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PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023
NO. Friday July 28, 2023 www.pd.co.ke // www.epaper.pd.co.ke 07864 NewsBeat>>Pg 6 PG 3 How county billions will be shared Kenya’s Newspaper NO1. FREE Split in ODM over plot to kick out Raila man I drove Obado’s lover to her death, driver tells court Hackers bring key services to a halt Suspected killers told taxi man that they had dropped Sharon at her rural home NewsBeat>>Pg 2 Massive raid: Pro-Russian attackers disrupt critical activities at Safaricom, top banks, immigration, railway, power firm and block access to government websites, affecting operations PG 4
2 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 Windfall as counties set to receive Sh32.8b monthly by Rawlings Otieno @PeopleDailyKe The 47 county governments will receive up to Sh32.8 billion every month from the national government to fund their operations. A disbursement schedule agreed upon by the National Treasury and the Senate Finance and Budget Committee and released yesterday commits the national government to release the billions to the county governments on the fifteenth day of every month starting this month. According to the schedule, the 47 county governments will be receiving Sh32.8 billion in one month and Sh30.8 billion the following month for the next one year. “The disbursement schedule indicates the total allocation to each individual county government and this conforms to the allocations provided in the County Allocation of Revenue Act, 2023. The total allocation to the counties is Sh385.425 billion which is similar to the county equitable share allocation contained in the Division of Revenue Act, 2023,” reads part of the committee’s report. Disbursement schedule This even as President William Ruto announced that the 47 county governments of Sh32 billion shareable revenue for counties for the month of July 2023, was to be disbursed to counties yesterday. In the disbursement schedule seen by People Daily, Nairobi County will receive Sh1.7 billion, followed by Nakuru Sh1.15 billion, Turkana Sh1.11 billion, Kakamega Sh1.09 billion, Kiambu Sh1.03 billion and Kilifi Sh1.02 billion respectively for the month of July. Mandera will get Sh988 million, Bungoma Sh944 million, Kitui Sh920 million, Meru Sh840 million, Wajir Sh837 million, while Machakos will receive Sh811 million as allocation for the month of July. Under the planned disbursement schedule, Kisii will get Sh786 million, Narok will get Sh781 million, Kwale Sh729 million, Makueni will get Sh718 million, Uasin Gishu Sh716 million, Kisumu Sh710 million, Migori Sh709 million, Kajiado Sh705 million and Garissa Sh701 million respectively. In the month of July Homa Bay County will receive Sh690 million, Mombasa Sh668 million, Marsabit Sh642 million, Trans Nzoia Sh637 million Busia Sh635 million, Muranga Sh635 million, Nandi Sh620 million while Siaya will get Sh617 million allocation. Bomet will get Sh593 million, Tana River Sh577 million, Baringo Sh565 million, West Pokot Sh558 million, Nyeri Sh551 million, Nyandarua Sh502 million, Samburu A disbursement schedule indicates the funds will be released each month to cater for their operations Sh475 million, Kirinyaga Sh460 million and Nyamira Sh453 million. The least counties include Lamu Sh275 million, Tharaka Nithi Sh372 million, Elgeyo Marakwet Sh408 million, Isiolo Sh415 million, Vihiga Sh447 million, Taita Taveta Sh428 million, Embu Sh454 million and Laikipia Sh455 million. The schedule indicates the amount which each county is expected to receive on the fifteenth of every month in the course of the financial year. Over this period, which runs from the July 15, 2023 to June 15, 2024, the monthly disbursement will be at an average of eight per cent on average of the total allocation. In the first quarter of financial year 2023/24, county governments will receive Sh96.4 billion, second quarter Sh94.3 billion, third quarter Sh96.4 and fourth quarter Sh98.3 billion. Benefitting cumulatively “The general observation is that the disbursement of the equitable share will follow a specific pattern, with counties benefiting cumulatively based on their individual approved allocation,” reads part of the committee report. County governments have always accused the national government of delaying the disbursements by, at times several months hence paralysing service delivery to the citizenry. According to the committee, the National Treasury should adhere to the cash disbursement schedules and make timely transfers to county governments for effective service delivery. “The transfers have fallen behind the schedules on many occasions in previous financial years jeopardising operations in County governments,” reads part of the report. Article 219 of the Constitution, states that a county’s share of revenue raised by the national government shall be transferred to the county without undue delay and without deduction; the challenge has been the adherence to the cash disbursement schedules. The committee in its report, stated that there is a disconnect between the legal timelines for approval of cash disbursement schedules and the approval of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill. County allocation The committee argued that this is because the County Allocation of Revenue Act informs the preparation of the cash disbursement schedule, and if the approval of CARB delays, the cash disbursement schedule cannot be prepared, submitted, approved and published in the gazette by May 30, in every year as required in section 17(7) of the PFM Act, 2012. The amount is in an alternating basis where counties will receive Sh30.8 billion in one month and Sh32.8 billion in the following month. The National Treasury has indicated that the cash disbursement schedule is pegged on performance of revenue raised at the National Government level. “There is a need to amend the PFM Act, 2012 to align timelines for preparation and approval of cash disbursement schedules to the timelines provided for approval of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill. The Committee charged that there is a need to amend the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, to align timelines for preparation and approval of Cash disbursement schedules to the timelines provided for approval of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill. National Treasury mostly fails to adhere to the approved Cash Disbursement Schedule and the actual disbursements to counties are not timely as required by the law. Nairobi county Assembly during a past session . PD/ DAVID NDOLO by Irene Githinji @gitshee Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi (pictured) has directed government agencies to strictly implement their Strategic Plans saying they are not just ‘ornamental’ documents. According to Mudavadi, the plan is not only a result-based management tool but also an instrument with which the public service uses to account its existence. Mudavadi warned that gone are the days when the only delivery accounting tool was to report to work and leave at their own pleasure, adding that there are no longer shortcuts to efficient and effective public service delivery that Government is committed to. Performance contracts “Today, as long as you remain in the public service, make strategic plans, service delivery standards, citizen service delivery charters, annual work plans, performance contracts and staff performance appraisal, part of your second nature,” he said. He made the remarks yesterday when he launched the Ministry of Environment and Forestry 2023-2027 Strategic Plan in Nairobi. As far as performance management, which falls under his office is concerned, Mudavadi said he ‘does not intend to take prisoners on this’. He warned that organisations will be judged on their suitability to remain relevant by cascading the Plans to their signed performance contract, annual work plans and to whether or not they attained individual targets set out. At the same time, he directed the Ministry to intensify protection and rehabilitation of the country’s water towers. Mudavadi urges counties to implement strategic plans REPORT The disbursement schedule indicates the total allocation to each individual county government BOMA Page 22 Why Kisumu’s Dunga area is experiencing rapid growth NEWS BEAT Page 8 CS explains how Sh620m projects money was used POINTERS WEATHER TODAY Nairobi 22° Mombasa 27° Kisumu 27° Nyeri 19° Kitui 25° Wajir 33°
by Reuben Mwambingu @PeopleDailyKe President William Ruto once again came to the defence of police officers against claims of extra-judicial killing and use of brutal force during the anti-government protests. The president who spoke in Lamu county at the start of his five-day working tour of Coast region instead said marauding thugs armed with crude weapons are to blame for promoting anarchy in the country by attacking the officers in the line of duty and engaging in wanton destruction of property. “When you attack our policemen and security agencies, you are attacking the Republic of Kenya, you are attacking the constitution and the rule of law and you are promoting anarchy and destruction… That is a no go zone. That is unacceptable,” President Ruto said in the Mokowe area during the official opening of the County Commissioner’s office. He dismissed the ongoing talks over police brutality as mere incitement saying a number of police officers are currently nursing injuries sustained during the chaos adding the status quo is not negotiable. The tough talking Head of State warned organizers of the weekly antigovernment demonstrations to “stop spoiling the country’s image.” “As a nation we must agree on one thing. Whatever it is, whatever the politics, whatever the sides, we must agree that there will be no violence, no destruction of public or private property in the equation of politics of Kenya. That we must agree. Whoever you are whatever your issues are, wherever you come from, whatever you are going, we must agree as a nation that in our political equation, there will be no violence, there will be no destruction of property, there will be no loss of life and our security agencies must discharge their mandate firmly, properly to make sure that they protect life and property. Public and private business of all the people of Kenya. That we must agree,” President Ruto noted. by Bernice Mbugua @PeopleDailyKe A taxi driver yesterday narrated to the court how he unknowingly drove the late Rongo University student Sharon Otieno and her suspected killers to the scene where she was murdered. Jackson Otieno who used to drive a car belonging to Olivia, the wife of Casper Obiero, a clerk at Migori County and one of the accused persons in the murder of Sharon and her unborn child, narrated to the court the events on the fateful day. Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his personal assistant Michael Oyamo are charged alongside Obiero with the murder. Otieno told the court that on September 3, 2018, he woke up in the morning and took Olivia’s car to the carwash and later for evaluation. “I had been told that the car had to be evaluated and that I should take it to the insurance company ... .The car was evaluated although I did not have a log book, so I went for it at Olivia’s house,” he told the court. Cars parked outside He found two cars parked outside Olivia’s gate, one, a Toyota Allion which belonged to Oyamo while the second belonged to one Dickens, who they referred to as Dicky. “At Olivia’s house I knocked and the door was opened by a lady called Chana. In the compound I saw three people; Casper Obiero, Oyamo and Dicky…I had gone there to pick the logbook…so I just greeted them and entered the house,” he told the court. Once he got into the house, he told Olivia that he needed the logbook and receipts which she gave to him and escorted him outside. “She advised me not to tell anyone what I had seen in the compound, I do not know why she told me that but there was a time during campaign time, people would flock to the house to be given money by Casper,” he told the court. Otieno told the court that at around 5:45 pm, he received a phone call from one Elvis who is a police officer based in Migori county to go to Uriri at 6 pm to pick Oyamo. He arrived at Uriri and picked Oyamo who told him to take him to Rongo. “We went to Graca Hotel… Oyamo alighted and went to the hotel…after ten to twenty minutes he came back with two other people that I did not Know…One was a lady and the other a man…The lady was heavily pregnant. They both got into the car at the back,” he told the court. Behind petrol station The taxi driver told the court that Oyamo did not get in the car, and so he carried Sharon, Barrack Oduor and another man who told him to go behind a petrol station where two other men boarded. He told the court that one man who was seated behind him told him to take the road, which headed to Kisumu. ‘While we were driving towards Kisumu ... .There was a discussion taking place… Somebody asked, ‘how do you know this person?’ The lady responded saying he was just a friend,” Otieno told the court. The taxi driver further claimed since the conversation did not concern him, he adjusted the car volume and did not hear the other part of their conversation. The court heard that at Olare Centre, the taxi driver suddenly felt a gush of wind inside the vehicle as if a door had been opened. “I was directed to divert and use a rough road, I adjusted the volume of the radio and therefore did not hear what they were speaking in low voices,” he told the court. The taxi driver further claimed that he was again given another direction to head towards Oyugis town but they stopped at some point and he was told to switch off the car lights and engine. The men alighted from the vehicle with Sharon and told him they would be back. After 10 to 20 minutes, he heard someI drove Sharon to her death, says taxi man SHARON CASE CONTINUES The prosecution witness in the murder case facing former Migori Governor Zachary Okoth Obado has confirmed that he received a call from a police officer to go and meet Michael Oyamo on the fateful day. The taxi driver Jackson Otieno told the trial judge Cicilia Gitua that he proceeded to meet Oyamo on September 3 2018 at Uriri. He testified that he met Oyamo at 6pm and proceeded to Rongo and later drove to the nearby Hotel trading as Gracia Hotel. Taxi driver gives chilling account of events before Rongo University student met her death Ruto defends officers over brutality claims one knocking on his door asking him whether he was asleep. He opened the door and three gentlemen got into the car. When he asked them where Sharon was, they said they had left her at her home and asked him to take them back to Migori town. Ordered to stop He recounted that they arrived in the nearby bushes where he was ordered to stop and the three men and the lady alighted. The witness says he waited for a period of 10-20 minutes when one of the three men knocked his car and asked whether he had slept. He opened, and the three men entered without Sharon and another man. He enquired about the whereabouts of the lady and one of them told him that they had dropped her at her home. The three men asked him to drop them at Migori, the trio however alighted at a stage in Uriri and he chose to drive home since it was late around midnight. He came to learn later from police investigator that the lady he had drove to forest in the company of three men was slain Sharon Otieno. Obado is charged alongside his personal assistants Caspa Obiero and Michael Oyamo. Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado (right) with co- accused Michael Oyamo at Milimani law courts during the hearing of a case where they are charged with the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno in 2018. PD/CHARLES MATHAI by George Kebaso @PeopleDailyKe Four out 10 children are being diagnosed for Tuberculosis, and only half of those identified as sick from the condition, are initiated into treatments, it has emerged. In the same breath, only 40 percent, about 7.4 million are put on preventive therapies to protect them from being infected by TB. The trend has led to children health experts concluding that minors have been left behind in the TB prevention and elimination goals, not in Kenya alone, but across the African continent. Dr Eliud Mwangi, the country director, Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) Kenya, there is low uptake of new technologies to diagnose paediatric Tuberculosis. “We end up losing many children who otherwise would have been diagnosed and treated, since once one is diagnosed treatment can be initiated,” he said yesterday at the Global TB caucus forum in Nairobi ahead of the September 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB in New York. He attributed this to the low uptake of new technologies in most parts of the country to diagnose paediatric TB with the traditional methods of paediatric diagnosis proving unreliable. This is also because it is hard to get sputum samples from them. Approximately 96 percent of paediatrics who die of TB do not have access to diagnosis therefore hindering treatment initiations despite the fact that TB is treatable. Mwangi pointed out that there has been a roll out and adoption of new treatment regimens for TB and timely adoption of World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on prevention, treatment and diagnostics in Kenya. “However, the only area that requires a lot of effort is paediatric TB because globally it is estimated that about 1.2million children had TB in 2021 and only 44 percent were diagnosed, meaning we are only diagnosing 4 out of 10 children with TB,” he said. The MPs who come from across the continent, health, policy and other experts are expected to come up with a Nairobi position on the disease this afternoon. Four out of 10 children have TB, only two get treated Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY NEWS BEAT 3 President William Ruto ploughs land at Wembe in Tana River county during the commissioning of rehabilitation of Tana Delta Irrigation Project. He also issued cheques to the fishing community in the area. REBECCA NDUKU/PCS
4 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 Services crisis as hackers target State, private firms nological solutions. The government had in the past formed a multifaceted team responsible for proactively monitoring global security trends to further bolster the country’s cyber defense capabilities. The team would learn from international best practices in cyber threat mitigation and develop appropriate risk mitigation measures to ensure the resilience of the nation’s digital infrastructure. Another senior government official said they had managed to subdue the attack and only a few institutions were affected. Coincidentally, the hackers’ attacks follow a video of Sudanese general Yasir Al-Atta daring President William Ruto to war, claiming he has ties and is supporting Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Essential services On Monday, the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee recommended that all research and education institutions in Kenya be informed to implement necessary cybersecurity measures and share with the director of NC4 on any malicious traffic and incidents. In a letter dated July 24 and addressed to the Executive Director of Kenya Education Network Trust (KENET), the NC4 director Colonel Evans Ombati said they had established in the recent past there has been increased and abnormal global internet traffic targeted at several Critical Information Infrastructures (CIIs) in Kenya, aimed at disrupting essential services. “Telecommunications, banking and education sectors are the most targeted. These traffic constitute Distributed Denial of Service attacks,” Ombati said. The NC4 is tasked with evaluating the national cyberthreat landscape as part of its mandate under Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act with a view to establishing and mitigating cyberthreats facing CIIs within the Kenya’s cyberspace. According to cyber experts, DDoS attacks have become more powerful and sophisticated. Anonymous Sudan claims responsibility for cyber attacks which paralysed many operations ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo confirmed there had been a series of unsuccessful cyber attacks. PD/FILE Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Director Patrick Wanjuki. PD/FILE by Zadock Angira @PeopleDailyKe Several government and private sector operations and financial transactions were yesterday disrupted across the country in an unprecedented major cyber attack. One of the pro-Russian hacktivist groups, Anonymous Sudan, is believed to have staged a cyber-attack on Kenya’s eCitizen platform and other telecommunications and banking sectors, critically affecting operations. The attacks, commonly referred to as Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS), are a type of cyber-attack that aims to disrupt websites and other types of Internet properties to make them unavailable for legitimate users by overwhelming them with more traffic than they can handle. Besides the e-Citizen, other major services affected included Safaricom’s M-pesa transactions such as Lipa na M-pesa service, M-shwari, Bank to M-pesa service, bank operations, immigration services, Kenya Power and Lightening Company (KPLC) operations, Kenya Railways, various Nairobi county government operations and accessibility to various government websites. Kenyans could not access banks-to-Mpesa transactions as well as purchase power tokens from KPLC and online payment for parking services in Nairobi. Banks such as Cooperative, Access, Equity, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Standard and Chartered, NCBA and Family were not spared. Yesterday, the Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo confirmed there had been a series of unsuccessful cyber-attack attempts targeting both government and the private sectors. He, however, said though there was an attempt on the e-Citizen, it was not hacked. “The attack on e-Citizen platform entailed an unsuccessful attempt to overload the system through extraordinary requests, with the intention of clogging it, but our technical teams blocked the source IP address where the requests were emanating from. For clarity, both the privacy and security of data were not compromised,” he said. He added that as a result of the attack efforts, the system had been experiencing intermittent interruptions that were affecting the normal speed in accessing services on the platform. “These attempts have, however, been rebuffed by the security systems and applications in place. Shortly, we will revert to optimal utilisation levels,” he said. “The relevant Government of Kenya agencies are on high alert and have enhanced the security of the e-Citizen portal and all Government sites. All systems and portals under the control of the Government of Kenya are safe,” he added. The attack affected major government services. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example, has informed all diplomatic missions and international organizations that the attack had impacted processing of e-visa. “Travellers will be issued visa upon arrival at all entry points to Kenya. The Government also wishes to advise all airlines to on-board travellers destined to Kenya,” MFA said yesterday. Though the hackers said their attacks were not only DDoS but had also managed to get access to all the backend that belong to Kenyan websites, CS Owalo however assured Kenyans no data was accessed by the hackers or lost. “They tried jamming the system by making more than ordinary requests into the system. It started by slowing down the system and we addressed it,” he said. Anonymous Sudan has claimed responsibility, warning that most Kenyan websites will encounter problems. “Most Kenyan websites will encounter problems. We cannot reveal details of the attack, but we’re certain this attack has harmed their infrastructure a lot and they know this very well,” Anonymous Sudan tweeted. They went further to list the eCitizen, Safaricom and Kenya Commercial Bank and some of the institutions whose websites had been targeted. Downtime A source from KCB said they were also experiencing connectivity issues affecting Microsoft applications, Electronic Queue Management System, Customer Relationship Management, Dynatrace, M-Pesa API channels, Solarwinds, Subreg, POS, USSD bank transactions, VPN, Mysafaricom and M-Pesa app. Among the institutions and services affected included the Kenya Power tokens purchase, some Safaricom apps including M-Pesa services, the Kenya Commercial Bank, and Kenya Power among others. “We are experiencing a system hitch due to a network breakdown from our service provider. Consequently, some of our services such as the purchase of prepaid tokens through M-Pesa and USSD Code *977# are unavailable,” Kenya Power said. It, however, said customers could purchase tokens from their banking halls, Airtel Money, and authorised banks. The Diamond Trust Bank also yesterday informed its customers that they were experiencing system downtime affecting there M-Pesa transactions. “We are experiencing a system hitch affecting purchase of tickets by customers. This is due to an outage on our service provider’s network,” Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Maingi said in a statement. Kimisitu Sacco, on its part said the intermittent services due to a downtime had affected their USSD, bulk sms and M-Pesa services. “This has affected out mobile banking services,” the sacco had stated. According to Owalo, such incidents call for the need for continued digitization of services, and should not hinder the country’s progress in adopting advanced tech- by Mathew Ndung’u @PeopleDailyKe A government watchdog has unearthed dubious manoeuvres used by corrupt procurement and accounting officers to irregularly award tenders. Following numerous complaints about rampant corruption and bribery in the public procurement systems, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has now warned accounting officers in State departments against unfair, noncompetitive award of tenders. To facilitate corrupt dealings, procuring entities are reportedly using complex and unstable E-Systems for bidding among other mandatory tendering requirements that give undue advantage to large firms. Procuring entities have also been accused of demanding submission of inessential documents from bidders such as business permits, audited accounts and professional indemnity covers contrary to the law. In a circular sent to Principal Secretaries, National Assembly, the Senate, County Assembly Clerks, Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Regional Coordinators, County Commissioners, heads of constitutional commissions, vice chancellors of public universities among other accounting officers, PPRA further raised concerns over arbitrary failure by procuring entities to reserve tenders for provision of professional services to special category groups such as the youth, women and people living with disability. The circular sent by PPRA Director General Patrick Wanjuki and which is dated July 25, expresses concern over thriving corruption in the decisionmaking process in award of public tenders, confidentiality of vital procurement data and access to public tender opportunities. Wanjuki demands that accounting officers must promote fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and costeffective procurement processes. “Procuring entities must ensure that the tendering requirements including eligibility criteria and mandatory requirements for potential bidders promote fair and open competition among those who may wish to participate in the procurement proceedings. It is an offence under the Act to breach the rules on specific procurement requirements or prepare skewed or tailored technical specifications, as provided under Section 60 of the Act,” said Wanjuki. State officers warned against irregular award of tenders TARGETS In Africa, the Telecommunications industry is the most attacked for the second consecutive quarter. The Banking, Financial Services and Insurance industry follows as the second most attacked. The majority of the attack traffic originated from Asia (35 per cent) and Europe (25 per cent). The second quarter of this year 2023 was characterized by thought-out, tailored and persistent waves of DDoS attack campaigns on various fronts.
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY NEWS BEAT 5 ODPP documents 53 exam irregularity, malpractice cases over last four years by Irene Githinji @PeopleDailyKe The Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has documented at least 53 cases of examination irregularities and malpractices in the last four years. According to the ODPP, the cases are in various stages, with some being active in court, some awaiting either judgment, review of evidence or hearing while a few have been withdrawn. The cases range from committing malpractices to unauthorised possession of exam material to impersonation. This was contained in ODPP response to inquiry on alleged cheating and malpractices presented yesterday to the National Assembly committee on education. “The ODPP has annexed a list of 53 cases. The decision to charge is one of the most important decisions that a prosecutor makes. In making the decision to charge, the prosecutor enjoys broad discretion, weighing various factors including contextual, situational, statistical factor as well as statistical analysis and the applicability of alternative prosecutions,” said Public Prosecutions Secretary, Dorcas Oduor in a document presented to the committee yesterday. She explained that the standard in making a decision to charge is whether there is a reasonable prospect of conviction. She however said cases relating to cheating and exam malpractice, most perpetrators are minors. In dealing with children in conflict and contact with the law, she said the ODPP developed the prosecutors guide to children in the criminal justice system. “Each case is handled on its own merit. The ODPP prosecution policies advocate for diversion as the first port of call when dealing with child offenders. The diversion process is case specific and involves different players who have varying levels of influence on the matter.” by Nancy Gitonga @PeopleDailyKe The Sh1.2 billion School Feeding Progamme dubbed ‘Dishi na County’ in Nairobi primary schools will proceed without any hitch after the High Court yesterday declined to suspend the project. Justice Mugure Thande of Milimani Constitutional and Human Right declined a plea by Tunza Mtoto Coalition Executive Director Janet Muthoni Ouko to temporarily suspend the programme recently launched by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja saying the interest of the children benefitting from the same is of paramount importance. “I decline to grant any conservatory orders at this stage. To suspend the programme will be against the best interest of children who are targeted to benefit from this programme,” Justice Thande said. She however ordered the lawsuit be heard on August 4, after all parties have filed their pleadings. Feeding programme The directions were issued after the lobby group had early this month gone to court seeking to suspend Nairobi County’s Sh1.2 billion primary school feeding programme, a move that could have denied over 250,000 learners the opportunity to enjoy a meal a day while in school. Muthoni, whose lobby represents privately owned informal schools, had asked the judge to suspend the feeding programme pending determination of her lawsuit on grounds that Governor Sakaja’s is planning to spend money on a function that is not devolved. “The governor erred in launching the school feeding programme. That is not a mandate of the counties rather it is the national government’s role l urge the court to temporarily suspend until the case is heard and determined,” Muthoni urged the judge. The petitioner had also requested the court to also issue conservatory orders staying, halting and suspending the release and the utilisation of the funds allocated to the school feeding programme known as “Dishi na County” which is meant to benefit public primary schools. She also sought another order against Nairobi county government from releasing any money towards the program, a request that was also declined. Suspend cash release Further, the lobby group director wanted the court to suspend the release of Sh500 million allocated in the 2023/2024 Financial Year to go towards inclusivity, public participation and engagement in relation to the school feeding programme. In court fillings, the lobby group argues the planned feeding programme is expected to cost taxpayers billion of shillings. The petitioner also faults Sakaja and the Nairobi City County for arbitrarily and unlawfully launching the school feeding program SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME Justice Mugure Thande of Milimani Constitutional and Human Right declined a plea by Tunza Mtoto Coalition Executive Director Janet Muthoni Ouko The signing was between the governor and Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and was witnessed by Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u Court declines to halt school feeding plan Justice Mugure Thande of Milimani Constitutional and Human Right declined a plea by Tunza Mtoto Coalition Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and his lawyer Dancan Okatch at Milimani Law Courts yesterday during the hearing of an application which had been filed seeking to stop the school feeding programme. PD/ CHARLES MATHAI without public participation. “No legal notice was ever published authorizing the transfer and delegation of powers, functions and competencies of the national government function in respect to primary schools to the County Government,” the petitioner says. According to Muthoni, the school feeding programme will also entrench inequality as it only targets a section of learners in public primary schools while entirely neglecting those in non- formal schools However, last week Governor Sakaja signed an Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement with the National government on the implementation of school meal plan in Nairobi. The Sh1.7 billion agreement sets forth the terms of understanding between the parties in the implementation of the school meals programme in public primary schools in Nairobi. The signing was between the governor and Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and was witnessed by Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u .The agreement took effect as of July 17, for three years. According to Sakaja, it will cost Sh5 for school children in public schools and ECDEs within Nairobi to get free meals in the next financial year 2023-24. Already, the ground-breaking of the construction of central kitchens took place in 10 sub counties last month. The construction is expected to take about 10 weeks with the first meal set to be served on the first day of the third term of this school year. The sub counties include Dagoretti North, Embakasi Central, Embakasi South, Kasarani, Kibra, Makadara, Starehe, Roysamu, Ruaraka, and Westlands sub counties. According to Governor Sakaja, the project is part of a vision he had for years, to ensure the provision of a daily nutritionally balanced hot meal for all children in public primary schools and public Early Childhood Development centres. Judge throws out petition opposing Haji nomination The High Court yesterday threw out a petition challenging the nomination of Noordin Haji as the National Intelligence Services (NIS) Director General by President William Ruto. In a ruling delivered by Judge Heston Nyaga dismissed the case lodged by a Nakuru-based lawyer Khatherine Cherotich for lack of merit. While dismissing the case, the judge noted that the lawyer failed to adduce evidence that there was any petition to remove Haji from office when he was Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) or orders seeking to declare him unsuitable to hold the office. “I find that in the absence of any finding to the contrary, Haji had to be presumed to be qualified and competent to continue holding that office,” the judge stated. Justice Nyaga also noted that all constitutional, public and state officers are subject to the same standards under the constitution. - Nancy Gitonga briefly
6 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 pointment was made by the NPSC and not the President “who merely declared publicly the appointment of Lemedeket owing to the novelty and public interest nature of the position.” The AG had pointed out that the decision was made in pursuit of financial autonomy as recommended in numerous public reports including the Ramsey Report and the Waki Report and ensuring financial independence of the NPS. The court determined that the NPSC did not have the necessary constitutional and statutory power to make an appointment to the office of Principal Administrative Secretary / Accounting Officer of the NPS. President Ruto had appointed Lemedeket to the position in November, months after signing an executive order granting NPS autonomy by transferring their budget from the Office of the President. President Ruto had promised in his inaugural speech that he would designate the Inspector General of Police as the accounting officer in order to end its dependency from his office. This, the President had said, would give NPS the impetus to fight against corruption and put to an end the political weaponisation of the criminal justice system. “As required by Article 245 of the Constitution, the IG is mandated to exercise independent command over the NPS. The services operational autonomy however, has been undermined by the continued dependence on the office of the president. This situation is going to change,” the President had then stated. Before her appointment, Lemedeket served as a manager at the Kenya Pipeline Company Foundation and also doubled up as the TB/HIV Program Advisor at the University of Maryland Global Initiative Kenya. by Oliver Musembi @PeopleDailyKe In a historical move, the Judiciary has quashed President William Ruto’s creation of the position of Principal Administrative Secretary (PAS) and Accounting Officer of the National Police Service (NPS). Principal Judge Byram Ongaya ruled in favour of a Nakuru surgeon Dr Benjamin Magare who filed a petition seeking, among other things, nullification of the appointment of Bernice Salaal Lemedeket as PAS and accounting officer of NPS. Lemedeket hit the headlines recently when the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) accused her of allegedly interfering in its operations since her appointment. NPSC had particularly taken offense with Lemedeket for allegedly colluding with the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome in the promotion of 500 senior police officers, a decision that the Commission disputed. The Commission claimed it had been bypassed in the promotions by Koome and Lemedeket who usurped its powers. The Commission had consequently asked her to stop interfering with its operations and instead stick to her lane. In a landmark 52-page judgement for the petition filed against the Attorney general, the Public Service Commission and the National Assembly, the Judge nullified Lemedeket’s appointment as it lacks the requisite constitutional and statutory provisions. Judicial review “The court is pleased to issue an order of judicial review by way of certiorari quashing the respondent’s press release and/or Gazette Notice and or any document of the purported nominaPrincipal Judge Byram Ongaya during a past event. PD/FILE Blow to Ruto as court quashes National Police PAS position Justice Ongaya nullified the appointment of Bernice Lemedeket saying the post duplicates the role of a PS tion/appointment (of the appointee) or any other person appointed as principal administrative secretary without considering statutory or constitutional provisions,” ruled Justice Ongaya. The petitioner sought a declaration that the unprocedural establishment of the office/position of principal administrative secretary as accounting officer has no legal, statutory or constitutional underpinning and hence null and void. It also sought an order prohibiting the appointee from acting in any manner in the said position as per her appointment in Gazette Notice No. 14712 of NovemberDecember 2022. Duplication of roles “The role of a PAS is similar to that of Principal Secretary and therefore a duplication of roles, bloating an already bloated civil service and depleting the country’s scarce financial resources,” the Judge observed in its ruling. The petitioner had also prayed that in the interest of justice the appointment of the PAS be declared an illegality and a nullity since the same is aimed at rewarding a major ethnic community and that there is “no role of gender discrimination and political marginalisation in the 21st century.” The court dismissed the AG’s plea in a replying affidavit that the appointment of PAS was lawfully established and competitively filled by the National Police Service Commission (NPC). The Attorney General argued that the ap - by Anthony Mwangi @PeopleDailyKe Cracks have emerged in ODM over its leadership at the National Assembly with a section of MPs seeking to oust the minority leader Opiyo Wandayi (pictured). The MPs accuse the minority leader of acting as a lone ranger and not taking advice from his members. Wandayi and his predecessor John Mbadi recently had an altercation during a debate by a vernacular radio accusing each other of underperforming. Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi has kicked off the debate to dethrone the minority leader. Atandi has accused his leader in parliament of disregarding the input by his members thus putting the opposition party’s interests at risk. “It has become too difficult to sell our ideas in ODM because Hon Opiyo Wandayi seems to be Mr know it all, we can’t sit and watch one man destroying our party, if we cannot be heard our next action will be so loud,” Atandi said in a tweet. Atandi did not confirm nor deny the tweet which was posted by the local media house. Another senior member of the party confirmed having heard the oust reports. Not interested “I heard it from some members but I do not think they will succeed though,” said the ranking member. But yesterday ODM members in parliament appeared to downplay the oust move with Mbadi pleading with his colleagues to give him time to lead even if he has his own shortcomings. “I am not interested in the position even if it is available today,” Mbadi said. “My word of advice to my colleagues is just give the minority leader his time, he may be having his own weaknesses as I have highlighted in the past but let’s allow him to work,” Mbadi told the People Daily. During a recent interview with a local daily, Mbadi said the minority leadership in the National Assembly must do a little more. “That does not mean there are cracks. Sometimes I see a lot of confusion on the floor which I think our leadership must correct going forward,” Mbadi said. Anxiety in ODM as some legislators seek to oust minority leader COURT RULING Principal Judge Byram Ongaya nullified the appointment ofBernice Salaal Lemedeket as PAS and accounting officer of NPS. The court dismissed the AG’s plea in a replying affidavit that the appointment of PAS was lawfully established and competitively filled by the National Police Service Commission (NPC). by Kepher Otieno @PeopleDailyKe The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Diocese of Maseno South and the Prison authorities are locked in a land tussle after irate youth pulled down a fence erected by the prisoners in protest. The church leaders woke up to a rude shock on Thursday when they found portion of their land next to St Stephen’s Cathedral fenced. The prison authorities used prison wardens to go and fence part of the land, they claimed, belonged to them, a similar claim, advanced by the Prison Authorities. Yesterday, youth from the church and Kodiaga Maximum Prison officials nearly clashed at the site in Mlimani estate The church vowed to move to court to stop encroachment on the land, they claimed, they acquired in 1988 from the State. On Thursday morning, prison staff stormed the site again only to find the parcel fenced pulled down, and was confronted by the leadership of the church before they sped off. Addressing the press at the site, the Diocese Administrative Secretary Boniface Obondi said the land was transferred to the church by the government 40 years ago. It was acquired, during the reign of the late Bishop Henry Okulu. The land in question is where the prison was first established by the colonial administration before it was moved to the present site at Kodiaga in Kisumu West Sub-county. Obondi said the church had all the transaction documents noting that a re-establishment of the beacons some years back was done when the prison claimed the land. Church and prison clash over land in Kisumu
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY NEWS BEAT 7 by Wycliff Kipsang @cliffsang08 Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei yesterday renewed his war of words with Governor Stephen Sang (pictured) over the use of funds and management of the affairs in the county. Cherargei has this time written to the Governor demanding ‘the provision of the county state of finance and other development issues for Financial Years 2017/2018 and 2021/2022’. Financial transactions In his letter, Cherargei had requested the governor’s office to facilitate him have access to all the financial transactions and expenditure during the period, a fact which has not gone down well with Sang. “I appreciate your attempt at exercising your oversight role, an endeavour that calls for utmost good faith. Your letter essentially is asking us to facilitate you to undertake a mandate that has constitutionally been assigned to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG),” Sang said in his response to Cherargei. “The OAG, being an independent constitutional office, has been adequately resourced (with both human resource and finances) to carry out its mandate by our parliament where you are an honourable second term member,” Sang added in his hard-hitting response to his political nemesis Cherargei. The Governor who is serving his second term said the OAG carried out the function in the county for the period under reference and the reports ‘are not just public documents but also readily available to the senate, its committees and to individual senators, Cherargei included’. Senator Cherargei who has been embroiled in a battle supremacy with Governor Sang over the management of affairs in the county yesterday maintained that the devolved unit cannot account for millions of shillings allocated by the County Assembly and the national government. Suspected murderer detained by Sophie Njoka @PeopleDailyKe The main suspect in the murder of Kilifi county Chief Officer for Blue Economy Rahab Karisa told the court yesterday that she killed the deceased following a dispute over delayed pay. Diana Naliaka alias Sarah Nekesa Barasa told Kilifi Senior Principal Magistrate Justus Kituku that she did not intend to kill the mother of two, adding that they quarrelled after her salary was delayed. “I never wanted to kill her. We differed after I asked her about my salary which had not been paid. I had no motive of killing her,” said the suspect, who was unrepresented. But she was cut short by the magistrate, who told her that she was making the confession at the wrong time. “I only wanted to enquire from you if you are aware of the reasons why police are asking for more days to hold you,” posed the magistrate. The investigating officer in the case, Harrison Mayaka had sought the court’s permission to detain the suspect for fourteen days in order to complete investigations into the murder. In a sworn affidavit, Mayaka described the suspect as a dangerous individual and a flight risk, saying she had travelled for over 800 kilometres while evading a police dragnet until she was arrested in Bungoma county as she planned to sneak into neighbouring Uganda. “I pray to remand the suspect for 14 days at Kilifi police station or any other police station within Kilifi county to enable police complete investigations in line with the provisions of Article 49 (g) of the constitution,” he said. Record statements He added that the suspect was yet to record statements with The court cut the accused short after she confessed to arguing with the Kilifi county official before her death by Robert Ochoro @PeopleDailyKe Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kisii county have deplored the high rate of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the area, terming it alarming and unacceptable. Consequently, anti-FGM crusaders have warned perpetrators of the retrogressive cultural practice to stop it or are get arrested and face the law. Young Women Democrats Executive Director, Esnas Nyaramba accused medics in private clinics and community Health workers (CHWs) of perpetuating the vice for financial gain. “The prevalence rate for FGM in Kisii county is 84 percent. We want to reduce it to zero. Other communities have ended it,” Nyaramba said during a training for stakeholders at a Kisii hotel yesterday. Lawyer Divine Biyaki said a group of advocates have offered to offer free legal services for victims of FGM, saying they will not relent until the practice is eradicated. Harmful practices She said the constitution protects children against being subjected to harmful cultural practices and warned that those abetting the practice are violating the rights of the children and risk dire consequences. “People who abet FGM are liable to a fine of not less than Sh200,000 or two years imprisonment while those who engage in it can pay a fine of Sh1 million or be jailed for upto three years,” Biyaki said. David Oseko, a human rights activist said they will follow up cases of FGM to ensure that they are heard and concluded. Activists raise concern on high rate of FGM in Kisii Cherargei, Sang tussle over use of county funds Farmers to sell wheat locally before export Wheat farmers in the country have had a very good harvest, and the government is expecting slightly over 1.2 million bags from across the country. State Department for Crop Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said the the government had set the buying price for wheat so that one bag of grade-one wheat will go for Sh5,200 and one bag of grade-two wheat will go for Sh5,100. Speaking on Tuesday during the media launch of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT), the PS said that under a programme which was agreed upon between the Treasury, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Cereal Millers Association, and wheat farmers, is supposed to mop up the entire local production of wheat before they are allowed to import it. Local millers “Under this programme, the importation duty is reduced from 35 per cent to 10 per cent and the local millers have agreed that they will first buy the whole harvest locally, thus providing a good market for the farmers,” said Harsama. He explained that after the millers have mopped up the local wheat, they will be allowed to import another two million bags from other countries to satisfy our demand of about three million bags per year. “The developments between Russia and Ukraine where the exportation of wheat from Ukraine has been stopped are worrying because we used to get almost our entire wheat supply from Ukraine, and those who are importing the wheat have to ensure that they get a sustainable supply of wheat from alternative sources,” explained the PS. – KNA Diana Naliaka alias Nekesa Barasa (in yellow), the suspect in the killing of Kilifi Chief Officer Rahab Karisa, is escorted to Kilifi law courts Yesterday. PD/REUBEN MWABINGU police and they were apprehensive that if released on bail, she would interfere with witnesses. “Detectives are yet to grill the suspect following her arrival in the area where the crime is alleged to have occurred, we are also yet to record statements from key witnesses who were threatened by the suspect before she fled,” said the officer. Kituku allowed the application to have the suspect detained by police to allow police complete investigations. “The respondent will be detained for fourteen days, I’ve been informed of the reasons for her continued detention,” said the magistrate. In the affidavit, Mayaka detailed how the suspect, who was arrested as she tried to sneak into the neighbouring country to evade arrest acted as if everything was normal moments after murdering Karisa for fear of raising eyebrows among neighbours. He revealed that the suspect, for instance, removed the deceased’s two-year-old son from the bedroom where she had just murdered the chief officer and tied her on her back to stop him from crying after witnessing his mother’s killing. According to the affidavit, the suspect pretended that everything was fine by soothing the toddler to prevent him from crying which would have attracted the curiosity of neighbours. Witnessed murder “She carried the minor who at the time was in distress after witnessing the murder of his mother on her back to sooth him to sleep and stop his crying which would have attracted the attention of the neighbours, this act gave her an opportunity to flee the scene of crime,” Mayaka stated. Karisa was found murdered at her Kilifi home on July 17 a day after she returned to the country from a working trip in Italy. Her body was removed from the Pandya Memorial Hospital, Mombasa yesterday for a requiem mass at her parents’ home in Kaloleni, Kilifi county before being ferried to her matrimonial home in Nandi county for burial tomorrow. She leaves behind a widower and two children. The matter will be mentioned on August 17.
8 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 by Wycliff Kipsang @cliffsang08 The row surrounding the supply of water from Chebara Dam in Marakwet West constituency which has caused a rift between Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties has now found its way into the National Assembly. Chebara dam in Moiben-Kuserwo Ward, Marakwet West Sub-County in Elgeyo Marakwet has been supplying 36,000 cubic metres of water per day water for more than three decades to Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (Eldowas) and serves the residents of Eldoret town and its environs. Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome was on Wednesday hard-pressed to explain how Sh620.5 million allocated towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects for institutions which were relocated to pave way for the setting up of the dam was utilized. Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba wanted the government to indicate the amount of money the Ministry allocated Chebara Boys Secondary School, Chebara Girls Secondary School, AIC Chebara and Kaptomut Primary School for their relocation. “As we speak, many of the projects have stalled. We want the CS to shed light on how the money allocated to each institution was utilized and the pending bills accruing from the projects that the Ministry is undertaking in the above institutions,” said Kipchumba. According to Wahome, of the Sh620.5 million, Sh237.6 million was awarded to Chebara Boys Secondary School which was given to Kishan builders and others. Another Sh136.2 million was issued to Chebara Youth Polytechnic which was awarded to Rapola General Contractors Limited and others to undertake development projects at the institution. According to Wahome, Chebara Girls Secondary School was also awarded Sh126.2 million while Chebara Boys Chapel got Sh30.7 million. Others included: Chebara Primary School (Sh18.4 million) while Kaptomut Primary School was awarded Sh71 million. Wahome said a multi-agency team of members from the Ministry of Water, the Ministry of Education, county governments of Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet and North Rift Water Works Development Agency was recently dispatched to establish the expenditure of the CSR projects. She said in its recommendations, the multi-agency team proposed that the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development undertake a detailed appraisal to establish the quantities and scope of the pending works. Sacked casuals Wahome said the team also recommended that the Ministry of Education should compel Chebara Secondary School to provide original copies of all contracts, procurement records, financial records and project implementation documents. “The multi-agency team also recommended that relevant investigative agencies conduct forensic audit and investigation of the projects and take necessary action,” said the CS. People Daily, however, established that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had in the past carried out investigations into allegations of irregularities in the award of the tenders but the report is yet to be made public. The row between Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties escalated recently after Eldowas sacked casual workers and a director at the firm. Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome responds to questions at the National Assembly on Wednesday. PD/ KENNA CLAUDE CS explains how Sh620m projects money was used Chebara Dam has been at the centre of a row between Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties by PD Reporter @PeopleDailyKe The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investing circumstances under which four companies linked to a businessman have been awarded multimillion tenders in various counties and government agencies. Detectives from the Serious Crimes Unit of the DCI have been on the trail of business transactions of the firms as they try to establish whether tenders were awarded through influence, coercion and whether all the works were undertaken. The detectives are said to be interested to know why in some instances, some payments were made to the companies in full before the works were complete while, in others, before any works commenced. DCI boss Mohamed Amin confirmed that at least three government investigative agencies were on the trail of the companies. He, however, added that no specific crime had been established yet. “I can’t say that we are investigating the companies over any specific crime at the moment, but we are only trying to verify whether the tenders were awarded through regular procedures and payments made after completion of the works,” Amin said. Under investigation are Wakiwa Company Limited, Beam Ling International Enterprises Limited and Kitale Touch Lodge. Full amount According to documents seen by journalists, Beam Ling International Enterprises Limited was paid Sh35,924,504 through a bank account at Family Bank, Bungoma branch for tarmacking the Kibuku-KabawaChepkitale road in Kitale. Instead of tarmacking the full 21 kilometres as stipulated in the contract documents, the company only undertook 15 kilometres despite having been paid the full amount. “We want to find out why the company was paid the full amount despite having only done 15 kilometres of the road and left the other six kilometres. This is shortchanging the tax payer,” a senior detective at DCI said. Another company also associated with the businessman was also awarded a tender for the construction of accessible pit latrines at Rwambiti Primary School in Kirinyaga County under the Ministry of Education and paid Sh2,240,300,00. The money was wired through Bank of Africa at a Thika branch account. The detectives are also on the trail of Wakiwa Company Limited, that was paid Sh125,388,433 through Equity Bank account by the Nairobi County government. The money was paid on June 19, 2023 after Wakiwa company had been awarded a contract for open street sweeping, waste collection and disposal. Businessman’s firms on detectives radar over lucrative tender awards Suspect in youth killing case arrested by Winstone Chiseremi @PeopleDailyKe Police from Eldoret have raided a hideout in Nairobi and arrested a fourth suspect linked to last month’s brutal killing of a 20-year-old man. The suspect, Benjamin Njenga, an Eldoret town matatu operator, had fled to Nairobi after allegedly attacking and killing Ahmed Mohammed Ismael. “Our investigations led us to the arrest of the matatu driver linked to the murder of the former high school student,” said a senior Directorate of Criminal Investigations who sought anonymity. A police report indicates the suspect committed the offence jointly with three others on June 2, 2023 at West Indies in Turbo, Uasin Gishu county. Njenga was arraigned in an Eldoret court but did not take a plea after the police successfully applied to detain him for seven days to conclude investigations. The suspect, who is being held at Eldoret Central Police Station, will be taken back to court on August 15 for mention of his case. His three co-accused, among them a woman, pleaded not guilty to killing the man by hitting him with a blunt object. Juliet Ayieta, Paul Osinde and Gregory Mukhori appeared before Eldoret High Court judge Reuben Nyakundi. They are represented by lawyer Elijah Ayiego while the prosecution is led by Mark Mugun. The Judge ordered the prosecution to serve the accused persons with the relevant documents within 14 days pending the mention of their case om October 2. The suspects reportedly attacked the man in connection to the theft of a mobile phone belonging to a college student. According to the police report, the mob pursued and caught up with the man and stoned him to death at the gate of the hostel where the victim was living. Rotich has demanded the reinstatement of all staff who were fired after locals protested. According to Rotich, people living near the dam had protected water sources for many years and it was unfair for the water firm to dismiss staff from his county. “Residents of Chebara, especially those who live upstream have for many years had a persistent concern over access to water from the dam for their use. They have in fact scaled down their farming activities so as to protect the dam from erosion and encroachment which has reduced their earnings,” noted Rotich. According to the Governor, the dam which is almost three decades old, has been a shared resource and residents of Chebara deserve to be commended for their conservation efforts which has seen constant supply of water to Eldoret town and its environs. But Eldowas Managing Director Peter Biwott has defended the firm and accused local leaders of politicising the issue. “We have been working cordially with the local people and we have employed a lot of them from the ward and distributed water to the people,” said Biwott. Biwott has also defended the decision to fire senior directors, noting that it was in line with the Senate recommendations. “The Senate came up with the recommendations when we appeared before them. The report recommended removal of directors among other reforms to enhance efficiency of the firm,” said Biwott. ALLOCATION According to Wahome, of the Sh620.5 million, Sh237.6 million was awarded to Chebara Boys Secondary School which was given to Kishan builders and others. Another Sh136.2 million was issued to Chebara Youth Polytechnic which was awarded to Rapola General Contractors Limited and others to undertake development projects at the institution.
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY 9
10 PEOPLE SPEAK PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 Sports are important for building social cohesion. It is a moment when barriers come down, the spirit of the game takes over, and emotions soar. For a moment, people forget their challenges and focus on the collective delight of victory. Australia and New Zealand jointly host the women’s football World Cup, but we do not seem to have any idea in Kenya as the information on these games is largely missing from our media. The United States are the current World Champions. They are seeking to retain the trophy, which will be unprecedented. They face a strong challenge from Germany, Netherlands, England, and Canada. Should the United States retain the trophy, they will have won it three times in a row. That is an achievement. South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, and Morocco represent Africa in these games. But they started poorly. Zambia has conceded 10 goals and a red card after two games. Morocco conceded six goals against Germany, South Africa lost to Sweden and Nigeria after receiving a red card drew against Canada. Only South Africa has scored one goal. What a performance for the continent! Australia is a vast country with three time zones. Add on New Zealand and their location; the games occur in Kenya’s early hours of the day. To watch them live, one must wake up early or miss morning activities. One would need the motivation to do this. The women’s football team’s fate is tied to the overall fate of football in Kenya. The leadup to this world cup has been torturous for Kenya. The global football federation, FIFA, banned Kenya from participating in FIFA organised activities during the era of Amina Mohamed. The minister, fed up with the corruption and irregularities in football, disbanded the local federation in November 2021, drawing the ire of FIFA. FIFA banned Kenya from participating in its activities. Although FIFA lifted the suspension after the intervention by the Ababu Namwamba regime, the fate of football has not changed much. It is not just the women’s game; the national men’s team, Harambee Stars, has, time without number, run into headwinds. The clubs do not fare any better despite their best efforts. Recent reports that Gor Mahia could not play their home games in Kenya due to the lack of appropriate facilities are just one challenge.It is a shame that there are no stadia in the country of the standard on which competitive football can be played. Yet we have big names for stadiums: Nyayo National Stadium, Kasarani Sports Complex, City Stadium and even the Machakos one. Football, if well managed, offers many opportunities for young people. It is an income-generating activity. Think of the amount of money the French superstar Kylian M’Mbappe attracts. Despite our challenges, our young talents have been holding their own internationally. The spotlight is often on Victor Wanyama and Michael Olunga among others. But there is a host of women players out there. Doreen Wabwire, Cynthia Shilwatso, Ruth Ingotsi, Corazon Aquino, and Annedy Kundu are all playing their game abroad. Below them, there is still a full supply of talent from the local clubs. Vihiga Queens has particularly been a great nurturing ground for talent. But this is despite the challenges. Now imagine if these clubs were given the support they need to grow their talents! Yet sports and football are not an end in themselves. It is not just about employment for the young people; national economics, as the sale of players brings the club selling and the country a windfall of cash, but it is also about national pride. The joy of your national colours on display at the international level is soft capital for the country. Locally, it is a tool for managing your population. We pride ourselves in individual sports. Ferdinand Omanyala and Faith Kipyegon, not to mention Eliud Kipchoge keep taking the population’s mind from their worries to their momentary bliss. Now imagine the group sport that is football and its psychological potential of drawing the public’s attention, as football often does, into a moment of psychological frenzy. Kenyan football should rise. — The writer is Dean, School of Communication, Daystar University — MAHATMA GANDHI The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Namwamba, do fulfil stadia repair pledge When Kenya joined neighbouring countries Tanzania and Uganda in the joint bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, it was music to the ears of Kenyan football fans who have been craving to watch big-time action. But then, we must acknowledge the grim fact that this is a far-fetched dream as Kenya does not have a single stadium that meets international standards that can host such a high-profile competition. Many would be misled to believe that the 60,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani or the 35,000-capacity Nyayo National Stadium meets the threshold. Both facilities are bereft of the quality to even host local matches and many are the times when they have been blacklisted by Fifa to host international assignments involving Harambee Stars and local clubs. The same applies to Nairobi City Stadium, one of the country’s oldest facilities and which is the epicenter of some of Kenya’s finest footballers. It’s now three years since the stadium was deemed unfit to host competitive football matches and the facility is not only in a poor state but is also a health hazard as it is a breeding ground for rodents and other vermin.Kenya’s soft underbelly as regards its dilapidated stadia will certainly be exposed during an inspection by CAF officials who are in the country to check on the country’s preparedness for the biannual Africa event. Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba while on a tour of Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums on Wednesday promised that the prime facilities in the country will pass a clean bill by 2025, two years before the extravaganza, whether Kenya wins the bid or not. Granted, it’s a good show of commitment by Namwamba but let him understand that the country’s course towards the hosting rights will not be better when Nyayo, in particular, continues to be a setting of state functions that are not related to football activities. Many would be surprised that a stadium such as Nyayo which urgently needs repairs is being used to host the world under-20 rugby amidst reports that its set to be booked for a religious concert on August 1. Both Nyayo and Kasarani and indeed other stadiums that are earmarked for training by visiting teams in the 2027 AFCON need to be urgently closed for the necessary repairs. Invest in soccer to create opportunities for youth THOUGHT OF THE DAY LEVI OBONYO The joy of your national colours on display at the international level is soft capital for the country. QUOTEDTODAY I impress on you to hasten and intensify protection, reforestation and rehabilitation of Kenya’s water towers. Sometimes, we mistake tree cover where we have achieved 12.1 per cent to forest cover. PRIME CABINET SECRETARY MUSALIA MUDAVADI I decline to grant any conservatory orders at this stage. To suspend the programme at this stage will be against the best interest of the children who are targeted to benefit from the programme. JUSTICE MUGURE THANDE The consequences of climate change are clear and they are tragic.Children swept away by monsoon rains, families running from the flames. Workers collapsing in scorching heat. It’s a cruel summer. For the entire planet it is a disaster. UN BOSS ANTÓNIO GUTERRES EDITORIAL A PUBLICATION OF MEDIAMAX NETWORK LIMITED KEN NGARUIYA: Group Chief Executive Officer MBUGUA NG’ANG’A: Managing Editor People Daily is published by MEDIAMAX NETWORK LIMITED at DSM Place, Kijabe Street, P.O. Box 24943, 00100 - Nairobi Tel: 0730144100; 0709824000; 0204944100 E-mail: [email protected] © Copyright 2023
SEND YOUR OPED TO: [email protected] Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY PEOPLE SPEAK 11 Technological breakthroughs in recent years have significantly impacted our lives, with Artificial Intelligence playing a significant role. But as AI gets smarter and smarter how will it impact our faith? Recently, an AI chatbot led a church service attended by more than 300 people in a Lutheran Church in Germany. It represented ChatGPT as an avatar projected on a screen above the altar, delivering a 40-minute sermon about faith and death. The AI project has prompted concerns about the future of religion and human spirituality. This marked a new frontier in religious innovation. AI is built on algorithms intricate sets of rules that process data and make decisions much like our brains do. Machine learning, a subset of AI takes it a step further allowing machines to learn from data without explicit instructions. AI is everywhere, from banks, schools, governments and most businesses are using it. One might wonder if machines can learn, what’s stopping them from outsmarting us? The answer lies in understanding the distinction between narrow AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI) or what some inventors call ‘god-like AI’. Narrow AI excels at specific tasks. AGI on the other hand would possess human-like intelligence capable of understanding and performing any intellectual task we can. While AGI is still under evolution, its impact will be great in all areas including religion! While some religious groups are welcoming, others are skeptical. Today’s competition among tech companies to produce the finest AI is what makes it so terrifying. They may be motivated by greed and ambition to the point that they will deliberately or ignorantly dismiss the possible ethical dilemma of AI. Due to its complexity and quick evolution, AI may be challenging to control. It’s changing the face of religion. Whether we like it or not, technology is advancing quickly. Furthermore, the Church does not have the luxury of delaying participation. The Bible is accurate in its prediction, in Daniel 12:4 when it suggests knowledge would increase. According to statistics from industrytap. com, in 1982, Buckminster Fuller created the knowledge doubling curve. He noticed that in 1900, knowledge doubled every 100 years, then in 1945, knowledge doubled every 25 years, and today knowledge doubles every 12 hours! According to the history of humankind, we have been the most intellectual being on the planet for the past 6,000 years. Sadly, we are no longer the most intellectual species. Compared to humans, AI can think 100,000 times quicker! Amid this information explosion, are we creating our Tower of Babel like in Genesis 11? Are we becoming of one mind through AGI? Will nothing be impossible to man? Is man creating a digital god? Are we erasing the curse of Genesis 11? The best-selling author of Sapiens and principal advisor to the World Economic Forum, Yuval Harari, has said that AI may compose a new Bible that is genuinely real and truthful. It’s important to note that Yuval does not adhere to Jesus Christ’s teachings. What is the future of religion and faith if this is the case? Faith and technology have a tumultuous history. There are worries that AI could pose a threat to traditional religious practices. Some fear a loss of human connection, spiritual dilution and moral quandaries. Instead of avoiding these issues, the Church should engage in critical discourse and determine how AI may connect with its essential teachings. It’s critical for the church to understand how AI might enhance rather than replace the human experience, allowing the Church to adapt and survive in a fast-changing world. While AI cannot change the fundamental principles of faith, it may impact how individuals perceive and interact with their beliefs. The Church must actively contribute to guiding the development of artificial intelligence, arguing for fairness, openness, and accountability in its algorithms and systems. Christians may influence the direction of AI by actively engaging with it, ensuring that it aligns with its goal to create compassion, justice and spiritual growth. —The writer is an Innovations Evangelist and a PhD candidate – [email protected] How Kenya can strengthen food security systems Is Artificial Intelligence latter-day Tower of Babel? The world, including Kenya is in Rome this week “taking stock” of the achievements of the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) 2021. The UNFSS came as an accelerator for the achievement of SDG Goal 2 of Zero Hunger. It embraces the new understanding that food issues are multi-dimensional and therefore require multi-sectoral approaches to address. The UNFSS and the resulting “food systems” re-energized what were otherwise dying hopes of ever achieving #ZeroHunger. While the conversation has changed among key actors, from agriculture and food security to the colourful “food systems,” there is very little to show it terms of real action. The truth of the matter is, there is just too much talk! We need action. Kenya needs action now to reduce the impact of climate change on rural producers. We need action on child malnutrition to further reduce the current 18 per cent stunting rate to zero. We need action on prices of food and safety. The solutions to all these problems do not lie with government, private sector, civil society or academia. We need all actors on the table to address the urgent food systems problems Kenya is facing. To bring together the different actors in a coordinated approach, we need to put in place better food systems governance structures. With the complex nature of food systems, competing interests and demands, numerous actors and processes, only good governance can bring forth the possibility to effectively steer the process for any positive change or transformation. In understanding governance, it is important to understand the important role everyone plays in steering the process. All stakeholders are endowed with resources – social, political and capital – that can have a significant impact in holding everyone accountable and ensuring sustainable transformation. A strong food systems governance framework will entail key ingredients. First, all Kenyan actors including the average producer and consumer need to be bound by a common vision. This vision needs to be co-created by all the actors, not only government or a few powerful actors. Co-creation brings ownership. Common vision does not discredit the fact that different actors have different perspectives and interests. Secondly, strong, visionary leadership is important in providing the necessary political, social as well as technical guidance towards sustainable food systems transformation. Looking at the Kenyan context, leadership of the food systems transformation agenda no doubt needs to go beyond the Ministry of Agriculture. There is also a growing feeling among stakeholders that there is too much talk and less action. As a result of a result of lack of clear roles and responsibilities and accountability mechanisms, many workshops and conferences end with very robust conversations about key food systems issues but without any clear actionable roadmap. So far, there are no mechanisms to address systemic issues of critical urgency such as biodiversity and agroecosystems health restoration and conservation, consumer education, extension services, food systems knowledge and information management systems just to mention a few. The role of government as the ultimate custodian of power and regulatory authority as well its obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfilment of the Human Right to Adequate Food for all as per the ICESR should remain sacred. Inclusive food systems governance in the Kenya context implies providing equitable opportunities for engagement and addressing the needs of all stakeholders from the rich, influential actors to the poor and marginalised communities. To achieve this, we need to strengthen the coordination of food systems actors and activities in Kenya. At the moment, the ATO is the most viable mechanism available to bring together all stakeholders in a coordinated and sustained multistakeholder approach to food systems transformation. Strengthening of the ATO is one of the possible approaches to enhancing coordination of food systems transformation. The voices of consumers who struggle with high food prices, producers who face many challenges with little reward and vulnerable groups are still not adequately heard in the food systems conversations. — Atamba is a food systems consultant while Schindler is Senior Research Associate at TMG Research MUHOHO MACHARIA Is man creating a digital god? Are we erasing the curse of Genesis 11? EMMANUEL ATAMBA AND JÖRG SCHINDLER Common vision does not discredit the fact that different actors have different perspectives. #TWEETS TO THE EDITOR / / / @PeopleDailyKe / / / People Daily STREET TALK New millipede species is blind, has 486 legs The City of Angels, a metropolis of freeways and traffic, has a newly discovered species named in its honor: The Los Angeles Thread Millipede. The tiny arthropod was found just underground by naturalists at a Southern California hiking area — near a freeway, a Starbucks and an Oakley sunglasses store. About the length of a paperclip but skinny as pencil lead, it’s translucent and sinuous like a jellyfish tentacle. The creature burrows four inches below ground, secretes unusual chemicals and is blind, relying on hornlike antennas protruding from its head to find its way. Under a microscope, the millipede with its 486 legs and helmet-like head resembles a creature in a Hollywood monster film. It’s amazing to think these millipedes are crawling in the inner cracks and crevices between little pieces of rock below our feet in Los Angeles,” said entomologist Paul Marek of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He was part of the research team that included scientists from West Virginia University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Their findings on the species, whose scientific name is Illacme socal, were published June 21 in the journal ZooKeys. The species’ vernacular name is Los Angeles Thread Millipede. “It goes to show that there’s this undiscovered planet underground,” Marek added. — Agencies ODDLY ENOUGH TRUTHIS: When you think about giving to others, think about all God has given to you. It’s cost of living, stupid! @lindahoguttu: Our main issue is cost of living. Whatever conversation should be on how to bring down the cost of living for Kenyans. Why do we need Ramaphosa jameni? Ama ni mimi sielewi? Why do we need mediators to bring the cost of living down? How now JSC? @annakonuche: The @jsckenyahas appointed a Registrar of the High Court who was not among those who were shortlisted. The same institution that a while back appointed 7 Judges when they’d advertised for 6. Can they explain how this came to be? Open for hacking @cbs_ke: In short, the ecitizen platform was compromised as the Sudanese hackers alleged. The government through the ICT department acknowledge they never secured the data. It goes without saying that personal data of Kenyans is outside in the wrong hands. First qualification @TimKalyegira: In Africa, we discover after school that most desk jobs don’t really require a university degree. The real career qualification is to support (or pretend to support) the government, or to avoid getting into trouble with it. Yet we keep telling children that education is key.
12 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 by Mathew Ndung’u and Oliver Musembi @PeopleDailyKe As the government gradually rolls out the use of electric motorcycles to reduce transport costs and make their operations easy, researchers and innovators at Zetech University are set to cash in from the development after they came up with technology meant to modify motorbikes to use electronic energy. Recently, President William Ruto announced his government will introduce electric motorbikes and motor vehicles to ease and improve the mode of transport through powered rechargeable motorbikes instead of petrol-powered engines. Zetech University researchers are set to benefit in the transition to electric motorcycles that not only promotes affordability but also presents a cleaner and more environmentally friendly option, eliminating exhaust emissions and noise pollution. In an initiative spearheaded by researchers Paul Waweru and Prof Gitau Kamau, the innovators have also developed Tuk Tuks (rickshaws) that use similar technology in a move that aims to help operators cut down on the skyrocketing cost of fuel. Boda Boda riders Waweru and Kamau noted that their innovation targets persons in the transport business, specifically boda boda riders and Tuk Tuk drivers and other people in the Jua Kali sector. Speaking during the varsity’s 5th Research and Innovation conference held at Zetech’s Ruiru campus, the researchers noted that electric bikes require less energy to operate compared to their fossil fuel-powered counterparts, boast longer lifespans, and require less maintenance. They stated that besides the motorbikes, they are collaborating with investors and banks to find ways of financing mass production of the electric motorcycles and Tuk Tuks. “Our current business model is to convert boda bodas, especially those whose engines stopped working, into electric bikes. We change the engine by fitting in a new electric kit which extends the lifespan of the bike, electric bike’s consumption is much lower as compared to those that use fuel and this makes operational costs of motorbike operators much lower,” said Prof Kamau. “By shifting to immobility, we also help conserve the environment. For every litre of petrol not used, we are saving 2.31kg of carbon monoxide that would have otherwise been emitted to the ecosystem,” noted Waweru. Costing between Sh50,000 and Sh100,000 to convert a gasoline-fueled bike into electric, operators are set to enjoy a wide-range of benefits including low operation costs, durability of their tools of operation among others. The idea of green motorcycles and vehicles has significantly gained traction worldwide with most countries now making efforts to revamp their locomotive sectors with a more efficient, affordable, and profitable means of transport. Fuel consumption Already, some Matatu Saccos within Thika and Nairobi areas have introduced electric buses with the aim of reducing fuel consumption and carbon emission and which most of them describe as less costly to maintain when fully charged as they can operate the whole day without recharging. Use of electric tools of mobility comes at a time when the country is grappling with tough economic times and with the high cost of living, players in the transport sector believe solutions such as electric motors will help make life a bit bearable. Deputy vice-chancellor Prof Alice Njuguna said besides other innovations in ICT, the institution is finding ways of recycling e-waste and developing software to test soil temperature and other components. The university, she said, has been changing its curriculum depending on market A Zetech University professor enjoys a ride using an electric motorcycle innovated by the university students and lecturers. PD/ MATHEW NDUNG’U Roar of electric engines mark new transport era Government announces game changer as innovation by Zetech University researchers come to fruition demands to help prepare and fully equip learners to bravely face the market. She maintained that higher learning institutions must embrace the art of teaching learners on market dictates including accommodating technologies in their training and not just theoretical lectures. “It is our role to provide linkage to our innovative students and the viable market for commercialization of their products. As a university, we have a responsibility to participate in social-economic developments in our areas by way of finding solutions to the challenges facing the society through innovations,” said Prof Njuguna. “As universities, we must come to terms and adapt the technology we are in. We must stop the old-age curriculum that does not solve the contemporary challenges facing the world. Here at Zetech, we have introduced artificial intelligence to ensure that once our students are done with classwork, they are able to come up with new products without much hustle,” added the DVC. ELECTRIC BODA BODA President William Ruto announced his government will introduce electric motorbikes and motor vehicles to ease and improve the mode of transport Zetech University researchers are set to benefit in the transition to electric motorcycles that not only promotes affordability Costing between Sh50,000 and Sh100,000 to convert a gasolinefueled bike into electric, operators are set to enjoy a wide-range of benefits Exhibitors at Kisumu show praised for innovations Farmers and entrepreneurs have been lauded for their display of technology and innovative agribusiness ideas at the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) 2023 Kisumu Regional Show taking place at the Mamboleo ASK Grounds. Nyanza Regional Commissioner Ms Flora Mworoa officiated on behalf of the Interior Principal Secretary, Dr Raymond Omollo, at the opening ceremony of the five-day agricultural show that opened its doors to the public on Wednesday. Mworoa said that the tech innovation exhibitions from more than 100 exhibitors that pitched tents at the premier event seek to address the problem of climate change and enhance food security through the adoption of tech farming and value addition. “There are a lot of innovations being showcased which marry this year’s ASK show theme of Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth,” said Mworoa. Climate change “I’m assured that everyone who will attend this event will benefit immensely from modern farming techniques, value addition, and trade, as well as learn ways to mitigate climate change issues,” she added. Climate-Smart Agriculture, when effectively adopted, enables individuals managing agricultural systems to respond effectively to the inevitable changes in climate conditions, including the unpredictability of rainfall and prolonged droughts that affect farming. The Kisumu show is resuming after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will run from Wednesday, July 26 to Sunday, July 30. The ASK Kisumu branch Chairperson, George Ong’udi, said the occasion has attracted youth enterprises, womenbased organisations, and institutions of higher learning, as well as exhibitors from agriculture, trade, and allied industries. Ong’udi appealed to all the residents of Kisumu and the neighbouring counties to attend the agricultural event that provides a favourable platform for various players in the agricultural food chain and industries to showcase their wares. Nyanza Regional Commissioner Flora Mworoa (in uniform) together with ASK Kisumu branch chairperson George Ong’udi (right) visit the Communication Authority stand during the official opening of the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Kisumu regional show on Wednesday. KNA Woman rep roots for water sources care Barasa to run staff lifestyle audit Kisii County Woman Representative Dorice Donya Aburi has appealed to residents to protect water sources and riparian areas. The lawmaker warned eucalyptus trees planted on the sources and riparian areas are drying up water springs and rivers, endangering humans and animals. She challenged residents to cut the trees and replace them with indigenous ones to conserve the environment and curb water-related conflicts. Aburi noted that the county was facing an acute water shortage due to the effects of the eucalyptus trees, forcing humans to fight for the scarce water resources available. “Some schools have no tapped water or water harvesting containers. They walk for long distances to fetch water thereby wasting a lot of time,” Aburi, the Wiper Democratic Party lawmaker said. She appealed to the county government to dig boreholes in the area and connect residents and schools with clean piped water to foster sanitation and domestic use. - Robert Ochoror The Kakamega County government will conduct a lifestyle audit on its employees to ascertain their sources of wealth in commensurate to their incomes. Governor Fernandes Barasa said yesterday some employees had amassed massive wealth that was not equal to what they earn. “We are interested in knowing the tricks and techniques that they use and used to amass such wealth because we are afraid that the proceeds could have been acquired through corruption and sleaze,” he said. Barasa pointed out while the county government’s objective was to empower their staff economically, they would not allow some of them to enrich themselves illegally. “We have zero tolerance to corruption and we can not condone those who engage in this vice to enrich themselves at the expense of the general public. - Dennis Lumiti BRIEFLY
in building the steam ships used for transport and trade on the Neva River which flows through St Petersburg, and the Baltic Sea, where it pours its waters. It was also involved in the manufacture of railway locomotives. When Russia made the strategic decision to use natural gas for domestic and industrial consumption, Nevsky Zavod, which already had the technology to make complicated equipment, was contracted to manufacture the turbines that are now at the heart of the gas ecosystem. “Every part of the turbine has to be right shape and size and in the right place,” says Alexy Shubin, one of the senior managers at Nevsky Zavod. “The equipment makes over 5,000 rotations per minute.” One such turbine can handle the equivalent of 32 Mega Watts. Local production Gazprom remains the biggest buyer of these turbines. For the conglomerate, the decision to buy equipment made in Russia by Russians has been a strategic one and is known as “import substitution”. This is a programme that companies in Kenya can learn from. In the 2023-24 Finance Act, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u introduced what he called “Import Substitution Tax”. This sparked a major hue and cry among importers, who felt it was targeting them unfairly. However, as Njuguna explained, the tax is meant to discourage importation and encourage local production. This principle is what has kept Russia going despite the sanctions imposed on it by Europe and America in the wake of the war in Ukraine. When companies like Coca Cola, Visa, Mastercard, Pepsi, Nestle, Univeler and over 3,000 others exited the Russian market, local companies moved in to fill the gap by coming up with near similar products. The country’s history of industrialisation primed it to continue with industrial production while also keeping inflation at a low of 3.3 per cent as at June this year. Now, its companies are manufacturing trucks, taxis and buses that use natural gas for fuel, meaning that the country’s petrol and diesel import bill, compared to a country like Kenya, will continue to drop as Kenya’s increases. This is one of the factors that have led to Kenya’s perennial trade imbalance. Kenya’s import bill in 2021 was $22.18 billion dollars, a 25 per cent increase from the previous year. Although exports have started going up this year, according to Central Bank data, the country spent $1 billion more on imports than it earned from exports, meaning that its balance of trade is in the negative, as it has been over the years. One trend worth noting with Kenya is that its biggest source of income is dollar remittances from its citizens working abroad, not from the sale of processed or industrial products. Other sources of income are the sale of tea, cut flowers and coffee. All these are primary products that create low level jobs. By contrast, the country spends most of its money on importation of refined petroleum (about $3.5 billion), packaged medicines and cars in that order. All these imports create high quality jobs in the source markets. If the country starts to exploit its natural gas potential, it can significantly lower its import costs, which would improve its balance of trade, and by extension, leave the country will more money to pay off its debts. Sources have told People Daily that talks to start offshore gas extraction have commenced. Already, one well has been drilled and is undergoing evaluation to confirm its capacity. Will it yield fruit? That is the question. Series continues on Monday When Russia made the strategic decision to use natural gas for domestic and industrial consumption, Nevsky Zavod, was contracted to manufacture the turbines that are now at the heart of the gas ecosystem Lessons Kenya can pick from Russia in gas energy switch by Mbugua Ng’ang’a @PeopleDailyKe in St Petersburg, Russia Sergey Kalinkin’s home in Leningradskaya Oblast, a surburb of St Petersburg, is in the last mile of the collective national gas pipeline system that starts its journey in the gas fields of Dobycha Nadym in the Arctic Circle. Until two years ago, he used wood to fire the boiler that kept the ground floor of his house warm during the harsh Russian winters. This would keep him going for about 12 hours. “Smoke from my neighbours’ houses in our Voskresenskoe village would come into our home through the chimney,” says Kalinkin, standing in the garden outside his house whose walls are painted a mild shade of purple. Visiting his children in Moscow was out of his ‘to do’ list in the cold season because he had to be home to light the coal stoves every morning and every evening. This was the only way he could keep his house warm. Now, he just needs to switch on the gas that Gazprom piped into his house in 2021. “I can now visit my children and grandchildren. I am no longer linked to the house,” he says, implying that he and his wife are free to travel because all they need to do is switch on the gas, set the temperature they want and the gas-fired boiler will keep the house warm until they return, with no risk of fire or related hazards. According to Busin Vyacheslav, one of the senior regional officials of Gazprom in St Petersburg, 500 settlements like the rural Voskresenskoe village have been connected to the natural gas system and use it for cooking and heating. And over 70 per cent of homes in the greater St Petersburg have been connected to the system. “In winter, a small household Part Three Among the issues on the agenda of the Russia-Africa Summit, which ends today (Friday) in St Petersburg, is collaborations on energy. Kenya, like other countries in the continent, has a lot to learn from the Russian model which not only creates high quality jobs but also goes a long way in improving the quality of life of its citizens and driving its industrialisation agenda house is now cleaner.” It has taken technology for people like Kalinki to get to where they are today. But this did not happen by accident. Indeed, the history of technology and industrialisation in Russia goes back to the very foundation of the modern Russian society during the reign of Peter the Great, its first Tsar and later Emperor. Although an autocrat, he challenged scientists and artists to come up with great innovation and was influential in the setting up of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the St Petersburg State University and other institutions through which he set the tone for Russia’s industrial growth. But he was not just a ruler. Having studied in the Netherlands, he had mastered at least 12 crafts, including carpentry, and was involved in diverse occupations, including the making of industrial machinery — some of which are on display in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. Over the centuries, subsequent leaders and business leaders have built on this foundation to drive the innovation that has made the supply of gas to nearly all of the vast country possible. One of them was Vaily Poletika, the founder of Nevsky Zavod, the company that manufactures turbines that pump gas through the over 7,000km of pipes crisscrossing the vast country. In the beginning the firm, which started operations in 1857, was involved pays about 200 rubles (approximately 20 dollar) a month,” says Vyacheslav. “In summer, it goes down to 50 rubles (about five dollars).” Kalinki’s household spends about 10 times more because there are numerous times when his family of eight gathers in his home for re-unions. Costs go up in winter due to the cold and reduce in summer because homes do not require heating in the warm season, which, in some years, can be as short as three months. Besides being convenient, Kalinki says gas is cleaner compared to wood or coal, which his neighbours used before they too got connected. “The quality of my life has improved,” says the retiree. “My Alternative Energy Journalists and energy experts from Africa at Kalinki’s home in Voksresnskoe village. COURTESY/ GAZPROM Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY SPECIAL REPORT 13
people who know for sure that this is not their land but they are invading it so that they can be considered,” he added. Further, he claimed that although some of the land-buying companies have claimed that they are paying land rates for parcels of land they owned, he said that this does not mean that the said pieces of land were acquired legally. “He said that we know that some people have said they own part of Portland lands, but this does not mean we rule out the fact that some of these titles are fake,” he said. In his submission before the committee, Korir clarified that as of now they have not been able to get any communication from EAPCC or KRC in respect of the sale of the land as the deal is yet to be concluded. Following Korir’s sentiments, representatives from EAPCC said that they would be closing the deal with KRC within the next two weeks. Parliament early this month summoned Lands Cabinet Secretary Zachary Njeru to provide documents to prove the ownership of 900 acres that the EAPCC) owns. This is after the National Land Commission (NLC) told MPs that the Land PS had failed to respond to a request for documents to ascertain the true ownership of land in Machakos County. Appearing before the Trade and Industrialisation Committee, NLC chairperson Gershom Otachi said the commission wrote to the Ministry of Lands requiring documentation for LR 10424. “The NLC sought information from the Ministry of Lands, which is the custodian of documents but has not received a response,” said Otachi. Upwork freelancers in Kenya face new tax obligations by John Otini @PeopleDailyKe Kenyan freelancers employed in the gig economy will cough more to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) after the regulator issued a demand letter to US-based global freelance platform, Upwork to subject them to Value Added Tax (VAT). This means that freelancers will now be subjected to VAT deductions on their earnings made through the platform. “Kenya requires Upwork to collect VAT and remit the tax to the Kenya government, when we charge tax, it is because your government requires us to,” Upwork said in a statement. This move by the KRA comes as part of their efforts to expand the tax base and ensure that online businesses and self-employed individuals contribute their fair share to the country’s revenue. With the rising popularity of freelancing and the growth of the gig economy, the tax authority views this as an opportune moment to tap into the earnings of Kenyan freelancers who provide services to clients across the globe. Upwork, being one of the largest and most widely used freelance platforms worldwide, hosts a considerable number of Kenyan freelancers who offer their expertise in various domains such as web development, graphic design, writing, digital marketing, and more. VAT deductions will be pegged on 16 per cent of earnings generated through the platform, impacting the income streams of these freelancers. This comes after President William Ruto dropped the 15 per cent tax on content creators to 5 per cent and it is not clear whether this will affect those subscribed to Uptown. CONTAINER TERMINAL The said land in question LR 10424 was bought by Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) at a cost of Sh5.2 billion for the development of a bulk container terminal and transhipment facility. At the same time, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) compulsorily acquired 3 hectares for a value of Sh327 million. KRC has so far paid Sh4.95 billion for the said land. by Mercy Mwai @wangumarci The State will repossess the 900 acres of land belonging to East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) being claimed by more than 2,000 squatters. Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir told MPs yesterday that EAPCC has the right to protect the land from being illegally acquired. The said land in question LR 10424 was bought by Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) at a cost of Sh5.2 billion for the development of a bulk container terminal and transhipment facility. At the same time, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) compulsorily acquired 3 hectares for a value of Sh327 million. KRC has so far paid Sh4.95 billion for the said land. Over the last five years, residents have been locked in a vicious court battle with the cement manufacturer over the land. Already the squatters have moved to court to block KRC from taking over the said piece of land. Fake titles “It is upon Portlands to defend its land from being invaded by squatters because the ministry cannot protect it from being invaded. If EAPCC notices their land has been invaded they should liaise with the police to reclaim what is theirs,” he said. While appearing before the Committee of Trade, Industry and Cooperative committee chaired by Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, Korir admitted that there are fake titles that have been processed from the sad land by rogue officers. He cited a case where a law firm had sought a search for a piece of land in the said area only for them to establish that the said title was fake. “The EAPCC land is controversial and sensitive considering that up to 40 per cent of the land has been invaded by squatters,” he said. He added: “There are State to reclaim 900-acre EAPCC land, Korir says PS told MPs that cement firm has right to protect the property from being illegally acquired Depressed economy sips 21pc of EABL net profit to Sh12 billion by Noel Wandera @NoelWanderah East Africa Breweries Limited’s (Eabl) net profit for the financial year ended June 2022 has declined by 21 per cent to Sh12 billion on the back of rising input costs, multiple excise tax increases and currency depreciation. Group Chief Executive and Managing Director Jane Karuku (pictured) said the decline could not be fully offset by increased prices and cost management initiatives that the company initiated to boost revenues in the period under review. Global inflation “EABL remained resilient despite the macro-economic headwinds including global inflation and geopolitical disruptions which disproportionately raised our costs and depressed consumer spending across the year,” Karuku said in a press statement. Despite the reduced profitability, the ale manufacturers’ board has recommended a final dividend of Sh1.75 per share, bringing the total dividend payout for the year to Sh5.50 per share. In the review period, the group’s net sales topped Sh109 billion while sales volume was reduced by 7 per cent because of sluggish consumer spending as the effects of the tough macroeconomic environment and regulatory disruptions took a toll on depletions. Net sales in Kenya declined 4 per cent with excise tax escalation, impacting the price-sensitive mainstream segment. Karuku said Kenya’s trade environment also negatively impacted on sales through trade distractions that resulted in county-led bar closures. The Uganda subsidiary closed at 17 per cent growth aided by pricing benefits and modest volume growth. Tanzania also registered a modest 1 per cent growth with the market continuing to adjust to price increases taken earlier in the year. “As we navigate the current volatility, we remain optimistic about the growth prospects for our business. We continue to invest in our advantaged portfolio of brands and insight-led innovations to meet the ever-evolving needs of our consumers,” Karuku said. Uganda continued its encouraging half-year growth trajectory, closing at 17 percent growth aided by pricing benefits and modest volume growth. Tanzania registered modest growth of 1 percent as the market continues to adjust to price increases taken earlier in the year. 14 BUSINESS HUB FOR MORE NEWS VISIT: www.pd.co.ke / www.epaper. pd.co.ke Friday, July 28, 2023 Retail business From left: Tirus Mwithiga, Group Director, Retail Banking at NCBA Group, Bernard Methu, Branch Manager NCBA Kahawa Sukari branch and Kimungu Mbugua, General Manager, Kahawa Sukari Centre during the official launch of NCBA Kahawa Sukari branch. The strategic expansion aligns with NCBA’s commitment to enhancing its retail business and providing convenient financial services to customers. PD/ALICE MBURU
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY BUSINESS HUB 15 Lamu fishermen eyes windfall from carbon export business PROJECT: Fishermen and Beach Management Units (BMUs) in Lamu County have been introduced to a multi-million shillings business of carbon export where they will be supplying to the European and Asian countries. Mangroves plantation that grows along the coastal region assists in curbing the effects of climate change that are observed in the world hence have made them become very marketable. Despite Lamu having the largest percentage of mangroves forest, the fishermen and BMU groups mainly use them as fish catchment areas since they are well known to be a habitat for all the marine life. Dr Judith Okello, KEMFRI Research Scientist said they are currently marketing Lamu County on carbon business outside Kenya and have already sensitised different community groups, fishermen and BMUs in that area on the carbon business. Policy documents “Lamu is ready to start exportation of carbon to European countries and Asia, the policy documents are even ready since we launched them in May this year and any time business will kick off just like the way we assisted different groups at Gasi village who are beneficiaries upto date,” she said. Okello made the disclosure while speaking to journalists during the marking of the international day for the Conservation of the mangrove ecosystem at Mwenjeni village in Lunga-Lunga, Kwale County. She noted that carbon business assists and improves livelihoods in a very fast way and the communities in Lamu have a potential of earning Billions of shillings due to the thick and huge mangrove forest the area has. “Lamu has all the nine species of mangroves and it is a very Thick forest, with huge trees and roots and remember the carbon is normally stored in these roots, you can imagine the tonnes you can sell, and the amount of money you get,” Okello added. She added that the groups in Gasi village which are exporting carbon get there annual pay from the European countries have highly improved their livelihoods both individually and in the village. “The money comes through us but it is the groups that decide on what to do with it, they do projects that benefits the whole villages, buy books for the schools in the village, construct water boreholes and even share amongst members of the groups for individual development,” she said. David Chege, Deputy chief Conservator of Kenya forests in charge of protection and security appealed to communities living along the coastal region to conserve mangrove trees which have become important to the world. – Munira Mandano Families feeling pinch of taking children to school by Steve Umidha @UmidhaSteve The average Kenyan parent spends about Sh68,701 annually on a school–going child, according to a new survey which details the heavy burden majority of families are currently facing amid rising cost of living and economic uncertainty. Projections by global digital remittances firm, WorldRemit, show that the typical cost of education for most households in the country in comparison to other global markets, is 1054.31 per cent. This means an average family in Kenya is spending more than 10 times of their monthly household income towards schooling their children. In other words, a middle-class family in a city like Nairobi or Mombasa, for instance, spends about Sh221,904.23 for an average household size of 3.23. School uniforms Parents, according to the survey, pay such monies in form of stationery, school uniforms, P.E or gym skits and other extra items like caps, jackets, countertop and food-warming utensils for their learners. What’s worse, the survey which also sampled the situation in neighbouring countries like Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, predicts that many families around the world should expect to spend up to 40 per cent of their monthly income on back-to-school supplies this year, owing to rising inflation concerns. “To showcase how much a family will pay for back-to-school supplies in 2023, we have calculated the average cost of school supplies COST PER STUDENT The study found that, on average, public schools cost parents, not accounting for government spending, $32 or Sh4,550.4 per student per year at the time. The figures, based on today’s calculations and while factoring the rising inflation rate over that period – six years – have more than multiplied with item costs having gone up since. per student and multiplied it by the fertility rate for 2023,” notes the report released this week. It adds that: “In many countries, the average price tag on backto-school items such as pencils, sharpeners, notebooks, coloring pencils and polo shirts have gone up.” Indeed, across countries where people have higher monthly incomes like the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, for instance, saw nominal decreases in the percentage of income they can expect to allocate, while France and Spain saw notable increases. In France, families can expect to allocate 5 per cent of their monthly budget this year, while in Spain, they can expect to allocate 7 per cent more than last year on basic school supplies, according to the report. In other parts of the world, cost changes were far more drastic, where yearly changes averaged an increase of 78 per cent. One in nine people worldwide rely on money sent from friends and relatives who have migrated abroad for work. For families whose incomes simply cannot accommodate the cost of these fundamental supplies, remittances make a world of difference in their ability to afford these supplies, as well as steep costs like tuition, transportation and childcare. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) figures show that inflation edged down to 7.9 per cent in June, following May’s 8.0 per cent, with last month’s figure representing the weakest inflation rate since May 2022, but was slightly above market expectations. The result was driven by moderating price pressures for housing and utilities and transportation. Other studies like the 2017 study from Florida State University estimated the unit-cost of education for both public and private schools in Nairobi, Kenya, noting that household income in the areas studied was near the national average. Hidden fees It found that, on average, private schools cost parents $80 per student per year or Sh11,376 six years ago with the current exchange rate. About $54 or Sh7,678.8 went to tuition, while the rest was spent on food and other fees. On the other hand, public schools in Kenya cost at the time $46 or Sh6, 541.2 per student per year on average, accounting for public funding and “hidden” fees. WorldRemit report details heavy burden most households currently face amid rising cost of living and economic uncertainty It is estimated that an average Kenyan parent spends about Sh68,701 annually on a school–going child, according to the new survey by global digital remittances firm. MARKET Murang’a tea farmers have decried massive invasion by brokers in the area which has given rise to theft of the cash crop. The farmers said cases of tea theft at the farms and collection centres have become rampant, urging the government to intervene and help weed out the brokers. Githinji Ngumi, a farmer from Gatunguru Tea Factory said the trend has seen them incur huge losses as they are left with little produce. “There is an influx of brokers in the area who are using the young men here to get tea and because the majority of the farmers here are registered with KTDA, they resort to stealing” he said. Collection centres “In some instances, tea is being picked at night or very early in the morning before the farmers get to the farm” added Ngumi. Bernard Mwangi, another farmer from Kiru Tea Factory said tea is also being stolen at the collection centres claiming some clerks seem to be colluding with the brokers. He said if not stemmed, the trend will have negative effects on the tea sector and farmers might abandon it because they are not getting their rightful dues. “We urge the government to eliminate the brokers from the market because they are operating in this area without any permit and thus their business is illegal” Mwangi remarked. The farmers have also decried delay in distribution of fertiliser claiming that this might affect tea production. Peter Muraya said the fertiliser is usually supplied early July but until now there are no indications when they will get it. He said July is the most appropriate time to have the fertiliser applied on the tea farms due to the light rains which enable it to be absorbed. “If the fertiliser comes late, it will be of no help to us because we can’t apply when the short rains begin since it will be washed away” he said. “We urge the KTDA to speed up the process and ensure the input is availed to us in the next one week” added Muraya. The farmers also urged the newly elected Kenya Tea Development Agency Chairman Enos Njeru to ensure he implements the tea reforms but cautioned against dragging politics into the tea sector. They urged him to streamline the sector saying this would help the farmers realize more benefits from the produce. The farmers also proposed for an increment in monthly payment from Sh26 to Sh30 per kilo and this money should not be delayed. –Wangari Njuguna Murang’a farmers counting losses as tea brokers strike
16 BUSINESS HUB PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 by John Otini @PeopleDailyKe The International Monetary fund (IMF) is backing Kenya Power Limited Company (KPLC) bid to offer minority shareholders board representation. The Bretton Woods institution is also in the mix in efforts by the State to make KPLC cede transmission assets to Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) by 2024. According to reports, these deals which were approved by the Cabinet in May this year are part of efforts meant to enhance transparency, return to liquidity and inclusivity within the organization. “The action plan to restore KPLC medium term profitability and cover liquidity gaps was approved by Cabinet,” IMF said in its Kenya update, which means that minority shareholders can now have a voice in the decision-making process of Kenya Power, allowing them to participate in key discussions and contribute to the company’s strategic direction. Variable costs “We estimate that with the support from the new tariff structure and continued pass through of variable costs and effective implementation of the action plan, KPLC’s liquidity gap will see an accelerated reduction,” IMF said. As part of the restructuring efforts, the government will transfer all transmission assets currently owned by Kenya Power to Ketraco by December 2024. These development are seen as major steps towards ensuring fair representation and aligning the interests of all stakeholders, both major and minor, within the organization. IMF also notes that Kenya agreed to reduce KPLC system losses from 22 per cent to 14 per cent to boost KPLC earnings. KPLC increased power tariffs this year despite President William Ruto’s assurances that power prices will not increases indicating the hidden hand of the IMF. You will recall that we objected the gazetted tariff before publishing. by Noel Wandera @NoelWanderah Kenya is yet to tap the full potential of the carbon credit market valued an estimated $2 billion (Sh284 billion) despite being on the forefront as a potential hub for the multi-billion trade. The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) which is overseeing a framework to facilitate carbon credit trade and enable the country tap the by 2050, agrees that Kenya has barely scratched the surface. According to CMA director of policy and markets development Luke Ombara, the authority is however set to establish rules and regulations for the carbon credit value chain to work under a free, fair, transparent and efficient regime. Climate change forum At the Conference of Parties to the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Egypt last year, President William Ruto pledged to make the Carbon Market the next significant export product for Kenya in terms of revenue earnings. With the goodwill, Kenya managed to sell 2.2 million tonnes of the commodity in June this year to 16 Saudi companies at $12 per tonne, which is deemed to be the largest in the world. According to Ombara, this helped Kenya register the highest volume of carbon credit in Africa, estimated at 24 per cent in terms of revenue earnings. “We need to utilise this opportunity as a country and be able to find out the right infrastructure, institutional framework and possibly the regulatory framework,” Ombara said. Ombara was speaking yesterday at the CMA offices during a media engagement, where CMA presented its second quarter 2023 Capital Markets soundness report. Need for specifications According to Ombara, the framework will have mechanism in place to ensure that there is proper pricing on the product. “Because again when you look at some jurisdiction, they bought credit up to a low of $5 (Sh711). So such infrastructure that will be in place should have specifications to be able to address on effective pricing,” he said. CMA Chief Executive Wyckliffe Shamia said the CMA will support the ongoing national discussion on the appropriate and facilitative regulatory framework for the fair and efficient trading of carbon credits. Kenya has made significant strides in building the Carbon Credit trading infrastructure. As part of the process to spearhead the process, the Nairobi Securities Exchange partnered entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the AirCarbon Exchange Group and Nairobi International Financial Centre in July last year. IMF push Kenya Power into raft of changes Safaricom’s price stock appreciated by 6.81 per cent to Sh17.25 from Sh16.15 registered the previous day, after moving. By close of trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange yesterday, the stock had traded a volume of 784,000 from 139 deals, with Sh13.5 million exchanging hands at between Sh16.55 and Sh17.70, representing 8.66 per cent of the day’s traded volume. The stock has a market capitalisation of Sh691 billion. million. The telco will hold its 2023 Annual General Meeting today, in which shareholders are expected to approve payment of a final dividend of Sh0.62 per share or a total of Sh24.84 billion. Shareholders are also agree on setting up a private limited company that will be investing in growthstage startups and initiatives meeting the firm’s financial growth plans. - Noel Wandera STOCK OF THE DAY Telco stock up 7pc before AGM CMA revs up carbon credits law There is need for a proper framework on carbon credits to enable widespread participation. MARKET WATCH NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE SECTOR VWAP PREVIOUS TOTAL HIGH LOW AGRICULTURAL PRICES SHARES NSE ALL SHARE INDEX: UP 2.18 points to close at 107.34 NSE 20-SHARE INDEX: DOWN 8.04 points to close at 1582.03 NSE 25-SHARE INDEX: UP 4.34 points to close at 2773.96 14.50 10.00 Eaagads Ltd Ord 1.25 dd 14.00 450.00 240.00 Kakuzi Plc Ord.5.00 382.00 225.00 81.00 Kapchorva Tea Kenya Plc Ord Ord 5.00 205.00 205.00 100 510.00 320.00 The Limuru Tea Ca. Plc Ord 20.00 420.00 31.40 17.90 Sasini Plc Ord 1.00 25.80 250.00 120.00 Williamson Tea Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 238.25 236.00 6,800 AUTOMOBILES & ACCESSORIES 49.75 24.30 Car & General (K) Ltd Ord 5.00 28.15 29.05 100 BANKING 13.00 9.02 ABSA Bank Kenya Plc Ord 0.50 1225 1220 1,619,900 36.95 26.50 BK Group Plc Ord 0.80 35.00 57.00 43.75 Diamond Trust Bonk Kenya Ltd Ord 4.00 47.70 47.75 120,400 53.50 35,00 Equity Group Holdings Plc Ord 0.50 39.70 42.65 792,700 5.10 2.80 HF Group Plc Ord 5.00 4.78 4.66 200 21.50 15.80 I&M Group Plc Ord 1.00 18.55 18.85 83,500 44.00 28.05 KCB Group Plc Ord 1.00 28.65 28.70 334,200 41.00 23.30 NCBA Group Plc Ord 5.00 38.30 38.25 69,900 132.00 90.00 Stanbic Holdings Plc ard.5.00 120.00 oo 5,800 172.50 121.00 Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd Ord 5.00 165.25 166.00 40,700 14.00 10.30 The Cooperative Bank of Kenya Ltd Ord 1.00 11.85 11.90 188,100 COMMERCIAL AND SERVICES 0.45 0,45 Deacons (East Af rico) Plc Ord 2.50 0.45 1.88 0.59 Eveready East Af rico Ltd Ord 1.00 1.53 1.56 4,500 5.40 2.70 Express Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 3.83 4.66 4.66 Homeboyz Entertainment Plc 0.50 4.66 3.83 3.83 Kenya Airways Ltd Ord 1.00 3.83 4.30 2.00 Longhorn Publishers Plc Ord 1.00 2.30 5.12 2.50 Nairobi Business Ventures Plc Ord. 0.50 3.22 3.22 1,000 23.00 14.00 Nation Media Group Plc Ord. 2.50 20.00 20.00 4,500 4.38 1,80 Sameer Africa Plc Ord 5.00 2.60 14.75 8.14 Standard Group Plc Ord 5.00 8.22 8.46 1,400 18.00 10.85 TPS Eastern Africa Ltd Ord 1.00 11.80 12.00 60,900 0.29 0.16 Uchumi Supermarket Plc Ord 5.00 0.25 0.25 11,500 4.23 2.60 WPP Scangroup Plc Ord 1.00 2.73 2.87 105,100 CONSTRUCTION * ALLIED 5.55 5.55 ARM Cement Plc Ord 1.00 5.55 39.50 22,40 Barnburi Cement Plc Ord 5,00 25.00 26.05 1095.100 46.00 31.75 Crown Paints Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 42.00 1.32 0.72 E.A.Cables Ltd Ord 0.50 0.92 0.94 16,600 8.80 5,38 E.A.Portland Cement Co. Ltd Ord 5.00 6.52 ENERGY & PETROLEUM 3.88 2.00 KenGen Co. Plc Ord. 2.50 2.39 2.39 146,700 2.11 1.30 Kenya Power & Lighting Co Plc Ord 2.50 1.54 1.51 1,631,700 4.11 4.10 Kenya Power & Lighting Plc 4% Pref 20.00 4.11 6.00 6.00 Kenya Power & Lighting Plc 7% Pref 20.00 6.00 26.40 17.30 TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 19.00 18.65 2,000 18.00 6,30 Umeme Ltd Ord 0.50 13.10 13.10 13,100 INSURANCE 7.50 4.01 Britam Holdings Plc Ord 0.10 4.91 4.94 115,500 2.30 1.60 CIC Insurance Group Ltd Ord.1.00 220 2.10 2,116,700 273.00 142,00 Jubilee Holdings Ltd Ord 5.00 186.75 186.00 800 2.30 1.50 Kenya Re Insurance Corporation Ltd Ord 2.50 1.83 1.79 11,500 7.48 3.60 Liberty Kenya Holdings Ltd Ord. 1.00 4.00 4.11 100 15.00 7.20 Sanlam Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 7.88 7.38 23,500 INVESTMENT 12.80 7.60 Centum Investment Co Plc Ord 0.50 9.02 9.00 175,400 0.41 0.27 Hame Afrika Ltd Ord 1.00 0.32 0.32 59,000 1500.00 1,500.00 Kurwitu Ventures Ltd Ord 100.00 1,500.00 5.60 1.91 Olympia Capital Holdings Ltd Ord 5.00 5.16 1.35 0,52 Trans-Century Plc Ord 0.50 0.56 0.53 33,000 INVESTMENT SERVICES 8.50 5,50 Nairobi Securities Exchange Plc Ord 4.00 6.08 6.40 4,800 MANUFACTURING & ALLIED 85.00 65.00 B.0.C Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 72.00 490.00 400.00 British American Tobacco Kenya Plc Ord 10.00 420.00 420.75 41.500 16.90 10.30 Carbacid Investments Plc Ord 1.00 1700 16.70 227,600 190.00 110.00 East African Breweries Plc Ord 2.00 16450 161.75 1,400 1.54 0.90 Flame Tree Group Holdings Ltd Ord 0.825.. 1.25 15.00 10.40 Kenya Orchards Ltd Ord 5.00..0 15.00 0.27 0.27 Mumias Sugar Co. Ltd Ord 2.00 0.27 35.00 15.00 Urge Group Ltd Ord 5.00 16.00 16.95 2,100 TELECOMMUNICATION 34.00 12.70 Safaricom Plc Ord 0.05 17.25 16.15 784,600 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST 7.30 5.00 ILAM FAHARI I-REIT Ord 20.00 6.20 6.20 19,900 20.00 20.00 LAPTRUST IMARA I-REIT Ord 20.00 20.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 2560.00 1880.00 ABSA New Gold ETF 2500i 2530.00 CBK KEY RATES CURRENCY MEAN BUY SELL US DOLLAR 142.2000 142.1000 142.3000 SW KRONER 13.6422 13.6311 13.6533 STG POUND 183.6432 183.4894 183.7971 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 107.2035 107.1079 107.2990 SAUDI RIYAL 37.9139 37.8863 37.9416 SA RAND 8.0524 8.0460 8.0588 S FRANC 164.8983 164.7727 165.0238 NOR KRONER 14.0604 14.0486 14.0723 KES / USHS 25.4914 25.4349 25.5479 KES / TSHS 17.2644 17.2171 17.3118 KES / RWF 8.2659 8.1771 8.3547 KES / BIF 19.9562 19.6892 20.2232 JPY (100) 101.3290 101.2541 101.4038 IND RUPEE 1.7342 1.7324 1.7360 HONGKONG DOLLAR 18.2252 18.2123 18.2380 EURO 157.3938 157.2606 157.5271 DAN KRONER 21.1327 21.1166 21.1488 CHINESE YUAN 19.9029 19.8861 19.9196 CAN $ 107.6213 107.5293 107.7133 AUSTRALIAN $ 96.1272 96.0454 96.2090 AE DIRHAM 38.7139 38.6814 38.7464 Central Bank Rate 10.50% 26/06/2023 Inter-Bank Rate 13.52% 26/07/2023 CBK Discount Window 16.50% 26/06/2023 91-Day T-Bill 12.233% 24/07/2023 REPO 8.43% 06/07/2023 Inflation Rate 7.88% June,2023 Lending Rate 13.21% May,2023 Savings Rate 3.55% May,2023 Deposit Rate 7.7% May,2023 KBRR 8.9% 27/07/2016 KEY CBK INDICATIVE EXCHANGE RATES 27/7/2023
Bike ride in the floods A boy rides on a rickshaw wading through a flooded street in the aftermath of Typhoon Doksuri in Valenzuela, Philipines. The death toll from a typhoon in the northern Philippines has risen to six, official figures showed Thursday, as the storm swept towards southeastern China. Typhoon Doksuri battered the main island of Luzon on Wednesday, toppling trees, knocking out power and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from coastal communities. Naimey, Thursday World leaders have reacted to an apparent coup in Niger on Wednesday, after President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by the Presidential Guard in the capital Niamey. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he spoke with the Nigerian president “earlier this morning and made clear that the United States resolutely supports him as the democratically elected president of Niger. We call for his immediate release.” Blinken was speaking at a joint press conference in New Zealand during a two-day visit. On Wednesday, the new head of regional bloc Ecowas, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said that Benin’s President Patrice Talon would be travelling to Niger on a mediation Niger successful coup draws ire of world leaders Bid to oust President of the West African country was not a surprise, says analyst Juba, Wednesday The humanitarian community in South Sudan is seeking urgent funding to transport people fleeing fighting in Sudan, mostly South Sudanese returnees, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday. “Many of those fleeing are vulnerable with no financial resources to continue their journey inside the country,” said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres. The spokesman said that humanitarians have been helping people reach their final destinations by river, road or air but are running out of funds. Halt transportation Without new funding, humanitarian agencies will be forced to halt transportation in two weeks’ time. ”With no onward transportation available, more people will become stranded in and around the border towns where humanitarian services are already overstretched,” Dujarric said. “We need 26.4 million U.S. dollars to continue providing this service until the end of the year,” he added. Human capital development critical to achieving inclusive growth in Africa, declare African leaders South Sudanese humanitarians seek funding mission. Talon was in Abuja for a meeting with the Nigerian leader. It is unclear whether he will be mediating on behalf of Ecowas or Tinubu himself. Speaking before his departure, Talon said, “All means will be used, if necessary, to restore constitutional order in Niger, but ideally everything should happen in peace and harmony.” “The situation is worrying enough that Ecowas and President Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, a neighbour of Niger, with Benin, also a neighbour of Niger, take it seriously and want to act quickly,” Talon added. Not a surprise The coup d’état in Niger did not come as a surprise to some political some analysts and observers. As the only G5 Sahel country, along with Mauritania, not governed by a military regime, Niger has been somewhat isolated. Add to that a cocktail of insecurity and corruption and it was only a matter of Uganda confirms cholera outbreak Senegal repatriates Moroccan migrants San Suu Kyi moved out of jail to house Uganda has confirmed the outbreak of cholera after six people tested positive for the disease in the country’s central and eastern regions. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, told journalists in the capital of Kampala on Wednesday that the disease had been confirmed in Uganda’s central district of Kayunga and eastern district of Namayingo. “So far about three samples obtained from Kayunga confirmed positive upon testing at the public health laboratories, and also three samples in Namayingo tested positive,” Ainebyoona added. “Our rapid response teams are working with the districts to ensure they contain the spread of cholera.” According to the ministry, the public is being sensitized on measures. - Xinhua Senegal repatriated some 50 of its nationals intercepted in recent weeks in Morocco, trying to emigrate to Europe. The group was repatriated from Dakhla, Western Sahara. A total of 450 Senegalese migrants have been apprehended in Morocco in recent weeks. The Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs said the repatriated migrants were brought back due to health reasons. “We were able to bring back with us about 50 migrants whose health, of course, requires evacuation by air. So the 19 who were hospitalized. We left one more in the hospital, which is still quite ill,” said Annette Seck, Senegal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The remaining almost 430 migrants were to be brought back home by bus from Morocco in the coming days. - BBC Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to house arrest after the military detained her following a coup in February 2021.Ms Suu Kyi was taken to a government building in Nay Pyi Taw on Monday, prison sources told BBC Burmese. She’d spent a year in solitary confinement. The 78-year-old is serving a 33-year sentence, after being jailed in closed-door, military-run trials. Almost no news has emerged about her condition in more than two years. There has been no confirmation from the military of her transfer from jail, but the move to house arrest could be a positive sign from the authorities, who have faced numerous calls to release the country’s democratically-elected leader. - BBC BRIEFLY NIGER IN TURMOIL Sahel region has experienced several coups since August 2020 in countries plagued by jihadist violence, before the current one in Niger. The president, sequestered in his official residence, and his government, however, said Thursday still represent the legitimate authorities of the country. The junta, which brings together all the corps of the army, the gendarmerie, and the police, suspended the institutions, closed the land and air borders, and established a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. time, says analyst Garba Moussa. “Since February there have been hints of a coup d’état, but we didn’t know where it would come from,” he explains. “Today we have seen that it was from inside the presidential guard. Mutinous elements detained the president. “So, for the other units, like the national guard and the special forces, this is what they were waiting for to take power.” Another probable cause, according to Moussa, is the pressure put on Niamey, the capital, which is more vulnerable to jihadist attacks. “Of the 3 countries, Mali and Niger, our capital is much closer to insecure areas like the Tilabéri region and others. “As a result, there is pressure from the population or from refugees in Niamey. “We also have relatives who are forced to move from their usual areas of residence to areas where they have no homes, no economic power, and this leads to weariness among the population in general.” After Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, some that the coup is a symptom of a backward slide in democracy. But Moussa suggests this may not be the case, when considering the corruption and poor governance that have been denounced for years. Young people and rural areas are paying the price, he says. “On the one hand, there are the young people who have no jobs and no hope. On the other, there’s rural Niger, which is forced to go and beg in the sub-region.“So, all in all, there is simply a kind of elite that has monopolised economic power without any thought of redistributing income. “So in my opinion, any change at some point will give us hope.” - Agencies 17 WORLD NEWS FOR MORE NEWS VISIT: www.pd.co.ke / www.epaper. pd.co.ke Friday, July 28, 2023
18 PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 Spice @harriet86jim Flavour your day There’s a resurgence of interest in the continent’s wildlife films. And as Harriet James writes, this has contributed in the rising numbers of local filmmakers who are now brazenly and unapologetically claiming their space narrative when it comes to nature and wildlife. “The power of cinematic storytelling cannot be overemphasised in shaping the conservation agenda in the country. Films do communicate to the heart. As a state department, we appreciate the place of storytelling in inspiring ideas and provoking innovative solutions,” says Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya. “Through our partnership with Wildscreen, we will harness the power of storytelling, fi lm, and innovation to inspire global communities and drive lasting positive change in environmental conservation,” says KWS acting director general Dr Erustus Kanga, adding that such festivals would help raise voices, tell compelling stories, as well as mobilise others to join in the vital mission of wildlife conservation for posterity. “With dedication, collaboration, and a steadfast belief in our ability to overcome challenges, we will ensure a sustainable and thriving future for wildlife and humanity alike,” he continues. Tough journey up Anthony Ochieng Onyango is the founder and director of Tony Wild. He says when he took the fi rst step into the fi lm world, the space was such a lonely place because there were few Kenyans in fi lmmaking. “There were few locals doing this kind of thing or if they were a part of any fi lm crew, they were given roles as drivers or cooks, but not necessarily holding the camera to tell the story. However, this has changed probably in the last fi ve years or so and now we have directors, producers and camera persons fi lming wildlife and local fi lmmakers being able to get access to wildlife conservation storytelling and supporting storytelling that feeds into the local market,” he says. He is also glad that unlike before when fi lmmaking wasn’t recognised as a prestigious job, it is currently appreciated. “Filmmaking has become more than a support system in terms of media. It means that there is a bigger space for it and we are not doing it because it’s a job, but a conservation action and a support system. Conservation is not just meant for conservationists, but also for every person regardless of the career they are in,” says Anthony. Even with such successes, however, lack of funds remains one of the main challenges that such fi lmmakers face when it comes W hile wildlife fi lm in Africa has greatly impacted the conservation world and promoted the continent as an ideal tourist destination, the saddest bit is the fact that control by white people has made it look a bit colonial. However, Kenyans are now taking charge of the sector and younger fi lmmakers are rising up to tell the African story their own way. In addition, companies, such as the National Geographic and international broadcaster BBC are leading the way with new approaches to global storytelling that deliver diversity and equity. There are also numerous training opportunities for local fi lmmakers and other industry players. At the fi rst-ever African Wildscreen Festival that was held in Nairobi a fortnight ago heralded as a landmark moment for natural world storytelling, fi lmmakers from across the country came together to learn, network and speak on the evolution of the industry. It happened following the success of the 2022 Festival Hub, as Nairobi has evolves to be the location to host continental events. Access to talent The two-day festival saw a collaborative partnership between Wildscreen, BBC Studios Natural History Unit, Wildlife Direct, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Film Commission (KFC), and the African Wildlife Foundation. In addition, it served as a wake-up call to the broader natural world fi lm and TV industry providing much-needed attention and access to talent, creativity and stories within Africa. “Seeing so many African fi lmmakers sharing the stage with international giants of the industry was profound. I am so grateful for the support from the Kenya government, universities, our media industry and international partners for embracing African wildlife fi lmmakers. This festival has enormous potential to transform the wildlife fi lmmaking industry for good,” said Wildlife Direct CEO Dr Paula Kahumbu. Wildlife fi lm has been known to hold a powerful tool in ensuring a shift in the to creating their projects. When she began creating wildlife documentaries, Paula recalls how it took time before conservationists funded her shows. “We had no money and a lot of the conservationists didn’t want to give us money, as it was just for conservation not for entertainment or education. We made that show without a budget and had conversations on conservation. It really KANGA Through our partnership with Wildscreen, we will harness the power of storytelling, fi lm, and innovation to inspire global communities and drive lasting positive change in environmental conservation showed us that there was a hunger in the country to discuss isssues on conservation. Later on though, the show attracted donors, such as United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for further production of the programming,” says Paula. Funding for self Some of the fi lmmakers self-funded their projects and have turned out to be the greatest investments they’ve ever made. “You need to look at it in terms of it being a business, and you need to fi gure out where your capital is coming from, including your time, network and resources, not just money. If you really want to do something, you need to fi gure out what can you do with what you have and here, you have your network resources and the fi rst part is your social and print media where you can do your exhibition as a photographer. We also have different associations where you can join whether in fi lmmaking or photography, which can help you get your name out,” explains Anthony. He adds that aspiring fi lmmakers can also fi nd jobs and save up for their projects. “There are people who would want to hire you for your skill set and you can be able to save up for your project. There are also funds, but then you have to check out which kind of stories the organisation requires. There are other business entities as well that are looking for ways to promote conservation storytelling as part of their corporate social responsibility to conserve the environment,” he says. Another challenge that wildlife fi lmmakers face is the lack of platforms to showcase their A wildlife filming crew. COURTESY THE RISE OF AFRICA’S WILDLIFE FILM
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY SPICE 19 SWEETNSOUR By Jackson Onyango and Peter Ndoria The Phoenix Theatre, at Professional Centre, Nairobi, has been steadily rising from its ashes and experiencing a revival this year with a string of showings, especially performances by vernacular groups keeping its theatre doors open. The iconic venue will from today be home to Architect, a play written by the Kenya Theatre Awards nomine Adeti Mahaga and directed by Tash Mitambo. It will run until Sunday. Architect is a cryptic, dark yet sincere story of how power can be used to construct and deconstruct, all in the pursuit of justice that is found in all the wrong places. It stars among others, Allan Sifuna and Keffa Simiyu. THEJOINT WITH IAN GITOBU Ol Jogi wildlife conservancy Being one of Africa’s most impressive private wildlife conservancies, Ol Jogi Conservancy has been in the family’s ownership for more than 40 years and serves as a refuge for the protection and advancement of wildlife conservation. Nestled in the heart of Kenya, near Nanyuki town, it spans over 58,000 acres, with an exceptional conservancy that stands as a beacon of hope for wildlife conservation in East Africa. Renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, Ol Jogi offers a sanctuary for a wide array of endangered species, making it a conservationist’s paradise. From majestic elephants gracefully roaming the savannah to elusive leopards prowling in the shadows, every safari here is a memorable adventure. Whether it’s the breathtaking landscapes, the abundance of wildlife, or the conservation efforts at play, Ol Jogi offers an unforgettable experience . work. However, social media has been a blessing to them, as it is through such platforms that some of them have been able to showcase their work. “What we need to do is tell our own stories more, and I am happy to see the revolution that has been happening over the years and have our faces on the screen. Having an African voice and face, telling the story sets the pace that we can tell our own stories. There are plenty of opportunities online when the big boys don’t pick up your work. Don’t just wait for funding or partnerships, but look for innovative ways to do it,” says Faisel Malik, a producer and director at Visual Africa Films Limited. Affordability hurdles The mainstream media has also witnessed the rise in hunger when it comes to the uptake of wildlife documentaries and other TV content. “While they want entertainment, they also want to be informed and wildlife documentaries are what they want to continue to see. That information is true because it guides us when we do our acquisitions,” states Safaricom TV and Media Content senior manager Catherine Wanjiku Njari. However, even as they face piracy as one of their challenges, the beauty of wildlife content is that it is unique and has less piracy unlike other contents. Price sensitivity though is one of the factors that make less customers pay for the content. “Customers are price sensitive and don’t want to pay for content, so they struggle with business models. The other thing is that customers don’t have the right devices to watch the fi lms. That makes us think of how we can get affordable devices for our customers to make sure that they are consuming more content. There is also the issue of customer awareness and internet affordability. The customers still feel that we are expensive,” she explains. As a solution, Anthony urges local stations to invest in wildlife fi lmmakers, as this not only boosts their work, but also enables them earn a living. “We need our TV stations to invest in local wildlife fi lmmakers in that they could have slots where it’s purely wildlife fi lmmakers who actually show their work. The conservation fi lms should be translated into local languages too,” he recommends. Call for support While he appreciates the support that KFC has accorded fi lmmakers over the years, he urges the government to allocate more resources for the industry and ensuring that the fi lmmakers have access to the funds. In conclusion, the festival host Jahawi Bertolli says there’s a seismic shift in the wildlife fi lmmaking, urging the fi lmmakers to “think outside the box.” “It really has felt like a signifi cant moment for African wildlife storytelling. In a sense, it’s like a seismic shift, and things are now rumbling; the energy is there, and it’s now for us to take that energy and run with it and put it to good use. We have creative thinking; how can we get our fi lms funded? What kind of platforms can we put them on? Let’s think outside of the box, let’s look at small-scale fi lms, because we’re all working for one goal, and if we can all do it together, then we’ll really make that difference,” he says in ending. TZ, Nigerian music dominate streaming platforms in Kenya This past week, various digital streaming platforms (DSPs) domestic statistics revealed the highest streaming artistes in Kenya. Tanzanian artists continue to dominate Kenyan music consumers’ playlists with Nigerian s coming in second. On YouTube, the video on demand streaming app reflected the following descending order of views: Diamond Platnumz (118 million), Rayvanny (88.5M), Zuchu (pictured) had 76.7 million, Harmonize (74.6M), Mbosso (54.9M), Ayra Starr (49.8M), Jay Melody (47.3M), Msanii Music Group (46.4M), Ruger (44.9M) and Burna Boy (43M). On Apple Music Top 100 songs in Kenya, no Kenyan song featured in the Top 30 until Bien’s Too Easy appears at position 32 and Lil Maina’s Kinare at number 56. There was no difference in other platforms, including Spotify, Audiomack and Boomplay. “This is embarrassing! We really need to up our game and come together as an industry. No one can do it on their own anymore,” lamented singer Nadia Mukami. Architect play takes centre stage at Phoenix Silvia Museiya Dr Paula Kahumbu Fedelis Kyalo and Anthony Ochieng. PD/HARRIET JAMES Jahawi Bertolli
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY 20 Clique & Clicks Get Spotted by Elly Gitau Tequila lovers in Kenya recently joined the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s National Tequila Day, a world celebration of tequila that is marked annually on July 24. In this regard, the East African Breweries Ltd (EABL) organised a tasting session for Don Julio, one of the fi nest tequilas in the world. The event saw the team showcase various varieties of the drink together with the accompanying fl avours, both as a cocktail and straight shots. The day is dedicated to celebrating and enjoying tequila. Crafted from the blue agave plant, tequila has a rich history dating back centuries, and this day offers enthusiasts a chance to immerse themselves in its cultural signifi cance and diverse fl avours. During the occasion, DJ Andre Addiction served the music fl avour from the decks. PD/ALEX MBURU EABL reserve brand manager Kevin Kamau. DRINK OF THE DAY Chrome Vodka brand manager Victoria Mbugua. Don Julio’s Ann Njuki and Peter Hekynen. Reserve brand ambassador Alex Kavita makes a cocktail. EABL Spirits Team Zipporah Ndung’u, Kennedy Mutula and Brigid Wambua. Guests Wilfred Wekesa and Janet Muraguri enjoying cocktails. DJ Andre Addiction on the wheels of steel.
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY 21 BY MUTHOKI KITHANZE In his debut book, Levi Kones gives a deeply personal account of his life with unabashed candidness. There Is No Useless Experience: 20 Lessons From the University of Life, is a cautionary tale for readers, taking them inside Levi’s adult life where he makes reckless choices that bear fundamental consequences. Levi is a Nairobi-based journalist who rose to fame after participating in a reality weight loss TV show dubbed, Slimpossible where he met and proposed to his wife Wangeci Kones. He lost about 36 kilogrammes, which he piled back on, as he reveals in the book. The book provides a strong sense of place, making the reading experience immersive and enjoyable. To give an example, Levi gives a protracted narration of his stay in the United States. During his five-year stay he strikes success but quickly extinguishes through reckless decisions like driving under the influence, violating immigration laws, and excessive indulgence in alcohol. The book touches on important themes like money, friendship, social media, relationships, gender-based violence, religion, and mental health as the writer draws lessons he has learned through lived experience. Describing one disgraceful moment that saw him loose his daughter, he writes: “The child walked about, stumbled over a piece of chicken lying about, began eating it, and choked on a bone. I was extremely delirious and only came to find out almost a half hour later when the baby had already turned black.” This level of vulnerability and honesty that permeates all the pages of the book will make you appreciate all the 20 lessons he shares. It is a well-paced book and makes for an easy read from the onset to the last leaf. Some references to pop culture make it Kenyan enough to enjoy. Some of the most compelling chapters in the book is his fight with colon cancer in 2018. “I remember one incident when I went in for my first chemotherapy session. My mum was in the room and after a short while, I began to vomit violently and she began to cry. I looked up and told her not to worry because I would not die.” Levi also reflects on his initial experience with marriage, exposing his insufficiency in handling differences with his wife. He also implores people to highly regard friendship, noting that friends served as his crutch when his life came tumbling down on numerous occasions. He further shares that the weight loss journey is an ongoing endeavor, and so is forgiving oneself and taking accountability for past mistakes. Indeed, as the old adage goes, choices have consequences and as Levi puts it, there is no useless experience in these choices. You can get the book by sending Sh999 to M-Pesa till number 9532947. REVIEW OF THE WEEK Poverty, hopelessness, down and out, all in one book Y ou are a book lover, booktuber and bookstagramer. How did your love for reading start? I guess being curious about words and stories made me stick to making book content whenever I could. I got inspiration from people around me and also my passion for literature drove me to try out new book-related things. This of course started at a young age, a young unstoppable mind. What do you value most about reading? Is it escapism, knowledge, or something else? I value its place in society and how it has shaped my thinking. Reading has taught me patience and understanding in many things in life. I not only read for knowledge but to save up my energies for this loud, fast and cruel world. Everyone should read more often. You run a number of initiatives, including the Kenyan Readathon, among others. Which initiative are you most proud of and why? I am proud of each and every initiative that has my name on it, but the Kenyan Readathon has my heart. I started it without expecting any engagement from people but on the contrary, it gave me a new light of curious Kenyans wanting to Have you ever read a book you didn’t like? Many times. School texts as well. but since you have to write a paper at the end of the semester, you have to pretend you enjoyed the writing. I have read books that I did not enjoy or rather like. Are you a writer as well or are you just a reader? Any published books we should know about? I am currently reading as much as I can. No published works yet, but I am writing some great stories. Your love for words runs deep that you went as far as pursuing a degree in English and Literature. What are your aspirations and plans for the literature world? I hope to be a professional writer someday. I have a few manuscripts around that I‘m working on. This degree has shaped my base for education, but I will defi nitely further my studies and get more experience in writing, not just fi ction but in other genres as well. You are obsessed with author Meja Books & Leisure The Right Reads read their works. It made me so proud. These other initiatives, such as Wazalendo Readers, is my small business that sends out monthly boxes containing a Kenyanauthored book and a few bookish goodies. This is still part of my activism in getting people to read Kenyan works. I serve to promote Kenyan literature in whichever way possible. The Kenyan Readathon has been running for three years now. Has there been any impact from this initiative? Yes! Great is an understatement. I have been able to get Kenyans to appreciate our literary works. It has created a great image of readership in Kenya and that is the most fulfi lling thing to me. I am hopeful it will get bigger in the coming years. How do you make time for reading in your daily life? Do you have any reading rituals or habits? I do not have any rituals because I know I have to read. Reading is part of my day. It is usually unpredictable on the time I’m going to pick up my Kindle or a physical copy of a book. I have made it a habit that it just comes naturally and unannounced, it is just in me. I cannot say I have a specifi c time of the day set aside for reading. I read because I have to. Cultivating reading culture in Kenya LUBANGA Reading is part of my day. It is usually unpredictable on the time I’m going to pick up my Kindle or a physical copy of a book. I have made it a habit; it comes naturally Mwangi’s books. Why is that? This is probably the easiest yet toughest question I get to answer, almost every day. Well, I put myself into this beautiful mess, so I have to own up and tell the world why. Meja Mwangi speaks to me not just as a writer, but also as an educator. I appreciate his way of thinking in his works and the force he puts into drawing our societies as they are, frankly. He is such an honest writer and of course, the humour is perfect, as it should be. I appreciate every single effort he has made to make Kenyan literature remarkable. I won’t call this an obsession, but rightfully giving him his fl owers. I mean, it is Meja Mwangi. Are there any upcoming events or initiatives we should look out for? Yes! The fourth edition of the Kenyan Readathon in September. But before that, I will be hosting a book tour in August for Whisper in the Jungle by Robert Mwangi at Alliance Française Auditorium in Nairobi on August 11. I will also be hosting another book signing event in September. These are events that I have helped organise and everyone is invited to attend. With her books and reading initiatives, LexaLubanga aims at influencing change towards reading culture among people. COURTESY They say too much of something is poison. Well, this might apply on eating a gallon of ice cream or gobbling bottles of beer every day, but as Lexa Lubanga explains, this does not apply on reading every day. She is a literature enthusiast whose life and work revolves around books, reading and pushing Kenyan literature to the world. Imou Eparis recently had a sit-down with her not to worry because I would not die.” regard friendship, noting that friends and so is forgiving oneself and taking Sh999 to M-Pesa till number 9532947. Poverty, hopelessness, down and out, all in one book
enjoy ecotourism within and outside the wetlands of Dunga. Therefore, the rapid development could be a result of the devolved unit creating awareness of the area as a potential tourism and business hub,” Odhiambo explains. He adds, “The area is a tourist attraction area, mainly boat rides for leisure, beach hotels and resorts.” Additionally, he says proliferation of business activities at the revamped Dunga beach is stimulating real estate growth. “Most of traders who were displaced when Kenya Railways moved to claim its lands, especially around Lwang’ni Beach relocated to the nearest Dunga Beach, thereby giving the hitherto dead place a new lease of life,” he says. Displaced neighbourhoods Subsequently, Odhiambo says Dunga area is experiencing remarkable redevelopment. This, he says presents positive growth opportunities for Kisumu’s real estate industry. “The once poor neighborhood is slowly being changed by wealthier people moving in, improving housing and attracting new business in the area. The poor neighborhoods are slowly being displaced, making the area even more attractive,” he offers. Lake Estate Agency Limited director Nishma Karia agrees, saying the latest development is being accelerated by improved infrastructure and transportation links, as well as the natural beauty and unique attractions of the Dunga area. “Other than the rise of palatial apartments, Dunga has also attracted other related developments, such as high-end hotels and resorts,” she says. Karia says other factors behind the notable growth, include improved market demand for high-end properties and luxury hospitality services and rising income levels and disposable income of potential buyers . “It’s important to note that these factors are speculative and may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the development niche,” she adds. Odhiambo foresees more development prospects in the area, considering that there are still opportunities that have come with its opening up that investors can explore. “Most native homes could be replaced by high-rise serviced apartments and hotels,” he says. The industry players say ongoing rapid growth here is driving up property prices too. As a result ,a sharp rise in land value has been experienced. Karia says developers are looking to invest in such areas within the town peripheries, a situation that could see land prices rise further. “Land values have increased in the area due to scarcity. The prices of plots are predicted to skyrocket further, especially with the increasing demand,” she says. Currently, the land market value for a quarter of an acre that used to be around Sh3 million in 2016 and 2017, is now fetching more than Sh5 million, especially when buying from subsequent owners as opposed to the natives. “Land inventory for sale has greatly 22 PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 Boma Home of Property & Leisure Realtors attribute the ongoing development to driving factors such as infrastructural development, its proximity to Lake Victoria and increased commercial businesses by Noven Owiti @PeopleDailyKe K isumu’s Dunga area is experiencing a resurgence in development, with notable real estate growth taking shape recently. A quick transformation has been witnessed in the waterfront area in recent times as more investors move in to reap from the mushrooming property growth on the town’s outskirts. The once deserted wetlands characterised by thick bushes and reeds is quickly turning into an upmarket estate. Years back, only a handful of people inhabited the place, with houses miles apart. Majority of the developers in the area adjacent to Lake Victoria have built stand-alone residential apartments while others who are home owners have put up maisonettes. There is also a surge in hotel development projects. Notably, several high-end hotels and resorts have come up here in recent past. The lake shore area is also home to recreational facilities, such as Dunga Hill camp, Dunga Bay, Dunga Lakeside Resort, among others. Bedvin Property Limited director Benard Odhiambo says improvement of road network and other infrastructure in Dunga area reduced in the area, with very few properties listed in the open market. Most of the available properties are only available as off-market deals. This is a far cry from earlier on when there were many properties on sale,” Odhiambo explains. Comparatively, the house rents have also changed significantly with a one bedroom apartment fetching nearly Sh20,000 monthly from rent of between Sh7,000 and Sh10,000 five years ago. The experts says the rent rates here have doubled within the last five years. The realtors point at land scarcity, poor planning, seasonal flooding and sewerline connectivity as major challenges that stand in the way of real estate development in the area. “Being a waterfront Dunga is bedevilled by land scarcity since apart from water and the protected wetlands, its immediate neighbours are the developed Milimani Estate and Nyalenda, which are already bursting their seams in terms of property development. Its expansion is, therefore, put in check,” says Odhiambo. The property agent says poor planning could hinder future development prospects of the estate, warning that the area may eventually turn into a slum despite its beautiful waterfront features. “Most of the buildings are being built haphazardly with no clear plan for the utility of the greater area as investors move in to quickly build and take advantage of the windfall in rental income,” he states. Zoning regulations Karia conquers, saying the way the area has been mapped and zoned hampers property development. Odhiambo observes that apart from a few raised areas, Dunga is essentially a wetland area prone to flooding, especially during the wet months when Lake Victoria water levels rise. This, he says poses a huge challenge to real estate development. To remedy the planning problem, he recommends that the county administration fast-tracks zoning regulations and the spatial plan to guide development in the area. The move, he says will check unplanned and inappropriate development. Further, he emphasises the need to expand necessary amenities, such as sewer lines and inroads to accommodate the rising population. “The county in conjunction with the national government should also work towards finding permanent solution to the floods menace in the area,” he states. Kisumu County Government also recently made a decision in partnership with a private investor, to set up a high-end hotel at both Dunga and Hippo Point beaches. Governor Anyang’ Nyong recently announced plans to develop the Kisumu waterfront through a joint venture with Greenmont Limited and the City Directorate to develop a five-star Marina Hotel at Dunga and Hippo Point through a leasing agreement under the Local Physical Land Use Development Plan. is accelerating its fast development. For instance, he says the construction of new roads, such as Impala-Dunga to a bitumen status has opened the area for further development. “The road has been a game changer in the growth prospect. Before its construction, the area was either a cloud of dust or muddied depending on the season. Expansion of reoad networks has made it more attractive to investors,” he explains. Rigorous marketting Further, Odhiambo believes that the government’s renewed focus on tapping the blue economy opportunities is also triggering property development on Kisumu’s lake front. As such, he says more prospective developers are streaming in the area to put up their preferred projects. “Investors are taking up space to await the goodies that will come with a boost in that direction considering the fact that the area is a beach front,” he says. On the other hand, the entrepreneur notes that the notable growth could also be as a result of rigorous efforts by the county administration to market the lakefront areas. “The county government has continued to market the waterfront, with a spatial plan clearly showing a proposed promenade to KARIA It’s important to note that these factors are speculative and may vary depending on the speciic circumstances of the development niche Why Kisumu’s Dunga area is experiencing rapid real estate growth A section of palatial apartments at Dunga area in Kisumu city.PD/ NOVEN OWITI Some properties developed along newly constructed Impala-Dunga Road. PD/ NOVEN OWITI
Mix with contemporary pieces Many interior designers now use vintage items as accents for more modern rooms. A mix of antique and contemporary furniture creates an eclectic look that’s great for those who like both styles but don’t want their homes fi lled with antiques. Try using vintage items as conversation starters around the living room —an old clock on top of a bookshelf or a set of antique dishes displayed in the dining area are both great ways to start a conversation about your home’s design aesthetic, whether it’s meant to be casual or formal! Mix neutral colours You can also use neutral colors to offset the aged look of your vintage items. For example, if you have a table with a lot of character and history, paint the frame a neutral color like white or gray to create some contrast and balance the look of your home decor. You could also paint other furniture in your room a neutral color so that everything doesn’t stand out as much because it’s all vintage. Don’t clutter One of the most common mistakes those who love vintage decor make is over-cluttering with these pieces. If you have too many vintage items in your home, it can be outdated or even messy. Instead, pick out only a few pieces with special meaning to you and use them as accents throughout your home. Traditional vintage decor Traditional vintage decor is the most common type of vintage decor, and it’s designed to give the viewer a sense of nostalgia through the use of familiar images and objects. You can achieve a traditional home decor look by incorporating items from your past or your mother’s or grandmother’s past into your home design. Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY BOMA 23 WAIRATU We also want to seek Members of Parliament’s help for some regulations at both National and County governments level, so that we can participate on anything policy related The vintage style home decor guide THELOUNGE To tackle surging cases of fradulent land deals, lack of transparency and mistrust in the sector, realtors have formed a common body to restore sanity as the chairman of the newly found Association of Real Estate Stakeholders, Kinyua Wairatu explains by Bernard Sigei @PeopleDailyKe What informed the establisment of the Association of Real Estate Stakeholders? The main aim was to restore the confi dence of clients who are buying land or planning to invest in one. Land barons have, for years swindled home seekers of their money running into millions of shillings, who in most cases have failed to recover anything from these illicit land dealers. If this perception continues, the industry is staring at losing its credibility. Our work as an association is to bring back dignity to the sector. We want to tell everybody that not all sellers are fraudsters. What are the qualifications for a property company to be a member of the umbrella? First and foremost, a company hoping to join the association should be scandalfree, and must not have rebranded their company. We don’t register foul companies, as we have their names and we know their directors. We thoroughly vet companies before they join us to ensure that they meet the necessary requirements and adhere to ethical business practices in order to build a network of reputable real estate companies that the public can trust and rely on. Otherwise, genuine land dealers are welcome. So far, we have signed up over 500 land sellers and plan to push up the numbers. What are some of the objectives of the association? Some of our objectives, include adding value to our members. They should be able to sell even without advertising, because people trust the umbrela body in which the members belong. An association is like an insurance. We have to make sure Our plan to weed out land frauds, bring back order in sector every member sells. We are launching a website, which will showcase all our members, and clients can check before making any deals as one way of observing due diligence. What strategies do you employ to position your members as genuine entities? Most recently, we were humbled to receive some talented group of artistes who came forth and pledged to work with us. In their own way, they explained to the people how the association has revived confi dence and trust in the sector, which is well known for attracting. They encouraged people to work with registered associations such as ours to avoid being conned. Many strategies are in the works, which will be witnessed in the near future. What is your plea to the government? We are fully supporting the government in its plan to provide affordable houses for citizens. We cannot do what the government is able to do, such as providing housing to those who are already employed. This sector is quite wide and can accommodate all of us. We only urge the state to work hand in hand with us, because we are the people who understand the sector well. We know who is genuine and who is a scrupulous land seller. We also want to seek Members of Parliament’s help for some regulations at both National and County governments level, so that we can participate on anything policy related, such as bills touching on land, because, as stakeholders, we play a great role in the industry. What challenges are you facing as an association so far? The main challenge is people thinking that we are in a competition. We don’t compete with any association. Other related bodies have their own goals and objectives and what we are trying to do is what they haven’t been able to do to restore client confi dence. Tell us more about yourself? I am the CEO of Maono Lands Limited and I got into real estate and property sector in 2016. Before that, I was employed by a reputable company which sold land, which inspired me to set up my own comapany. I had acquired needed skills, information and experience in the trade. I fi st became a broker at some point, and the proceeds I got helped me to buy several pieces of land, and I have never looked back since. I can say land selling is a lucrative business. DÉCOR WITH BETTY MUINDI @BettyMuindi 01 02 03 04 One of the fun things about decorating your home is choosing your interior design style. Whether you want to go with traditional or contemporary, rustic or modern, your style can say a lot about who you are and how you want to express yourself. If you love the qualities of vintage, antique items, but you want a bit more modern style in your home, you’re in luck. Here are ways to decorate with vintage pieces while still maintaining a clean, contempo-
PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 24 ENTERTAINMENT ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 You will ind that you are able to clear up a number of small but important details. You will enjoy the interaction with youngsters and take great pride in the projects you’ve completed. TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 Think before you act. Unforeseen circumstances will disrupt your daily routine. Compromise will be necessary. GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 21 Colleagues may try to undermine you. Call siblings or old friends to catch up on recent news. Now is the time for completing hobbies that you’ve been working on for a long time. CANCER JUNE 22 - JULY 22 Be careful not to reveal private information. You’ll ind it easy to charm members of the opposite sex today. Social activity should be on your agenda. LEO JULY 23 -AUGUST 22 You will be emotional when dealing with coworkers or employers. Look into joining groups that can give you hands-on advice about business. VIRGO AUGUST 23 - SEPT 22 You would be wise to consider attending lectures that will broaden your awareness concerning your professional direction. Travel should be on your agenda. LIBRA SEPT 23 - OCT 22 This day was meant for love. Make creative changes to your residence. You may want to talk to your boss about your future goals. Don’t blow situations out of proportion. SCORPIO OCT 23 - NOV 21 You can learn valuable information if you listen and observe what others are doing and saying. SAGITTARIUS NOV22 - DEC 20 Your pursuits may end up being fruitless. Risky ventures may turn in your favor. Get back into a routine that promises a better looking, more aware individual. CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 19 Focus, and concentrate on yourself and your future. Get involved in physical activities that will stimulate you. AQUARIUS JAN 20 - FEB 18 Try not to lend or borrow money or belongings today. Look into any educational activities involving the whole family. Don’t count on getting any help from those you live with. PISCES FEB 19 - MARCH 20 If you can, try to work out of your home today. Your competitive nature will enable you to win any contest you enter. HOROSCOPES LIFE’S LIKE THAT! | BY TUM Sudoku The aim is to ill the grid so that each row, column and every 3x3 shaded box contains only one of the digits 1-9. You need to reason out where to place the missing numbers by using the numbers given in the grid and a process of elimination. It is a game of logic not mathematical ability. YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION ACROSS 1. Morse 7. Patricia 8. Louis 10. David Frost 12. Weakling 14. Wand 16. Saki 17. Slimming 20. Eradicated 23. Rebus 24. Redskins 25. Annoy DOWN 1. Mellow 2. Said 3. taxi 4. Drift 5. Acrobatic 6. Matted 9. Sally 11. Backwards 13. Nil 15. amber 16. Shears 18. Grisly 19. Risky 21. Anna 22. Dean 1 3 5 7 8 4 2 3 6 7 5 1 1 8 6 2 7 8 1 4 7 2 8 4 5 6 2 1 1 3 8 5 6 7 4 9 2 5 4 9 8 2 3 7 6 1 2 7 6 4 9 1 3 5 8 6 2 1 3 7 5 8 4 9 4 8 3 2 1 9 5 7 6 7 9 5 6 8 4 2 1 3 9 5 2 1 4 8 6 3 7 8 1 4 7 3 6 9 2 5 3 6 7 9 5 2 1 8 4 5:00 France 24 5.05 Maombi 5:30 Gear Up 6:00 Good Morning Kenya 10:00 NewsCheck 1:00 KBC Lunch time News 2:00 Cynthia Nyamai 2:30 Disco Funk 3:00 Animation 5:00 Club 1 6:30 Drama 7:00 Taarifa 7:30 Maza 8:00 I Dare You To Leave 9:00 KBC Channel 1 News 10:30 The Rave 11:00 CGTN 12:30 France 24 5.00 Password Plus 6.00 Am Live 8.00 Better Living 9.00 On The Wings Of Love 10.00 Music Mix 11.00 NTV Today 1.00 NTV at 1 1.30 Music Mix 3.00 Blood Sisters 3.30 The Three Sides Of Ana - Rpt 4.00 NTV At 4 4.15 Password Plus 5.00 The Heat 6.00 It Had To Be You 7.00 NTV Jioni 8.00 Forever My Love 9.00 NTV Tonight 10.00 Movie 11.00 Music Mix 12.00 CNN 06:00 Your Motor Week 06:30 Command Your Morning 07:00 Afrimaxx 09:00 Tendereza 09:30 News Hour 10:00 Afriscreen 12:00 Amplify 12:30 The killer Bride 1:00 News Desk 1.30 Sports Legends 2:00 Afriscreen 3:30 Akili & Me 4:00 Mbiu Ya KTN 4:10 Winx Club 6:00 Prima Donnas 7:00 KTN Leo 7:30 Sports legends 8:00 Whats your story 9:00 KTN Friday Brieing 10:21 Movie 10:30 Movie 11:00 Baseline 1.00 Aljazeera 4:00 Pambazuka 05:30 PE At Home 06:00 Day Break 09:00 Cartoons Animation 10:00 Music Mix generic 15:00 Afrosinema 11:00 Sema Na Citizen 11:15 Afrosinema 12:15 Afrosinema 13:00 Sema Na Citizen 14:00 Mseto Africa 15:00 The Neighbour 15:54 Supa Sema 16:00 News Brief 16:15 PE At Home 17:30 Rubi 18:30 Machachari 19:00 Nipashe 19:30 Sultana 20:00 Vencer El Desamor 21:00 JK Live 23:05 Mis Fortuna El Marte 00:00 Afrosinema 01:00 News Night KBC CITIZEN NTV 5.00 Ime Ria Ruciini 6.00 Rikiratha 10.00 Kurekereria Kodi- Live 12.00 Ndurumeni Maturaini 1.00 Mohoro Gitau-Live 1.30 Kayu Ka Ruriri- Rpt 2.00 Thiririka 3.00 Kiengei Live- Rpt 4.00 Ririmbuka -Live 6.00 Maisha Bure- Rpt 6.30 Magerio- Rpt 7.00 Kameme Maturaini- Live 7.30 Mbugi Matu 8.00 Gatumia Karogi 9.00 Taranda 9.00 Mutamburuko Wa Mohoro- Live 10.00 Kigooco- Live 1.00 DW 5.00 Inuka 6.00 New Dawn 7.30 K24 This Morning 9.55 Wisdom Moments 10.00 Inuka- Rpt 11.00 Mchipuko 1.00 K24 News Cut 1.30 Jungu La Spoti 2.00 You Were There 3.00 Turning Point Intl.- Rpt 3.00 Ubongo Kids 3.30 Akili & Me 4.00 K24 Mashinani 4.30 Mchipuko Extra 5.00 Beatbox 6.00 Tangled Hearts 7.00 K24 Saa Moja 7.30 Aap Ke Aa Jane Se 8.00 Brazil Avenue 8.30 BBC- Focus On Africa 9.00 K24 Evening Edition 10.00 BBC- Dira Ya Dunia 10.30 Beat Box 11.30 Al Jazeera Timeout Sudoku solutions 6.00pm TANGLED HEARTS KTN ACROSS 1. Buy (8) 5. Arab (4) 7. Take risks (4) 8. Grand, impressive (8) 9. Small in size (60 12. Come down (7) 15. Spectre (7) 19. He lacks courage! (6) 21. Camouflage (8) 22. Church dignitary (4) 23. Alter (4) 24. Beautiful (8) DOWN 1. Canoe oar (6) 2. Breast (5) 3. Australian town, ___ Springs (5) 4. Run out (6) 5. Picture of many parts (6) 6. Consider (6) 10. Brass instrument (4) 11. Booty (4) 12. Block (3) 13. Japanese wrestling (4) 14. Sicilian volcano (4) 15. Curly-haired dog (6) 16. Sweetmeat (6) 17. Pleasure trip (6) 18. Handsome youth (6) 19. Absolve (5) 20. Block (5) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY CLASSIFIEDS / NOTICES 25 PUBLIC AUCTION AT AUTO GALLERY YARD LOCATED ALONG WAIYAKI WAY, OPP. LION PLACE – WESTLANDS NAIROBI ON 16.08.2023 AT 11.00 A.M (A) LANDLORD VS. UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY (B) HUMPHREY PERU (C) RACHAEL JENIPHER MUNDIA (TENANTS) GARAM INVESTMENTS AUCTIONEERS Western Heights, 5th Floor, Karuna Road-Westlands Nairobi, Wireless 020 2592949/90, 0722715838/0786318663, P.O.Box 63279-00619 Nairobi e-mail:[email protected], website: www.garam.co.ke (A) Coffee table, Rolling arm chairs, Cabinets, Glasstop table, Pedestals, Desks, Curtain blinds (B) 40” TV, Microwave, Water dispenser, Floor carpet, 2 Burner table top cooker + 13kg Hass gas cylinder, 5-Seater sofaset + puff (C) Sideboard, Ariston 4 burner cooker + 13kg cylinder, Plastic seat + plastic stands, Nets, Washing machine, Coat hanger NB: Pictures of the aforementioned goods can be viewed on our website www.garam.co.ke CONDITIONS OF SALE 1. Viewing is on the same day at 9.00 a.m. 2. Payment terms will be Cash at the fall of the hammer. 3. Sale will be subject to reserve price. PUBLIC AUCTION Duly instructed by our principals, we shall sell by Public Auction the under mentioned goods at Pangani Auction Centre, Murang’a Road opposite Guru Nanak Hospital Nairobi on Saturday 5th August 2023 at 11.00 A.M. IN THE MATTER OF DISTRESS FOR RENT CAP 293 LAWS OF KENYA THE LANDLORDS =VS= (A) EAGLE FLY EXECUTIVE SAFARIS (B) SAVANNA LAND LUXURY SHUTTLES (C) GOIP LIMITED (A) 1 Executive ofice desk, 1 Executive ofice chair, 3 straight back chairs, 3-seater visitors seat, Dell computer, Epson printer, small table. (B) wooden drawer, executive ofice chair, 2 straight back chairs, ofice chair (broken), ofice desk, HP printer, HP computer, Ashton Meyer kettle, dustbin. (C) Epson L386 printer, Von Hotpoint water dispenser, Wooden stand, Von Hotpoint kettle, Ramtons microwave, 2 Workstations (2 seater + 3 seater), 2 Workstations (6 seater + 2 seater), 10 Ofice desks, Boardroom table + 5 chairs, Wooden stand, 2 white boards, Small Boardroom table + 4 chairs, Skyworth TV set 43”, Metallic ile cabinet, 12 Ofice chairs, 9 Straight back chairs, Network cabinet, D-link switch + Huawei router, 7 Handset phones, Taifa laptop, HP monitor, 2 Wii Router, 3 Power extensions, 2 LG Air conditioners, 2 Banners. CONDITIONS FOR SALE 1. Strictly cash at the fall of the hammer. 2. Viewing can be done during working hours with prior arrangement with the auctioneer. BOOKING AN ADVERT HERE IS EASY... ... visit us at DSM Place, Ground, 1st & 2 nd Floors, Kijabe Street, Nairobi or email: [email protected]
WEEKEND GOLF DRAWS Vet Lab: Tomorrow, Birju Shah Memorial Trophy Scramble, 1st Tee 6:40 C. Kim / Y. Kim, A. Kimcha / M. Kamau; 6:50 N. Hirani, A. Shankla, S. Dossaji / T. Shah; 7:00 P. Gow / F. Nurani, S. Kinuthia / V. Sharma; 7:10 A. Unia / M. Shah, E. Mwangi / J. Mwangi; 7:30 M. Kinuthia / B. Mandere, Ano / Ano; 8:00 B. Lakhani / S. Chotai, S. Shah / R. Shah; 8:20 J. Kabiru / S. Mbwaya, Ano, Ano; 8:30 M. Kiunjuri / W. Mathu, D. Mwangi / M. Matumo; 11:20 Rohit Shah / K. Gretton, G. Warui / L. Munyua; 11:30 K. Okumu / J. Osoro, K. Ondieki / W. Nadida; 11:40 A. Shah / O. Shah, N. Shah / C. Shah; 11:50 P. Shah / S. Shah, K. Shah / N. Kriplani; 12:00 T. Thanwalla / D. Mukabi, K.Shah / N. Shah; 12:10 P. Shah / S. Chadha, N. Ribeiro / B. Patel; 12:40 F. Musila / Ano; 12:50 H. Joshi / R. Lakhani, C. Samani / K. Samani; 1:10 H. Patel / S. Patel, H. Patel / R. Patel; 1:20 N. Patel / V. Gudka, S. Patel / Ano: 1:30 Captain ×4. 10th Tee 7:00 N. Chandarana / A. Jobanputra, V. Sonigra / T. Nyotta; 8:00 K. Njane / C. Mbugua, Ano / Ano; 8:30 L. Bakhshi / D. Asodia, Ano / Ano; 11:30 M. Shah / A. Shah, R. Shah, P. N. Muiruri / Ano; 12:40 E. Njuki / A. Samoei; 1:00 D. Shah / K. Shah, V. Shah / N. Savla; 1:10 V. Vajpayee / V. Vajpayee, Ano / Ano. Nakuru: Tomorrow; DTB Golf Day; First Tee; 6:30 A. Hassanali, Fr A. Kipkemei, P.Ex2; 6:39 B. Kipkoech, B. Bisonga, S. Gichuki, P.E; 6:48 P.Ex4; 6:57 D. Ondieki, S. Gichohi, J. Lorum, P.E; 7:06 A. Shah, F. Gathenya, E. Wambui, P.E; 7:15 J. Bedi, F. Azad, D. Ochako, B. Ireland; 7:24 P.Ex4; 7:33 O. Njuguna, R. Kongo, J. Muyuri, P.E; 7:42 P. Lomadi, M. Wanjiru, P.Ex2; 7:51 J. Dumphy, J. Kibet, C. Makomere, P.Ex2; 8:00 T. Njuguna, L. Munyao, B. Kisoi, P. Maisuria; 8:09 W. Karanja, P. Gathii, J. Njuguna, H. Fazal; 8:18 J. Storry, E. Pennington, J. Muthee, J. Kibicho; 8:27 P.Ex4; 8:36 T. Lusaka, K.(J) Sobati, P.Ex2; 8:45 E. Wendot, H. Mbati, G. Kimani, P. Maisuria; 8:54 P.Ex4; 9:03 S N. Wachira, D. Kiiru, T. Hungi, P.E; 9:12 U. Jutley, M. Jajuha, S. Mandeep, P.E; 9:21 Fr. M. Chege, E. Kibet, Fr. C. Kamau, P.E; 9:30 D. Kabera, M.Waititu, S.N Kamau, H. Ndegwa, P. Ndegwa; 9:39 C. Bwana, P.Patel, P.Ex2; 9:48 M. Chdha, P. Okiro, B. Sokhi, P.E; 9:57 V. Chadha, D. Hunjan, M. Chana, P.E; 10:06 S. Singh, H. Singh, S. Mughal, A. Jajuha; 10:15 A. Muiruri, M. M Macharia, P. Jethwa, P.E; 10:24 E. Muya, R. Nderitu, E. Mengech, P.E; 10:33 I. Singh, K. Singh, K. Maisuria, C. Angwenyi; 10:42 A. Sahota, G.(J) Sahota, J. Chadha, P.E; 10:51 J. Kibet, J. Munyua, P. Hunjan, P.E; 11:00 P.Ex4; 11:09 K. Muraya, J. Mbagi, S. Kihumba, P.E; 11:18 S. Gachiu, P. Githui, P.Ex2; 11:27 P.Ex4; 11:36 A. Munyinyi, V. Kangethe, P.Ex2; 11:45 P.Ex4; 11:54 P.Ex4; 12:03 T. Kamunya, A. Cheruiyot, J. Kones, P.E; 12:12 S. Macharia, J. Munyua, J. Githiaka, P.E; 12:21 L. Kamau, A. Mughal, R. Maisuria. Thika Greens Golf Resort: Tomorrow, The CEOS Golf Tournament; Sponsored by, The Glenlivet, Inchcape Kenya, BMW, BMW Motorrad, CASA Capital, Chloride Exide, Vivo Energy, Pyramid Dental, Densey, Destiny Advertising, Zydii, Farmers Fresh Feeds, CMax, Corporate Masters, Mantle, Farmers Choice; First Tee AM; 6.30 F. Maina, M. Maina, S. Kajuju, M. Gatua; 6.40 W Mutugi, A. Muita, C. Muchoki, S. Mwitari; 6.48 I. Githinji x4; 6.56 A. Kimani x4; 7.04 J. Nguitui, R. Nguitui, A. Dan, K. Sang; 7.12; D. Kingi x3, L.Mwaura; 7.20 P.E x4; 7.28 S. Kingori, A. Kanyori, E. Kabaki; 7.36 H. Mbiti, C. Ndegwa, S. Njenga, F. Omondi; 7.44 J. Muhingo, S.Mureithi, J. Ngugi, P. Mutooni; 7.50 A. Mbandi, P. Munene, B. Mutahi, B. Wamaitha; 7.58 V. Wanyoike, E. Chebii,P. Njuguna, C.Maitho; 8.06 L. Koki, M. Kamau, Kibera Maina, B. Kariuki; 8.14 E. Arigo, W. Gathecha, C. Karanja, J. Kahi; 8:22 M. Karanja, S. Mburu, Dr. Catherine, J. Thairu; 8:30 K. Waituika, F. Karugu, E. Ndegwa, J. Muendo. First Tee PM; 11.14 C. Kazuka, B. Oketch, A. Mutebi, S.Mange’ni; 11.22 Hon. C. Kibiru, M. Mutune, J. Maina, N. Kithae; 11.30 J. Wandere, K. Njoroge, S. Kamau, M. Wandere; 11.38 F.Muraya, Prof. Ndung’u, N. Ndungu, K. Thugge ; 11.46 E. Kibiru, Kihanya, Wachira, J. Ochieng; 11.54 V. Kamenchu, P. Ichangi, M.Njue, J. Kogo;12.02 V. Komu, M. Mululu, Sen. Ndegwa, K. Karani; 12.10 A. William, W. Kimindo, A. Kimondo, Draganah; 12.18 P.Karanja, H. Hassan, J. Wambugu, PMM; 12.26 M. Irungu, L. Kang’ara, C. Kimani, Dr. Murumba; 12:34 A. Nyaga, B. Wamatu, E.Mugo, N. Njogu; 12.42 R. Ndei, W. Kibichu, J. Nyokabi, E. Njuguna; 12.50 Zydii x4; 12.58 Chris Rumba x4; 13.06 J. Kakunu, F.Musyimi, F. Maithya, P. Nzioka; 13.14 George Wayne x4; 13.22 A. Muhoro, B. Museti, W. Moseti, A. Awarah; 13.30 Captains Time. Tenth Tee AM; 6.30 F. Kirui x2, Ano x2; 6.40 H. Wanyama, P. Mwangi, V. Okoth, W. Ogutu; 6.48 Bibiana. K, K. Kanyonyo, E. Karagu; 6.56 C. Otachi, J. Mageto, M. Mobee, P.E; 7.04 P.E x4; 7.12 J. Nzioka, M. Zeni, E. Karuga, R. Nduta; 7.20 Sponsors Time; 7.28 K.Bett, F. Marangu, J. Marangu; 7.36 G. Wamae, J. Sirai, T. Thairu, J. Kabiru; 7.44 Dr. Florence, C. Nyakiba, S. Kagundu, A. Gicharu; 7.50 J. Makau, J. Ngugi, J. Wambugu, Mr. Gachimo; 7.58 J. Karanja, D. Mbae, G. Gtonye, P. Ngunjiri; 8.06 L. Olum, T. Nguoh, K.Gitimu, K. Kibanya; 8.14 P. Theche, F. Munyua, J. Wairagu, T. Thuku; 8.22 D. Ndiang’ui, J. Nyaga, S. Kiarie, J. Njeru; 8.30 N. Mwangangi, G. Muchemi, J. Muli, L. Moffat; Tenth Tee PM; 11.14 J. Mworia, J. Mwai, A. Nderitu, S. Moche; 11.22 J. Ndegwa, E. Ng’ethe, P. Maregwa, G. Wanjohi; 11.30 Ponyea India Medicare x4; 11.38 Eng. D. Kamau, B. Kimani, A. Kioi, T. Kiiru; 11.46 J. Mathenge, K. Shollei, S. Mwaura, C. Kinuthia;11.54 T. Gakuo, M. Mwaniki, A. Muhoro, C. Azenga; 12.02 B. Kimeu, M. Njogu, D. Musau, G.Karuga; 12.10 D. Mutai, F. Wanjohi, R. Bwoma, J. Ayoga; 12.18 S. Mbote, S. Mburu, M. Mbugua, F. Njehu; 12.26 M. Njeru, E. Wangeci, R. Muathe, Ano;12.34 K. Mutungi x4; 12.42 I. Mbugua, W. Njenga, J. Kamiri, Eng. Mwaniki; 12.50 Njogu wa Njoroge x4; 12.58 Sponsors Time; 13.06 F. Kung’u, J. Njenga, M. Wahome, K. Kuria; 13.14 R. Price, S. Abuje, Olivia, T. Price; 13.22 Isaac x4;13.30 M. Ngaire, S. Mwaura, G. Njuguna, E. Mugadia; Kiambu: Tomorrow, Kiambu Ladies Open (Craig Bowl); 7:00 Tabitha Kiragu, Lonah Ian, ANO, ANO; 7:10 Perpetual Mwatha, Winfred Githu, Veronicah Ndungu, Ano; 7:20 C Museve; N Njiraini, P Gichuru, Hannah Wanjiru; 7:30 Njeri Mugo, C Nthiwa, Ngina Kairu, CW Mungai; 7:40 Elizabeth Njau, R Mukami, V Pandya, H Muhia; Jillian Mwanza, Barbara Kinyanjui, Lydia Maina, Petty Kigwe; 8:00 Jane Nzibo, Mercy Kinyanjui, Beatrice Meso, C Gitonga; 8:10 Lucy Kigwe, Mary Kigwe, Esther Ngure, A Khaleji; 8:20 Ruth Foulser, Christine Gathumbi, Gladys Maina, Joyce Wafula; Betty Maina, Priscilla Githua, Faith Wairimu, Ruth G. Kamau; Catherine Kamene, Grace Githere, Brenda Kihara, Charity Njoroge; 8:50 Rose Koome, Mary Mburu, Veronica Muthiani, Marie Mugo; 9:00 Ann Njuguna, Patricia Ngina, Susan Mukururi, Ano. PM 11:10 Grace Kibe, Teresa Mwangi, Patricia Mbugua, Beatrice Otieno; 11:20 Judy Nyambura, Jane Wokabi, Margaret Mwai, Joan Waruingi; 11:30 Wanjiru Karume, Joyce Kimondo, Lydiah Obonyo, Mary Muthoni; 11:40 Njoki Nderitu, Anne Ngumba, Dorcas Njoroge, D O’Connor; 11:50 Night Doris, Joyce Wanjiru, Lucie Maina, Aisha Duba; 12:00 Grace Waiganjo, Patricia Wangongu, Julia Wangari, Benta Khanili; 12:10 Nyambura Gitimu, Elizabeth Kabugi, Marion Kuria, Gladwell Kiarie; 12:20 June Waweru, Nancy Steinmann, Rosemary Omanyo, Nancy Karanu; 12:30 Shirley Cheptoo, Mary Wachira, Judy Muhia, A Mutuku; 12:40 Suzanne Wanja, Beatrice Waweru, Isabel Okach, Ano; 12:50 Sarah Hoare, Sarah Tuwei, Agatha Kisoryo, Hellen Ndungu; 1:00 Lucy Kanyonyo, Sharon Nyambura, Jackie Ithondeka, Virginiah Irungu; 1:10 Phyllice Gitumbi, Carol Maina, Neddie Akello, Ano; 1:20 Elizabeth Ng’ethe, Jackline Kaisha, Hellen Manyara, Roce Catherine. A lady golfer prepares to tee off during the second leg of the DTB Bank Golf Series. The action this weekend moves to Nakuru Golf Club. PD/ ALEX NJUE 26 PEOPLE SPORT FOR MORE NEWS VISIT: www.pd.co.ke / www.epaper. pd.co.ke THE ONE-STOP SPORT SHOP Friday, July 28, 2023 by Edwin Otieno @PeopleDailyKe The DTB “Bank with Us” Golf tournament heads to Nakuru this Saturday for its third leg at the Par 73 Nakuru Golf Club. The tournament has attracted more than 200 participants from the Nakuru region and its environs, including Njoro, Kericho, Nandi and as far as Nairobi, Kisumu, Kakamega and Kisii. “Nakuru is our second event this year in the Rift Valley region, following a successful tournament held in Kitale three weeks ago. As a Bank, we are committed to fostering meaningful connections with our valued customers and partners. This tournament provides an excellent opportunity to connect and interact with them. We are pleased with the large number of participants, as we also aim to showcase golf talent from different parts of the country,” said Kennedy Nyakomitta, Director of Sales at DTB. The second leg of DTB’s “Bank with Us” golf tournament was held in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, which saw the home player Harun Ndegwa crowned the overall winner with 40 points. This year’s first DTB “Bank with Us” golf tournament was held in April at Sigona Golf Club in Kiambu. Last year, the Bank held five successful golf tournaments in Kakamega, Mombasa, Kericho, and Kisumu, culminating in Eldoret, which saw over 4,000 participants take part. The DTB “Bank with us” golf tournament aims to grow the sport as well as boost businesses by bringing services closer to customers and offering them great networking opportunities. Meanwhile, the Ladies Coast Open under the umbrella of the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) together with the prganisation’s Coast representative Teresia Odoo will take place between July 31 to August 5 on various coast clubs namely Diamonds Leisure/ Mombasa Golf Club/ Nyali Golf & Country Club/ Malindi Golf Club and finally at Vipingo Golf Ridge. The event will be sponsored by the Tourism Fund, Grain Bulk Handlers, KCB, Family Bank, EABL, AAR Health Care, Kericho Gold, Base Titatium, Neptune Hotels, Sarova Whitesands, Pauland, Dermazuri, Ace Plastic surgery, KCC, Khush Motors, Soliani, Coast Values, The LAWFORD, Fahawi Investments Ltd, Nulook Links, Plaza Beach Hotel, Paradise Destinations Ltd, Sandlovers Diani Real Estate, Atlas Tea Brokers, Silent night, Akina Tea, Tudor Health Care. Nakuru here we come More than 200 players set for DTB “Bank with Us” golf tournament’s third leg at par 73 course, as foreigners register for Coast Ladies Open
by Dennis Mabuka @PeopleDailyKe Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala has concurred with American athletics legend Michael Johnson that he would soon win a gold medal in the 100m race at the World Athletics Championship. On Wednesday, the 55-year-old Johnson, who is the former World 100m and 200m record holder, tipped the Kenyan sensation to become the first African to win the short race insisting he had what it takes to conquer the world. “Said it before. I believe Omanyala will be the first African to win a 100m World Championship medal,” claimed Johnson on his social media pages, adding: “His muscular structure provides tremendous power but do any coaches or sport science experts out there think it could become a limiting factor in his ability to sprint efficiently?” The 27-year-old Omanyala has responded to Johnson’s statement by confidently saying he could reach the landmark during the World Athletics championship set for Budapest, Hungary from August 19 to 27. “He saw it in April and it’s what is coming,” Omanyala said as quoted by a local daily, adding: “When legends see that, it means it is coming to Africa, I see gold.” Omanyala, who has currently pitched camp at Team Kenya’s pre-Olympics training base in Miramas, France in preparation for the World Championships, however, differed with, Johnson, who retired after winning four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship gold medals in the span of his career; on his body physique insisting he was more toned. “I’ve had these muscles since 2016, I ran 9.77 seconds at 87 kilogrammes and I am now 84kgs, I am more toned because I reduced heavy lifting in the gym for the smaller weights.” Omanyala’s star has risen in the past year with his best performance this season being his win at the Diamond League in Monaco and in doing so, became the first Kenyan to win a 100m race in the Diamond League. Omanyala, who is also the African champion and record holder (9.77 seconds) over the distance, clocked 9.92 seconds in Monaco to narrowly beat world U20 champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana to second place in a tightly contested race. At the World Championship, Omanyala will face stiff competition from the American quartet of Fred Kerley, Cravont Charleston, Christian Coleman, and Noah Lyles. Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY PEOPLE SPORT 27 Elated Omanyala vows not to disappoint legendary sprinter Johnson and other fans by winning World title in Budapest by Dennis Mabuka @PeopleDailyKe A fundraising Steering Committee set up to support Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League returning side Shabana FC has set an immediate target of raising Sh10 million for the signing of new players ahead of the new campaign. The committee that was endorsed by the leadership of the Gusii Community at the Bomas of Kenya on June 22 led by the Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu, and resolved to organise a funds drive to support the team’s pre-season campaign, was inaugurated during their first meeting at Hill Park Hotel, in Nairobi on Wednesday evening. Speaking after the meeting, the club’s Patron Sam Nyamweya, who doubles up as the chairman of the steering team, reaffirmed a commitment to immediately source for Sh10 million to help in the player recruitment exercise while targeting Sh100 million within the same period. “We, first of all, agreed to raise Sh10m to go towards player recruitment since the league is almost getting underway and then we will focus on raising Sh100m which is our target as a committee, towards helping the club’s day-to-day activities in the new season,” said Nyamweya,” adding: “This is a good step towards the prosperity of our club and we thank CS Machogu for his efforts of putting up this committee to ensure the prosperity of our great Shabana.” Nyamweya continued: “The Steering Committee will approach corporate sponsors to seek support for the club, a list of 200 top Gusii public servants, the corporate sector, and the Business Communities across the country and in the diaspora have been identified to support the club during the fundraiser.” Shabana targets Sh10m for immediate player scouting It’s coming home Ferdinand Omanyala celebrates with the Kenyan flag after winning the Commonwealth Games 100m race in Birmingham. PD/ FILE
TALLIN: Esapekka Lappi was full of praise for fellow Finn Kalle Rovanperä after the youngster dominated last week’s Rally Estonia. Lappi achieved his fourth podium of the season behind the wheel of a Hyundai i20 N but still trailed Rovanperä, who won 15 stages of the rally in a Toyota GR Yaris, by almost a minute at the finish. When quizzed on where he thought Rovanperä had managed to gain so much time, Lappi was very open with his answer. “It’s about Kalle, it’s not about the machine,” lauded the 32-year-old. “For sure, I would have no chance even with the same car and same settings as him, or even with the perfect settings for me. “I watch the onboards, but it’s still hard to understand. I mean, even the biggest gaps are not massive here [in Estonia], and for example even if they have more traction or something you cannot see it on the onboard. “It’s very hard to recognise where they are gaining time. -WRC Tallinn, Thursday @PeopleDailyKe Outline plans for the Rally Chile Biobío route were revealed in a press conference during Rally Estonia last week. Attended by senior officials including Biobío regional governor Rodrigo Díaz Worner, the press conference confirmed plans to include 16 special stages spread across three days with a total competitive distance of 312.78km. The unique gravel fixture plays host to the FIA World Rally Championship’s 11th round from 28 September - 1 October this year. It returns to the calendar for the first time since its debut in 2019 when Ott Tänak took victory in a Toyota Yaris World Rally Car. Concepción, Chile’s second-largest city, will once again form the rally hub and bustling service park while Thursday’s start ceremony in Los Ángeles, the capital of province Biobío, is also expected to draw in huge crowds. The action will get under way on Friday (28 September) with three stages each driven twice either side of service. Double runs of Pulperia (18.84km), Rere (11.75km) and Rio Claro (24.45km) bring the day’s total to 110.08km. Saturday is even longer and follows a similar format with three double-use speed tests adding up to a gruelling 150.28km. Chivilingo (27.10km) and Rio Lia (20.90km) are up first while Maria Las Cruces (27.14km), the longest stage of the rally, rounds out both loops. Part of the action during a past Chile Rally. This year, a total of 16 special stages have been added in the rally. COURTESY/ WRC Route plans confirmed for Chile return 28 PEOPLE SPORT PEOPLE DAILY / Friday, July 28, 2023 INSIDE Sport GOLF pagE 28 More than 200 players to feature in DTB Bank’s golf series third leg at Nakuru Club SCHOOLS pagE 31 All set for national schools ball games in Kakamega 5-3 ARSENAL Saka 13’ Havertz 43’ Trossard 55’, 78’ Vieira 89’ International Friendlies BARCELONA Lewandowski 7’ Raphinha 34’ Torres 88’ Wellington, Thursday @PeopleDailyKe Nigeria came from behind to beat Australia and leave the cohosts facing a battle to qualify for the last 16 of the Fifa Women’s World Cup. Australia scored first when Emily van Egmond converted Caitlin Foord’s pass. But Nigeria equalised soon afterwards with Uchenna Kanu’s calm finish, before Osinachi Ohale’s header made it 2-1. Asisat Oshoala scored after a mix-up between Australia’s Alanna Kennedy and Mackenzie Arnold and Nigeria held on, despite Kennedy scoring late on. Nigeria move top of Group B, level with Canada on four points, while Australia are a point behind both before the last matches in the section on Monday. Australia face Olympic champions Canada in Melbourne and may need a victory to guarantee a place in the knockout stages, while Nigeria play alreadyeliminated Republic of Ireland at the same time in Brisbane. Australia, ranked 10th in the world, would have secured a place in the knockout stages with a victory, but in the end they were desperately trying to force an equaliser against a side 30 places below them in the rankings. The Matildas saw Kennedy head in a corner from Kyra CooneyCross in the 10th of 11 additional minutes at the end of the second half as the majority of a crowd of 49,156 at Brisbane Stadium willed them on. But Australia did not have enough time to get a dramatic equaliser as Nigeria clung to their narrow lead, with some of their players in tears at the final whistle. The competition is being staged by Australia and New Zealand and the two co-hosts have won one and lost one of their opening two matches. Both are likely to need to win their final group games to stay in the tournament, although draws could still be enough depending on other results. For Australia, they will be wondering how they slipped up against a Nigeria side who did not have a shot on or off target in the opening 40 minutes. Indeed, the Matildas created 28 opportunities in all, compared to only 11 from Nigeria, and had 15 corners with only two from their opponents. NAIROBI: The Kenya National U18 girls’ rugby sevens team to the Commonwealth Youth Games taking place from 4 to 11 August 2023 in Trinidad and Tobago has been named by head coach Sarah Ogola. Ogola entrusted his squad with 13 players for the assignment ahead with four drawn from Eregi Girls three from St Joseph’s Kitale and a similar number from Hidden Talent Academy. With the tournament set for a round-robin format the teams ranked 1st and 2nd at the conclusion of the pool matches will compete for the gold medal; while those placed 3rd and 4th will battle it out for the bronze medal. The players selected to represent the Young Lionesses will lock horns with five other strong teams from across the Commonwealth. Some of the teams they will face include hosts Trinidad & Tobago, Canada, Wales, Australia, and Fiji. -Alex Njue NAIROBI: World governing body FIFA is set to launch the Football for Schools (F4S) program, an initiative set to benefit Kenyan primary schools. The program, a joint initiative with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will be launched in Kakamega on Sunday, July 30, 2023. FKF President Nick Mwendwa will grace the occasion alongside the FIFA delegation, Fatimata Sidibé – Football for Schools Director, Antonio Buenaño – Football for Schools Manager, and Melvin Mendy – FIFA Football for Schools trainee. Through the program, FIFA aims at impacting over 700 million children, both boys and girls, across the globe. The program has been designed to promote targeted life skills and competencies through football and contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other priorities. In Kenya, the program is set to directly benefit over 2,000 schools across the country. “Youth and women’s football remain key in FKF’s football development agenda.” -Edwin Otieno RUGBY Young Lionesses to Commonwealth Youth Games named FOOTBALL FIFA to launch Football for Schools Program targeting Primary Schools RALLY Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera is on another level, rival Lappi admits Giant killers Nigeria Falcons players congratulate Asisat Oshoala (centre) after she scored a late winner against Australia at the on going Women Fifa World Cup. COURTESYTWITTER Nigeria stun co-hosts Australia with comeback win
Friday, July 28, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY PEOPLE SPORT 29 by Lucky Oluoch @PeopleDailyKe Kenya Rugby Union has introduced a highly subsidised ticket for the World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament to encourage more die-hard rugby fans to grace the final play-offs of the international showpiece this weekend. KRU is running a Sh100 advanced match entry ticket sales drive from this Wednesday July 26th till mid-night of Saturday 29th July. Fans can make an early booking for Sunday matches via a USSD code *805# and follow prompts. On the Match-day, regular tickets will go for Sh300. VIP Ticket charge of Sh 1,000 and free entry for primary and high school students in uniform remain unchanged. Kenya Rugby Union Chairman, Alexander ‘Sasha’ Mutai called on Kenyan Rugby fanatics to come-out in large numbers in show of solidarity for the Kenya Under 20 players, to lift the players spirits and enhance their final performance of the tournament. “This last match is crucial for Chipu, for Kenya the host country, for all of us and will determine our new position in the continent and World Rugby. We are calling on Kenyans to come, rally behind and cheer our youngstars this Sunday,” said Mutai. Hosts Kenya, will face Zimbabwe on Sunday in fifthplace play-offs at the Nyayo National Stadium. Spain and Uruguay will vie for the top slot and promotion from the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 while Scotland and Samoa battle for a third-place. HongKong China will take on the USA in the seventh-place play-off game. Kenya Rugby Union Commercial Director, Harriet Okach said the new board is committed to do all it can to transform Rugby in the country and take the game to the next level. “We have introduced the ticket sales drive to give all Kenyans an opportunity to come witness the finals of this global discourse happening at home. We are especially banking on the young generation to enhance Kenya’s final performance by filling up the stadium,” said Okach. Among the key highlights of the final play-offs will be the special appearance of legendary former Springbok prop Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira confirmed as one of the high profile guests expected to Kenya Rugby Union rolls out Sh100 ticket sales drive for World Rugby U20 Trophy A Serani High School player dribbles the ball during their match against Shimba Hills in the Mombasa region’s finals. PD/ HARRISON KIVISU by Denis Lumiti @PeopleDailyKe Kakamega County is gearing up for the national schools ball games that officially begin on Tuesday, August 8. Organisers of the showpiece said yesterday that they were not taking any chances and that they were out to make the competitions memorable. Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Western Region General-Secretary Quinto Omusugu said preparations for the nationals were in final stages. He said schools from across the country which had qualified to represent their respective regions would start trooping into the Western headquarters from Saturday, August 5. “We expect all the participating teams on Saturday August 5 and Sunday August 6 after which they will train in their various spaces and acquaint themselves with the local environment,” said Omusugu. He said the referees charged with officiating the various matches would, meanwhile, undergo training from Saturday August 5 to Monday August 7. “The teams will take a rest on Monday August 7 as we prepare for the official kickoff the following day,” the official said. The competitions in soccer, volleyball, rugby, handball, tennis, hockey, among others, will be staged at the Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega High, St. Ignatius Mukumu Boys, St. Peter’s Seminary-Mukumu, Kakamega Approved School and Masinde Muliro University. The five-day event has kicked up excitement in Kakamega as traders prepare to cash in on the high number of people that will be around. “This event is very important to our county as it will spur our economy. I therefore assure the organisers of total security. We are a peaceful and hospitable people and I am certain that the participants will enjoy their stay here,” said Governor Fernandes Barasa. Meanwhile, Cheptenye Primary School in Belgut SubCounty has been hosting the Kericho County Primary Schools Term Two ball games with the action expected to end today. The two days event attracted schools from six sub counties, Sigowet/Soin, Ainamoi, Kipkelion West, Londiani. All set for national schools ball games in Kakamega County Kenya Rugby Union chairman Shasha Mutai addresses journalists during a recent event. PD/ DAVID NDOLO by Benson Mbare and Bernard Sigei @PeopleDailyKe Former Mwamba Rugby Club player-turned-coach Kelvin “Bling” Wambua has been appointed as the new Kenya Sevens head coach. Wambua will be deputised by South African Carlos Katywa and former Kenya Sevens skipper Andrew Amonde as the Kenya Sevens seek to make a comeback to the HSBC World Rugby sevens circuit. With the recent unfolding, the country’s rugby governing body Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has relieved current Shujaa head coach Damian McGrath of his duties just 14 months into his appointment. This comes after the team finished joint seventh in Birmingham and twelfth in the Rugby World Cup in South Africa. The union is keen to correct the mistakes made last season, whereby the team got relegated from the prestigious HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Wambua’s immediate task will be in the 2023 Rugby Africa men’s sevens competition set for September 16-17 in Zimbabwe as they seek to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He will also be tasked with pre, Amondeparing the squad ahead of the Africa Regional Championships in order to qualify for the 2024 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series which will act as the pathway to the 2024/2025 series. Will ‘Bling’ help Shujaa glitter? Former Mwamba player Wambua named Kenya Sevens new coach as Amonde, Katywa deputise Kelvin ‘Bling’ Wambua gestures during a recent international rugby match at Nyayo Stadium. PD/ ALEX NJUE
MBAPPE’S SITUATION AT A GLANCE: -PSG accepted (£259m) offer from Al Hilal on Monday -Mbappe not interested in moving to Saudi Arabia and wants to join Real Madrid -The 24-year-old has one year remaining on PSG contract but club want to sell Paris, Thursday @PeopleDailyKe Kylian Mbappe (pictured) has rejected a world re c o rd Sh 47.3 billion (£259million) move to Al-Hilal by declining to speak to the Saudi Arabian club’s delegation. Paris St Germain had given representatives of Al Hilal permission to discuss the transfer with the 24-year-old after agreeing the fee earlier this week. Al Hilal’s representatives have been in the French capital this week but Mbappe and his entourage have no intention of negotiating despite a salary package of over £600million also being promised. The French champions have put their superstar up for sale following his decision not to extend his contract at Parc de Princes. His current deal will expire at the end of next season when he will be able to leave the club on a free transfer with Real Madrid waiting to pounce. PSG are adamant that will not happen and are actively listening to offers for the World Cup winner. Officials from Al Hilal arrived in Paris on Wednesday to finalise the signing of Brazilian winger Malcom from Zenit St Petersburg and opened talks to sign Mbappe’s teammate, PSG’s Italian international midfielder Marco Verratti. However, they had hoped to hold face-toface talks with Mbappe’s representatives to try and persuade him to join their project. Mbappe’s entourage refused any discussions with the France captain at no point considering the move. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has confirmed plans to sell Mbappe if he does not agree a new deal after the forward was left out of the club’s pre-season tour of Japan. ‘My position is very clear,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to repeat it every time: if Kylian wants to stay, we want him to stay. But he needs to sign a new contract. ‘We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free, we can’t do that. This is a French club. He said he would never leave for free. If he changes his mind today, it’s not my fault. We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free, that’s very clear.’ At least five clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, had reportedly registered their interest in Mbappe before Al-Hilal’s bid blew them out of the water. The latest development may reignite their hopes of signing him, however reports have long suggested that Mbappe’s preference is to join Madrid. It has even been claimed that he would be prepared to sit on the bench at PSG this season in order to see out his contract and join Madrid on a free transfer next summer. Sources close to PSG say the club are anticipating further offers following Al-Hilal’s bid, although may take longer to formulate because they are likely to involve a player swap element. Mbappe’s PSG future has been in serious doubt ever since it emerged in June that he would not extend his existing deal through to 2025, meaning he would become a free agent next summer and able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with another club as early as January next year. PSG feel certain that he has already agreed a free transfer to Madrid next summer, with Parisian sources saying he would benefit from a £138m signing-on fee if he wound down his existing contract and moved to the Spanish capital in 2024. -Dailymail Sh47.3b? No thank you Friday, July 28, 2023 / / / @PeopleDailyKe / / / People Daily Download QR Code app on Google Play and scan this QR code with your smart phone for pictures, videos and more stories People Daily is published by Mediamax Network Limited at DSM Place, Kijabe Street, P.O. Box 24943, 00100 - Nairobi, Tel: 0730144100; 0709824000; 0204944100 Fax: 2228503 Nairobi and printed at our Printing Division on Mombasa Road, Tel: 04522641. Circulation: Union Towers, 1st Floor, Moi Avenue. Tel: 2519168. Advertising 2227693, 2228493. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Positive M-Sport driver Loubet boosted by Estonia speed TALLINN: M-Sport Ford driver Pierre-Louis Loubet has talked of his positivity coming out of last week’s Rally Estonia, where he scored a career best sixth on the Tartu-based event. Following the disappointment of Ott Tänak’s preevent engine change, Loubet gave the British squad plenty to smile about with a fine run to edge rival Takamoto Katsuta for sixth place on the Wolf Power Stage. With local hero and former Estonia winner Tänak for a team-mate, Loubet had the best possible benchmark against which he could measure himself. Looking back on the data, he was pleased with his progress against the #8 Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid. Loubet said: “I think, in general, we can be happy about our pace, especially when you compare to last year. “We made some good steps, and some stages we were very close to Ott.” -WRC NAIROBI: Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League outfit Tusker have confirmed parting ways with defender Kalos Kirenge as they restructure their squad ahead of the new season set to kick off in August. The Brewers, who missed the last season’s league title by a whisker after losing it to Gor Mahia on the final day of the season, confirmed the exit of the defender, who joined them in 2021 from Tanzania’s Namungo FC on their social media pages. “We would like to confirm that Tanzanian defender Kalos Kirenge has left the club after two seasons,” read part of the post adding: “Thank you for everything ‘Mzee Munyama’, and all the best in your new adventure.” Kirenge becomes the second player to leave Tusker after experienced Humphrey Mieno, who turned down an offer to renew his contract. Mieno’s exit has forced the Ruaraka-based outfit to name defender Charles Momanyi as their captain, and he will be assisted by goalkeeper Brian Bwire. Meanwhile, Bandari have confirmed defender Robert Onyango as their second signing of the season. Bandari official Twaha Mbarak confirmed the development. -Dennis Mabuka Tusker release Kalos Kirenge as Mombasa’s Bandari sign Robert Onyango from Wazito Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez. PD/ FILE Mbappe refuses to hold talks with Al-Hilal despite the Saudi club’s world-record offer to sign him from PSG