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IEBC TO CONDUCT MOCK ELECTIONS IN JUNE CHAIRMAN WAFULA CHEBUKATI SAYS EXERCISE WILL TEST THE EFFICIENCY OF POLL MATERIALS AHEAD OF THE AUGUST 8, 2017 GENERAL ELECTIONS
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AMBAKA, SIKUTA WITHDRAW FROM DEPLETED SEVENS SQUAD FOR SERIES
SUNDERLAND BOSS DAVID MOYES RUNS INTO TROUBLE WITH FA OVER REMARKS
Police commence probe into chaotic ODM rally Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko orders CID to urgently launch investigations
Police Spokesman Charles Owino says they are on top of things
ODM deputy party leader Ali Hassan Joho
Party Leader Raila Odinga is yet to comment on the incident in which his deputy Ali Hassan Joho missed a bullet by a whisker STORY ON PAGE 2
ODM party boss Raila Odinga
Swazuri made illegal payments, NLC commissioners say
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ommissioners of the National Land Commission yesterday accused Chairman Mohammad Swazuri of making illegal compensation for land that had already been reserved for the railway construction. All the commissioners said the decision to compensate for about five plots in
Embakasi at Sh215 million and another in Mombasa had not been ratified by a committee as required by law. According to the National Lands Act, for such payment to be made a committee consisting of at least five commissioners has to sit and ratify the decision. This was however not the case. Appearing separately before the
parliamentary committee on lands yesterday, the committee said they did not sit anywhere and ratify any decision of payment to the land owners in Embakasi. Commissioner Abdulkadir Khalif told MPs that most of the payments were done in December last year when all the commissioners were away. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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DPP orders probe in chaotic ODM rally TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
Police have launched investigations into yesterday’s chaos during a rally organized by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders in Migori County. Gunshots were fired and injuries reported after chaos erupted at the event at Posta Grounds in Migori town following a clash between supporters of area governor Okoth Obado and his rival Ochillo Ayacko. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was set to launch his re-election bid at the rally that was also attended by ODM party luminaries Hassan Joho, Anyang’ Nyong’o and James Orengo. But that did not happen after the event turned chaotic when Governor Obado stormed at the grounds and demanded to speak before he was shut down by hecklers who threw water bottles at him. His bodyguards are said to have shot in the air and as confusion reigned, more shots were fired with Mombasa Governor Joho missing a bullet by a whisker according to witness account. The bullet shot his bodyguard in the leg. And now, the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has ordered investigations into the incident. “We have noted with deepest concern the incident of violence which occurred during ODM rally in Migori. I have been directed by the DPP to direct you to immediately and urgently commence
Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o is shielded while on the ground after chaos broke out at an ODM event in Migori town yesterday. Police have launched investigations into the incident.
thorough investigations into the incident and submit the resultant file for perusal and directions,” a letter written by Deputy DPP Nicholas Mutuku to CID boss Ndegwa Muhoro states. Earlier, Police Spokesman Charles Owino had stated that the incident could have been ugly were it not for the heavy security deployment at Posta
Established in 1969
Grounds. “As police we are on top of things and the incident that took place in Migori yesterday is under investigations and we are going to come up with very good results on that. Mostly, we are going to be very strict on public order. Each and every politician will have to follow procedure when engaging in campaigns,” he said.
National Land Commission chairman Muhhamad Swazuri. PHOTO: COURTESY
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During the confrontation, a bodyguard to Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho sustained a bullet wound but it remains unclear who shot at him, with Owino blaming local politicians for the mess. “What happened in Migori is not a police or government scheme. It has nothing to do with the government,” he said. Governor Obado has accused Joho and
Senators James Orengo and Anyang Nyong’o of staging a ‘coup’ in his constituency by seeking to endorse his rival. Trouble started when Obado made his way into the podium against the wishes of Ayacko’s supporters. Chaos erupted as police and politicians’ bodyguards started shooting into the air to disperse the rowdy supporters. It’s during that time that Joho’s bodyguard was accidentally shot. He was rushed to hospital with injuries. The politicians were hurriedly whisked to safety as the meeting ended in disarray. The meeting was to be addressed by Governor Joho, in his capacity as the ODM Deputy Party Leader. Kakamega Governor Wyckliffe Oparanya who was also invited to the rally but declined has faulted his ODM luminaries for the chaos that erupted. ‘’In order to avoid such incidences, we had agreed as a party that our luminaries and officials to keep off grassroots politics to give all contestants equal and fair chances. I was also invited to the Migori event but as I have always stated, our party is anchored on democracy and fairness, this is what I told Orengo, Nyong’o and Joho unfortunately they ignored my input. In as much as Obado is a colleague at the CoG, I don’t think he was accorded respect he deserved by the organiser of the event,” he said.
Wedding Rings, Engagement Rings
Swazuri made illegal payments, Land commissioners tell MPs
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From Page 1 Khalif narrated to the MPs how he learnt that the payment had been made through the press and when he demanded for details, the secretariat delayed for two months. “I wrote a letter requesting for the minutes that ratified the decision to pay, I did not receive them for two months. It forced me to write another letter to the secretariat that is when I got them,” Khalif said. Khalif however stated that he has not received any communication from the chairman Swazuri over the matter up to date.
Khalif said most of the time they have overturned some decisions but they are still being implemented. He told MPs that the commission has suffered from negative publicity in the recent past due action from one person. “We hope after elections things will change, if one of us is tainted that does not mean we are all tainted,” Khalif said. Commissioners Silas Kinoti, Dr Rose Musyoka, Samuel Tororei and Njogu all said a letter by Swazuri stating that the compensation for the plot should be shared between Dasahe Investment
Ltd and Mr Njeru’s wife, Editor Irima, should have been ratified. “As far as I am concerned, payment to that plot had been blocked and the owner was not supposed to be paid,” Kinoti said. Commissioner Muthoni termed the payment as illegal as it was not tabled before the commission. “I had the payment had been made long time ago the matter was never tabled before the commission and it has no legal basis,” Muthoni said. @sam_x254
NEWS 3 TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
Lobbies oppose tax cut on plain cigarettes
Lobbyists have petitioned National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich in their opposition to a plan by the government to lower taxes on plain cigarettes. Under the banner of Consumer Information Network, the more than five lobby groups have protested Rotich’s move saying the proposal would make cigars more affordable to poor and vulnerable Kenyans if implemented. Rotich in his budget last week proposed a 28% cut on tax on plain cigars. “This means cigarettes will become more available to children, youths and vulnerable members of our society who are already adversely affected by the economic and health hazards associated with tobacco use,” Consumer Information Network Chief Executive Officer Samuel Ochieng’ said in a letter to the Mr Rotich. While reading the budget on Thursday last week, Rotich suggested a two-tier tax structure of Sh2, 500 for every 1,000 sticks of filtered cigarettes and Sh1, 800 for every 1,000 sticks of plain cigarettes. Previously, all cigarettes were taxed equally at Sh2, 500 per mile. “This will create equity and fairness in the tobacco industry and prevent job losses in the sector,” Rotich argued. Tobacco is the biggest known preventable cause of at least 13 types of cancers, which kill more than 15,000 Kenyans every year. @hillary_x254
Council reaches out to DPP in row over varsity degree course The Council of Legal Education now wants the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to take action against Moi University for undertaking law classes despite not being licensed to offer the course. The Council’s Chief Executive Officer Kulundu Bitonye stated that the school of law at the institution is severely incapacitated and cannot effectively deliver the program. In a statement issued today, Bitonye warned that any activity undertaken by the school of law is criminal and appropriate action should Moi University’s Annex Campus in Eldoret that is home to the institution’s School of Law. be taken. “We would like to bring to the notice of the falsehood that are misleading to the public council and management of Moi University without discrimination and with respect. and in particular the students at the Moi “Th e status report of the Legal Education the provisions of section 43 and 44 of the Legal Education Act which in particular providers published by the council of legal University school of Law. criminalises false statements, representations, education on March 21, 2017 represents “The students are not learning in an institution documents or information which are false the bonafide legal education providers per which is a legal education provider under in material and the offering or purporting category in Kenya as at that date under the Legal Education Act. These statements are a to offer or hold oneself out as offering legal provisions of sections 18 and 19 of the Legal complete misrepresentation of the law and the Court process to which Moi University is education otherwise than in accordance with Education Act,” Bitonye said the Legal Education Act as criminal offence,” The commission termed a statement issued by a party,” The council awarded Moi University Bitonye said. He stated that the commission Moi University Council and Vice Chancellor School of Law 36.5 percent out of the possible will uphold and enforce the law without fear Prof. Laban Ayiro on March 22, 2017 and 100 percent. To qualify as a legal education or favour and continue to engage all persons another on March 28, 2017 assuring students provider an institution must score at least 67 with interest in legal education proactively of compliance with the law as simple and plain percent.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
Conduct lawful campaigns for peace to prevail, churches urge The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) is challenging contestants for various elective seats in the forthcoming General Election to follow the law in resolving grievances that could arise from the process. NCCK’s General Secretary Reverend Canon Peter Karanja has said while politicians needed to be given the liberty to campaign, election guidelines ought to be followed to the letter to avoid plunging the country into chaos. “Elections are a constitutional matter housed in the laws of the land and there are clear guidelines on how they should be managed,” Karanja told the press Monday. “We appreciate that there could be grievances but we urge that it is imperative that contestants in the elections only follow the law.” Karanja who was speaking in Limuru during a sensitization campaign for peaceful elections organised by the ecumenical consortium of Christian denominations said churches will continue to create awareness on the need for peaceful elections, urging Kenyans to avoid any provocation to violence. “It will take Kenyans to say they will not have chaos. We must not have a repeat of 2007/08 because this country cannot afford that kind of a situation again and we’re committed to use all our structure across the country to pass this message,” he said. According to Karanja, peaceful elections can only be achieved through
National Council of Churches of Kenya Secretary general Canon Peter Karanja at a past press conference. Chruch leaders have appealed to politicians to conduct lawful campaigns for peace to prevail. PHOTO: CAPITAL FM
meaningful enjoyment among stakeholders in the election process noting that it was of utmost importance for all the partners to root for the success of the polls. “We’re asking for an engagement of key players in this value chain of elections so that the general public can understand how partnership can be built with
these agencies so that all Kenyans of goodwill and contribute to a peaceful election,” he explained. He particularly singled out Nairobi County which he said is key to setting an example for the entire nation to follow.
Mock elections now set for June The Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC) has announced plans to hold mock polls two months before the general election on August 8. The commission said the nationwide exercise set for June is meant to test the efficiency and reliability of the equipment to be used in the main elections. IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said that the mock polls will also ensure that the system works and reinstates public confidence among Kenyans as they prepare for elections. “The exercise will be done through simulation; it will not be as physical as the elections. Data will be loaded and systems tested where only the major stakeholders will participate,” said Mr Chebukati. He continued, “We encourage all stakeholders, political parties, civil society and the media to be part of the simulation exercise,” Although the date of the mock poll is yet to be announced, the first batch of the equipment, including Electronic Voter Identification (EVID) and Result Transmission System (RTS) kits, is expected in the country next week on April 9. “We shall be ready for the verification exercise from May 10 to June 10. We are encouraging Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to verify their status in the register to avoid cases of missing names on the election day,” Chebukati adde
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NEWS 5
At least 11 killed in Russia terror attack TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
At least 11 people were killed in a blast on the St. Petersburg metro Monday, three state-run Russian news agencies said. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev described the attack as a “terrorist act.” The explosion tore through a train as it was traveling between two stations in Russia’s second-largest city. A second, larger device was found and defused at another station, Russia’s Anti-Terrorism Committee said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which led to the shutdown of the city’s metro system. Alongside the dead, 51 people were injured in the incident, according to CNN affiliate RBC. Four of the injured are in critical condition, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said from the Dzhanelidze Research Institute of Emergency Medicine, where many of the wounded are being treated, according to the state-run Tass news agency. President Vladimir Putin, who had been in St. Petersburg earlier in the day, laid roses at a makeshift memorial with candles outside the bombed metro station. US President Donald Trump spoke briefly with Putin on Monday, according to a senior administration official. Trump expressed his sympathies for the Russian people in the wake of the terror attack. The blast occurred just after 2:30pm
Russian rescuers carry a victim of an explosion at Tekhnologichesky Institute metro station in Saint Petersburg, Russia, yesterday evening. According to reports, at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured in the explosion in the city’s metro system. The cause of the blast was not immediately known. PHOTO: ANTON VAGANOV/EPA
as the train was traveling in a tunnel from Sennaya Ploshchad to Tekhnologichesky Institut stations in the city center. In the confusion, initial
reports suggested there were two blasts. Investigators are seizing items relative to the investigation, questioning witnesses and metro employees and
working to confirm the number of dead and injured, Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement. The train conductor possibly saved
lives, the committee said, because rather than stop the train after the blast, he continued on to the next station, which allowed passengers to evacuate and rescuers to tend to victims. Photographs showed the facade of one of the cars ripped off and passengers running from the Tekhnologichesky Institute station as it filled with smoke. Victims said they helped each other escape the train. Bodies were seen strewn across a station platform outside the train. Rescuers carried bandaged and bloodied victims out of the station. Passengers described the horror in the aftermath of the blast. “In the metro car, everyone expected death, if I can say that. After the explosion, everyone expected consequences. Then we were taken out, and people began to help each other, brought others out. Most were covered in blood,” a passenger on the train told state-run TASS. Another passenger at the Sennaya station, Stanislav Listyev, said he felt the explosion and saw smoke coming out of the tunnel. “I was going down the escalator at Sennaya Square at about half past 2, and at that moment I felt an explosion wave underneath. Everything was filled with smoke, people started panicking. So the trains stopped and almost immediately the evacuation started,” he told CNN.
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NEWS PICTORIAL SPANISH KING ATTENDS INAUGURATION:
King Juan Carlos I of Spain (C-L) and Queen Sophia (C-R) attend the inauguration of the exhibition ‘Visions of the Hispanic World. Treasures from the Hispanic Society of America’ at the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. The exhibition will run from today to September 10, 2017. PHOTO: CHEMA MOYA/EPA
RUSSIA TERROR ATTACK: Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) lays flowers outside Tekhnologicheskiy Institut metro station after an explosion took place there yesterday. At least 11 people were killed and dozens were injured in an explosion in the St. Petersburg city’s metro system. Authorities say the suspect is from ‘Central Asia’. See story on page 5. PHOTO: MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/EPA
TRUMP DONATES SALARY: White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (R) gestures after handing over a check of funds being donated by US President Donald Trump (not pictured) to the National Park Service, to US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (L) and Tyrone Brandyburg (C), Harpers Ferry National Historical Park superintendent; during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, yesterday. Trump donated his first quarter salary to the National Park Service. PHOTO: MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA
PAPA WEMBA ANNIVERSSARY:
A man walks past a mural paying tribute to Congolese rumba musician Papa Wemba in the Anoumabo neighbourhood in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, yesterday. Papa Wemba died at the age of 66 after collapsing on stage during the ninth edition of the Urban Music Festival of Anoumabo (FEMUA) in Abidjan, on April 24, 2016. The organizers decided to pay tribute to him in the 10th edition of the FEMUA festival, which will run from 25 to 30 April 2017. PHOTO: LEGNAN KOULA/EPA
THE WAR IN SYRIA: A man assists an injured person inside a field hospital after airstrikes reportedly hit on civilian areas of Douma in Syria yesterday. According to witnesses, at least 21 people were killed and over 50 were injured in airstrikes last evening allegedly carried by forces loyal to the Syrian regime. PHOTO: MOHAMMED BADRA/EPA
COLOMBIA LANDSLIDE DEATHS: People mourn loved ones at a mass funeral after a mudslide hit Mocoa, Colombia, on April 3, 2017. The president of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos declared a state of economic, social and ecological emergency to deal with the tragedy that left over 200 dead and hundreds more homeless after torrential rains caused massive mudslides. PHOTO: LEONARDO MUNOZ/EPA
NEWS 7
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
Morning newspaper summaries Raila’s key poll team takes Raila gives free ride to 400 Revealed: Kenya’s oil shape: The core of ODM leader Raila key aspirants: ODM on Monday gave among best globally: Kenya’s
Maize flour price hits alltime high of Sh153: The
crude could be priced higher than oil produced by some Arab states. The Financial Standard can exclusively report that Kenya’s crude grade ranks among the best in the world. This is according to preliminary tests carried by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and the companies that have been exploring oil in Turkana. According to the Ministry of Energy, preliminary oil tests by Government show it has low sulphur content and density,.
price of the 2kg packet of maize flour has risen to a historic high of Sh153, setting the stage for an increase in inflationary pressure despite Treasury secretary Henry Rotich’s attempt to ease it through tax cuts last week. This is the first time in Kenya that the price of the 2kg packet has touched Sh153 — going past the 2011 peak of Sh150 that forced the government to introduce a raft of measures aimed at reversing the trend.
Joho claims assassination Teenage gangs that strike Guns fired, scores hurt as attempt after guard shot: fear in Nairobi with deadly Joho rally hit by chaos: Shots Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho escaped attacks: They are young flamboyant were fired and scores of people injured when an Opposition leader’s campaign launch death narrowly yesterday after unknown
Motorists to pay fines using smart licences:
Odinga’s presidential campaign team was named yesterday — six major governors — and all were gifted with direct nominations. Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho will lead the corps that includes Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Josephat Nanok (Turkana), David Nkedianye (Kajiado) and James Ongwae (Kisii). Others are nominated Senator Janet Ongera and Homa Bay woman rep Gladys Wanga. Later they will be joined later by four other leaders.
persons shot at his vehicle during his visit to Migori. Joho, who was accompanied by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, was touring Migori county when supporters of Governor Okoth Obado clashed with supporters of governor aspirant Ochillo Ayacko. Speaking to the Star, Abdulswamad said the governor just “cheated” death. “This was an assassination attempt and they were out to kill the governor,” he said.
direct nomination to 427 aspirants — from governors to MCAs — dealing a blow to plans for joint nominations under the National Super Alliance (Nasa) umbrella. Among the lucky ones to get the party ticket without competition were Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and his Mombasa counterpart, Ali Hassan Joho. Those with nomination certificates in their pockets are 16 governor aspirants, 16 for senator, 11 for woman representative.
police-taunting boys who post pictures of bundles of money and bullet wounds from their dangerous adventures in the dark world of crime. These are today’s Nairobi criminal gangs that pose with illegal guns and send heroic messages about their colleagues who have been killed by police. They use Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram to give alerts and warnings about plain-clothes police officers.
turned violent. Among those injured was a bodyguard of Mombasa Governor and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Leader Hassan Joho. Joho, senators James Orengo (Siaya), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), and several officials and aspirants were in Migori to attend a campaign launch for Suna East MP Junet Mohamed when the violence broke out.
IEBC dismisses opposition Swazuri in trouble over Seychelles seeks to hire plan for a parallel election railway land: The National Land more Kenyan teachers: New might have wasted millions Seychelles President Danny Faure yesterday tallying centre: The IEBC has Commission of shillings of public funds by paying for expressed his desire to hire Kenyan teachers. told political parties it is the only agency allowed to count, tally, collate, announce and declare election results. IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati while reacting to NASA’s insistence on a parallel tallying centre said the commission is ready to deliver a credible election. In a statement to newsrooms, Chebukati assured Kenyans that the commission will make every effort to ensure the outcome of the election reflects the will of the people.
acquisition of land that was already reserved for the railway, it emerged on Monday. A member of the commission told the National Assembly Lands Committee on Monday that the large payments were made in December last year and attempts to get hold of information on the matter had been frustrated by the secretariat of the commission. Among the plots of land were at least five parcels in Embakasi valued at a combined Sh215 million.
Mr Faure, who met President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi, noted that Kenya has outstanding teachers. “You still have good teachers,” he said in reference to 400 Kenyans who are working in various sectors in Seychelles, including in schools. During the meeting, Kenya and Seychelles entered a new deal to enhance the two countries’ ties in trade and security.
Kenyan motorists will from next month use the new digital driving licences to pay instant traffic fines, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has said. This is because the new licences will come with a payment wallet from where motorists will draw funds to pay instant fines in the event they are arrested for minor traffic offences, NTSA director general Francis Meja said.
Mbaru sells 5.5m shares in Britam: Businessman Jimnah
Mbaru has sold 5.5 million shares of Britam, cutting his stake in the insurer to a new low of 10.05 per cent. Mr Mbaru’s trades are disclosed in a circular sent by the Nairobi Securities Exchangelisted firm in relation to the sale of a 10.37 per cent stake to International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Sh3.5 billion. The businessman, who held 200.3 million shares in December 2015, had reduced the holdings to 194.8 million shares by June 2016, according to the disclosure.
Top stories from X News global partners Jeff Sessions orders review Justice Dept. to Review An explosion causes carnage of police reforms prompted Accords With Troubled on the St Petersburg metro: by high-profile shootings: Police Agencies: Attorney General Jeff THE first pictures from inside the St Petersburg underground made the carnage horribly clear:
The US attorney general on Monday ordered a nationwide review of all reform agreements with local police departments, placing a key part of Barack Obama’s legacy on criminal justice in jeopardy. Jeff Sessions signalled in a memo filed to a federal court that “consent decrees” such as those struck in recent years with troubled departments in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland, could be scrapped or scaled down. “It is not the responsibility of the federal government to manage non-federal law enforcement agencies,” Sessions said. He said he had instructed senior officials to reexamine all formal agreements between the justice department and police agencies to ensure they fit his series of operating principles www.theguardian.com
Sessions has ordered a sweeping review of federal agreements with dozens of law enforcement agencies, an examination that reflects President Trump’s emphasis on law and order and could lead to a retreat on consent decrees with troubled police departments nationwide. In a memorandum dated March 31 and made public Monday, the attorney general directed his staff to look at whether law enforcement programs adhere to principles put forth by the Trump administration, including one declaring that “the individual misdeeds of bad actors should not impugn” the work police officers perform “in keeping American communities safe.” The Justice Department went to court on Monday to seek a 90-day delay in a consent decree to overhaul Baltimore’s embattled Police Department. www.nytimes.com
a metro carriage with its doors blown off their hinges and bloodied bodies strewn across the platform. “I heard a bang, and felt a strong jolt and the smell of gunpowder,” Andrei Shurshev, an eyewitness, told local reporters. Russia’s investigative committee soon confirmed what most had suspected—that the explosion, which killed at least ten and left more than 50 wounded, was being treated as an act of terror. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, who was in town for a meeting with Aleksandr Lukashenko, his Belarusian counterpart, promised that the security services would “do everything to find out the causes of what had happened”. The bomb went off at around 2.30pm on April 3rd. www.economist.com
St Petersburg metro explosion kills 11: A terrorism
investigation has begun in Russia after an explosion on a train carriage in St Petersburg’s underground metro killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more. The blast hit a train travelling between two stations in the western city’s centre during mid-afternoon. Photos of the scene showed a train at a station with its doors blown out, and the dead and injured lying on the platform. “When we were climbing out of the train carriage — it collapsedeverything just went black,” one commuter said. Another explosive device was later found at a nearby station but was declared safe by police. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Russia’s Anti-Terrorism Committee said it was looking for the perpetrators and organisers of the terror attack. www.ft.com
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BUSINESS
CBK EXCHANGE RATES 1 US DOLLAR 1 UK POUND 1 EURO 1 S.A RAND 1 KSH/USH 1 KSH/TSH
CBK extends KDIC’s term as Chase Bank receiver for a further six months The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has extended the appointment period of the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) as Receiver of Chase Bank Limited for a further six months from Friday April 7, 2017, pursuant to the provisions of Section 53(1) of the Kenya Deposit Insurance Act, 2012. This extension means that depositors will have to endure another six months before they can fully access their finances. KDIC was appointed on April 7, 2016, to assume the management and control of Chase Bank Limited for a period of 12 months pursuant to the provisions of Sections 43(1), 43(2) and 53(1) of the Kenya Deposit Insurance Act, 2012. The appointment of KDIC was carried out in the interest of the bank’s depositors, creditors, and members of the public. At the same time, the Central Bank, together with the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation, has invited investors to present an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) to take an equity interest in Chase Bank. CBK and KDIC, the appointed Receiver, said they are executing their mandates in the matter in accordance with the Laws of Kenya. Chase Bank was a rapidly developing commercial bank, operating through 62 branches. After being put on receivership, the Bank re-opened with reduced activities on April 27, 2016, managed by KCB Bank Kenya Limited. The Bank has continued to operate and grow deposits from the date of receivership.
Kenyans read a public notice placed on a closed door at a Chase Bank branch in downtown Nairobi, April 7, 2016. The Central Bank said on April 7 that it has placed Chase Bank in receivership for 12 months after it misreported its loans and suffered a mass panic withdrawals. At the time, customers rushed to the bank’s ATM machines to withdraw their cash following the resignation of two executives, as the bank experienced liquidity challenges. EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU The announcement commences a formal process of selecting a preferred investor for the Bank, which it is hoped may be concluded within the next six months. Following the receipt and evaluation of EOIs, a shortlist of qualifying investors (Shortlisted Investors) will be granted access to a comprehensive confidential data room to develop a formal proposal to acquire Chase Bank (Kenya) Limited.
“Notwithstanding the circumstances, the CBK and KDIC have concluded that such activities were not an endemic part of the Bank’s business and that the Bank’s core activities are of merit as a service in Kenya. With improved management, governance and oversight CBL could represent a long term viable banking business,” read a statement from CBK in part. The CBK said the Shortlisted Investors
New M-secure system to tame rampant robberies facing M-pesa agents M-pesa shop operators across the country are set to benefit from a new platform that seeks to tame a string of robberies that has plagued the sector in recent months Dubbed M-secure, the new security system allows M-pesa shop owners to alert aauthorities at the touch of a button immediately they come under threat. The device immediately alerts the operator’s office, the nearest police station as well as three other nominate numbers. The device comes at a time when M-pesa related robberies are on the rise, prompting business owners to invest in higher levels of security. It has emerged that some entrepreneurs are reluctant to venture into the M-pesa business due to rampant cases of theft, ranging from robberies to the distribution of counterfeit denominations among others. Reports indicate that over three people have lost their lives in M-pesa related robberies in the last three months of 2017 alone. A man was last week shot dead by police officers in
a botched M-pesa robbery in Kamukunji, Nairobi County. Last month, two robbers targetted an M-pesa outlet in Pipeline Estate and killed the owner of the shop, escaping the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. Speaking to the X News business desk, one M-pesa agent lauded the new security system. Joan Mungai, who runs an M-pesa outlet in Nairobi, has urged every M-pesa agent countrywide to ensure they have the device. “We live and operate in our own businesses like we are slaves. The issue of insecurity has made us record little profits as we fear to keep huge cash for transactions in our shops,” she said. A new World Bank report has revealed that M-pesa has made significant impacts in the lives of the millions of people. It has improved financial access to smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs and has cultivated a culture of saving among users. @enock_x254
will be determined in a fair process using appropriate and objective criteria based on, among other things, regulatory imperatives and prudential guidelines which will ensure a speedy and optimal recovery for depositors, creditors and other stakeholders of Chase Bank, whilst also mindful of seeking to preserve and develop a sound and innovative banking system in Kenya. @kevin_x254
MEAN 103.0989 129.3286 110.1072 7.6878 35.0150 21.6589
BUY SELL 102.9989 103.1989 129.1811 129.4761 109.9839 110.2306 7.6778 7.6978 34.9325 35.0975 21.5894 21.7284
Jambojet introduces bundled fare feature to provide travelers with new incentives Low cost carrier, Jambojet has launched a new ticket structure dubbed Smart Fare, which offers additional flexibility, comfort and convenience to customers looking for more options. Smart Fare offers customers a discounted bundle of travel extras, which includes 10kg cabin luggage, 15kg checked luggage, complimentary seat selection and change fee waiver for a free date change. With the launch of Smart Fare, customers booking a Jambojet ticket can choose from two fare plans – Basic and Smart. While Smart Fare is designed to offer a bundle of additional benefits, Basic Fares will retain the existing pricing profile. In his remarks on the service, Jambojet Managing Director and CEO Willem Hondius said: “As part of reinforcing our commitment to strengthen our customer experience, Smart Fare is designed to offer simple, flexible and affordable choices and ensures a seamless and hassle free travel experience.” The fare feature is available to all customers when making travel reservations through any preferred platform, be it on the website or through a travel agent. Jambojet flies to all major cities in Kenya, including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu as well as Eldoret, Malindi Ukunda and Lamu. The low cost airline has been credited for promoting local tourism as well as opening up regions by enhancing economic growth across the counties. @kevin_x254
Telkom Kenya upgrades Kijabe network as ongoing expansion project picks up steam Telkom Kenya has upgraded its Mobile Network in Kijabe to 3G. The move is part of Telkom Kenya’s ongoing long term and wider network modernisation and expansion project across the country. The telco is undertaking service upgrades across its network, enabling Kenyans to enjoy an improved experience on Mobile and Data service. 3G will ensure consumers are able to enjoy better voice quality and faster Internet speeds. Kijabe, within Kiambu County, is an urban town, home to a growing Kenyan population that is also home to the well-known AIC Kijabe Mission Hospital, internationally renowned for its sophisticated surgery and anesthesia services. Telkom Kenya also recently signed a contract with the Ministry of ICT and the National Constituency Development Fund (NCDF) that will see the telco install 1,160 Constituency Incubation Hubs across the country. One such success is to be found in Limuru Constituency, within Kiambu County. Limuru was the first constituency in
the pilot phase of the incubation hubs project. These hubs are set to benefit youth entrepreneurs by way of helping them develop their ICT skills and applications, bringing them into the digital world and enabling them to grow and start new businesses. The announcement comes barely three weeks after Telkom Kenya dropped its off-net call rates for its bundled offerings of Holla Plus and Holla Premium tariffs. The telco said in mid-March that subscribers of the two tariffs on its Orange network will enjoy the lowest rates in the market at Sh1.80, down from Sh3 previously. Telkom Kenya Chief Corporate Communications Officer George Mlaghui said last month that the company was focused on providing customer-centric solutions through its continuously evolving product and service offerings in line with market trends. He said the telco appreciates the market demand for better quality products that demonstrate more value to its customers. @Dennis_x254
BUSINESS 9
Seychelles to offer employment opportunities to skilled Kenyan workers TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
Kenyans are set to secure employment opportunities from the government of Seychelles, the country’s President, Danny Faure has confirmed. Faure who is in Kenya for a threeday state visit, says the Indian Ocean nation is facing a shortage of skilled and qualified human capital in various sectors of the economy. The move is geared at deepening bilateral relations between Kenya and Seychelles. “What we are doing now is to improve government to government ties,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said following a meeting between him and his counterpart. “It is both our ambition and intention to ensure that we do everything that we can to deepen regional trade investment and to grow our regional economies by working together,” he added. Kenyatta confirmed that Kenya would export teachers to Seychelles to support the country’s education sector. He said the cooperation is geared at fostering the development of both nations. Other areas of cooperation agreed upon by the two heads of state include tourism, maritime security, trade cooperation’s, horticulture, meet
increasing cargo potential,” said President Kenyatta. Uhuru said the success the country has received in the recent past is pegged on improved co-operation between Kenya and other nations, including Seychelles. President Faure said it makes more economic sense for his country to import beef and poultry from Kenya instead of countries like Brazil. “On its part, Seychelles will support Kenya in developing its maritime sector, especially the fishing industry, which Kenya has paid little attention to since independence,” he said. “We can help you develop your fisheries sector and your defense sector, specifically coast guard,” added Faure. President Faure’s visit is the first visit in the African continent since he took over office six months ago. @enock_x254
among others. Kenyatta confirmed that Kenya has agreed to increase poultry exports to
Seychelles and to form a joint meeting that would more than double the sales of the two nations.
Youth fund offers innovators Sh517,000 to invest in grassroots community projects The Junior Chamber International (JCI), in partnership with the UN’s SDG Action Campaign, is offering local innovators up to $5,000 (Sh517,000) in funding to invest in grassroots community projects. JCI is currently accepting proposals for its Global Youth Empowerment Fund, an initiative to empower young people around the world to impact their communities by investing in grassroots, community projects. The Fund will offer grants, financing and training to youth-led projects and social enterprises that advance the Global Goals for Sustainable Development in local communities around the world. “The Fund will believe in the power of young people to create positive change as they address the greatest challenges in their communities and unite all sectors of society to create sustainable impact by advancing the Global Goals for Sustainable Development,” the group said in a recent statement. The fund will focus on projects that are centred on innovation, projects that have potential for scaling up or replication and projects that possess financial viability. The Fund’s managers said that projects should represent innovative methods to the problem it seeks to address. Innovation may result from the use of new methods, new models, new technologies, or application of old methods, models or technologies in a
new, innovative way. “The programme should ideally be feasible on a broad-scale basis and/or be replicable to other social, cultural or geographical settings on a local level or through policy advocacy on the global, regional, or local level,” added the group. The group stated that the project should ideally have the potential to continue beyond the Global Youth Empowerment Fund funding. The Fund has stated that all projects must be run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofit private bodies whose activities contribute to the promotion of sustainable development and youth leadership. Examples include JCI Local Organisations, SDG Action Campaign partners, youth-run registered non-
profit groups and public bodies with specific responsibility for the promotion of youth engagement in advancing the Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs). The projects must also demonstrate community impact and project planning criteria in line with the JCI Active Citizen Framework. The JCI Active Citizen Framework is a planning mechanism for communitybased organizations to identify their community’s greatest needs and align their projects to the global development agenda creating global impact. They must adhere to the goals of JCI and SDG Action Campaign in developing grassroots projects that advance at least one of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development through the JCI Active Citizen Framework. @Dennis_x254
“We have agreed to further increase direct flights between Nairobi and Seychelles via Kenya Airways thus
President Danny Faure of Seychelles (Left) speaks with President Uhuru Kenyatta during their meeting.
Uber partners with Old Mutual to boost financial literacy among drivers Taxi hailing service, Uber, in partnership with financial services firm, Old Mutual has announced plans to offer free money management courses to Uber drivers in Kenya in a move geared at empowering them economically. The technology and flexibility of the Uber app enables driver-partners to start, run and grow a small business on their own terms. By offering skills development in financial management, Uber says it can assist entrepreneurs in building sustainable businesses. Recent statistics illustrate the contribution small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) make to high growth economies on the African continent. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics notes that there are over 17 million SMEs registered in Kenya, with these businesses employing half of the Kenyan workforce. The findings of a study conducted by Invest In Africa (IIA) and Strathmore Business School illustrate that 70 per cent of Kenyan SME’s flop within the first three years of operation owing to a failure to scale up. The findings attribute the collapse of SMEs to a lack of business planning, saying over 30 per cent of them have no proper way to run their
businesses. This lack of planning and financial savvy can cause businesses to fail in their early stages. Uber says, however, that through targeted education and skills development, entrepreneurs have a much stronger chance of ongoing success. The drive, dubbed the Old Mutual On the Money workshop is free to Uber driver partners in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana. “Uber is a passionate champion of innovation, both in the transport sector and in the development of entrepreneurs,” said Alon Lits, General Manager for Uber SubSaharan Africa. “With this partnership we can foster the skills of emerging entrepreneurs, empower driver-partners using our app to grow their small business, support their families and begin saving,” he added. “Small businesses are key to driving inclusive economic growth in Africa and their success will ultimately benefit us all. By extending this partnership with Uber across Africa, we are able to further promote financial fitness across the continent,” John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual said. @enock_x254
10
BUSINESS
New policies to ensure state investments benefit local groups TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
The Kenya Investment Authority will soon be able to ensure that government investments benefit local communities using a new raft of sectoral policies. The country is set to begin a review of incentives once every two years when the Kenya Investment Policy becomes operational. The policy proposes a periodical review of existing incentives to evaluate their effectiveness. The effectiveness of incentives will be based on criteria that includes benefit to local communities, track record in attracting and retaining investors, impact on government revenues and effect on the environment. “Following this review against the above specified criteria, the government may choose to discontinue incentives which it feels are not meeting stated development objectives but may not phase them out existing investors except as outlined in the incentive agreement granted to the investor upon the approval of the incentive,” Kenya Investment Authority Managing Director Moses Ikiara told investors on Monday, April 3, 2017. Ikiara was speaking during a meeting with investors, private sector support agencies, public sector institutions and development partners to deliberate on the draft of the Kenya Investment Policy. The policy is meant to guide attraction, facilitation, retention, monitoring and evaluation of private investments in the country.
A handout photograph provided by TradeMark East Africa shows Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (L) shaking hands with the Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark East Africa Frank Matsaert (R), upon his arrival at the signing ceremony of the Mombasa Port Community Charter in Mombasa, Kenya, 30 June 2014. EPA/SIEGFRIED MODOLA / TRADEMARK EAST AFRICA HANDOUT Ikiara said the policy will streamline investments in the country as well as create a seamless coordination between the National and County Governments. It will also address the critical issues of local content, minimum capital for foreign investors, host community- investor issues and an effective institutional architecture, among other important issues. “The government recognises its
role in ensuring that investment is beneficial to the nation and its citizens. This requires setting clear expectations regarding the role that investors can play in the development of the economy. This policy document seeks to clearly articulate such expectations or responsibilities to ensure coherence between the objectives of investors and those set by the government for the nation,” Ikiara noted. Through this policy, the Authority
hopes to increase the level of private investment to 24 per cent of GDP by 2030 and elevate the country’s standing the ease of doing business index to top 50 and attaining a distance to frontier score of 80. The Authority is a statutory body established in 2004 through an Act of Parliament (Investment Promotion Act No. 6 of 2004) with the main objective of promoting investments in Kenya. @Dennis_x254
Kenyan firms touted in London Stock Exchange report on African innovators
Innovative companies from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria have received a commendation in a publication known as the London Stock Exchange’s Companies to Inspire Africa report The three are the countries with the most companies in the publication, each represented by over 50 organisations. Fifty companies operating in Kenya have been named in the report. Kenyan companies make up 14 per cent of the total number of companies in the report, one of the highest concentrations of high-growth companies in Africa. They included Cellulant, D.light, Craft Silicon, Shop Soko and Bit Pesa, among others. Almost half of the Kenyan companies operate in innovative industries, with 14 companies in the renewable energy space and 11 in technology and telecoms The report identifies 343 companies from 42 African countries as the continent’s most exciting and dynamic small businesses. “The report demonstrates the huge role that small and medium-sized enterprises are playing as the driving force behind African economies: developing skills, creating high-quality jobs and delivering growth,” said Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive, London Stock Exchange. The report found that one of the key barriers for SMEs is the limited access to financing. Some estimates put the funding gap at more than $140 billion (Sh14.5 trillion). Since 2008, the AECF has sought to bridge this gap by making catalytic investments in more than 255 projects in 23 African countries. The analysis argues that an SME funding gap remains and a lack of information about African markets often holds back potential investments. Companies included in the report will be celebrated at an event in Nairobi on May 12, 2017. @Dennis_x254
Samsung targets African market with wind-free air conditioner Multinational technology company, Samsung has unveiled a wind-free wallmounted air conditioner as the conglomerate deepens its foray into the African market. The tech maker’s awardwinning device has been touted as the ideal appliance for overcoming Africa’s traditionally warm and humid climate. The new AR9500M air conditioner has Samsung’s exclusive Wind-Free Cooling technology integrated into its design, which enables customers to obtain both a cooler indoor climate and optimal energy efficiency, without having to experience uncomfortable direct airflow. “The cool and efficient air conditioning capabilities of the AR9500M are ideal for tackling the African heat, while at the same time optimizing your electricity bills. Moreover, the
appliance eliminates the usual discomfort associated with airconditioners, that of having cold wind blowing directly out of the machine,” says Jung Hyun Park, Managing Director for Samsung Electronics East Africa. The AR9500M is designed to provide customers with ideal room conditions, by maintaining a comfortable temperature while using windfree cooling to gently disperse cold air through 21,000 micro air holes. Using Samsung’s new Digital Inverter 8-Pole with POWERboost technology, the AR9500M’s motor generates fewer torque fluctuations. This reduces the overall energy required and shortens the time needed for the compressor to reach its maximum speed (Hertz). The air-conditioner is Wi-Fi-
enabled, meaning that it can be controlled from anywhere, through Samsung’s Smart Home app using a Samsung mobile device. Users can remotely regulate temperature, adjust settings, receive real time updates about performance and daily energy usage, as well as troubleshoot solutions when a repair is necessary. “In addition to its lower energy consumption and rapid cooling properties, the AR9500M’s unique Triangle Architecture has a wider inlet, allowing more air to be drawn in at once. At the same time, the optimal width and angle of the outlet, extra v-blades and large fan – 22% larger than previous models – ensures that air is cooled and expelled faster, farther and wider, to reach every corner of the room,” Mr Park concluded. @kevin_x254
ACCESS
LET’S EXPOUND ON THE TALE OF ‘LOST IN THA 90S’ WHERE SOUL 4 REAL WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP US CAP OFF THE YEAR.
B
We bring washed up artistes into the country simply because they were once a ‘big deal’
How much do we really need
‘international’
BURNA
narrowly escapes losing his wings
HOT TOPICS
Harrison Ford
74-year-old actor Harrison Ford is officially off the hook! Ford is said to be “very happy” after escaping punishment for landing his plane in the wrong spot at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, in February. An investigation was launched after Ford flew over an American Airlines 737, which had 110 passengers on board, then landed on a taxiway instead of the runway. “They conducted a full investigation into the matter,” Ford’s lawyer, Stephen Hofer said. “They interviewed Mr. Ford, they looked at all of the audio and video and computer evidence regarding the landing. After reviewing all of that they determined that no administrative or enforcement action was warranted. He retains his pilot certificate without any restrictions.”
urna Boy had a horrible time in the country, that was obvious by the huff that he has no doubt stormed off in. But as an artiste who was getting paid for his time and probably getting catered to for the entire period he was in the country he owed, in the least bit, the people who hired him more than that performance. With his track record we should not have expected any different. Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy is something of an innovator with his music. His sound is original, it’s fresh, exciting, and poignant at times but sounds very indigenous. Some have even claimed that he should get credit for starting the ‘Mannequin Challenge’ which took the world by storm late last year due to the trend’s similarities with his music video for hit song ‘Soke.’ And as with every true artiste, his spirit seems untamable and tortured. He is one of Nigeria’s most controversial artistes and that is saying something in a country where probably every 5 people have astounding musical capabilities. Burna Boy was reportedly banned from the UK due to a ‘gang related crime’ and a probation violation which is how he found himself in his home country. So his outburst and shabby performance are only minor incidences. But we seem to have given in to making do with subpar performances as consumers of entertnament. We bring washed up artistes into the country simply because they were once a ‘big deal’ and treat them like they are royalty, without any realisation on their part that we are cutting them a break. It must feel absolutely terrible to pay Sh.10, 000 for a ticket only to be mishandled by an overzealous security guard. Aside from @kevin_x254
Bahati, Rayvanny collaboration gets the ‘secular music ‘tag Kenyan popular Gospel music artiste Bahati is under sharp criticism after the release of his new music audio featuring Wasafi records artist Rayvanny. The song dubbed ‘Nikumbushe’ released less than 24 hours ago is eliciting sharp reaction from allies and foes with the majority criticising the popular artiste for going secular. “Bahati you need Redemption from the most High, God loves you and He won’t let you die a sinner ,Remember King Nebuchadnezzar who chased after fame but God made him eat grass for 7 years. I miss the days when you were singing gospels that touched souls before this fame stole you,” wrote a fan on the comments section on YouTube. Bahati is now being accused of having been carried away by the fame and that he has now commercialised his art.
Best dressed @the 2017
ACM Awards
Chris Brown who simply looked like he did not want to be here, we have nothing else to show for 2016. Let’s expound on the tale of ‘Lost in Tha 90s’ where Soul 4 Real were supposed to help us cap off the year. It was reported that the band was booed off stage for lip synching and the proceeded to get into a brawl backstage after their sorry set. If we had done any research on the band we would have realized that in 2009 three of the brothers, Brian, Jason and Andre Dalyrimple were indicted in Georgia on 145 counts of aggravated identity fraud. The Boom Box reports that “It is estimated that the Dalyrimples struck over 260 victims and at least 8 banks, for as much as $1,000,000.” These are the people who we bring onto our stages. While our own artistes starve for attention.
SOUL 4 REAL
DAVIDO
12
FASHIONSCOOP
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
Yes! Gospel music artiste Daddy Owen can be romantic. The ‘Vanity’ singer celebrated 1 year with his beautiful wife treated the lady of the house to dinner at a Nairobi five star hotel; the Radisson Blu in Upper Hill, Nairobi. “Yester night we had a great time with ‘wifey’ at Radisson Blu Hotel celebrating our 1 year anniversary! Thank you so much the staff and everyone who made it possible,” he shared a photo with the caption. For Daddy Owen, Farida was love at first sight in 2012 when they first met and he hopes for many more anniversaries. Congratulations!
Daddy Owen treats wife to dinner
on 1st
ANNIVERSARY
12
ACCESS TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
BEST DRESSED AT THE 2017 ACM AWARDS
NICOLE KIDMAN and KEITH URBAN – in an embroidered white gown and dark wool suit respectively.
CLASSIFIED
12
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 MIRANDA LAMBERT – in a floor – length A-line gown with a plunging neckline.
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lthough Miranda Lambert stole the night with two of the biggest wins--Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year--we can’t forget to mention the great fashion that walked the red carpet last Sunday. Here’s who showed up on our glamradar.
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ERIC DECKER and JESSE JAMES DECKER - in a navy suit and white shirt combo and a sheer layer over nude under clothes respectively.
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THE BOSS BABY
Boss Baby isn’t like the rest of the babies out there. He’s one of the elite few drafted for middle management at BabyCorp, tasked with the job of making sure the babies of the world get all of the love. That job is about to get more complicated, as rival corporation PuppyCo is about to unveil a project that’s going to tip
GENRE: Animation, Comedy, Family CAST: Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel RATING: PG RUNTIME: 98 minutes. the scales of cute power. All Boss Baby has in his arsenal is his wits, his Sigma-6 style management skills, and Tim a brother who’d rather be an only child than cede any love to his bratty brother. Together, they’re going to have to save the day, for baby and kid alike.
John Baker an ex-motocross rider who has become hooked on pain pills due to his many injuries and joins the California Highway Patrol in hopes of repairing his marriage to his cruel, bimbo. A newcomer to the force, his paths then wind up crossing with Castillo, an FBI agent who has been sent undercover to the CHP under the name of Francis Llewellyn Poncherello. As you would expect, John and Ponch wind up being paired as partners -- and while conflict immediately brews out of John’s incompetence and Ponch’s impatience, they find themselves bonded together in pursuit of a corrupt cop who has been pulling off explosive armored car robberies.
Our rating: ★ ★ ★
CHIPS
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GENRE: Action, Adventure, Crime, Buddy cop film CAST: Dax Shepard, Michael Peña, Vincent D’Onofrio RATING: R Runtime: 101 minutes.
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WEATHERFORECAST
ACCESS
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
13
THE CHILDREN HAVE STARTED TAKING HIS SIDE ON THE MATTER AND IT’S NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO EVER DO.
Do you want a floating office?
Dear Irene,
Dear Dr X,
My husband and I have been separated for a year now and even though it’s taken some adjustment, I’m in a much better place than I used to be. I have struggled to raise our daughters alone in that time but my ex has been trying to get back in my life slowly. I understand that my children need to see their father but the problem is that he wants us to get back together. I have no desire for that and he put me through quite a lot in our time together. The children have started taking his side on the matter and it’s not something I want to ever do. How do I show them that this separation is for the best?
-Irene
the one that’s certain is that it will never get old. Here’s a spin on this always timely topic.
My ex is trying a comeback in my life
-Dr X
Human Desire (2011) by Ogi Ogas and Sai
●It’s just biology
that “men’s brains are designed to objectify females.” Which like the initial point makes
also tend to have multiple ‘wives’ to spread their seed around. Since human beings are essentially animals it only makes sense that men have not evolved past the point of hav-
●
Sometimes it seems that the most obvious explanation is the one that makes the most
the urge to mount on somebody. Obviously this does not apply to everyone and is not
ready and raring to go and that is the way it seems if we give it a little thought. Most of the time you would get worried when they are precisely not enthusiastic about sex so this rationale makes absolute sense. Somebody gave your man a little attention and because they are so short sighted about many things it seemed like a good idea.
the pudding. ●You did something wrong Other times the only thought you have in your mind is what you could have possibly done wrong to make him act out in such a drastic manner. You will rack your brain going through all
men are intensely visual creatures. In the
for that one non-existent point where you could see him make the decision to step out on you.
World’s Largest Experiment Reveals About
from torturing yourself.
●
Hold your ground, your children might have their opinions about what you should do but you are the adult here and you make the decisions. You are the one who is going to have to deal with your ex as a husband, not your children. Plus your ex should be already gone. Make it clear to him that you have no other business dealings with him apart from the children and that is where it ends. Your children might be angling to see their father more but it’s better to raise kids in a stable but separate situation than in an unhappy home.
with ‘it’s just boys being boys’ are one of the major reasons why women sell themselves short too many times. Believe it or not there
●
quent Maybe you weren’t doing enough this or that and this will probably be one of your initial thoughts. Nobody is born being great at it and everybody can get better. It’s not some big mystery and not a reason to cheat on somebody but it must happen frequently.
rea s o n s
n architecture firm from New York recently unveiled the design for Analemma Tower. Here’s the kicker, the tower would hang from an asteroid and orbit the earth. This is the future folks. Clouds Architecture Office has plans to build a skyscraper on an asteroid that would be forced to orbit around the earth and move around between cities during the day. The perceived benefits of working in space according to Clouds Architecture Office are, “Harnessing the power of planetary design thinking, it taps into the desire for extreme height, seclusion and constant mobility. If the recent boom in residential towers proves that sales price per square foot rises with floor elevation, then Analemma Tower will command record prices, justifying its high cost of construction.” Which begs the question, ‘how will these people get down?’ According to NBC News, “Analemma would be powered by solar panels and use recycled water. Lower floors would be set aside for business use, while sleeping quarters would be sited about two-thirds of the way up.” With apparently parachutes being used when people want to return to the ground. Although this news sounds utterly ridiculous, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to inadvertently help this idea come to fruition with its Asteroid Redirect Mission- a firstever robotic mission to visit a large nearEarth asteroid, collect a multi-ton boulder from its surface, and redirect it into a stable orbit around the moon. Anyway you might soon be able to work in space, if you can afford the rent.
@christine_x254
Send your agonising queries to christine@x254.co
why MEN cheat a woman’s perspective
@christine_x254
@christine_x254
14
SPORT
Ambaka, Sikuta out of depleted 7s squad TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
The Kenya Sevens squad heading to the Asian tour of the HSBC Sevens World Series has been dealt a major blow following the withdrawal of inspirational players Willy Ambaka and Dan Sikuta just prior to the team’s departure yesterday morning. According to the Kenya Rugby Union, the two pulled out owing to work and personal commitments, with the officials saying replacements will be announced in due course. However, according to Rugby Website Raga House, Ambaka remained behind to work on completion of a move to an overseas club while Sikuta might have been prevailed upon by his club Kabras Sugar to remain behind ahead of this weekend’s Kenya Cup semifinals. Sikuta has been a key figure for Kabras and played an influential role in their weekend 21-18 win over Impala to book a date with Homeboyz RFC in the April 8, duel. Ambaka’s absence will be missed by the team as he
has been one of the best performers this season, topping Kenya’s scoring in points and tries. He has landed 19 tries over the last six legs of the series, making him the ninth overall best try scorer in the series. The burly and speedy enforcer has earned Kenya 95 of its 563 points this season, ranking 21st in the World Rugby season standings. The news of the absence of the two comes just as three other impact players in Billy ‘The Kid’ Odhiambo, Leonard Mugaisi and Oscar Ayodi will all miss through injury. Just like Ambaka, Odhiambo has been a key member of the Shujaa squad with 15 tries and 75 points this season. Shujaa have made it into the Main Cup Quarters only once in the 2016/2017 season at the Cape Town Sevens and heading into Hong Kong, the Innocent Simiyu coached side will hope for a better performance especially after underperforming in the last tour of Las Vegas and Vancouver. “We are below par in terms
of performance. We were expecting to be at 60 points by now but we are at 40. However, we have worked in training and going to the next tour our hope still remains getting at least 10 points in each leg,” Simiyu said prior to the team’s departure for Hong Kong. Shujaa will tackle series leaders South Africa, Canada and France in group B. “It is a tough pool with very good teams. No team can be underrated in the series this far and we are going to ensure we at least get to the Main Cup quarters. In the squad travelling for the tour, Simiyu has handed a debut to Impala’s Derrick Mayer while Dennis Ombachi returns to the side after close to a year. “The team has a blend of old and new blood. It is great to have Ombachi back because he brings in some new dynamics on how he plays with high balls and he increases our chances of playing forward and scoring,” Ombachi said of his squad.
Kenya Sevens squad Kabras Sugar’s Dan Sikuta in action for Kenya Sevens during a past match. He has withdrawn from the squad that left the country for Asian tour of the HSBC series. PHOTO: CAPITAL FM
Sammy Oliech, Eden Agero, Augustine Lugonzo, Bush Mwale, Frank Wanyama, Dennis Ombachi, Andrew Amonde, Derrick Mayar, Brian Tanga, Nelson Oyoo Collins Injera.
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Sunderland boss Moyes runs into trouble with FA
Sunderland boss David Moyes is in trouble with the English Football Association (FA) will wants him to explain himself after telling a reporter she might “get a slap”. After his side’s draw with Burnley on March 18, Moyes was asked by BBC’s Vicki Sparks if the presence of owner Ellis Short had put extra pressure on him. He said “no” but, after the interview, added Sparks “might get a slap even though you’re a woman” and told her to be “careful” next time she visited. Moyes “deeply regrets” the comments. “It was in the heat of the moment,” added the 53-year-old Scot. Both Moyes and Sparks were laughing during the exchange and the former Everton and Manchester United manager later apologised to the reporter, who did not make a complaint. The FA will now write to Moyes to ask for his observations on the incident. Speaking in a news conference
yesterday ahead of his side’s midweek clash with Leicester City, Moyes said: “I deeply regret the comments I made.” “That’s certainly not the person I am. I’ve accepted the mistake. I spoke to the BBC reporter, who accepted my apology.” The BBC confirmed that Moyes and Sparks had spoken about the exchange and the issue had been resolved. A spokesman said: “Mr Moyes has apologised to our reporter and she has accepted his apology.” However, shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan called on the FA to act. “If you look at the fact that he wouldn’t have said that to a male reporter, and I truly believe that, I think the comments and his behaviour and attitude was sexist,” she told BBC Radio 5 live. “With the FA, part of what they have been criticised for in the past is not tackling sexism and other forms of discrimination, which needs to be stamped out across the sport.
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
Sunderland manager David Moyes. He is set to be asked by the FA to explain a remarks in which he told a BBC journalist that she ‘might get a slap’. PHOTO: EPA
“Fundamentally it’s a male-dominated environment that women find it incredibly difficult to break into and comments like this do nothing to encourage women.” Former England striker and BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker also condemned Moyes’ behaviour. “Moyes incident highlights a tendency
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for some managers to treat interviewers with utter disdain. Pressured job. Well rewarded. Inexcusable,” he said. A statement from Women in Football said it was “deeply disappointed and concerned” but “pleased that David Moyes has apologised”. It added: “No-one should be made to feel threatened in the workplace for
simply doing their job. “We hope that the football authorities will work with us to educate football managers and those working within the game to prevent this kind of behaviour.” Sunderland are bottom of the Premier League on 20 points, eight points from safety, going into a game at Leicester City tonight.
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SUNDERLAND BOSS DAVID MOYES RUNS INTO TROUBLE WITH FA OVER ‘SLAP’ REMARK
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Man Utd boost as Ibra returns Manager Jose Mourinho says the team is focused on tonight’s clash as star striker Ibrahimovic returns after a four match suspension although record signing Paul Pogba is remains sidelined
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anchester United will be bolstered by the return from suspension of Ander Herrera and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for their Premier League clash with Everton at Old Trafford tonight. Paul Pogba however remains a doubt with a hamstring injury, while Juan Mata, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are all out. Everton manager Ronald Koeman will have the same players available as he did for Saturday’s defeat at Liverpool. But the trip to United has come too soon for Morgan Schneiderlin who switched sides just last January. Aaron Lennon, James McCarthy, Ramiro Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman are all sidelined with injuries. United are pushing for a top four finish and their fifth standing on the log combined with their two games in hand compared to third placed Liverpool means Jose Mourinho’s men can catch up with their Anfield rivals if they win both matches. And the Portuguese manager hasn’t given up yet. “Until it’s mathematically impossible, we
keep trying and, because this week is a week without the Europa League, we have nothing to think about Europe so this week is easy from the focus point of view,” Mourinho said in his press conference ahead of the clash. United are still in contention for the Europa League which might grant them a direct slot in the Champions League but Mourinho says he will continue to push for qualification through a top four finish and only focus on Europe’s second-tier club competition if that route becomes mathematically impossible. “We have to play Everton and Sunderland... after Sunderland comes the Europa League and then I don’t know. It’s then possible you see me play in the Premier League with a team where I’m going to protect the players I consider fundamental for the Europa League,” he said adding: “But only if the results in the next matches put us in the situation where mathematically it becomes almost impossible to finish in the top four.” Everton’s main threat is Belgian striker
Romelu Lukaku and keeping him quiet has proven good medicine for opposing defenders like was the case at Anfield on Saturday when he failed to even master a shot on target. Head to head facts also favour Manchester United going into this clash with their only defeat in their last 23 home league meetings with Everton coming back in December 2013. They have won 18 and drawn four. The Toffees have scored in just five of their last 12 league visits to Old Trafford, with four of their eight goals in that period coming in a 4-4 draw in April 2012. “It’s difficult and maybe now more difficult because of the injuries we’ve had in the last week or so. In three or four days, we’ve not really had a long time to recover but for Manchester United it is the same,” Everton boss Ronald Koeman observed. United were held to a barren draw at Old Trafford by West Brom over the weekend to leave them with seven such stalemate at home since August 2015 and Koeman is keen on pushing the statistics far.
“We know that they have difficulties at home, maybe in the last few home results, but they had a lot of ball possession and were the better team in every game. They are still a really strong team,” he said. Other matches will see Burnley host Stoke while West Brom travel to Watford. Leicester City who are enjoying a good run of form since the departure of manager Claudio Ranieri in February at home to bottom placed Sunderland. Leicester City captain Wes Morgan remains sidelined for the clash because of a back injury although winger Marc Albrighton is available after missing the win over Stoke due to sickness. Sunderland’s top scorer Jermain Defoe is a doubt with an unspecified problem. Manager David Moyes said at yesterday’s prematch press conference: “Defoe didn’t train yesterday. I can’t give you any more of an update than that.” Lee Cattermole could make his first appearance since September after a hip problem, while Victor Anichebe might also be available.
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