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TUesday, FeBRUaRy 14, 2017 | www.x254.co

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NYS COHORT LISTING NOW SUSPENDED

MINISTRY SAYS MOVE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ALLOW IEBC CONCLUDE ITS VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS TO AVOID CONFUSION

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NEWS

BEATEN ULINZI TO SHIFT FOCUS TO RETURN LEG AGAINST AL BENGHAZI

STERLING STARS AS MANCHESTER CITY BEAT BOURNEMOUTH TO MOVE TO SECOND

Angry senators order CS to have doctors released Dr Mailu who promised to petition the Court of Appeal to have the jailed medics set free was also asked to step aside if he feels he cannot handle his ministry STORY ON PAGE 3

Kenyans in last minute rash to get registered

V Kenyans line to get registered with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission as voters at the Moi Avenue Primary school during the last day of the countrywide voter registration exercise today.

Photo:Gitobu Ikunda/Xnews

oter registration stations were busy today as Kenyans lined up in their typical last minute rash to get listed ahead of the August general election.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) yesterday ruled out any possibility of extending the month-long registration forcing many who had hoped there would be more time to troop at the registration booths.

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NEWS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

People line to get registered as voters at the Kenya Institute of Education in Nairobi today. PHOTO: G IKUNDA/ X

Kenyans queue to get registered as voters at the Ngara Post office in Nairobi today.

Kenyans in last minute rash to get listed as voter registration ends NEWS

PHOTO: G IKUNDA/ X NEWS

IEBC decries court decison

Kenyans queue at the Huduma center in nairobi to get registered as voters today. Many Kenyans trooped to various voter registration stations across the country to get listed as the registration exercise came to a close today.

PHOTO: G IKUNDA/ X NEWS

Voter registration stations were busy today as Kenyans lined up in their typical last minute rash to get listed ahead of the August general election.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) yesterday ruled out any possibility of extending the month-long registration forcing many who had hoped there would be more time to troop at the registration booths.

And they gave various reasons ranging from having been committed elsewhere to indecision for waiting until the last day to get registered.

“A month was too short to register. I

had limited time since am a business person,” said Pius Onyango who was waiting to get listed at the Huduma center in Nairobi.

He must have been pushed to act after IEBC’s firm reiteration that there would be no deadline extension for registration.

The electoral agency had cited limited time saying it is already behind schedule in as far as preparations for the coming elections are concerned.

“Our position is that we will not extend voter listing deadline. As far as we are concerned, we have listed enough voters,” IEBC chief executive Ezra

Chiloba said.

And has been predicted by some pollsters, Norman Mbure felt there was no need to cast his ballot as the evidence of voter apathy came to the fore.

“I was not convinced enough why I should register to vote for these greedy government,” said the father of two before adding that he now wants to get listed as he continues pondering on whether to cast his ballot in August or abstain.

His sentiments were echoed by Jackson Ndungu.

“I was not ready to vote but I decided to register so as I will vote for the leader

of my wish,” he told X News at the Huduma Center in Nairobi.

But it was a different excuse for Mary Muthoni.

“I thought the last day the queue won’t be long than previous days. I had no time to come and get registered,” she said.

The young Muthoni, probably in her early twenties expressed disillusionment saying she just made the decision to register today.

“I don’t think I need to vote for the greedy and merciless leaders we have.

I just made my decision today,” she added. @gikunda_x254

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says Monday’s quashing of a tender to supply election materials will have serious implications on the August General Election.

IEBC Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba says the ruling by Justice George Odunga means that all the decisions made by the commission in the last three months were in that sense null and void.

“His argument is that there was no Commission once the President declared the positions vacant. So it might as well mean that all decisions made in the last three months were null and void,” Chiloba told Capital FM News.

According to Chiloba, Odunga’s ruling on further interpretation, also means that all other decisions including on by-elections, ballot papers, audit, staffing, registration of voters, ICT and Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS) were also invalid.

“Just finished reading the 145 page judgement by Odunga on the ballot paper contract. Huge implications for next elections!

From Oct 6, 2016, Decisions on by-elections, ballot papers, audit, staffing, KIEMS, registration, ICT regulations… all NULL & VOID,” his tweets stated.

MORE ON THIS STORY www.capitalfm.co.ke

NEWS 3 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

NEWSBRIEFS

Judiciary to deal firmly with law breakers, says CJ Chief Justice David Maraga has said that the Judiciary will deal firmly with those who breach the law during this electioneering period.

Speaking during the official opening of Mpeketoni Law Courts in Lamu County, the Chief Justice said the judiciary will not allow the repeat of the 2007-2008 postelection violence.

“We are ready to handle electionrelated disputes and that it will punish those found to have disrupted peace over the election period. We do not want a repeat of 2007-2008. Kenya belongs to all of us and we must protect it,” the CJ told Mpeketoni residents Maraga assured the country that Judiciary will deal firmly and resolutely with election disputes and criminal offences.

The CJ asked ordinary Kenyans and politicians to observe law and order in the period before, during and after the August General Elections.

Justice Maraga advised residents to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution for less serious matters.

He said this would alleviate the problem of case backlog in courts and promote social harmony.

The Chief Justice however, the CJ cautioned police and litigants against resolving sexual offences and other serious crimes at home.

The CJ is set to open the new Garsen High Court that will bring to 39 the number of High Court stations in Kenya.

So far, only eight counties are without High Court stations.

The law requires the Judiciary to establish a High Court station in each of the 47 counties. @sam_x254

Minister to petition Appeal Court to have jailed medics released

Senators have today ordered Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu to do everything he can and ensure doctors’ union officials who were jailed yesterday are released.

The Senate Health Committee chaired by Migori Senator Wilfred Machage also ask Dr Mailu to resign if he feels he is unable to lead the ministry.

The development came after it emerged that the CS has been involved in serious infighting with his Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri.

“I hereby direct that you ensure your legal team work round the clock band to ensure jailed doctors are out by end of tomorrow and appear here again for progress report,” Dr Machage said in his ruling.

While Dr Mailu admitted to communication breakdown between him and his PS, he downplayed the infighting and instead called on the lawmakers to focus on resolving the matter at hand.

The bad blood between the top two Health ministry officials first came to light late last year following revelations that some Sh5 billion could have been squandered because auditors could not account for it. And it is said to have escalated with the ongoing doctors’ strike.

The CS had appointed Dr Muraguri to lead the ministry team in the negotiation with the striking doctors. But in a surprise turn of events, the PS wrote back to his boss on February 8 this year bolting out and subsequently appointing another officer in the ministry to take his place at the negotiation table.

Dr Muraguri has also been blamed by chief negotiators; Cotu’s Francis Atwoli and national Human Rights Commission for sabotaging the talks.

And while his boss concurred that his actions amounted to insubordination, Dr Mailu wanted the focus to remain with resolving the current stand-off with doctors. “You write a memo appointing the PS to the mediation team...then the PS writes another memo to you appointing another person to the team. Are you really in command of the ministry? A confused Dr Machage asked.

Nominated senator Godliver Omondi demanded that the CS resigns as he has failed to effectively run the ministry. “I’m not happy at all with you, people

Health CS Cleopas Mailu (center) when he appeared before the Senate committee of health earlier today. He promised to do everything to ensure jailed doctors are released.

have suffered under your ministry. I think you should just step aside,” said the senator.

Kakamega’s Bonny Khalwale said the doctors strike has prolonged due to the disunity between the CS and the PS. “If you’re unable to solve this problem then resign and pass this mess to another person because you’re embarrassing us as the doctors in this country,” Dr Khalwale said.

Dr Mailu regretted the jailing of the doctors’ union officials and vowed to do everything to ensure negotiations is resumed.

A stand in committee of the doctors union yesterday ruled out any talks with the government until their leaders are freed.

“It is sad that the doctors are in jail. We will do

whatever is possible to ensure negotiation is back to normal. There is need to see the leaders out to continue with the talks,” Mailu said. He explained that the sentencing had been occasioned by a contempt of court case filed by the governors and not the national government.

He also told the senators that much ground has been covered by the negotiating team as 90 percent of the content of the CBA had been agreed upon.

“We have tried our best as a government to end the strike. It is unfortunate that Kenyans are suffering and we need not to overemphasize that. Services at major hospitals have been affected,” he said. @sam_x254

Desperate last minute talks to save doctors Details have now emerged how the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) burnt the midnight oil in trying to secure a deal that would have avoiding the jailing of seven officials of KMPDU. Chairperson KNCHR Kagwira Mbogori yesterday revealed how they worked till 1am on Sunday just to avoid jailing the seven representatives of doctors by Justice Wasilwa.

“We held talks up to 1am on Sunday and had an acceptable draft recognition between Doctors and the 48 governments but the time lapsed and we could not conclude all the issues,” Mbogori said.

At a joint press conference yesterday, Mbogori revealed that they had solved over 90 percent of issues.

“As of Sunday, we had acceptable draft recognition agreements accepted by the parties with the county governments and other employer instutions. Further, efforts at re-working the entire Collective Bargaining Agreement were progressing well and about 90 percent of issues were settled and agreed between parties,” Mbogori said.

Although Mbogori refused to divulge finer details of the agreements made so far due to confidentiality issues, she affirmed that things were working on very well.

Following the jailing of the union officials for one year, it is still not yet clear who will now steer the talks on behalf of Doctors, but Mbogori affirmed that the negotiating table remains active. “We are hereby clarifying that the mediation table

remains active and the overnight meetings remain until there is white smoke,” Mbogori said.

COTU Secretary General who headed the mediation team accused health CS Nicholas Muraguri for being a stumbling block in ending the strike.

“There is a big tussle at Afya House between CS Mailu and Muraguri which must be solved first. Muraguri was appointed to lead the negotiations with officials of the doctors union but instead went to Nyeri for voter registration drive,” Atwoli said.

Atwoli also pointed an accusing finger to senior doctors whom he accused of misleading the union officials hence the hardline stance witnessed by the representatives of doctors. “The senior doctors in this country my son included are misleading the young doctors,” Atwoli said.

Atwoli said the union officials are too rigid in their demands and have rejected his proposal that they sign a return to work formula.

Political leaders criticised the jailing of the officials saying it has made things even worse.

“Rather than resolve the crisis in the health sector, the jailing of union officials deepens it and sets an extremely dangerous precedent.

It marks out the government as a dishonest and unreliable employer whose word, even in writing count for nothing. That has grim implications for resolving future conflicts between the government, employees and other entities, including the strike by university lecturers which is equally taking a bad turn as the government fumbles,” Cord leader Raila Odinga said. @sam_x254

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

NYS cohort listing now put on hold

The listing of cohorts under the National Youth Service (NYS) has been stopped until further notice after claims of possible interference with the ongoing mass voter registration exercise.

Public service, Youth and Gender Affairs Lilian Mbogo said the decision was arrived at after an incident in Runda yesterday raised concerns the month long registration had been compromised by the agency’s own cohort program.

“We have come into consensus with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to stop the program until after IEBC is done with voter registration,” she said.

She also refuted claims that NYS was illegally recruiting cohorts as voters saying the two exercises were completely different. “The biometric voter registration (BVR) kits seized yesterday use a onefinger scanner while that used by IEBC has a pad for the 5 fingers,” she added.

“We have invited all interested parties including the opposition to review how we capture our data,” she said.

The PS elaborated that the cohort

An NYS officer who was found registering people in Runda yesterday.

programe had 1300 entrants per constituency countrywide with the exception of Kisumu Central and Kibera which had over 5000 cohorts each.

“The registration was solely for the purpose of issuing beneficiaries smart cards through which their payments would be made,” Mbogo said.

Speaking during an audit of the BVR kits today, IEBC CEO also denied the claims of infiltration of their voter register.

“We do not have any interference between those used by the NYS in data collection and the IEBC registration,” Chiloba said.

He added that the kits were owned wholly by the Ministry of Devolution and were given to NYS when the agency fell under the ministry. The Runda incident elicited a storm after it emerged that an MCA allied to the Jubilee Party recruited voters from one community under the guise of the NYS cohort programme.

Karura MCA Kamau Thuo is alleged to have registered potential voters inside a PCEA church locked from inside in a move that angered residents.

Also present was Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra who said that the Opposition was not satisfied with the NYS’ defence that it was not using dubious methods to register the recruits.

“We have not released them yet. We are going to NYS and Huduma Centres to have the data checked and verified,” he said. @harrison_x254

Shun hate mongers, PS urges media The government has urged media houses not to provide platforms to politicians who spread hate speech as the country gears up to the general elections in August.

Information and Communication Principal Secretary Sammy Itemere said the government is currently monitoring all media outlets to ensure no one uses them to divide Kenyans through hate speech. “We are in a critical time as a country and I want to urge media houses to be agents of peace and not to allow politicians to use them as appropriate channels to spread hate messages,” Itemere said.

He was speaking during the celebration of World Radio Day yesterday in Nairobi during which he said all media houses must operate within the set guidelines. At the same time, he directed Media Council of Kenya to keep close eye on the 139 radio stations across the country to make sure that they also adhere to the guidelines.

Itemere said the close monitoring of the media houses this electioneering period is not meant to curtail freedom of speech as enshrined in the constitution. “We are just taking caution as a country and not necessarily limiting the space of media operation in the country,” Itemere said. @sam_x254

NEWS PICTORIAL

Senator in the wilderness: Murkomen searches for the elusive peace at the Marakwet-Pokot border 5

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lgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen was a busy man over the weekend. His county has witnessed serious security problems with lives lost especially in the Kerio Valley where there have been tribal clashes between the Marakwet

and Pokots. Those clashes are however not confined to the valley alone. There is bloodbath in the Highlands too where a man was brutally murdered last week in Sewes village of Marakwet East constituency. And together with area MP Kangogo Bowen,

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Murkomen visited the area to call for peace. That walk was laborious and draining as he found out.

From the pictures, a sweating Murkomen traverses the Kerio highlands on foot before he condoled with the family of

Mzee Loikwangayel who was killed by people he described as “trigger-happy” neighbors known to the locals and currently hiding somewhere in West Pokot County. “Murder so foul that was visited upon an innocent old man enjoying his bonus years

from the Almighty,” he wrote on his Facebook page. He later convened a peace meeting with locals after and attended a church service at St. Marys Catholic Church, Mungwa together with Mr Kangogo.

NEWS 5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Senior Trump advisor quits over Russia links Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has resigned over his contacts with Russia, the White House has announced.

Mr Flynn is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with the Russian ambassador before Mr Trump took office.

He is said to have misled officials about the conversation.

Earlier, US media reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House about the contacts late last month.

They said that Mr Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

Senior Democrats had called for Mr Flynn to be fired.

It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy, and the calls happened late last year before Mr Flynn was appointed to the administration.

In his letter of resignation, Mr Flynn said he had “inadvertently briefed the vicepresident-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador”.

A White House statement said Lt Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg had been appointed as interim replacement.

Mr Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, initially denied having discussed sanctions with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, and VicePresident Mike Pence publicly denied the allegations on his behalf.

However, Mr Flynn later told the White House that sanctions may have been discussed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Mr Flynn and Mr Kislyak did not discuss lifting sanctions.

Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Monday called for Mr Trump to

National Security Advisor, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, speaks during a news briefing in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington DC, USA, on February 1, 2017. Mr Flynn has resigned from his role. PHOTO: MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA

fire Mr Flynn, tweeting that he “cannot be trusted to serve America’s best interests and national security instead of Russia’s”.

Several House Democrats have called on Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz to launch an investigation into Mr Flynn’s ties to Russia.

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine said it would also be “troubling’’ if Flynn had been negotiating with a foreign government before taking office.

Mr Flynn, who was previously fired by Barack Obama as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, was an ardent supporter of Mr Trump during the campaign.

He became a close ally of both the president and his chief strategist, Steve Bannon.

He encouraged tougher policies on Iran and a softer policy on Russia, but questions

were raised about his perceived closeness to Moscow.

Retired Lt Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg has been appointed acting national security adviser, and is far from a newcomer to the Trump team.

He brings more than 30 years’ experience in the army, and served in Vietnam, Cambodia, Panama and the Gulf.

During the Iraq war, he helped manage the coalition authority running the country in 2003 and 2004, before working for a defence contractor, according to Bloomberg.

More recently, he advised Mr Trump on national security issues during his campaign, and went on to be appointed chief of staff in the new administration’s National Security Council.

Analysis of events leading to Michael Flynn’s resignation From inauguration to full-blown scandal punctuated by a high-level resignation in 24 days. That simply has to be some kind of record.

Donald Trump never does anything small. If his administration is going to have a political crisis, why waste any time?

From the day he was announced as Mr Trump’s national security adviser, there were concerns about Michael Flynn’s questionable contacts with Russia both before and after November’s election.

The ground crumbled beneath his feet only recently, however, after revelations that his conversation with a Russian ambassador included talk of US-imposed sanctions. The mortal blow came late on Monday, with reports that Obama-era government officials had warned the Trump White House about the details of these calls in January. Mr Flynn is known to have spoken with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak several times by phone in December. He denied they had discussed US sanctions with Vice-President Mike Pence also denying the claims on his behalf. Later, a spokesman for Mr Flynn then backtracked, telling reporters the adviser “couldn’t be certain” he had not discussed the sanctions. Yesterday, White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway said Mr Trump had “full confidence” in Mr Flynn before White House spokesman Sean Spicer later said the president was “evaluating the situation”. Hours later, Mr Flynn resigned.

Now Mr Flynn has been cut loose, but that may not be enough to staunch the bleeding.

Congressional Democrats - and perhaps some Republicans - will want to find out who was informed about Mr Flynn’s contradictory stories and why nothing was done earlier.

How far up the chain of command does it go?

All of this has some observers dusting off language from the mother of all presidential scandals, Watergate.

xnews | TUESday, FEBRUARY 14, 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

Kenya deepens Slovakia trade ties, boosts tea, flower sectors

Kenyan exports to the Slovakian market will increase following President Andrej Kiska’s State Visit to the country, President Uhuru Kenyatta has affirmed. The Head of State has said he is confident that relations between the two nations will support economic growth and help grow some of Kenya’s key industries.

“I note that trade between Kenya and Slovakia remains relatively low, and that the balance of trade favors Slovakia,” he said.

“That imbalance in trade can be remedied through structured consultations between Slovak and Kenyan entrepreneurs,” added Kenyatta.

President Kenyatta was briefing the press at State House, Nairobi after he held bilateral talks with Slovak President Kiska. The talks were also attended by Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs), Joseph Nkaissery (Interior), Fred Matiang’i (Education) and Najib Balala (Tourism) among others, focused on development cooperation, trade and investment.

As part of the efforts to make Kenya a preferred investment destination, President Kenyatta said his Government has undertaken a wide range of business regulatory reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business.

“With these advantages, I think it is clear that Kenya is a natural destination for Slovakia’s investment and trade, and I expect that there will be a followup meeting with government and the

“We view this as an important step in bridging the trade gap between our two countries. I am certain that relations between our two countries will only grow stronger,” President Kenyatta said noting that the two countries have a pre-existing relationship “We believe it is time to deepen that friendship. The visit by President Kiska

Wings to fly graduates to receive mechatronics training from German-run Krones Academy Six Wings to Fly graduates have received admission letters to enroll in a diploma course in Mechatronics at Krones Academy, a German-run Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institute. The graduates received their letters from the German Minister for Economic Co-operation and Development, Gerd Muller, at the Academy grounds in Ruiru.

While presenting the letters to the Wings to Fly graduates, Mr. Muller urged them to engage their heart and hands to secure their livelihoods.

“Young people like you have a strong brain to work theoretically and your hands to work in a practical way,” he said. He added that vocational education and training brings together the aspects of practical and theory to help in the development of a country. The Ruiru establishment is a public-private partnership initiative by the German Government, KfW (German Development Bank) and DEG (German Investment and Development Co-operation). Admission of the apprentices at Krones is part of an Africa-wide programme. Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Dr. James Mwangi - represented by Philemon Kibiru, Senior Manager for Learning and Mentorship Management Programme - urged the

scholars to maximise on the new opportunity granted.

“Remember that your efforts in the institution you are joining will determine your entry and success in furthering your education or entry into the job market. Make full use of Krones and its facilities to further discover, develop and exploit your talents and capabilities” said Dr Mwangi through Mr Kibiru.

“Given the high rates of youth unemployment, skillsbased training offers the fastest way to secure jobs and to advance in a technical skills-based career path. We have partnered in designing a program with several elements to ensure successful transitions through school and into the workplace,” read his speech in part.

This event came hot on the heels of the launch by Equity Group for nearly 3,000 Wings to Fly graduates of 2016 transitioning into various TVET Institutions countrywide. The programme is supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) and the German Government through its implementing agency KfW. The objective of the launch was to provide the Wings to Fly alumni (whether headed for further education, employment, or entrepreneurial opportunities) with life and employability exposure and skills. @kevin_x254

BUY SELL 103.5333 103.7306 129.2856 129.5611 110.0433 110.2839 7.7390 7.7606 34.5125 34.6748 21.4980 21.6355

Two Rivers Mall officially opens for business

Slovakia’s President Andrej Kiska (L) and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (R) walk after addressing journalists during a joint news conference at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, February 13, 2017.

Kiska is in Kenya for a three-day state visit to strengthen Kenya-Slovakia ties making him the first Slovakian President to visit the country.

EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU private sectors of both countries to establish new relationships as well as strengthen existing ones,” President Kenyatta said.

President Kenyatta said President Kiska’s tour of tea and flower production centres during his visit to the country will boost export of the commodities to the Slovak Republic.

MEAN 103.6319 129.4233 110.1636 7.7498 34.5937 21.5668

represents a milestone in our bilateral relations.”

On his part, the Slovak President said Kenya’s position as a gateway to the African market could not be overlooked, saying relations between Kenya and Slovakia are based on mutually beneficial partnership and shared experiences. @Dennis_x254

Shoppers from the Nairobi Central Business District and some parts of Kiambu are set to benefit from the arrival of a new retail, leisure and entertainment space after the Two Rivers Mall officially opened its doors to the public today.

Two Rivers Mall Board Chairman and Centum Director Dr. Chris Kirubi said the opening of the mall will not only cater to the needs of the shoppers but will also create thousands of job opportunities as well as spur the country’s economic growth.

“As much as we have reduced the distance shoppers will travel in search of a mall, we have also created over 10,000 direct and indirect job opportunities to our youths as this mall is the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa and we will not employ foreigners unless we experience a shortage of labour from within,” said Dr. Kirubi.

The mall boasts a diverse mix of both international and local brands, including some that are new to the region such as global fashion retailer LC Waikiki, Swarovski, Platform whose merchandise includes brands such as Zara, Attibassi Coffee, and Magic Planet, a leading indoor entertainment provider.

In addition, Two Rivers is also home to new local brands such as Nove Coffee Roasters and The Designer Studio. @enock_x254

Safaricom’s Spark Venture Fund announces investment in FarmDrive Safaricom Spark Venture Fund has announced its investment in FarmDrive, a data analytics startup that connects smallscale farmers to financial services and which seeks to use technology to address the global $450 billion (Sh46.7 trillion) agricultural funding gap.

FarmDrive seeks to address the lack of visibility and data that lenders cite in denying smallholder farmers access to financial services. FarmDrive’s goal is to bring millions of smallholder farmers into the formal financial sector through the simple mobile phones already in their pockets.

“Mobile-based technology solutions like FarmDrive can empower farmers with the critical access to finance and to help expand their access to other essential services,” said Safaricom CEO, Bob Collymore.

FarmDrive has developed an alternative credit-scoring model based on mobile phones and machine learning algorithms. It allows farmers to access financing using their phones.

The mobile phone application allows farmers

to track their revenues and expenses, and as well as apply for loans. The data is then fed into a credit-scoring algorithm, alongside key satellite, agronomic, economic data, to help improve yields.

By analysing these various datasets, the algorithm is able to generate credit scores for farmers. FarmDrive also develops decisionmaking tools that financial institutions can use to create products that fit the economic and agronomic needs of smallholder farmers.

FarmDrive becomes the fifth investment by the $1 million (Sh103.7 million) Safaricom Spark Venture Fund since its establishment in 2015. FarmDrive was co-founded in 2014 by Rita Kimani and Peris Bosire, both Computer Science graduates from The University of Nairobi. It was inspired by the co-founders’ experiences growing up in smallholder farming communities and has won numerous global awards. So far, 3,000 farmers have registered with FarmDrive and over Sh13 million (US$130,000) accessed in loans. @kevin_x254

BUSINESS 7

KRA to miss tax collection target due to doctors’, lectures’ strike

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is likely to miss its tax collection target this financial year over the ongoing lectures’ and doctors’ strike, an official from the authority has said.

According to the official who sought anonymity, the Authority is losing billions of shillings daily from the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions after the government said it will not pay workers who are on strike.

“We may not meet our set target this fiscal year due to the fact that doctors strike is entering its third month soon meaning we have lost billions from the ongoing doctors and lectures strike,” he said.

The hopes to end the doctors’ strike took a major blow yesterday after the labour court slapped the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) chiefs with a one month jail term.

Furthermore, lectures led by University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary-General, Dr. Constantine Wasonga have rejected a Sh10 billion counter-offer to university staffs saying it only means a 3 per cent increase on basic salary and 1.6 per cent on house allowances, sinking the hopes of ending the strike.

Aggravating the situation, University students yesterday gave the government a seven-day ultimatum to resolve the situation, warning that they woul join the strike if no moves are made, a move that will further slowdown businesses countrywide, affecting tax collection by the KRA. KRA’s conundrum comes at a time when government spending is projected to supersede revenue collections, a development that has

KRA Commissioner General John Njiraini speaks during a past event. prompted the National Treasury to look to international public debt to cater for the deficit.

The National Treasury is this week expected to table the national budget estimates to see how the government will finance its spending given the fact

that last year Sh2.3 trillion estimates tabled by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich were majorly funded by international debt.

Last week, the government said it was expecting revenue collection of Sh1.5 trillion up from its initial forecast of

Sh1.38 trillion last June.

The taxman says it is carrying out reforms that will ensure tax compliance and seal all loopholes used by tax evaders. @enock_x254

Increased sugar production in Kenya, Tanzania help lift Alteo profit to Sh2bn Mauritius sugar producer Alteo’s pretax profit rose 116 per cent to 1.36 billion rupees (Sh2.11 billion) in the six months to December 31 helped by higher sales and favourable prices, the firm said on Tuesday.

Alteo is the largest sugar miller on the Indian Ocean island. It also has interests in property development and hotels.

Enhanced production capacities in Tanzania and Kenya and higher sucrose levels in Tanzania and Mauritius led to increased sales, the firm said in a statement.

Alteo said group revenue rose to 5.57 billion rupees (Sh8.62 billion) from 3.98 billion (Sh6.16 billion) a year earlier. Earnings per share rose to 1.41 rupees (Sh2.18) from 0.47 rupees (Sh0.73.

The company said its Kenyan and Tanzanian operations should continue to show improving results in the third quarter as they will further benefit from above average cane yields and improving sucrose levels in Tanzania and relatively high prices in East African markets.

Alteo’s profit comes at a time when Kenya’s local sugar industry has been hampered by poor management and competition from cheaper exports.

Last October, Kenya won a two-year extension of sugar import limits from a regional trade bloc to give it more time to overhaul the country’s ailing sugar sector. At the time, it emerged that the government was selling shares in some of its sugar factories, hoping to bring in capital and the expertise needed to bring the sector back from the brink.

Kenya Railways receives 60 wagons for SGR track operations The Ministry of Transport, through Kenya Railways on Monday, February 13, 2017 received its first batch of wagons that will be deployed on the Standard Gauge Railway line once operations commence in June this year.

The consignment of 60 wagons arrived at the Port of Mombasa on February 10, 2017 aboard two ships and was offloaded yesterday under the supervision of the China Road and Bridge Corporation; the EPC contractor for Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway project, Kenya Railways engineers and the project supervisor, TSDI-APEC-EDON Consortium (TAEC).

This is the first batch of the one thousand six hundred and twenty (1620) wagons which will be used for movement of cargo between Mombasa and Nairobi.

Kenya Railways is very pleased that the rolling stock has started to arrive 106 days to the launch date which gives the Corporation reasonable time to start testing and commissioning in readiness for trial operations as it brings on board

the rail operator on June 1, 2017.

The wagons are a key deliverable under SGR as they are the means via which the high capacity Standard Gauge Railway will deliver the government’s promise to its customers, the cargo owners.

The network has the capacity to hold eight hundred and fifty (850) metres long trains moving at eighty (80) kilometres per hour. This is the fastest the trains shall have moved such an amount of cargo on this corridor, which helps cargo owners to maximise on economies of scale, better supply chain and logistics management which should eventually translate to lower cost of transport and logistics for the Country and the Region.

Kenya Railways has so far received eight (8) freight haulage heavy-duty locomotives for mainline use out of the total expected forty-three (43), two (2) shunting locomotives out of the eight (8) on order, two (2) passenger locomotives with another three (3) expected by May to complete the order and a total of thirty-two (32) passenger

coaches out of the forty (40) on order.

Kenya Railways Managing Director Mr. A. K. Maina said that the project is now in its final phase of construction and will soon be ready for operations.

He stated that the delivery of the locomotives and rolling stock is an important component for the SGR project implementation and that the Corporation is right on track in all factors that pertain to the project implementation, even as subsequent operations are set to commence in earnest.

The wagons received will play a vital role in enhancing transportation of bulk cargo in the country and will provide the kind of service that complements the existing demand.

The fleet of wagons includes the Gondola Wagon, the Container Flat waggon, the covered wagon and the general flat wagon. The wagons, which can load 70 tonnes, are designed for Standard Gauge Railway operations and are suited for loading and transporting commodities such as rolled steel

products, coal, ore, building materials, mechanical facilities and timber.

The wagons, which will aid in decongesting the Port of Mombasa and engineer a significant shift of bulk cargo to rail from road, come with improved technical performance and are able to operate at a commercial speed of

120 km/h. The waggons which feature light tare weight are reliable, easy to maintain and have a long lifespan.

Plans are at an advanced stage to bring on board the operations and maintenance team before the launch date of June 1, 2017. @kevin_x254

8

NEWS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

My Phone My Bank Do all your banking right on your phone

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Browse, SMS and make calls Make and receive calls, send SMS messages across mobile networks and access the internet at any time of day or night at affordable rates using your Equitel line. Whenever your airtime is about to run out, you can top up straight from your account. You can also buy airtime from Equity Agents.

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NEWS 9

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Pay for goods & services With EazzyPay, you can now pay for goods and services straight from your phone using your Equitel line for FREE and also access cash back services. So next time you go shopping, simply look out for an EazzyPay sign, at shops, supermarkets, airlines, petrol stations, hotels as well as online, to enjoy this service.

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10

BUSINESS

GCNK, NSE say gender equality will spur sustainable development TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK), in partnership with the Nairobi Securities Exchange, is seeking to raise awareness on the importance of gender equality to business and sustainable development. The United Nationsbacked body’s move is part of a drive to push for the implementation of the fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG5) that calls for gender equality.

Global Compact Kenya will join other networks around the world to celebrate the International Women’s day on March 8, 2017.

In celebration of International Women’s Day (8 March, 2017), over 40 stock exchanges around the world will join the UN Global Compact, Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative, UN Women, the International Finance Corporation, World Federation of Exchanges, and Women in ETFs in raising awareness about the importance of gender equality to both business and sustainable development. The aim is to have exchanges across the globe ring their market opening or closing bell to draw attention to the critical role business and markets can and must play in closing the gender inequality gap.

SDG5 seeks to end all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere as well as eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

It seeks to recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.

SDG5 also seeks to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decisionmaking in political, economic and public life.

Global Compact Network Kenya representative CEO Phyllis Wakiaga (Right) with Nairobi Securities Exchange CEO Geoffrey Odundo during the signing of the Code of Ethics for Business at the NSE offices on May 30, 2016.

The Global Compact Network was first launched in Kenya in 2005 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with five local businesses. It was re-launched in 2007 to allow for greater private sector ownership, this time in partnership with a trinity of leading private business organizations

in Kenya namely Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) & Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE). The secretariat is currently hosted at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.

The strategic objective of Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK) is to

spearhead and catalyze actions aimed at promoting good business practices by building capacity and awareness of ethics, integrity and Corporate Social Responsibility. @Dennis_x254

Total slashes portable solar lantern prices in Valentine’s Day promotion

Total Kenya has offered special discounts on its range of portable solar products as part of its Valentine’s Day offer to customers.

This is in line with its efforts to provide brighter, durable and healthier lighting given that Kenya has only connected about 5 million households to the electricity grid, which translates to about 60 per cent of the population.

The leading supplier of petroleum and gas products in the East African region has given discounts on the S2B and S20B Solar products as part of its broader strategy to promote clean energy.

“The Total Sola lanterns have greatly improved the quality of life for our customers. With nearly half of Kenya’s households not connected to the electricity grid and depending on alternative sources of lighting, our range of lanterns fill this void with cleaner and environmentally-friendly renewable energy without any running costs,” said Total Kenya Marketing Manager, Alban Tarneaud.

He said the firm has expanded its range of Total Sola to include S300, S20B, S2B and the D30 solar home system, all of which are available at all the Total service stations and other authorizeddistributor outlets countrywide.

Customers will get a discount of 8 per cent on S2B which will retail at Sh770 down from Sh850. Similarly, the customers will get a 9 per cent discount on S20B which will retail at Sh990 down from Sh1, 090.

The discounts will be offered at all 183 Total service stations countrywide during the promotion dubbed #ShareTheLove, which will run up to February 28, this year. The Total Sola range provides between 4 and 100 hours of uninterrupted lighting. @enock_x254

Reprieve for smallholder farmers as World Bank approves Sh25.9 billion fund for climate smart agriculture project The World Bank has approved financing of a Sh25.9 billion smart agriculture project in Kenya that aims to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate change risks in targeted smallholder farming and pastoral communities in the country.

The project, which will run for five years, will also finance the development of agro-weather forecasting and marketing information system and their dissemination tools through three sub-components.

“In the event of an eligible crisis or emergency, the project will also provide immediate and effective

response,” a statement from the World Bank said in a statement.

Sixty per cent of the financing will go towards rural services and infrastructure and water resource management.

The project, which was recently approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, has five components.

The first will include up-scaling climate smart agricultural practices, while the second component will involve the strengthening of climatesmart agricultural research and seed systems. The third component is the supporting agro-weather, market, climate and advisory services.

“This component will see work such as improving agrometeorological forecasting and monitoring; using big data to develop a climate-smart, agro weather and market information system and advisories among others,” the statement reads.

The fourth component is the project coordination and management.

According to the global lender, this component will finance activities related to national and countylevel project coordination and management, including developing annual work plans and budgets.

The move comes barely a year after the Government of Kenya launched an initiative dubbed the Kenya

National Agricultural Insurance Program, which was designed to address the challenges that agricultural producers face when there are large production shocks, such as droughts and floods.

Launched last March, the program, which is designed as a partnership between the government and the private sector, was developed with assistance from the World Bank Group and builds on the experience of similar programs in Mexico, India, and China. One program line will focus on livestock insurance, while another will focus on maize and wheat insurance.

“The large majority of the poor in

Kenya are farmers, so this program has the potential to have a significant impact on Kenya’s economic development. This program aims at improving farmers’ financial resilience to these shocks and will enable them to adopt improved production processes to help break the poverty cycle of low investment and low returns,” says Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Director for Kenya.

The two programmes come at a time when drought represents the single greatest cause of livestock mortality in the Northern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.

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

12

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

14

SPORT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Simbas down three places in latest rankings

Kenya are down to 24th in the latest rankings released by World Rugby yesterday.

The Simbas, whose last assignment was the 34-10 win over Hong Kong last August in Nairobi have 59.28 points and been overhauled by Germany who climbed to 22nd on 60.73 points courtesy of a shock 41-38 win over Romania in Rugby Europe Championship action on Saturday.

World Champions New Zealand remain top of the global rankings with 94.78 points. South Africa, at 6th, remains Africa’s highest ranked team followed by 19th ranked Namibia. Zimbabwe (37th), Senegal (39th) and Uganda (43rd) round off the top five continental teams.

The Simbas do have an opportunity to improve on their rankings when they play Uganda in Elgon Cup first leg in Kampala on June 10, 2017 before meeting the Rugby Cranes in the return fixture a fortnight later, a clash that also marks the start of the Africa Cup where fixtures against Tunisia, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Namibia are also lined up.

@amos_x254

Beaten Ulinzi Stars now shift focus to al Benghazi return leg Ulinzi Stars will not dwell on their 1-0 defeat to Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya in the first leg of their CAF Confederations Cup. Instead coach Benjamin Nyangweso is urging the soldiers to out rightly overturn the score line so that they can advance to the first round of the of the 2017 competition. The return leg will be played on the 25th of February at the Kasarani Stadium.

In the first leg played behind closed doors at the Cairo Military Academy Stadium in Egypt, Ulinzi went down to Ahmed Abar’s strike early in the second half in a match the

bemoaned poor officiating.

“Towards the end of that match we played really well and did try to score by attacking constantly. That is how we will approach the second leg and probably get early goals,” Nyangweso said.

The coach admitted missing the services of last season’s top scorer John Makwatta who is currently with the All Stars team that will play English Premier League side Hull City next week in the UK. The striker’s absence ‘was a huge miss’ according to Nyangweso who wants his team to cope.

“In such fixtures you need your best players. We did miss him, however credit to my

team for they played really well,” Nyangweso stated.

Ulinzi will need to win the return leg by a margin of more than two goals to advance to the first round.

If they advance, Benjamin Nyangweso’s charges will have another trip to Egypt where they will be lined up against Smouha. @amos_x254 Ulinzi Stars head coach Benjamin Nyangweso

SPORT 15

Sterling performance as City move to second TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Manchester City moved up to second in the Premier League with a hardfought victory over Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium.

Having started on the bench again, City striker Sergio Aguero appeared after just 14 minutes following an injury to Gabriel Jesus.

But it was Raheem Sterling who grabbed the opener from close range on the half-hour mark, having been denied by a brilliant Artur Boruc save two minutes before.

The hosts thought they had replied immediately, but Joshua King’s strike was ruled out for pulling John Stones’ shirt in the build-up.

Harry Arter’s curling shot stretched City goalkeeper Willy Caballero into a fine save, before Tyrone Mings put City’s second into his own net under pressure from Aguero.

Leroy Sane rattled the bar late on, as City extended their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

The win means Pep Guardiola’s side jumped three places in the table to emerge as Chelsea’s closest challengers after the leaders dropped points at Burnley on Sunday.

“We made a real performance. I am so pleased with how we did and especially the last 10-15 minutes, we did the right way to make the result with a thousand million passes. It is important to score goals, we are in deficit but it is OK,”

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates with teammates Sergio Aguero and Fernadinho after scoring during their Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth at the Vitalitiy stadium, last night.

PHOTO: GERRY PENNY/EPA

Guardiola said.

City are now eight points adrift of Chelsea - who they face at Stamford Bridge on 5 April. They will take inspiration from their title-winning team of 2011-12 when they clawed back

the same deficit on rivals Manchester United - on that occasion with just six games remaining.

This time they have 13 games in which to do it as former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola looks to win a

955700

top-flight domestic title for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.

The Spaniard’s pacy wingers were the difference last night, as Sane’s fleetfootedness set up Sterling for his sixth league goal of the season, before

the England forward showed superb trickery to beat a defender and force Mings into a costly mistake, after pressure from Aguero.

The Argentine, who failed to start for the third consecutive game, was sent on after Jesus turned his ankle in the opening minutes.

The win left Bournemouth in big problems. Eddie Howe’s men have not won a game in 2017, extending their winless run in all competitions to seven games.

Their main worry is in defence, having conceded at least two goals in each of their last 10 games, yet at the other end they tested Caballero just once in this game.

To make matters worse, the Cherries have picked up just one win from their last nine games and had midfielder Jack Wilshere and defender Simon Francis go off injured in the first half.

“City were very good. For an away team that was a very controlled performance.

Our lads gave absolutely everything, I can’t ask any more of them,” Howe said after the match.

In their second ever season in the topflight, Bournemouth are 14th in the table, six points above the relegation zone. With Swansea and Hull showing improvement, the south coast side could get dragged into a fight for survival should their poor form continue.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

NEYMAR OUT AS BARCELONA HOST ATLETICO MADRID IN KINGS CUP

P 14

Injured Gotze to miss Dortmund trip to Benfica

Injured Mario Gotze has not been included in the Borussia Dortmund squad for tonight’s Champions League last-16 first leg at Benfica.

The midfielder, 24, is struggling with a leg injury that kept him out of Dortmund’s surprise 2-1 defeat at Bundesliga bottom side Darmstadt.

Skipper Marcel Schmelzer and Lukasz Piszczek, who missed the Darmstadt defeat with injury, are available.

Eduardo Salvio could return for Benfica after recovering from an ankle injury.

However, Brazilian striker Jonas is a doubt after missing Monday’s training session.

Dortmund’s form has faltered since December, with the German side winning just two of their previous nine games in all competitions.

They have only lost once in that time - Saturday’s defeat by Darmstadt but Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel is hoping for a convincing win in Portugal to revive their campaign.

“We were simply a long way below our limit and we have to admit Darmstadt deserved to win,” he said.

“In all honesty, we come into our own when it’s a 50-50 game.”

Dortmund eliminated Benfica in the 1963-64 European Cup first round, their only previous encounter. They lost 2-1 in the first leg, but won 5-0 in Germany to win the tie.

They generally have an upper hand against their opponents tonight who have won only one of their last 15 European Cup/Champions League encounters with German clubs (D5 L9), it was against Kaiserslautern in November 1998.

INSIDE

p

15

Sterling performance lift City at Bournemouth

Angel di Maria of PSG

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi

Champions League is back Europe’s elite club competition, the Uefa Champions League returns tonight with Barcelona taking on French Champions PSG in Paris.

The clash at the Parc des Princes provides PSG coach Unai Emery with the chance to improve his poor record against the Spanish Champions.

Emery who was previously at Sevilla has won only once against Barcelona in 23 attempts with the win coming in a La Liga fixture last season.

And while PSG 3-2 in the competition’s group stage in 2014, their overall record against the 2015 winners remains inferior. Lionel Messi and co. have won their last three games against Paris St-Germain scoring eight goals and conceding just two.

The Parisian club also has the dubious record of never managing a clean sheet against Barcelona in nine games in all competitions.

These two sides met at the quarter-final stage in 2015, with Barca progressing after a 5-1 aggregate victory, while the Catalan side also progressed past the French team on away goals in 2013.

Luis Suarez scored a double including the famous nutmeg on David Luiz (now at Chelsea) while Neymar was also on target after a brilliant lay off from Messi.

But that could be history as there is new confidence at the Parc des Princes with a fine start in 2017 that has seen them win 10 games and draw just one in all competitions.

“Obviously it’s talked about in the dressing room, but each year it’s different,” said PSG winger Angel di Maria.

“It’s a new era, with new players and it’s a new opportunity for everyone,” added the Argentine winger. Paris St-Germain are boosted by the

return to action of midfielder Marco Verratti, who had been out with a calf injury. The Italian played an hour in Friday’s 3-0 win over Bordeaux, but fellow midfielders Thiago Motta (suspended) and Javier Pastore (injured) are out.

Barcelona may recall defender Gerard Pique for the tie. But full-back Aleix Vidal is out for five months with an ankle injury.

Neymar travel to Paris with an enviable record having scored five goals in four games against their opponents tonight, his highest tally in the Champions League. He is the top goal creator in this season’s competition with seven assists.

PSG also hopes that their talisman, Edinson Cavani who has scored six goals in as many games in the Champions League this season, breaks his hoo doo against Barca. He has never scored in 350 minutes of Champions League action against the Catalans.

Published By Xtra Publishing Limited, Chancery Building, Valley Road, Nairobi | Printed at The Standard Group Centre, Mombasa Road, Nairobi.

Paul Marshall-CEO, Fred Bunei-Finance Manager, Josiah Musee-Advertising Manager, Peter Obuya-Editor