MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke
Uhuru appoints Nyaga to regional Authority Former cabinet minister Among senior persons selected to expedite implementation of Northern corridor infrastructure development projects with the formation of a new agency
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NEWS
Gor end first leg unbeaten, Ndungwa to Ingwe’s rescue
could this be The best barcelona squad the world has ever seen?
Corruption claims stall Sh38bn medical project T
housands of Kenyans in need of dialysis and other specialised medical services continue to suffer as controversy and suspicion stalls the leasing of medical equipment to county
hospitals more than three months after the project was launched. A section of governors now claim the project is riddled with corruption. Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya, his predecessor
Isaac Ruto, Kakamega’s Wycliffe Oparanya, David Nkeidienye of Kajiado and Lamu’s Issa Timamy all say the leasing of the medical equipment, which was done by the national government, is suspect. According to the
governors, asking them to pay Sh95 million each year for eight years means counties will pay a total of Sh760 million for equipment worth Sh181 million.
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Judge rescues Gachoka from cell Political activist Tony Gachoka consults with his lawyer in court last week. Justice Weldon Korir today ordered that Gachoka be released from police cells. Story Page 2
Celebrity Chat
Yunasi have stood the test of time, churning out hit-after-hit over 15 years. Do they still have the oomph?
P.9
Russia, Qatar could lose World Cup hosting rights Russia and Qatar could lose the right to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup events if evidence is presented that bribes bought the votes to award their bids. In an interview with a Swiss publication, the Sonntagszeitung
weekly, FIFA compliance chief Domenico Scala said, “should evidence be present that the awarding to Qatar and Russia only came about with bought votes, then the awarding could be void.”
Whispers of foul play heard after December 1, when FIFA chose Russia and Qatar to host soccer’s most prominent global competition, are bandied about more openly now that FIFA is embroiled in a massive scandal,
which involves allegations that bribery helped determine the hosts of earlier World Cups. The United States has indicted 14 people, including nine top FIFA officials, on corruption charges.
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Veteran singer Oliver Mtukudzi rules the show at Koroga Festival’s first anniversary
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NEWS MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
Corruption claims stall medical equipment project From Page 1 “The other day we asked how much the equipment costs and if you buy it is Sh181 million. But we are being told that you sign here, you will receive the equipment now, you will pay Sh95 million for eight years. Sh95 million multiplied by eight is Sh760 million for equipment worth Sh181 million. This is corruption,”
Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said over the weekend. Ruto took issue with the national government which he blamed has refused to clear the air on doubts by governors. He singled out Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia whom he said has refused to meet them to iron out contentious issues.
He stated that despite numerous invitations, the CS has declined to meet the county bosses with the latest being a meeting which took place in Naivasha last Friday. “We had invited the Health Secretary James Macharia to come to Naivasha where we had a meeting with Governors and he refused. He has refused since February and we
have never met since then,” Ruto said at Otieno Oyoo secondary school during the homecoming party of Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma. The Sh38 billion project which would have seen 94 hospitals in the counties equipped with machines for X-ray, ultrasound and dialysis among others is faced with a
major controversy after a local daily reported that experts also questioned why the government chose a leasing arrangement that is renewable every seven years instead of outright purchase of the medical equipment. The experts too, according to the report agreed that it could have cost less than Sh200 million to purchase the equipment.
Uhuru to MPs: Quit supremacy battles and serve Kenyans President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned MPs and Senators to stop their supremacy battles and instead focus on serving Kenyans. MPs and Senators have been locked up in various supremacy contests since 2013 with the latest being the decision by the former to re-allocate Sh1 billion initially earmarked for senators in the budget to the counties. But President Kenyatta urged the legislators to resolve their differences amicably instead of engaging in competition that does not benefit Kenyans. The President, who spoke at AIC Kapsabet Bible College in Nandi County during a church service and fund raising meeting to expand the AIC Kapsabet church, urged the leaders to resolve their issues through consultation. “Differences between members of Parliament and Senators can be resolved amicably. We should therefore learn to consult and dialogue on differences,” he said. President Kenyatta, who arrived from the 10thNorthern Corridor Infrastructure Summit in Kampala,
Uganda, said the country has the ability to address the challenges facing Kenyans if leaders unite to work together. He said the government was working in harmony on all decisions made and asked other institutions to focus on issues that make a difference in the lives of Kenyans. “We can no longer afford the cycle of politics of division and competition experienced in the past regimes. Those wishing to see squabbles between the top Jubilee leaders will be disappointed,” he added. President Kenyatta said politics of hatred and incitement have no place in today’s Kenya. He said his decision to team up with his deputy in 2013 was to unite Kenyans and bring peace among ethnic communities. “No individual can succeed in anything on his/her own but when we are united as leaders we can do marvelous things for the whole nation,” the President said. The President donated Sh5 million while his deputy William Ruto gave Sh3 million towards the church construction.
Court orders release of Tony Gachoka from police cells The High Court today ordered the release of political activist Tony Gachoka who spent the weekend in jail after failing to pay a Sh2 million fine before the courts closed for the weekend. In releasing Gachoka, Justice Weldon Korir suspended the Sh2 million fine pending the hearing and determination of his appeal. Gachoka and television talk show host Jeff Koinange were on Friday slapped with a Sh2 million fine after Resident Magistrate Maisy Chesang found that they had acted in contempt of court in a case pitting them against businessman Jimi Wanjigi.
Wanjigi has filed a defamation suit against the two for allegedly linking his Kwacha Group of Companies Limited to the Anglo-Leasing scandal on the Jeff Koinange Live show in contravention of an injunction. Wanjigi therefore sought to have the two found guilty of acting in contempt of court. Before finding Koinange and Gachoka in contempt, Chesang’ had ordered their arrest on May 13 for failing to honour a court summons to answer to the charges. The two were later released on a Sh100, 000 and a Sh50,000 shilling cash bail respectively but under protest
that the jurisdiction for hearing contempt of court proceedings lay with the High Court. Gachoka in his latest appeal therefore wants the lower court prohibited from presiding over Wanjigi’s suit any further and the matter moved to the High Court. Beyond matters jurisdiction, Gachoka’s appeal also calls into question the conduct of Chesang’ with an affidavit sworn by lawyer Gitobu Imanyara on behalf of his client accusing her of acting in a vindictive manner. “Hon Chesang delivered a ruling without hearing the actual application for
contempt, convicted the applicant after 4pm despite the applicant having been present in court since morning and with the deliberate intention of denying the applicant any reasonable opportunity of raising the fine of Sh2 million or purging the alleged contempt upon which he had been convicted in complete breach of all rules of natural justice.” Imanyara also questioned why Chesang’ handed down the Sh2 million fine with the alternative of six months in jail outside the public eye and only in the presence of counsel.
NEWS 3
CARTOONSPEAK
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
NEWS BRIEFS
Most Kenyans love alcohol more than life itself, says NACADA
Security guards oppose NHIF rates
Recent statistics from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) have shown that in Kenya, alcohol is more popular than cigarettes, marijuana and heroin A spot check has also revealed that some fathers and mothers would forfeit having a second child, putting that income aside for the sake of alcohol instead. In fact, three out of every ten of Kenyans between the ages of 16 and 35 have consumed alcohol several times in their lifetime. Some experts have gone as far as t term Kenya’s alcohol problem as a “national catastrophe.” While many drinkers exhibit a sense of responsibility, there are those that cannot go a day without liquor. Others regularly refuse to pay rent for a night of heavy drinking while some will forget to pay their children’s school fees for a crate of beer and a few bottles of whisky. Despite warnings about the ill effects of too much drinking, some addicts continue to drink even after their doctors warn them of serious medical conditions like liver failure. Numbers from NACADA have found that some drinkers pick up the habit 8 years too early Their estimates show that half of all alcohol and drug abusers in Kenya are between the ages of 10 and 19. NACADA has set up initiatives to curb the threat, including running campaigns against alcohol abuse and initiating sensitization programs to stem the crisis.
Security guards have rejected the increased National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) rates, insisting their payslips are slim. They want the price of unga, sugar and milk lowered before the government can think of raiding their pay. The guards have also called for standardisation of the uncontrolled bus fare and house rents. Kenya National Private Security Workers’ Union (KNPSU) secretary general Isaac Andabwa said they opposed to the new rates because they are pegged on their gross pay. He said guards should be exempted to the taxation since they are poorly paid, work for long hours and in deprived conditions.
Ex-minister Nyaga lands regional job
HIRED: Former Kenyan Minister of Cooperation, Joseph Nyagah meets with President Kagame in Kigali in a previous event.
Former Cabinet minister Joseph Nyaga has been appointed member of a new regional body that will expedite the implementation of infrastructure projects for Northern Corridor member states. The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority will coordinate and follow-up implementation of projects in order of priority as agreed on by the member states. Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, Paul Kagame and host Yoweri Museveni resolved over the weekend to establish the new authority during the 10th Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit in Kampala, Uganda. The leaders agreed that each of the Northern Corridor member states should appoint a person to work full-time in monitoring
the status of implementation of projects. President Museveni observed that some of the Northern Corridor projects were not moving as fast as targeted because some of the implementing persons were working “part-time”. “The three of us have agreed that each country should appoint a senior person whose job will only be to follow up this integration process,” President Museveni said, announcing that Kenya has already appointed former Cabinet Minister Joseph Nyaga. President Museveni added: “We will also have a discussion with President Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia and President Pierre Nkurunziza on the same issue.”
Man shot dead in argument over ‘loot’ A man was shot dead in an argument with another in what police suspect to be a deal gone sour in Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums. The two are to have argued over a loot they had acquired together before one fatally shot the other. The victim was shot three times in the chest by his accmplice who escaped soon after the incident. Police said they recovered rolls of bhang at the scene.
Total of 5 killed in Donholm robberies
Three thugs were yesterday shot dead in a botched robbery on a premise in Donholm. The men were in a gang of five and had tried to break into a gas cylinder premise when police were alerted. The officers say they recovered a home-made gun from them. The other two escaped on foot and efforts to trace them are ongoing. The killing brings to five, the number of suspects killed in Donholm alone since Friday when two suspects were gunned down in a botched robbery. Police say they have intensified patrols in the area to tame increased incidents of crime.
WHAT OTHERS SAID TODAY...
How DP Ruto acquired Weston land: Deputy President William Ruto’s Weston Hotel is built on public land and the transfer of the plot was done against the advice of senior government officials, including Francis Muthaura. According to court and confidential government documents in possession of the Star, various companies were used to acquire the land on which Ruto buildt the hotel on Lang’ata Road. The Deputy President admitted last week in an interview on Citizen TV’s The Big Question programme that he is a shareholder in the hotel, which is opposite Wilson...
MPs, senators warned on supremacy battles: President Uhuru Kenyatta Sunday responded to the war of words between the Senate and National Assembly, saying the leaders’ unending supremacy battles were stifling development. The President accused MPs, senators and governors of “holding the nation to ransom” and told them to end the turf wars because they were hurting development projects. Making his long-awaited visit to Nandi, Mr Kenyatta also gave Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and Senate Majority Leader Kithure...
It’s not yet over, Jubilee MPs warn Kambi, Ngilu: If Jubilee MPs have their way, Cabinet secretaries cleared by the anti-graft body and the Director of Prosecutitons Keriko Tobiko will not return to the Government any time soon. Four MPs yesterday added their voice to concerns raised last week by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale over the investigations that led to the clearing of the four cabinet seceretaries Davis Chirchir, Charity Ngilu, Felix Koskei and Kazungu Kambi. The MPs said the clearing of the four was engineered by powerful individuals and vowed to...
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NEWS MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
Russia and Qatar risk losing World Cup rights From Page 1 FIFA had portrayed the ongoing investigation as a progressive step for the world soccer body. Russia, the world’s largest country, and Qatar, a small Middle Eastern nation, would be new frontiers for the world’s favorite tournament. The CEO of Russia World Cup 2018 last week said that Russia plans to continue to prepare to organize the event. Alexesy Sorokin said that Russia’s bid was transparent. “It was clean,” he said. “It didn’t transgress any FIFA practices, any practices applicable to the bidding process. What else can we say?” he told CNN. And Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy released a statement last week, saying, “The recent events at FIFA will not impact on our preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.” American Chuck Blazer, a former FIFA executive
BEFORE THE SCANDAL: Outgoing world football governing body FIFA president Sepp Blatter recieves official bid documents by Australia, England, Netherlands/Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Russia, Spain/Portugal and the United States for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at Swiss headquarters in Zurich on May 2010. Two bidders from this group could get the hosting rights should Russia and Qatar lose out.
committee member and key member in the U.S. investigation into the governing body, admitted that he and other
high-ranking officials took bribes ahead of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, according to court records.
Trinidad’s justice and legal affairs minister is calling on the lone indicted FIFA official from his country to go to New
York to face trial in the scandal that’s struck the soccer world like a dirty slide tackle.
6 dead; 2,500 Quarantined in South Korea MERS outbreak An outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome or MERS has killed six people and left more than 2, 500 quarantined either at home or in health facilities in South Korea. More than 1, 800 schools remain closed as the virus continues to ravage the Asian country. South Korea reported its sixth death from MERS today, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 87. The latest death is that of an 80-year-old man who was receiving treatment at a hospital in Daejeon, South Korea’s fifth largest city. Among the new cases is that of a teenager, the first school-aged person to be infected, the health ministry said. MERS, which surfaced three years ago, is not well-understood. Because the virus is still fairly new, doctors and scientists do not know the exact source or mode of its transmission. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, MERS spreads from close contact with an ill person, such as living with or caring for them.
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xnews | MONday, JUNE 8, 2015 | www.x-news.co.ke
BIZ BRIEFS
BUSINESS
Kenyans urged to embrace use of debit, credit cards The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) is encouraging Kenyans to use their debit and credit cards more often at points of sale. In order to reduce the inconvenience caused when carrying huge amounts of cash, the generl public has been urged to choose plastic over paper. The Association’s Chief Executive Officer, Habil Olaka, explained that the current cards are not prone to fraud unlike previous models, which could easily be compromised. Olaka however pointed out the need for cards users to observe the safety requirements that is involved in the use
CBK EXCHANGE RATES 1 US DOLLAR 1 UK POUND 1 EURO 1 S.A RAND 1 KSH/USH 1 KSH/TSH
MEAN BUY SELL 91.4839 91.6228 91.5533 138.6428 138.8644 138.7536 103.3422 103.5150 103.4286 7.8770 7.8944 7.8857 31.1822 31.3389 31.2605 19.5148 19.6537 19.5843
Airtel connects seven more schools to free internet Airtel has given seven schools to the in the Mombasa and Central regions access to the internet through its “Internet for Schools” project. Internet for Schools is Airtel’s community flagship program, designed to provide internet connectivity to millions of students in the country, especially those who cannot afford the cost of connection. “This is part of Airtel’s commitment to ensuring that communities are able to leverage the information, access and content that the internet provides,” the telco said in a statement issued over the weekend This now means that over 3,600 students from these schools now join more than
of the cards so as to prevent any kind of identity theft. The new ATM cards, commonly referred to as EMV compliant, have been implanted with a memory chip to hold the user’s information instead of the more fraud-prone magnetic strip. The Chip and PIN cards also require their owners to enter a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) instead using a signature when conducting a transaction. Information on the magnetic stripes has been easily copied by fraudsters in recent years, giving them illegal access to customers’ account details.
250,000 others from different schools across the country. Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi (below) said: “Information and communications technology (ICT) has become a vital part of every child’s education. It is an investment in our children’s collective future that we believe will yield excellent rewards.”
BuSINESS DIARY
Agritec Africa Expo at the KICC This year’s Agritec Africa Exhibition and Conference will be held in Nairobi, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre from June 17 to June 19, 2015. The event is set to attract various stakeholders from within the industry as well as agricultural entrepreneurs and those looking to invest in the sector. “Africa has huge
potential for Agricultural growth, thanks to ample amount of Land and Water Resources,” said a statement from the Ministry Of Agriculture and Radeecal Communications, the event organisers. “Africa requires attention on following three core areas for Higher and Sustained growth.”
CRACKDOWN: Officials from the anti-counterfeit agency conduct a raid at a Nairobi business woman’s home.
Government steps up war on fake products The government has issued a stern warning on the production and distribution of counterfeit goods in the country. This follows the seizure of Sh35million worth of counterfeit goods by the Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA) at a residential house in Nairobi. Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary, Adan Mohamed, says the government will take swift and decisive action against anyone found culpable of distributing these items. Mohamed stressed that stringent measures, including hefty fines, will be imposed on those who engage in the
illicit trade of counterfeit goods in the country. “The on-going war on counterfeit products will be unrelenting,” he explained. “It is no longer business as usual. We are going to wipe out illicit trafficking of counterfeit goods that negatively impact our economy of legitimate jobs, lost tax revenues and increases social costs.” He revealed that the government is working with various stakeholders, including local and international enforcement agencies and the private sector, to address the issue of counterfeiting.
He stated that they will be doing this through sensitization programs, implementation of legal and policy reforms, technical assistance and capacity building measures, channels for international cooperation and tools for strengthening enforcement practices. “For our manufacturing sector to thrive, my ministry in collaboration with regulatory agencies is working interminably towards improvement of the country’s Intellectual Property (IP) regime by providing an advanced legal and institutional framework
to ensure IP protection,” he said. Mohamed pleaded with regulatory agencies to take action against any agency found to have been involved in counterfeiting. He further requested consumers to be vigilant when purchasing products and requested them to report to authorities when in contact with persons trafficking counterfeit products. He explained that the impact of counterfeits is also felt by traditional manufacturers through brand erosion, loss of sales and market share, the closure of factories and unfair competition.
East Africa Manufacturing Expo at the KICC The East Africa Manufacturing Expo, a 3 day event to be held at the KICC, will run from June 10 to June 12, in Nairobi. This event will showcase a wide variety of products like machine tools and accessories, testing measuring instrument, as well as welding machinery and equipment. The affair is set to draw in stakeholders and investors from within the manufacturing sector, including sellers of Industrial Products and those from the Fabrication, Repair and Maintenance industries.
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BUSINESS MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
Group makes Sh700k off fresh produce A group of five single women who benefitted from an organic farming training have managed to raise more than Sh700,000 supplying fresh produce to traders at Nairobi’s Wakulima Market. Their venture has also helped them build two day care schools in Ruiru. It was not too long ago that these once jobless women heard of a free organic farming training programme in a nearby shopping centre. Since they had no land to farm, they did not know where to apply the knowledge they would acquire from the training. They, nonetheless, decided to attend the classes to pass the time. The training opened opportunities for them when a member of the Micro finance institution (MFI), Jamii Bora, advised them to put their skills into action. It has since been a long and bumpy road that has eventually paid off. Surviving on income that they earned through casual labour, the women managed to save enoung money through the MFI. After two years of sweat and sacrifice, they decided to take a loan to jointly buy a piece of land. They put up a modest shelter and concentrated the rest of the land on organic farming. Miss Wanjohi, one of the five single women who launched the venture, explains that there have been many disappointments. When they first branched into the field of agriculture, they had to put up poor farm management and erratic weather. However, seven years on, the five are now among the largest suppliers of fresh organic produce to Nairobi’s biggest fresh produce market. Demand for fresh produce has since ballooned in the recent years further boosting their incomes.
therise
Standard Group
Media firm, Standard Group, emerged as last week’s top gaining stock, having seen its share price rise an impressive 9.0 2per cent over the course of the week to a closing price of Sh36.25 from its previous week closing price of Sh33.25. The gains in share price were however, recorded on relatively low volumes of shares traded during the week. The Group, which is involved in the
publishing and distribution of newspapers, magazines, periodicals as well as television broadcasting, recorded an 8.4 per cent increase in its pre-tax profit for 2014 as a result of increased advertising revenues. With advertising spending closely related to economic growth, the Group expects this performance to be sustained into 2015.
Eveready East Africa The Company recently
Eveready East Africa took the position of top losing stock last week after having recorded a fall of -8.99 per cent in its share price last week. This saw Eveready shares close the short week of trading at a price of Sh4.05 from its previous week’s closing price of Sh4.45. Year to date, Eveready East Africa shares are up by 9.46 per cent.
Analysis by Amana Capital info@amanacapital.co.ke
thefall
released its unaudited results for the six month period ending March 31, 2015, which showed a loss before tax of Sh17.7 million as compared to a profit of Sh44.8 million over the same period a year prior. Management attributed the loss to financing costs associated with the closure of its Nakuru plant.
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
ACCESS celebchat
fashion parade
They are ruling The charTs wiTh Their laTesT song nimekupaTa.The all boy band is famed for consisTency and sTage acTs can They remain on Top?
W
ho are the Yunasi Band? YUNASI is made up of four members namely; Toby Imani,Ngalah Oreyo,Erick Cleff and Symon Maranga How and when did your band start out? In 2000.We used to sing in church as an acapella group. How would you describe your sound? Our sound is a fusion of everything. We call it SESUBE, SE=SEGA. S U = S U K U K U T I . BE=BENGA All east African musical styles mixed with any other sound be it Rock,Rap, house… You have been in the Kenyan music scene for a decade, what do you attribute to your longevity? Kenya is our home but we feel that we are yet to break the celling here, even though we have toured the world, we are driven to keep going. Tell us about your latest song, Nimekupata. Nimekupata is a love song. The kind you would play at a wedding party. Where do you draw inspiration for your music? Our inspiration comes from everything and everyone around us. Who do you look up to locally and internationally, in the music industry? Locally Rabbit is a good musician and poet
YUNASI
YUNASI BAND
IS STILL TOP OF THE CHARTS too Wyre is also really great but we like Daudi Kabaka,Fadhili Williams’ sound. Internationally Baba Maal,Ali Kiba,Chameleone come to mind. Which artistes have you worked with and which ones would you like to work with? We have worked with Wyre,Kevo Kforce, Rabbit and we just fiished the Usilewe Ndindi remix with Mejja and Frasha. It will be
out next month. What are some of your most memorable performances? They are so many! The Blues Fest Australia tops then BBC 73rd anniversary at the 02 arena was amazing. Thailand world Music festival also stood out. What more should fans expect from the Yunasi Band? A new album before the end of the year.
‘Kenya is our home but we feel that we are yet to break the celling here, even though we have toured the world, we are driven to keep going’.
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ACCESS
WEDNESDAY MONDAY, JUNE 26th 8, NOVEMBER 2015 2014
FASHIONScoop the BIGKNOT
YouR aRE ThE FIRsT lasT ThInG on I’m Black FashIon JaYanD Z Junk mInD DaIlY. mTV mY quIZ nEW YoRk
Brenda & Peter
brave the rains to say ’I do’
‘I love Brenda’s smile, singing- she is an angel and cleanliness too. She is a neat lady!’ —Peter
H
O
ne chilly Sunday morning Brenda and Peter exchanged loving vows in front of adoring family and friends. Even though it was raining that morning, their happiness cheered the day. Brenda Achieng’ Osodo and Peter Okeyo Orimba met in campus. “We met in campus when I had just joined first year at the University Of Nairobi, then he was completing his degree in Physical and Urban planning,” said Brenda. Brenda knew Peter was the one because he made her laugh. “I love Peter’s humour. I have never met a clean and organized man like Peter,” gushed Brenda. Peter on the other hand had this to say about his wife, “I love Brenda’s smile, singing- she is an angel and cleanliness too. She is a neat lady!”The setting for their wedding ceremony was Lavington SDA Church. The church was decorated in egg yellow and orange. Flowers were in abundance and the tents had fabric drapery with fairy lights twinkling in the dark morning. “Our wedding theme is bold orange and egg yellow. I have a liking for very bright colours and Peter loves linen,” Brenda told us. Standing at the altar was Peter in all his prince charming glory decked out in a black suit and orange tie. As Brenda walked down the aisle
accompanied by her parents, you could see the joy in Peter’s face. When Brenda was halfway down the aisle, Peter together with his parents and pastor went to receive her and after prayers and handing her over, the couple walked the rest of the aisle together. The bride was in a Cinderella ball gown dress with a long train. Her dress was sparkly at the bodice that added a bit of glitz to her outfit. The groomsmen were in white linen suits with strips of print and sandals on their feet while the ladies had on long flowing egg yellow dresses. The ceremony was short and simple with a lot of humour. After the ceremony, the couple headed to the photo shoot at Safari Park while their guests went to St Andrews school, Lavington for the reception. The couple had a police escort complete with outriders and sirens. Very cool! The reception was another rainy affair as the couple literally danced in the rain. On the upside the cake was tasty and had everyone going for seconds. Peter said the honeymoon destination was their favourite place but refused to divulge further. Brenda thanked everyone who celebrated their rainy wedding adding that it was a blessing. We wish the couple a happy marriage.
ACCESS MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
T
he 10th edition of Groove Awards finally went down this past weekend. The awards which were originally to take place on Madaraka Day were pushed a few days due to ‘unavoidable circumstances’. The organisers stated that they had wanted to make the awards bigger and better. Bigger and better it was. The awards have definitely raised the bar when it comes to music award ceremonies in Kenya. The down pour during the day and the heavy traffic on Thika Road Superhighway did not dampen the day. Gospel and secular artistes alike turned up for the event which was not short of Glitz and Glam from the red carpet to the arena. The awards featured great performances from Bahati who opened up the show to Mercy Masika’s moving performance of Mwema and Size 8 and Willy Paul’s electrifying performance of their number, TamTam. Willy Paul got on stage using one of the camera cranes to a standing ovation. The only one he was to receive on the night. The décor at the event was on point and the stage setup daring. Departing from the norm, the event ws hosted by a trio of deejays DJ MO, DJ Krowbar and DJ Sadic who kept the audience entertained. Bahati made Groove history when he won four awards and gave a moving speech amidst tears, dedicating his award to children in children’s homes.
review of top weekend gigs.
CENTRESTAGE Winners Male Artiste of the Year - Bahati. Female Artiste of the Year – Loise Kim. Southern Africa Artiste of the Year - Joyous Celebration from South Africa. Song of the Year Nyanza Counties – Omorembe Toe – Fenny Kerubo. Collabo of the Year – Mwanake – Benachi and Kaberere. Ragga/Reggae Song of the Year – Searching TPK Sons. Song of the Year Central Counties – Ndiari Mwega – James Wanyoike. G10 (Upcoming promising talent) – DJ Tabz. Song of the Year Eastern Counties – Katiwa by Justus Mielo. Western Africa Artiste of the Year – Sinach from Nigeria. Video of the Year – Barua by Bahati. Gospel Radio Presenter of the Year – Eva Mwalili of Milele FM. Album of the Year – Mungu Mkuu by Evelyne Wanjiru. Song of the Year Coastal Counties – Rafiki by Michael Yena. Dance Group of the Year – AltarMIN. Song of the Year Rift Counties – Erripoto Enkai – Charity Tajeu. Hip-Hop Song of the Year – Mimina by Kriserroh ft Magg 44 and Abel Chungu. Song of the Year Western Counties – Ndakhuyanza – Timothy Kitoyi. Gospel Radio Show of the Year – Gospel Sunday – Milele FM. DJ of the Year – DJ Mo Kenya. New Artiste/New Group of the Year – Ruth Matete. Video Producer of the Year – Sammy Dee. Song Writer of the Year – Jemimah Thiong’o. Worship Song of the Year – Florence Andenyi. Group of the Year – Christ Cycoz. TV Show of the Year – NTV Crossover 101. Eastern and Central Africa Artiste of the Year – Sarah Nkutile – Uganda. Song of the Year – Barua by Bahati.
Bahati tena!
Groove Awards 2015
OLIVER MTUKUDZI RULES KOROGA FESTIVAL K
oroga Festival celebrated their first anniversary on Sunday with the best of African music. Kenya was represented by Winyo and Just A Band while legendary Zimbabwe musician, Oliver Mutukudzi “tuku” was the attraction. First on stage was Winyo accompanied by his four-piece band. Known for his Luo melodies and Afro-soul tunes, he did not disappoint as he performed Dongo, which woke up the crowd. He was later joined on stage with his talented musician wife, Nina Ogot making it a family affair as they sang Dala. Just A Band were the next and they brought funk in their act. Dressed in African outfits from top to bottom with matching long hats, they performed their hit songs, probably for lovers, matatizo, dunia ina mambo and the classic song that introduced them to Kenyan music
scene, Hey! They were later joined on stage by Octopizzo for the hit song Something for you. The moment finally came for Tuku he strode to the stage casually with his guitar in hand. His soulful and baritone voice immediately captured the audience as he sang his famous song, “Todii” that had the crowd singing along. He went on performing his other classic hits which included; Son of Africa, Africa, Tsimba Itsoka among others. He gave a two-hour performance that left the crowd begging for more.
Benachi and Hopekid new single drops today Benachi and Hopekid have teamed up in a new song, Smile. Hopekid had a successful album launch ‘Am Blessed’ while Benachi won a Groove Award for Collabo of the year, Mwanake featuring the late Kaberere . The jam is a blend of Ragga and Bongo.
BENACHI
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WINYO
JUST A BAND
OLIVER MTUKUTDZI
HOT TOPICS
K Letta’s shocking dating secrets, why Mwalimu Rachel is his expensive girl Rapper K Letta has revealed that it took him quite a while and meticulous planning to woo Homeboyz presenter Rachel Muthoni (Mwalimu Rachel). The Baadaye rapper revealed that he had to put away a considerable amount of money to take her out on a nice date. “She is not your everyday girl and I knew that so I put together a plan
of the day and also put some money aside enough to execute my plan which involved a dinner date and a movie afterwards”, says K Letta. He spent somewhere in the neighbourhood of Sh 10,000 to 20,000 for the date. The rapper has a new song Let Me Know out, says it was all worth it. The couple have a child together.
K LETTA
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ACCESS MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
FASHIONparade
@ THE Tony AwArds 2015.
KEndALL JEnnEr looked gorgeous in a Calvin Klein collection.
rosE BrynE looked spectacular in the Delpozo gown.
TAyLor scHILLIng showed off a little skin in Michael Kors.
J-Lo showed she is red carpet royalty in a Valentino couture gown.
Jlo STill rulES ThE JoAn sMALLs rocked that Givenchy dress.
lyriclab Khaligraph JonES, K47, Chiwawa and luTTa
We Run Dem
rEd CarpET
i
t was yet another red carpet moment in Hollywood as the best in Broadway performances gathered in New York for the Tony Awards. But first, all eyes were on the red carpet as the stars showed off their gowns. Hellen Mirren showed that she still got it in a white, long sleeved and figure hugging gown while Kendall Jenner was all grown up as she showed off her legs in a soft pink mini dress. J-Lo stole the show (again) as she wowed in a princesscut gown, ditching the sheer and skimpy gowns from her previous red carpet appearances.
BEST...
We run dem is what you get when you combine the talents of these legendary artistes. The song describes them as kings of the music industry, dismissing haters who try to blame the downward spiral of the Kenyan music quality on them. We can officially declare that these artistes are well are aware of how good they are and they are not afraid of blowing their own trumpets to the whole world through music.
Smash In his newest hit, Jay A describes himself through his ever smooth flowing rhymes. The fast tempo rap conclusively tells Jay A’s musical journey from his very first single to this latest one
HELEn MIrrEn ever the stunner in Fred Leighton.
Jay a in ten words: From standing in the crowd to standing on the stage. All we can say is that if Kenya owned the Empire TV series, then Jay A would be our Hakeem.
anTonEoSoul and l.a.X
Nakupenda
Use a mixture of Kenyan and Naija beats to describe an African woman and you get this tuneful hit. Antoneosoul’s silky voice adds to the romance of this song which is all about love and obsession.
PLAY 11 MONDA0Y, JUNE 8, 2015
DAILYHOROSCOPES CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan19 You might decide to exercise, change your diet, and experiment with new clothing styles. You’re likely to produce the results you want. With the energy and enthusiasm churning within you today, you might surprise yourself with this task or anything else you do. AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18 You’ll wake up ready to take on the world, Aquarius. Excitement, enthusiasm, and purpose will fill your soul, yet you might wonder where it comes from, as nothing has changed since yesterday. Don’t waste time mulling over it - harness it! Tackle a class or exercise program. PISCES Feb 19 - Mar 20 Information gleaned from friends could have you focusing on a new goal, Pisces. You may have a lot of ideas about projects you want to take care of, and today you might realize which one has top priority. Start moving! you start.
WEATHERFORECAST m0nday 8/06/2015
sunny
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tuesday 9/06/2015
More sun than clouds
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21ºC 68%
6:30 am 6:33pm
23ºC 68%
6:30 am 6:33pm
wednesday
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Fill in the blanks with the numbers 1-9. every row, column and 3x3 box must contain all nine digits with no repeated number. Frisday’s Solution
ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 19 The Universe is inviting you magnify your vision, Aries. It’s time to see the bigger, better, more advanced side of things. Remember that life is a mirror. You’re highly unlikely to receive more than you hope for. So dream big, hope big, and imagine yourself in the stars.
Sudoku
TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20 You should feel especially emotional today, Taurus, reacting strongly to nearly everything you see, whether a photo of a natural disaster, a group of children, or a kitten sitting on a doorstep. Spiritually, you’re highly motivated and longing to know more about worlds beyond this one. GEMINI May 21 - Jun 21 Some of these impressions could represent old traumas or phobias that need to be released. You could also draw creative inspiration from these perceptions and use them as a basis for artistic projects. By day’s end you may feel much lighter - emotionally, at least! CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 21 A new person may come into your life who makes a difference for you. Issues may come up that you feel strongly about, and you aren’t likely to hesitate about expressing your opinions. This is fine, as you will be tactful and others will appreciate your sincerity. LEO Jul 23- Aug 22 Leo, you should feel physically strong and energetic today and ready to take on just about anything that comes your way. This is good, as you may be presented with some powerful challenges that bring new purpose to your life. VIRGO Aug 23- Sep 22 Spiritual passion is tempered by romantic desire today, Virgo, and you’re likely to want to pursue both. Perhaps your romantic partner is as spiritually inclined as you, and you both aspire to the same ends. Much of the passion you feel wells up from deep within.
MUSTREAD Dog Eat Dog — by Niq Mhlongo
Dingz is an intelligent articulate student. He spends his time going to parties with his friends, picking up girls, missing classes and cooking up excuses for missing exams while struggling to make ends meet. Together with his crew of friends, they can always be found drinking and discussing South African Politics, racism and AIDS. The crew has been through some crazy adventures like contracting gonorrhea, faking a death certificate and being kidnapped by taxi drivers. They have seen it all. At one point, Dingz is almost locked out of financial assistance because of his race. He does not take this too kindly and fights tooth and nail for his right. The financial assistance will help him complete school and maintain his lifestyle.
LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 If you’re currently romantically involved, Libra, you can expect your relationship to move to the next level of commitment. You and your partner could agree to be monogamous, get engaged, or set a wedding date. If you’re married, you might decide to have a child. SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 An invitation to an important social event could come today, Scorpio. This could represent a chance to meet important people who could advance your career or who might be involved in a field that interests you. SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 You may decide to train this talent and foster a skill that can help you with any type of work you will do. This is definitely the day for it, as you should be full of energy and enthusiasm, capable of assuming any task, however formidable. Physically, you should feel strong and well.
INSTAMOMENTS 1
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Vote for winning pick of today’s top three instamoments (below) by sending an email with the picture number to: play@x-news.com
Friday’s winning photo
Send a caption for the photo above with your name and location to: play@x-news.co.ke .The winning caption gets published on this page.
winning captions
1. No chills were given that day...it was her and the soup-Biseki J., Nairobi 2. How to drink soup from a large plate-genius!-Shadrak Masere, Nairobi 3. This is how you ensure you are in the photos at people’s weddings
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PLAY
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
CROSSWORD Across 1. Toothpaste amount 5. Toss out, as a tenant 10. “He eateth grass as ____” (Job 40:15) 14. Serve tea 15. Trial location 16. T. ____ Price (investment company) 17. Starred 19. S.Dak. neighbor 20. Sonnet sections 21. School bully’s taunt 22. Source of some leather 26. Spoiled tykes 30. La Salle named it and claimed it for France 34. Early western star Lash 35. Distort, as data 36. Laid back 37. Trick into doing wrong 39. “___ Same Old Song” 42. ____-fi (film genre) 43. Part of a song heard at bar mitzvahs 47. Ryder competitor 48. Makes an educated guess 51. Usual situations 52. Fund-raiser on the tube 54. Club gig 57. Register at the hotel 62. Daniel Defoe’s “____ Flanders” 63. “Here’s looking at you” film 66. Old fiddle 67. ___-Car: rental company 68. Albanian dollars
69. Lily of Utah 70. “Extra!” shouter 71. Net fabric Down 1. College stats 2. Mislay 3. Inning divisions 4. “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” author Harte 5. Modern party notice 6. Veins, e.g. 7. Old-fashioned well filler 8. Type of card 9. A Turner 10. Fashionable Giorgio 11. “____ just can’t be...” (Janis Joplin line) 12. Possesses a deed to 13. “Strange” prefix 18. Exodus locale 21. Hi-___ (album players) 23. S. Korean GI 24. Prosecute 25. New Zealander, informally 26. Fortunate 27. Dressing type 28. Clarinetist Shaw 29. Neighbor of Bulg. 31. Sacrifice site 32. Minor prophet 33. Rink jumps 38. “Dr. ____” 40. Burrow underground 41. HBO alternative
44. Georgia neighbor (abbr.) 45. Dachshund doc 46. Alley lineup 49. Opera with Desdemona 50. Part of A.A.R.P. (abbr.) 53. “Gee!” 54. Places notorious for long lines 55. French glee 56. Muddy trek 58. Time before a storm 59. Leg joint 60. “Eww!” sounds 61. Writer Ogden 63. Part of a millennium (abbr.) 64. Hole in one 65. Scatter seed
Thurday’s answers
YOURSAY
Government doing fairly well
I agree with the report suggesting that Uhuru’s government is not doing badly. Given the current situation and past occurrences, you have to admit that things could be far much worse. We might be suffering painfully in terms of security but the government has managed to keep the economy at a fairly acceptable level as evidenced by the IMF
report that the country’s gross international reserves are adequate. Despite the terrorist attacks and threats, the economy is expected to remain stable even with the dwindling tourism sector that was once our biggest moneymaker. I believe congratulations are in order for the branch of government that is keeping the economy afloat. —Mercy Bosire, Nairobi
Move to demolish tacky buildings welcome The decision by the County Government of Nairobi to bring down buildings found unsafe for occupation is well thought. Indeed cases of storey-buildings collapsing and causing horrible accidents have become so rampant lately that only such exercise can help remedy the situation. Every rational Kenyan would now understand pretty well why Kenya Board of Engineers last year decided to shut down
certain Engineering Colleges unregistered by this board. In the time past, such incidents were unheard of save for sinking buildings erected on a quicksand places like Nakuru, which were majorly caused by earth tremor. It’s logical therefore to infer that some Engineers coming out of these colleges are incompetent, if not greedy for quick money. They should be sent back to class and their licenses be revoked. —Phabian Onyango Jr., Huruma
Tribalism is not here to stay It is sad that to see and learn just how most Kenyans view everything from a prism of ethnic stereotypes. Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook are full of this absolute tribal mess. Reading posts and comments touching on issues of national concern and then seeing just how Kenyans spew tribal vitriol against each other is
utterly depressing. Politicians and all Kenyans should brace themselves for some shock. There is a new generation of young Kenyans who don’t give a hoot about their ethnic backgrounds. Tribalism is just staring at its death bed. —Yvonne Kangai, USIU
We need real gospel musicians After watching the Groove Awards this weekend, I have given up on trying to distinguish gospel from secular musicians. Some of the groups and individuals feted in the awards are just in it for the money. Those songs used to inspire people to lead better lives. Like Octopizzo hinted, some of the
gospel artistes we have nowadays are misleading audiences more than their secular counterparts. I know I have no moral authority to judge but I really miss the days when people like Mary Atieno and Munishi were serving us gospel music. —Esther Kirigia, Muthaiga
Enough with the politics already! Am I the only one in the country who is sick of all this politicking going on? I have a feeling our President and his deputy are good people, and might have an idea of what needs to be done to improve the welfare of our country. However, the noise surrounding every event they go to, and the accompanying sideshows borders on nauseating. We elected the two to lead us (whether we voted for them or not is irrelevant) and they should step up to the game. —Joseph Masinde, Nairobi
Government needs an independent watchdog News of the fossils from a young man found in Turkana has got me thinking. Apparently the find will create a new revenue stream for the area. But how much of that money will go towards helping the local population? I hear stories of County governments asking for billions of shillings from the National Budget, money that is to be used for “development projects”. To that I say, poppycock! How many MPs, Senators and even community leaders can say where every shilling they have received for these projects has gone? It is high time we make these thieves accountable! While they are those who actually support their communities, there are many who use allocated resources for their own personal gain. An MP digs a couple of boreholes and
suddenly he’s a superstar. His colleague pays school fees for a destitute child and forgets about it the moment s/he gets elected. I think we need some “Internal Affairs” department like the Anticorruption Commission to oversee how allocated funds from the National Budget are being spent. What we need is an external “auditor” from a country far away from here. We need a team of professionals who will call our so-called leaders out on their nonsense. I don’t trust the Treasury. I don’t trust the Parliamentary Committee and I sure as hell don’t trust most of the people making financial decisions for this country. —Omar Mdawida, Nairobi
Send your letters to news@x-news.co.ke | Letters will be edited for summary and clarity
SPORT 13 MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
Gor end first leg unbeaten, Ndungwa to Ingwe’s rescue Gor Mahia achieved rare fete in the Kenyan Premier league going unbeaten as the first leg of the season ended on Sunday. As for their bitter rivals AFC Leopards, their embarrassing season was somehow salvaged by a forward who played as makeshift goalkeeper. On Saturday, Rwandese Meddie Kagere scored the only goal as Gor Mahia beat the 2012 champions Tusker FC to move to 39 points and 12 clear of second placed Sofapaka. The last match of the first leg saw Leopards’ player for the umpteenth time this season strike, of the 13 players who actually turned
up for the match, no recognised keeper was present Ndungwa, was forced to goal keep after regular and Harambee Stars custodian, Wycliffe Kasaya joined regulars who refused to turn up for their final Kenyan Premier League (KPL) first-leg tie before going on to be the unlikely hero when he saved veteran striker John Baraza’s penalty. Leopards won 1-0. Leopards triumphed when Abdoul Yourou netted an own goal in the 74th minute, after tapping in Lamin Diallo’s cross before the Ingwe player was sent off nine minutes later for clearing a Sofapaka goal bound shot with
his hand. Drama started unfolding when Leopards failed to have a quorum after only nine players turned up, forcing Broadcast rights holders, SuperSport to postpone the match forward by an hour from the scheduled 3pm local time. The players had earlier threatened not to honour the match until their four month salary arrears were settled, but some of them mostly foreigners started walking into the stadium one by one with heads bowed down. Meanwhile, irate Ingwe fans turned their outrage on serving national executive committee members whom they blamed for
the crippling the Kenyan giants financially this season. “(Prof. Asava) Kadima must go! (George) Aladwa must go! (Timothy) Lirumbi must go! (Alex Ole) Magelo wetu! Magelo wetu” rent he air as Sofapaka continued their extended warm-up. Two factions are battling for the control of the club whose chairman, Allan Kasavuli resigned in a huff a fortnight ago with the remaining top officials, secretary general, Aladwa his assistant Asava and organising secretary Lirumbi who have opposed the interim team placed by the departed chairman incurring the wrath of the agitated supporters.
Is this best Barca team ever? As Gerard Pique took a pair of scissors to the net at one end of Berlin’s Olympic Stadium and Luis Suarez made a call on his mobile phone, Barcelona were celebrating a fresh chapter in their Champions League history. For all Juventus’s resilience and sheer grit, Barcelona were able to deliver coach Luis Enrique the Champions League to add to La Liga and the Copa del Rey in his first season. Is this the greatest Barcelona team ever? The finest success is always the most recent and Barcelona will be a city of joy on Sunday when the side returns to Catalonia with the Champions League trophy. And the achievement of the team inspired by the superstar attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Suarez and Neymar can certainly stand comparison with others that brought glory to the Nou Camp in the past. Messi has been the catalyst for the last three triumphs, scoring in the 2-0 win over Manchester United in Rome in 2009 and again in the 3-1 victoery over the same opponent at Wembley two years later.
In 2009, the midfield “carousel” of Xavi and Andres Iniesta was in full swing while Messi was part of an attacking line-up that included Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry. At Wembley, David Villa and Pedro were his closest cohorts. When Barcelona first won the trophy by beating Sampdoria 1-0 at Wembley under Johan Cruyff in 1992, the youthful Pep Guardiola, who would win the trophy twice as their coach, was guided by Ronald Koeman. Two legends, in Michael Laudrup and the Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov, provided the attacking flair. Eto’o and Brazil’s Ronaldinho were the spearheads when Arsenal were beaten 2-1 in Paris in 2006but were any of these forward lines (almost too simple a term for what they offer) as good as Messi, Suarez and Neymar? It is a debate that will be had in the tapas bars on La Rambla but one that will be conducted in an atmosphere of awe. Barcelona’s array of greats over the years means each team will have its merits but it is unlikely the club has ever gathered three world-class players who can strike fear into defences in quite
PIQUE JUST BEING PIQUE: Barcelona’s Gerard Piqué takes a special memento from the Champions League final.
the manner of the current trio. Not many clubs have. Throw in permanent fixtures in the recent triumphs such as Iniesta, Pique, Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano who still remain, and this current vintage looks as complete as any that has ever represented Barcelona. “Trident” too much for The Old
Lady Messi, Suarez and Neymar have been labelled the “Trident” as they scored 122 goals between them this season. Ivan Rakitic’s opening goal involved nine outfield players but was the first Barcelona effort in open play not to have been a Messi, Suarez, Neymar goal or assist since 28 February. And when Juventus briefly threatened to stun
Berlin’s Olympic Stadium after Alvaro Morata’s equaliser, the heavy weaponry did the job for Barcelona. Nominally Suarez plays through the centre with Messi right and Neymar left, but this is the most fluid attacking format in world football and ultimately, no matter how hard Juventus fought, the trio had too much.
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SPORT MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015
CLAY ACE: The French Open Champion 2015, Wawrinka with the trophy. He dedicated his victory to his coach, Magnus Norman.
Wawrinka stuns Djokovic, Serena wins 20th grand slam Stanislas Wawrinka stunned Novak Djokovic to win his first French Open title and thwart the world number one’s career Grand Slam hopes. The Swiss eighth seed played magnificently in a 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory at Roland Garros. Wawrinka, 30, brought an end to Djokovic’s 28-match winning streak as he claimed his second Grand Slam
title. Djokovic had been hoping to become the eighth man to complete the set of all four major titles. But the Serb will have to wait at least another 12 months before attempting to match the full set of major titles collected by Andre Agassi, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Roger Federer, Rod Laver, Rafael Nadal and Fred Perry. Wawrinka’s victory makes him only
Angry Farah demands answers over Salazar’s doping allegations An “emotionally and physically drained” Mo Farah has withdrawn from Sunday’s Diamond League meeting in Birmingham. The double Olympic champion wants “to go back to the US and seek answers” after a “stressful week” that saw a BBC investigation allege his coach Alberto Salazar had been involved in doping. There is no suggestion Farah has done anything wrong but he is “angry” at his name being “dragged through the mud”. Salazar strenuously denies the claims made
by the BBC’s Panorama programme. And on Sunday Farah, who had been scheduled to run in the 1500m in Birmingham, added: “This week has been very stressful and taken a lot out of me. I want to run well in the World Championships in Beijing (22-30 August) and have decided it is better for me to go back to the US, seek answers to my questions and get back into training. “I apologise to the people who bought tickets to come and watch me race and ask for your understanding at this time.”
the second Swiss to win at Roland Garros after Roger Federer, the man he beat in the quarter-finals. Having lost the first set of the final following a poor service game at 3-3, Wawrinka came storming back with a barrage of winners that left Djokovic looking lost for a response. Four break points came and went in the second set before the fifth arrived in the shape of a set point,
and Wawrinka finally converted to level the match. On Saturday Serena Williams feared she was too ill to play the night before her French Open final against Lucie Safarova. The American, 33, won 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 to claim her third French Open and 20th Grand Slam title. However, the sickness she had struggled with throughout the event
almost ended her hopes on the eve of the final. “It’s been a nightmare 48 hours,” said the world number one. “I kind of was in the locker room just laying down after my semi-final.” “I barely made it home. Took a hot shower. I went to bed, and then I didn’t leave bed until like 4pm or 5pm yesterday.
Kimaiyo wins Wanyoike run
Nancy Kimaiyo competes in the eight kilometres senior women’s race during the Kenya Prisons Inter-regional cross-country championship at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on January 24, 2015.
The Kenya Prisons 10,000m and 3,000m steeplechase champion Nancy Kimaiyo won the ninth edition of the Safaricom Henry Wanyoike Foundation organised “Hope for the Future Run” 7.5km road race in Kikuyu Township, Kiambu countyat the weekend. Kimaiyo who is the women’s Rwanda International Marathon bronze medalist breasted the tape in 26:55.01 to bag Sh20,000 winner’s purse. Pauline Wangui took second place with a time of 26:55 minutes as Pauline Eapan completed the last podium finish by recording 27:24.00 to each pocket Sh15,000 and Sh10,000 prize money for the second and third place finishers respectively. The Eldora based Kimaiyo said she is now focusing on retaining her national titles at the forthcoming Kenya Prisons championships before
proceeding to China for a marathon event next month. George Waiyaki won the senior male category in 23:03.11, while the Simon Kinuthia (23:16.01) and Nahashon Ndegwa (23:26.33) were placed second and third place respectively. Telecomunications company Safaricom under the Safaricom Athletics Series banner sponsored the event to a tune of Sh1.5 million which attracted more than 10,000 participants in the seniors 7.5km’ both men and women, Veterans 3km , juniors 7.5km, Physically challenged (Wheelchairs) 7.5km and children 2km. The primary objective of the run is to fund raise for Henry Wanyoike Foundation projects, which bring together the community and to integrate, promote sports and healthy living.
Hamilton holds off Rosberg to claim Canadian Grand Prix pole
Lewis Hamilton took a controlled victory in the Canadian Grand Prix, fending off team-mate Nico Rosberg. The Mercedes drivers circulated at the front throughout an unusually uneventful race as Williams’s Valtteri Bottas beat Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen to third. After Hamilton led comfortably through the first part of the race, Rosberg came at him after their sole pit stops, but the world champion was never under threat. Hamilton’s fourth win in seven races extends his drivers’ championships points advantage to 17. The win helps to make up for Hamilton’s
disappointment in the last race in Monaco, where he lost a dominant victory as a result of a strategic error by the team. Hamilton led into the first corner from pole position and built a foursecond lead before his pit stop and then controlled the gap at little over a second for the rest of the race as the drivers of the two silver cars managed fuel, brakes and tyres to the finish. Hamilton said: “I love Montreal. I love this track. I love this city. Really just a fantastic weekend, great to get back on the top step. “I didn’t feel I had the most comfortable
balance, I had a bit too much understeer. Nico was quick but I didn’t feel under too much pressure. I felt I could pull it out when I needed to. “Did I need this? I think so.” Rosberg said: “It was a challenging race because we had to manage fuel, brakes and all these things. It was a good race but I couldn’t quite make it happen. “I was pushing like mad to try to put the pressure on Lewis but he didn’t make any mistakes.” Behind them, Raikkonen was on course for a comfortable third place until a spin at the hairpin on lap 27, caused by the hybrid system kicking in unexpectedly.
TEAM MERCEDES: Lewis Hamilton won his sixth pole of the seaon at the Canadian Grand Prix to continue his single-lap dominance over Nico Rosberg.
Cheruiyot stars in Police trials Vivian Cheruiyot added the much needed star dust on a rain-soaked finale of the 2015 National Police Service Track and Field Championships on Saturday in Nairobi by stepping down the distance and snatching the women 1500m honours. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ unlocked her revered afterburners 60m to the finish to burst past former World Junior champion, Irene Jelagat who towed the field through the laps to stop the clock in 4:14.7 for victory. Cheruiyot who is bidding to reclaim the 5000m world title she won in 2009 and 11 at the Beijing edition in the summer was using the 1500m to build up speed as she continues her comeback from maternal duties where she was blessed with son Allan.
“Allan has made me more focused and I’m happy. I want to do well for him. Today was all about getting speed as I work to slowly get back to the shape I was then (2011). I’m pleased with my progress so far. “Running 14:46.69 in my first race back on the international circuit in Eugene was a great. I’ll run in Rabat and Paris before the Trials to get in better shape since I’m only focusing on 5000m for the World Championships,” Cheruiyot who finished third in the IAAF Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon behind Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba and compatriot Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon asserted. “Next year is the big one (Rio Olympics) and having returned from maternity, I cannot build the strength needed to
double this season. The Olympics gold is the only medal I don’t have and that is my aim,” she explained. “I’m confident the disciplined forces will once again fly the Kenyan flag high at the World Championships,” Interior Security Cabinet Secretary and keen sports enthusiast, Major General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaiserry who was the chief guest added. Jelagat, the 2011 All Africa Games champion who is also eyeing a slot in the women 1500m squad for Beijing clinched silver in 4:15.0 with Betty Njeri (4:19.1) leading the challengers home for bronze as intermittent heavy showers wreaked havoc on the final day at Nairobi’s Safaricom Stadium.
@SportPesa