8 million rand), a 26 per cent improvement from last year.

Mr Kirubi said Haco is increasingly looking in the region for growth.

However, Kenya remains the company’s main turf.

South Africa has continued to account for more than 80 per cent of Tiger Brands’ turnover. With volatility in the South African market, the firm is looking to expand its operations in Africa.

“We recognise that additional opportunities for sustainable growth lie outside our core markets in South Africa,” said the company in its annual report.

Haco Industries was established in the early 1970’s as single-product manufacturer. Haco Tiger Brands is now one of the region’s leading FMCG manufacturers, supplying a wide range of products to the entire East African and COMESA Markets.

Beginning with stationery and shaver products, Haco diversified its operation into personal and home care products in the Mid 1990’s. Principal to this process were international partners such as Société Bic France, Pro-line International Inc. USA, Alberto Culver Inc. USA, E.T. Browne Drug Company Inc. USA and Jeyes PLC UK. Haco is now one of the leading players in the foods category. Tiger brands is South Africa’s largest food manufacturer.

Tanzania more effective than Kenya in revenue collection

BUSINESS 9

WEEKEND EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

Tanzania is outshining Kenya in the field of revenue collection as the East African country’s government adopts new policy reforms through a government-backed project launched about a decade ago.

As the Kenya Revenue Authority keeps missing its collection target, Tanzania’s actual revenue collection has improved at an average annual rate of 21 per cent from 2007 to the end of the project in 2011.

The Authority missed its revenue target last year by Sh69 billion in the first nine months to March. The taxman had collected Sh811billion between July 2015 and March this year, against a target of Sh911billion set by Treasury for the period.

Meanwhile, Tanzania’s taxman has managed to triple total tax revenue over a span of about 4 years.

“As external shocks led to fluctuations in commodity prices, Tanzania faced several challenges for long-term sustainable growth. In 2005, the government’s debt was growing and its tax revenue collection was low, at 10.8 percent of GDP,” states a recent World Bank report.

The government was forced to cut public spending on vital projects targeting infrastructure and human development. The tax system’s perceptible problems – low level of tax revenue collection, outdated tax payment methods, lack of monitoring and enforcement tools, slow and inefficient delivery on services, and citizen disillusionment with perceived corruption – reflected systemic issues in policy and administration.

The project took a holistic approach to increasing revenue collection. It included a technology upgrade, which allowed the country to automate systems for registering, documenting, and collecting taxes. A new e-filing system improved the efficiency, speed,

Kenyans filing their taxes at one of KRA’s service centres. and effectiveness of tax administration and revenue collection.

The project also helped to reform the tax system by lowering the corporate tax rate and increasing the tax base and compliance. Internal reforms to the tax administration included training staff on the anti-corruption policy and creating a stronger infrastructure for monitoring and evaluation. For example, two digital forensics laboratories were established

to enhance the capacity of the tax investigation department.

The project also incorporated intensive education programs for taxpayers of all income levels: workshops and consultations taught citizens how to file and pay taxes and they also helped assuage doubts citizens had about their government’s commitment to providing a fair and transparent tax collection process. “ It was important not only to improve

Meat prices remain subdued as demand rises Beef prices have failed to show a significant rise despite Kenya’s meat consumption jumping 28.8 per cent to 683, 000 tonnes in 2015 from 530,000 tonnes the previous year.

The price of beef has gone up by roughly Sh5 over the past year, the latest numbers from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) have found.

The Bureau indicates that beef with bones retailed at an average of Sh402 a kilogramme in December from Sh397 in the same month of 2015.

This 1.2 per cent growth margin is the slowest pace compared with previous years when the price rose by nine per cent in 2014 and 2.8 per cent in 2015 — showing a continuing drop in the price growth.

KNBS data shows beef price on average crossed the Sh400 mark this is the first time last year, having grown from Sh397 in 2015, Sh386 in 2014 and Sh328 in Sh2012.

Official data shows that beef consumption grew 32 per cent to 499,000 tonnes in 2015 compared to 378,000 tonnes a year earlier.

Though consumed in small quantities, demand for white meat has continued to grow.

Research indicates that poultry consumption grew 50 per cent to 33,000 tonnes in 2015 while goat meat consumption rose 10.8 per cent to 92,000 tonnes.

the tax infrastructure itself but also educate the tax administrative staff on how to use and maintain it and also educate taxpayers on the availability of this modern infrastructure. I think the project was successful because of the strong commitment from the government and the Tanzania Revenue Authority,” explained Douglas Zeng, Task Team Leader in charge of the initiative, dubbed the Implementation Completion Report.

Kenya under Fitch microscope as country sinks deeper into debt Fitch Ratings, one of the three nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSRO), has put Kenya under microscope as the country sinks deeper into debt. In its latest report, the ratings group has warned that Kenya’s future relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will depend on its ability to pay back its loans.

Support from the IMF has helped to mitigate external liquidity risks and reduced the medium-term default risks in several frontier markets that entered into new programmes in 2016, a new report by Fitch Ratings has found. However, potential improvements in sovereign credit profiles will depend on each country’s level of compliance with IMF conditions, and implementation risks

are often high.

In the two years leading up to their IMF loans, Fitch took negative rating action on five of the eight sovereigns that entered Standby Arrangements or Extended Fund Facilities in 2016 Kenya, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Suriname and Tunisia.

Egypt’s Stable rating Outlook in the run-up to its programme reflected existing reform efforts before the IMF became involved. Jamaica signed a successor agreement in November 2016, and will treat the available funds as precautionary.

It had been upgraded by Fitch earlier in the year after making progress on reducing the fiscal deficit and strengthening international reserves accumulation under its previous IMF programme. Cote d’Ivoire, which

had been upgraded in 2015, signed a successor agreement in December 2016. Two net commodity exporters - Iraq and Suriname - were among those that experienced negative rating actions before turning to the IMF. These sovereigns were among the commodity exporters that accounted for two-thirds of Fitch’s emergingmarket downgrades in the last two years. In Iraq and Suriname, the drop in global commodity prices opened up wide fiscal and current-account deficits.

A lack of currency flexibility was also a factor in pushing some frontier markets into IMF agreements. Egypt, Sri Lanka and Suriname all ran down foreign-exchange reserves at unsustainable rates trying to resist currency depreciation in a global

environment of US dollar strength.

However, they have allowed more flexibility since beginning discussions with the IMF, which has helped reduce pressure on their external balance sheets. Political upheaval has also been a theme.

Iraq is involved in ongoing conflict with the Islamic State group, while government instability has paralysed parliament and led to mass protests.

Egypt and Tunisia went through political revolutions in 2011, and both are still dealing with underlying tensions and security risks.

IMF loans should alleviate external liquidity pressures and reduce the risk of sovereign default, particularly where IMF assistance has been supported by other multilateral assistance or has improved access to

global bond markets. However, all of these countries still have either large current-account or fiscal deficits, or both. Reducing these vulnerabilities will be key to stabilising or improving their ratings. Mongolia, Zambia and El Salvador have announced their intent to seek IMF assistance, highlighting that further IMF loans are likely to be agreed with several other frontier markets in 2017.

Fitch Ratings Inc. is one of the “Big Three credit rating agencies”, the other two being Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. Conversely, the Angolan government last summer broke off talks with the IMF over a potential loan. The IMF halted disbursements to Mozambique last year after the government revealed previously undisclosed debt.

10

BUSINESS

Barilla Foundation calls on young researchers to apply for Sh2.2m grant WEEKEND EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) Foundation, a multidisciplinary and independent think tank, is seeking young researchers from all over the world for its 2017 BCFN Young Earth Solutions (YES) Research Grant Competition with an aim to reward the best ideas about food and sustainability. The objective of the research proposal is to make more sustainable one or more themes of the agri-food system, in terms of environmental, social, health and economic aspects.

The Foundation is offering a €20,000 (Sh2.2 million) research grant that will be applied to a one-year investigation.

Topic areas include sustainable and healthy diets; urban food systems and policies; resilient agriculture, land use change and agro-ecology; the nexus between climate change, energy and food and sustainable water management.

The Foundation has also encouraged participants to focus on food supply chains; ecosystems and ecosystem services; healthy lifestyles; food waste reduction; food policy development; food security: availability, access, utilization, stability; communication technologies and networks as well as youth and women’s involvement in agriculture.

The Competition is designed for individual or multidisciplinary and cross-national research teams of a maximum of three components.

The Competition encourages the

The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) Foundation is offering a Sh2.2 million research grant that will be used to address issues such as sustainable and healthy diets, urban food systems, policies and resilient agriculture.

participation of teams from different disciplines and countries who wish to combine their expertise in innovative approaches.

The deadline for applications, to be sent through BCFN’s

portal, is June 28, 2017.

The BCFN Foundation is a private non-profit apolitical institution.

Working as a multidisciplinary and independent think tank, it is open to

everybody and analyses the cause and effect relationship economic, scientific, social and environmental factors have on food. The foundation produces valuable scientific content that can be

used to inform and help people to make conscious choices every day about food and nutrition, health and sustainability.

Airtel Africa appoints Low commodity prices slowing Rajeev Sethi as Chief global economic growth - report Commercial Officer Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications services provider with operations in 18 countries across Asia and Africa, has announced the appointment of Rajeev Sethi as Chief Commercial Officer for its Africa operations.

Rajeev will be responsible for the formulation and implementation of customer-centric commercial strategies across all the 15 African countries where Airtel operates. He will report to Airtel Africa MD & CEO, Raghunath Mandava.

His key focus will be across Consumer and Enterprise Businesses covering products and pricing, distribution, brand and customer experience.

Announcing his appointment, Raghunath Mandava said: “We are delighted to welcome Rajeev

to Airtel Africa team. With his vast experience across a range of developing markets, Rajeev will contribute immensely in accelerating our growth journey. I am confident that Rajeev will take the Airtel brand to greater heights”.

Rajeev brings with him over 21 years of diverse experience across several sectors such as Telecom, IT, Paints and Petroleum. Till recently, Rajeev was at the Telenor group where he served for more than 7 years. In his last assignment, he worked as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Grameen Phone, the largest operator in Bangladesh.

Rajeev holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (1997) and is an Electrical Engineer from Gujarat University @enock_x254 (1993).

Global economic growth remains weak, growing at a rate below 2.5 per cent, and global trade has slowed down dramatically to around 1.5 per cent in 2015 and 2016, compared to 7 per cent before the crisis, an analysis dubbed Trade and Development Report (TDR) 2016 reveals.

The report attributes weakening economic growth to loss of dynamism in the advanced economies combined with low commodity prices and global financial instability.

“The loss of dynamism in the advanced economies, combined with low commodity prices and global financial instability, is having knock-on effects on most developing countries,” reads the report in part.

The study projects that developing economies will grow - on average less than 4 per cent this year, but with considerable variation across countries and regions.

“The big investment push in developing regions remains one of the unfulfilled promises of the more open global economy set in place in the 1980s and 1990s; and after general growth

accelerations at the beginning of the century, convergence is now losing steam with a more challenging international environment,” the report says. According to the study, for countries to advance structural transformation, they will have to attain sustained and inclusive growth.

“To that end, proactive industrial policies are needed to encourage the shifting of employment and resources from low-productivity agriculture to higher productivity industrial and modern services sectors,” notes the report “Manufacturing activities play a key role in such processes, as they create formal employment, incomes and demand, and accelerate productivity growth, this in turn further boosts incomes and demand,” it adds.

The report further notes that many developing countries have not been able to sufficiently build up their manufacturing sectors and have even endured a “premature deindustrialization” since the 1980s owing to a policy strategy centered on unilateral trade opening, financial

deregulation and the retreat of the developmental State.

As important as expanding the share of manufacturing in total employment and value added is to strengthen its production and knowledge linkages to the rest of the economy.

However, export-led growth is today more difficult, due to the fallacy of composition, weaker demand in developed countries and weak productive linkages in enclave-type export-oriented activities.

Therefore, countries need to combine production for global, regional and domestic markets. TDR 2016 identifies some of the critical issues to be addressed in order to set in place structural transformation processes: Industrial policy is an essential tool for all countries. It does not consist only in supporting a number of key sectors to diversify and upgrade the economy, but also in the construction of linkages and capabilities to build a production base fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world, in which flexibility and policy space are key. @enock_x254

WEEKEND EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

ACCESS

12

LOVE

HEARING PEOPLE TALK SWAHILI, GIKUYU, I FEEL AT HOME Stella Mwangi has been on a journey of self-discovery, the avant-garde but incredibly down to earth rapper is a representation of all the cultures that have had a hand in crafting the artiste that she has come to embody.

XACCESS had a chance to catch up with her and this is what she had to say

H

ow did the idea for ‘Vaa Ki Afika’ come about?

The idea has always been there to introduce African fashion to Scandinavia. So Vaa Ki Afika is aimed at the Scandinavian market, see here we used to wearing dashikis and we are used to seeing everyone wearing them. So growing up in Norway and my experiences there with that in mind, the line was also a way of bringing understanding to African culture and our way of life.

What has the reception been like so far?

It’s been pretty good. We started off with urban hoodies with African prints and the big collection is coming out in September.

How would you describe your personal style?

It’s urban, casual, African [laughs].

How do you come up with your hairstyles?

I think that’s the beauty of being a girl you can just change up your hair anytime you want to. Sometimes it’s braids, sometimes it’s curly hair I just go with whichever mood I’m feeling at the time. You know how it is, you just enter a salon and see something you like and you’re like ‘give me this, I want to do that.’

What do you miss most about Kenya when you are in Norway?

Seeing myself. I see myself everywhere here. Hearing people talk Swahili, Gikuyu, I feel at home here that’s what I love most about Kenya. Although I grew up in Norway and speak the language fluently and I’ve adapted to the culture, still I don’t feel like niko nymbani, ni kwetu. Once I come here I feel [gestures] yes- here everyone looks like me.

Where do you get inspiration from while crafting music?

Just my feelings. What I’m feeling at a

particular time will influence my music and also what I want to say, what I want people to hear. Those two things, what I’m feeling and what I want to say are the inspiration for my music.

Your creative process, can you take us through it?

It always starts with me just freestyling, mumbling. Then I write down some guidelines and when I listen to the beat that’s when I start to flow over it. Things start to come together. It always starts with a freestyle, once I get the beat I freestyle even more then I’ll turn off the beat and write the lyrics. After I have all the lyrics in place that’s when I’m now ready to record.

Are there any African artistes that you haven’t worked with that you would love to get in the studio with?

There are so many! I’d love to do a song with Wyre, we’ve actually talked about it for a while. Ghana has really good reggae artistes, I really love dancehall and reggae so there are a couple from there that I’d love to work with. I have different sorts of styles and with this EP that I just dropped [Stella Mwangi] which is meant for the movie market it’s very danceelectro, moombahton and there are not so many artistes here who do that kind of music but of course there are many out there I want to work with.

Future plans?

I plan on releasing an album this year. Can’t say the name yet but there’s going to be a lot of new music this year.

What is the one thing fans would be surprised to know about you?

Last year I read the Bible from cover to cover! I was in a spiritual search, I was at that point where I wanted to sit down and actually read it to get a personal understanding of who and what God is. I also started reading the Quran too.

FACTFILE

Favourite movie: The Pursuit of Happyness Favourite rapper: Tupac Favourite Food: Githeri Hobbies: Watching comedies, reading books Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given: [By her dad] We all go through sh*t, we just have to come out clean! @christine_x254

Mwangi

Journeying to self-discovery

12

ACCESS

WEEKEND WEDNESDAY EDITION, 26th NOVEMBER JANUARY 6-8, 2014 2017

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GIG GUIDE SATURDAY

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HOT TOPICS Soulja Boy apologises after Chris Brown beef

SOULJA BOY

CHRIS BROWN

The 2017 fight that nobody asked for and nobody saw coming had become a murky affair. What started out as a simple, and needless exchange of words between the two popstars had been blown epically out of proportion. Soulja Boy initially commented on a picture that Chris Brown’s ex-girlfriend, Karrueche posted on her Instagram account which then led to Breezy spurring Soulja Boy on for a fight. More social media jabs were flung between the two which escalated to Soulja Boy getting into an actual fight with street goons while trying to show how ‘hood’ he was. After more back and forth between he and Brown, the ‘Crank That’ rapper issued an apology on his social media and attempted to explain his actions, “I just want to send an apology. I’ve been acting out, I’ve been wilding out. And at the end of the day, it’s not about who starts the beefs, it’s about who ends them,” he later adds, “I want to make music with Chris Brown, Yachty, Quavo, everybody.” He also apologised to his fans and the media for the flare up.

SOCIAL WHO: DJ Kelly, DJ Dan TIME: 7pm ENTRY: Sh.1000 advance, Sh.1500 at the door.

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It’s confirmed, Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill are done A

lthough the news of their split has been floating around in the blogosphere for weeks, it was yesterday confirmed that the rappers called it quits. “To confirm, yes I am single. Focusing on my work & looking forward to sharing it with you guys really soon. Have a blessed New Year. Love u,” the Anaconda rapper tweeted on Thursday.

There has been no word from Meek Mill’s camp yet, but the break up is said to have been ignited by an alleged affair Mill had with a ‘Philadelphia boutique owner’ that Minaj may have had an inadvertent stake in bankrolling. This entire episode could have been summed up in an Instagram post Nicki Minaj put up a while back with the caption, “Thank God u BLUE it. Thank God I dodged the bullet. I’m so over u. Baby good lookin out. #BestThingUNeverHad.”

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14

SPORT

WEEKEND EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017

President Uhuru grants Ailing Kadenge final wish

A

s the last chapter of a life begins to close, many times the person only has their family and personal dignity left, for Football legend Joe Kadenge, his Bucket list has been to see the President of the republic of Kenya.

Kadenge final wish came true on Thursday, January 5th. His has been a long time bucket list, an opportunity to see the President of the republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenya, and those before him, Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Moi, before his eventual demise.

Government officials from the Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts who visited the icon at his home confirmed Kadenge who was hospitalised on Boxing Day would have his moment with the Head of State on Thursday evening.

The iconic player continues to recover from home, one that has been accompanied by superstitions concerning his journey on his world, where he believes he doesn’t have the luxury of time.

Permanent Secretary for Culture Joe Okudo revealed the visit was an instruction from the President who wishes to see Kadenge in the coming days.

“It’s true that the President will see Kadenge. He heard his wish to meet him and that’s why I’m here, to see his state of affairs including his health so that we plan their meeting in two or three days’ time as Mzee had requested,” Okudo said.

Okudo, who was accompanied by the Director of Administration Weslus Ong’ayo said the Ministry is in the process of allocating a budgetary plan in the next financial year to set up an initiative to benefit the heroes from the past like Kadenge.

“The State Department in the Ministry is actually dealing with heroes, and there is an Act that is going to establish Heroes’ Council to look into modalities of how we deal with people identified as Kenyan heroes in a systematic way in the long term.

“This will help us avoid cases

of emergencies such as what Kadenge is going through,” Okudo underscored.

While thanking the President for the appointment, Kadenge 82, pleaded for Government intervention to bar the County Government of Nairobi from selling his house to a private developer.

“If a person has lived in a house for 50-60 years, how do you tell him to vacate it? It’s reasonable if a direction on how to buy the house in installments is given,” the former Harambee Stars player and coach urged.

According to Kadenge, he has lived in the house since 1963.

Former international Sammy Shollei appreciated goodwill from Kenyans around the country during the latest illness battle faced by Kadenge since he collapsed in a family outing on December 23.

“We have been receiving overwhelming messages from ordinary Kenyans to top leaders in this nation. Our aim is to get

Kadenge a health insurance cover.

We will also have a fund drive on Friday at the Kenya Railways Club to help us offset the Ksh 2 million hospital bill,” remarked Shollei.

Another initiative driven through WhatsApp that was started by Shollei two days after his hospitalisation in a Nairobi hospital has raised almost Ksh900,000.

The legend who played Abaluhya Football Club (today AFC Leopards) among other clubs, was rushed to Meridian Hospital in South B after

he was overcome by diabetes and high blood pressure on December 26.

He has been managing the condition that has grown delicate with time impairing his vision after Kadenge suffering stroke in 2006.

As the country works on the clock for the historic meeting, one begs the question, should our legends make wishes from their death bed to have an opportunity with the head of state? Where did we go wrong as a nation?

Nine-man Bilbao stun Barcelona in Copa del Rey Athletic Bilbao secured a first-leg advantage over Barcelona in their Copa del Rey last-16 tie despite finishing the match with nine men.

Two goals in three first-half minutes from Aritz Aduriz and Inaki Williams put the hosts in control against the 2016 champions.

Lionel Messi reduced the deficit from a free-kick after the break.

Messi also hit the post in stoppage time after both Raul Garcia and Ander Iturraspe had been shown red.

“We struggled at the start,” admitted Barca boss Luis Enrique.

“In the second half we concentrated more on what we could control, our play, and I think we did enough to deserve more, even taking into account Athletic’s numerical disadvantage.”

Forwards Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar started the match despite only returning to training on Monday after the winter break.

This is the sixth time Barca and Athletic have been paired together in this competition in nine seasons, including three finals.

No side other than Real Madrid has eliminated Barca from the cup since 2008.

Forward Artuz Aduriz sends the ball to the back of the net against keeper Adre Ter Stegen as nine-man Athletic Bilbao beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey round of 16 tie on Thursday night. PHOTO EPA

156,486,237 /= YOU WIN WHEN ALL 17 PREDICTIONS ARE CORRECT. MEGA JACKPOT IS EQUALLY SHARED AMONGST ALL WINNERS SMS TO 79079 : MJP#XNEWS#17 PREDICTIONS. E.G. MJP#XNEWS#1X2X1XX2212X1XX21

1. 07/01/2017 2. 07/01/2017 3. 07/01/2017 4. 07/01/2017 5. 07/01/2017 6. 07/01/2017 7. 07/01/2017 8. 07/01/2017 9. 07/01/2017 10. 07/01/2017 11. 07/01/2017 12. 08/01/2017 13. 08/01/2017 14. 08/01/2017 15. 08/01/2017 16. 08/01/2017 17. 08/01/2017

18:00 Colchester vs Carlisle 18:00 Hull City vs Swansea 18:00 Sunderland vs Burnley 18:00 QPR vs Blackburn 18:00 Blackpool vs Barnsley 18:00 Wigan vs Nottingham Norwich City vs Southampton 18:00 18:00 Bristol Rovers vs Northampton 18:00 Swindon Town vs Shrewsbury 18:00 Rotherham vs Oxford Utd 22:45 Real Sociedad vs Sevilla FC 14:30 Cardiff vs Fulham 16:15 Lorient vs Nice 16:15 Lens vs Metz 16:15 Toulouse vs Marseille 16:15 AJ Auxerre vs Troyes 17:00 Chievo vs Atalanta

2.72 2.51 2.44 2.40 3.34 2.46 3.31 2.14 2.14 2.45 2.33 2.72 2.88 2.47 2.47 2.56 2.66

3.41 3.31 3.18 3.25 3.45 3.26 3.31 3.43 3.43 3.30 3.41 3.41 3.14 3.04 2.99 2.98 3.09

2.51 2.78 2.97 2.98 2.12 2.89 2.19 3.43 3.43 2.87 3.08 2.51 2.41 2.89 2.94 2.82 2.87

winning combination:

2X221112XX111X211 15

ksh 472, 554 each ksh 52, 369 each

ksh 9, 076 each ksh 2, 304 each

955700 : 806

SPORT 15

WEEKEND EDITION, EDITION, JANUARY JANUARY 6-8, 6-8, 2017 2017 WEEKEND

Bad boy Ochomo signs with Homeboyz

Former Muhoroni Youth striker Wycliffe Ochomo has joined Kakamega Homeboyz on a two-year deal.

Homeboyz and Stima were locked in dispute on Tuesday over his signature but Ochomo clarified Homeboyz moved quickly to give him a lucrative deal with a Ksh750,000 signing on fee.

Ochomo, chrstened the bad boy of Kenyan football, netted 12 goals in the 2016 season despite falling out with his Muhoroni’s top management in mid-season and is aiming to clinch the Golden Boot that eluded him after missing the tail end of the season.

Meanwhile KPL side Western Stima have bolstered their squad with three new signings as they prepare for the 2017 season. Stima has secured the signatures of Wycliffe Nyangechi and midfielder Evans Kiwanuka from KPL sides Muhoroni Youth and Ushuru FC as well as keeper Gad Mathews from second-tier National Super League side Palos FC. Additionally, the club is in talks with KPL rivals Chemelil Sugar for their custodian Samuel Odhiambo to join the Kisumu-based side.

Stima have handed the new signings two-year deals each with the technical bench aiming at filling the gaps left by players who have left the club with a view of finishing among the top five in the KPL next season. Earlier reports indicated the shot stopper had agreed to decamp to Ingwe, who have released their regular starter Lucas Indeche in the ongoing cull at the Den.

WEEKEND EDITION, JANUARY 6-8, 2017 | WWW.X254.CO

HOMEBOYZ PART WITH KSH750,000 SIGNING ON FEE FOR P15 BAD BOY OCHOMO

Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez was yesterday night crowned Africa’s best footballer for 2016, in a season the Algerian guided his side to an historic English Premier League title.

PHOTO: EPA

Guardiola: First FA Cup tie with Manchester City will be ‘special’

Pep Guardiola says he is looking forward to a “special” first FA Cup game in charge of Manchester City in their third-round tie at West Ham. City face the Hammers at London Stadium on Friday night, live on BBC One. “The cup is special because the lower team can beat the big teams, which is why it is fascinating,” said Guardiola. “I’m looking forward to it, but of course it’s a Premier League game so it will be tough. We were unlucky in the draw.” West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said the tie is a “big game” for both sides and the fans.

“They will put out a very strong team because it is a big chance for them to get a trophy,” he added.

The game at London Stadium is the first of 32 third-round ties across four days this weekend.

INSIDE

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14

FINAL WISH FOR AILING KADENGE GRANTED

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15

ARITZ ADURIZ STUNS BARCA IN COPA DEL REY

Mahrez named Africa’s best player

L

eicester forward Riyad Mahrez has won the Confederation of African Football’s player of the year award.

The 25-year-old Algerian, who inspired Leicester to the Premier League title, is already the PFA Player of the Year and BBC African Footbaler of the Year.

Borussia Dortmund’s Gabonese forward PierreEmerick Aubameyang was second and Senegal and Liverpool striker Sadio Mane came third.

Arsenal and Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi won the young player award.

Countryman and Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho was in contention for the honour. The winner was decided by votes from the Head Coaches or Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF, members of the CAF Media Committee, members of the CAF Technical and Development Committee and a 20-member panel of experts.

Ugandan goalie, Denis Onyango won the African Player of the Year – Based in Africa 2016.

Onyango also wrote his name in African football

folklore, by becoming the first goalkeeper to scoop the award designed to reward players who ply their trade on the continent.

The 31-year old, whose exploits in the posts was critical to Uganda’s qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after a 39-year hiatus, and also starred in Mamelodi Sundowns’ conquest of Africa last year tallied 252 votes, 24 more than his club-mate, Khama Billiat of Zimbabwe. Zambian Rainford Kalaba finished third with 206 votes. Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala was named Women’s Player of the Year, ahead of Cameroonian Gabrielle AboudiOnguene and Ghana’s Elizabeth Addo. It was her second glory after 2014 in Lagos.

It was double delight for her as the Super Falcons were adjudged Women’s National Team of the Year following their record extending eighth title at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in December 2016.

There was more to come for Nigeria with striking duo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi picking up the Most Promising Talent and Youth Player

of the Year awards respectively.

Two more awards came the way of Sundowns, in Club of the Year and Head Coach, Pitso Mosimane, going away with the Coach of the Year. The Cranes historic qualification for the Total Africa Cup of Nations did not go unnoticed and were deservedly reward with the National Team of the Year gong.

Gambian Knight of the whistle, Bakary Papa Gassama also made his own piece of history after being decorated Referee of the Year for the third time in a row.

Following Guinea Bissau’s qualification to the Total Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017, their first for a major continental championship, Manuel Lopes Nascimento, President of Guinea Bissau Football Federation was named Football Leader of the Year.

Ivorian goal machine, Laurent Pokou, who passed away last November, was posthumously inducted as an “African Legend” together with Cameroonian Emilienne Mbango, one of the pioneers of women football on the continent.

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