201702020 xnews

MOnday, FeBRUaRy 20, 2017 | www.x254.cO

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EVEN A DEAD MUGABE CAN STAND, WIFE SAYS GRACE MUGABE SAYS ZIMBABWEANS LOVE HER HUSBAND SO MUCH THAT THEY WOULD STILL VOTE FOR HIM EVEN IF HE WERE DEAD PROVIDED HIS NAME IS ON THE BALLOT

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NEWS

TUSKER GO DOWN IN MAURITIUS FOR AN EARLY EXIT OF THE AFRICA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

New Poll predicts Uhuru, Raila presidential re-run

President Uhuru Kenyatta will have to face opposition chief Raila Odinga in a runoff vote if elections were held today, a new poll suggest.

In the survey whose results were released today by Ipsos, Mr Kenyatta would garner 47 percent of the votes against Mr Odinga’s 30 percent. That means Kenyans would have to return to the ballot to decide who between the top two becomes the country’s chief executive.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Vision 2030 boss hails new education curriculum

The new education system set to be implemented from May this year has been hailed as a significant departure that will eventually reduce the high unemployment rate in the country.

Vision 2030 Director General Julius Muia has said that the implementation of the education reforms will see more youths acquire diverse business skills and valuable hands-on experience that is uniquely innovative to enable them tackle the most pressing daily challenges.

“We foresee a future where more youth are armed with diverse business skills and valuable hands-on experience that is uniquely innovative to enable them tackle various challenges,” Dr Muia said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

SPARKLING GARETH BALE SCORES ON REAL MADRID RETURN FROM INJURY

Off the hook MPs Moses Kuria and Ferdinand Waititu acquitted of hate speech charges due to lack of evidence

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atundu South MP Moses Kuria and his Kabete counterpart Ferdinand Waititu have today been acquitted of hate speech charges they were facing in court.

Nairobi Magistrate Charity Oluoch who acquitted the two said her decision was due to lack of evidence.

Kuria and Waititu were facing incitement to violence charges having been accused of uttering words tantamount to bring death to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

They however denied committing the charges at Kasarani during Njogu wa Njoroge’s thanksgiving service where they spoke in their native Gikuyu. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

MPs Moses Kuria (right) leaves the Milimani Law Courts with his Kabete counterpart Ferdinand Waititu after attending the mention of a case against them. The two have been acquitted of hate speech charges today.

PHOTO: COURTESY

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NEWS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Poll predicts Uhuru, Raila run-off From Page 1

One needs to win at least 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast in order to be declared an outright winner. The Ipsos survey which was conducted between January 9, 2017 and January 26, 2017 had a sample size of 2057 respondents randomly selected from the country’s urban and rural settings.

IPSOS lead researcher Tom Wolf was quick to point out that the findings of the survey were inconclusive as a lot could change between the period the survey was done and the August General Elections.

“We don’t know who the presidential candidates who will contest are yet especially from the Opposition coalition NASA/CORD,” he said.

The National Super Alliance (NASA) four coprincipals - Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) are this week expected to sign a coalition agreement that will front one of them to challenge President Kenyatta.

Wolf also added that the survey did not limit respondents to registered voters only as the mass voter registration exercise that concluded yesterday began a week after the start of the survey.

He clarified that the survey was devoid of political interference saying it was an in-house undertaking without party funding.

Uhuru’s strongholds are in Central, Rift Valley and North Eastern provinces while Raila would receive the lion’s share of votes in Nyanza, Coast and Western, the survey noted.

The president enjoys 63% confidence in respondents sampled while the former premier has 51% confidence level.

Reasons given for Uhuru’s lead include the government’s development efforts especially in infrastructure and energy sectors citing the ongoing Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the

Ipsos Kenya lead researcher Tom Wolf. A new poll by the firm says President Kenya might go to re-run with opposiytion chief Raila Odinga if elections are held today.

Last Mile Electricity Connectivity program.

56% say that the president was honest in the fight against corruption with a quarter of those who doubted his anti-graft stance saying they would not give him a second stint at State House.

83% of respondents rated the Sh1.6 billion scandal at the National Youth Service as the worst followed by the Sh3 billion scam at the Ministry of Health at 24%.

One in every five respondents remain undecided on which coalition to support with majority of them coming from the Western region.

The survey comes hot on the heels of another one conducted by the same firm which showed that Kenyans would vote out 60% of their members of parliament. @sam_x254

Vision 2030 boss hails new curriculum From Page 1

He pointed out that the ongoing roll out of digital learning devices to primary school pupils and focused attention on vocational training institutions will reduce the number of unemployed youth by giving them a source of livelihood and boost industrialization.

Muia said the new education reforms will herald a new era of highly skilled and youthful workforce that is suitably equipped to support their own survival and prosperity as well as anchor a consistent growth for the economy.

He added that the implementation of the reforms will accelerate the Government’s efforts of transforming Kenya into a knowledge-based, upper middle-income and industrialized nation.

Government has resolved to do away with the theory-heavy 8-4-4 system in favour of a practicaloriented 2-6-3-3-3 from May this year.

“This is aimed at equipping learners with competent skills that are necessary to meet the human resource needs of our nation as spelt out in the Vision 2030 blueprint,” noted Dr Muia.

Over the last four years, the government has spent over Sh7 billion in the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. As result, the number of TVETS has increased from 79 to the current 121.

At least 32 TVET institutions have been fully equipped with the necessary materials to support practical lessons while 43 others are still being equipped with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) amounting to Sh9 billion. To improve the capacity of TVET institutions and enhance the learning outcomes, at least 40 institutions have been connected to the internet through fibre optic. Also, smart classrooms have been established in 10 institutions to boost access to TVET programmes.

“With more young and skilled workforce, we expect to see lower crime and drug abuse rates as youthful workers shift focus to other productive @sam_x254 areas of economy,” he said.

Kuria, Waititu acquitted in hate case From Page 1

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And the Magistrate ruled that the English and Kiswahili translations provided as part of the evidence in the case were incorrect.

In her ruling, the magistrate concluded that the video content of the evidence adduced in court could have been altered or edited.

“The source of that video clip is not known as it was uploaded on YouTube by unknown persons,” she pointed out.

Other leaders arrested with them at the time were Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, Timothy Bosire of Kitutu Masaba, Kimani Ngunjiri of Bahati and Women’s representatives Aisha Jumwa and Florence Mutua of Kilifi and Busia respectively.

Junet and Mutua had threatened to storm the office of the Inspector General of Police unless Kuria and Waititu were arrested and charged for their utterances while Muthama was accused of making similar threats on June 11, to storm the IG’s office.

Ngunjiri on the other hand uttered words that members of the Luo community should vacate Nakuru and go back to Kisumu.

Bosire had allegedly said President Uhuru Kenyatta had failed to unite the Republic and that chaos would erupt, as Jumwa was accused of saying that there would be no peace following remarks by Kuria.

The other legislators are yet to know their fate.

Previous cases of hate speech have suffered the same fate for a lack of or weak evidence.

On January 27, a Nairobi court dropped hate

speech charges against Kiambu Governor William Kabogo for lack of evidence.

Like Kuria and Waititu, Governor Kabogo was taken to court for allegedly making disparaging remarks against Mr Odinga.

MPs Moses Kuria and Ferdinand Waititu after they were acquitted of hate speech charges.

NEWS 3

n SPECIAL REPORT

Agencies have failed in the war against graft Bodies tasked with fighting corruption in the country have failed in their mandate, a new study suggest.

A research conducted by Centre for Multi-party Democracy (CMD) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) indicates that the agencies have failed to coordinate in order to curb the vice.

All the correspondents polled in the interview across ten counties of Bomet, Kisumu, Migori, Nakuru, Machakos, Meru, Kilifi, Kakamega, Transnzoia and Kiambu gave a negative verdict.

A total of 600 respondents participated in the town halls meetings.

They mentioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, National Police, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the Judiciary, Office of the Controller of Budgets, Office of the Auditor General, Kenya National Commission of Human Rights, National Gender and Equality Commission, The Ombudsman, National Assembly and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission as the main institutions to take responsibility for the prevalence of voter bribery in the country. However there are still concerns as to whether the citizens themselves have a good understanding of the mandates of these institutions and how they can engage with them.

The report which is set to be released officially this Friday indicate that in Bomet County, 50 percent were of the opinion that the institutions are not playing their role with only 22.73 agreeing that they are doing a good job.

In Kakamega 47.62 expressed their displeasure with the agencies with 67.50 percent of Kiambu respondents agreed that the institutions are not playing their role in curbing voter bribery. In Kilifi, 71.77 percent of the respondents institutions not playing their role while Kisumu had 65 percent. In Machakos, 70.22 percent of the respondents said the institutions have failed to deliver.

In Transnzoia respondents were split with 43.64 saying the institutions are not playing their role while 43.63 answered in the affirmative.

Speaking in Naivasha over the weekend, Centre for Multi-Party Democracy Executive Director Carey Onyango said EACC chairman Eliud Wabukala might succeed in enforcing the integrity part of dealing with corruption due to his religious background.

“Wabukala is confronting this issue of corruption using the integrity side as opposed to directly deal with individuals,” she said.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Kenyans love bribes and have no problem with it - survey

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majority of Kenyans love taking bribes from politicians and have no problem with the practice despite knowing it is a crime, a new survey indicates.

The research conducted by Centre for Multi-party Democracy (CMD) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) shows that 56 per cent of Kenyans had received bribes from aspirants before elections to vote for them.

The survey shows that 56 percent of Kenyans admitted to having received bribes from politicians.

The report which is set to be released officially this Friday indicates that cumulatively, 85 percent of Kenyans are aware that receiving bribes from politicians is a crime.

The respondents who were interviewed across ten counties also expressed awareness that receiving bribes increases the level of corruption in the country.

A total of 600 respondents participated in the town hall meetings in carried out in Bomet, Nakuru, Kisumu, Migori, Machakos, Meru, Kilifi, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia and Kiambu counties.

In Machakos and Meru counties for instance 95.75 percent and 93.65 respectively of the respondents are aware that voter bribery is a crime but still participate in it “It was clear that voter bribery influences how the people vote and results in people electing leaders who are evidently corrupt, by having bribed the voters in the first place and are likely to sustain the very nature of being corrupt even after being elected,” the report states.

The bribery according to the survey findings, is carried out in the form of making payments to persons who attend political meetings by giving them transport, handouts and distributing branded merchandise in the name of “campaign materials”. he survey was conducted over a period of three months between April and July 2016 with the findings compiled in December.

“It involved mobilising the electorate, local political aspirants, party officials and opinion shapers,” said CMD executive director Carey Onyango. Dr Onyango was speaking in Naivasha over the weekend during a retreat meeting with journalists who were taken through the key highlights of the report.

Aspirants argue that if they do not give bribes, their opponents will do and get undue advantage over them in the elections, the report adds.

Aspirants equally believe that voter bribery is one of the ways towards winning an elective

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Kenyans at a past rally at Uhuru Park. A new survey suggests a majority of Kenyans are okay with bribery especially when politicains are out seeking for their votes. BELOW: A man cast his ballot during a past election.

PHOTO: COURTESY

seat. Other reasons given out by the respondents according to the report are that citizens themselves demand to be bribed. They also tend to choose those with money thinking

they are best suited to care for them once elected.

Politicians found bribing voters have always changed the narrative to make the issue political rather than an integrity matter hence deterring institutions such as EACC and IEBC to deal with the vice decisively.

Poverty level, Mtu wetu (our man) syndrome, low income levels among citizens especially the youth who are not engaged in any economically gainful activity hence would take any slightest opportunities to receive money from aspirants. isumu County had the highest proportions of respondents agreeing that voter bribery is a crime at 76.09 percent followed by Kakamega at 73.91 percent while Kilifi had the lowest at 58.46 percent. Persons who mostly engage in voter bribery were identified

K

as political party leaders, political aspirants, political party agents and even the voters themselves.

Forms of bribery according to the report include frequent harambees during the preceding period of elections and campaigns, high rate of payment of school fees, hospital bills and funeral expenses during the period preceding the elections especially to families that were never supported by the politicians in anyway in the past.

Other forms include making promises of rewards of rewards such as jobs and tenders, distributions of clothing such as lessos, T-shirts, paying opinion polls and influencing the process and results of the opinion polls. “When voters are aware that that the voter bribery is a crime and they still engage in it, it implies that a lot more of voter education and engagement sessions need to be held across the counties so that the situation progressively changes,” the report recommends.

Issue of voter bribery according to the survey is likely to continue even in the forthcoming August 8, elections this year. @sam_x254

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NEWS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Lobbies call for hastened talks with doctors

The Civil Society Reference Group (CSRG) has called on parties involved in brokering a deal with the striking doctors to hasten the process and avert the suffering of Kenyans in hospitals.

They have asked the government, the Council of Governors and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU) to make optimal use of the opportunity accorded by the Court of Appeal to resolve all the doctors issues.

The group has called on the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) that is jointly mediating the talks with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), to remain alive to the unbearable suffering of the general public even as they pay attention to the legitimate grievances that the striking doctors have raised and midwife an amicable solution to the impasse at the earliest time possible.

“We appeal to all stakeholders concerned to make use of the window of opportunity accorded by the Court of Appeal and resolve all issues for which doctors in public hospitals have been on strike for more than two months and alleviate the suffering of the majority of Kenyans who cannot afford the high cost of medical services in private hospitals,” the lobbies said in a statement. º“We call on all parties to the dispute, particularly the national government, to realize that when a strike by doctors who provide such essential services is allowed to fester as it has happened, the whole country and its vulnerable population is left at the mercy of epidemics,” they added.

State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu yesterday said the national government is concerned about the situation and will do everything possible to facilitate the finding of a solution. “The government has been committed and will remain committed to negotiation process and will provide any kind of assistance needed to find a solution,” Esipisu said yesterday at State House.

Admissions scam rocks NYS The National Youth Service (NYS) is currently conducting an internal investigation to determine how 2,238 recruits joined its ranks illegally.

In a statement, NYS Director General Richard Ndubai who admitted that they were provided with months of paramilitary training, described them as imposters and stated that the fraudulent methods used to gain access to the service were criminal.

He indicated that a probe into the incident revealed that these were not part of the 7,638 recruits who genuinely qualified to join vocational training programmes of NYS. “In the year 2015, a total of 10,000 plus young men and women qualified to join NYS for the six months paramilitary training programme. Of those, 2,238 are total strangers to both the paramilitary training and the service that ideally should qualify them to join vocational training programs,” he stated.

He observed that this is a case of gross impropriety on the part of those who aided the recruitment and the beneficiaries.

There had been fears that the dishonorable discharge of the paramilitary trained recruits would make them resort to using their skills in crime.

The Director General however explained that this was not an excuse to allow them to continue in the service despite being tainted.

“To argue that since the 2,238 are already enrolled and they should be allowed to proceed with their training is formalizing impropriety and abetting in a manner that has all the hallmarks of a criminal enterprise,” he said.

He further stressed that it would go contrary to the reforms being undertaken at NYS. “To ask that that the fraudulent beneficiaries be allowed to continue with the training in order to ensure they do not veer into criminal behavior at a time when NYS is undergoing a comprehensive

NYS youths during a past clean up in Mathare slums. PHOTO: CAPITAL FM

cleanup is akin to chasing a rodent escaping from a burning house at the expense of saving the occupants and property therein,” he said.

He emphasized that nothing will stop the ongoing purge at NYS since Kenyans expect and deserve no less.

According to Ndubai 8,642 recruits passed out last year after satisfying the requirements of the NYS paramilitary training.

Out of these, it has emerged that 784 of those who passed out on December 19 last year at a ceremony presided over

by President Uhuru Kenyatta had “not

been admitted to any vocational training programme much as they qualified and therefore deserve to have been enrolled.”

It has also emerged that out of the over 10,000 recruits currently in the camps, only 7,638 went through the correct recruitment process carried out in May. New recruits are only admitted to the Gilgil Camp after they produce a letter of admission which is counter-checked with government records and an original ID. MORE ON THIS @ www.capitalfm.co.ke

Even a dead Mugabe can still stand in elections, wife says

Zimbabwe’s First Lady Grace Mugabe talks with her husband at a rally in Harare last year. PHOTO: COURTESY

The wife of Zimbabwe’s 92-yearold President, Robert Mugabe, has said that he is so popular that if he died, he could run as a corpse in next year’s election and still win votes.

Grace Mugabe, 51, was addressing a rally of the governing Zanu-PF party.

Mr Mugabe has governed Zimbabwe since the end of white-majority rule in 1980 following a bitterly fought war.

His wife, who has often professed her undying loyalty to her husband, has assumed an increasingly high profile.

“One day when God decides that Mugabe dies, we will

have his corpse appear as a candidate on the ballot paper,” Mrs Mugabe told the rally in Buhera, south-east of the capital Harare.

“You will see people voting for Mugabe as a corpse. I am seriously telling you - just to show people how people love their president.”

President Mugabe has been backed by his party to stand again in next year’s election, but recently cut back on his public engagements.

Grace Mugabe has warned contemporaries of Mr Mugabe from the guerrilla war era that they are not in a position

to replace him because they likewise would be too old.

“Anyone who was with Mugabe in 1980 has no right to tell him he is old. If you want Mugabe to go, then you leave together. You also have to leave. Then we take over because we were not there in 1980,” she said, gesticulating towards herself.

Last September, the president was rumoured to have died after he reportedly cut short his attendance of an AU summit to fly to Dubai for a health check.

Mr Mugabe later joked about the rumours, saying he indeed died but was only resurrected.

NEWS 5

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

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NEWS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

NEWS PICTORIAL ECUADOR ELECTIONS: Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa shows his voting certificate as he casts his vote for the general elections in Quito, Ecuador, yesterday. A total of 12.8 million voters are entitled to participate in the elections where Ecuadorians are electing a succcessor of the current president, Rafael Correa, as well as the 137 legislators of the National Assembly and five representatives to the Andean Parliament. PHOTO: ROLANDO ENRIQUEZ/EPA

SELFIE MOMENTS WITH THE POPE:

Pope Francis is photographed during his pastoral visit to the Parish of Santa Maria Josefa of the Heart of Jesus in Rome, Italy, yesterday. PHOTO: GIORGIO ONORATI/EPA

MONKS CLASH WITH POLICE: Thai Buddhist monks of Dhammakaya Temple and their supporters scuffle with police officers outside the temple in Pathum Thani province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, today. At least two policemen and several monks and their supporters were injured in a clash after Thai law enforcement and authorities issued a statement demanding all laymen and Buddhist monks to leave the temple as part of its raiding plans to apprehend Dhammakaya Temple abbot Phra Dhammachayo, who is charged with alleged land encroachment, money laundering and the embezzlement of funds received from the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.

PHOTO: RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA

US DEMOS:

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi addresses journalists during a joint news conference with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (not pictured) at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday. El-sisi was in Kenya for a state visit to strengthen Kenya-Egypt ties. PHOTO: DANIEL IRUNGU/EPA

Opponents of US President Donald Trump protest during the ‘Free the People Immigration March’ in Los Angeles, California, USA, over the weekend.

Thousands of protesters opposed to Trump were met by about a dozen supporters of the president.

PHOTO: EUGENE GARCIA/EPA

NEWS 7

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Malaysia recalls envoy in death row with North Korea

Malaysia has recalled its envoy to Pyongyang in an escalating row over the killing of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader Kim Jongun.

Kim Jong-nam died in mysterious circumstances last week at a Kuala Lumpur airport - police believe he was poisoned while waiting for a flight.

Malaysian police say they are now looking for four North Koreans.

Pyongyang’s envoy to Malaysia was also summoned over earlier comments he made.

Despite widespread speculation that North Korea was behind the killing, there has been no definitive evidence and Pyongyang has not issued an official statement on the issue so far. South Korea has publically accused the North of orchestrating the incident, saying today that it was evidence of North Korean “terrorism getting bolder”.

Meanwhile a video which apparently shows CCTV footage of the attack on Kim Jong-Nam has surfaced and aired on Japanese television.

Malaysia was one of very few countries to maintain diplomatic relations with North Korea, but this killing has strained ties.

Over the past week Malaysia has refused to accede to North Korean demands to release Kim’s body into their custody without an autopsy.

It prompted Pyongyang’s ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, to accuse Kuala Lumpur on Friday of colluding with “hostile forces”, saying that Malaysia had “something to conceal”. This provoked an angry response from the Malaysian foreign ministry which said his accusation was “baseless”, adding that it was their responsibility to conduct an investigation as Kim had died on Malaysian soil.

Malaysian authorities are now waiting for the results of its autopsy. Kang Chol said his country would reject the result as it was done without their presence.

Malaysia has also refused to release Kim’s body, saying it needs to conduct DNA testing first. Police are now seeking samples from family members.

Kim is believed to have family living in Beijing and Macau.

Malaysian police have detained one North Korean suspect, Ri Jong-chol, and said they are looking for four more men, who may have already left the country. The men have been named as Ri Ji Hyon, 33; Hong Song Hac, 34; O Jong Gil, 55, and Ri Jae Nam, 57.

Two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, have also been arrested. The Indonesian, named as Siti Aisyah, is said to have told Malaysian police she had been paid to perform what she thought was a prank.

Kim is believed to have been attacked in the Kuala Lumpur airport departure hall on Monday by the two women, using some form of chemical.

Fuji TV has aired grainy CCTV footage showing a man resembling Kim Jong-nam approached by a woman at the airport.

Another woman then quickly lunges from behind and wipes his face with a cloth. She is seen wearing a white top emblazoned with the letters “LOL”, similar to one said to have been worn by Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong.

Kim was the first-born son of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who died in 2011.

He was largely estranged from his family, after being passed over for the North Korean leadership in favour of his youngest half-brother. He went into exile in the early 2000s, spending most of his time in Macau, mainland China and Singapore.

Kim had spoken out in the past against his family’s dynastic control of North Korea and in a 2012 book was quoted as saying he believed his younger halfbrother lacked leadership qualities.

A destroyed car at the scene of an explosion, thought to be caused by a car bomb, in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia, yesterday. PHOTO: SAID YUSUF WARSAME/EPA

At least 34 killed, 50 injured in Somalia car bomb blast At least 34 people have been killed and about 50 injured in a car bomb blast in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

The car blew up in the city’s southern Madina district, officials say.

The blast - which ripped through shops and food stalls - is the first major attack in the capital since the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed earlier this month.

No group has claimed responsibility, although al-Shabab militants are likely to be the prime suspects.

On Saturday a senior al-Shabab commander had vowed to target the president’s supporters.

Sheikh Hassan Yaqub said that anyone who collaborated with the new president - who he described as evil-minded - would be at risk of attack by the Islamist group.

President Mohamed has condemned the bombing, accusing al-Shabab of being behind the attack. He urged Somalis to unite against the group’s brutality.

The new president visited some of the wounded, as well as the site of the blast on Sunday. He has offered a $100,000 reward to anybody who supplies information leading to the capture of those responsible.

“It was a horrific and barbaric attack only aimed at killings civilians,’’ he said.

An ambulance driver told the Associated Press that some of the injured had died on their way to hospital.

“Many of them suffered extensive third degree burns and others were burned beyond recognition,” he said.

Witnesses on Sunday spoke of chaos and carnage in the aftermath of the explosion, which some reports said was caused by a suicide bomber.

Shocked and grieving onlookers watched as ambulance workers desperately tried to take the injured to hospital.

“I was staying in my shop when a car came into the market and exploded. I saw more than 20 people lying on the ground. Most of them were

dead and the market was totally destroyed,” eyewitness Abdulle Omar told the Reuters news agency.

Other witnesses said the bomb went off at a busy junction where soldiers, civilians and traders congregate.

“There were many small scale traders alongside the road and teashops and restaurants. There were also members of the security forces and shoppers and the blast was so huge,” Sumayo Moalim told the AFP news agency.

The attack underlines the magnitude of the challenge faced by the new president whose administration relies heavily on international support and does not control all of Somalia.

Troops from the African Union forced al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the militants remain powerful in some rural areas.

Last month at least 28 people were killed in a bomb attack by militants at the Dayah hotel in Mogadishu.

Barrow finally sworn in in The Gambia The Gambia has formally sworn in its new elected President, Adama Barrow, in front of a crowd of thousands including African heads of state.

It was the second time he had taken the oath after his formal inauguration was delayed by the reluctance of his predecessor to leave office.

“This is a victory for democracy,” he told a full stadium of his countrymen near the capital Banjul.

“Few people would have thought that I’d be standing here today,” he said.

He told the 20,000 strong crowd that Gambian people now had the power to control their own destiny and that he was going to free political prisoners and improve press freedom.

“For 22 years, the Gambian people yearned to live in a country where our diverse tribes will be

bridged by tolerance and our determination to work together for the common good,” he said.

“One Gambia, one nation, one people.”

Mr Barrow, 51, talked of pressing economic challenges left over from the rule of his predecessor, Yahya Jammeh.

“We have inherited an economy in decline,” the new president said, and promised to attract investment in the technology sector, introduce free primary education and strengthen the judiciary.

“Gambia has changed forever. The people are fully conscious that they can put a government in office as well as remove it.”

The president’s first swearing-in was at a low-key event at the country’s embassy in Senegal last month, after the lengthy power struggle forced him into exile.

Crowds on Saturday had queued through the night to get a good spot inside the Independence Stadium.

Brass bands began playing ahead of the event and flags waved.

Mr Barrow is only the third president in the history of The Gambia, and the celebrations also mark 52 years of the west African country’s independence.

Mr Jammeh was voted out in December but he only agreed to step aside when regional powers sent in troops ready to remove him by force.

He has since fled to Equatorial Guinea.

Those in attendance included Senegal President Macky Sall and the leaders of Ghana, Liberia and Ivory Coast as well as the US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

xnews | MONday, FEBRUARY 20, 2017 | www.x254.co

BUSINESS

of Friday CBK EXCHANGE RATES (As February 17/2017)

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

KCB, Safaricom in Sh100m pact to drive social entrepreneurship

Commercial lender, KCB Bank and leading telecommunications firm, Safaricom have appointed 21 indiciduals from across East Africa to drive social entrepreneurship in the region as the two firms work to alleviate extreme hunger and create job opportunities in the region.

The program, to which KCB Bank and Safaricom have committed $1 million (Sh103.6 million), is meant to catalyse the development of the region’s bright minds and big thinkers dedicated to tackling the problems of poverty.

The two organisations said the fellows, selected from a pool of over 550 applicants, represent some of today’s most dynamic and creative entrepreneurs and emerging leaders from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

They will now embark on a rigorous, life-changing leadership journey for one year brought to them through five, week-long seminars throughout the year, personal coaching and challenging offsite assignments.

Acumen Associate Director for Portfolio Patrick Oketa said the fellows class of 2017 is a selection of the finest minds in the region whose hearts are in the right place looking to address the challenges that are facing our nations’ poorest in new and innovative ways.

“We intend to stretch them, challenge

in their communities.

In 2015, KCB and Safaricom jointly committed $1 million (Sh103.6 million) to Acumen as part of a three-year partnership to connect and cultivate the next generation of leaders who take a systems change approach to the world’s biggest problems and have the moral imagination to effect long term change.

BUY SELL 103.5500 103.7500 129.1228 129.4167 110.0000 110.2344 8.0077 8.0294 34.4771 34.6403 21.4940 21.6321

Tea earnings unlikely to surpass last year’s revenue as sector grapples with dry spell

Safaricom Head of Corporate Responsibility, Sanda Ojiambo (right) interacts with KCB Group Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, Judith Sidi Odhiambo (left) and ACUMEN Associate Director for Leadership, Saima Irtiza during the Acumen Conference last week. their mind-sets and empower them with unique tools, techniques and networks to mold in them leaders who will transform East Africa,” he said.

The highly acclaimed leadership development program, now in its 6th year, equips emerging social leaders in East Africa with the skills, knowledge and moral imagination to drive social change

MEAN 103.6500 129.2697 110.1172 8.0185 34.5587 21.5630

“We believe in making deliberate investments towards building a critical mass of young leaders to drive Africa’s economic transformation agenda. Social entrepreneurship is emerging as a key frontier for growth, explaining why we are focused on developing this sector,” said KCB Group Chief Operating Officer @enock_x254 Samuel Makome.

It is unlikely that Kenya’s tea earnings for the fiscal year 2016/2017 will surpass last year’s records, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has said.

“While there are still a few months remaining in the year, there is a slim likelihood that we shall beat last year’s record,” said KTDA Holdings Chairman Peter Kanyago.

Kanyago says the tea industry’s success is as a result of the unique KTDA structure, which has acted as a buffer against external political interference for the period under review.

“All 560,000 smallholder farmers working together under the KTDA umbrella have given us a lot of leeway in negotiation both locally and globally,” stated Kanyago.

He, however, said the overall earnings for this year would drop following prolonged dry spells that led to depressed tea output.

Kanyago added that the high cost of production, fluctuating exchange rate and auction prices, declining individual holdings and the high cost of credit remain major impediments to the tea sector.

During the 2015/2016 financial year, farmers took home Sh44.72 billion in second payment, an average of Sh36.26 per kilo of green leaf compared to Sh27.61 paid out the previous year. @enock_x254

BuSINESS DIARY Genghis, OBG sign MoU, unveil report to Social impact panel discussion at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies The Transformational Business Network will host a discussion on how to strengthen the social impact environment on Wednesday, February 22, 2017. The event, to be held at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS) off Thika Road, Nairobi, will run from 8:30am to 10:30am.

Dubbed ‘Policy for Purpose: how to strengthen the social impact environment’, the event’s high –level panel will include: Anton Espira, Field Director of Eco2Librium; Patrick Karanja, Digital Jobs at Rockefeller Foundation and Dr. Kim Tan, founder of Transformational Business Network and global impact investor as well as senior government officials.

Breakout sessions will focus on: Access to Capital, Business Support and Training, and Monitoring and Reporting on Impact.

Transforming Africa business conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel

The African Management Services Company (AMSCO) will host a business conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Upper- Hill Nairobi on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The affair, dubbed ‘Business Transforming Africa Conference’, has been described as a thought leadership discussion conference aimed at supporting businesses in Kenya to enhance skills for economic growth. The conference is ideal for senior executives and managers who are responsible for effective human resource value chain within their organisation.

AMSCO is a pan African organisation that supports private sector development in sub-Saharan Africa through human capital development solutions. It implements the African Training and Management Services (ATMS) Project of the United Nations Development Programme.

analyse evolving capital markets sector A new report is set to put Kenya’s evolving Capital Markets under the microscope at a time when the general population is being encouraged to invest in stocks, bonds and unit trusts, among other income-generating vehicles.

Dubbed ‘The Report: Kenya 2017’, the publication will track the latest opportunities and challenges in the country’s equity and debt markets, analysing the factors behind their performance and providing a regional comparison against other major African economies. The emergence of new trading instruments, such as Real estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and carbon credits, and the increased role of private equity will be explored, as will the purview of the new regulatory body, the Financial Services Authority.

Although Kenya’s capital markets saw lower trading volumes in 2016 than the previous year, new listings, regulatory reforms and an uptick in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity are paving the way for steady growth in the coming years. The impact of those new developments will be analysed in a report on the country by global publishing firm, Oxford Business Group (OBG).

To deepen the analysis of Kenya’s capital

markets, Genghis Capital has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with OBG for the publishing firm’s forthcoming report on Kenya. Under the MOU, the investment bank will team up with OBG to compile and produce the capital markets chapter of The Report: Kenya 2017.

Genghis Capital CEO, Geoffrey Gangla, said that he looked forward to collaborating with OBG at what is proving to be a pivotal time for Kenya’s financial services industry.

“The NSE has faced a tough year, but Kenya’s

capital markets are continuing to develop in size, scope and sophistication, with investors cautiously optimistic about the future, thanks to the regulatory reforms under way,” he said.

OBG’s Country Director, Veselina Kracheva, agreed that with Kenya’s financial markets evolving against a challenging external macroeconomic backdrop, the need to provide investors with in-depth analysis from both a local and regional perspective had become critical. @Dennis_x254

Oxford Business Group’s Country Director, Veselina Kracheva (LEFT) and Genghis Capital CEO, Geoffrey Gangla holding the report.

BUSINESS 9

KPC to begin compensating Kibwezi residents affected by oil spill next month MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) will begin compensating residents of Thange valley in Kibwezi East Constituency who were affected by an oil leak two years ago. The drive is expected to kick off in March, 2017.

KPC has already received 278 claim forms and the verification process will be complete by the end of February, 2017. Each of the claimants will receive payment through its insurer, CIC Insurance Company. The insurance firm is also engaging with Panafcon - the company that carried out the impact assessment study in the area with the aim of studying their report to establish if there are matters that need further clarification.

On Friday, February 17, 2017, KPC’s Chair, John Ngumi met hundreds of Thange residents together with Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana and other community leaders to resolve the matter.

Ngumi said the company has already spent over Sh22 million in corporate social responsibility (CSR) support in terms of clean water, food aid, and bursaries for needy students from Thange area.

“This CSR support will continue as per needs assessment as we strive to finish up the clean-up and the compensation process. KPC has invested heavily in the people of Thange because we want to transform people’s lives” he said.

Governor Kibwana hailed KPC for good corporate responsibility interventions in Thange and urged the government agency to continue with the support.

However, he asked KPC to think about the possible long term effects of the

therise

NIC Bank Limited NIC Bank Ltd was the week’s top gainer after edging upwards by 27.71 per cent .The share price was up to Sh27.00 from the previous week’s close of Sh21.50. The share price was up despite weekly volumes declining by 50.5 per cent. Year-to-date, its share price has gained 3.8 per cent.

thefall

Standard Group Limited Standard Group Ltd was the week’s top loser after declining by 10 per cent over the course of the week’s trading. The share price closed at Sh18.00 from their previous closing price of Sh20. Yearto-date, its share price has gained 9.1 per cent.

Analysis by Amana Capital info@ amanacapital.co.ke

spillage, even as the compensation process begins.

“As you compensate the affected persons, it will be important that we take into account the long term health and environmental effects of this spillage so that if someone is affected several years down the road, they can still be considered,” Kibwana said.

Ngumi urged those who haven’t filled the claim forms to do so as soon as possible so that they are considered in Phase 2 of the compensation process.

He said that 322 forms that residents have picked from the Deputy County Commissioner’s office in Kibwezi are yet to be returned. He observed that KPC is committed to expedite

compensation for residents whose lives were affected by the incident.

“The Thange incident has profoundly impacted the lives of many residents.

KPC is fully committed to supporting those affected to get back on their feet in the shortest time possible,” said Ngumi.

The ageing Nairobi-Mombasa pipeline

passes through Thange. The 14inch Mombasa-Nairobi pipeline was constructed in 1978 and has been in operation for 39 years, way beyond its 25 year useful life.

The 450km pipeline is currently being replaced to meet the region’s future petroleum needs. @Dennis_x254

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BUSINESS

Over 88 per cent of Kenyans have no insurance cover, survey shows MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

At least 88 per cent of Kenya’s population are not subscribed to any insurance cover, the latest study by online health service provider, Daktari Africa shows.

According to the research, only 12 per cent of Kenyans, which represents about 480,000, have an insurance cover with 10 per cent of the insured population being subscribed to public insurance covers while the remaining 2 per cent have their own private cover.

“Only 12 per cent of Kenyans out of a population of over 40 million are subscribed to the insurance covers leaving a whopping 88 per cent of the total country uncovered,” stated the survey.

The survey further reveals that the statecontrolled National Hospital Insurance Fund (NSSF) is the leading cover subscribed to by Kenyans.

Daktari Africa Chief Executive, Charles Kamotho explains that slow penetration of insurance covers in Kenya is due to poor information on the benefits of the program as a majority of Kenyans think insurance is only for privileged societal classes.

Another key impediment to the growth and penetration of the sector is the fact that a majority of Kenyans with insurance covers are anxious about being denied access to claims.

This discourages other Kenyans from purchasing covers as they do not believe in benefiting from the schemes.

As such, KPMG East Africa has announced plans aiming to transform the sector and boost awareness among consumers.

A woman is given an oxygen mask as she is carried on a stretcher by medics from an ambulance at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after she was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in Huruma Estate in the Mathare slum in Nairobi, Kenya, 05 May 2016. EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU “It is time for the sector to invent and come up with prices that are more affordable to the mass markets and the mainstream markets,” KPMG Head of Insurance, James Norman said in a recent statement, adding that many

people still think of insurance as a luxury product.

Recent amendments in regulatory requirements in accounting for liabilities are projected to support local insurers especially those offering life policies.

According to analysts, the latest accounting practices have lifted earnings for insurers who barely make money on their policies and who have relied heavily on investment income to bolster profits. @enok_x254

LG unveils 2017 product line-up as firm focuses on innovative goods

Electronics giant, LG has solidified its market-leading position by showcasing its 2017 premium product line-up which was unveiled at the 2017 innovation festival known as Innofest.

InnoFest 2017 highlighted LG’s increased focus and commitment in not only emerging as a leader in the premium product category but also showcasing an expansive line-up of innovative and energy efficient products, planned for the Middle East and Africa (MEA), across multiple business units.

“Technology is progressing at a faster pace than ever and the force of the change is becoming even more powerful.

2017 will see LG Electronics pursuing an innovative, energy efficient and a premium product market strategy, positioning the company as a technology innovator with a flair for convenience, design and style,” commented Kevin Cha, President of LG Electronics for the Middle East & Africa.

With more than 120 awards at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2017), LG’s new LG Signature W7 OLED 4K TV bagged the official Engadget CES’ Best of the Best Awards.

The OLED W7 series, LG Signature OLED TV, LG Signature Refrigerator, the LG Signature TwinWash washing machine and the LG Signature Air Purifier were noted as key highlights of the show.

LG’s strategy is set to witness a boost with the introduction of these premium products across key markets in the Middle East and Africa in 2017. @kevin_x254

Equity opens new Zanzibar branch in regional expansion bid Financial services provider Equity Bank has officially commissioned its newest branch in the coastal city of Zanzibar as it seeks to deepen its foray in the entire East African region.

The Zanzibar branch brings to 14 the total number of Equity branches in Tanzania and is part of the Bank’s planned regional expansion.

It is also aligned to the to the Zanzibar government’s renewed focus on micro business and small scale business.

Speaking during the launch, Equity Bank Director, Prof. Ahmed Mohamed Ame noted that the move is part of Equity Group’s pursuit of its vision to champion the socio-economic prosperity of the people of Africa.

“As Equity Bank Tanzania, we are committed to deepen financial inclusion and broaden access by expanding our footprint through branches, Agency banking, ATMs and merchant banking. The Bank believes that through this move, it will also significantly contribute towards the achievements of Zanzibar’s economic blueprint Vision 2020”, said Mr. Joseph Iha, the Managing Director of Equity Bank Tanzania.

Speaking during the ceremony,

Equity Bank Tanzania Managing Director, Joseph Iha (Centre) takes Hon. Salama Aboud Twalib, Tanzania Minister for Lands, Water, Energy and Environment on a tour of the news opened Zanzibar Branch. The opening of the branch is part of the bank’s commitment to deepen financial inclusion and broaden access by expanding its footprint through branches, Agency banking, ATMs and merchant banking across the Tanzanian market.

Tanzania Minister for Lands, Energy, Water and Environment, Hon. Salama Aboud Talib said: “We are happy and encouraged to see Equity Bank developing products and services that support all members of the society and in different sectors of the

economy including some previously perceived as high risk, due to lack of collateral and high costs of serving them. This had made banking services seem way out of reach for many of our people. However, with the entry of Equity Bank into the country, this

has changed. You have stayed true to your vision of being the champion of the socio-economic prosperity of the people of Africa by introducing a banking model which caters to all categories of customers.”

“I’m glad to learn that Equity Bank

provides financial literacy to its customers especially women and youth, for better management of their finances to grow their businesses. We need that here to empower our people as they pursue their various economic activities,” she added.

“We have addressed all the entry barriers to make Equity Bank an allinclusive bank. For one to open an account with us, they only need to have their National ID. We take photos in the branch for free. Account is opened on the spot and our Visa Cards are issued instantly. Our accounts have no minimum balance, no withdrawal limits, no ledger fees and no monthly fees. Our plan and commitment is to expand our presence here in Zanzibar through more branches, Agent banking and merchant banking. We have partnerships with all global Card Associations and therefore our ATMs and Point of Sale terminals accept payments by cards from all Card Associations worldwide. This offering has proved to be a great offering for the tourist market here in Zanzibar,” added Mr. Iha. @kevin_x254

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

ACCESS THE BAND HAS BEEN ACTIVE SINCE 2016 AND THEY ARE BASED IN NAIROBI DESPITE THEIR WIDE CATALOGUE OF PREVIOUS TRACKS.

The Kushites The Kushites-naturally with a ‘K’ is a name that might be relatively new to the industry but that does not mean that the artistes are just as unfamiliar. The duo who both rap and sing have swagger for days but they also have an easy lyrical prose and sound that grows on you. Here’s the rundown on these stars in the making.

they blow up.

Pesa Nyingi, the dreaded brother with the direct, no-bones-about-it name who serves as the rapper and songwriter for the group and Mansa Chusa, with the complex name who not only writes down lyrics but also does production work for the band behind the scenes.

having a unique distinctively African yet urban sound; a fusion of Afrobeat, Hiphop/Rap & Blues. seen the band members somewhere before.

2016, despite their wide catalogue of previous tracks and are based in

UJANA” loosely translated to “LIVING THE GOOD LIFE” slated features sparse collaborations with Shappaman (Formerly of Camp Mulla), Danny Millz (Formerly of Traptown) and Odinare Bingwa, a Diani-based hip-hop artist.

“Tausi,” is a beautiful love song done in collaboration with Danny Millz, formerly with Kenyan rap group, Trap Town. Produced by Mansa Chusa, who and recorded at Galaxis studio, “Tausi” is a song sang by a guy hitting on a girl he has been chasing for a for a while, telling her of how beautiful she is and can only be compared to a peacock, the bird.

result of many years of work between the sole intent of being a hit making the duo is relatively new, the two have been longtime collaborators having been in the industry up to 10 years during which they were founders to the now defunct super group “WEUSI FAMILIA” whose hit single “Vibrate” enjoyed massive airplay.

on their debut EP dubbed “KULA

GET CONNECTED. FACEBOOK: TheKushitesKE TWITTER: TheKushitesKE INSTAGRAM: thekushiteske

ALI KIKBA

It’s hard not to feel good for Ndegz getting some recognition after hustling for years but ‘Dessert’ does not feel new or particularly innovative in any way. It’s a fun but forgettable song. Produced by the artiste himself, the beats are actually the best part of the song.

The other stuff is nice to look at but you’ve probably seen something similar before. With lyrics like, ‘Bruk off your back. It’s too hot girl, take off your top,’ it’s easy consumption but don’t expect it to be particularly inventive.

Did this song really need a remix? ‘AJE’ has enjoyed a mammoth couple of years and there was just no topping that chart topper. Maybe that’s why the remix sounds almost exactly like the original song. This video though is a lot more enjoyable than the flashy first offering. It’s just Kiba and the girl he’s presumably chasing. It’s seamless and cheeky but that doesn’t excuse that it was wholly unnecessary. It’s still a great production and if it wasn’t for the existence of the first video this would have been great on all fronts, very addictive.

AJE REMIX

Another collaboration between the two gospel stars from the EMB label. It’s a pleasant praise song and Bahati seems to be on an Energizer Bunny level when it comes to releasing songs but the video does seem repetitive. How many songs have you seen with artistes on a white screen with some dancing? This doesn’t mean that the song isn’t delightful but the visuals are rather old.

NDEGZ

DESERT

KUMBE KUMBE

MR SEED & BAHATI

@christine_x254

@christine_x254

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ACCESS

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n case you missed it Kanye West released his fifth apparel collection at Pier 59 in New York. The show was much less grand than the other lines he has put out, but still had the little hint of weirdness that we are used to from the renaissance man. Season 5 was filled with the usual hobo chic- oversized sweaters, jackets and thigh high boots over loose fit jeans—no holes in the sweaters this time though.

Basically drab and joyless and vaguely Kylie Jenner-esque, but a bit more practical than the stuff he has produced before. Here’s a sample.

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REVEIEW OF THE WEEK’S EVENTS

HOT TOPICS

Wyre the love child to spread love to his son with ‘Lion’ top notch music video shot in Atlanta featuring Dj Protege some time back, Wyre has released a heartfelt jam ‘Lion’ that expresses his love for his son. Lion is personal but mostly of sentimental value. to me” - Says Wyre

@kevin_x254

Andre Ricardo Bailey (Tenament Yard Records) Engineered

by Mwax the Herbalist, Directed by Cream Visions.

SWV and Blackstreet light up KICC Another lost in the 90s disaster this

was not. For a

belated Valentine’s affair the place

was to be was the

Kenya International Conference Centre

last Saturday.

TID returns with promises

‘Maisha ya Jela’

collabo with Diamond

Veteran Tanzanian Bongo artiste TID has released the audio of ‘Maisha ya Jela’ the remix, in which he has incorporated Farid Kubanda popularly known in the music

Bands SWV and

Blackstreet treated the crowd to their biggest and best

hits from the past two decades and

we were there for

it. Check out the

sights and sounds.

dominate the music industry. TID has in recent years dominated news headlines in Tanzania for all the wrong reasons. Just

Songstress Kavi Pratt serenades the audience.

Veronica Wambui receiving her proposal on stage.

in drugs, he came out to condemn the allegations and asked the Tanzanian government to stop tarnishing his name.

In his comeback bid, TID has promised his fans that he will soon be recording a new song with Tanzania’s number one artiste of the moment Diamond Platnumz.

Ray C confesses her love for Scene from the crowd.

Scene from the dancefloor.

interview on EA radio this weekend, Records new artiste Rayvanny. ‘Ray is talented, I am informed that he writes songs for other artistes and I have listened to his songs which are well written I would love to work with him,’ she said. Ray C also took the

Scene from the dancefloor.

Records CEO Diamond Platnumz for nurturing such great talents and for keeping Bongo music alive and on the map while she promised a strong comeback that will feature an array of collaborations.

KICC CEO Nana Gechaga.

Mark Middleton of Blackstreet.

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14

SPORT

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Ancelotti admits middle finger gesture at fans

Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted gesturing with his middle finger at Hertha Berlin fans, who the Italian says spat at him.

The incident happened as the 57-yearold walked down the tunnel after his side equalised in the 96th minute. “Yes, I made the gesture after being spat at,” he told broadcaster ARD. Robert Lewandowski’s equaliser for Bundesliga leaders Bayern came after the indicated five minutes of added time at the end of Saturday’s game.

Hertha boss Pal Dardai described the extra time played as “Bayern’s bonus”.

“We always fight until the end, you can’t get later than that,” said Lewandowski, whose goal to make it 1-1 was timed at 95 minutes and 57 seconds.

The draw left Bayern eight points clear at the top of Germany’s top flight. However, it has since been further reduced to five after second-placed RB Leipzig won away at Borussia Monchengladbach last evening.

Hertha are in sixth place, 16 points behind the leaders.

Tusker go down in Mauritius to crash out of Champions League Kenyan Premier League and GOtv Shield champions Tusker FC will rue conceding a goal at home as they crashed out of the CAF Champions League in the preliminary round with a 2-1 loss to Mauritian Champions AS Port Louis at the New George V Stadium in Mauritius yesterday.

The hosts came from a goal down to strike late twice in the 85th and 89th minutes, taking the aggregate score to 3-2.

Port Louis had picked a vital 1-1 result from the first leg played a week earlier in Nairobi.

Ugandan coach George Nsimbe made several changes from the team that played in the first leg in Nairobi with Shafik Batambuze being pushed upfront to play as an offensive winger while new signing Vincent Omumbo came in to play at left back, though not a natural left footed defender.

Collins Shivachi started on the right side of defense with skipper James Situma dropping to the bench.

After a positive start, Hashim Ssempala gave Tusker an early lead in the 21st minute with a long range effort, putting the Kenyan champions within touching distance of the first round.

Tusker had started the match brightly, with full knowledge that they needed to win to progress.

After Ssempala’s opener, Tusker should have taken a comfortable 2-0 score line to the dressing room but Anthony Ndolo missed an open chance at the stroke of half time.

Tusker FC players leave the pitch after their 1-1 draw with AS Port Louis at the Kasarani stadium. The Premier League Champions went down 2-1 in Mauritius to crash out of the Caf Champions League. PHOTO: CAPITAL FM

The brewers kept their surge and had another chance with a Noah Wafula shot that skied over the bar. Ndolo was also guilty of missing two golden opportunities.

With 10 minutes remaining, Tusker head coach Nsimbe pulled out Batambuze for James Situma, a clear decision to try and solidify their slim lead and defend for the remaining minutes of the game.

However, the missed chances would come to haunt them with Ephram Guikan taking the game level with an 85th minute goal. The striker then pulled

in the sucker punch in the 89th minute, finishing off from a corner after suspect defending from the Sportpesa Premier League Champions.

Port Louis now qualifies for the first round where they will play Sudanese side Al Hilal.

Tusker had hoped to progress to the group stages of the Champions League as they only needed to win the two matches at Port Louis and Al Hilal.

They now return home with the focus solely on defending their twin titles, with coach Nsimbe now clearly under immense pressure to deliver.

SPORT 15

Bale scores on Real return MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

PSG held to goalless draw by Toulouse Paris St-Germain failed to replicate their midweek display against Barcelona as they were held at home by Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

The champions, who beat Barca 4-0 at Parc de Princes on Tuesday, struggled to break down the seventh-place side.

Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani was closest to scoring when he struck the post in the second half.

Coach Unai Emery’s side retake second spot from Nice on goal difference; three points behind leaders Monaco.

Meanwhile in Italy, new coach Zdenek Zeman led Pescara to their first win since August - a stunning 5-0 victory over Genoa. Zeman, who led Pescara to promotion to Serie A in 2012 before joining Roma, returned to the club this week following the sacking of Massimo Oddo.

His impact was immediate as Serie A’s bottom club raced into a 3-0 lead before half time and added the gloss to a handsome win in the second.

Roma retook second spot with a 4-1 win over Torino with former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko and ex-Chelsea midfielder Mohamed Salah both scoring.

Napoli had briefly moved into second with a 3-1 win at Chievo, earlier on Sunday after Lorenzo Insigne had given them the lead and Marek Hamsik scored to move within three goals of equalling Diego Maradona’s record tally of 115 for the club. Piotr Zielinski made it 3-0 before Riccardo Meggiorini scored a consolation for the home side.

Gareth Bale scored a superb goal on his return to action after almost three months out with an ankle injury as La Liga leaders Real Madrid beat Espanyol.

The Wales forward, on as a secondhalf substitute, collected Isco’s pass before running at the visitors’ defence and slotting a shot past Diego Lopez.

Alvaro Morata had headed Real in front in the first half from Isco’s cross.

Victory leaves Real one point ahead of second-placed Barcelona, who need a late Lionel Messi penalty to beat Leganes last night.

But Zinedine Zidane’s men have got two games in hand.

Sevilla remain third with two points further back.

Real Madrid have motored on pretty nicely since Bale suffered his injury during a 2-1 Champions League group-stage win at Sporting Lisbon on 22 November - winning the Club World Cup, progressing in Europe and taking command of the Spanish title race.

Nonetheless, manager Zinedine Zidane was pleased to have the forward back in training last weekend, and took the opportunity to give him a 19-minute run-out in what was a fairly straightforward win.

Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale celebrates scoring against Espanyol at the Bernabeu stadium over the weekend.

PHOTO/COURTESY

Zidane made seven changes to the team who beat a lively Napoli side 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 meeting on Wednesday, leaving goalkeeper Keylor Navas, midfielder Luka Modric and striker Karim Benzema out of his squad altogether.

With a packed fixture schedule over the next few weeks, Zidane’s decision to give key players a breather proved a wise one.

Mid-table Espanyol, for their part, offered little resistance, defending poorly as Morata headed in the opener and rarely looking like getting back into the game thereafter.

Bale’s goalscoring return added extra gloss to the performance for Zidane who will need all of his key forwards fit for the challenges ahead.

The Wales international said: “The reception I got when I came on was incredible. It’s great to be back and

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get a win.

“It’s rewarding to come back and score a goal. I’ve only been training with the first team for five days - I’m lacking a lot of fitness.”

Zidane added: “I told him to enjoy the game, he is a special player, different to everyone else.

“It doesn’t look like he’s been out for three months. He’s very powerful, he makes the difference and that’s why he’s special.”

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017

TUSKER GO DOWN IN MAURITIUS TO CRASH OUT OF AFRICA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

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Late Messi penalty rescues Barcelona

Lionel Messi’s 90th-minute penalty saw off the challenge of gutsy Leganes and spared Barcelona from a second successive embarrassing result.

The champions underwhelmed again after Tuesday’s 4-0 Champions League defeat at Paris St-Germain and had keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to thank for a string of great saves.

Messi gave Barca an early lead, before Unai Lopez fired in the equaliser.

The Barcelona forward then slammed in the late winner from the spot.

Victory sees the Catalan giants move two points above Sevilla into second place in La Liga. They have 51 points, one fewer than leaders Real Madrid who have two games in hand.

Luis Enrique’s side threatened an avalanche of goals after Luis Suarez teed up Messi with an inch-perfect low cross for the opener in the third minute.

It was the Argentine forward’s first contact with the ball in the area having failed to register a single touch in the box against PSG on Tuesday.

However, the glut of goals never materialised and the attacking threats of Messi, Suarez and Neymar struggled to break down the disciplined defence of the league’s 17th-placed side.

Leganes - promoted to the top flight this season for the first time in their 89-year history - markedly grew in confidence and began to attack a Barca backline without stalwarts Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba.

Winger Nabil El Zhar was twice thwarted

by Ter Stegen. Both shots produced diving saves from the German, the second more impressive after the Moroccan’s strike took a deflection. And the former Borussia Monchengladbach keeper made another great save, this time with his foot, to deny Miguel Angel Guerrero. Had Barcelona lost, coach Enrique would have had a case regarding Leganes’ dubious 71st-minute equaliser.

Barca full-back Sergi Roberto had possession of the ball but appeared to be hauled back by Miguel Angel Guerrero, who fed Darwin Machis to deliver a cross for Lopez to slot in.

However, with two minutes of the allotted 90 remaining, Neymar cut in from the left and was brought down by Martin Mantovani. Referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva pointed to the spot and Messi stepped up to convert, to the relief of the Barca fans and coach Enrique.

FA Cup: United draw Chelsea

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anchester United will next travel to London to face Chelsea in the quarterfinal of the FA Cup. United came from behind to beat Championship strugglers Blackburn 2-1 away. Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to score the winner as holders Manchester United had to work hard to ease past the fifth round.

Striker Ibrahimovic was allowed too much time in the box to latch on to fellow substitute Paul Pogba’s pass and tuck in from close range to set up a quarter-final tie at the Stamford Bridge.

Danny Graham had given the hosts the lead with a rising finish following excellent play by Marvin Emnes, who himself had tested Sergio Romero with a thumping effort moments earlier.

In response, Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele pushed away Ander Herrera’s fierce shot, but Marcus Rashford equalised for the visitors by going round the goalkeeper and slotting in from Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s precise pass. Rovers striker Anthony Stokes

had a goal rightly ruled out for offside following Romero’s triple save late on.

Victory for United maintains their hopes of a cup treble this season, as they travel to Saint-Etienne in the Europa League on Wednesday with a healthy last-32 first-leg advantage, and face Southampton in the EFL Cup final on Sunday.

Lincoln City will play Sutton or Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals as reward for their stunning fifth-round victory over Burnley. The fifth-tier club became the first non-league team in 103 years to reach the last eight with the biggest shock of the competition so far on Saturday.

Millwall, who beat Premier League champions Leicester, play Tottenham while Middlesbrough face Manchester City or Huddersfield, who drew 0-0 on Saturday.

“It’s a win-win,” Lincoln manager Danny Cowley said on BT Sport. “We wish Sutton all the best tomorrow, I genuinely hope they can do it.”

Sutton, who are the lowest-ranked team still left in the cup, play at home to the

Gunners tonight. The replay between Manchester City and Huddersfield is provisionally set for Tuesday, 28 February at Etihad Stadium.

There are 88 places between National League leaders Lincoln and Arsenal. Sutton are in the same league as the Imps but are in 17th - 104 places below the Gunners.

Lincoln boss Cowley said his side had achieved a “football miracle” after beating Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor with an 89thminute winner.

It is the first time in the club’s 133-year history that they have reached the quarterfinals.

Their next match is away to North Ferriby United on Tuesday, while they are also still in the FA Trophy and play Boreham Wood for a semi-final place on Saturday.

Queens Park Rangers, who joined the Football League in 1920, were the last nonleague team to make the FA Cup last eight, in 1914.

They were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool in their quarter-final at Anfield.

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