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EMERGENCY OBADO RUSHED TO KNH WITH STOMACHACHE, ADMITTED

Sharon wanted sex tape, says wife of Obado

Union, TSC talks break down, Knut rejects transfer of 85 of its offi cials

Kalonzo: I did not believe in the oath Raila took and I told him as much

Charge Jowie with attempted suicide — Lang’ata police

Hellen says Sharon was booked at the Imperial Hotel in Kisumu where the sex episode was to be videotaped

MOSES ODHIAMBO@Aliwamoses/ Governor Okoth Obado’s wife Hel-len Adhiambo has said there was a plot in April to record a sex tape of her husband with Sharon Otieno.

In her statement to the Director-ate of Criminal Investigations on September 23, Hellen said it was during this revelation that she fi rst heard of Sharon.

Sharon, who was seven month’s pregnant with the Migori gover-nor’s son, was brutally murdered on September 3. � e governor has been charged with murder, which he denies. He has been remanded until his bail hearing on October 8.

� e Star obtained the DCI state-ment. Hellen Obado told detectives that a man, whose mobile she did not have, called her from Awendo subcounty and introduced himself as a friend of the governor’s family.

Hellen said the caller informed her Sharon was booked at the Im-perial Hotel in Kisumu where the sex episode was to be videotaped.

“I called one of our coordinators from Awendo to inquire if Sharon was part of the governor’s cam-paign team dubbed Warembo na Obado. We confi rmed she wasn’t,” the governor’s wife said.

DENIAL Migori governor’s wife Hellen and husband Obado at press conference in Nairobi on her September 12/ENOS TECHE

STRIKE THREAT

SWEARING-IN

MONICA MURDER

VOICES

WYCLIFFE MUGA

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Crowds don’t guarantee Ruto votes at Coast

� e teachers’ union yesterday suff ered a major setback in its bid to stop the Teachers Service Commis-sion from transferring 85 members holding union positions.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has disowned his initial stance that he knew nothing about Raila’s swearing-in on January 30. He now admits that he was against the oath-taking as People’s President.

Lang’ata police have recommen-ded the prosecution of Citizen TV anchor Jaque Maribe’s fi ancé Joseph Irungu, alias Jowie, for attempted suicide. He has been charged with murdering Monica Kimani in Kilimani on September 20. He shot himself.

BIG READ

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2 � ursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

THUR

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BER 4

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HIT OR MISSSTAR SURVEYTODAY’S QUESTION

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

Should DP William Ruto quit Jubilee?

Do you think Jubilee will remain intact by 2022?

YES 32%

NO 68%

WIND POWER PROJECT ASK TRADE SHOW WILLIAM RUTOState to revive programme Show kicks off Accused of causing tension

� e government plans to revive the Kinangop wind power project, Central regional coordinator Wilson Njega has said. � e Sh13.4 billion project stalled three years ago after residents raised concerns about the manner in which it was being implemented. It was mired in claims of bribery and incompetence.See Page 24

President Uhuru Kenyatta will today open this year’s International ASK Trade Fair at the Jamhuri Show Grounds. He will unveil a multipurpose expo hall that will transform the grounds into a modern destination for investors and an entertainment joint all-year round.See Page 11

Deputy President William Ruto is causing tension and confusion with his nationwide campaigns, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko has said. � e MP said Ruto is busy polar- ising the country through divisive politics. “Develop-ment-minded leaders like President Uhuru Kenyatta are not politicking but giving back to their electorate,” she said. See Page 25

Joseph Irungu, alias Jowie/FILE

WAMUCHOMBA ACCUSED GEDI

LUKE AWICH @AchiaAwich

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi will lead members of the Privileges Committee to the women’s washrooms to probe sugar bribery claims. Appear-ing before the Powers and Privileges Committee on Tuesday last week, Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba claimed she heard female colleagues confessing how they were given money by Wajir Woman representative Fatuma Gedi to vote against the sugar report.

Wamuchomba said she was at the toilet lobby where she heard the voice of her colleagues from the cubicles making the bribery confession. She, however, told the committee chaired by Muturi that she did not identify them as they went mute after hearing her receive a phone call.

It is this claim that will make the committee visit the lavatory to ascertain whether it is possible for people sharing cubicles to talk to each other and whether someone at the lobby can eavesdrop on their con-versation. Wamuchomba will accompany the House team to the toilet to demonstrate the events of August 30, minutes before the MPs voted against the report.

“She (Wamuchomba) could be present to us where she was and where the others were,” Muturi directed. “It is fair for us to just see and make determination from a point of knowledge. We therefore should be there by 9am and vacate the facility as soon as possible because it will be a day when the House will be on session.”

Muturi spoke after the committee listened to the last witness – Nyeri Woman Representative Rahab Mukami – over the sugar bribery claims which have rocked the house over the last two months. Mukami confessed to the committee how Gedi threw tantrums at her when she (Mukami) confronted her as to why she was lobbying members to shoot down the report.

“She told me that we are targeting the two Cabinet Secretaries who were mentioned in the report because they are not Kikuyus,” testifi ed Mukami who sits at the Trades Committee which jointly with Agriculture committee came up with the report.

“Gedi was going round the chambers lobbying mem-bers lobbying members to vote against the report.”

She however denied seeing money exchanging hands. � e report had recommended that National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, EAC Adan Mohammed and former Agriculture CS Willy Bett to take personal responsibility for the infl ux of contraband sugar in the country.

MPs to visit women’s toilet as they probebribery claims

REFUSED TO RECORD ANOTHER STATEMENT

Cops want Jowie charged with attempted suicide At least six people have recorded statements with police

Langata police have recommended the prosecution of Citizen TV anchor Jaque Maribe’s fi ancé Joseph Irungu, alias Jowie, with the offence of attempted suicide. He is the prime suspect in the murder of Monica Kimani in Kilimani.

� e murder case against Irungu is still pending under investigations by DCI offi cers from the homicide unit on Kiambu Road. Investigators said yesterday they had suffi cient evidence to prove that Irungu attempted to take his life on the night of September 21 at the home of Maribe at Royal Park Estate in Langata. DCI offi cers from Lang’ata police have been probing how Irungu was shot on the left side of his chest. Irungu and Maribe had reported to Langata police that the man was shot by criminals on a motorbike who trailed them to their residence.

According to the initial police

report, Irungu claimed to have dropped his fi ancé home after which he went outside and confronted the men who shot him and fl ed.

Investigations have, however, revealed Irungu was not shot by criminals as he alleged and that he attempted to commit suicide.

At least six people, among them Brian Kassaine - a close associate and neighbour - have recorded statements with the investigators.

Kassaine and his wife Catherine have recorded almost similar statements on the events of the night when Irungu is said to have shot himself with a gun he had borrowed from the businessman.

Catherine was the last witness to record her statement with the police on Tuesday. Maribe’s househelp and two security guards at the home have also recorded their statements with the police. � ey will be testifying in the case in which Irungu will face the charge of attempted suicide.

If found guilty, Irungu could be

jailed for a maximum of two years. Catherine in her statements told the investigators how she and her husband were woken up by a bang on their door on the night when Irungu shot himself.

Catherine said she and her husband took Irungu to Langata Hospital after he shot himself. Fresh details of the statements recorded by the husband also emerged yesterday.

� e 35-year-old Kassaine, who has since been arrested and detained for 10 days at the Langata police station, revealed how Irungu went to his house and asked if he had kerosene.

Kassainee told investigators he told Irungu he did not have the paraffin, after which he left. He later learnt Irungu needed paraffi n to light a fi re to burn some clothes.

At the Muthaiga police station where Irungu is remanded, investigators said he declined to record further statements. “We are holding onto his initial statement,” an investigator said.

KAMORE MAINA@kamoremaina

More news on our website. Scan this quick response code using your smartphone.

Thursday, October 4, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE 3

CORRIDORS OF POWER

CARTOON

SO, what is Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s (pictured) political game plan? Is he hoping for an endorsement from ODM chief Raila Odinga for the presidency in 2022 or is he laying his own strategy? Kalonzo’s declaration that he would be ‘mad’ to support Raila for the third time for president has set tongues wagging. There are claims of deep suspicions in Nasa despite the public show of camaraderie be-tween Raila, Kalonzo and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi. It is said persistent declarations by Raila’s allies that he will be in the ballot in 2022 is the cause of the silent friction. Political realig-nments seem to be looming.

A former Cabinet minister has become a thorn in the flesh of MPs. Lawmakers from his area are openly dodging him and ignoring his phone calls. When not asking leaders for finan-cial favours, the former MP is said to be sending his relatives to the lawmakers, seeking emplo-yment connections. One MP was overheard narrating how the ex-minister has become a bother. He told colleagues how the former MP sent seven youths to his office in two weeks with job requests.

STAFF at KBC in Mombasa are a disgruntled lot. The men’s toilet has blocked for the last one month. No repairs have been done. The women’s toilet is in a poor state. The staff claim Sh1 million for maintenance is remitted quarterly to the finance department, but fake receipts are issued to account for the money. For months, they say vehicles have either not been fuelled or broken down, forcing scribes to walk to assignments. The compound is over-grown with grass because there is no money to pay lawnmowers. They want the finance department to be investigated.

A first-time MP is the talk of town. Last weekend, he was spotted at a famous city restaurant sandwiched between beauties. The vocal and youthful lawmaker merrily chatted with the girls. He seems to have forgotten that he still bears the title of ‘mheshimiwa’. A mole who tipped Corridors on the mischievous behaviour of the legislator wondered why he could not seek a private place, which is not flocked by prying eyes.

STILL on MPs, one who is believed to have pocketed a hefty bribe recently is now a sad man. Corridors has gathered that the law-maker took and hid the millions of shillings at home. Unfortunately, his wife discovered the hideout, eloped and took off with the cash to a neighbouring country. The legislator is afraid to confront the wife because she might alert the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials.

Who is doing what and where in the world of politics

POLITICAL GOSSIP

SportPesa Mega Jackpot winner Cosmas Korir (centre) and former jackpot winner Gordon Ogada (left) at Carnivore grounds yesterday. Korir won Sh208 million/COURTESY

PRODUCE DELIVERED LAST YEAR

PHOTO STORY

Help maize farmers get their delayed pay, MPs tell Uhuru Rotich and Kiunjuri had promised the farmers would be paid starting Monday

MPs yesterday urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to crack the whip on individuals derailing payment of Sh1.4 billion to maize farmers.

Alfred Keter of Nandi Hills, Silas Tiren of Moiben, Joshua Kandie of Baringo Central and Sammy Seronei (nominated) faulted Ag-riculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and his national Treasury counterpart Henry Rotich for not honouring their promise in paying the farm-ers their dues. The MPs spoke to the media at Parliament Buildings.

Rotich and Kiunjuri had prom-ised to have the farmers paid

starting Monday this week but the money has not reflected into their bank accounts. “We are telling the President to take this matter seri-ously because it will soon turn to be a serious disaster. We need to see the real culprits behind this delay arrested,” Tiren said.

“Are maize farmers being frus-trated because this is the only well-paying agricultural sector?”

Over 500 farmers are waiting to receive their dues after supply-ing maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board last year. “I think there is a deliberate attempt to sabotage local production. We have borrowed up to Sh6 trillion, yet we are killing local production

to attract foreign aid,” Keter said.The MP said small-scale farmers

have been unable to clear school fees for their children and cater for their families due to delay of disbursement of the funds by the government.

“Why are the two CSs playing PR with this sector by promising to pay farmers? The government should set its priorities right and recognise agriculture as the back-bone of our nation,” Seronei said.

NCPB officials in Kitale, Mois Bridge, Eldoret and elsewhere said they were waiting for cash and farmers would be paid immedi-ately the money is sent to the de-pots.

JAMES MURIMI@Jamesmurymy

‘WHY ARE THE TWO CSs PLAYING PR WITH THIS SECTOR BY PROMISING TO PAY FARMERS?’

THE-STAR.CO.KE

FROM PAGE 1/ Hellen said she called her husband, who was at the devolution conference in Kakamega, to inform him of the plot.

“I asked him whether he knew Sharon and whether he had booked with her at the said hotel. He denied that and informed me that he was staying at the Acacia Premier hotel,” she told the DCI.

“I told him (the governor) that I had information of a plan of recording him with Sharon. He dismissed the allegations and maintained that he was not booked at the Imperial Hotel.”

Yesterday, Obado was rushed from Industrial Area Prison to National Hospital yesterday after suffering a severe stomachache. Prison bosses said he was admitted at about 10am.

It has emerged that his wife Hellen confronted him with questions about Sharon later, after the devolution conference.

She told detectives there were

Thursday, October 4, 2018 4

new

s EMERGENCY MURDER SUSPECT OBADO RUSHED TO KNH WITH STOMACHACHE, ADMITTED

Sharon wanted to record sex tape, says Obado wife

rumours of the governor seeking a second wife.

Hellen said the claim of a second wife was circulating so widely on social media that she even referred to it at a public gathering during a speech.

She adds Obado later sat her down in May and admitted his affair with Sharon, even telling her the Rongo University student was pregnant.

“I asked him if he was planning to marry Sharon as a second wife. I told him that I honestly preferred he married instead of having affairs. He told me he had no such plans and that he had ended the relationship with the said girl,” Hellen’s statement reads.

“My husband said he would only

discuss the welfare of the child if proved to be his.” He later admitted paternity.

Hellen also said she later saw a text from Sharon in Obado’s phone during their son’s graduation in July.

“It was then that I asked him how he was going to bring the baby home without informing our children. We agreed to sit with our children, as the talk of Sharon’s pregnancy became common,” she said.

The governor’s wife sat with their eldest son to discuss the problem after the family returned from his graduation in the UK.

The three later met the other members of the nuclear family to deliberate the way forward.

Later in August, Hellen said, Nation journalist Barack Oduor and former Kanyandoto MCA Leonard Mula visited her home in Migori.

“I personally served them tea at the lounge where they were ushered. It was then that we introduced each other and exchanged pleasantries with Mula since I happen to have relatives at their place,” she said.

The governor’s wife said she inquired why the governor was hosting visitors from Homa Bay and was told that the discussion was not political but related to the welfare of Sharon and her unborn baby.

She denied ever meeting the journalist and the former county legislator again. Between August 26 and September 1, she was engaged at an SDA camp meeting which was hosted at the church near her home, Hellen said.

“On August 31, I returned to Nairobi to attend a Council of

‘IT WAS THEN THAT I ASKED HIM HOW HE WAS GOING TO BRING THE BABY HOME WITHOUT INFORMING OUR CHILDREN. WE AGREED TO SIT WITH OUR CHILDREN, AS THE TALK OF SHARON’S PREGNANCY BECAME COMMON’

THE-STAR.CO.KE� ursday, October 4, 2018 5

EMERGENCY MURDER SUSPECT OBADO RUSHED TO KNH WITH STOMACHACHE, ADMITTED

Sharon wanted to record sex tape, says Obado wife

Migori Governor Okoth Obado at Milimani law court on September 25 /COLLINS KWEYU

For more news on our website.Scan this quickresponse codeusing yoursmartphone.

the Jaff ery Club and had a meeting later with Ida. He returned after 8pm and did not leave the house.”

“� e following morning, I learned of the abduction of a Nation journalist and Sharon with Michael Oyamo as the alleged key player,” Hellen told detectives.

She said she knew Oyamo as the governor’s PA. Hellen also said she knows Caspal Obiero. � e two have denied killing Sharon.

“I know Oyamo. I do not relate to him outside his offi cial duties. I don’t remember ever having spoken with him on the phone. I also know Caspal. He is a clerk at the county government and my husband’s clansman.”

“I communicate with Caspal when he occasionally handles my personal errands by virtue of clan relations with my husband. I have never spoken to Oyamo or Caspal about Sharon or the latter’s pregnancy,” she stated.

Hellen also informed detectives that she had neither met nor spoken with Sharon on the phone. “I don’t even have her number,” she said.

Concerning claims she was close with journalist Oduor — following revelations about a picture of her and the journalist which was also shared after the death of Sharon — Hellen said the photo was taken when she hosted journalists for an interview about her chicken project for women’s empowerment.

“When Barack came to my home with Mula, I did not remember having met him and neither did he remind me.”

“I don’t know anything concern Sharon’s death,” she told the DCI.

Governors meeting for fi rst ladies. I also ran personal errands and bought some building materials for the church. � e materials were delivered to Migori via Transline.”

Hellen further said that Obado was in Nairobi on the night of Sharon’s murder.

“My husband, our fi rst and third born, left Migori for Nairobi on September 2. � ey arrived late in the evening and did not leave the house. I was in Gikomba on September 3 to buy material for a house we’re building for our ailing mother,” she told the police investigators.

Sharon’s body was found in a thicket near Wire Forest in Oyugis town. She was raped, stabbed eight times, almost eviscerated. � e baby died of a stab wound that extended to her spine.

Hellen further said that on September 3, she spoke with Ida Odinga — the wife of ODM leader Raila Odinga — through the governor’s phone.

“My husband had left home for

When Sharon Otieno was pregnant, I did talk over it with her. She even suggested

that I bring her home since she was pregnant. I told her that I did not have such intentions and the only thing we were discussing was the welfare of the child.

After that Sharon kept on sending several WhatsApp messages but I would not reply. She used approximately seven diff erent phones that I used to block. Around June or July, she started sending the message and her pictures of pregnancy to many people. � ey included my fi rst son Dan and my staff at Migori county.

During the governors conference that was held in Kakamega, I was booked at Acacia hotel in Kisumu with other governors. Sharon went and booked herself at Imperial Hotel Kisumu without my invitation or involvement. On the same day, my wife called me asking which hotel I was booked and I told her that I was at Acacia Hotel. She queried whether I was at the Imperial Hotel with one Sharon Otieno as she had been informed that there was a plan to take video recordings at Imperial with Sharon and me. I dismissed the claim and I assured her that I was Acacia.

Around late April or early May, I met with Sharon at a Nairobi hotel and this was the last time that I physically met her. I also learned that she had other two children older than the daughter she had told me of. When I met her she had introduced herself as a single mother of one.

[ODM chairman John] Mbadi later called me and told me of a journalist who had been looking for me and he sent his mobile number. He requested me to call him. I did call the number and the gentleman introduced himself as Barrack Oduor a Nation reporter based in Homa Bay. He said that he had tried to reach me many times but failed to fi nd me. I met Barrack only once at home in Migori.

Extracts from Obado’s statement following the murder of Sharon Otieno. Obado is the Migori governor

I told Sharon we can only talk

about the welfare of the baby, not

marrying her

Sharon & Nation reporter Barack Oduor kidnapped

Obado's PA Michael Oyamo

arrested

Sharon's body found dumped in forest near Oyugis

Postmortem reveals Sharon

was raped, strangled &

stabbed 8 times

Obado grilled by detectives in Kisumu

11/09

03/09

04/09

07/09

13/09

04/09

Obado confesses to having an

affair with Sharon

Obado arrested early morning, Nairobi

Obado charged with Sharon’s

murder

High Court denies Obado’s bail request

Court to rule on Obado's

bail application

21/09

27/09

24/09

08/09

Chronology of events

After Sharon’s Murder

THE-STAR.CO.KE

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has disowned his initial stance and said he was against Raila Odinga’s swear-ing-in on January 30.

Appearing on Citizen TV’s News-Night show on Tuesday, Kalonzo said he didn’t believe in the oath-taking despite earlier telling supporters the swearing-in was the beginning of the struggle for fi nal liberation.

“We might not have the army like our counterparts in the government but the whole world will know that the people of Kenya have spoken and need their choice to be respected,” Kalonzo said at a Nasa rally in Homa Bay on January 26.

He ruled out dialogue with Jubilee saying time had run out.

“My brother Raila has been ac-cused of being power hungry, yet the truth is that he is more lenient than even myself,” Kalonzo said at a rally in Kakamega on January 28.

“His victory has been robbed thrice yet I feel more aggrieved and bitter for having been robbed twice as his running mate. � is time round we must be sworn in and then we fi x this poll theft mess before 2022.”

On Tuesday, the former Vice Pres-ident vacated his earlier stance, say-ing the oath-taking was like “acting in a manner to mislead the people”.

“� e truth of the matter is that there are people who misadvised my brother Raila on the swearing-in. Raila knew I was not going to be part of the oath because I have always stood for honest politics and been

RAMADHAN RAJAB@Rrajab

Brenda Gathoni /NG’ANG’A THAIRU

Joseph Kinyua /FILE

RAPED AND MURDERED

FOUR-MONTH DEADLINE

AG APPLICATION DISMISSEDWe don’t trust police probe, says family of slain girl

Get e-passports or you’ll not be cleared to travel abroad, Kinyua tells civil servants

Cybercrime law orders to stayNG’ANG’A THAIRU/ � e family of a three-year-old girl who was raped and murdered have said they have no confi dence in police investigations.

� e body of Brenda Gathoni was found in a toilet in Mang’u, Gatundu North, last � ursday. Her father Sebastian Njoroge yesterday told the Star that offi cers investigating the murder are slack.

“� ey are relaxed and the process is very slow. It’s hard to believe that I will bury my daughter without knowing why she was murdered,” he said. Njoroge said police were

slow to arrest the killers. Mother Margaret Wambui said, “We want justice served.”

Gathoni was murdered just a day before her grandfather’s burial.

Postmortem conducted at Bishop Okoye Funeral Home showed she was raped and strangled before being hit to death.

Her panty was removed and blood-stained mucus oozed from her nose.

Gatundu North DCI David Wangila, who is investigating the case, declined to comment. Gatundu police boss Reuben Muli said a suspect has been arrested.

IMENDE BENJAMIN/ Civil servants have been asked to get new e-passports in four months or risk being blocked from travelling out of the country.

Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua said international travel clearances for public servants will only be granted to e-passport holders. � e clearances involve both offi cial or personal travels.

“With eff ect from February 28, 2019, travel clearances for international travel by public servants will only be granted where applicant possess a Kenyan e-passport,” Kinyua said in a circular dated September 26.

� e move is to foster migration to the e-passport ahead of the August 31, deadline.

ANNETTE WAMBULWA/ � e High Court has declined to set aside orders suspending sections of the cybercrime laws. Dismissing the application fi led by Attorney General Paul Kihara, Justice Wilfrida Okwany said the petition was not satisfactory.

“Given the circumstances of this case, I’m not satisfi ed that the applicant has demonstrated that the orders setting aside the conservatory orders are merited,” she said. � e orders were issued by justice Chacha Mwita, who suspended the laws until a case challenging their constitutionality is determined.

Okwany said the decision on the orders sought rests with the court handling the case.

I didn’t believe in Raila oath, says KalonzoWiper leader says ODM boss was misadvised on the January 30 swearing-in at Uhuru Park, which he skipped

WERE AWAY IN BONI FORESTBaby Pendo inquest resumes as two GSU offi cers explain whereabouts of weaponsFAITH MATETE/ � e inquest into the death of Baby Pendo resumes today when two GSU offi cers reported not to have accounted for their weapons testify. Constables Jeff er Omar and Evans Kibet could not appear before the hearing in August because they were on assignment in Boni Forest.

� e inquest heard they failed to account for their ammunition after

they concluded their operation in Nyalenda slum during last year’s post-election chaos. Six-month-old Samantha Pendo was killed during post-election protests in Nyalenda last August. Omar and Kibet are expected to explain where their ammunition were after the operation. � ey were in Nyalenda where the infant was clobbered.

guided by what is reasonable and in the best interest of the nation. I’m happy people called it a mock thing,” Kalonzo told Hussein Mo-hamed during the interview.

In February, the Wiper leader said he had been prevented from taking oath together with Raila because he had been put under house ar-rest. Kalonzo promised to take the oath later.

“How I wish I were able to do it right now. Taking oath is not an is-sue. We are not cowards. � ere is no hindrance. We have to put our house in order,” he said during National Executive Council meeting of the Wiper Party.

PROFESSIONAL RUNNING MATEBut on Tuesday, the former Foreign Aff airs minister said he never be-lieved in the swearing-in. “I didn’t want to rock the boat by appearing to be going against the grain,” he said.

On the 2022 General Election, Ka-lonzo said he will not be a running mate again and will instead go for the presidency. ODM leaders, includ-ing Siaya senator James Orengo, have said Raila will run again for presi-dent in 2022.

But Kalonzo said he will not be Raila’s deputy for the ticket because he does not want to be seen as a

“professional running mate.”“From where you are sitting, do

you expect Kalonzo to support Rai-la for the third time? Do you think I’d be in a proper frame of mind?” he said. “I look at that [Orengo’s remarks] as political posturing and people are entitled to it and should advance them to address issues in their mind.”

NEWS GENERAL

‘THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MISADVISED MY BROTHER RAILA’

� ursday, October 4, 2018 6

NASA BOSS FLIP-FLOPS

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and ODM’s Raila Odinga during the opening ceremony of Katani Hospital in Mlolongo on Monday /DENNIS KAVISU

The Kenya National Union of Teach-ers yesterday suffered a major set-back in its bid to stop the Teachers Service Commission from trans-ferring 85 members holding union positions.

The TSC, through a statement to media houses, said it is “unreason-able and discriminatory” for Knut to block the transfer of 85 teachers out of the 321,007 serving in public schools. The commission and Knut have been meeting in Naivasha. The five-day meeting started on Monday.

CEO Nancy Macharia opposed the Wilson Sossion-led Knut’s push to have the commission grant its elect-ed officials special treatment in the ongoing transfers.

“The union’s demand for the TSC to exempt some elected officials from operational policies and regula-tions can only undermine provision of quality teachers and, by extension, the quality of education. This is not tenable,” she said.

Macharia said Knut’s demand vi-olates Article 27 of the Constitution and Section 4 of the TSC Act that prevents unfair treatment or dis-crimination of its employees.

“Employees who hold elective offices in unions, saccos, among others, are primarily employed to teach and are bound by the Code of Regulations for Teachers, which include provisions on transfers of

SAMUEL KISIKA@KisikaSam

House team alarmed by laxity of road builders, shoddy work

Raila-Ruto battle replayed in Migori senator contest

Lack of laws to blame for stalled regional blocs, governors told

MANUEL ODENY/ Candidates for Migori senator seat have been traversing the county to woo support ahead of Monday’s election.

About 388,000 voters are expected to take part. Federal Party of Kenya candidate Eddy Gicheru denied he is supported by DP William Ruto.

“I have no link to the Deputy President. The helicopters I’ve been using in my campaigns are not funded by him,” he said.

ODM has been campaigning for its candidate Ochilo Ayacko. Deputy party leader Hassan Joho warned they will not allow Ruto to ‘destabilise’ their support base.

Party leader Raila is expected to visit the region. He will be in Kuria and Nyatike today and will wrap up his campaign in Migori tomorrow.

GEORGE MURAGE/ Lack of policies and laws is to blame for failure by county economic blocs to deliver on their mandate.

None of the six economic blocs is operational years after they were formed. This emerged when the Council of Governors held a meeting at Sawela Lodge, Naivasha. They focussed on how the blocs can harness opportunities to promote development. Uasin Gishu Trade executive Emily Kogos said many blocs have no legal frameworks. He blamed it on the unique problems faced by county assemblies.

MARRYANN CHAI/ The National Assembly Transport committee has warned road contractors against laxity, shoddy work and failure to complete projects on time.

Chairperson David Pkosing yesterday said they will audit all county and national government contractors and those who fail to meet the standards will be blacklisted. He said in Kapenguria town that he had received complaints against some contractors.“Some were given contracts but have done nothing. We’ll not entertain contractors who fail to offer quality service. We want serious and honest,” he said.

GETS COMPLAINTS

MONDAY VOTE

CoG MEETING

No special treatment for KnutTeachers’ union sought to have 85 members-cum-officials retained in their stations

TRAINING PROGRAMME

Jobless Mombasa youths try hand in business, seek skillsBRIAN OTIENO/ Many Mombasa youths have established businesses as jobs become scarce.

The Kenya Youth Business Trust yesterday said many others have shown interest. “We’re seeing more interest in business skills than it was two years ago,” facilitator Doll Osman said during a training programme for 100 youths at Majengo chief’s office, Mvita. Musa Jamada, a coordinator in the senator’s office, said such training averts disasters, as idle youths find something constructive to do. The project targets 120 youth in each of the six subcounties.

teachers,” she said. In August, President Uhuru Ken-

yatta directed the TSC to review the delocalisation policy that had seen it initiate mass transfers. He said he had received complaints it was breaking families.

TSC and Knut officials differed on the matter during their meeting in Naivasha. The statement disclosed that Knut officials sought to have the issue suspended to a later date after the teachers’ employer refused to honour to their demand.

Macharia insisted that her com-mission has allowed 111 Knut offi-cials serving as executive secretaries to work full-time in the union offices across the country. She said they act-ed in good faith to promote cordial work relations between them.

“Election to any union office can-not, therefore, be used to irregular-ly amend the contract between an employee and the employer,” the CEO said.

She said teachers’ employment letters and the commission’s collec-tive bargaining agreement with Knut allows the posting of teachers to any school their services are required without granting any preferential treatment to anyone.

“TSC exercises this mandate within the framework of the Con-stitution, the TSC Act, the Code of Regulations for Teachers and the CBA to ensure equity in distribution and optimal utilisation of teachers,” Macharia said.

The parties have also been delib-erating on the implementation of

the 2017-21 CBA. Issues in the CBA include promo-

tion, career progression, teachers appraisal programme and transfers.

The TSC will continue with talks on the implementation of the CBA for the “benefit of the Kenyan child”, Macharia said.

She urged Knut officials to prior-itise learners’ interests.

Knut secretary general willson Sossion on April 26 /THE STAR

MP David Pkossing /MARRYANN CHAI

Shekue Naman from Mombasa senator’s office and trainees at the Majengo chief’s office, Mvita, yesterday / BRIAN OTIENO

NEWS GENERAL

7 Thursday, October 4, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE

CORRECTION

The Nairobi City County Assembly placed an advertisement in yesterday’s Star Newspaper which had an error that referred to the Clerk as Jacob Ngwele whereas currently Nancy Mutai is the acting Clerk of Nairobi City County Assembly.

We regret the error and apologize for any embarrassment caused to either party.

NAIROBI CITY COUNTY ASSEMBLY

Telegraphic Address Email: clerk@nairobiassembly.go.ke Telephone 020 2216151 Web: www.nairobiassembly.go.ke

THE SECOND ASSEMBLY

EACC faults Kisumu county assembly for overspendingMAURICE ALAL/ The Kisumu county assembly is on the spot for overspending.

A report released yesterday by the EACC showed that the actual expenditure by assembly on committee expenses exceeded the cash allocated in the approved budget. In 2016-17, it allocated Sh11 million for supply, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of an integrated digital handsard system. It however signed a contract of Sh19.89 million with M/S Kenya ICT and Computer Engineering Holdings Ltd on August 2, 2016.

The commission wants the assembly to ensure adequate budgets for its programmes.

SH8.8M MORE

TSC REJECTS DEMAND

THE-STAR.CO.KE 9 Thursday, October 4, 2018

NEWS GENERAL

SYSTEM FACES HUDDLES

Pupils in three classes to take new curriculum from JanuaryGovernment had targeted roll-out to go up to grade four but there are no funds

Money sent via M-Pesa, says audit report

The government will roll out the new curriculum in January target-ing learners in pre-primary, grade one, two and three.

The roll-out comes to effect after a year-long pilot conducted in all schools in grade two and for some 350 schools in grade three.

This means schools across the country will formally adopt the new system that focuses on skills instead of knowledge.

The government initially targeted the roll-out to go to grade four and move progressively up the system.

The inaugural students were set to complete high school in 2027.

In effect, 8-4-4 will continue until the last batch sits Form Four exams in 2026. This means, the old system will now be wiped out from schools a year later in 2028.

According to ministry sources, budget constrains have been the main challenges affecting the new system.

The new system has also suffered lack of multi-agency cooperation during the pilot period.

For example, the new curricu-lum is meant to test students in the fourth grade and the sixth grade.

However, the Kenya National Ex-amination Council is yet to come up with an assessment framework.

Training of teachers conducted during the holidays has also been

LEWIS NYAUNDI@X_nyaundiH

pointed as an area of weakness as it is conducted by the Kenya Insti-tute of Curriculum Development instead of the Teachers Service Commission.

“The new curriculum is not a solo mandate of KICD, it involved other agencies such as TSC and KNEC,” said the source.

However, Education CS Amina Mohamed defended the decision to roll out the curriculum up to Grade 3. “Evaluation of the CBC was com-pleted two weeks ago. I am happy

Education CS Amina Mohamed when she appeared before the Education committee in July/JACK OWUOR

Workers at a Kenya Power site /FILE

How Kenya Power staff took bribes and fleeced the firm

POWER TO STEAL JOSEPH NDUNDA/ Kenya Power offi-cials received bribes of up to Sh900, 000 each through Mpesa from of-ficials and directors of firms con-tracted to supply services between 2017 and 2019.

The revelations are contained in an audit report presented in court yesterday, in the case where former CEOs Ken Tarus, Ben Chumo and ten others are charged with abuse of office.

The works in question include line construction and other related services such as emergency jobs, change of rotten poles, underground cabling and reinforcement schemes.

“Employees, who were receiving money from contractors, were shar-ing with other employees within the company. This is a clear pointer of a wider association of KPLC employ-ees with prequalified labour and transport firms,” the report reads.

“This close relationship and ex-change of cash with contractors compromised their objectivity in supervising the contracts hence frequent complaints on quality of works undertaken by the firms.”

The report prepared by KPLC principal internal auditor Argwings

Kodhek indicated that a total of 354 companies or 67 per cent of the 525 companies contracted by the Kenya Power were ineligible for pre-qual-ification. The companies presented fake registration, National Construc-tion Authority and Energy Regula-tion Commission’s certificates.

The companies applied for the tenders through proxy companies and the report faulted the KPLC tendering committee for including them in the pre-qualification pro-cess, despite having failed the basic stages of procurement.

Sixty seven of the companies are related because they were owned by the same directors against the pro-curement laws. Some of the firms listed KPLC employees as their tech-nical directors and supervisors.

The employees, who were grilled by auditors, denied knowledge or relationship with the said firms al-leging that their documents might have been obtained illegally without their knowledge.

Although the KPLC staffers are not listed as directors in most of the companies they own, they are the signatories to the bank accounts submitted to the company.

HE WAS BEING DISCIPLINED

DECISION UNANIMOUS

CROPS ALSO DESTROYED

MCAs censure executive over poor works at dam

Naivasha woman fighting for life after Buffalo attack

Dad to face murder charges over son’s death after beating

ELIUD WAITHAKA/Laikipia MCAs have adopted a report that rejects approval of two dams rehabilitated at a cost of Sh5.6 million.

On Tuesday, the Agriculture, Envi-ronment and Natural resources com-mittee chairperson Simon Kanyutu (Marmanet) tabled the report of the Kalalu earth and South Imenti/ Imen-ya dams that were rehabilitated early this year, with the members agreeing with the findings.

The report said Kalalu earth dam had its banks misplaced, outlet is too low to hold large capacity of water and that it is full of vegetation.

On the dam located in Umande ward in Laikipia East sub-county, the report said the spillway was poorly done. The committee recommend that the county water executive committee member should justify the work done.

GEORGE MURAGE/A woman is admit-ted in a Naivasha hospital after she was attacked by a buffalo.

The woman was on her way to Eburru village in Gilgil sub-county when the lone animal attacked her leaving her for dead.

A local leader Lydia Nyota said this was not the first time animals from the nearby private conservancies had attacked residents.

She said the animals also destroy farms. In the latest case, the woman was rescued by youths headed home after watching a football match in a nearby shopping centre. “It is by grace of God that she survived but was left nursing serious injuries and she is ad-mitted in critical condition,” she said.

SONU TANU/A 16-year-old boy has died after he was allegedly hit with a stick by his father for refusing to go to school.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at Kapkatet hospital in Bureti sub-county.

Bureti police boss Ali Abdullahi yesterday said they have arrested the boy’s father and will charge him with murder.

Gilbert Kiprono was a former pupil at Chesanga Primary School in the subcounty. The body is at Kapkatet hospital mortuary.

Abdullahi said the father used excessive force by hitting the boy on the head with a big stick.

He was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead by doctor’s mo-ment he arrived at the health facility.

to note that indicators of evalua-tion based on the evaluation report have shown good results, although we have room for improvement,” Amina said.

According to the report, the qual-ity of CBC implementation stands at 56 per cent.

This is six points above the min-imum threshold set out for global standards for such an exercise.

Teacher assessment feedback based on learners’ achievement stands at 50 per cent, while qual-

ity of the learning environment and support for the CBC stands at 62 per cent.

Kenya Primary Schools Heads As-sociation chair Shem Ndolo said the government must relook the provi-sion of support materials.

“We don’t want to be on the wrong side of history. This is our next generation put on the line. If the curriculum fails due to lack of support materials their future is doomed,” Ndolo told the Star yes-terday on phone.

NEWS JUDICIARY

10 Thursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

CEMETERY LAND

ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP

BAR BRAWL

Judge won’t bow out of Gakuo’s case

MCAs want speaker barred from ‘meddling’ in their jobs

Ugandan househelp denies murdering employer and child

AP officer and boda boda rider deny killing reveller in Kisumu

ANNETTE WAMBULWA / Four Nyandarua MCAs have moved to court to bar the speaker from allegedly removing them from office. Edinald Kingori, Justus Gaita, Lucy Methu and Geoffrey Kariuki were voted in last month as majority leader, deputy majority leader, majority chief whip and his deputy, respectively.

Through lawyer Livingstone Kunini, the team claim the former group and the speaker have stopped them from taking their offices. They want the court to prohi-bit the speaker from interfering with their executing of their mandate in their representative offices.

GODFFREY ODHIAMBO / The Ugandan maid accused of killing her employer and her son in Muhoroni subcoun-ty, Kisumu, denied murder charges yesterday.

Jackline Auma appeared before Justice Phillip Ochieng in Kisumu to answer to charges of the murder in June of Elizabeth Achieng’, 26, and her son Leonne Okoth. She is accused of stabbing Achieng’ to death and strangling her son in Shauri Yako estate before fleeing to Uganda. She was arraigned after she was declared mentally fit to take a plea. Auma, through lawyer Joy Ayieta, requested bail, which the judge denied. The hearing is on November 6.

ALVIN RATEMO / An AP officer and a boda boda rider were arraigned yesterday in connection with the mur-der of a reveller in a Nyamira bar a month ago.

They are accused of killing Roberto Carlos Ouma on August 31 in Nyamira Township ward. The two appea-red before High Court judge Esther Maina.

Hassan Ahmed, an officer attached to Nyamira AP headquarters, and boda boda rider Evans Anyoka denied the charges.

Ouma was killed in an argument. The case will be mentioned on October 16.

THREE COUNTS IN 10 CASES

DENIED BAIL

Court declines to throw out charges against former PSAbuse of office, failure to put in place checks, conspiracy to commit a felony

The anti-corruption court has de-clined to quash some of the charges against former PS Lilian Omollo over the NYS case.

Justice John Nyabuto said charging an accused person is a prerogative of the Director of Pub-lic Prosecutions and he cannot be directed whom to charge or which case to prefer.

The court held that Omollo was properly charged without undue delay.

She was accorded an opportunity to be represented by a lawyer of her choice and subsequently supplied with documentary evidence during the pre-trial stage.

Omollo has been charged on three counts — abuse of office, failure to put in place checks and conspiracy to commit a felony — all scattered in 10 cases before three different courts.

SUSAN MUHINDI / A judge has declined to bow out of a case in which former Nairobi Town Clerk John Gakuo is challenging a three-year sentence over the Sh283 million cemetery land.

Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Division judge John Onyiego said an application seeking a judge to disqualify him or herself should be based on real or proven bias, not on perception or hearsay.

Gakuo, Alexander Musanga, Sammy Kirui and Mary Ngethe were charged with various counts relating to corruption and were convicted and sentenced on May 15.

They moved to the High Court. The court in July this year denied them bail on grounds their appeals lacked merit. Their lawyers urged the court to recuse itself from hearing the matter.

They cited the court’s finding that the appeals had no overwhelming chances of success was a strong indicator it had formed an opinion to dismiss the appeals.

They then urged the court to disqualify itself and forward the file to CJ to appoint another judge to hear the appeals.

Yesterday, Onyiego said the court has neither been accused of any bias nor does it have any monetary in-terest in the matter.

“In the absence of bias or any interest in the matter, the grounds cited for recusal remains unproven and unsubstantiated hence the application is dismissed. The matter shall be fixed for hearing of the pending appeals on priority basis,” the judge said.

Former PS Lilian Omollo (right) with other suspects in the NYS case in a Milimani court on June 20 /COLLINS KWEYU

John Gakuo, Sammy Kirui, Mary Ngethe in a Milimani court on May 15 /FILE

Omollo moved to the High Court, seeking to quash her charges and obtain a declaration the charges against her were unconstitutional, saying they violate her rights as an accused person.

She said she was not informed and furnished with a full list of the intended charges before being ar-raigned.

Omollo said the charges as cur-rently drafted and presented before court are meant to embarrass and intimidate her.

But the judge said he does not see any prejudice in being charged separately for offences committed at different times, involving different amounts of money and affecting different companies.

“Where appropriate, depending on the nature of evidence, the trial court is in a better position to act by directing on separate charges or joinder,” he said.

Issues for determination by the court was whether charging of Omollo with 10 different cases with

SUSAN MUHINDI@muhindi_suu

several co-accused persons tried in three different courts, violates her fundamental right to a fair trial.

The court was also to determine whether the charges amount to dou-ble jeopardy, if the charges are de-fective and her rights to bail pending trial were violated.

Nyabuto said the doctrine of dou-ble jeopardy is only applicable where a trial has been concluded and a de-termination made either acquitting or convicting the accused.

“The claim of double jeopardy before trial commences is merely speculative and untenable since charges are independent of each other,” he said.

The judge said each court will consider the relevant evidence and arrive at an appropriate decision.

The judge said considering the nature of charges Omollo is facing, where colossal sums were allegedly lost, it will not be in the public in-terest to withdraw some charges or hold them in abeyance, pending the outcome of the others.

Jackline Auma (centre), a househelp accused of killing her employer and child in Muhoroni, at the High Court in Kisumu on Tuesday / FAITH MATETE

OMOLLO SAYS THE CHARGES ARE MEANT TO EMBARRASS, INTIMIDATE HER

NEWS GENERAL

11 Thursday, October 4, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE

LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS

New seeds and innovations on show at Nairobi trade fair Murang’a firm introduces new biodegradable materials used to pot tissue culture banana seedlings; new maize variery and solar powered irrigation pump exhibited

President Uhuru Kenyatta will to-day open this year’s International ASK Trade Fair at the Jamhuri Show Grounds.

He will unveil a multipurpose expo hall that will transform the grounds into a modern destination for investors and an entertainment joint all-year round

Batram Muthoka, ASK chief exec-utive officer, said upon completion the multipurpose expo hall will be a 24-hour facility.

“There will be a light commuter railway starting from the railway sta-tion to the show ground. The mod-ern infrastructure will decongest the CBD. People will shop and get entertained in a serene environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We want to make it a city within a city,” he said yesterday at the ASK show.

The event opened its doors to the public on Monday under the theme ‘Promoting innovations and technol-ogy’ and will close doors on Sunday.

Muthoka said over 271 local and 56 international exhibitors are show-casing new innovations and tech-nologies for the benefit of farmers.

The seven-day trade fair has attracted exhibitors from China, Tanzania, Pakistan, Zambia, Israel, Egypt, Zimbabwe and India.

Showgoers have been treated to various attractions from three broad sections of livestock and crop demonstration, manufacturers and

A scout with pumpkins at one of the stands and Right, Joseph Wasike from Kitale with his dairy cow yes-terday /PSCU

service industry as well as interna-tional exhibitions.

Here are some of the attractions that Kenyans will get to enjoy at the show:

NEW MAIZE VARIETY Farmers from Central region will in the next planting season access a new maize variety. Kenya Seed Company is set to introduce a new highland variety that is resistant to the maize streak virus disease.

Sammy Kiplagat, the Kenya Seed Company head of sales, said the new variety will come to the market early next year.

“The 6219 variety is high yielding and has a potential of yielding 58 bags of 90kg per acre. The produc-tion is higher than 6218 maize variety that is currently in the market and produces 56 bags per acre,” he said.

Kenya Seed is showcasing some of the latest maize, vegetables and pas-ture varieties at the ongoing Nairobi International Trade Fair.

Kiplagat said dwindling land siz-es, changing weather patterns and poor soils are making it increasingly difficult for farmers to not only max-imize their yields but also produce crops of high quality.

“We have been steadily increasing production of certified seeds that are suitable for all agro-ecological zones in Kenya and East Africa,” he said.

Kiplagat said the usage of certified maize seeds in Kenya is currently at about 38-40 million kilos annually, with Kenya Seed controlling 80 per cent of the market.

Robert Musyoki, from Simlaw Seeds, said farmers will also be able to access a new tomato variety

AGATHA NGOTHO @agathangotho

known as Nyota F1 which is tolerant to bacterial wilt.

“We have also developed a new capsicum variety which is high yielding, produces medium to large fruits, is drought tolerant and ma-tures early,” Musyoki said.

BIODEGRADABLE BAGS FOR SEEDLINGSA company from Murang’a county is showcasing new biodegradable materials used to pot tissue culture banana seedlings at the ongoing Nairobi Trade Fair.

According to Godfrey Ndirangu, Agribase Consultants managing di-rector, the biodegradable material disappears after a year once the plant roots has developed and ready to be transplanted.

The biodegradable bags are made from clothing materials and this, he said, is good for protecting the environment.

Jonathan Muriuki, an agroforestry expert, said seedlings produced in biodegradable bags establish more strongly once planted on the farm.

“Polythene seedling tubes restrict the growth and aeration of roots in the nursery. When removed from the plastic and transplanted into the soil, the roots, which may have coiled in the bag, take longer to anchor into the ground. This might explain the lower vigor seedlings suffer when they are transplanted from these bags,” he explained.

Muriuki said unlike polythene, biodegradable bags promote bet-ter drainage and aeration, which helps normal root development in the nursery.

He added that the biodegradable bags do not have to be cut away from

the roots when seedlings are being transplanted.

“This ensures that the root system remains undisturbed thus reducing the risk of transplant shock to the tree seedling,” said Muriuki.

According to the World Agrofor-estry Centre, tree seedlings grown in biodegradable bags establish with more vigour upon transplanting.

In August 2017, the National En-vironmental Management Authority banned the use of plastic bags in the country.

Nema has since encouraged Ken-yans to come up with alternative ecofriendly biodegradable materials.

BIOLITE HOME STOVEThe energy-saving jiko is one of the attractions at the show and

Nairobi governor Mike Sonko opens the ASK show yesterday /GPS

cost Sh7, 500. Peter Githaiga, the sales and marketing officer at BioLite Holdings, said the jiko can cook, provide light and also charge a phone.

“It is made of stainless and well in-sulated handles. The top and base are made of a strong metal which is well insurated to make it retain heat. It is also fitted with a thermo-electrical generator that converts heat energy to electricity,” he said.

It has does not produce any soot, makes cooking easier and saves up to 50 percent of fuel or less.

He said once can use firewood, maize cobs or dry cowdung as a source of heat. The stove costs Sh7, 500 and comes with a one year war-rant. He said one can cook while charging their phone.

The jiko comes with a flexible light and and several cables for charging. It can boil one kilo of beans in one hour or five litres of water in 15 minutes.

SOLAR POWERED IRRIGATION PUMPJoseph Irungu, sales assistant Future Pump says the solar pump comes with two 40W solar panels, pump, six meters suction hosepipe and a toolbox at a cost of Sh70,000.

“It is portable, has a charging sock-et for phones and can pump water up to 500m across flat land. The solar pump can pump 2,500 litres of water in one hour,” he said.

THE-STAR.CO.KE

THERE WAS THIS TIME I SIGNED A DEAL OF SH80,000 BUT AFTER THE FIGHT, HE ONLY PAID ME SH5,000— BOXER CHARITY MUKAMI

Thursday, October 4, 2018 12

BIG READ / SWEAT, BLOOD AND TEARS

They fight for a living before cheering crowds. But behind the sporting spectacle is a story of exploitation that drives boxing stars into poverty and depression

Mexican Yamile-th Yemi is pun-ched by Fatuma ‘Iron Fist’ Zarika in a WCB Super-bantam Weight title match at KICC, Nairobi, on September 8 /ENOS TECHE

MONICAH MWANGI@monicahmwangi

Dressed in a blue jeans trouser, black hoodie and white Nike sneakers, Fa-tuma ‘Iron Fist’ Zarika bounces to our meeting point, hands deep in the pocket. She is accompanied by her manager, former boxer Simon Kibe.

A few days earlier, Zarika had beat-en her Mexican challenger, Yamileth

‘Yelmi’ Mercado, retaining her World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Ban-tamweight title.

Like a wounded lion, the black scars she attained from the fight are still visible, most of them around her eyes. Despite this, Zarika says that was her best fight in her 44 profes-sional bouts, including 30 wins, 12 losses and two draws.

“I looked at the crowd that had come to me cheer me and I could not believe it. Prominent people came to see me fight! I smiled. I knew boxing

BOXING HOW

PROMOTERS KILLTALENT IN KENYA

had gotten to another level,” Zarika says.

It has not been a smooth ride for the 36-year-old. Zarika has lost count of the number of times she has been duped by selfish promoters.

“I struggled for long. Promoters took advantage of me and they would refuse to pay me after a fight,” she says.

Boxing promoting in Kenya is said to be dominated by a cartel, which is hard to penetrate. Zarika says her situation was so difficult, she would even be given Sh200 after a fight, which was only enough for her bus fare back home.

CURIOUS CASE OF CONJESTINAZarika remembers one time she was under contract with Osago Promo-tions together with the then bigwig, Conjestina Achieng, but ‘Conje’ would be favoured and was getting more recognition.

Conje, who was once the pride of Kenya in women’s boxing, intro-

duced Zarika to the game. Now a shell of her former self, Conje was diag-nosed in 2012 with schizoaffective disorder (paranoid schizophrenia), a mental disorder characterised by ab-normal thought process, depression, hallucination, disorganised speech and thinking.

This might have come from taking too many head blows, combined with frustrations in the game. “She was a very good friend. She mentored me into boxing and I even fought her twice,” Zarika says.

Conje now lives in absolute pover-ty in her parent’s home in Siaya. On several occasions, well wishers have come to the rescue of the one-time household name who participated in 27 fights, winning 17, losing four and drawing six.

Zarika says it feels bad to know Conjestina’s state. “I haven’t seen or talked to her in a long time. It be-comes hard since she doesn’t have a phone,” she says.

Like Conje, Zarika at one point had

too many frustrations and considered quitting. “How would you feel if you woke up every morning to do what you love most but there was no mon-ey coming in?” she asks.

There’s a time she slipped into depression. It was during this time, with the help of a few friends, that she started training. “I was stressed out. Naingia kwa nyumba siwezi lala (I could not sleep),” she says.

Her friends brought together indi-viduals she would train for Sh1,000 per session. This kept her and her two girls going. Though she agrees there is hope in boxing, she advises young and upcoming pugilists not to fully depend on the game for a living. “Get a side hustle, it’s very important. It comes in handy on a bad day,” she says.

Zarika’s turnaround came at the epitome of disappointments. She had just returned from Michigan after punching her way past Jamai-ca’s Alicia Ashley for the WBC World Super-bantamweight title in 2016.

Despite making history to be-come the second Kenyan female professional boxer to hold a world title after Conjestina Achieng, only her daughters were at the airport to

THE-STAR.CO.KE

receive her. To make matters worse, Zarika was not paid for her eff orts.

It was then that SportPesa came on board, making Zarika their brand ambassador, a position she holds until now. “My fi ght with Yelmi was the fi rst sponsored and promoted by SportPesa, and I tell you what, I am happy,” she said.

REDUCED TO HAWKERIt has not been diff erent for Charity Mukami, who found herself in box-ing by default. We meet her at what she calls “my hustling joint”, where she cleans vehicle windscreens and headlights at a parking lot next to the Aga Khan Walk, Nairobi.

Mukami had been employed as a socks hawker in Eastleigh with other young women. As a way of “welcom-ing” her to the job, some of her col-leagues who had been there long stole her merchandise. “� ey were two and bigger than me but I beat them up senselessly, when they refused to give me my socks,” she remembers.

As fate would have it, a man saw her fi ghting and he approached, held her by the waist and ordered her to stop. “I thought he was a police offi cer and I begged him not to arrest me,” she says. � e man told her he thought she could be a boxer and gave her his phone number, asking her to call him the following morning.

CONJESTINA NOW LIVES IN ABSOLUTE POVERTY AT HER PARENT’S HOME IN SIAYA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WELL WISHERS HAVE COME TO HER RESCUE

‘BEFORE THE FIGHTS, THE CONTRACT SHOULD BE OPEN TO THE COMMISSION. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER YOU WIN OR LOSE; THERE SHOULD BE AN AGREEMENT BEFOREHAND’

� ursday, October 4, 2018 13

Kenya Profes-sional Boxing Commission patron Anthony Kimani /MONICAH MWANGI

ing and hawk during the day,” she says. She then dropped hawking and joined nightclub security, becoming a bouncer in diff erent nightclubs in Nairobi, a job she did for three years before moving to the village, where she started farming.

It was at this time that Mukami, who is married, got her third baby.

“In 2013, I felt the urge to come back to boxing but with a resolve not to take punches for free,” she said.

She had moved back to Nairobi but fi ghts were proving diffi cult to come by, since she would refuse to be taken advantage of. She then became inac-tive but continued to go to the gym since her body was used to it.

It was at this time that she joined a group of people who clean vehicles next to Aga Khan Walk. “While I con-tinued to farm in the village, I had to fi nd something to do in Nairobi, since I was here most of the time,” she says. She charges a small amount and on a good day, she can take home Sh1,500.

Three months ago, Mukami re-ceived a call from SportPesa, invit-ing her to fi ght Florence Muthoni to curtain-raise for Zarika vs Yelmi at the KICC.

While they battled to a draw, Mukami was happy to see a huge turnout and is convinced boxing is fi nally picking up. She says she was shocked after she was paid soon after the game. “We are used to like beg for the pay, but with this one we were paid soon after,” she says.

‘THERE IS MONEY’� e Kenya Professional Boxing Com-mission is trying to change the ex-ploitation narrative. KPBC patron Anthony Kimani, who replaced Nai-robi Senator Johnson Sakaja only a month ago, said disciplinary action should be taken against any promoter who refuses to pay boxers their hard-earned money.

“Kenya has very talented boxers, both male and female, and if properly managed, there is money,” he said during an interview.

� e fear of promoters should be a small problem if the industry is streamlined, he said.

“I know and understand the nit-

ty-gritty of boxing, and you cannot be a promoter if you are not registered by the professional boxing commis-sion, KPBC. � e commission should be able to crack the whip,” Kimani said, adding that promoters who go against the rules should be deregis-tered.

While faulting such promoters, Kimani said the buck, however, stops with the commission, adding that such a mistake should not be allowed to keep recurring. “I mean, how do you allow that to happen? Before the fi ghts, the contract should be open to the commission. It doesn’t mat-ter whether you win or lose; there should be an agreement before the fi ght. It should be that easy,” Kimani said.

KPBC outgoing chairman Hillary Alila has cited lack of support from the corporate world as one of the big-gest problems facing the commission.

He said other companies should join SportPesa and commercialise the sport.

“Corporates should come and partner with us,” he said, adding that they have not been perfect but should be commended for the few achievements they have had. “Boxing is expensive and without sponsors, we would not make it,” he added.

KPBC is expected to hold their elections to replace the current lead-ers in three months, and Alila has urged the stakeholders to elect peo-ple who will take over from where they have left and push the boxers’ agenda forward.

“� ere is great potential but without proper management, we are doing nothing,” he said.

Kimani, who is a big-time boxing fan, said the secretariat should be held by knowledgeable people who understand the profession.

“Ideally, elective posts should be held by former boxers since they understand the game. To tell them, look, let’s do the right thing, would be much easier since they have been there,” he said.

While he has just taken over as the patron, Kimani said he will do whatever it takes to take boxing back to where it used to be.

“Remember the good old days when Robert Wangila won the maiden Olympic boxing gold for Kenya? I hope we will get back there,” he said.

He said if boxing is nurtured prop-erly, it can go far. “� is is where my job comes in. I want to talk to com-panies interested in sports to nurture the Zarikas and Okwiris of this coun-try while they are still young,” he said.

By the conclusion of his two-year term, Kimani hopes to have an in-ternational boxing bout for both male and females at least once ev-ery month.

Sports PS Peter Kaberia said box-ing, like any other sport in the coun-try, is eligible for fi nancial support from the government, on condition that their requests are structured.

“We don’t have any problems with supporting boxing. � e bottom line is they must have their activities structured and make full requests from the government, from where a discussion can go on,” Kaberia said.

“Once they ask for help, we can sit and see where we can help. Just like football and the rest of the sports, boxing is still within our mandate. We are bound to support them, only if the requests are made in good time and by following the laid-down pro-cedures.”

When she called, he asked her to meet him at Eastleigh’s St Teresa’s.

“He took me to a gym full of boxers, introduced me to a coach and left. I have never seen that man since then,” Mukami says. She hopes one day she will fi nd him and thank him for no-ticing her talent.

After training for three months, Mukami got her fi rst fi ght, which she won. “� is lifted my morale,” she said. She met Conjestina Achieng on her third fi ght, and though she lost by one point, Mukami knew boxing was her thing. “Conje was a household name then and that she beat me by just a point was encouraging,” she says.

Her boxing hopes would slowly be thrown under the bus when she started getting frustrated by promot-ers. “� ere was this time I signed a deal of Sh80,000 but after the fi ght he only paid me Sh5,000,” remembers Mukami, although she is hesitant to name the promoter. Mukami said there is always an invisible person behind every promoting company.

Having two children to cater for by then, Mukami started hawking air fresheners to feed her family. “I would go to the gym in the morn-

RISE & FALL OF BOXING

G L O R Y D A Y S

1966

1988

1964, 68 & 72

2004

1982, 90,94

Kenya hosts the 4th All African games

Boxers representing Kenya, each bagged gold

Years Kenyans were commonwealth games boxing champions

H I S T O R Y M A K E R S

Stephen MUCHOKI

First Kenyan boxer to win gold medal at the Commonwealth Games

Philip WARUINGE

Only Kenyan boxer to take part in three consecutive

Olympic Games

Robert WANGILA

First African ever to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing

Conjestina ACHIENG

First African woman to win a professional boxing title

1987: Year boxing standards in Kenya began

to drop

Kenya has not won an

Olympic medal since 1988

Sh200: The pittance Zarika was once paid

per fight

DOWNFALL

How would you feel if you woke up every morning to do what you love most but there was no money coming in?

WBC Super Bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika

How would you feel if you woke up every morning to do what you love most but there was no money coming in?

WBC Super Bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika

no money coming in?

1987

8

14 Thursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

100.95The indicative value of

the shilling to the dollar

THE DATA

The Kenyan shilling held steady against the dollar on Wednesday due to inflows from tourism and horticul-ture exports subduing thin importer

demand, traders said.

Currency Buy Sell Mean

US DOLLAR 100.8483 101.0483 100.9483

STG POUND 130.7239 131.0217 130.8728

SA RAND 7.0161 7.0349 7.0255

KES / USHS 37.8037 37.9778 37.8908

KES / TSHS 22.6327 22.7074 22.6700

JPY (100) 88.6657 88.8493 88.7575

IND RUPEE 1.3828 1.3857 1.3843

EURO 116.3567 116.6122 116.4844

CHINESE YUAN 14.6802 14.7129 14.6965

AE DIRHAM 27.4529 27.5126 27.4828

Price Change (%)

EXPRESS 5.00 +9.89

STANDARD GROUP 29.50 +8.26

OLYMPIA CAPITAL 2.60 +6.12

EVEREADY EA 1.05 +5.00

SASINI 22.00 +4.76

Price Change (%)

NBI BUS VENTURES 1.55 -6.06

I&M BANK 91.00 -4.21

TPS EA SERENA 25.00 -3.85

NATIONAL BANK 5.70 -3.39

FLAME TREE KENYA 3.25 -2.98

financial marketF O R E X E X C H A N G E R A T E S

N S E B I G G E S T W I N N E R S

N S E B I G G E S T L O S E R S

NEWS BUSINESS

When you have a never-ending to-do list, it’s easy to feel guilty about

what you haven’t finished. But guilt is useful only when it motivates you

to get more done — it shouldn’t make you feel ashamed. To ease these

kinds of emotions when they arise, exercise self-compassion. Imagine

what you’d say to a friend who felt bad for being behind on a few

projects. Chances are you’d tell your friend not to worry about it so much — so tell yourself the same thing. You can also make yourself feel better by focusing on what you have been able

to accomplish. Keep a “done list” in addition to your to-do list, so you can

remind yourself of past work. And always remember: All that

work you have to do will be there tomorrow, whether you feel guilty

about it or not. So cut yourself some slack, take a breath, and just do your

best.

WE’RE ALL BEHIND AT WORK. DON’T FEEL

GUILTY ABOUT IT.

AVIATION

BUYOUT

JKIA passenger numbers rise as NYC direct flights beckonELIZABETH KIVUVA / Jomo Kenyatta International Airport passengers are inching to the one million mark monthly after hitting 787,743 in August.

Airports Statistics Update released yesterday by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) indicates passenger turnout in August increased 16.7 per cent from 674,882 recorded during the same period last year.

Aircraft movement increased 8.6 per cent to record a movement of 10,056 aircraft from 9,258 while cargo handled

decreased 9.4 per cent to stand at 26.22 million kilograms from 28.94 million kgs over the period under review.

The airport recorded 1.54 million passenger movements in 2018-2019 year, an 11.2 per cent increase from 1.38 million in 2017-2018. Cargo movement declined 12.8 per cent from 57.87 million kgs to 50.43 million kgs in the period under review.

Kenya Airways is the main carrier at JKIA, augmented by regional carriers JamboJet, Fly540 and Britex Airline and

other international airlines like Emirates.Passenger traffic at Moi International

Airport increased by 43.5 per cent to 152,870 from 106,513 over the same period. Cargo movement increased by 22 per cent to 367,137 kgs handled from 300,826 kgs in 2017.

In the western region that is known for corporate travelers, Kisumu International Airport had a total passenger turnout increase by 63.8 per cent to 43,744 in August 2018 from 26,702 over the same period in 2017.

KCB commits to take over Imperial Bank Depositors asked CBK and KDIC to push KCB for a better deal after the latter offered less than 40% of depositors’ money

Kenya Commercial Bank has placed an offer to take over the defunct Im-perial Bank, placed under receiver-ship in October 2015.

Central Bank of Kenya announced this yesterday after High Court had allowed Kenya Tea Development Au-thority’s request to extend the bank’s receivership to January.

“Central Bank of Kenya and Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation an-nounce the receipt of a binding offer dated September 27, 2018, from KCB Bank Kenya Limited with respect to Imperial Bank Limited (in receiv-ership) as part of the Expression of Interest (EOI) process that was an-

Hubert Danso, CEO of Africa investor presents best pension fund award in Africa to Henry Kyanda, KPPF CEO and trust secretary in New York, USA. The fund topped the category African Pension Fund Initiative of the Year /COURTESY

nounced on October 13, 2017.”CBK and KDIC did not reveal de-

tails of the offer,but will do so in a meeting with depositors and as soon as the binding offer has been fully assessed.

On Tuesday, High Court allowed KTDA’s request to extend the bank’s receivership in order to negotiate for a better offer with KCB.

The tea authority whose Sh2.9 bil-lion was locked in the bank when it was put under receivership had on July 30 applied for extension, but its request overtaken by another one by CBK KDIC where they had requested High Court to extend receivership by 70 days for similar reasons.

“We the undersigned advocates for the parties in this suit do hereby request you to sign consent that ap-plication be mentioned on January

15, 2019 and status quo of the bank maintained,” read the consent letter issued by court on Tuesday.

Depositors had asked CBK and KDIC to push KCB to give a better deal after it emerged that the latter had offered depositors less than 40 per cent of their deposit.

The 70 days extension prayer grant-ed to CBK and KDIC was to expire next Tuesday before the court allowed KTDA’s application

Imperial Bank collapsed after it emerged that it was operating two sets of books, with a potential fraud of $449 million (Sh44.9 billion).

“We are aware of KTDA’s applica-tion but must get concurrence from Other IBL Depositors, IBL Share-holders, CBK and KDIC,’’ depositors’ lobby group chairperson Mohamoud Khambiye said.

@itsamadalaVICTOR AMADALA

CHANGES

OUTLOOK

PHOTO STORY

Costs to rise with higher international oil prices, says WB

Total Kenya hires new managing director

ABEL MUHATIA/ Kenya is among sub-Saharan Africa countries expected to register an estimated 2.7 per cent average growth rate in its economy this year.

This is a slight increase from 2.3 per cent in 2017 and 0.4 percentage points lower than the April forecast. The growth is expected to hit 3.3 percent in 2019, and rise to 3.6 percent in 2020.The October 2018 issue of Africa’s Pulse by the World Bank indicates price pressures are likely to intensify due to elevated international oil prices that contribute to fuel price inflation and expected to increase inflation in 2019.

Last month, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported an 11 month high inflation rate of 5.7 per cent indicating tougher times ahead amidst effect of the eight per cent VAT on petroleum products.

Even so, World Bank says agricultural production,household consumption and public investment witnessed in the country will boost the country’s economic growth.

“A strong rebound in agriculture in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, following drought, underpinned the pickup in economic activity in East Africa,” the analysis reported.It showed the growth is slower than expected as most sub-Saharan economies are still recovering from the 2015-16 slowdown caused by drought and elections.

CYNTHIA ILAKO/ Total Kenya has appointed Nigerian Olagoke Aluko the new managing director following the exit of Anne-Solange Renouard. Severine Julien has also been appointed to the board to replace Jerome Burban who left same day.

Aluko joins the Kenyan oil marketer from his role as general manager of operations at Total Nigeria.

Renouard on the other hand, has resigned from the helm after holding the position since November 1, 2015.

The new MD for Total Kenya has 17 years of professional experience in the Downstream Oil & Gas sector having joined Total in 2000. He previously served as chief financial officer in three Total affiliates including Ethiopia, Jamaica and Guinea.

Last month, Total Kenya appointed Jean Philippe Torres, a French national as chairman of the board effective September 5, 2018.

He took over from Jean Christian Bergeron another French national who resigned from the position he had held since September 2015.

The oil marketer reported a 8.06 per cent increase in net profit for the six months to June to record Sh1.03 billion compared to Sh958 million posted during the same period in 2017.

15 � ursday, October 4, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE

NEWS BUSINESS

Tax on fuel products drove up production costs last month, dampening growth in private sec-tor activity.

� e Stanbic Bank Purchasing Managers Index released yester-day shows higher government taxation and rising fuel bills re-sulted in the sharpest increase in average cost burdens to manufac-turers since February.

� is in return was refl ected in increased selling prices, which grew the fastest since the survey commenced in 2014.

“Slowdowns in output and new order growth were key factors behind the lower headline PMI fi gure. In terms of infl ation, price pressures sharpened amid reports of higher taxation and fuel bills,” the report stated.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law the Finance Bill 2018 that imposes eight per cent VAT on petroleum among other amendments on various taxes. � is has not only increased the cost of production but has re-sulted in higher transport costs as fi rms seek to meet their profi t margins.

� e monthly Stanbic Bank Ken-ya PMI shows operations in the private sector shrunk by 190 basis points from August’s 54.6 to 52.7. � e highest recorded activity was

INCREASED SELLING PRICE

Fuel tax drives up production costs in September – indexHigher government taxation and rising fuel bills resulted in the sharpest increase in average cost burdens to manufacturers since February, says the report

KRA director of weight and measures Michael Onyancha, Commissioner General John Njiraini and multi-agency against Illicit trade chairman Wanyama Musyambo yesterday / ENOS TECHE

CYNTHIA ILAKO@LadyKanyali

in April at 56.4.� e monthly indicator is based

on activity in the manufacturing and service sectors with readings above 50 signalling an improve-ment in business conditions, while any fi gure below this indi-cates poor performance.

Stanbic economist Jibran Qure-ishi said the decline should not be a cause for alarm. He however noted that the new tax measures would slowdown the country’s GDP growth.

Kenya’s GDP growth rate ex-

panded 6.3 per cent in the 2018 Q2 from 5.7 per cent in Q1.

“Cost pressures and enhanced business uncertainty due to new fi scal year tax measures in the third quarter, is likely to moderate the pace of GDP growth,” Qureishi said. Agriculture, ICT and tourism

Kebs suspends two fi rms for fl outing inspection rules

STANDARDS

ELIZABETH KIVUVA/ Kenya Bureau of Standards has suspended China Certi-fi cation and Inspection Group (CCIC) for six months after a government review on performance to counter illicit trade.CCIC was a Kebs’ appointed agent since 2015, mandated to carry out in-spection of inspection of imported products at the country of origin.

� e inspection is done in line with the Pre-export Verifi cation of Con-formity to Standards (PVoC) program that ensures goods comply with the approved specifi cations before issued with certifi cate of conformity (CoC).

Trade and Industry CS Peter Munya said the inspection agent cover-ing China mainland or Zone 2 breached its contract, letting substandard goods into the country. It was given six months to allow corrective action.

SGS (Zone 4 ) was also suspended from activities in Indonesia, Malaysia, � ailand and Vietnam.

PS Betty Maina said the companies have been given between 40-50 days to pay a levy 10 times the cost of inspection charged on to importers.

“We detected failure in handling the imported goods. � ey did not seal the cargo, leaving a room for additional goods,” she said. Munya directed joint verifi cation of high risk goods by all agencies. � e agencies are also to utilize the Kenya national electronic single window to quicken clear-ance.

He gave a 14 day waiver of storage charges for all cleared goods issued from September 29 where if goods not collected, would auctioned or de-stroyed.

sectors continue to report growth under the new tax regime as the tax on fuel does not have a blanket eff ect.New orders, fi nished goods and new business grew at a much slower pace. Foreign demand for Kenyan goods grew at an acceler-ated pace during the period.

Big data can enforce tax compliance

EXPERT COMMENTKAREN KANDIE

With tax revenue estimates for the year of income 2018/2019 topping the 1.7

Trillion mark, per the 2018/2019 Esti-mates of Revenue, Grants and Loans released by the National Treasury, we are all well aware that Kenya Revenue Authority is facing a herculean task. � is has led to a steady push by the National Treasury and KRA to increase tax revenues for the 2018/2019 fi scal year, as well as downsize the national budget for the same period. � is culminated in the ratifi cation and assent of the controversial Finance Act 2018 toward the end of last month – an Act of parliament which, inter-alia, sought to introduce VAT on petroleum products, increase excise duty on bank fees, mobile money transfer fees, airtime and data.

While these tax increases will increase KRA’s total collections for the 2018/2019 period, it is unlikely that it will result in KRA hitting its collection targets. KRA, and in extension National Treasury, have committed to placing more resources into KRA’s tax base expansion strategy. KRA seeks to leverage on advances in technology to identity new sources of taxation income – including bringing under the tax net potential tax cheats. Simply put, KRA plans to reduce tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance through innovative techno-centric processes such as Big Data analytics.

� is will involve, in early stages, linking of multiple platforms and da-tabases with KRA’s tax administrative platform, iTax, with potential sources of data going forward being bank data and Mpesa transactional data, among others. Based on this, we can expect that KRA will pool these sources of data together, analyse and derive insi-ghts into taxpayers’, be they individuals or businesses, tax compliance journey. � rough Big Data analytic processes, the KRA can identify compliance ano-malies as and when they occur, as well as leverage on predictive algorithms to develop modern tax-risk profi les, analyze trends and fl ag potential audit issues. As touted world over, use of Big Data analytics, as coupled with Artifi cial Intelligence processes, has potential to assist revenue authorities not only re-duce levels of tax fraud, thereby sealing systemic and historic tax loopholes, but further predict and prevent future instances of tax fraud.

� rough the access of troves of data points, potential opportunities for the KRA going forward would be the imple-mentation of a tax credit rating system. � e ability to track a single taxpayer’s tax compliance journey will similarly enable the revenue authority maintain a dedicated tax credit rating system that will effi cianise the tax compliance enforcement process.

Thursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

60Migrants feared drowned off Guinea-Bissau coast

KUALA LUMPUR/Malaysia’s anti-graft agency

arrested former First Lady Rosmah Mansor, wife of former PM Najib Razak, and expects to charge her in court today with

money-laundering, among other infringements, it said. BIRMINGHAM/ British PM Theresa May defended her Brexit plans yesterday, but cautioned that she would

rather leave without a deal than accept the carve up of the UK. May, who received

a standing ovation after dancing onto the stage to Dancing Queen by ABBA,

said she was confident that she could clinch a deal with the EU. There would,

she said, be no second referendum. HELSINKI/

Finland’s Parliament voted yesterday to add new

exceptions to a clause in the constitution that guarantees

the right to privacy, to enable swift approval of an intelligence bill aimed at combating terrorism

and spying by foreign governments. MOSCOW/

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday the US

should bring a halt to internal political infighting which

he said was poisoning US relations with Russia.

THE DATA

FLASHES

INTERNATIONAL TRIP

World Bank worried about law punishing critics of statistics

Australia scraps tampon tax as new PM woos women voters

Pilot praises take-off ‘guardian angel’ killed in Indonesia’s deadly earthquake

REUTERS/ The World Bank said it was deeply concerned about new Tanzanian legislation which would punish anyone who questions official statistics. It said the law would undermine the production of useful and high quality data.

Lawmakers last month passed amendments to the Statistics Act that would impose fines, at least three years jail time, or both, on anyone who questioned the accuracy of official figures. The attorney general said the changes were needed to enforce standards.

People who question the accuracy of official statistics will face a fine of at least TSh10 million (Sh441,546), at least three years in jail, or both.

Opposition groups and other critics have said the changes were part of a broader government crackdown on dissent and criticism of its political and economic record – a charge dismissed by authorities.

The World Bank said the changes - which still have to be approved by President John Magufuli - were “out of line with international standards”. Government spokesmen were not immediately reachable for comment.

Guinean coast guards saw the canoe in difficulty off-shore on Monday,

but were unable to deploy a boat in response, a commander said.

NEWS WORLD

Zuma fired minister for blocking nuclear deal

TANZANIACORRUPTION INQUIRY

ENSURED PLANE SAFELY TOOK OFFUNPOPULAR

Would have included huge kickbacks for Zuma and the Guptas

Former South African President Jacob Zuma /REUTERS

United States First Lady Melania Trump

yesterday laid a wreath at a slave

fortress on the coast of Ghana, vowing never to forget the place

where Africans were held before being shipped away into further hardship, most across the

Atlantic.

The body of Anthonius Gunawan Agung is carried to a helicopter during his funeral procession in Makassar, south Sulawesi, Indonesia, on September 29 /REUTERS

REUTERS/ South Africa’s Finance minister Nhlanhla Nene told a judicial corruption inquiry yesterday that he was fired by former President Jacob Zuma for refusing to approve a $100 billion (Sh10.1 trillion) nuclear power deal with Russia in 2015.

Nene is the highest profile figure to give evidence at a probe into alleged influence-peddling by the Gupta fam-ily, friends of Zuma, who are accused of using their relationship with the former leader to unduly win state contracts.

Zuma has repeatedly denied ac-cusations by his opponents that he pushed for a deal with President Vladimir Putin at a Brics summit for Russia to build a fleet of nuclear power stations.

Opposition politicians and local investigative journalists say the pro-posed deal – which would have been the biggest state contract in South Af-rica’s history – would have included huge kickbacks for Zuma and the Gupta family.

The Indian-born brothers – Ajay, Atul and Rajesh – have been accused of using their ties with Zuma to si-phon off billions of rand in state funds and of inappropriately influencing Cabinet appointments.

They left South Africa earlier this year around the time Zuma resigned under pressure from his own party and the authorities are seeking their return to face prosecution.

Nene, in the first public account of the nuclear negotiations, said Zuma became hostile towards him at a meeting at the summit when he re-fused to sign a guarantee letter Zuma wanted to present to Putin while in Russia.

“It was a very tense meeting that ended with us just being instructed by the President to go and find a solu-tion, which we didn’t find,” Nene told the inquiry.“I told the President in the meeting that I could not sign the letter without having first interrogated the

REUTERS/An Indonesian pilot hailed an air traffic controller who died in Friday’s earthquake as a “guardian angel” for ensuring a passenger plane took off safely before he jumped in vain for safety. Anthonius Gunawan Agung, 21, was among at least 1,230 people who died in the devastating 7.5-magnitude quake and tsunami that hit Sulawesi island.

When disaster struck, Agung did not follow others leaving the crumbling four-storey control tower at Palu airport. His last words, according to pilot Ricoseta Mafella, were: “Batik 6231, runway 33, clear for takeoff”. “He was saying it in a very calm manner, because the earthquake hadn’t started yet,” Mafella said. Then the earthquake struck. “I felt that the aircraft was moving slightly to the right and to the left,” Mafella said. Agung waited for the plane to become airborne before leaving the control tower, authorities said.

REUTERS/Australia will remove a controversial sales tax on women’s sanitary products, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said yesterday. The is move widely seen as an effort by the centre-right government to win favour with female voters before an election due by May.

Products such as condoms and sunscreen are exempt from the 10 per cent goods and services tax that has been added to all other items sold in Australia for almost 20 years, including female sanitary products. Frydenberg said the tax would be removed from January 1 next year, after the approval of Australian state and territory lawmakers was secured.

financial and fiscal implications”He said his decision to reject a new

route for the state airline to Sudan also contributed to his sacking.

A spokesman for Zuma did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Allegations of corruption have been swirling around Zuma and the Gupta brothers for years, but the current inquiry is for the first time allowing senior government officials to give their accounts to the public.

SMOKING GUN“Nene’s testimony is extraordinarily important. This is the person who was CEO when it comes to the pub-lic purse,” political analyst Ralph Mathekga said.

“Before this evidence it was difficult to connect the dots to Zuma. But this is a smoking gun which shows Zuma was a protagonist in this affair.”

Zuma fired Nene in December 2015 and replaced him with largely un-known lawmaker Des van Rooyen,

sending markets into a tailspin be-fore Zuma appointed investor-friendly Pravin Gordhan as his third Finance minister in the space of four days.

Zuma’s successor as President Cyril Ramaphosa re-appointed Nene Fi-nance minister in February this year.

Nene told the inquiry he lost his job for not approving contracts that would benefit the Gupta family, par-ticularly the Russian nuclear deal. “I do believe I was removed as minister for my refusal to toe the line in rela-tion to certain projects,” he said.

Nene’s supporters have por-trayed him as a principled official who sought to defend the country’s strained public finances against cor-rupt attacks from Zuma and his allies.

However, his detractors, including the radical opposition Economic Free-dom Fighters, say he was involved in corrupt deals with the Guptas when he was deputy finance minister and head of the state pension fund from 2008 to 2014.

16

THE-STAR.CO.KE 17 Thursday, October 4, 2018

Thursday, October 4, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE

VOIC

ES

Send your views to letters@the-star.co.ke

VOX POPDo you think Jubilee will remain intact by the 2022 election?

No: Some leaders from the party after last year’s polls said they never signed an agreement with any community. Many regions will not support Jubilee.

No: The disagreements in the party show there is no unity and people are not ready to work together. Some leaders have said they are being sidelined.

No: The recent remarks by the Deputy President clearly show there is no unity. The March 9 handshake is a clear plot to divide the party.

Yes: Jubilee will remain intact since those in top leadership are aware of the schemes being used by the opposition to divide the party.

NELLY KIMIYWEFarmer, Kobos

RICHARD OBAREPhotographer, Makutano town

RABECCA NASIMIYUBusiness woman, Alale

PURITY KIMETTO Teacher, West Pokot

Peter Wambua tries a new pair of leather shoes at Reddac Leather Centre Ltd Stand within Kenya Prison Exhibition Shed at the Nairobi agricultural show. The locally made shoes for men cost Sh1,500. This year’s theme is ‘Promoting Innovation and Technology in Agriculture and Trade’/MONICAH MWANGI

LETTERS

Girls’ killings result of patriarchal order that hates feminism

What happened to probe of KDF’s Westgate looting?

Ensure pregnancies are wanted to curb abortions, dropouts

Raila hides behind the handshake for sake of 2022 poll

18

One of the questions social theorists are grappling with today is why young women in our country are being killed. Over the last few weeks, more than 10 young women have been killed, although the killings that were heavily highlighted by the media are two: That of univer-sity student Sharon Otieno and businesswoman Monica Kimani. Trans-generational love affairs and rising consciousness of feminism among women are the reasons why these murders are increasing. Wom-en are now aware of their rights and it’s not possible for them to fit into ‘their place’ in our male-dominated society, as men want. They are chal-lenging men on so many issues that the latter feel threatened. It is no longer easy for our patriarchal order to stand these women.

ABEDNEGO MWIKYACommunication strategist

On September 21, in 2013, al Shabaab attacked Westgate Shopping Mall , killed at least 71 people, and wounded more than 200 others. The cover up with which the government initially handled the attack left a lot to be desired. The worst was the looting by KDF officers. There were camera images and videos clearly showing military officers looting Nakumatt supermarket. The Parliamentary Defence committee denied the claims and recommended further investigations. So what happened to the internal investigation by KDF?

VICTOR MWANGINairobi

The Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2014 shows 35 per cent of all pregnancies that occur annually in Kenya are unintended. The figure increases further to 47 per cent among adolescent girls. Young girls are the most affected. According to a UNFPA study done between July 2016 and June last year, 378,397 girls between the age s of 10 and 19 became pregnant. In this age group, complications during childbirth and pregnancy and unsafe abortion are the leading causes of mater-nal mortality and morbidity. (WHO 2014) Unintended pregnancy is a key driver of girl child school dropout, unsafe abortion, child marriage, poverty and maternal mortality and morbidity. According to the Ministry of Health, every year, 13,000 girls drop out of school due to pregnancy and become vulnerable to poverty. Seven women and girls will die every day from botched abortion or unsafe abortion and around 54,000 girls below the age of 19 years are hospi-talised every year for complications from unsafe abortions. According to Unicef, in Kenya one in four girls is married before her 18th birthday and unintended pregnancy is one of the contributing factors. Meeting the unmet need for modern contracep-tion of adolescent girls and boys will reduce unintended pregnancies drastically in this country, hence, reduce school dropouts, poverty, unsafe abortion, child marriage and maternal mortality and morbidity. There is need for the Ministry of Health and civil society organisa-tions that deal with health issues to ensure pregnancies are wanted. To achieve this, there is need to improve awareness on contraception use and enable young people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

MICHAEL OLIECHKisumu

The day ODM leader Raila Odinga will realise that even the best-laid plans sometimes go terribly wrong, then he will appreciate he is squandering a chance of a lifetime to become an African statesman. While Raila is on record telling Kenyans that his pact with President Uhuru Kenyatta was devoid of 2022 political consider-ations, informing the secrecy with which it was executed and delib-erately keeping away people with such ambitions, his demeanor, acts of commission and omission betray a scheming man who in private tells his lieutenants different things from what his public sentiments are. Instead of hiding behind the hand-shake, he should state exactly what he wants rather than lie to Kenyans that he is bringing them together. While many Jubilee politicians want constitutional changes to remove costly baggage off Kenyans’ backs in the name of extra political seats, Raila is advocating additional seats and another level of government. Why he is insistent about a particular seat he wants created is anybody’s guess. . So far, only the Deputy Pres-ident, William Ruto, has told Kenyans what he wants and he is system-atically pursuing it. Others are preaching water but drinking wine, saying Ruto is engaging in premature campaigns, yet they are doing the same through their secret meetings and remarks from allies. One thing is becoming clearer: Raila wants to be on the ballot in 2022 but is not sure how things will pan out, given that his initial plan when he entered the pact seems unworkable. He is thus flip-flopping or wants to play kingmaker. He has to accept Ruto is no pushover. What is the honour in sticking around for so long to a point where your mojo and attractiveness is no longer guaranteed?

STEPHEN ODHIAMBOVia email

BY MARRYANN CHAI

THE-STAR.CO.KE

ELIZABETH NGIGI @nyambs_liz/ Diamond Platinumz’ ex-wife Zari Hassan has left many confused af-ter she referred to Diamond using a word many couldn’t interpret during his birthday on Tuesday.

Diamond turned 29 and received birthday messages galore from fans globally.

Zari shared photos of their chil-dren, Tiffah and Nillan, and cap-tioned it with a birthday message directed to Diamond without men-tioning his name: “Happy birthday mwenye vikima vyake.”

Some of her followers claim she referred to the singer as a monkey, because he once called her ‘kima’ (black monkey) in an interview.

Ladouc2 wrote: “Kumbe unakum-buka alivyo kutukana, asante kwa kumpa jibu mzuri Diamond ulim-wita Zari kima leo amekukumbusha hajasahau kima anazaa kima.”

A popular male radio presenter, who is known for his big ego, has become a douchebag at his new station.

According to employees and support staff working at the decorated media house, the presenter is very arrogant, proud and never even greets his col-leagues.

Sources from the media house claim he usually comes to work, goes to the studio and after he’s done, he leaves without even saying hi to those he meets along the company’s corridors, save for his co-host.

This contrasts with how he treats other people outside the media house. You could never tell it is the same per-son. Is it because he’s among the high-est-paid employees at the company, that’s why he’s treating people like mere peasants?

TRANSGENDER LETOYA RUES MEDICAL BIAS AFTER RAPE

word is... WORDIS@THE-STAR.CO.KE

19 Thursday, October 4, 2018

We’ve not joined Wasafi Records - Navy KenzoBY ELIZABETH NGIGI @nyambs_liz/Music duo Navy Kenzo have come out to dismiss claims by Harmonize that they have joined Wasafi Records, managed by Diamond Platinumz.

Harmonize took to Instagram to announce that Navy Kenzo had joined Wasafi after Navy and Diamond re-leased a song together, Katika.

The collabo has over one million views and is trending number one on YouTube.

“Nisaidie kuwakaribisha na Na-vykenzo Usafini! Mie sipendagi mam-bo za siri siri kwani Tunamuogopa

nani? Welcome to the family WC-B4LIFE @nahreel & @aikanavyken-zo #Katika is out Dallas, Tx toniht,” wrote Harmonize on Instagram.

Navy Kenzo’s Aika confirmed Har-monize’s announcement, saying: “Ni usafi tu.” However, Navy Kenzo set the record straight, saying they haven’t joined Wasafi. The duo is being man-aged by Diamond’s manager Sallam SK, but they are not signed to Wasafi.

They responded to the claims while speaking to the press on Sunday night, during the Biko Jibebe Chal-lenge at Mlimani City, Dar es Salaam.

For more Word Is stories scan the QR code above.

IS IT BECAUSE HE’S AMONG THE HIGHEST-PAID EMPLOYEES AT THE COMPANY?

Navy Kenzo and his wife Aika Kenzo /COURTESY

Zari Hassan and Diamond Platnumz /COURTESY

Zari b-day text to Diamond baffles

Letoya Johnstone/COURTESY

Radio presenter treats colleagues like peasants

Star reporterPSSSSST.....!

he was Muslim and told my mum that he could not treat me because I was sleeping with people of my gender.

“He said I was looking for people to rape me, adding that I wanted to be a woman. That is how my parents came to learn that I was gay.”

Before the assault, Letoya “had nev-er had sex with anyone whatsoever.” While in school, nobody wanted to be with Letoya, who now wants to be identified as a “she”.

“I was in my own space and nobody liked me and no parents wanted me to be with their children. Neither did the society welcome me because I was always the different one. I got trauma-tised,” he said. How has he managed to handle trolls?

“People can be negative and positive at the same time but trolls can build somebody and they can also destroy you. Nobody else can ever destroy you. The best thing to understand is that trolls come for everyone and they need it in their lives. You need to learn that everything that works against you can also work for you so long as you understand the power of reverse,” Letoya said.

He is a fashion stylist and catwalk trainer who always shares photos flaunting his ‘curves’ on social media, working with local and international brands.

“I have worked with Parents maga-zine, Akothee, Lupita Nyong’o’s stylist, among other big brands.

How is he treated in everyday life? Does he have to explain everything to people about his sexuality?

“I have to explain myself and tell people what transgender is and other parts of the LGBT community, or peo-ple can understand what I am coming to do as a fashion stylist or whatever.”

His advice to people who are fight-ing to be identified in the society is:

“Know who you are with so that you will never have to explain yourself to people.”

BY ELIZABETH NGIGI @nyambs_liz/ Letoya Johnstone is a transgender Ken-yan who identifies himself as a woman trapped in a man’s body.

Speaking to Word Is, the 25-year-old said he has had difficulties living life as a transgender. At one time, he was denied medication after he was raped.

“Immediately after high school, something that is really sensitive and

so unfortunate from my side hap-pened. There was a time I was in Homa Bay in 2007. I was so young and was beautiful, with glowing skin. Dressed like a girl,” he said.

“Hell broke loose and I was grabbed and thrown into the ditch and got bad-ly raped. I almost lost my life. I went to the district hospital and the doctor on duty refused to treat me because

THE-STAR.CO.KE � ursday, October 4, 2018 20

VOICES

It seems like we are forever learning new things about the practical implications of our ‘new Constitution’ of 2010, with every week that passes.

One recent lesson is that a Kenyan Deputy President who hopes to succeed his boss must start early. In previous decades, anyone seeking

high elective offi ce was considered to have started much too early if he initiated campaigns two years before a general election. But now it seems that if you wait until the ink is dry on your deputy-presidential oath of offi ce, you will have left it too late.

I daresay there is something to be admired in DP William Ruto’s relentless campaigns — mostly focused on the Coast region — to gather unto himself additional vote blocs which could help propel him to the presidency.

I say admirable because he has in two general elections ( 2013 and 2017 ) assiduously courted the voters of the Coast region, and subsequently met with a devastating rejection come voting day.

� e rapturous welcome that top leaders invariably receive at the Coast does not always translate into bankable votes.

� ere is an incident from about 15 years ago which infl uences my conclusion in this matter. � is is what happened:

I was strolling through the streets of Mombasa (where I then lived) with a friend of mine, when he greeted a stout, middle-aged, buibui-clad woman who walked past us. Once we were out of earshot, he told me that he regretted very much that he had not spotted her in time to tell me to take a close look at her. For this was a lady — he told me her name — who was something of a legend in Mombasa politics.

Apparently, this middle-aged woman walking all alone was the storied political operative I had heard spoken of as the indispensable ‘crowd mobiliser’ of Mombasa politics. She was reputed to have the ability to conjure up a crowd of up to 3,000 women at very short notice, for political purposes.

She had previously been some sort of social worker, helping organise women into self-help groups, and had wisely kept her extensive networks intact. Her stock

in trade was her reputation for scrupulous honesty: Whatever sums the politicians who needed an instant crowd handed over to her, would always be equitably shared out.

Given just 24 hours’ notice, this lady could apparently cover the sidewalks of any Mombasa streets with a large crowd of women, chanting the praises of a visiting VIP, or a politician on the campaign trail.

My friend told me that the skill this lady (and others like her) had when it came to mobilising crowds to welcome such dignitaries, had completely fooled the (now retired) President, Daniel Moi, into believing that he had considerable support in Mombasa, during the fi rst multiparty elections in 1992.

When opposition parties went on to win three of four seats that were available, Moi was absolutely stunned.

I don’t doubt there are other ‘youth leaders’ and ‘women’s leaders’ today, all over the Coast, who are so infl uential that — at their word — many hundreds will pour into the streets to welcome whoever has paid

whatever the going rate is.But these ‘infl uencers’ (as I imagine

they must now be known) cannot actually get anyone to vote for you. Indeed, they do not even try. And in any event, those large crowds that they seemingly conjure from thin air, only represent a very small percentage of the total electorate.

� e unyielding political reality is that for at least two decades now, the coastal vote has been profoundly anti-establishmentarian. For the indigenous communities they have neither forgiven

nor forgotten the decades-long and uniquely cruel marginalisation that they have been subjected to by consecutive governments.

� is explains why in 2002, opposition leader and presidential candidate Mwai Kibaki was able to win an overwhelming majority of votes cast at the Coast.

And then, just fi ve years later, in 2007, when President Kibaki, seeking reelection, allowed himself the consoling delusion that the cheering crowds on the streets of Mombasa meant that he had political support in that city, a rude shock awaited him when the votes were fi nally counted.

COMMENTWYCLIFFE MUGA@mugawycliff e

CHEERING COAST CROWDS DECEPTIVE

Deputy President William Ruto has in two general elections ( 2013 and 2017 ) assiduously courted voters of the Coast, and met with a devastating rejection come voting day

@Nanjala1“Private prisons have failed everywhere. They are conduits for widespread abuse, exploitation and human rights violations. Today, Kenya’s president signed regulations to create private prisons in the country. This is not good.”

EDITORIAL

THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE NEITHER FORGIVEN NOR FORGOTTEN THE DECADES-LONG MARGINALISATION THEY HAVE SUFFERED

Kibra MP Ken Okoth is preparing a bill to legalise the growth and consumption of marijuana.

Marijuana, also known as bangi or cannabis, is a relatively mild drug. It is not addictive like heroin or cocaine, although it may be habit-forming. It does not cause hallucinations although its use by adolescents can lead to schizophrenia in later life.

It is best compared to alcohol, which can be addictive and destructive to health but is popular globally.

Alcohol is a pleasant relaxant in moderation. Marijuana is an eff ective painkiller for certain medical conditions as well as being a relaxant.

However marijuana is illegal and fi nances criminal activity in urban centres. In rural areas where it grows like a weed, young men are often sent to jail for smoking it.

If marijuana were legalised, it would generate tax income for the government and stop money from going into the pockets of criminal gangs. It would save young men from being sent to jail unnecessarily.

So let Kenya join Colorado and South Africa in legalising marijuana.

Kenya should also legalise marijuana

HISTORICAL QUOTE

FRANCIS OF ASSISI The Italian saint died on October 4, 1226.

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

WWW.THE-STAR.CO.KE@THESTARKENYATHESTARKENYA

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Last week’s outline was on how the President set us up for the fall in his Finance Bill speech. He later assented to the controversial Bill, making it law under ominous dark clouds of the Finance Act being unconstitutional. He’s accused of introducing new budget items, thus usurping the role of Parliament.

� e reduction of shareable revenue due to counties by Sh9 billion should have gone to the Senate. � e Hansard recording seems to have been sabotaged but if its record is correct, it will show that the Nays had it against the eight per cent tax on petroleum products. Speaker Justin Muturi may have presided over the greatest fraud ever in Kenya’s parliamentary history.

In the speech, the President’s delusions of grandeur crowded out ordinary Kenyans’ needs and missed the point on the petroleum tax’s collateral damage. An unfazed Uhuru Kenyatta sketched visions of grandeur not experienced by many Kenyans:

“In addition to supporting devolution, your taxes have been used for an aggressive and successful development agenda...millions of Kenyans travel on new roads...Millions of homes have been connected to electricity. Our mothers have access to safer and cheaper maternal care...free primary education...secondary public schools for free. Our investment in infrastructure is at its highest since Independence...And the standard gauge railway has been nothing short of transformational.”

It’s shocking how his monologue on achievements is out of sync with Kenyans’ concerns. Is he talking about the same SGR that can’t pay for itself, despite forced cargo haulage? Whose gobbling of billions is a subject of investigation? Kenyans aren’t against spending on even magnifi cent projects. Concern is with the here and now, which is, how much of their taxes is going to pay debt that has been squandered in the process of satisfying the President’s delusions? Still he boasts of:

“...more than doubled the number of people with access to healthcare under NHIF...vulnerable and elderly Kenyans, more than 700,000, receive monthly stipends. But all this costs money. Your taxes have paid for clear, tangible progress”. Habitually, he is justifying looting of public coff ers. What is he marvelling at alone? He could do with a reality check.

� ursday, October 4, 2018 21

VOICES

A Senate session sitting in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu county, ran into fi erce headwinds when it met maize farmers from the North Rift. Indignation, anger, disgust, hopelessness and helplessness were palpable as farmers accused leaders of ignoring their plight. Emotional farmers confronted the senators saying their

concerns, including timely payment for grain supplies to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and access to subsidies, had not been addressed.

Controversy regarding maize marketing is not new. In fact, Kenya’s fi rst major graft scandal at Independence was about maize. Of particular concern to Agriculture ministry offi cials was a situation that unfolded in 1964-65 occasioned by circumstances that led to the suspension of Paul Ngei as the Minister for Cooperatives and Marketing.

Ngei, the Independence hero and one of the famous Kapenguria Six who had been incarcerated together with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, was accused of meddling with the Maize Marketing Board (the predecessor of NCPB) and smuggling the crop, leading to shortages in 1964-65. A report by a commission appointed to look into the shortages found that Ngei, who chaired the board, oversaw “unfairness, ineffi ciency, corruption and black marketing” in the distribution and marketing of maize throughout Kenya.

He was accused of smuggling maize and overseeing the export of surplus maize that would have safely seen Kenya through the shortages of 1964-65. Another maize scandal would resurface 43 years later in 2009, this time dragging in the name of then Minister for Agriculture William Ruto, now the Deputy President.

History appears to be repeating itself as Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe, former NCPB managing director Newton Terer and several offi cials implicated in last year’s multibillion-shilling maize scandal were arrested and arraigned in court. Lesiyampe is in trouble for allegedly authorising the NCPB, the custodian of the country’s strategic grain reserve, to buy maize using an unauthorised budget.

Whilst Kenyans commend the swift and decisive action of the DPP, the nation’s farmers remain in a quandary. Cheap maize illegally imported from Uganda and elsewhere has fi lled all the grain storage space available to the NCPB and has depleted its resources. � e NCPB for the last one year has been unable to purchase most of last year’s maize crop. � e glut at the NCPB has caused a sudden fall in prices in the local maize market and a 90kg bag currently sells at Sh900m down from Sh3,200 last year.

Many farmers are still holding on to last year’s stocks while this year’s crop is due for harvest this month. � e farmers are in a terrible situation. Each farmer who was accorded an opportunity to speak at the Senate session hit out at the leaders and government for not doing enough to help them market their produce. Government response more often than not is that Agriculture is a devolved function. If that be so, what is the role of the NCPB? Why were state funds from the NCPB used to pay billions to some individuals for lump-sum maize delivered to the board by non-farmers?

� e cost of farm inputs from machinery, fuel, seed, fertiliser, herbicides, labour, bagging and transport have gone up exponentially, whilst government is making every eff ort to keep the prices of maize, wheat and sugar as low as possible. Unless government initiates a farmers’ subsidy scheme, agriculture will be unsustainable in future.

COMMENTCOMMENTDAUDI MWENDA KIBISU KABATESI

WHAT WAY FORWARD ON MAIZE SITUATION?

UHURU’S DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

Farmers are still holding on to last year’s stocks while this year’s crop is due for harvest

� e truth is the President imposed budget cuts on stipends for elderly, free maternity, free secondary education, roads, Equalisation Fund and shortchanged counties by Sh9 billion

Scan this QR code using your smartphone to see more opinion columns on the Star website.

Communications, publications and confl ict management specialist, UoNCommunications consultant

In “funding devolution to the tune of over Sh1 trillion since 2013”, he reveals the belief prevalent in Jubilee that the county share of revenue is a donation from the national government rather than a constitutional imperative. It’s this mentality that results in halting disbursements to the counties of their rightful share of revenue by the national Treasury. On “all of this we have done without any substantial increase in taxes”, he isn’t being truthful at all, given the huge debt that he wants poor Kenyans to shoulder via punitive taxes.

“Now I will address the VAT on petroleum products. � e purpose of this tax (is) simple. We have to pay for the new constitutional order...” Why wouldn’t the President just say he needs close to Sh1.5 trillion (half the budget) to cover a Sh563 billion defi cit and Sh871 billion to pay maturing debts? His obsession with the myth that the Constitution is expensive is unending

yet what one parastatal loses in a year can fund the Cabinet, Parliament and all commissions.

Simple tabulation on the cost of current bureaucracy from remuneration of the President to subchief, governors to ward administrators, county offi ces, Parliament, Judiciary and independent commissions, excluding staff is a paltry Sh22

billion of the annual Sh3 trillion budget. Where it becomes costly is wastage in the name of allowances and theft.

“I have also proposed wide-ranging cuts in spending as well as austerity measures across all arms of government. � e cuts target less essential spending, such as hospitality, foreign and domestic travel, training and seminars, and similar categories.”

� e truth is he imposed budget cuts on stipends for the elderly, free maternity, free secondary education, roads, Equalisation Fund and shortchanged counties by Sh9 billion. � e irony is that the Health ministry, with devolved functions, is sagging under the weight of billions ostensibly to fund the Managed Equipment Services (MES), yet same payment is deducted at source from county government allocations.

WHAT ONE STATE PARASTATAL LOSES IN A YEAR CAN FUND THE CABINET, PARLIAMENT AND ALL COMMISSIONS

22 Thursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

SOCIETY SOCIETY@THE-STAR.CO.KE

FIRST ASAL CONFERENCE HELD IN MALINDIMalindi recently played host to the inaugural Arid and Semi Arid Lands Conference.

The conference, themed: “Unlocking the potential of Asals for accelerated development”, was the first in efforts to transform the once-marginalised 29 Asal counties.

Present were more than 1,000 delegates, including US Ambassador Bob Godec. Deputy President William Ruto opened the conference and said the government was committed to transforming the Asal areas.

Host Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi said the idea is the first since Independence and would go a long way in changing the living standards of people.

(+) NIC HAILEY SEES OFF 2018 CHEVENING-AIDED STUDENTS

British High Commissioner Nic Hailey recently invited the 2018-19 Chevening Scholarship class to his Muthaiga residence for a send-off dinner.

Chevening is the UK government’s global scholarship programme. It offers future leaders the unique opportunity to study in the UK.

These scholarships are awarded to outstanding professionals to pursue a one-year master’s degree in any subject at any UK university.

1. Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Kajiado Governor Joseph Lenku, DP William Ruto and Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa arrive 2. Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa (C) arrives 3. National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale (second left) arrives 4. Sengenya traditional dancers 5. EACC chairman Eliud Wabukala (C) and nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura 6. A delegate talks to US Ambassador Bob Godec /ALPHONCE GARI

1. Chevening Kenya Alumni Network chairperson Jane Gitau, University Education Research secretary administrator Peter Okwanyo and National Research Fund chairman Tirop Kosgey 2. British High Commission’s Alexandra Sheppard, British Council director Jill Coates and Omega Risk Management MD Franklin Mugendi 3. British High Commissioner Nic Hailey 4. Chevening officer Somali Melanie Mellows and 2018-19 Chevening scholar Cynthia Kimoli 5. Covertime Tents director Mercy Kamau and Southern Cross Safaris tours officer Jane Odundo 6. British High Commission consulate Andrew Bowes and Adventis senior adviser Deepak Dave /DOUGLAS OKIDDY

1

4 5 6

3

2

2

3

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4 5 6

COUN

TIES COUNTIES NAIROBI

‘ECONOMIC SABOTAGE, INCITEMENT’

Don’t use Ndakaini for political mileage, Murang’a leaders toldMCAs say wa Iria and Senator Kang’ata are capitalising on resource to position themselves as a presidential running mate and governor respectively for 2022

MCAs have condemned the plan in Murang’a to impose a 25 per cent tax on Ndakaini Dam water,calling it economic sabotage and incitement.

Murang’a politicians led by Gov-ernor Mwangi wa Iria want the levy imposed on the resource to raise revenue.

Nairobi MCAs said the leaders are playing politics with the lives of millions of Kenyans. “This is pure incitement. We know that all rivers belong to the government,” Water committee chairman Paul Kados said.

Kados said Wairia and Senator Irungu Kang’ata are misleading Murang’a residents for selfish po-litical mileage.

“Kang’ata wants to succeed Wairia,

while the governor wants to become deputy president in 2022. We know the politics going on but they won’t succeed because we know what the law says,” Kados said.

Wairia roped in MCAs to support the levy. Kang’ata has supported the call and even proposed a 40 per cent levy.

NO NAWASCO PROFIT The senator says revenue raised will be used to expand water connections and conserve the environment to sustain supply.

But Kados said that Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company does profit from the sale of water as it only charges for service and system main-tenance. Thus, the MCA said, it is un-fair for Murang’a to impose the tax.

“Acts of incitement being under-taken by various leaders against the drawing of water from Ndaka-ini Dam for distribution in Kiambu,

Machakos and Nairobi can only be seen as sabotage of the economy of the country,” Kados said.

He said it was illegal for the coun-ty government to claim ownership of water bodies. “All water bodies are public land held by the national government in trust for the people of Kenya,” he said.

Kados said water resources are managed and apportioned by the na-tional government through the Water Resources Management Authority, which is paid monthly charges for abstraction.”

Ndakaini Dam in Murang’a sup-plies 84 per cent of Nairobi’s daily water consumption. The rest is sup-plied by Sasimua Dam in Nyandarua, Ruiru Dam and Kikuyu Springs, both in Kiambu.

Ndakaini supplies about 440,000 cubic metres per day. The dam has a capacity of 70,000,000 cubic metres. It was constructed in 1988 and is fed

The Ndakaini Dam in Gatanga, Murang’a county /JOHN KAMAU

Governor Mike Sonko /FILE

THE-STAR.CO.KE 23 Thursday, October 4, 2018

JULIUS OTIENO@juliusotieno04

by Thika, Kiyuyu and Githika rivers.Kados said the 1,200 acres of the

dam site was compulsorily acquired by the government in 1988.

Sasumua dam is in Njambini, South Kinangop, Nyandarua coun-ty. It was commissioned in 1961 and supplies 60,325 cubic metres to Nai-robi per day.

CITY HALL PROTESTRuiru Dam and Kikuyu Springs sup-ply 21,600 and 4000 cubic meters per day, respectively.

Last week, City Hall protested the plans to impose tax on Ndakaini wa-ter consumption. Water executive Larry Wambua said the push to have Nairobi pay for water from Ndakaini was wrong.

“Ndakaini is a strategic national resource. We are working in partner-ship with the national government to resolve the matter,” Wambua told the Star on the phone.

‘PROJECT ALMOST STALLED BECAUSE PREVIOUS REGIME DIDN’T PAY THE IMPLE-MENTER’

Boreholes will end rationing – official

22 COMPLETE, 18 TO GO

MAUREEN KINYANJUI/ Water rationing is expected to end soon once boreholes are drilled.

City director of water services Mario Kainga said 22 boreholes have already been drilled in Embakasi.

The boreholes are in Embakasi Primary School, Em-bakasi Health Centre and Kayole Health Centre. “The drilling is progressing,” Kainga said.

Eighteen more will be drilled for a total of 40.The Sh200 million project is a joint initiative of the

national government and City Hall. The state will pay Sh100 million and the county government and Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company Sh50 million each.

“The project almost stalled because the previous regime did not pay Athi Water Services Board, the implement-ers,” Kainga said.

He said Governor Mike Sonko remitted the money on September 30. “The governor has prioritised water provision to residents,” he said.

Last year, NACWSCO managing director Nahashon Muguna said only 14 out of the 40 boreholes had been drilled. The water points were at Kenyatta University, Kibera Primary School, Joseph Kangethe Primary School, Gikomba, and Makongeni areas.

Previously, NAWASCO had 74 boreholes, in addition to privately owned wells. But 18 were either dried up or not operational. The drying up raised concerns about the dropping water table.

Water executive Larry Wambua said rationing might persist due to “historical failures” but said the county was committed to improving the situation. Muguna blamed persistent rationing on drought in the Aberdare Ranges since 2014 and degradation of catchment areas.

24 Thursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

COUNTIES CENTRAL

SH9BN BUDGET CUT

GRADUATION

CS Kobia to take charge as St Paul’s varsity chancellor

Reducing county funds will hurt growth, state told

GEORGE MUGO/ Public Service Youth and Gender Affairs CS Margaret Kobia will be installed tomorrow as St Paul’s University second chancellor.

The private institution was founded in 1903. It was awarded a charter on September 14, 2007, by President Mwai Kibaki. It has more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The Cabinet secretary will replace outgoing chancellor Samuel Kobia (no relation), who has served two five-year terms.

Samuel is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s adviser on peace and reconciliation.

The event will take place at the institution’s graduation square. Some 2,500 students are expected to graduate.

“Her installation will be conducted before the graduation of our students. She will be the chancellor by the time they graduate,” public relations officer Michael Mungai said.

The term of a chancellor in the institution is renewable once. One serves for five years. It can be renewed once — totalling 10 years.

Guests invited to the graduation include Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit, university council chairman and PCEA moderator Julius Mwamba and NCCK secretary general Peter Karanja. Vice chancellor Joseph Galgalo will also be present.

EUTYCAS MUCHIRI / Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga and speaker John Kaguchia yesterday appealed to the national government to everse its decision to reduce devolution cash by Sh9 billion.

Other state and government agencies also had their cash reduced after it emerged Kenya could not meet its revenue targets. Only the Judiciary’s funds were increased.

Yesterday, Kahiga and Kaguchia said the budget cut will hurt counties.

“By reducing counties’ budget, Nyeri will lose Sh160 million — not a small amount. We call on the national government that as it cuts budgets for counties, it should also cut its own expenditure,” Kahiga said.

The county will have to reduce its spending on infrastructure and development. Kahiga said they spend Sh300-400 million on roads, but that figure must be cut.

Kaguchia said devolution should not be cut if the counties have to achieve significant development.

“We would like to appeal to the national government and the National Assembly to reconsider this reduction to the county governments,” he said.

NEW INVESTOR FOUND

State to revive Sh13bn Kinangop wind power project, says officer Plant stalled three years ago during a row over site ownership row and claims of bribery

The government plans to revive the Kinangop wind power project, Central regional coordinator Wilson Njega has said.

The Sh13.4 billion project stalled three years ago after residents raised concerns about the manner in which it was being implement-ed. It was mired in claims of bribery, half-truths, deceit, bureaucracy and incompetence.

Questions were also raised about landownership and contractual terms and community awareness.

On Tuesday, Njenga said public views will be considered before the relaunch to avert problems that led to the collapse. He spoke as he toured Wanjohi in Kipipiri and Githabai in

Kinangop during a crackdown on illicit brews, bhang and gaming machines.

“It was unfortunate that after fail-ing to take off, directors of the wind power project withdrew from the location and moved to the Interna-tional Court of Arbitration to com-pel the government to compensate them,” Njenga said.

STATE WINS SH31BNAfter a two-week hearing last year. the London-based court dismissed the claims by Kinangop Wind Park Limited against the government

The court ordered the firm to pay more than Sh31 billion ($311,649,022 ). The firm had sought compensa-tion and damages. It cited political interference as its reason for leaving.

The arbitration court found that

the company failed to engage with residents and educate them on the project before it acquired licences.

The plant was to produce 60.8 MW. It stalled because of “bad poli-tics and false information fed to the residents”, Njenga said.

He said the investors were not sin-cere and quit after creating a mess, running out of resources and using politicians to cause hostility among residents.

LEVY ON WATER Coordinator Njenga said the govern-ment has acquired a new investor to take charge of the revival. Once public participation is completed, the government and the investor will sign an MoU to ensure no one uses the project as a cash cow.

Njega said some politicians use

Central regional coordinator Wilson Njega in Wanjohi, Kipipiri, on Tuesday/NDICHU WAINAINA

NDICHU WAINAINA@TheStarKenya

TARGETS SH1BN

Nyeri to focus on local revenue to spur growthEUTYCAS MUCHIRI/ Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga yesterday urged counties to focus on internal revenue generation to support development.

He spoke after signing the Finance Bill into law. It will enable the county to collect revenue. The bill had been delayed for three to four years. The governor was accompanied by other county officers, including county assembly leaders.

Kahiga said the new law will identify more than 73 revenue streams, accruals from penalties and outstanding fees. Focus areas include parking fees,

Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga in his office yesterday /EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

public forums to fight some insti-tutions to gain political mileage, but the government will not tolerate that.

The administrator was reacting to calls by some Kinangop leaders to have the county impose a levy on water supplied to Nairobi.

Gitahbai MCA Samuel Rimui and his nominated counterpart Margaret Wanjiru sought to have Nyandarua benefit from water drawn from the county. He wanted the water me-tered so the county administration can charge some rates.

But the regional boss urged pol-iticians to respect the Constitution when making demands over natu-ral resources meant for the national good. He said leaders must follow the laid-down structures of engage-ment to avert inciting residents or damaging public property.

hospital charges and land rates. The county is revaluing property to help it determine new rates.

In the current budget, the county targets Sh1 billion local revenue. Kahiga said the county will have to raise an extra Sh180 million to cater for the Sh160 million lost after the recent budget cuts by the national government.

Nyeri has to meet its goals and spend its cash prudently, hence, the need to strengthen revenue collection, he said. The county will hire 30 more revenue collectors.

“We thank the people of Nyeri because in the year gone by, they’ve been able to raise the revenue from Sh630 million to Sh730 million,” the county boss said.

“We’ve continued to say that Nyeri is a corruption-free county. We want to spend wananchi’s money the way it should be spent.”

Seven county employees were recently charged with corruption in Karatina, Mathira, and Mweiga, Kieni.

COUNTIES COAST

25 Thursday, October 4, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE

SH7MCost of bus presented

by MP Mboko

THE DATA

WILL ACHIEVE NOTHING

The Likoni MP accused Ruto of being busy polarising the country through

divisive politics.

Handshake team is a waste of money, says Pwani scholarERNEST CORNEL /The 14-member committee on Building Bridges Initiative is a waste of public funds, a political analyst and university scholar has said.

Prof Halim Shauri from Pwani University said the team will not do a better job than the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, Ndung’u Commission and the National Cohesion and Intergeneration Commission.

In a gazette notice dated May 24, head of public service Joseph Kinyua (pictured) said the committee has one year to prepare a comprehensive report on the issues affecting Kenyans. Kinyua said the team will be making periodic recommendations for action.

The committee was formed on March 9, after handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Shauri said Kenya’s problems remain the same 50 years after independence. He citied land injustices and marginalisation.

“Now we have BBI. You think BBI will come up with something new? No. it will just regurgitate previous reports. Let them enjoy, earn money and get driven by flashy cars but the problem will remain the same,” he said. He said any reports they deliver should be implemented to the latter.

“If we can’t do this then there is leadership problem in trying to get to the goals,” he said.

He spoke Tuesday at Tononoka Social Hall during the world International Nonviolence Day.“It is a shame that after 50 years, we are still talking about land matters. If we have identified land as the problem, what are we doing about it?” he asked.

‘HE’S A MAN RUNNING AGAINST HIMSELF’

TORTURED FOR TWO WEEKS

Ruto outbursts causing division and tensions, says MP MbokoDevelopment-minded leaders like President Uhuru and former PM Raila are not politicking but building the country through the Big Four agenda, the Likoni MP says

Deputy President William Ruto is causing tension and confusion with his nationwide campaigns, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko has said.

The MP said Ruto is busy polar-ising the country through divisive politics.

“Development-minded leaders like President Uhuru Kenyatta are not politicking but giving back to their electorates through Big Four agenda. Their focus is to unite this country,” she said.

Mboko said the March 9 hand-shake between Uhuru and former

CHETI PRAXIDES / A Lamu man who escaped death in Saudi Arabia has appealed to the Kenyan government to help him recover his benefits from the company he worked for.

The 28-year-old Mohamed Adnan went to Saudi Arabia for greener pas-tures in 2014.

He worked as a salesman for a Saudi company. He says the com-pany’s managers mistreated him for the four years he worked for them.

Speaking in Lamu yesterday, Ad-nan said his employers locked him up in a room and tortured him for weeks after he left his job due to mistreatment.

“They didn’t like the fact that I de-cided to quit my job yet they were

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko (centre) at Likoni School for the Blind where she han-ded over a Sh7 million bus/ERNEST CORNEL

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has made the country peaceful.

She spoke yesterday at Likoni School for Blind when she gave out a Sh7 million bus.

Her comments were in reaction to recent outbursts by Ruto that Raila was planning to kick him out of the Jubilee Party, “just as he did in ODM”.

Mboko noted it was Ruto who willingly left ODM to form the Unit-ed Republican Party that teamed with The National Alliance to form Jubilee Party of Kenya, which mor-phed into JP.

On Sunday, Ruto called Raila a “conman” while in Mombasa. The DP also said his wealth was amassed genuinely.

Mboko said Ruto was racing

ERNEST CORNEL @oduorernest

against himself at the Coast and cannot claim an early win.

She said ODM rebels trooping to the DP’s rallies will “lose big time” in 2022.

“We saw what happened to [former Kwale woman representative Zainab] Chidzuga and [ex-Kilifi South MP] Mustapha Iddi,” she said.

The former ODM members lost their seats after supporting Jubilee in the last General Election.

This time, Mohamed Ali (Nyali, Independent), Ali Mbogo (Kisau-ni, Wiper) and Badi Twalib (Jomvu, ODM) are Mombasa politicians sup-porting the DP.

In Kilifi, Aisha Jumwa (Malindi, ODM), Owen Baya (Kilifi North, ODM) and Paul Katana (Kaloleni,

ODM) have announced their sup-port for Ruto.

In Kwale, Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga, JP), Suleiman Dori (Msambweni, ODM), Kassim Tanda-za (Matuga, ANC) and Benjamin Ta-yari (Kinango, ODM) back Ruto’s bid.

Voi MP Jons Mlolwa (ODM) re-mains the only lawmaker in Taita Taveta county to announce his in-tention to support the DP.

Lamu East MP Athman Sharif (JP) has said Ruto is his choice in 2022 polls.

On Tuesday, Raila defended his handshake with President Uhuru.

He said only corrupt people should be rattled by the unity, be-cause it is meant to fight against corruption.

Adnan who says he was nearly killed by his Saudi employers /CHETI PRAXIDES

Help me get benefits from Saudi firm, man asks state

treating me like an animal.When I presented my resignation letter to my manager and demanded benefits, he ordered guards at the company to lock me up in a small room in the compound and torture me for about two weeks.I don’t understand why someone would do that to another human being,” said Adnan.

The guards were also instructed to ensure he doesn’t eat, relieve himself or escape.

He says all the time he was de-tained, his identification documents including his passport, identity card and his mobile phone were confis-cated by his employers.

Adnan also says he fell sick while in detention but was denied medical

care and food. He says the employers wanted him dead.

He was released after being forced to sign papers stating that he would not demand his benefits.

“After that they gave me back my documents and phone and sent me

packing without anything,”said Adnan.

He returned to Kenya in Septem-ber this year.

“My fare back home was contribut-ed by my mom and other relatives,” he said.

26 Thursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

COUNTIES EASTERN

Borehole project reignites Meru-Isiolo border tussleIt’s illegal to spend even a coin from Meru in Isiolo county – MP Hassan Oda

A visit by Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi to launch development projects in Ngare Mara has triggered a boundary dispute with Isiolo, with angry county leaders claiming own-ership of the ward.

Kiraitu toured the area on Tues-day last week and launched the first borehole project. He said he did not campaign in the area as he thought it is in Isiolo.

“It’s only recently that I learnt it is in Meru county and decided to launch the sinking of boreholes,” Kiraitu said. The county boss said the area is in Muthara ward.

Isiolo North MP Hassan Oda, however, said Kiraitu should have launched water projects in Meru county rather than bringing them to Ngare Mara, which he said is in Isiolo.

“We do not want funds from Meru. It is illegal to spend even a coin in Isiolo county. Kiwanja, Kisima and Gambela primary schools are reg-istered in Isiolo and supervised by director from the county,” Oda said.

The MP added that there is no law that allows anyone to adjudicate community land.

“The moment you leave Isiolo town heading to Garba Tula, the left side of the highway is part and parcel of Isiolo county,” Oda said.

He said illegal collection of tax and resources will not be allowed, and that they will resist any attempt to annex any part of Isiolo.

The High Court ruled the bound-ary between the two counties should be resolved by an independent commission set up by Parliament. In a judgement delivered by Jus-tice John Mativo on behalf of Jus-tice Isaac Lenaola, the court ruled that no activity should be carried on disputed land with intention of demarcating it.

Chairman of Turkana Council of Elders Libuni Ekitera said the com-munity should be in Isiolo.

“There is no day I have heard Governor [Mohamed] Kuti taking

development projects to Meru. So, we are telling Governor Kiraitu to respect Isiolo county and its leaders,” Ekitera said.

County secretary Ahmed Galgalo said Ngare Mara is politically and administratively in Isiolo. “We may have a boundary dispute, which was pursued by previous regime and a judgement was made,” Galgalo said.

He said they will meet to make sure Isiolo county is not encroached.

“We urge residents to be restrained as we solve this issue. I also want to

DENNIS DIBONDO @ddibondo

DENNIS DIBONDO/ Meru county has bought Sh24 million sports kits to be distributed in 33 wards.

County Sports executive Daniel Kiogora said there will also be cash rewards for winners of ward leagues through county ward development funds .

The wards will hold football, volleyball, dats and pool table competitions. Kiogora spoke in Meru town on Tuesday.

“These sporting kits are given to wards that proposed their youth be given priority in sporting activities. Others who proposed items such as car wash machines and barber machines will not benefit from this but what they requested for will be given to empower them,” Kiogora said.

He said this will not end up in ward level as they will have subcounty leaguess and finally county tournament.

“Those who will emerge victorious will be given tro-phies and cash rewards and those that will be the best will be taken to another level,” Kiogora said.

County secretary Rufus Miriti said this will help fight alcohol and drug abuse by keeping youths occupied.

County buys Sh24m kits for competitions

SPORTS

Isiolo county receives four additional exam containers

More men in Imenti joining adult education, now 530

Meru county to adopt cashless system to cut revenue losses

DENNIS DIBONDO/ Isiolo has received four additional containers for exam storage to reduce the distance to examining centres in far flung areas. The national examinations start on October 30 for KCPE and November 5 for KCSE.

Speaking in Isiolo on Tuesday when he supervised preparations, Education PS Belio Kipsang said the ministry had acquired 40 more containers to take care of the subcounties that are extremely vast. They posing a major problem to headteachers and supervisors who pick and deliver the papers.

DENNIS DIBONDO / The number of males enrolling for adult education in Imenti North subcounty has steadily increased unlike before, when women were known to be the majority bya huge margin.

Subcounty Adult and Continuing Education officer Keresi Kitonga said the margin between the two genders had significantly reduced, leaving a measly difference of nine learners.

“Currently, the enrollment stands at 530 for men and 539 for women,” Kitonga said.

DENNIS DIBONDO /The Meru assembly has passed a motion compelling the executive to introduce a cashless, digital revenue collection for accountability.

The motion, sponsored by nominated MCA Ruth Kananu, was unanimously passed. Speaker Joseph Kaberia directed the Implementation Committee to follow up with the executive to ensure it is implemented. During the debate on Tuesday, Kananu said the county government was “losing a lot of money in the absence of a transparent system open to scrutiny”.

SECURITY

EDUCATION

DISPUTE

IMPROVING COLLECTION

County secretary Rufus Miriti / DENNIS DIBONDO

A street in Meru town /FILE

Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi launches water project in Ngare Mare last week / DENNIS DIBONDO

tell the neighbouring counties that we should form an inter-counties relations committee that will han-dle any emerging conflict without provoking each other,” Galgalo said.

During his visit Kiraitu said he has good working relationship with Governor Kuti. “We have good working relationship with Governor Kuti. We worked for many years in government. We even launched the Isiolo Airport together. Small petty issues that were there are over as we are now friends,” Kiraitu said.

� ursday, October 4, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE 27

COUNTIES NORTHEASTERN

CLANDESTINE MEETINGS

STEPHEN ASTARIKO@stephen Astariko

Garissa governor Korane cautions assembly members against dividing house along ethnic lines

Garissa MCAs have been warned against an alleged plot to weaken the administration and impeach the assembly speaker.

Garissa governor Ali Korane yes-terday accused lawmakers, whom he did not name, of plotting to distabi-lise the assembly. He was speaking to the press in Garissa town.

He said the MCAs were holding night meetings in Nairobi to divide his administration along ethnic lines.

“I can assure you they won’t go far with their plans. � ey also want to have the speaker to undermine the county assembly,” the governor said.

Korane said the clandestine meet-ings aimed at bringing him down will not succeed.

He said he had cultivated a cor-dial working relationship with the county assembly speaker whom he said ‘was there to stay’. He was ac-

companied by deputy governor Abdi Dagane, speaker Ahmed Abbas and other county leaders and MCAs

Ijara MCA Irshad Hilowle also accused the politicians of planning to divide the MCAs along clan and ethnic lines.

“I want to assure the governor that we in the assembly are determined to support his government to deliver on its mandate,” Hilowle said.

� e governor commissioned four new ambulances to serve health in-stitutions across the county.

His comments come just a day after National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale hit out at some

“political brokers and opportun-ists”out to divide his community.

He said the recent confusion be-tween his supporters and those of Korane was being fueled by the ‘bro-kers’ for their selfi sh personal gains.

Speaking in Bura, Fafi sub-coun-ty on Monday, Duale hit out at un-named individuals whom he said were working day and night to cause disharmony in the community.

MCAs warned over plot to ruin house

Don’t relocate 1,500 traders, says Duale STEPHEN ASTARIKO/ National Assem-bly Majority leader Aden Duale yes-terday urged Garissa county to delay relocating traders from Qorahey and Suq Muqdi open-air markets.

Speaking in Garissa town, Duale said most of the traders are poor women.

� e traders are to be relocated while the markets are upgraded.

Garissa governor Ali Korane an-nounced in August they would be re-

located to a new site. He was touring the Qorahey open-air market that hosts over 500 traders. Suq Muqdi has more than 1,000 traders.

� e market has caused conges-tion along Posta Road. � e governor said traders should be shifted “for their own safety”.

Korane said the “sensitive ex-ercise” will be done in a procedural manner and traders will have input throughout the process.

POOR WOMEN

The Bungoma County Finance Bill 2018 has been tabled in the County Assembly and committed to the Committee on Finance and Economic Planning.

Article 196(1) (b) and 220(2) (a-c) of the Constitution of Kenya, Section 87 of the County Government Act,provides for Public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of the Assembly and its Committees.

In compliance with the above laws, the Committee invites members of the Public for Public hearings in all Sub-Counties as per the schedule below:

Members of the public can make their submissions at the venues indicated on the schedule or written memoranda can be sent to:

The Clerk to County Assembly,P.O Box 1886-50200

BUNGOMA.

OR

Emailed to info@bungomaassembly.go.ke

So as to reach not later than 19th October, 2018.

The proposed Finance bill is available at the County Assembly Ward offices and also on our website: www.bungomaassembly.go.ke

CLERK TO COUNTY ASSEMBLYCOUNTY GOVERNMENT OF BUNGOMA

INVITATION FOR PUBLIC HEARINGCOUNTY ASSEMBLY OF BUNGOMA

SCHEDULESUB COUNTYBUMULA

KABUCHAI

WEBUYE EAST

KIMILILI

TONGAREN

MT. ELGON

SIRISIA

WEBUYE WEST

KANDUYI

STAKE-HOLDERS’ MEETING

DATE

MONDAY 8TH OCTOBER, 2018

TUESDAY 9TH OCTOBER, 2018

WEDNESDAY 10TH OCTOBER, 2018

THURSDAY 11TH OCTOBER, 2018

FRIDAY 12TH OCTOBER, 2018

MONDAY 15TH OCTOBER, 2018

TUESDAY 16TH OCTOBER, 2018

WEDNESDAY 17TH OCTOBER, 2018

THURSDAY 18TH OCTOBER, 2018

FRIDAY 19TH OCTOBER, 2018

TIME

9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.M TEAM A

9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.M TEAM B9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM A9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM B9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.M

9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM A9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM B9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM A9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM B9.00 A.M– 4.00 P.MTEAM A9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM B9.00 A.M – 4.OO P.M

9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM A9.00 A.M – 4.00 P.MTEAM B9.00 – 4.00 P.MTEAM A

9.00 – 4.00 P.MTEAM B

9:00 AM – 4:00PM

WARD

SOUTH BUKUSUKABULABUMULAKHASOKOWEST BUKUSUKIMAETISIBOTIKABUCHAI/CHWELEMUKUYUNI

BWAKE/LUUYAWEST NALONDO

MIHUUNDIVISIMARAKAMAENIKAMUKUYWA

KIMILILIKIBINGEI

MBAKALOMILIMANAITIRI/KABUYEFWESOYSAMBU/MITUANDALU/TABANITONGARENELGONKAPTAMAKAPKATENYCHESIKAKICHEPTAISCHEPYUKNAMWELALWANDANYIMALAKISI/SOUTH KULISIRUBOKOLIMISIKHU

SITIKHOMATULO

KHALABATOWNSHIPMUSIKOMATUUTI/MARAKARUWEST SANGALOEAST SANGALOBUKEMBE WESTBUKEMBE EASTACROSS THE COUNTY

VENUE

MATEKA SA CHURCH

KIMWANGA CATHOLICCHURCH

CDF HALL MUSESE

NALONDO CATHOLIC CHURCH HALL

WEBUYE MUNICIPAL HALL

KAMUKUYWA KAG CHURCH

KIMILILI FRIENDS CHURCH

NAITIRI SA CHURCH

TONGAREN SA CHURCH

KAPSOKWONY COUNTY HALL

CHESIKAKI FRIENDS CHURCH

SIRISIA SOCIAL HALL

BOKOLI FRIENDS CHURCH

MATULO FRIENDS CHURCH

KENYA RED-CROSS HALL KANDUYI

SANG’ALO KAG CHURCH

MABANGA ATC

Governor Ali Korane in Garissa town when he commissioned four ambulances /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

I CAN ASSURE YOU THEY WON’T GO FAR WITH THEIR PLANS

COUNTIES WESTERN

28 � ursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

‘DIRTY TRICKS’

‘handpicked’

Raila conned Luhyas to back him and now fights Ruto — Wangwe Says the opposition leader should return the favour by supporting one of them in 2022

Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe yesterday urged Opposition leader Raila Odinga to learn to coexist with other politicians.

He said Raila has a history of fi ghting fellow politicians to cur-tail their progression in leadership and Kenyans are now aware of his

“dirty tricks”. Wangwe said Raila is “a political

conman”. He spoke to the Star on the phone. “He fought the late Ki-jana Wamalwa in Ford Kenya and he turned against Musalia Mudavadi when he declared to challenge him

JOHN NALIANYA / Bungoma deputy governor Ngome Kibanai has come under attack from a section of Ford Kenya leaders for allegedly meddling in party aff airs.

� e leaders are claiming he is in-stalling nonmembers as party offi -cials. Kabuchai MP James Mukwe said Ngome has started to recruit old members as a way of fi ghting genuine offi cials, who are “not in his good books.”

Speaking in his constituency, Mukwe claimed Ngome is not a party offi cial and is only out to wreck the party so that it loses popularity.

“How can he start working with nonmembers as party offi cials? He is out to wreck the party, yet he is a

Western MPs led by Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Left, seated), Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe and Benjamin Was-hiali in Parliament on August 15/JACK OWUOR

in ODM in 2012. He is now fi ghting DP William Ruto on the pretext of building bridges,” he said.

The DP on Monday hit out at Raila, accusing him of scheming to kick him out of Jubilee by ped-dling rumours and propaganda to sow confusion in the party and portray him as a stumbling block in the handshake. “� e handshake is not a licence to allow ODM to create confusion, propaganda and conmanship in our party,” he said in Mombasa county.

But ODM brigade fi red back at the DP accusing him of planning to use Raila’s name and ODM to exit Jubilee.

Yesterday, Wangwe said Raila conned Luhyas into supporting his

HILTON OTENYO @hiltonotenyo

bid but when he reached a truce with President Uhuru Kenyatta, he only negotiated for positions for his

“tribesmen”. He said Raila should appreciate

the support Luhyas have given him for the last two decades and return the favour by backing a Luhya in 2022.

CHART OWN DESTINYMudavadi, Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula and Kakamega governor Wycliff e Oparanya are among Luhyas who have declared interest in the presidency in 2022.

National Assembly Majority chief whip Ben Washiali asked Raila to allow Luhyas to chart their own po-litical destiny.

Speaking on the phone, Washiali said Raila is the biggest cause of dis-unity in the community for his own personal benefi ts.

“We are asking him to leave us alone, even if he does not want to support a Luhya. � e only reward Raila can give Western is to let them do their way alone.

“It is interesting that Raila still imagines that he can lead Luhyas to meet President Kenyatta, yet we have our own leaders who can do that,” he said.

Last month, Mudavadi urged Raila not be afraid of being in the opposition.

“You don’t need to be in the gov-ernment to become a President. � e tide can change,” Musalia said.

Bungoma deputy governor Ngome Kibanai in Webuye / JOHN NALIANYA

Don’t meddle in Ford Kenya aff airs, deputy governor told

nobody in the party,” the MP said. A number of MCAs from Kabuchai supported Mukwe.

Ngome could not be reached for comment as his phone went un-answered and didn’t reply to text messages.

Mukwe told the deputy governor to stop meetings with nonmembers.

“Ngome was handpicked by Governor Wycliff e Wangamati. He should not be holding party meetings,” Mukwe said.

He said he is the bona fi de party chairman of Kabuchai sub-branch and asked Ngome to say who gave him the mandate to instal another chairman.

“I wonder who has given him the

powers to start recruiting new of-fi cials, claiming it was the line up they will work with in the county,” Mukwe said.

Ngome has been meeting party of-

fi cials throughout the county to cool discontent among Ford Kenya offi -cials. � e party offi cials have been accusing Ngome and Wangamati of sidelining them in appointments.

Mudavadi is offi cial opposition leader, Savula tells Raila

Only a few Kenyans enjoy wealth, says former ECK offi cial

HILTON OTENYO/ ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi is the offi cial leader of the opposition outside Parliament, Lugari MP Ayub Savula has said.

Yesterday he said ODM’s Raila Odinga and Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka have joined the government and should cease using Nasa in their fi ght for space with Jubilee. Mudavadi has been packaging himself as the alternative government. He has recently become a fi erce critic of the government. “I met with Mudavadi on Tuesday and we agreed he is the opposition leader outside Parliament. I’m the face of the opposition inside the House,” Savula told the Star on the phone.

He said Raila should stop using Nasa to fi ght with DP William Ruto because he is no longer in the opposition. “You cannot be in government and opposition at the same time. While we’re focused on 2022, Raila is busy fi ghting for space in the bedrooms of Jubilee, which are already full,” Savula said.

Former Machakos senator Johnson Muthama on Tuesday off ered to broker peace among Nasa co-principals. � ey are Raila, Mudavadi, Kalonzo and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula.

BRIAN OJAMAA / Former Electoral Commission of Kenya member Jack Tumwa yesterday backed calls for a referendum to amend the Constitution.

He said the Constitution is overburdening the common mwananchi. “I support the referendum fully since it’s the only hope that will liberate me and others from the yoke of misery,” Tumwa said.

He spoke to the press at Parkvilla Hotel in Webuye. Tumwa said Kenyans are overburdened and are suff ering because politicians and top technocrats are controlling the economy. He said a recent research showed almost 99 per cent of the economy goes to 0.1 per cent of Kenyans. “It’s worse than apartheid of South Africa,” Tumwa said.

He said Kenya has to fi nd a way of redistributing wealth so mwananchi can get a fare share. “� e Constitution talks about equitable distribution of wealth but when you look around, a lot of wealth is being consumed by a few. � e little the poor have is being taken by the VAT,” he said.

Tumwa said the country’s top leadership is overrepresented and creation of other offi ces will rub salt in the wound. “Someone is lying to us that we do not have money for a referendum. We would rather hold the referendum and have a free country where everyone is happy,” he said. Tumwa said it may be painful but the solution must be achieved now.

FIGHTING JUBILEE SPACE?

BACKS REFERENDUM

Thursday, October 4, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE 29

COUNTIES NYANZA

ROBERT OMOLLO@TheStarKenya

The Homa Bay County Assembly bor-rowed funds and paid allowances to some MCAs without approval, an EACC report shows.

Some ward representatives were paid allowances for travels never un-dertaken and sittings they did not attend. The assembly also withdrew funds to pay for MCAs’ mortgages and car loans without approval.

These and other findings are in the report presented to the executive and the assembly on Tuesday.

FAITH MATETE/ Kisumu speaker On-yango Oloo has denied stage-man-aging his removal motion, saying it was a scheme by MCAs.

Oloo was reacting to last week’s drama in the assembly after a mo-tion to impeach him was tabled by nominated MCA Caleb Omoro. The motion was rejected.

A section of the house led by Kol-wa East MCA Steve Owiti accused the speaker of plotting his own re-moval motion to avoid impending impeachment.

Owiti said Oloo was playing tac-tics to save himself after realising that a majority of members had lost faith in him. Members said the ta-bling of the impeachment motion

BENSON NYAGESIBA/ Kisii traders have been urged to verify the authenticity of their goods before selling them. County commissioner Godffrey Kigochi said the sale of counterfeit and contraband goods was on the rise.

He cited entertainment venues that he said were sell-ing counterfeit products, such as branded liquor. Kigochi (pictured) said police will conduct a crackdown and arrest culprits. “Those arrested will be prosecuted,” Kigochi said.

He was speaking at the Kisii Cultural Hall during a meet-ing with the business community. Trade executive Edna Kangwana, KRA official Peter Omondi, Kenya Bureau of Standards officer Wilfred Bosire, Kenya Chamber of Com-merce and Industry representative Benjamin Onkoba and county director of public health Melitus Kabar attended.

HOMA BAY ASSEMBLY

KISUMU COUNTY ASSEMBLY

CULPRITS FACE ARREST

MCAs pocketed allowances for ghost meetings

Oloo denies stage-managing failed motion to remove him

Verify authenticity of goods, traders told as fakes on the rise

EACC says assembly borrowed funds for ward reps’ car loans without approval

Speaker says bid was orchestrated by hostile MCAs

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission established that the assembly borrowed Sh60,000 and Sh300,000 between December 29 and 30, 2014, with no evidence the loans had been approved. Commis-sioner Rose Macharia said the as-sembly misused public funds.

The report says three MCAs were paid for travels without indicating the purpose of their visits.

“Some payments were done with-out MCAs attendinge meetings,” the report says. It was also established that some MCAs signed allowance vouchers for colleagues who did not attend meetings.

The assembly hired and paid for

several services without documents. “There are a number of instances where payments were done with-out the approval of the accounting officer,” Macharia said.

She said some of the anomalies resulted from hiring of personnel unqualified to keep records.

Officials of the assembly are being investigated. “At least five suspects have their cases ongoing in court,” Macharia said.

The report said revenue collection was weak. Officials exploited manual

was unprocedural. They said said it was sneaked into the order paper without passing through the house business committee.

“This motion needs to be ex-punged,” Nyalenda B MCA Joseph Olale said.

Majority leader Kenneth Onyango said the intention of moving the mo-tion was to cause chaos among MCAs and taint the image of the assembly.

“There is mischief in this motion. As a member of the House Business Committee, I can confirm that the motion was neither brought before us nor did we approve it,” Onyan-go said. Oloo said he walked out of the chambers to allow membersto discuss the motion.

TRYING TO SAVE HIMSELF AFTER REALISING MEMBERS HAD LOST FAITH IN HIM

revenue collection system loopholes to siphon funds — by not giving re-cepts, issuing parallel or unofficial revenue receipts and stealing.

The county was asked to ensure financial officers indicate dates against their signatures on bank reconciliation statements.

“The purpose of this report is to enable the county government offer better services. The recommenda-tions will help in dealing with loss of funds,” Macharia said.

Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata

said the county was partnering with EACC to fight corruption.

“We want to uphold our integ-rity. Our collaboration with EACC will enable us seal the loopholes,” Orata said.

EACC has already filed a recov-ery suit in court against assembly clerk Kephas Otieno who was found to have paid Sh26.2 million to his wife Everline Awino for services not rendered. The agency said the two colluded to defraud the assembly. Awino’s account has been frozen.

EACC commissioner Rose Macharia with Homa Bay deputy governor Hamilton Orata on Tuesday /ROBERT OMOLLO

30 Thursday, October 4, 2018THE-STAR.CO.KE

COUNTIES RIFT VALLEY

Elders impose blood-drinking riteto expose witchdoctors in Pokot Clerics and residents say they are forced to drink potions and some flee homes in fear

Religious leaders in West Pokot have accused elders of forcing residents suspected of witchcraft to drink blood mixed with herbs.

Clerics say they themselves have also been ordered by elders to drink concoctions and take an oath so they can use spiritual powers to “disclose witchdoctors and sorcerers”.

Police have warned against the practice. Seven people have been arrested for coercing people to drink blood.

Yesterday, the Pokot Pastors’ Network held peaceful protests in Kapenguria town. The clerics said they live in fear and some have fled their homes after their colleagues were beaten and forced to drink concoctions and take oaths.

The practice began in North Pokot subcounty but has spread to the rest of the county, clerics have told the Star.

The elders say, however, that witchcraft is hurting the region’s development and the ceremonies known as kikemat are meant to cleanse it of evil.

Residents are split, however, on whether the elders are right to impose the ritual to flush out sorcerers.

Some say it will help eradicate witchcraft from society, while others have expressed outrage that their religious and cultural rights are being violated. The church leaders say participating in rituals is against their faith and demeans Pokot traditions.

Chairperson Ronald Chumum said residents have been traumatised and others driven from the community for failing to take the oath.

“I encourage Christians to resist this. We’ve reported to security officers after a public uproar over the bizarre traditional activity,” he said.

“Some people have been admitted to hospital, and some have filled in P3 forms and recorded statements with the police. We have the

right to worship according to the Constitution. Christians have been forcibly removed from the church, beaten up and told to drink the concoctions.”

He accused the elders of taking advantage of the rituals to settle old scores.

“We don’t know where the blood is from and from which animal,” Redeemed Gospel Church pastor Joseph Katho said.

MARRYANN CHAI@TheStarKenya

Senators Kimani Wamatangi and Moses Kajwang’ in Eldoret on Thursday last week /MATHEWS NDANYI

Pastors’ Network West Pokot chairperson Ronald Chumum (in blue suit) leads protests in Makutano yesterday /MARRYANN CHAI

Chess sharpens mental abilities — Trans Nzoia parent

Eldoret wants city status benefits but needs more water

No white elephant projects under my watch — Kachapin

CORAZON WAFULA/ Chess is gaining popularity in Trans Nzoia as many schools adopt it.

It is now part of co-curricular activities in more than 20 schools, including St Joseph’s National School, St Joseph’s Girls’ High School and Kitale School. Sports executive yesterday said Aggrey Chemonges said the county will partner with the Education ministry to support chess.

Trans Nzoia Chess Association head coach Mathew Kanegeni said parents and teachers have wel-comed the game. He said the game has many mental benefits. Hillary Mwase said his son David, a student at Legacy Academy, has improved in maths and critical thinking since he started playing chess.

“We’ve had a positive response” Kanegeni said during the Kitale Junior Open Chess Tournament at the Kitale museum. “We encourage the children to improve their game so they can represent the country in the senior men’s team. Countries like Egypt and Russia have teenagers playing in the senior teams because of having an early start and good training programmes.” More than 150 participants took part.

MATHEWS NDANYI/ Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago has said Eldoret town wants city status but must expand water and sewerage systems and improve garbage collection.

Eldoret is among the towns seeking to be conferred with the city status in line with the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011. Others are Kisu-mu, Mombasa and Nakuru.

City status means more state grants and seconded officials receive higher pay and benefits. “The county is investing in several areas to ensure we have the necessary infrastruc-ture for the elevation of Eldoret,” Mandago said on Tuesday.

He received a report from the committee he formed to assess the town’s readiness for the new status.

“The town is growing tremen-dously, with high population growth. Sewerage is a big challenge and we’re focusing on fixing it,” he said.

The county also plans to improve the transport system. Several urban areas will be awarded the municipali-ty and town status. Cities and munic-ipalities are managed by boards under the “agency relationship” with county governments, while towns are managed by committees.

Meanwhile, Mandago flagged off Sh23 million learning materials for 600 ECDE centres. He warned ECDE teachers against tardiness. “I’m aware some ECDE teachers report to work at 11am and leave at 4pm. We’ll not allow that to continue. They have to respect the law,” he said.

MATHEWS NDANYI/ Education CAS Simon Kachapin has rejected claims he implemented Sh1.6 billion ‘white elephant projects during his tenure as West Pokot governor.

He faulted the Senate committee that recommended that the anti-corruption agency investigate him and his staff over stalled projects. On Thursday last week during Senate sittings in Eldoret, the Public Accounts and Investments Committee grilled governor John Lonyangapuo over the projects listed in the Au-ditor General’s 20114-15 report. The senators

said Kachapin is unfit to hold public office.Lonyangapuo said many projects initiated by

his predecessor were implemented unproce-durally and had stalled. But yesterday Kachapin accused Lonyangapuo of being malicious and playing politics with public affairs. “The gover-nor misled the committee. We have no white elephant projects. I initiated many projects and served as one of the best governors,” he said.

Kachapin said most of the listed projects were to be completed in phases, but Lonyan-gapuo’s administration had abandoned them.

SCHOOLS ADOPT GAME

RISING POPULATION

SUCCESSOR ‘MISLED SENATE’

Resident Loriso Musa said those who refused to take the oath had fled and their property and animals were confiscated.

“My neighbour’s goats and cows were taken away. People are being dragged and forced to drink potions,” he said.

West Pokot subcounty police commander Anthony Wanjuu warned the community against the bizarre ritual. He said Kenya

is governed by laws and the Constitution and suspected criminals must be reported to the authorities.

Wanjuu said some residents stoned a police convoy during a crackdown on those behind the blood ritual and oath. The officers fired in the air to disperse the youths before they arrested some culprits.

Practising witchcraft is against the law.

BEATEN, LIVING IN FEAR

THE-STAR.CO.KE� ursday, October4, 2018 31

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opinion (6)5. A strong dark English ale (6)6. Hon. Omar Mwinyi’s political backyard (9)7. Former Governor for Kajiango County (9)10. Owed and payable immediately or on demand

(3)13. An aircraft that has a fi xed wing and is

powered by propellers or jets (5) 14. Senator for Kiambu County (9)15. Governor for Wajir County (9)17. Former Member of the Parliament for

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mythology (4)

ACROSS

1. President of the United States of America (6)5. Back and sides of a hog usually sliced thin

and fried (5)8. � e origin of Miraa in central Kenya (4)9. A machine that adds numbers (5)11. � e adjusted a radio receiver or other circuit

to a required frequency (5)12. A railway line connected to a trunk line (4)14. Small carnivorous mammal with short legs

and elongated body and neck (6)16. Hon. Alice Muthoni Wahome’s political

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Find and mark all the words hidden inside the box. � e words may be placed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Fill the grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the sub-grids that compose the grid.

SUDOKU / SIMPLE

WORD SEARCH

Yesterday’sSolutions

CROSSWORD

ALL IN THE STARS

TAURUSApril 21- May 21

CANCERJune 22-July 22

LIBRA September 24 - October 23

SCORPIOOctober 24 - November 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 23 - December 21

CAPRICORNDecember 22 - January 20

AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19

PISCES February 20 - March 20

GEMINIMay 22 - June 21

ARIES March 21 - April 20

LEOJuly 23 - August 22

VIRGO August 23 - September 23Your mate may be distressed if you refuse to make a commitment. Try and avoid getting involved in idle chatter.

Take a look at yourself and prepare to make those changes you’ve been contemplating.

Do not get upset over trivial matters. You may have diffi culties with in-laws or family members.

Work on projects that will allow you to make progress. Take your time; do not make any decisions in haste.

Be sure to look into travel opportunities that will provide you with mental stimulation.

You can get ahead if you work diligently behind the scenes. Your outgoing charm and obvious talent will be admired.

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Art investment will pay big dividends in the long term. Hard work will bring rewards. Put your thoughts into some trendy new ideas.

Concern yourself with legal matters and formulating contracts rather than fi nalizing your objectives.

You are exceptional at presenting your ideas. You’ll be prone to tears if your mate is harsh with you today.

Communication will be your strong point and you should be able to persuade others to see things your way.

You won’t be able to keep a secret. Someone you live with will get angry if you are neglecting your duties.

� ursday, October 4, 2018 32

STAR CLASSIFIEDTO PUT A FREE CLASSIFIED ADVERT IN THE STAR SIMPLY SEND AN SMS MESSAGE TO 22494 WITH THE FIRST WORD SAYING FREE

� e star does not endorse the advertised product /service or its quality and value nor does the star endorse the appearance of or any of the claims made in the advertisement by the advertiser. � e star shall not be held liable for any claims, loss or liability that arises from the product/service and claims made in the advertisement

CLASSIFIEDS EVERY CLASSIFIEDLISTING IN KENYA WWW.STARCLASSIFIEDS.CO.KE

PUBLIC AUCTION

ESHIKHONI AUCTIONEERSAUCTIONEERS AND PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS

NAIROBI OFFICE KISUMU OFFICE KAKAMEGA OFFICE BUNGOMA OFFICE ELDORET OFFICECargen House Re- insurance Plaza

Maziwa Road Kakamega Dairy House Moi Avenue Rehema complex

3rd Floor Rm 310 5th Floor P.O BOX 1980

Chewai Plaza 2nd Floor. Rm 8Harambee Avenue P.O BOX 3450 KISUMU

Kakamega P.O BOX 2377

P.O BOX 8543-00200 Tel:/Fax 254-057-22603 0722 784450

Bungoma Eldoret

0722 718772 Fax (057) 40811 NAIROBI

Dully instructed by kitale chief magistrates court and our principals,we shall sell the underlisted property by Public auction. On Friday the 12th October, 2018 at 10:00 am outside our Kakamega o�ce yard. 1. Kitale CMS Cc No.439/2016-Catherine Nakhumicha Vrs Mount Kenya University. Motor Vehicle Registration No.KBR 034Q Toyota Voxy with crumbled body and worn out tyres.

Terms of saleStrictly cash at the fall of the hammer.

All are welcome

COURT BAILIFS, COURT BROKERS, CIVIL INVESTIGATIONS, PROCESS SERVERS & DEBT COLLECTIONKtda Plaza, 6th Floor, Moi Avenue • PO.Box 799-00100, Nairobi • Tel: -0202014221 • Email:moranauc@yahoo.com

Under the instructions received from our Principals, we shall sell the under mentioned goods by Public Auction to be held on Friday 12th October, 2018 at Pangani Auction Centre in Pangani Nairobi at 10.00am.DISTRESS FOR RENTTHE LANDLORD VS. TECHLINK ENGINEERING & CONCEPTS LTDBlack rolling chairs, black metallic o�ce chairs, black metallic visitors chairs, executive o�ce chair, black synthetic spring chairs, executive long chair, red rolling chair, secretarial chair, pedestals, wooden reception counter, o�ce desks, wooden o�ce table, wooden side cabinet, wooden executive table, o�ce wooden shelves, round wooden table, wooden o�ce desk, metallic o�ce table, photocopy machine, metallic double door shelf, celling light, coat hanger.

CONDITION OF SALECash at the fall of the hammer.

Under instructions from our principals we shall sell the under mentioned motor vehicles by public auction on 12th October2018 starting 10.30am at Purple Royal Storage Yard, Kiambu Road

MILIMANI CMCC NO. 7890 OF 2017JOSEPHINE NYAMAI MWANZAVERSUSHUMPHREY KIMANI WAINAINA & FRED NJORO WAINAINAMotor Vehicle Registration Number- KBR 049BVehicle Model- Isuzu FRR33L Body Type- Bus/ CoachMILIMANI CMCC NO.1197 OF 2013SALIMU NZAMUIYA VERSUS DAVID ENGINEERING LTDMotor Vehicle Registration Number KCA 007W- Ford pick-up

CONDITIONS FOR SALE1. Sale subject to reserve price2. Cash at the fall of the hammer

Under instructions received from our Principals, we shall Sell the under listed Motor Vehicle by Public Auction:- ON 12TH OCTOBER 2018 AS FROM 10.30 AM AT BAMBURI STORAGE.1. PM’S COURT GARSEN CC NO 70 OF 2015PLAINTIFF………………………………………ABDULLAH HAJIR NAGHEL

–VS-DEFENDANT……………….JUSTINE MATANO KEAH HANGA NICHOLAS M/V REG NO. MAKE /MODEL AUCTION VENUE/ PLACEKCC 082 A UD NISSAN DIESEL BAMBURI STORAGE

CONDITIONS OF SALECASH AT THE FALL OF THE HAMMER.

ALL ARE WELCOME

PUBLIC AUCTION

MISA M. AUCTIONEERSCourt brokeres Auctioneers Repossessors,

investigators & commission agentsP.O. Box 42171-80100 Cell 0722 258845. Email: misa_agencies@yahoo.com

PUBLIC ACTION

MOCO AUCTIONEERSCLASS “B" LICENSED AUCTIONEERS, PROPERTY MANAGERS, PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS

Tel: 30275 • Mobile: 0721560084, 0721 697758 • Email address mocoauctioneers@yahoo.com

Duly instructed by our principals, we shall sale the following Motor vehicle's by public Auction on Monday 15/10/2018 at Moco's yard kisii -kilgoris Road starting from 11:00am.1.in the matter of kisii cmcc No.720 OF 2005DONALD OCHIEN'G MIDENY VRS SOUTH NYANZA SUGAR CO.LTD.m/v Reg.No.KBR 721U. (Toyota pickup running condition)2.In the matter of kisii cmcc No.476 OF 2010JOSEPH ADIRA =VRS=SOUTH NYANZA SUGAR CO.LTD.M/v Reg. KBJ 683U. (Toyota pickup on running condition )

Terms Cash/Bankers cheque at the fall of the hammer

View Park Towers, Utalii Lane.4th Floor, Wing C, Suite1P.O. BOX 5444-00100, NAIROBI. Tel: 020 2400460.

Email:nairobiconnection@yahoo.com

DISTRESS FOR RENTLANDLORD VS JOHN K. GITHAIGA

Under instructions received from our principal, we shall by Public Auction sell the under mentioned goods on Thursday, 11th October, 2018 at Pangani Auction Centre at 10:30 am.Wooden executive o�ce tables, H-p monitor, computer , 3-seater reception chair, Hp printer, o�ce chairs, water dispenser hot point + bottle, wooden side drawer, 2-seater brown lexine couch, Ramtons fan, Sony laptop, maroon seat, executive o�ce desk + drawer, executive o�ce chair, clock Ajanta quartz and TP link router.

LANDLORD VS MAMA’S KITCHENUnder instructions received from our principal, we shall by Public Auction sell the under mentioned goods on Thursday, 11th October, 2018 in situ Mariam House , shop No. 6 at 12:30 am. Ramtons microwave, tables, television sets, tea urns, freezer, chairs, gas cylinders (6kgs & 13kgs), juakali cooker, charcoal stoves (jikos), plastic container, saucepans (sufurias) & an empty soda crate. CONDITIONS OF SALECash at the fall of the hammer

PUBLIC AUCTION

Duly instructed by our principals, we shall sell the under mentioned motorvehicle by Public Auction On Thursday 11th October 2018 from 11:00 am at GreyPost Auction Center, Kiambu road behind Total Petrol Station.1. FINANCIER- VS- COSMAS KURIA NGURUDescription Reg No. Y.O.M Colour ViewingTOYOTA MATATU SHARK KBG 377V 2002 WHITE GREYPOST AUCTION CENTER

CONDITIONS FOR SALECASH AT THE FALL OF THE HAMMER

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERThe registered owner of this property, JUJA/KALIMONI BLOCK 22/665 located in Weteithie Kibute area, Juja Sub County, Kiambu County, wishes to change the use of the land from Residential(Single Dwelling) to Residential(Multi-Family) subject to the approval of Kiambu County Government. Individuals, institutions etc. with objection(s) to the proposal are requested to forward the same in writing within 14 (fourteen) days of this notice to:

The Director of Spatial planning, County Government of Kiambu,

P.O Box 2344-00900,Kiambu.

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERThe registered owner of this property, JUJA/KALIMONI BLOCK 22/1350 located in Weteithie Kibute area, Juja Sub County, Kiambu County, wishes to change the use of the land from Residential(Single Dwelling) to Residential(Multi-Family) subject to the approval of Kiambu County Government. Individuals, institutions etc. with objection(s) to the proposal are requested to forward the same in writing within 14 (fourteen) days of this notice to:

The Director of Spatial planning, County Government of Kiambu,

P.O Box 2344-00900,Kiambu.

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERThe registered owner of this property, JUJA/KALIMONI BLOCK 22/459 located in Weteithie Kibute area, Juja Sub County, Kiambu County, wishes to change the use of the land from Residential(Single Dwelling) to Residential(Multi-Family) subject to the approval of Kiambu County Government. Individuals, institutions etc. with objection(s) to the proposal are requested to forward the same in writing within 14 (fourteen) days of this notice to:

The Director of Spatial planning, County Government of Kiambu,

P.O Box 2344-00900,Kiambu.

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

Extension of User The Registered owner of Plot L.R No. 13786 situated o� Karen road-Karen, within the jurisdiction of the Nairobi City County is proposing to Extend the Use of their property from Residential to Include Professional O�ces(Tour Operators), subject to approval by the Nairobi City County. Any individual(s), institution(s) and organization(s) with objection(s) to the proposal are hereby noti�ed to do so in writing within fourteen (14) days as granted by the act to:

County Secretary,County Government of Nairobi,

P.O. Box 30075-00100,NAIROBI.

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERThe owner of Plot Title no. LOC 12/ SUB-LOC 4/2362 proposes to Change the use of this parcel from Agricultural to Residential Multi-dwelling units(�ats) subject to approval by Kiambu County. Individuals, institutions, organizations etc. with objections/comments to the proposal are requested to forward them in writing within 14 days of this notice to:

The Director of Physical PlanningMuranga County

P.O Box 145Kenol

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERThe owner of Plot Title no. RUIRU EAST/BLOCK 5/305 proposes to regularize the change of user of this parcel from Agricultural to Residential Multi-dwelling units (�ats) subject to approval by Kiambu County. Individuals, institutions, organizations etc. with objections/comments to the proposal are requested to forward them in writing within 14 days of this notice to:

The Director of Physical PlanningKiambu County

P.O Box 2344-00900Kiambu

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERThe owner of Plot Title no. Ruiru/Kiu Block 2 (Githunguri)/18821 proposes to Change the use of this parcel from Agricultural to Residential Multi-dwelling units(�ats) subject to approval by Kiambu County. Individuals, institutions, organizations etc. with objections/comments to the proposal are requested to forward them in writing within 14 days of this notice to:

The Director of Physical PlanningKiambu County

P.O Box 2344-00900Kiambu

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERThe registered owner of the plot MUPUTI / KIIMA KIMWE /2353 located o� Machakos- Wote Road within Machakos Sub-county proposes to change the user from AGRICULTURAL to RESIDENTIAL (FLATS) subject to approval by the relevant authority. Individuals, institutions or organizations with comments/objections to the above proposal are requested to forward them in writing within 14 days of this notice to;

Sub-County Administrator,Machakos Sub-County

P.O Box 262MACHAKOS.

� ursday, October 4, 2018 33

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COAST REGIONAL

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RESTORERS CONSULTAUCTIONEERS

AUCTIONEERS, COURT BROKERS, REPOSSESSORS, DEBT COLLECTORS,PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS & COMMISSION AGENTS.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Sunrays Building, 2nd Floor, Suite 2.13, O� Kilome Road, NairobiP.O. Box 1375-00232, RUIRU

Tel: 020 221 6971 • Fax: 020 2216971 • Cell: 0722 214 349E-mail: restorersrestorers20@yahoo.com, restorersrestorers20@gmail.com

Under instructions received from our principals we shall sell by Public Auction:ON 19/10/2018 AT SUNRAYS BUILDING SUITE 213 STARTING FROM 11.00 A.M.MOTOR VEHICLES FINANCIER VS a). MARTIN MWANGI WANJIKU: KCJ 011X –ISUZU NKR66 b). PATRICK NGUGI NJERI : KCF 768B – TOYOTA FILDER NZE141 c). MEKO VENTURES: KCG 764X – TOYOTA HIACE KDH206 d). EVANS MWANGI MBIRI: KCF 247Y – ISUZU MINIBUS UNDER DISTRESS FOR RENT CAP293LAWS OF KENYALANDLORDS VS GABRIEL MWANGI - ON 12/10/2018 AT LEAKEY’S STORAGE LIMITED FROM 11.00 A.M71Pcs metallic plates, 10Pcs manhole covers, 3 Re�ectors, 2 Old worn out tiers, Assorted gunny bags, 14Pcs metallic frames, 5Pcs plastic drums, Assorted plastic buckets, 2 Wooden pallets, 1Plastic pallet, 3pcs Jerry can, spade, Assorted bags of construction materials, 1 Mixer with mortar, Honda G x 270 mixer, One mixer with mortar, Assorted paint can, 3Pcs dauphine vales .

CONDITIONS OF SALECASH AT THE FALL OF THE HAMMER!!!

Duly instructed by our principals, THE LANDLORDS, we shall sell by public auction, the under mentioned ASSORTED HOTEL ITEMS on:- FRIDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2018 AT LEAKEY’S STORAGE LTD, LUNGA LUNGA RD, INDUSTRIAL AREA - NAIROBI, STARTING AT 11.00 A.M.LANDLORD –VS DAVID OMONDI T/A NEW NYANZA BAR & RESTAURANT HOTEL FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT • Assorted Chairs • Assorted Hotel Tables• Leather Drums • Ampli�er• Ultra Bass Processor • Ultra Digital Equilizer• Powered Music Mixer • Speakers• TVs • HP CPU, Mouse & Keyboard

CONDITIONS OF SALE:1. Viewing to be done at LEAKEY’S STORAGE LTD LUNGA LUNGA ROAD on the Auction Day, to verify the details, as these are not warranted by the Auctioneer or our principals AS SALE IS “ON – AS –IS – WHERE – IS – BASIS”.2. Interested bidders are required to pay Kshs. 20,000.00 to obtain a bidding number.3. Cash at the fall of the hammer for goods4. Sale is subject to a reasonable reserve price.For more details, please visit our Website: www.leakeys.co.ke

PUBLIC AUCTION

GEORGE WILLIAM OGUTU OKELLO

CELEBRATING A LIFE WELL LIVED

It is with humble acceptance of God’s will that we announce the untimely passing on of

Mzee George William Ogutu Okello formerly of Kenya Railways till 1996.

Born in 1941 to the late Rosa Othieno Okello and the late Okello Onyango of Kodiere

village.

Husband to late mama Christine Ogutu.

Brother to Sophia, John, Collin, Philister, late Collin, Late Kizito and the late Angeline.

Father to Odhiambo - MAF, Margaret, Michael Ogutu of Radio Africa Ltd, Thomas -

Norwegean Embassy, David, Agnes - KATE, Richard, late Angeline, Anthony - Sandarusi,

late Joseph & Bernard.

Father-in-law to Jenipher, Michael, late Lucy, Lilian, Susan, Betty, Diana, Phillip, Millicent,

Betty & Irene.

Grand father to many. Great grandfather to Adrian.

The cortege leaves Bama Hospital in Siaya town for requiem Mass at Mbaga Catholic

Church at 2pm on Friday October 5th, 2018. It will then proceed to his Banana home

for overnight virgil.

Burial will take place on October 6th, 2018 at his home in Banana, Siaya County.

In God’s hand you rest, in our hearts you remain forever.

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERNotice is hereby given that the owner of plot No. NAIROBI /BLOCK 97/1816 has applied for permission to change the user from RESIDENTIAL MULTI DWELLING TO COMMERCIAL CUM RESIDENTIAL (Shops and �ats) the parcel is situated in Nairobi city County, Fedha area. The brief containing the details of the project has been deposited at Nairobi City County planning o�ces and maybe inspected by members of the public free of charge. Any person who wishes to make any representations or objections to the proposal should serve notice of such in writing within fourteen (14) days of this notice to.

COUNTY SECRETARYNAIROBI CITY COUNTY

P.O BOX 30075NAIROBI.

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USERThe Registered Owner of this property L.R No.7497/78 Located o� Nderi-Kari Road; Nderi Area in Kikuyu Sub County proposes to Change its Use from Residential (Single-dwelling) to Religious Facility (Chapel) subject to approval by the County Government of Kiambu. Individuals, organizations, Institutions etc with comments, recommendations or objections to the development proposal are advised to forward them, stating grounds for the same in writing, within 14 days of this notice to the;

THE DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL PLANNING COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF

KIAMBUP.O. BOX 2344-00900 KIAMBU

PHYSICAL PLANNING ACTCAP 286

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF USEThe owner(s) of plot No.NRB/BLK 97/120 located o� Outering Road in Pipeline area, Nairobi, proposes to change its use from Single Dwelling unit to Multi-dwelling units (Flats) subject to approval by Nairobi City County. Individuals, Institutions, Organizations e.t.c with objection(s) or comments are requested to forward them in writing within 14 days from the date of this notice to:

County SecretaryNairobi City County

P.O.Box 30075-00100Nairobi

BUSINESSTHIRD EYE PRIVATE INVESTIGA-TORS We are fully licenced un-der cover private investigators in Kenya. We have offi ces in Nairobi and in major towns. We specialize in Tracking of cheating spouses, under cover investigations, tra-cing of debtors and debt collectio, Our reports are discreet and con-fi dential. visit our offi ces at NCM Hse, 4th fl r Moi Ave Nbi or call 0722-251079, 0722-224372 or 020-2643371.www.thirdeyepri-vateinvestigators.com.

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THE-STAR.CO.KE

SPORTS LOCAL

34 Thursday, October 4, 2018

Coach Wambuacalls up nine new players to Lionesses sideBY WILLIAM NJUGUNA / Nine play-ers have been called up to the Ken-ya Lionesses squad in preparation for the Dubai Invitational women’s tournament set for November.They include Lorraine Akoth of Barchando Girls, Mwamba duo of Terry Ayesha and Agatha Canary, alongside Phoebe Akinyi and Mau-reen Otieno from Shamas.

Others are Impala’s Stella Wafula, who top-scored at the recent Impa-la Sevens tourney, her team-mate Judith Auma who was named MVP and Homeboyz duo of Enid Ouma and Leah Njogu.

The Lionesses have been in-active since late May when they scooped their historic Africa Cup af-ter knocking out Uganda 29-7 in the final in Gaberone, Botswana.

The squad, to be coached by Kevin Wambua, kicked off train-ing on Monday. Wambua was op-timistic of Kenya’s chances in the event after competing at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia and after winning the Africa Cup.

“We have had reasonably good year and the team is improving. If we get more opportunities to play against higher ranked opposition, we will no doubt get better,” he added. Wambua said he is happy with the talent pool of players at the just concluded Impala tournament.

“It’s very encouraging many clubs have women’s teams in their ranks and the pool of talent coming through is good for the national team and it will create competition for places in the side,” added Wambua

Elsewhere, versatile centre Kel-vin Kioko is one of the four players who have left Nakuru to pursue post secondary education, coach Mitch Ocholla has revealed. Kioko has joined Daystar University, a side which features in the third tier; Nationwide.

The Laiser Hill Alma mater, who can plug in both center positions in the back-line has been a seminal figure of the squad since 2016. The other three are former Laiser Hill centre Billy Kipchirchir, Kakame-ga High School’s alumni Chrissant Ojwang and Bram Kilwake.

Ojwang and Kipchirchir were part of the squad that finished fourth at this year’s National Sevens Circuit.

BY KISENGE MESHACK / Harambee Stars trialist Cliff Nyakeya believes he will have something special to offer to Harambee Stars’ head coach Sebastien Migne should the Frenchman pick him for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Na-tions qualifiers against Ethiopia next week.

Stars are scheduled to play the Walia Antelopes on Oc-tober 10 and 14 in Addis Ababa and Nairobi respectively. The Mathare United winger, who was called up in the provi-sional squad, says he will offer Migne a selection headache should he field him in any of the encounters. Nyakeya said he is ready to compete with Vasalund IF’s Ovella Ochieng and wing duo of Francis Kahata and Erick Johanna.

He said: “I can promise the national team coach a selection headache should he start me in either of the matches. I was an unused in the last month’s matches against Ghana and Malawi but this time round I am determined to break into the starting team and cement a place. We have quality wingers in the team who have been used in the past and if a chance presents itself, then I will make good use of it and bring more competition.”

The former Gor Mahia youngster said he is happy after hitting his target of scoring 10 SportPesa Premier League goals after netting 13 times and has now set his sight on the Golden Boot next season.

Kimanzi hopeful of better performances in the forthcoming KPL season

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL

Mathare get deal

Mathare United head coach Fran-cis Kimanzi believes their new sponsorship deal with Odi Bets will inspire the team to jos-tle for the SportPesa Premier League next season.

The 2008 champions penned a three-year Sh60m deal with the betting company yesterday and Kimanzi is hopeful the cash injection will be crucial if they are to emerge as title contend-ers next season.

He said the deal will provide a sigh of relief at Slum Boys’ camp following a tough financial year experienced in the local league this year. It will see the players don jer-seys bearing the Odi Bets logo at the

Mathare captain Chrispine Oduor, Dedan Mungai of Odi Bets, club chairman Bob Munro and coach Francis Kimanzi with the new jersies/OLIVER MORGAN

Kenyan players celebrate during a past match/COURTESY

RUGBY

front while their perennial partner, Ng’ombe, will be at the back.

“It’s great to have a new partner on board as we prepare for next season. We had a tough season in 2017/18 where most of the time we were fighting relegation simply because our budget could only al-lowed us to have a young squad,” said Kimanzi. “I believe with a new sponsor on board, the players will be more motivated and our chances of winning the league or finishing in the top four are high. When fi-nances are available, the players will always give their all and off the pitch issues are minimal.”

Kimanzi revealed his intentions of making fewer signings to bolster his squad ahead of the new season. He, however, declined to disclose the number of signings and which departments he intends to beef up. He said: “I have identified areas to

strengthen before the season starts and players to bring in but I can-not reveal any further information. I will make a few signings, maybe three or four.”

Kimanzi further appealed to the government to renovate the play-ing surfaces as a way of upgrading the standards of the local league. He observed that a match between Mathare and Kariobangi Sharks at Moi Stadium, Kasarani produced over 900 passes while it is difficult to do the same in the other pitches.

“It’s my humble plea to the gov-ernment to renovate our stadia to allow the standards of our league to grow in terms of quality of play. Playing on a bumpy surface hampers the growth of the league since players find it hard to string passes together and play an enter-taining game in addition to being prone to injuries.”

MESHACK KISENGE

@kisengemeshack1

Nyakeya ready to battle for starting berth against Ethiopia

THE-STAR.CO.KEThursday, October 4, 2018 35

SPORTS LOCAL

ATHLETICS

TENNIS CHESS

GOLF

Okutoyi lands tour Busy times ahead for rising star as she’s offered trip to Florida, USA

Kenya Open champion Angela Okutoyi will play at the prestig-ious Junior Orange Bowl ten-nis championships in Florida, USA in December.

Okutoyi received the invite after winning the Kenya Open crown, where she upset three-time champion Shufaa Changawa 6-1, 7-6 in the final.

Okutoyi has been in dominant form recently, winning gold in the ITF/CAT Africa Junior Champion-ships which took place in Algiers in August. Okutoyi, who got into the tournament seeded first, beat 5th seed and home favourite, Algerian Bouchra Mebarki 4-6 6-0 6-1 to clinch the title.

Okutoyi also won the ITF Un-der-18 tournament in Burundi in June, which saw her join the ITF World Tour team that enabled her tour France, Germany, Belgium and Czech Republic for five weeks be-tween July and August.

Apart from the Orange Bowl, Changawa is set to play at the Eddie Herr international Championships from November 26 to December 2 at the famous Nick Bollettieri Acad-emy and at the same time attend two training camps in Florida with the first one set for November 22-25 and the second December 3-11. The Junior Orange bowl tournament kicks off on December 12-18.

Before travelling to the United States, Okutoyi is slated to play at the Nigerian Futures tournament slated for Abuja mid this month. Tennis Kenya vice chairman, Francis Mutuku expressed de-light with Okutoyi being selected for the event.

Panuel Mkungo of Kenya (R) leads a group of elite runners during the 2018 Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon last month /COURTESY

Angela Okutoyi with her trophy after winning Kenya Open /OLIVER MORGAN

Trans Nzoia schools begin weekly chess activities

Kisii pick 10 seasoned players for Western Kenya bonanza

Mkungo among top runners expected at Madoka Half Marathon BY WILLIAM NJUGUNA / Philadelphia and Miami Half Mara-thon winner, Panuel Mkungo, is among top athletes expect-ed at the 13th edition of the Safaricom Madoka Half Mara-thon slated for October 20.

Defending champions Isaac Kipkoech and Nancy Kiprop will also be seeking to retain the titles they won last year. The winners of the 21km race will receive a cash prize of Sh500,000 each, with second and third-placed finishers getting Sh250,000 and Sh100,000 respectively. This makes the half marathon the second highest paying in the country.

Over 1500 athletes are expected for the one-day event, which is being sponsored by Safaricom to the tune of Sh2 million. Race founder Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka said the growth and success of the race has had a positive impact in nurturing athletes in the coast region as well as the coun-try in general.

“The race has fulfilled its mission of nurturing local talent in the region as it has elevated a number of local athletes from the region to international heights,” said Madoka, adding that there are plans to organise training and coaching camps starting next year to further help nurture athletic talent. “There is need to continue developing the talents of prom-ising young athletes by having training camps over school holidays. We are stepping up our efforts to raise monies to achieve this goal.”

Safaricom’s Charles Kare said: “This is a great platform for nurturing and developing talent. We celebrate Hon. Madoka for being the brainchild behind this race and we are proud to be part of it. We continue to support and nurture grass-root talents by providing platforms that enable both established and upcoming sportsmen and women to improve their skills,” said Kare.

BY CORAZONE WAFULA / At least 20 schools in Trans Nzoia County have began weekly chess activities following the recent introduction of the sport by Trans Nzoia Chess Association.

Among the schools are St. Joseph National School, St. Joseph Girls High School, Kitale School and Line Member among others.

Speaking during the Kitale Junior Open Chess Tournament held yesterday at the Kitale National Museum, Trans Nzoia Chess Association head coach Mathew Kanegeni said since it was introduced, parents, stakeholders and teachers have expressed optimism over the game.

“After introducing chess in schools, we have had a positive response from teachers, parents and various stakeholders who have seen the benefits of the game to the students,” he said. He said the game has been taken up positively owing to its mental benefits. The tournament brought together over 150 participants from different schools.

Kanegeni said the Kitale Junior Open Chess tourna-ment is a series of tournaments that the association is lining up to improve the players’ skills in preparation for next year’s youth cycle championships and the national chess championships.

He added that they are looking to polish players ahead of the African Youth Championships to be held in Algeria and World Youth Championships that will take place in China next year.

“We encourage the children to improve their game so that, in future they can represent the country in the senior teams. Countries like Egypt, Russia have teenagers playing in the senior teams because of starting early under comprehensive training pro-grams,” said Kanegeni.

BY ANGWENYI GICHANA / Kisii Sports Club has un-veiled a strong team of 10 golfers for the United Millers Western Kenya Championship to be staged at the nine-hole Kericho Club this weekend.

The two-day championship will bring together golfers from Nyanza, Kakamega, Nandi, Kisii and hosts Kericho. Each team will field eight golfers of whom two must be ladies.

Wycliffe Ayienda will captain the Kisii team, which includes handicap 21 John Omanwa, Lawrence Nyan-gena, George Mainye, Jenneby Onyambu, Christine Nyangena, Jared Mogeni and Beth Wachira. Isaac Basweti and Jefferson Akunga are reserves. Ayienda yesterday said Kisii team is ready to win the title.

“We have selected a very strong team which has been training daily for the last two weeks. Our target is to in the ultimate prize. We played in Kericho last week and we are raring to go,” said Ayienda. Winners will receive a cash prize of Sh100, 000 while runners up will get Sh75,000.

“This great opportunity for her to play in such a huge tournament and meet some of the best tennis play-ers worldwide. The training camps will give her valuable experience from some of the best tennis coach-es at the academy,” added Mutuku.

He described Okutoyi as one of the rising stars in the country de-spite her young age of 14.

“She has a great career ahead of

her and we at the federation want to give her the best possible ex-posure to aid her development,” added Mutuku.

The Orange bowl tennis has produced some of the biggest ten-nis players in the last 30 years including legends Roger Feder-er, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl, Steffi Graff and Monica Seles amongst others.

BY WILLIAM NJUGUNA

@mbotesports

THE-STAR.CO.KE Thursday, October 4, 2018 36

SPORTS LOCAL

VOLLEYBALL

BETTING

CHESS

Kenyans fall againMalkia Strikers hope for a miracle against Dominican Republic today

As expected, Kenya women’s vol-leyball team succumbed to for-mer champions Brazil 3-0 ( 25-13, 25-10, 25-16 ) in their fourth Pool ‘D’ match as the FIVB World Championship entered its fourth day yesterday at the Hamamat-su Arena, Japan.

Following yesterday’s result, the East Africans must now win against Dominican Republic today and pray that Puerto Rico lose to Serbia in their last Pool’ D’ match to stand a chance of proceeding to the next round.

On paper, on form Serbia and Brazil have booked their second round slots with 12 and 9 points re-spectively from four matches while Dominicans and Puerto Rico have

How SportPesa MJP winner Korir plansto spend his windfall

Magana, Ng’ani stun Malta as Sasha attains World Candidate Master title in Batumi

NAIROBI / The newest SportPesa Mega Jackpot (MJP) winner, Cosmas Korir, has pledged to use his windfall for the betterment of his community as he continues to come to terms with scooping the third biggest payout in Africa’s gaming history.

Korir, 40, who vied for the Konoin parliamentary seat last year without success, was officially unveiled on Wednesday in pompous ceremony in Nairobi that saw him presented with his bumper Sh208,733, 619 cheque after correctly predicting 17 out of 17 games in last week’s MJP on the SportPesa platform.

Recalling his journey to riches, the former Letein High School alumnus recalled how he could not wash his hands for three days when he was given Sh50,000 to hold as a student.

“After I lost the election, people did not want to see me anymore and they would not answer my calls since they thought I wanted to borrow money. Now, God has added value to me and I can only say thank you. I want to thank SportPesa since this is not a con game, if you have won, whatever you get is yours. I feel like giving people a share to celebrate this but I will likely use what I have,” the director with the Agriculture department in West Pokot County, who is a diehard Arsenal FC fan said.

While presenting him with the cheque, SportPesa head of customer service, Emily Gichuki, dispelled re-ports gaining currency on mainstream and online media that Korir would pay the government some Sh42m in tax from his winnings.

“We are waiting for guidance from authorities on how to implement this and we will not deduct anything. This could not have come at a better week than this because it is our customer service week. We are honoured to be presenting this cheque to you. Continue to play respon-sibly and we hope this relationship will continue for long,” Ms Gichuki, who was holding brief for SportPesa CEO, Ronald Karauri, remarked.

His predecessor as MJP winner, Gordon Ogada, who scooped Sh Sh230, 742,881 that remains the highest payout in history in February, escorted Korir to re-ceive his cash.

BY A CORRESPONDENT / Sasha Mongeli has attained World Wom-en Candidate Master with two games to spare.

Mongeli needed 2 out of 7 but she had already attained 4 out of 5 thus attaining the title.Kenyan men’s squad comprising of Dr. Victor Ng’ani and CM Ben Magana stunned highly rated Malta team during the 4th round of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad to win 2 1/2 points during the outing.

WCM Sasha Mongeli victory came through during the 7th round when she beat Tanzania’s Navini Ala-phati. Sasha was black and played Petrov’s Defence in a double kings pawn opening. She obtained rapid piece development and won a free bishop on move 20. The advantage being too great for the moment to withstand, Navini respectively resigned on move 30.

In another match of the day, it was

a double queens pawn opening for KCB Jumba Gloria. She choose the Catalan set up and by move 19 won a free knight and went on to check mate her opponent on move 30.

Lucy Wanjiru had a tough pairing playing black against Samson Bertha. She chose the French defence while her opponent opted the exchange variation but then had to relinquish two pawns on moves 12 and 14. Lucy confidently converted in a better

end, resulting in making of a new queen and checkmating her oppo-nent in 48 moves.

Daphne Mwikali was white against Ebrahim Zahabiyah. She choose the English opening to which the opening responded E5 the reverse Sicilian. By move 11, black had to contend with fractured pawns on the king’s side. White slowly squeezed the space against the back king and by move 25 white had to give up an exchange.

The resulting end game was much better for black and Daph-ne duly converted with check mate on move 41.

Victor Ng’ani defeated Candidate Master Psaila Clarence in a Slav defence. The candidate master played the unusual queen C2 while Victor adopted long-term strate-gic plan of forcing the advance of the white c pawn a doubling of the white pawn on file.

SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri with Gordon Ogada and new mega jackpot winner Cosmas Korir take a selfie yesterday /COURTESY

Kenya’s Noel Murambi in action during their match against Brazil yesterday /COURTESY

AGNES MAKHANDIA@Agnes Makhandia

six points each from four matches.Kenya have three points while

Kazakhstan remain win-less. In Yesterday’s match the Kenya tech-nical bench made two changes to the starting line-up, introducing Janet Wanja for Jane Wacu as Em-maculate Chemtai started in place of Violet Makuto who was moved to centre position to replace Triza Atu-ka who is unwell.

Chemtai was the high scorer for Kenya with nine points while Na-talia Pereira scored 12 points for the winners. The opening set was close before Brazil opened the gap with 11-7 lead.

Brazil stepped up the pace, scor-ing at will as Kenya tried to put up a resistance but in vain. On several occasions, Kenyans lost points on attacks with their opponents too swift and accurate in their blocks. This saw a frustrated Kenyan side lose 25-13 in the first set. In the sec-

ond set, Brazil quickly took a 8-2 advantage at the first TTO. The Ken-yans once again played with great energy, but were unable to string together a series of points.

Unforced errors were their main undoing as Brazil build up a big lead. Makuto made a nice tap over the high block for a point, but it only reduced Kenya’s deficit to 13-4. Bra-zil clinically moved through the rest of the set, ultimately taking it 25-10. The final set mirrored the first two, as the Brazilians took control early 7-1 and 14-7 and never looked back. Even the noticeable Sharon Chep-chumba powerful attacks would not stop the Samba girls who ran away with a 25-16 set win.

Kenya coach Japheth Munala said: “We started well. We were supposed to challenge Brazil but they capitalised on our weakness in reception. We had no good combi-nations tonight.”

THE-STAR.CO.KEThursday, October 4, 2018 37

SPORTS INTERNATIONAL

PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Arsenal blow as keeper Cech is ruled out for three weeks Bayern need basic approach, says KovacsBY SAMI MOKBEL / Arsenal man-ager Unai Emery has been handed a key injury boost with No 1 Petr Cech expected to miss just three weeks through injury.

There were concerns the goal-keeper had suffered a hamstring tear that would make his a long-term absentee.

But the damage to Cech’s ham-string is said to be minor mean-ing he is set to be available after the international break when they face Leicester.

The news comes as a significant boost to Emery, who has select-ed Cech in all the Gunners’ Premier

League games so far. His injury, however, does offer summer sign-ing Bernd Leno a chance to stake his claim for the No 1 jersey in Cech’s absence.

Leno made his first top-flight appearance, coming on as Cech’s replacement in Saturday’s win over Watford, since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in June.

And a good performance tomor-row night against FC Qarabag in the Europa League and against Fulham on Sunday could give Emery with a decision to make going into the in-ternational break.

Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck’s fu-

BY MARK GLEESON / Bayern Mu-nich must keep it simple if they are to regain their dominant early sea-son form after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by an inexperi-enced Ajax Amsterdam in the Cham-pions League on Tuesday, coach Niko Kovacs said.

“We must go back to the basics, get stuck into the duels, play few-er bad passes and let the ball flow,” the Croat demanded, pointing to Ajax as an example to follow. “Our oppo-nent showed us how to do it. Now we have to look to display our face again, which saw us to wins in the first sev-en games of the season.”

The draw means the usually consistent and dominant German champions have gone three games without a win after being held by Augsburg and beaten by Hertha Ber-lin in the Bundesliga.

“It’s not what we imagined, that’s not what I personally imagined, and this was certainly not a good match for us,” Kovac said as he criticised the performance.

“We played negatively, our oppo-nent was first to every second ball, we just played too many bad pass-es, we wanted too much, too fast in the build-up and so lose the ball and then confidence.”

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Lopetegui shockedReal boss rues missed chances in defeat to CSKA MoscowBY VLADIMIR SOLDATKIN / A de-pleted Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 Champions League defeat at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, ex-tending a poor run of form for the holders that has left them without a win or a goal in three games.

A brilliant victory for the Rus-sian side, however, was marred in the final stages of a highly charged encounter in the Luzhniki stadi-um when CSKA keeper Igor Ak-infeev was sent off for a second yellow card seconds before the final whistle.

CSKA got off to a brisk start and opened the scoring after two min-utes when Croatian winger Niko-la Vlasic, on loan from Premier League Everton, latched on to Toni

CSKA Moscow’s Igor Akinfeev is shown a yellow card by referee Ovidiu Hategan o /REUTERS

Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez /REUTERS

Arsenal’s Petr Cech with medical personnel /REUTERS

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Juve shine without Ronaldo as Dybala strikes a hat-trick

BY SPENCER MORGAN/ Cristia-no Ronaldo was forced to watch from the stands as a Paulo Dyba-la-inspired Juventus eased to a 3-0 victory over Young Boys to make it two wins from two in this season’s Champions League.

The Portuguese superstar, serving a one-game suspension following his controversial dismissal against Valencia, was joined by his family as he watched Dybala net a hat-trick to put the Swiss outfit to the sword in Turin.

The home side looked in control from the outset, Dybala making their strong start count after just five minutes with a crisp volleyed fin-ish from Leonardo Bonucci’s lofted through ball.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men did not let up and got their reward shortly before the break when Swiss stop-per David von Ballmoos spilled Blaise Matuidi’s drilled effort into the path of Dybala, who swept home.

The Argentine forward almost completed his hat-trick minutes after half-time but could only manage to hit the post after being played through on goal by Federico Bernardeschi.

He wasn’t to be denied for much longer, however, as Juan Cuadrado crossed for the 24-year-old to tap into an empty net and complete the third treble of his career.

Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors as Mohamed Camara’s swing of the arm on Dybala saw him receive a second booking in a matter of minutes and leave his side with 10 men for the closing stages.

Kroos’s poor backpass and slotted home. It was Vlasic’s second goal in as many games in this season’s Champions League.

The result continued a dismal streak for Madrid, who have won only two of their last five games in all competitions and coach Julen Lopetegui rued a string of missed opportunities.

“Of course, (they) played at home and the quick goal helped them, but we didn’t take our chances,” he said. “We need to create scoring chances, I’m sure that sooner or later we will start scoring.”

Lopetegui decided to start with FIFA Player of the Year Luka Modric on the bench, while other first-team regulars, such as Wales

forward Gareth Bale and Span-ish centre back Sergio Ramos, were also absent.

Brazil fullback Marcelo and mid-fielder Isco were ruled out before the game. Real, who have won the last three Champions League titles, suffered another injury worry be-fore halftime when Dani Carvajal was replaced by Alvaro Odriozola.

Real Madrid mounted wave upon wave of attacks, and wasted several chances in the first half.

Casemiro could have levelled for the visitors midway through the opening period, but his low shot from outside the penalty area bounced off the post, while Karim Benzema’s header hit the bar five minutes before the interval.

ture at the club remains in doubt. The England star’s current con-tract expires in the summer, but an agreement over an extension is not close.

THE-STAR.CO.KE 38 � ursday, October 4, 2018

SPORTS INTERNATIONAL

Guardiola incensed by refs decisions in Hoff enheim winBY JACK GAUGHAN / Pep Guardiola bit his lip about the performance of refer-ee Damir Skomina for fear of another Champions League ban.

Manchester City were left incensed by a number of decisions by the Slove-nian during a late win sealed by David Silva’s 87th minute strike at Hoff en-heim last night. Guardiola - back on the touchline after serving a one-match suspension during defeat by Lyon - saw Leroy Sane denied a stonewall penalty but kept quiet.

“I don’t want to talk about the of-fi cials (because) I want to be on the bench with my players in the next game on the bench,” Guardiola said. “I know what happened against Mona-co (in 2017) and Liverpool (last sea-son). I don’t want to talk, I don’t want

Out of control Scholes says he is surprised Mourinho is still at United

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Former Manchester United’s midfi elder Paul Scholes /REUTERS

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaks with referee Damir Skomina and his assistants /REUTERS

BY CHRIS WHEELER / Paul Scholes launched an extraordinary attack on Jose Mourinho on Tuesday night, stating he was surprised the Man-chester United manager has not been sacked yet and accusing him of ‘embarrassing’ the club.

Mourinho is battling to save his job after United’s worst start to a season in 29 years, having publicly criticised his players and the United hierarchy. But former Old Traff ord midfi elder Scholes believes Mourin-ho should have been axed after the defeat to West Ham at the weekend, saying: “I am sat here actually sur-

prised he survived after Saturday, the performance was that bad. He’s constantly having a go at players. He’s having a go at those above him because he’s not getting what he wants. I think his mouth is probably out of control and I think he’s em-barrassing the club.”

Scholes’s former United teammate Rio Ferdinand also told BT Sport that Mourinho should take the ultimate responsibility for United’s problems.

“� ere’s not a work ethic,” said Ferdinand. “� e attitude doesn’t seem right. No one’s said about not going out there to win – people want

to win football matches. If you could win it easily you would. Football’s not easy, you have to work hard. � at’s a basic trait of any footballer or any team to be successful they have to have.”

“� is team doesn’t have that, and where does that come from? � at comes from and is driven by one person at the top, the manager. It falls at his feet.”

Following the 0-0 draw at Old Traff ord, Mourinho alluded to the capabilities of his players in defence, saying United ‘don’t have the techni-cal quality to build from the back.’

to talk about these offi cials, I know what happened.”

� e result gives City’s European aspirations a lift and their manager be-lieves anything beyond a quarter-fi nal fi nish should be considered a success for the pre-tournament favourites.

“For me it’s a surprise when they say City will win,” Guardiola added. “I appreciate it, thank you but it’s not true. We are a step below the histo-ry of Liverpool, the Spanish teams, Bayern Munich, Juventus. � at’s what I believe. “

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with some supporters actually ap-plauding as he went. Not for much longer, though, surely. � e football has been bad for an awful long time and now that results are fi nally fol-lowing suit it seems impossible that Mourinho will be tolerated beyond the very short-term.

It is worth noting that the team that began this game against the 14th best side in Spain cost £370m to assemble. Conveniently that is just about exactly the value of the elev-en players who started Manchester City’s Champions League match in Germany three hours earlier. So the next time Mourinho starts to grum-ble about his club’s willingness or otherwise to invest in the players he wants, this is worth remembering.

� is week United released a spe-cial edition whisky to commem-orate their 1968 European Cup success. Only four bottles will be produced, one for the each of the goals scored in the buccaneering 4-1 defeat of Benfi ca at Wembley. � is is pertinent because the release is meant as an endorsement of style and panache and glory. As such, it has been produced at a strange and pivotal time in the club’s modern history.

If United stick with Mourinho in

to and beyond another transfer win-dow, they will surely travel further down the road away from what they have traditionally been and further in to the realms of mundane func-tionality. Can that really be allowed to happen? � e 1968 team embod-ied fl air and currently the question of style and expression is moot. How important is it to play with style at Manchester United? Well, the general rule of thumb is that it is important at least to try and this is one area where Mourinho fails.

United and their support would stomach the nonsense that so of-ten swirls around their Portuguese coach if they won some games and played some decent football. Given the money invested in this squad – there was another £190m of talent on the bench here - it shouldn’t re-ally be too much to ask.

But it is United’s poor football and now their poor recent results that have allowed an ex-player like Paul Scholes to label Mourinho’s behaviour ‘embarrassing’ on TV on Tuesday night. Mourinho has always lit fi res with what he says and does but only when the football starts to slide in to the gutter does his behaviour become more than passingly important.

39 THE-STAR.CO.KE� ursday, October 4, 2018

SPORTS INTERNATIONAL

Fans would take Mourinho’s nonsense if his side played decently

MAN UNITED ARE SO BORING, IT’S ALMOST UNWATCHABLE

OPINIONBY IAN LADYMAN

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho passes the ball to Romelu Lukaku /REUTERS

One of the enduring myths about Sir Alex Ferguson’s great years at Manchester United is that they

were consistently thrilling. � ey were not. � ere has never been a football team able to turn on the adrenaline every single match day.

Equally, those who have followed Manchester United for anything more than a couple of months will recognise that they have rarely wit-nessed anything quite like this.

Under Jose Mourinho, United have become the one thing that will kill just about every sports team in the end. � ey have become boring to the point of being almost un-watchable. � e traffi c around Old Traff ord was murder on Tuesday night. Mourinho and the United team almost didn’t make it to the ground. Cue the joke about it be-ing better had they not bothered. But that wasn’t the only reason that empty red seats started to appear like an outbreak of chicken pox ten minutes before full-time.

No, that was because the United faithful were so bored and drained of optimism that making a dash to beat the traffi c was merely the clever thing to do. � ere was a time when watching United was worth the 50 minutes sitting stationary on Chester Road afterwards. Under Mourinho, United have become one of those teams that are hard-ly worth leaving the house for in the fi rst place.

United’s commercial staff had worked hard to sell this game, con-tacting supporters the day before to urge them to come. As is normal, the club’s fan base didn’t let them down. � ey are a loyal, hardy bunch on the red half of Manchester. � ey take an almost dogged pride in not turning on their team and here the boos that greeted the end of an-other night of torpor were as no-where near as intense as they may well have been.

In Birmingham on Tuesday night, an Aston Villa fan threw a cabbage at manager Steve Bruce. Here, Mourinho walked down the tunnel

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GOLF INDIZA, WAKHU AND OKELLO LEAD KENYA’S ONSLAUGHT

Diani next stopCoast bonanza attracts top foreign players as Kenyans battle for Prime Bank prize

The long wait is over and it’s all systems go as for-eign and local golfers gear up for this year’s Prime Bank-sponsored Diani Beach Masters which heads to the par 72 Leisure Lodge Beach and Golf Resort in Diani.

Leading the foreign legion is Zimbabwean duo of Mohammed and Kayyam Mandhu. Tanzania-based Zimbabwean Farayi Chitengwa, Tanzania duo of Nuru Molleli and Jimmy Mollel are also in the mix.

Mumias long-hitting pro Dismas Indiza, who fired an impressive 10 under par 274 at the par 71 Entebbe Golf Club, Uganda, to claim his fifth Ugan-da Open title, will lead the home brigade alongside Frank Matilo of Muthaiga, David Wakhu (Royal) and Jacob Okello (Golf Park).

Immediate former Nyali resident pro Ko-pan Timbe, Eldoret’s Boniface Simwa and Justus Madoya are among the top pros also expected to spice up the event.

Others on the pro list are Mathew Omondi of Vet Lab, Eric Ooko of Royal and last year’s winner Si-mon Ngige of Thika Sports Club. Ngige racked up the winner’s cash prize of Sh110,000 despite a poor final round score.

A total of 120 amateurs and 40 pros will take part in the three-day Pro-Amateur event, which starts tomorrow through to Sunday.

After the 36-hole two rounds tomorrow and Sat-urday, the top 20 pros will make the cut for the final round on Sunday.

Amateurs drawn from Machakos club, Nairobi clubs, including Nyali and Mombasa clubs will play on Saturday and Sunday.

Royal, Railway and Golf Park have six players apiece with Mombasa being represented by 15 golf-ers, six of whom will be representing Nyali.

Prime Bank business development director, Vijay Kantaria, said the support from the bank is a long-term commitment towards promotion of golf tour-ism in the country.

“Prime Bank continues to support golf through our flagship Prime Visa Golf Card. We are proud to be associated with PGK and more so Diani Beach Masters where we return as main sponsors for the umpteenth time,” said Vijay.

“We wish the pros and amateurs a great golf-ing experience in the coast. We are overly excited to be part and parcel of the country’s vibrant golf tourism industry.”

Blades’ poor run continues in Darafter Ahly defeat

BASKETBALL

BY DANN O’WERRE IN DAR / Strathmore University Blades contin-ued with their poor run in the ongoing Fiba Africa Zone Five Club Champion-ships in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania los-ing their two matches yesterday.

The Kenyans lost 57-31 against Al Ahly of Egypt in the earlier match before faltering 72-30 in their sec-ond against Patriots of Rwanda. The students had lost their open-ing match 61-50 against hosts Oil-ers on Monday .

In the match against the North Af-ricans, winners got off to a fine start, rolling away on a 15-0 spur, never to look back. The students battled hard and out, rebounding Al Ahly in both fronts but could not connect on their chances. Fidel Okoth led Strath’s scor-ing tally with11 points and was the only player hitting double figures in scores.

Saif Sefeldin managed 12 and Nemr Mustafa tallied 11 for Al Ahly. Blades were awarded a walk over against New Stars who arrived late.

In other matches played at the same venue, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) complicated their quarter fi-nals chances when they went down 65-50 to new comers Cobra of South Sudan. The porters down, 30-26 at the breather, came back firing in the last quarter but were unable to pile on the pressure.

KPA were led by the hard working Victor Bosire with 15 points and Daniel Omondi who added another 12 in this fight. The Sudanese had a game high of 22 from Gal David and 11 from Mak-er Clement. In the women’s category, Equity Bank hit Uganda Christian Uni-versity 71-57 in their opener.

They broke off a tight 33-31 advan-tage at half time with new signing Bet-ty Kananu leading the bankers with 21 points, Ruth Oyago registered 11 and Denise Okoth scored 10. Equity must beat APR of Rwanda today to have a strong chance of lifting the trophy.

Today’s fixtures: Strathmore v Wolekite (Ethiopia) 9am, KPA (w) v Wolekite, EWAS (Ethiopia) v Cobra (S.Sudan), APR (Rwanda) v Equity (w), REG (Rwanda) v JKT (Tanzania), Smouha (Egypt) v KPA (m), Patriot v Al Ahly (Egypt), New Star (Burundi) v Oilers (Tanzania).

Dismas Indiza during the Barclays Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club / FILE

“WE WISH THE PROS AND AMATEURS A GREAT GOLFING EXPERIENCE IN THE COAST,”– VIJAY KANTARIA

SAMSON ATEKA@samson ateka

TENNIS

LUCKYOKUTOYI LANDS TRIP TO FLORIDA