People Daily AUG 22nd Wednesday Edition

Wattanga takes over as the new KRA boss Business Hub PG 14 News Beat PG 2 Sports CS Ababu to be quizzed in Parliament Wednesday, August 23, 2023 NO. www.pd.co.ke // www.epaper.pd.co.ke 07882 Ke nya’s Newspaper NO1. FREE Teachers reject TSC salary offer Back to drawing board: Unions say the 2.5 per cent for higher job groups and seven per cent for lower ones does not even match recommendations made by President Ruto and Salaries and Remuneration Commission >>Next meeting set for Monday REPORT PAGE 4 Treasury ready to pay Sh118b for cash-starved sugar millers Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori (centre), Chairman Omboko Milemba (left) and other officials address journalists at the Kenya School of Government, Nairobi. They, too, rejected TSC’s offer. PD/JOHN OCHIENG Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu and other union bosses address a press conference at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi yesterday. They rejected the first offer that the teachers’ employer, TSC, tabled yesterday. PD/JOHN OCHIENG BUSINESS HUB PAGE 14 Goons attack Kirinyaga Woman Rep News Beat PG 7

2 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 -XGJH·VUXOLQJRQXQLRQLVPXVLFWRHDUVRISHWLWLRQHUV by Nancy Gitonga @PeopleDailyKe It is a big win for over 200 musicians in the country after the High Court ordered the Registrar of Trade Unions Beatrice Mathenge to register the Kenya Musicians Union. Justice James Rika of Milimani Employment and Labour Relations Court yesterday issued orders compelling the government to register the Musician’s union without further delay. “The Registrar of Trade unions shall forthwith register Kenya Musicians Union. The Registrar shall issue Kenya Musicians Union with a certificate of registration and enter the Kenya Musicians name in the appropriate register,” Justice Rika (pictured) ordered. While allowing the registration of the union, the Judge ruled that the over 200 musicians in Kenya have a right to belong to a trade union to safeguard their rights and advance their employment and artistic interests. “They need a trade union of their own to collectively bargain on their behalf, and register a CBA, a labour instrument they have not had in their music careers. There is no impediment in law or fact, to deny them registration,” ruled the judge. The verdict by the court comes after the musicians appealed a decision by the government to decline to recognise their union. The Registrar of Trade Unions had on October 25, 2021 declined to register the union on grounds that there was another trade union knows as Kenya Union of Entertainment and Music Industry Employees, which, it said, it sufficiently represented a substantial proportion of the musicians’ interests. Unique group Aggrieved by the move, four musicians – John Katana Harrison, Juma Odemba and George Odhiambi and Martin Mururia – on behalf of the 200 other musicians moved to court on July 18, 2022 arguing principally that the Registrar erred in declining registration, because Kenya Union of Entertainment and Music Industry Employees, involves a wider group of Employees, including bouncers, waiters, waitresses, chefs, deejays, event organisers, comedians, among others. “We musicians are a unique group. We are composers of artistic work. We are freelancers and mostly attached to music producers and labels for specific projects/ contracts. Others in the entertainment industry are mostly in formal employment,” the petitioners told the court. The musicians argued that different trade unions have been registered in the same field, provided they have different sectoral interests. They further informed the court that on November 4, 2022, they wrote to the Registrar that they had entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kenya Union of Entertainment and Music Industry Employees, and there was no longer an objection to their registration. The Registrar of Trade unions had opposed the suit, confirming that the registration was denied solely on the ground that there is another trade union which sufficiently represents the interests of musicians. “We will summon the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to appear before the Committee. He will explain, in writing, why he was not in a position to receive these athletes who have given us a good name in the world,” said Wanyama. Wanyama pledged to summon Namwamba after several MPs including leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah, Marakwet East MP Kagongo Bowen, Busia Woman Rep Catherine Omanyo and Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi complained that the ministry was not treating the sports people well. Ambassadors Ichung’wah said it was wrong that the athletes left and came back to the country without due recognition by the ministry charged with the responsibility. “On behalf of the government of Kenya, let me take this opportunity to apologize profoundly to these great sportsmen and women of our country. Even as I apologise, the Cabinet Secretary must appear before this House,” he said. He added: “You are not made a Cabinet Secretary to fly flags on the streets, push and bulldoze your way through traffic with Subaru escorts. You are a Cabinet Secretary to serve the people. If you were made the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Sports, you must serve sportsmen and women of this country, our best ambassadors.” Bowen backed President William Ruto’s claim that some Cabinet Secretaries were “clueless and are not aware of what is happening in their dockets”. ATTACKED Ichung’wah said it was wrong that athletes left and came back to the country without due recognition by the ministry. Yesterday, Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Shollei said Namwamba had not implemented most of the Ministry’s policies, including creating the Talanta Hela app. $EDEXWRIDFH KRVWLOH03VRYHU DWKOHWHVZHOIDUH by Mercy Mwai @wangumarci Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba is today set to appear before the National Assembly to shed light on the affairs of the ministry at a time when he is facing criticism from several MPs over alleged mismanagement of his docket. Namwamba, who will appear before the plenary, is expected to explain the role of the Ministry in facilitating the Kenyan team that participated in the Special Olympics held in Berlin, Germany, in June 2023 as well as the Management of Aquatic Sports. The committee on Sports, which is chaired by Webuye West MP Daniel Wanyama, had said it would summon the Cabinet Secretary to explain why he was not at the airport to welcome back home 25 sportspersons who participated in the Special Olympics. This was after some members complained about the reception of the athletes. The 25 athletes, who participated in the 2023 Special Olympics games held from 15 to 25 June, visited Parliament last week. The Special Olympics Games are international sporting events for participants with intellectual disabilities. Sports Cabinet Secretary has been accused by some leaders of mismanaging the ministry and athletes Sports and Youth Affairs CS Ababu Namwamba. PD/ FILE “Athletes are the real ambassadors of this country. They must be accorded the respect they deserve. Apart from competing, they must also be rewarded very well. I think we are the only country where we only go to the airport to welcome our athletes, but there is no reward to encourage them in their next championships.” Omanyo sought to know why the team was discriminated against, saying they were not even received at the airport when they returned. Talanta Hela Wanyonyi said the Special Olympics team deserved better treatment by the ministry. “He did not flag off or receive them when they came back and he has not even acknowledged them. That is not the way to go. The Cabinet Secretary must show that this team is representing Kenya. They are Kenyans and need to be given recognition like anybody else who has performed well.” Yesterday, Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Shollei also criticised Namwamba’s management of the Ministry. Speaking on a local TV show, Shollei said Namwamba had not implemented most of the Ministry’s policies, including creating the Talanta Hela app. “Seeing the management of sports at the moment is painful. As late as yesterday, I looked for the Talanta Hela app, (but) it doesn’t exist. They told us it was launched,” said Shollei who is also the National Assembly Deputy Speaker. Talanta Hela Programme, which was supposed to be launched in the 47 counties, is aimed at promoting sports talent among the youth. By the time of going to press, People Daily Digital confirmed the app was not on App Store and Play Store. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei also took to twitter to attack Namwamba for alleged mismanaged of the docket. He said: “Tonight I echo sentiments of Hon. Ichungwa Majority Leader National assembly that CS Ababu continues to mismanage into oblivion our beloved sports. How can ministry officials fly first class with their girlfriends to Olympics Budapest, Hungary at the expense of our athletes? Our female athletes are being exploited sexually & economically! Parliament must summon CS sports to avert disastrous mismanagement of our sports!” WORLD NEWS Page 17 More pain for consumers as paint prices set to soar OPINION Page 11 Why media is critical in fight against violent extremism POINTERS WEATHER TODAY Nairobi 28° Mombasa 29° Kisumu 34° Nyeri 26° Kitui 31° Wajir 34°

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY NEWS BEAT 3 by George Sayagie @PeopleDailyKe President William Ruto has directed Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza to hand over the management of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado. Speaking during the official opening of the Maa Cultural Festival at the Sekenani Gate, Maasai Mara in Narok yesterday, Ruto also said plans are underway by the government to remit 50 per cent of revenue generated from national parks to counties in which the conservancies are situated. “I trust and believe the Kajiado County Government has the capacity to manage the Amboseli National Reserve, and I direct the process to begin immediately,” Ruto noted. The Head of State revealed that transfer was prompted by an executive order issued by former President Mwai Kibaki. He, however, challenged the Kajiado County Government to create more land for wildlife conservation and also enable the devolved unit increase proceeds from conservancy. The President also declared the Maa Cultural Week a national event that will be celebrated every August annually. “As from next year, we will put a budget and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture should provide a clear framework in the ceremony so that we make it better and also make it a source of revenue for the Maa community,” Ruto stated. The festival will now coincide with the annual wildebeest migration. Ruto was responding to pleas from Maa leaders led by governors Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok), Joseph ole Lenku (Kajiado) and Jonathan Leleliit (Samburu), who also said that apart from Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Amboseli should also benefit from proceeds from the tourism sector. Leleliit said it was a big mistake for former leaders of the defunct Kajiado county council to let the park to be managed by KWS while the land belonging to the community. “This is one of the historical injustices that was committed to the Maa community and we will appeal directly to the head of state to have the park back to our people,” Leleliit said on Monday when the Maasai cultural festival week kicked off. He said the Maa culture is the region’s second tourist attraction after wildlife . “Our culture has brought thousands of international and domestic tourists to our region to witness, so we must protect our culture and wildlife territories in equal measures,” he said. Ntutu said the main focus of the cultural week is the unity of the community and forge a way forward in taking its position in regional and regional matters. “Despite the unity agenda, it’s very important to bring the community diverse culture together and deliberate on how to conserve it for future generations and preserve it and hand it to our children so the culture will not be eroded,” said the county boss. Ntutu added that culture event is destined for the community to celebrate its cultural diversity annually but on rotation. Lenku on the other hand said: “We will also use the occasion to educate the community on the dos and don’ts as well as deliberate the community position nationally,” said Lenku. County boss further noted that the community is facing many challenges and it is time to forge a united front and discuss the matters and try to achieve solutions together. Some 16 out of the 50 sections of the Maasai community displayed their diverse culture. Narok is represented by seven sections including Loita, Purko, Moitanik, Keekonyokie, Siria, Uasin-Ngishu and Ildamat Maasai. While representing Kajiado are Matapato, Kaputiei, and Kisongo sections of the Maasai while from Samburu county were Loodokilani and Lekuluk. Also present at this colourful festival are sections of the Maasai community from Marsabit, ilchamus from Baringo and Maasai from the neighbouring Tanzania. Political leaders among them governors, Members of Parliament, chiefs, church leaders led by Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole and Ward Reps graced the fete. The fete kicked off with the Maa Music day all. Sections of the Maasai will display their songs and dance followed by the Maa fashion day. \XWRKDa]V$`ERVHOLEDF_WR[D^LD]R President also declares Maa Cultural Week a national event to be celebrated every August President William Ruto during the official opening of the Maa Cultural Festival at Sekenani Gate, Maaasai Mara in Narok, yesterday. PCS CULTURAL EVENT Koulibaly vs Olunga: Maa Cultural Festival commenced at Sekenani, Narok on Monday and will run till Thursday. Participants: The four-day festival brings together members from Maa-speaking communities from Kenya and Tanzania. Maasai men roast meat during the festival. PD/GEORGE SAYAGIE Marley Sianto, Narok Assistant Director of Tourism and Wildlife and Helena Talaso of ushanga Kenya pose during the festival. PD/GEORGE SAYAGIE Maa cultural dancers from Samburu. PD/GEORGE SAYAGIE

by Irene Githinji @gitshee The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and three unions have to go back to the drawing board now after they hit a stalemate on how to compensate teachers during salary review talks that started in Nairobi yesterday. Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (Kusnet) met TSC representatives but were dissatisfied with the commission’s initial offer, saying it was far below their expectations. All parties agreed to hold further discussions next Monday when new proposals are likely to be put on the table. Union leaders said they expected that the talks would be based on the 2021-25 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), in which Kuppet sought a basic salary review of between 30 and 70 per cent for its members. Under the same document, Knut had asked for a 60 per cent pay raise for its members. Knut and Kuppet secretaries-general Collins Oyuu and Akelo Misori protested that TSC had pegged the initial discussions on President William Ruto’s recent pronouncement and an advisory from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), both of which the unions have disagreed with. The unions argue that as an independent commission, TSC has the power to set salaries for its staff without advise or instructions from the salaries commission. Inflation rate Additionally, they were opposed to a proposal by TSC, which changed the seven to 10 per cent increment as initially recommended by SRC for teachers in higher grades and instead proposed a 2.5 per cent increase for them. Teachers in the lower grades were also offered a similar percentage, which is lower than the 9.5 per cent that SRC had recommended earlier. Kenya’s inflation stands at about seven per cent and a pay rise below this will be below inflation rate, meaning that it is unlikely to cushion workers from the high cost of goods and services. “It is sad that what TSC has presented is less than the advisory that SRC gave,” said Misori, after the meeting with TSC representatives at the Kenya School of Government. Oyuu also said: “The 7 to 10 per cent was to cushion teachers and public servants because of harsh economic times the country is going through. So, much as we thank the President, we also want to talk to TSC and tell them what we expected in the review is not what they brought to us.” Aware of the presidential pronouncement and SRC advisory, the unions said they went for the talks with the expectation of getting an offer but their hopes were dashed. Initial offer “Even what the President announced is not within what TSC is thinking about because they have come up with figures like 9.5 per cent for those in lower category and 2.4 per cent for those in higher grades and further suggesting that the payment be done in phases of two years,” said Misori, accusing TSC of prolonging teachers’ anxiety. “We have given them up to Monday to come up with tangible proposals which we can talk about.” TSC, meanwhile, gave the unions printed copies of the initial offer and asked the officials to study the document and give recommendations at the next meeting. The two unions agreed that this was a step in the right direction because they have been seeking audience with TSC and the fact that the commission invited them for negotiations was welcome. “We are asking teachers to be very patient because this is something that is taking our energies so that we can have Teachers Service Commission Chief Executive Nancy Macharia. PD/FILE dHDFKHUVUH^HFW dcbgVILUVWeDf LaFUHDVHRIIHU Union officials say salary hike proposal falls far below their expectations but talks will continue next week 4 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 conclusive engagement on Monday,” said Misori. He said Kuppet will not put conditions on negotiations, at least for the moment, and that the union still has more time to negotiate so long as it delivers to teachers what is agreeable with their employer. Talks on reviewing salaries were initially set to commence in 2020 but were postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In July 2021, the unions signed a non-monetary CBA, again because of Covid, but they have been seeking a review ahead of the expiry of the tenure of the CBA, which expires next year. “We can still wait so long as we get our rightful remuneration as guaranteed in our negotiations and with the windfall from the President of between seven and 10 per cent but nobody should bring it down because Treasury has accepted and SRC has advised,” said Misori. Presidential pronouncement The union leader, like his Knut counterparts, did not understand why TSC was reducing the officer made by both the President and SRC. “We asked them a question. Suppose the President did not pronounce on seven to 10 per cent, what were you going to bring to us? So what we have deliberated on is nothing short of the presidential pronouncement,” he added. The offer made by the President, and endorsed by the salaries commission, was to take effect from July 1 but the union leaders said members were yet to see this reflected on their payslips. Yesterday, Oyuu said the unions would interrogate what SRC had presented to TSC, then the employer and Knut would agree on the mode of implementation. “The 2.4 per cent and 9.5 per cent is welcome by KNUT and we have reasons. We said what we had presented let the lowest earning teachers get the highest percentage and highest earning teacher get lower percentages,” Oyuu said but insisted that SRC can only advise the teachers’ employer, not give it instructions. According to him, at various International Labour Organiaation (ILO) conferences, the issue of SRC’s had come up and the recommendation was always that the commission must desist from acting like a union, and that its role should be limited to advising, not negotiating pay raises for workers. “Teachers have suffered in this country and we are surprised that TSC has not brought anything,” he said of yesterday’s talks. All unions declined to sign the documents that TSC presented. They insisted on interrogating them further and argued that any new talks must be based on the 2021/25 CBA. DISPUTE Union leaders said they expected that the talks would be based on the 2021/2025 CBA, in which Kuppet sought a basic salary review of between 30 and 70 per cent for its members. They were opposed to a proposal by TSC, which changed the seven to 10 per cent increment as initially recommended by SRC for teachers in higher grades and instead proposed a 2.5 per cent increase for them. ½DÂPDÁHUVSUR¿HILUPVLQ¾À¹»¸º¼¿PLQLVWUÃSDÃRXW by Mercy Mwai @PeopleDailyKe Lawmakers have commenced investigations into how seven companies and individuals were awarded Sh18.79 billion as court awards that are yet to be settled by the Ministry of Lands. The move came after Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir tabled a document showing that out of the Sh19.7 billion awarded by the courts, the highest chunk went to the seven companies while the remaining Sh950 million was left to be shared among the 18 companies. The seven claims were made between 2013 and 2021 with the beneficiaries being Orbit Chemical who received the highest award of Sh6 billion, followed by RahimKhan Afzalkhan who was awarded Sh5.8 billion, Pius Kibet Tott and another Sh4.5billion and Arnagherry Limited Sh1billion. Others are Mike Maina Kamau Sh711.6 million, Thomas Mbugua and another Sh421million and Small Wonder Limited Sh326.5 million. The MPs who sit in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) led by the chairperson Nominated MP John Mbadi told Korir to within 21 working days provide details showing how the awards were issued, what occasioned the move and the strategies the ministry had out in place to settle the claims. Auditor to scrutinise Mbadi also told the committee’s secretariat and the officers from the Auditor General to scrutinise the data that will be shared by the PS and determine whether the committee should summon PS to shed light on the matter. He said: “There are some seven or so companies that are taking a huge chunk of the claims. We want details of the seven, tell us what the awards were for, what occasioned this huge payment.” And added: “On these legal claims we need to know how the process was before the award was given. I see a case where the legal claims are being used fraudulently to swindle Kenyans their hard earned money.. Legal claims have been used in government as a way of stealing money from Kenyans.” Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo sought to know the factors that led to the awards noting that there is always in collusion between interested parties and legal officers so that they are not defended adequately to allow them win such cases. He also sought to know why the ministry at the expense of others awarded as late as 2005 recently had settled some awards given. Lands PS Nixon Korir when he appeared before members of the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly yesterday. PD/KENNA CLAUDE

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY NEWS BEAT 5 post certification at the time to keep their eyes open to detect the polio outbreaks and also to ensure that population immunity of children was maintained through regular routine vaccination with Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) and Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) to prevent paralysis and death from polio. She praised the Ministry of Health on the sensitivity of its surveillance system, keeping its eyes open, and detecting the viruses in children residing and arriving at the refugee camp - where challenges of conducting activities in security compromised areas of Garissa are real and deter health workers. Population immunity “Paralysis in the detected children means gaps in population immunity. We cannot allow children to be paralysed by polio in a certified polio free region,” Dr Onuekwusi stated. She called on joint efforts by MOH and partners to reach eligible children especially in hard to reach pastoralists, nomadic, refugees and migrant mobile populations with lifesaving vaccines including OPV and IPV. She called on County Health Management teams to identify these vulnerable children and populations, and target them especially for routine immunisation services and purpose to reach them during this campaign. “A robust cross border collaboration with neighbouring countries of Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania will also be required to address gaps in surveillance and routine immunisation activities. “As you may be aware, outbreaks of cholera, polio and measles have made their way across Kenya’s borders,” she noted, appealing to parents and caregivers to present their children under the age of five years as the vaccination teams go house to house.
 The lawyer who commissioned famous Josephine Kabura’s controversial affidavit on National Youth Service (NYS) scandal seven years ago is at the centre of a Sh11 million fraud case. Ongoing negotiations Lawyer Daniel Bosire Kirera was yesterday charged before Milimani Law Courts with defrauding a top Pakistan government official Iftekhar Ahmad Aziz Sh11 million in a fake water project. Lawyer Bosire together with businessman John Martin Chege Kamau were charged after Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina (pictured) declined to have the plea deferred to pave the way for an out of court settlement. “I decline to have the matter deferred for a month to enable Bosire and Kamau complete the ongoing negotiations. I direct the two accused persons to answer to the charges as nothing bars the court from proceeding with plea taking,” Onyina ruled. Magistrate Onyina ordered the lawyer and the businessman to be released on Sh1 million bond or Sh100,00 each. The case will be mentioned on September 5 for pre-trial and to confirm whether the parties have settled the case out of court. -Nancy Gitonga Lawyer denies defrauding Pakistani national Sh11m by George Kebaso @Morarak Questions are rising on who slept on the job in the fresh outbreak of polio in 22 countries in Africa, Kenya included, with six cases of children under five being reported in Garissa county. This is even as the continent was certified free of the disease in 2020. As the government gears up to vaccinate 7.4 million children under the age of five years across 10 counties against the debilitating polio disease, yesterday health experts were pondering the link between pandemic outbreaks and climate change. Acting Director General health, Dr Patrick Amoth pointed out that in the current Polio outbreak, out of the 33 countries affected, 22 countries are in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa region. He noted a variety of reasons including, the fragility of the health systems in this region; conflicts that are permanent in this area, but also not forgetting the effects of climate change. “Mid to late last year, the Horn and EAC region experienced a devastating drought, and no wonder, hardly one year down the line, we are reporting this outbreak,” he stated, noting that the health sector contributes so little in terms of carbon footprint but bears the greatest burden. “I would appeal to the researchers in this room, to go back to the drawing board to see if we can find a possible link between these outbreaks and climate change, and not forgetting the never-ending conflicts,” he urged. The latest outbreak in Kenya, which was detected by disease surveillance teams in Garissa County especially in the Dadaab and Hagadera refugee camps, comes in the backdrop of the recent re-opening of the border between Somalia and Kenya. Somalia is classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR) as a state infected with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). Two cases were reported in May this year and five in 2022. World Health Organisation (WHO) Kenya Immunisation and Vaccines Development Focal point person, Dr Iheoma Onuekwusi yesterday called on authorities in the Horn and East Africa region to strengthen surveillance systems in the common borders and mount routine immunisations. Laboratory evidence “Last polio outbreak was in early 2021 to which MOH in collaboration with its partners effectively mounted a response. “The current outbreak was detected in late June and laboratory evidence shows an established circulation within the Dadaab refugee,” she said, even recalling that the polio free certification was given to AFRO region in August of 2020, “and every one rejoiced at the time.” Countries including Kenya were advised hUHVKeROLRRXWEUHD_UDLVHViXHULHV 22 African countries including Kenya have reported new cases despite being certified free in 2020 Acting Director General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth (left) with Health PS Mary Muthoni during a Media and Stakeholders Roundtable meeting on polio vaccination in Nairobi, yesterday. PD/ROBIN KIDAVI ÄRXUWVWRSVWÀH GHUHJLVWUDWLRQRI ÇDVWRUÅÈHÁLHO·V ÆH½LIHFÀXUFÀ The Kilifi -based Preacher Ezekiel Odero yesterday got a major reprieve after the High Court suspended a decision by the Registrar of Societies to deregister his Church. The court allowed the New Life Prayer Centre Church which has over 5000 followers to continue to operate. In a brief ruling, Justice Jairus Ngaah said that the lawsuit filed by Odero and two members of the church Franklin Kilonzo and Alice Nafula Wanyama raises substantial issues of law which need to be canvassed at a full trial. Suspended decision The judge therefore temporarily suspended the decision by the government to deregister the church without giving them an opportunity to be heard. The church was deregistered on May 19, 2023 but the official gazette notice was published on August 18, 2023. “Pending the interrogation by the court on the question whether the process leading to deregistration of New Life Prayer Centre and church was consistent with the law of the land and in particular whether it was legal, rational and procedural fair to the New Life Prayer Centre and Church the gazette notice of 18 August 2023 remain suspended pending further directions of the court, “ Justice Ngaah ruled. -Nancy Gitonga OUTBREAK In June this year, Kenya Health authorities confirmed six cases of polio in Garissa County circulating from Hagadera and Dadaab refugee camp, the development which is likely to pose danger to children, especially new-borns. Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muriuki, said that the cases were detected by healthcare workers.

6 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Wajir Girls School students present a Somali folk song at Nakuru High School. PD/RAPHAEL MUNGE John Momanyi of Nyanchururu Primary School in Nyanza, performs Violin Solo, yesterday. PD/RAPHAEL MUNGE Re Kanyika from Nyanza perform a Dholuo folk song. PD/RAPHAEL MUNGE Karatina DEB pupils present singing games, the western style. PD/RAPHAEL MUNGE St Teresa’s Girls School-Nyeri pupils recite a choral verse titled ‘Uraia’. PD/RAPHAEL MUNGE Wendy Jelimo of Kianda School, Nairobi performs a solo oriental dance. PD/RAPHAEL MUNGE Asilong Christian School from Rift Valley performs a Pokot folk song during the Kenya Music Festivals gala at Nakuru High School, yesterday. PD/ RAPHAEL MUNGE 3R`eDa]FRORXU DVVFKRROVeHUIRU` WKHLUZLaaLajDFWV

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY NEWS BEAT 7 vestigated very expeditious and stern action taken against the financiers, and the perpetrators of this heinous act.” Act condemned Echoing Wandayi’s sentiments, Manyatta MP John Mukunji condemned the attack and called on the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome to probe the incident and report to Parliament what transpired. “We want to see anybody who has been involved and even for those who mobilised for Njeri to be attacked, brought to book and put behind bars,” said Mukunji. Embu Woman Rep Pamela Njoki called on the security agencies to ensure the safety and security of parliamentarians, irrespective of their political affiliations. “We must receive the security commensurate with our positions. It is utterly archaic for any individual, regardless of their mental state, to target and harm a defenseless woman,” expressed Pamela, as she fervently urged for the apprehension of the perpetrators. Her Kisii counterpart Dorice Donya Aburi, who brought the matter to the Assembly’s attention, implored her colleagues to unite in condemning the violence meted on one of their own. Such incidents, she added, could potentially befall any of them, calling for a collective condemnation. MP ATTACKED Kirinyaga Woman Rep Jane Njeri was on Tuesday injured after chaos rocked a meeting she had organised in Kerugoya town. She claimed they were walking on foot after their meeting was disrupted by what she called hired goons. ÊXVLQHVVÂRPDQILQDOOÃDUUDLJQHG RËHU¾À¹ÉPÆJDUDGUXJVFÀDUJHV by Nancy Gitonga @PeopleDailyKe Businesswoman Nancy Kigunzu alias Mathe wa Ngara arrested in connection drugs recovered in Ngara last week has been detained until this morning. JKIA Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku remanded Kigunzu until today when she will deliver her decision on whether she will allow the police plea to continue holding the suspect for five more days pending investigations. “Since the submission made by both the state and the defence are lengthy, I direct the suspect be remanded at ICD Police Station until tomorrow (today morning) when I will render the ruling on the matter,” Magistrate Njeri directed. In an application filed in court, police urged the magistrate to allow them to continue holding Kigunzu to enable them complete the ongoing investigation over allegations of drug trafficking and possession of ‘cookies and sweets’. Kigunzu who was arrested on Monday evening within Nairobi CBD, has been on the news over the past week after detectives busted drugs and about Sh13.4 million in cash from her house believed to be proceeds from drugs. Through Sergeant Stephen Chesire, the State wants the woman detained for five more days saying that the probe into the matter is complex as police need to interrogate her further and have the drugs analysed by the government chemist before they can prefer any criminal charges against her. “The sweets and cookies which were seized from the respondent (Kizungu) premises couldn’t undergo preliminary laboratory test hence the report will give further directions on this case on the charges to be preferred,” officer Chesire informed the court. He also told the court police need to conduct further interrogations, which might lead to further arrests of Kigunzu’s accomplices who are still at large. 03VRXWUDjH DIWHUkR`Da \HeDVVDXOWH] by Anthony Mwangi @PeopleDailyKe Members of Parliament have expressed their outrage over the attack on Kirinyaga Woman Rep Jane Njeri Maina, denouncing it as an act of cowardice and primitive politics. Demanding immediate and decisive action, the legislators have called upon investigative agencies to promptly apprehend not only the assailants but also those who potentially orchestrated and financed the regrettable incident. The assault occurred at the Kerugoya Police Station in a clash between two factions representing rival political interests, leaving Njeri severely injured. Recorded statement The MP, an accomplished lawyer, had accompanied her client and Baragwi MCA David Mathenge to the station to provide a statement in relation to allegations involving the vandalism of a county government water project at Mukandu-ini village the previous week. Taking to the floor of the House yesterday afternoon, the legislators, led by Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), asked the investigative bodies to expedite the apprehension of the culprits and their financiers. “We must condemn violence in all its shapes and forms. Violence is violence whether it happens in Kondele or in Kirinyaga,” declared Wandayi. He added: “These atrocities which have been meted against our colleague allegedly by the county governor of Kirinyaga or her agents needs to be inLawmakers demand action after Kirinyaga legislator attacked by goons in broad daylight Clean-shaven Kirinyaga Woman Rep Njeri Maina is wheeled to a Nairobi hospital after goons attacked her in Kerugoya, yesterday. COURTESY Nancy Kigunzu believed to be ‘Mathe wa Ngara’ after she was arrested in Nairobi CBD on Monday. COURTESY

8 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 by Robert Ochoro @PeopleDailyKe An MP has raised concern over increased cases of teenage pregnancies in Kisii county, saying it was derailing the education of school girls and ruining their future. Kisii County Woman Representative, Dorice Donya Aburi said 60 per cent of women who attend antenatal clinics at Kisii Teaching and Referral hospital are girls aged between 12 and 17, stressing the trend is worrying. She challenged the girls to embrace moral values to curb the pregnancies and urged parents, guardians, chiefs, teachers and leaders to intervene to reverse the trend. The MP was speaking at at Nduru Girls high school, South Mugirango constituency during the launching of anti- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) campaign graced by Gender Violence Recovery Centre Managing Director, Alberta Wambua. She said more than 300 girls are being mentored at the school by professionals to curb gender based violence, teenage pregnancies, drug abuse and leadership, adding, her office is partnering with Civil society organisations and the national government. 03D]YLVHVjLUOVWRUHYHUVHHDUOf`DUULDjHWUHa] 0DLaVXVeHFWLambnRIILFHUl ZLIHVKRRWLajjXaaH]]RZa from the aide’s safe. Detectives had been trailing Jonte for about two weeks after he, in the company of two others, shot dead Constable Mayaka in an ambush on August 8 as he was replacing his punctured car tyres. Since then, Jonte has been moving to different houses within Kayole, according to the detectives who were involved in the operation. His other accomplice Alex Wanjiru, 23, was last week arrested hiding in his grandmother’s house in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. Wanjiru was arrested on Tuesday August 15 from his hideout in Ruthingiti, Kiambu County. Police said he had escaped from Kayole immediately after the incident and sought refuge at his grandmother’s home in Ruthingiti, Kikuyu sub-county, before detectives tracked him down. A team of detectives handling the matter say they had placed the two at the crime scene and recovered the motorbike used as the gateway means during the incident. Police say John Kerori was apprehended in a joint operation but he opened fire leading to his death Soil sampling will improve crop yield, Arati tells farmers Man fined Sh0.85m for revealing his friend’s HIV status Some 9,000 farmers in Kisii are set to benefit from free soil testing to enable them plant the right crops to boost food production and security, Governor Simba Arati (pictured) has said. He said 200 soil samples from each ward will be tested and urged farmers to cooperate with the soil scientists. He was speaking at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) yesterday during the flagging off of Soil Health Campaign in partnership with Kenya Crops and Dairy Marketing systems ( KCDMS) funded by USAid under Feed the future Initiative. “Some soils are acidic due to overuse of the soil and inappropriate use of fertiliser. The testing helps the farmer know the level of acidity to take mitigation measures,” he said. – Robert Ochoro A man has been ordered to pay a fine of Sh850,000 after revealing a friend’s alleged HIV/Aids status in a WhatsApp group. The ruling came from the HIV and Aids Tribunal, who said a person’s HIV status should not be disclosed to third parties without consent. The complainant said as a result of the message in the WhatsApp group, which had 170 members, he faced discrimination and is now undergoing counselling because of the psychological toll it had taken. He added that the accusation had caused a rift in his marriage and denies the disclosure given in the WhatsApp group. He has also been awarded Sh3,000 in special damages. —BBC ÆHÂHÌXLSPHQWWRÀHOSFXWFRVWVIRUFDQFHUSDWLHQWV by Oliver Musembi @PeopleDailyKe There is renewed hope for cancer patients as Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) unveiled modern endoscopy equipment that will enhance treatment at a lower cost. The Endoscopy Tower comes with precision diagnostic capabilities and treatment of internal organs for cancer and ulcers, among other illnesses like ulcers at a highly-discounted charge. It cuts the cost of treatment significantly from about Sh850,000 which is charged in private hospitals to Sh100,000 that can be covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). While receiving the equipment, KUTRRH Board Chairperson Prof Olive Mugenda said it is the first of its kind in the country’s public hospitals and was acquired through the Ministry of Health at cost of Sh60 million. She said NHIF card holders will benefit from the machine which is the first to be installed in a public health facility. It will serve four patients per day. “This state-of-the-art equipment, made possible through collaboration with our valued partners, Fuji and Science Scope, will enable us to offer critical procedures previously limited in availability and very costly,” said Prof Mugenda.
 John Kerori alias Jonte who was shot dead during a joint police operation. He was the main suspect in the murder of Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer Constable David Mayaka PD/ COURTESY by Zadock Angira @PeopleDailyKe The main suspect in the murder of Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer Constable David Mayaka was yesterday morning shot dead in Dhawabu area of Soweto, Kayole. John Kerori Kamau alias Jonte was shot dead during a joint dawn operation by detectives from Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), Nairobi Area and Njiru DCI. ‘Jonte’ is believed to be behind a spate of robberies in Nairobi and its environs. A CZ pistol serial number B626735 loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition was recovered. The suspect was cornered and ordered to surrender but instead opened fire, injuring one of the officers involved in the operation. “The officer was shot on the left thigh and rushed to Komarock Modern Hospital for treatment,” Nairobi police commander Adamson Bungei said. He was then shot dead and police recovered, the pistol and a bag containing assorted phones believed to have been stolen from other members of the public. “Detectives have since established that the recovered firearm had been violently robbed from an aide to a former Cabinet Secretary, in a robbery incident reported on November 17, 2021 in Ngong, Kajiado County,” the DCI said. During the incident, the aide who was a licensed firearm holder was driving into his compound at around 2am, when he was accosted by a four-man gang armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and crude weapons including metal bars and machetes. After ransacking the man’s house located at Kerarapon village, the thugs made away with his pistol serial number B626735 and 55 rounds of ammunition 12 Number of rounds of ammunition that police say they recvered from John Kerori Kamau alias Jonte during a joint dawn operation yesterday. The recovery of the motorcycle came after the team conducted thorough forensic investigations that placed the suspect and his accomplices at the scene of the incident, at the exact time of the murder. The DCI boss Mohammed Amin said a comprehensive analysis conducted by ballistic experts based at the DCI National Forensic Lab has since linked the firearm that fired the fatal shot to five other previous robbery incidents in the city. Detectives are now tracking down the third suspect, Henry Njihia, who has been missing since. Driving home Detective Mayaka who was based at DCI Makadara was driving home in the company of his wife Hellen Kemunto Mayaka on August 8, at around 10pm when they were accosted by the three-man gang riding on a motorbike. The gunmen confronted them and robbed the wife of the phone before shooting Mayaka in the stomach and the woman on the left thigh. Officers who visited the scene managed to collect spent cartridges were then subjected to ballistic analysis. The detectives also analysed the CCTV footage and identified the suspects. “At the scene, the officers recovered three spent cartridges of 9mm calibre and a bullet head,” the DCI said. The incident which was captured by a CCTV camera showed the thugs arrived in two motorcycles whose registration plates were concealed. The officer is heard in the footage pleading with the armed thugs to take whatever they wanted but one is heard saying “piga yeye” (shoot him). Despite their cries, four shots rent the air before the gunmen are captured speeding away leaving the wife screaming for help. The wife is heard pleaded with the members of the public who had arrived at the scene to help her take the officer to the hospital. The disturbing clip also captured an Administration Police Service (APS) vehicle arriving at the scene, sparking some hope in the officer’s wife side.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY 9 681'$< 7+$8*867 ffl30 ffl30 FOCUS ON SPIRULINA FARMING .HQ\DV1H[W6ROXWLRQ7R )RRG,QVHFXULW\

10 PEOPLE SPEAK PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Kenya´s economy has been characterised by a digital revolution whose disruptive effects can be felt to date. The expansion of Internet access, digital finance and e-commerce through mobile money technology has produced tech-savvy consumers who are heavily reliant on the digital economy in achieving economic prosperity. A prominent example of these achievements includes integrating the informal sector into the formal economy to improve competition for a wider variety of cheaper, quality products. This has been an integral feature of the economic discourse as the resulting efficiency in business allows Kenyans who have struggled to participate in the traditional economy, enjoy higher standards of living that would have otherwise been impossible to attain. However, as much as the benefits of mobile money technology have been transformative to the evolution of Kenya’s private sector, there have been challenges with extending these benefits to provision of public services. The adoption of technology by the State remains an institutional and political process. Even though national development policies such as Vision 2030 recognise the role of science, technology and innovation in enhancing the provision of public services, it does not provide for an overall long-term legal framework or national strategy that can withstand the unpredictability of electoral cycles and the accompanying changes in institutional appointments. This absence in fixed provisions and strategy would be particularly detrimental at the hands of a political regime that lacks the insight on how to adopt public services to the ongoing digital revolution. Applications like MyDawa and Dawati have attempted to offer private solutions to public challenges by digitising the delivery of healthcare and education, thus offering Kenyans new alternatives. But the need of tech-service providers to retain economies of scale and draw a profit, limits the geographical reach of these applications in addition to deterring certain segments of the public that cannot afford the price at which these basic services are offered. More critically, by naturally excluding members of society, these services entirely cease being ‘public’ as public services are constitutionally required to be universally accessible. The National ICT Policy of 2019 has attempted to identify ways in which the Government can incorporate ICT into public service delivery. This would include the availability of Government services online and the ease of their accessibility via mobile phone devices. But what to date remains seemingly ambiguous are the actionable steps that will be required to materialise many of its aims and objectives. Furthermore, although the National ICT Policy document recognises the significance of legal and regulatory frameworks in the implementation of its vision, it has been unable to outline how existing legal provisions will be utilised in the actualisation of its aspirations. As a case in point, there is no mention of the Data Protection Act 2019 even though its provisions will determine the safe storage of data by various Government offices and the protection of citizens from fraud as they navigate e-services. Similarly, technology developed by private foreign investors will be integral to the facilitation of e-services. Yet despite the guidelines of the National ICT Policy being contingent on foreign investment, public interest regulations guiding these investments are sparse. Therefore, if Kenya is to fully realise the potential of the digital economy, public service provision will need to digitise in a manner that is similar if not more than that being demonstrated by the private sector. — The writer is a law researcher ."9
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JU Make bilateral trade deals work for Kenya This week, Kenya signed four trade and investment pacts with Indonesia, a country that exports goods worth Sh27.1 billion to Kenya while buying goods worth only Sh1.1 billion. Such imbalances in trade between Kenya and its trading partners are all too common and, as a result, Kenya spends more in international trade than it earns. This is unsustainable in the long run and partly explains why the country will always be in debt; because we routinely spend more than we earn collectively. Because of this historical trend, Kenya has remained a net importer of goods and services. Yet, with incentives such goods and services can be made locally. Kenya’s obsession with imports goes against the national mantra of creating more jobs because every time an individual or company imports a finished product, they have essentially created jobs abroad. With proper planning, incentives and equipment, it is possible to stop some imports — such as furniture — altogether and reduce on non-essentials like clothing materials, leather products and simple goods like pens and pencils. There is need, therefore, for the government to review its policies with the aim to improve the balance of trade by encouraging individuals and businesses to import less and exporting more. Kenya has a wide variety of goods that it exports in their raw form. As a result, such goods fetch lower prices. Yet, those who buy them make more money by adding value to such products. The question we should be asking ourselves is; why are we not encouraging more companies to engage in value addition for export? In the Budget statement that he read in July, Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u said he would be introducing an import substitution tax to discourage importation of goods that can be manufactured or produced in the country. In principle, this is a good idea although the enhanced taxes will hurt businesses that have traditionally thrived from importation. To compensate, they should be given incentives to start manufacturing the same products locally. Within a few years, the dividend from such a strategy will be evident to all. That is the only way to improve Kenya’s balance of trade in the medium and long term. Use digital tech to improve public services 5)06()5
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4)0--&* flffffi 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: editor.people@mediamax.co.ke © Copyright 2023

SEND YOUR OPED TO: peoplespeak@mediamax.co.ke Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY PEOPLE SPEAK 11 Skills have emerged as a critical area of focus. Forces such as globalisation and advancing technology continue to reshape most jobs, with emerging trends in AI, remote working, and climate literacy, amongst others, placing demands on workers to acquire new skills. As economies transition from brown to green and AI becomes more mainstream, upskilling and reskilling are par for the changes happening now. The Future of Jobs 2023 report predicts that investments in the green transition of businesses will drive the strongest net job creation. Climate change adaptation and the demographic dividend in developing and emerging economies also rate high as net job creators. Technological advancement through increased adoption of new technologies and increased digital access are also expected to drive job growth. With July declared the hottest month on record, the United Nations has warned that the “era of global boiling” had arrived. While 140 countries accounting for over 90 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions have already proposed or set net-zero targets for around midcentury, encouraging employees to develop green skills through training is crucial. The UN defines green skills as the knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society. While most green conversations often gravitate toward technology, materials, and waste, the role of project management is often undervalued. Project managers reduce the causes and consequences of climate change as they help businesses transition to sustainable practices. PMI’s Talent Gap report predicts that the global economy will need 25 million new project professionals by 2030 due to economic growth, increased jobs requiring project management-oriented skills, and retirement rates. To close the talent gap, 2.3 million project managers will be needed to fill these roles every year. Despite increased concern over climate change, Africa does not currently have the project management skills to support the green economy transformation. Youths entering the job market will benefit from sharpening their soft or power skills. In the coming years, power skills are poised to be pivotal in shaping the future of young professionals. PMI spoke to young professionals to gain insights into the most critical skills on their career journey as part of its “The Path to Project Success: Essential Project Skills for Young Professionals 2023” report. Among power skills, effective communication emerged as the top priority, as it lays the foundation for successful interactions in the workplace. Ninety three per cent said power skills helped them work smarter. Problem-solving and strategic thinking were identified as essential competencies, enabling young professionals to overcome challenges and align their actions with organisational objectives. By fostering teamwork and empowering team members, collaborative leadership was highlighted as a skill that enables young professionals to inspire innovation and build trust within their teams. The project manager has the most critical position on a project and is responsible for its success. Because of the criticality of this role, project managers must have a host of skills and demonstrate adaptability and resilience. Flexibility in learning and embracing upskilling opportunities are essential for staying relevant in this fast-changing environment. Continuous learning and upskilling are imperative for young professionals, especially as industries undergo rapid transformations. By being proactive and adaptable, they can position themselves as valuable assets to employers by staying updated with the latest trends and taking steps to enhance their resumes. — The writer is the Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Project Management Institute Why media is critical in fighting violent extremism Train employees to meet demand for green skills In October 2022, a Twitter post on alleged terror attack by Al-Shabaab in Wajir went viral, triggering tension among residents. The tweet read: “Al-Shabaab militants have attacked personnel of a company drilling borehole in Wajir, burnt the vehicle and killed civilians at the site. It’s the first attack since William Ruto took over as president (sic).” Some local media outlets published articles quoting the tweet that contained images of the alleged attack, further spreading fear of the resurgence of terror attacks. The original tweet, retweeted over 500 times in 24 hours, was false and misleading. A fact-check by French news agency, AFP, found that the said attack had happened a month earlier at a village in Somalia, not Kenya. This is one, and perhaps the least alarming, of the many cases of misinformation on terrorism-related incidents, and whose motive and consequences could be greatly curtailed by verification and fact-checking. Similar misleading and fake news was rife during Nairobi’s Westgate mall terror attack in September 2013, some of which found its way into media headlines undetected. In the era of digital and social media explosion, there is the temptation among some media outlets to “publish first and verify later” in the race to “break” the news. This way, the media often plays into the hands of propagandists and terrorists alike, and at times help further their agenda. Yet, the media the world over continues to play a critical role in the prevention and countering of violent extremism. While mainstream media outlets are no longer the only source of breaking news, they still boast a huge degree of credibility. For instance, while we learn of breaking news largely on social media nowadays, many of us still seek to verify the credibility of the said news from mainstream media. The Fourth Estate still plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and that is a strength that the mainstream media must strive not to lose. Bad news sells. Perpetrators of violent extremism know this and understand the media’s obsession with negative and alarming news. They use this knowledge to get even mainstream media to spread their propaganda and hate messages. The media must, therefore, always remain alert to this fact, especially when publishing or broadcasting terrorism-related news. Media outlets can also actively challenge and debunk extremist narratives. They must, at all times, fact-check claims made by extremist to debunk their propaganda. This helps to undermine the credibility of extremist messages and exposes the fallacies in their arguments. The media must employ a balanced and thoughtful approach in coverage of violent extremism to avoid inadvertently promoting extremist narratives which only create fear and terror. To publish accurate, balanced and sensitive reports and challenge extremists’ narratives, the media cannot act alone. It must partner with other players involved in the fight against VE, including government agencies, NGOs, civil society and local communities in information sharing. These actors not only give the media verifiable news, but also expert analysis of accounts of violent extremism as well as critical context required for balanced coverage. As part of collaboration and countering narratives of violent extremists, the media must keep highlighting positive initiatives by groups involved in PCVE such as IGAD Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. By highlighting successful rehabilitation and reintegration stories, the media can help shift public perceptions, reduce stigma, and support the reintegration of former extremists into society. Ultimately, the media must continually educate the public about the dangers of terrorism, its root causes, and its negative impact. While doing this, it should prioritise ethical, accuracy, and gender-sensitive coverage, factoring in the diverse nature of communities, especially in Africa. — The writer is a journalist (&03(&
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&%*503 / / / @PeopleDailyKe / / / People Daily !ffffff ÍDUHVSRWOHVV JLUDIIH¿RUQDW ÎHQQHVVHHÏRR It’s easy to spot the difference. A baby giraffe born and on view in a private Tennessee zoo is garnering global attention for its solid brown color devoid of the characteristic camouflage patches. The 6-foot-tall giraffe was born on July 31 at Brights Zoo in Limestone, which said in a statement that she is the only solid-coloured living reticulated giraffe on the planet. The zoo hopes the spotless creature will help draw attention to the conservation of wild giraffes, whose numbers have dwindled in recent years. The reticulated giraffe is one of the four distinct species of giraffe, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), a group that works to save giraffes in the wild. In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature added it to a list of threatened species. Stephanie Fennessy, executive director of the GCF, said the group had “never seen a similar giraffe in the wild in Africa.”. “Wild populations are silently slipping into extinction, with 40 per cent of the wild giraffe population lost in just the last 3 decades,” Tony Bright, the founder of Brights Zoo, said, adding the zoo was working to help the giraffe population through a breeding programme. The long-necked animals have spots that work primarily as camouflage, experts say. Each patch contains a system of blood vessels underneath it that helps them release and regulate body heat. —Agencies ODDLY ENOUGH TRUTHIS: When it comes to doing things for others, some people stop at nothing. Quick recovery @duke_of_SEKU: Wishing Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina a swift recovery after the unfortunate incident during her Meet-The-People tour. Violence has no place in our democratic processes. Sending strength and support her way. Different budget @masara_juniour: We need to get our politicians a different tax paying rate, a different budget and a separate island where they can go mess with public funds whichever way they want Stop the fighting @ YoungwiseElder1: In this KK Government, Rift Valley legislators are fighting Ababu. Ali Mbogo & Sarai are fighting Jicho Pevu. Riggy G anasema mDVD ni ghost worker. Na bado kuna mtu anasema tuwapatie time. Ya kupigana ama? I’m ready @TeyaKevin: Sports CS Ababu Namwamba has written to the National Assembly and Senate speakers requesting that he be summoned to appear before the houses to respond to queries raised by Kikuyu MP Hon. Kimani Ichungwa and Nandi Senator Hon. Simon Cherargai touching on his ministry.

12 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 cDYHXVIUR`ZDWHUFDUWHOVl kD`DWDajLWHOOVODZ`D_HUV by Rawlings Otieno @PeopleDailyKe Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has sought the intervention of the Senate in dealing with rogue water cartels. This even as the Senate County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee directed the Governor to harmonise the Water Act with the National Water Act 2016 and other relevant laws within four months. Wamatangi said some rouge water cartels had made it difficult for the county government to merge eight water utility firms to make them more efficient. “We have tried to merge the water companies so that they are economically viable but there are water cartels that wish that the status quo remains so that they continue making money. This committee should help me get rid of these people,” said Wamatangi. Limuru, Karuri, Kikuyu and Githunguri water companies have been making losses and operating at a negative working capital. “You have a water Mungiki in your County. You have people who consume water but do not want to pay. You must kick out those rogue water cartels making your life difficult,” said the committee’s vice chair Tom Ojienda (Kisumu). Governor tells Senate committee that efforts to merge utility firms had faded resistance The Godfrey Osotsi-led committee noted that Limuru Water, Kikuyu, Githunguri, Karuri water and sanitation companies had been on a loss-making trend and urged the County government to put in place measures for recovery and boost financial health of the water companies within 60 days. Limuru, Thika, Karuri, Kikuyu, Kiambu, Githunguri, Ruiru-Juja and Gatundu water companies were also found to have exceeded the legal allowable threshold of non-revenue water (NRW ) of 25 per cent. Water loss The high non-revenue water is contained in the Auditor General’s report for the year ending June 30, 2021. Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, in her report for Limuru Water and Sewerage Company, indicates the firm produced 1,564,362 cubic metres of water in the year under review, out of which, only 1,057,140 cubic metres were billed. The report states that the NRW was 7.4 percentage points above the allowable water loss threshold of 25 per cent, resulting in loss of an estimated at Sh32.5 million. “The NRW implied that a significant amount of the company’s water is lost before it is billed to customers, or some of its customers obtain the water free of charge,” the report says. But the firm’s managing director Margaret Maina told the committee that due to the high level of non-revenue water, the company took initiatives to reduce it from 32 ÅOGRUHWLQFÀHVFORVHWR FLWÃVWDWXVDVVHQDWRUV LQVSHFWÁHÃSURÒHFWV The Senate Committee on Devolution and InterGovernmental Relations is expected to make an inspection tour of various infrastructure projects in Eldoret town which is seeking conferment of city status. The Wajir Senator Sheikh Abbas-led committee is expected to inspect the central business district fire station, the on-going upgrading of Kipchoge Keino Stadium to international standards and street lighting and road upgrading projects in the town. Eldoret Municipality Board chairman Julius Kitur said other flagship projects the committee is expected to inspect include the Sh15 million rehabilitation of the Sosiani River and the refurbished Eldoret arboretum. Kitur expressed optimism that the cosmopolitan town that is North Rift’s largest commercial hub will attain city status. He said that Eldoret Municipality had fulfilled all the legal requirements to merit being elevated into a city. “Those claiming that we have not met some requirements are behind the news,” he said. Drainage system Kitur said that if Eldoret is granted city status, it will lead to the establishment of new business ventures and spur growth in the region. The Municipality has been pushing to be made the fifth city after Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu. In May, Uasin Gishu Assembly approved a report from an ad hoc committee recommending conferment of city status to Eldoret Municipality. Other projects the Uasin Gishu County government has been undertaking in anticipation of the new status are the improvement of drainage systems and the dump site. The town’s hope of achieving its dream was boosted when Senate Speaker Amason Kingi stated during the justconcluded devolution conference that the Senate will consider the resolution by Uasin Gishu County Assembly. “I referred the resolution by the Uasin Gishu County assembly to the Standing Committee on Devolution and Inter-Governmental Relations for consideration,” said Kingi. If approved by the Senate, the report will be forwarded to President William Ruto to grant the town city charter. Eldoret Town is also set to get its largest retail markets in the town centre once Sh6 billion project funded by the National Government is completed in the next two years. ,*563
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OFXT AUDITOR’S REPORT Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, in her report for Limuru Water and Sewerage Company, indicates the firm produced 1,564,362 cubic metres of water in the year under review, out of which, only 1,057,140 cubic metres were billed. The report states that the NRW was 7.4 percentage points above the allowable water loss threshold of 25 per cent, resulting in loss of an estimated at Sh32.5 million. per cent to 30 per cent as per the performance contract. “Reduction of NRW will be achieved through several activities that are geared towards reducing the losses,” she said. The committee learnt that Thika Water made a loss of Sh221 million in non-revenue water due to theft, non-functioning water metres and leakage. According to the report, during the year ended 30 June, 2021, the Company produced water totaling to 14,083,006 cubic metres an increase of three per cent from previous year’s production of 13,6870,384 cubic metres. “However, the company had no organizational policies and strategies in place for managing the levels of non-revenue water of 33 per cent of the total production, leading to approximately Sh221.1 million in lost revenue,” reads the report. Thika Water and Sewarage Company Managing Director Moses Kinya said they have a Geographical Information System (GIS) that is being used to manage and map assets, such as pipes and valves, to ensure they are in good condition and operating efficiently. “The Company has a programme to replace non-functional and out-of-order consumer metres and replace them with smart-ready ones. During the period 2020 to 2022, the company had replaced 4,677 metres at a cost of Sh18.7 million,” said the company boss. ÄÄÎÑFDPHUDVLQVWDOOHGDWÐD¿DUQHWÀRVSLWDOWR¿XVWGUXJWÀLHËHV by Wycliff Kipsang @cliffsang08 The Baringo County Government has moved to curb theft of drugs at the County Referral Hospital in Kabarnet. Governor Benjamin Cheboi’s administration has embarked on installation of CCTV surveillance cameras in all strategic places in the hospital to address the problem. Health Chief Officer Dr Winnie Bore said action will be taken against staff found culpable. “We are committed to ensuring that the people get quality services in all our health facilities and we will not tolerate anybody derailing our agenda,” Bore (pictured) said yesterday while flagging off drugs to health facilities across the county. Police in Baringo County have arrested two people who were found stealing assorted drugs and medical supplies of unknown value from the County Referral Hospital. People Daily established that the suspects, an officer and an accomplice, were nabbed by security guards manning the facility while trying to stuff drugs in a bag. County Referral Medical Superintendent Dr Gerishom Abakalwa said the hospital management had set a trap for them after receiving reports of drugs disappearing from the facility especially at night. “We have stepped up surveillance at the hospital day and night following reports that some staff were colluding with strangers to steal drugs,” said the medic. He said security officers had revealed that a stranger usually accompanied by medic arrives at night and leaves with a bag full of unknown things. Breakfast for labour FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: FKE head of advocacy consulting and partnership Stephen Obiro, Alyson Beermann, International Relations Officer US Department of Labour, Ernest Nadome, 1st assistant secretary general COTU and Gertrude Angote, National Project Coordinator ILO, All Hands in Kenya, during breakfast meeting. PD/ JOHN OCHIENG

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY 13

14 BUSINESS HUB FOR MORE NEWS VISIT: www.pd.co.ke / www.epaper. pd.co.ke Wednesday, August 23, 2023 by Mercy Mwai @wangumarci National Treasury is seeking the approval of Parliament to write off loans and tax penalties worth Sh117.64 billion accrued by five sugar companies in its bid to revive the industry. Cabinet secretary Njuguna Ndung’u in a memorandum to Parliament said the move is in line with the Cabinet decision to have the loans done away with. The five sugar industries are Nzoia, Chemelil, Miwani and Muhoroni currently under receivership and South Nyanza Sugar Company. Of the Sh117.64 billion, Sh65.77 billion relates to loans owed by the five mills to government and Kenya Sugar Board / commodities fund, Sh50.144 billion relates to tax penalties and interests as at June 30 this year while Sh1.71 billion relates to balances owed to farmers. Reads the memorandum: “In view of the above, the National Treasury submits the Memorandum on Action plans to revive and commercialise the State-owned sugar companies.” Private sector orientation Ndung’u explained that his decision is based on the fact that despite the government being involved in the sugar industry , lack of private sector orientation and political interference have been cited as the reasons that have led to low levels of productivity and investment in the sector. According to him, the actions taken by the government will create a competitive sugar sector as the they intend to create a sector that can withstand the withdrawal of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) safe guards, enhance profitability of the sugar farming and achieve economies of scale. Actions are also meant to enhance profitability in the sector as they will focus on investing on modern sugar milling plants, increase of the tonnes cane harvested per acre from the average 35 tonnes, recover the sugar recovery rate from the current 12.5 per cent to 6 and 8 per cent as well as increase the cane sucrose content to 13 and 14 per cent. Ndung’u also told MPs to approve the vacation of the privatisation model approved by parliament in 2015 and leasing model of the five sugar mills. According to him, although the privation process was approved, its implementation was not concluded as it was opposed by stakeholders especially the communities because of sensitivities State seeks nod to cancel Sh118b sugar firms’ debt Treasury wants approval of Parliament to write off loans and tax penalties accrued by five sugar companies in a bid to Humphrey Wattanga revive the industry appointed new KRA Commissioner General TAXMAN: The National Treasury has announced the appointment of the new taxman in a move that now completes President William Ruto’s revenue collection juggernaut. Humphrey Wattanga Mulango (pictured) who becomes the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General for a period of three years effective 22nd, August 2023 replaces Githii Mburu who has resigned. The KRA board then appointed Advocate Rispah Simiyu as acting KRA Commissioner General awaiting a substantive appointment. Githii had resigned from his position after a three-year stint, in addition to other four other changes at KRA management level. Final touches “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 (1) of the Kenya Revenue Authority Act, 1995, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning appoints— Humphrey Wattanga Mulongo to be the Commissioner General of Kenya Revenue Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 22nd August, 2023,” read the notice by Treasury yesterday. The appointment now puts the final touches to President William Ruto’s juggernaut meant to actualise his tax reforms as the government plans to grow the revenue collection to Sh6 trillion in the next five years. As the new KRA boss takes the corner office, his in-tray – which will be full – includes the government’s new tax ambitious targets among them doubling taxes from Sh2.2 trillion by the next election year in 2027. With the focus on increasing tax collections for the country, this is one institution where the background matters. While the former boss was an insider, he comes with lots of experience in both private sector and government. Wattanga started work in the United States, at Agillion Inc. and later joined AT&T before moving to South Africa in 2004 where he established a financial advisory firm that provided even transaction advisory services to public and private sector clients. For 20 years he offered financial advisory working across Africa, having co-founded investment advisory firm AFCORP Investments. He is also a co-founder and partner of a PE fund, Nordic Impact Funds and an Investment Committee member of Kenya Climate Ventures. “I returned home and introduced a robust system for automating bond trading to the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Subsequently, we built a mobile gateway onto the platform, linking the bond trading system to Kenya’s pervasive mobile money market.” Wattanga was most recently a Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the Commission on Revenue Allocation in Kenya. Humphrey has an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School. Hopefully --with the new tax regime -- he will be able to tackle the government’s ambitious targets amid tough economic times. He however faces the challenge of hitting the formal sector hard since their revenues are low lying fruits. In a bid to raise higher taxes, this may depress demand, leading to lower tax collection and unemployment given that tax collections is a double-edged sword. – Fred Aminga around permanency divestiture of land. He noted that the leasing model will allow for private sector participation without undertaking a permanent divestiture process, enhance livelihoods of farmers, employees and communities, modernise sugar mills to enable efficiency and hence profitability, develop nucleus estates as well as generate taxes. Ndung’u said: “The government, despite being a major shareholder and stakeholder in the sugar subsector, has been unable to address the problems bedevilling the industry in a satisfactory manner.” The move comes after early this month, the cabinet formally dropped plans to privatise sugar mills following concerns from various stakeholders. In a meeting chaired by President William Ruto at Sagana State Lodge, in Nyeri, the Cabinet vacated an earlier decision to privatise the debt-ridden entities in a bid to save them from imminent collapse. “Today’s decision sets the sugar subsector on a path of renewal by vacating the earlier decision by Cabinet to privatize State-owned entities within the subsector,” the Cabinet said. Ndung’u recommended that Nzoia and South Nyanza Sugar companies which have a cane growing area of 49,862 and 81,415 hectares be retained as they are, Chemelil Sugar Company and Muhoroni Sugar Company with cane growing areas of 18,437 hectares and 22,134 hectares be merged to form one zone with a total cane growing area of 40,571. With regards to Miwani Sugar Company where the government holds 306million shares out of the 1.53 billion shares representing 20 percent while the other 80 percent is held by private shareholders, he said that its decision be made once the ongoing court cases are determined. He said: “Investors interested in either Chemilil or Muhoroni Sugar Companies will be required to bid for both. This will facilitate a leasing arrangement that allows for the two factories /zones merging.” Settlement of disputes Added: “government to come up with mechanisms to enhance efficient settlement of disputes efficiently to mitigate the numerous legal suits filed by the sector players in court.” Following the move, National Assembly speaker Mosses Wetangula ordered the committee of Finance and National Planning and that of Agriculture to consider the memorandum and table a report to the house within two weeks. His ruling came hours after leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi had sought his intervention to have the house not to consider the memorandum on grounds that members were still discussing the sugar bill that is before the house. DEBT-RIDDEN ENTERPRISES In a meeting chaired by President William Ruto at Sagana State Lodge, in Nyeri, the Cabinet vacated an earlier decision to privatise the debt-ridden entities in a bid to save them from imminent collapse. Ndung’u recommended that Nzoia and South Nyanza Sugar companies which have a cane growing area of 49,862 and 81,415 hectares be retained as they are, Chemelil Sugar Company and Muhoroni Sugar Company with cane growing areas of 18,437 hectares and 22,134 hectares be merged to form one zone with a total cane growing area of 40,571. Miwani Sugar, one of the debt-ridden companies where the government holds 306million shares out of the 1.53 billion shares. representing 20 per cent while the other 80 per cent is held by private shareholders. FILE

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY BUSINESS HUB 15 State unveils plan to build capacity of enterprise incubators INNOVATION:The government has unveiled plan to enhance capacity of enterprise ecosystem intermediaries to enable them support more startups in evolving into thriving businesses. Speaking during the launch of the Strengthening Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem (SKIES) programme, Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana (pictured) said such interventions combined with high tech-skills will enable startups access capital for expansion. “These intermediaries, comprising incubators, accelerators, and tech-boot camp providers, bridge the gap between startups and thriving enterprises, fostering their transformation,” he added. Mukhwana noted that local intermediaries play a pivotal role in the spring-up of the innovation ecosystem. As part of the Sh5 billion Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project’s Boot camp providers (KIEP) initiative by the World Bank, SKIES aims to bolster ecosystem infrastructure by enhancing the capacity of intermediaries. The programme will fortify incubators, accelerators, and technology boot camp providers. Mukhwana said currently, Kenya boasts around 200 intermediaries spread across the nation, actively contributing to the burgeoning innovation ecosystem. “These intermediaries play a crucial role in incubating and accelerating enterprises in priority sectors like leather, livestock, garments and textiles, industrial production, and crops, aligning with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.” Dubbed the “Silicon Savannah,” Kenya’s entrepreneurial landscape has witnessed a surge in technology startups and enablers. This growth has led to a flourishing network of tech-focused support structures, yet it hasn’t been without its challenges. Startups grapple with funding gaps, policy fluctuations, and regulatory hurdles. The intricate nature of the ecosystem has led to concerns such as innovation duplication and the absence of standardized best practices. David Cheboryot, the Director of KIEP representing the E4Impact Foundation while unveiling SKIES, highlighted its three transformationpillars. These are building intermediary capacity, empowering tech education, and fostering collaboration. By championing innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity, SKIES aspires to reshape Kenya’s innovation landscape. –Raphael Muoki REVENUE: Number of passengers who used Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train service in the first quarter of this year rose about 15.2 per cent as compared to a similar period in 2022, Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) said on Monday. The train service during the three months ferried 597,506 passengers, an increase from 518,780 passengers in a similar quarter last year, the institution noted in a new report. The surge in passenger volumes saw the train service, dubbed Madaraka Express, record a significant rise in revenue to about Sh661 million (about $4.58 million) in first quarter, a rise from about $3.9 million in the first three months of last year, according to the KRC. The rise in demand for the train service shows more Kenyan travelers are seeking reliability, affordability, and speed while shuttling between Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and Mombasa, a coastal tourist destination. – Xinhua SGR passenger traffic soars 15pc in first three months BRIEFLY German firm Stihl launches new store on Kijabe Street by Steve Umidha @UmidhaSteve Consumers are staring at a surge in paint prices by up to 7.5 per cent next week as manufacturers feel the pinch of increased taxes on raw materials and a sluggish economy. Crown Paints Kenya, a leading paints and coating solutions company is the latest to announce that charges on its premium products will increase by up to 7.5 per cent effective September 1. This is due to a 15 per cent rise in excise duty just imposed on imported paints, varnishes and lacquers, which are key ingredients and raw materials used in paint manufacturing. Coupled with high fuel prices, weakening value of the shilling against the US dollar, and a generally feeble economy, paint firms say they will not be able to sustain the current prices and have no alternative but to pass on the additional mark-ups to the consumer. Product pricing “Despite our best efforts to absorb these additional costs, the sustained increase in raw material prices has made it necessary for us to adjust our product pricing,” said Crown Paints’ head of sales Mohammed Mateen in a letter to its customers. Further stating that: “Regrettably, we find ourselves in the position of having to implement a price increase on our paint products, effective September 1, 2023. There will be a 7.5 per cent increase in the prices of our premium paint products and 5 per cent increase in the prices of our economy paint products.” It is the second time in less than a month the Nairobi Securities Exchange – listed paint maker has announced intentions to hike prices of its products. It said sustained increase in excise duty, fuel prices, and raw material costs has put considerable strain on its operations, making it necessary for to review the pricing structure. “Effective 15/08/2023, we will be adjusting the prices of some of our products to reflect the current economic More pain for consumers as paint prices set to soar Crown Paints confirms plan to increase charges on its premium products by up to 7.5pc effective September 1 landscape,” said the firm’s Rakesh Biswas, head Product Management Group two weeks ago. Paint prices had already risen 10 per cent last year on similar concerns. The firm increased the price of its products by up to eight per cent in April last year in the wake of a rise in the cost of shipping raw materials, after the cost of importing raw materials more than doubled at the time to Sh567,800 per tonne from Sh227,140 before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Another paint maker, Neuce Kenya, although a small player in the local market and dependent heavily on imports, was one of the first companies to increase prices after feeling the long-term effects of a sluggish economy, with the sinking value of the shilling against global currencies and high fuel a growing concern. Managing director Nelson Fiuza said apart from foreign exchange, other major factors such as price variance in raw materials, fuel cost, clearing goods, National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and other costs have seen a similar upward spiral. “Due to these reasons, we will not be able to sustain the current prices and we have no alternative but to further review the prices,” the firm said in a statement sent to customers in June. One of the primary factors influencing paint prices, according to local players, is the cost of raw materials. Paint production ordinarily, requires various chemicals, pigments, solvents, and additives, the prices of which can fluctuate based on global market conditions. If there’s a shortage of specific raw materials or if their prices increase, it can lead to higher production costs for paint manufacturers, which may be passed on to consumers. Dent demand While he expected the changes to take effect sometime after July, Crown Paints Group CEO Rakesh Rao in a previous interview said he does not expect prices to dent demand, or lead consumers to buy cheaper products or delay renovation projects. He noted that cost pressures were most likely to stabilise in the months ahead. “Inflation has seen most people’s purchasing power reduced in the last months, and while the demand has been down, we haven’t decided on that just yet (review in prices). We are hopeful that in the second half of the year we will achieve a double-digit growth,” he said in a telephone interview early this month. Paint makers say despite best efforts to absorb additional costs, sustained increase in raw material prices has made it necessary to adjust product pricing. FILE MARKET: German-based manufacturing company Stihl Group has established its presence on Kijabe Street Nairobi as it increases efforts to scale up its local market share. Betelnut Equipment Ltd, one of the dealers officially unveiled the Stihl exclusive shop yesterday. The new addition to the street which sits on the fringes of the Central Business District (CBD) will stock a great range of machines which include among others chain saws, blowers, brush cutters and lawn scarifiers. It will increase the mix to complement the other stores selling plumbing materials, light fixtures, and mirrors among other interior fittings. Stihl launched its East African subsidiary in Nairobi in August last year. Kenya is the second country in Africa after South Africa where the firm has set its branch. Speaking during the launching ceremony, Francois Marias, Stihl East Africa managing director said the move was informed by the surge in demand for the machines in Kenya. “We are excited to launch this shop which will bring our machines closer to the customers which in the long run will ease outdoor tasks which require the use of machines,” he reiterated, promising that the new modernised machines will give customers an excellent experience. John Wachira, Stihl’s sales manager said their equipment has undergone well-thought designs and has warrants so that if a machine breaks down, the customer can always take them back to the manufacturer. He also disclosed plan to open a branch in Tanzania in the near future and eventually set offices in all the East African countries. – Benard SIgei Stihl East Africa MD Francois Marais with Betelnut Equipment Ltd representative Albert Kabera (left) and Sales Manager at STIHL East Africa John Wachira during the launch yesterday. PD/ ROBINSON KISAVI

16 BUSINESS HUB PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 by Lewis Njoka @PeopleDailyKe Google has launched an initiative aimed at supporting African startups looking to use artificial intelligence to solve local challenges. In a statement, Google said the initiative dubbed “Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First” is aimed at supporting startups keen on delving into AI’s possibilities. It draws learnings from past initiatives such as the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa, Google for Startups Black Founders Fund, and Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders “Africa’s tech landscape is vibrant and ever-evolving. It’s inspiring to see African startups not only harnessing AI to address our unique challenges but also setting benchmarks for the world. ‘AI First’ is more than a program; it’s a testament to our belief in the vision of these startups, ensuring they have the support and guidance they need to realize their full potential,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa. Equity free Applications for the 10- week equity-free accelerator are now open, inviting startups up to series A stage based in Africa or building Africacentric solutions with AI and machine learning. Participants will benefit from access to Google’s AI expertise, technical resources including up to Sh50.6 million ($350,000) Google Cloud Credits, mentorship from seasoned AI professionals, and invaluable networking opportunities. Startups are invited to apply by September 6, 2023. Since inception in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa program has supported 106 startups from 17 African countries. Collectively, these startups have raised over Sh38 million ($263 million) in funding and created over 2,800 direct job opportunities in the region. TAP ISSUES A tap issue is a procedure that allows borrowers to sell bonds or other short-term debt instruments from past issues. The bonds are issued at their original face value, maturity, and coupon rate but are sold at the current market price. Participants will beneit from access to Google’s AI expertise and up to Sh50.6m ($350,000). by Herald Aloo @heraldaloo The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) yesterday reopened the tap sale of two bonds floated last week as it avoids attracting higher debt service costs despite investors’ demand for higher yields in the domestic capital market. This new sale comes after last week’s offer, which sought to raise 40 billion from investors, and was oversubscribed by 132.5 per cent. The regulator had received bids worth Sh53 billion but due to high interest demand, it rejected all to remain with bids worth only Sh19.1 billion from the two debt instruments. Fiscal agent CBK – the state fiscal agent – said it is now seeking to raise Sh21 billion from a tap sale of the 2-year and 5-year fixed coupon Treasury Bonds sold on Aug. 16, signalling the government’s switch to shorter-dated bonds. “Central Bank of Kenya is pleased to offer eligible investors an opportunity to participate in a Tap Sale of the above Fixed Coupon Treasury Bonds whose details are as in the prospectus issued value date 21/08/2023. The Tap Sale will be offered on a first- come -first- served basis,” CBK stated in the offer note. According to the note, the sale of the new coupon is between August 22 and 24, 2023 at 2 pm or upon attainment of quantum, whichever comes first. The payment deadline is August 28. Treasury bonds bids must be submitted to the Central Bank electronically via CBK DhowCSD CBK has offered an average interest rate of 16.97 per cent on the 2-year debt instrument while the 5-year one will attract 17.95 per cent. The Coupon rate for the two fixed coupon treasury bonds has been set at 16.97 per cent and 16.84 per cent respectively. The oversubscription of the tap sale seems to be a boost to the government’s revenue mobilisation efforts through local borrowing, whose targets for the current 2023/24 financial year have since been revised downwards to mitigate the upward pressure on interest rates. The revision, amounting to a substantial 46.1 per cent decrease, now sets the domestic target at Sh316.0 billion. Although investors have generally spurned bonds, preference has shifted towards shorterdated Treasury bills which are believed to have higher riskadjusted returns. Google launches AI accelerator for startups Williamson Tea Kenya (WTK) bounced back at yesterday’s trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange with a 7.71 per cent share price appreciation after a 4.2 per cent dip on Monday. The stock traded at Sh251, up from Sh233.50 in the previous session after moving 1,600 shares from seven deals against a market turnover of 4 million. The firm, with a market capitalisation of Sh4.4 billion saw its stock exchange hands at between Sh245 and Sh255, ending the day with a gross turnover of Sh402,500. Following yesterday’s trading WTK’s traded volume in the last three months, increased to 173,900 shares in 300 deals valued at 42 million. WTK is engaged in the cultivation, manufacture and distribution of tea and distributes its products under various brands. - Noel Wandera STOCK OF THE DAY WTK recovers by 7.71pc at NSE CBK reopens sale of Sh21b in tap sale This after last week’s offer, which sought to raise Sh40 billion from investors, and was oversubscribed MARKET WATCH NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE SECTOR VWAP PREVIOUS TOTAL HIGH LOW AGRICULTURAL PRICES SHARES NSE ALL SHARE INDEX: DOWN 0.49 points to close at 100.86 NSE 20-SHARE INDEX: DOWN 1.28 points to close at 1531.20 NSE 25-SHARE INDEX: DOWN 24.81 points to close at 2595.95 14.50 10.00 Eaagads Ltd Ord 1.25 14.00 450.00 240.00 Kakuzi Plc Ord.5.00 403.50 239.00 81.00 Kapchorva Tea Kenya Plc Ord Ord 5.00 237.75 226.75 1,100 510.00 320.00 The Limuru Tea Ca. Plc Ord 20.00 430.00 31.40 17.90 Sasini Plc Ord 1.00 26.00 275.00 120.00 Williamson Two Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 25050 233.50 1,600 AUTOMOBILES & ACCESSORIES 49.75 24.30 Car & General (K) Ltd Ord 5.00 41.50 40.00 1,400 BANKING 13.00 9.02 ABSA Bank Kenya Plc Ord 0.50 11.75 11.85 54,300 36.95 26.50 BK Group Plc Ord 0.80 33.00 57.00 43.75 Diamond Trust Bonk Kenya Ltd Ord 4.00 49.00 4720 20,500 53.50 35,00 Equity Group Holdings Plc Ord 0,50 39.15 39.05 950,800 5.20 2.80 HP Group Plc Ord 5.00 5.00 5.00 197,900 21.50 15.80 I&M Group Plc Ord 1.00 1825 18.30 11,400 44.00 26.55 KCB Group Plc Ord 1,00 26.95 27.00 120,600 41.00 23.30 NCBA Group Plc Ord 5.00 38.55 38.60 19,700 132.00 90.00 Stanbic Holdings Plc ard.5.00 114.00 116.00 106,300 172.50 121.00 Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd Ord 5.00 159.00 159.00 10,000 14.00 10.30 The Cooperative Bank of Kenya Ltd Ord 1.00 11.50 11.55 439,500 COMMERCIAL AND SERVICES 0.45 0,45 Deacons (East Africo) Plc Ord 2.50.. 0.45 1.88 0.59 Eveready East Africo Ltd Ord 1.00 1.24 1.24 600 5.40 2.70 Express Kenya Plc Ord 5.00.. 4.16 3.96 1,900 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.. 2.65 2.65 800 5.12 2.50 Nairobi Business Ventures Plc Ord. 0.50 2.90 3.00 7,200 23.00 14.00 Nation Media Group Plc Ord. 2.50 20.00 20.00 38,700 4.38 1,80 Sameer Africa Plc Ord 5.00 2.13 2.13 6,600 14.75 8.14 Standard Group Plc Ord 5.00 8.34 18.00 10.85 TPS Eastern Africa Ltd Ord 1.00 11.05 11.65 400 0.29 0.16 Uchumi Supermarket Plc Ord 5.00 0.19 0.19 10,500 423 2.60 WPP Scangrroup Plc Ord 1.00 2.70 2.74 36,200 CONSTRUCTION & ALLIED 5.55 5.55 ARM Cement Plc Ord 1.00 5.55 39.50 22,40 Bamburi Cement Plc Ord 5,00 25.00 24.60 46.000 46.00 31.75 Crown Paints Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 39.75 1.32 0.72 E.A.Cables Ltd Ord 0.50 0.94 0.94 4,000 8.80 5.38 E.A.Portland Cement Co. Ltd Ord 5.00 6.80 7.00 8,600 ENERGY & PETROLEUM 3.88 2.00 KenGen Co. Plc Ord. 2.50 2.36 2.38 41,800 2.11 1.30 Kenya Power & Lighting Co Plc Ord 2.50 1.45 1.46 322,900 4.20 4.10 Kenya Power & Lighting Plc 47. 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 1110 18.90 1,000 18.00 6.30 Umeme Ltd Ord 0.50 13.95 14.00 13,500 INSURANCE 7.50 4.01 Britam Holdings Plc Ord 0.10 4.69 4.80 51,100 2.30 1.60 CIC Insurance Group Ltd Ord. 1.00 205 1.96 260,300 273.00 142.00 Jubilee Holdings Ltd Ord 5.00 170.00 2.30 1.50 Kenya Re Insurance Corporation Ltd Ord 2.50 1.85 1.86 16,600 7.48 3.60 Liberty Kenya Holdings Ltd Ord. 1.00 3.89 3.80 1,300 15.00 7.20 Sanlam Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 7.40 8.00 20,000 INVESTMENT 12.80 7.60 Centum Investment Co Plc Ord 0.50 8.98 8.78 23,900 0.41 0.27 Hame Afrika Ltd Ord 1.00 0.31 0.31 4,000 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 3.21 3.25 1,000 1.35 0,50 Trans-Century Plc Ord 0.50 0.51 0.53 5,000 INVESTMENT SERVICES 8.50 5.50 Nairobi Securities Exchange Plc Ord 4.00 6.06 6.16 300 MANUFACTURING & ALLIED 85.00 65.00 B.O.C Kenya Plc Ord 5.00 73.00 73.00 200 490.00 400.00 British American Tobacco (sops Plc Ord 10.00 423.75 420.00 800 17.00 10.30 Carbacid Investments Plc Ord 1.00 16.00 16.00 200 190.00 110.00 East African Breweries Plc Ord 2.00 125.25 125.00 180,600 1.54 0.90 Flame Tree Group Holdings Ltd Ord 0.825 1.30 1.30 11,800 15.00 10.40 Kenya Orchards Ltd Ord 5.13 16.45 0.27 0.27 Mumias Sugar Co. Ltd Ord 2.00 0.27 35.00 15.00 Unga Group Ltd Ord 5.00 16.75 17.25 3,200 TELECOMMUNICATION 34.00 12.70 Safaricom Plc Ord 0.05 15.90 15.95 1,019,800 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST 7.30 5.00 ILAM FAHARI I-REIT Ord.20.00 6.06 6.10 2,500 20.00 20.00 LAPTRUSTIMARA I-REIT Ord.20.00 20.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 2560.00 1880.00 ABSA New Gold ETF 2500i 2525.00 CBK KEY RATES CURRENCY MEAN BUY SELL US DOLLAR 144.4059 144.3059 144.5059 SW KRONER 13.1953 13.1840 13.2067 STG POUND 184.0765 183.9259 184.2271 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 106.5058 106.4203 106.5913 SAUDI RIYAL 38.4995 38.4703 38.5287 SA RAND 7.6234 7.6172 7.6295 S FRANC 164.4620 164.3388 164.5853 NOR KRONER 13.6289 13.6141 13.6436 KES / USHS 25.7571 25.6984 25.8158 KES / TSHS 17.3470 17.3003 17.3936 KES / RWF 8.2041 8.1396 8.2687 KES / BIF 19.6358 19.4664 19.8052 JPY (100) 98.9319 98.8600 99.0038 IND RUPEE 1.7385 1.7372 1.7398 HONGKONG DOLLAR 18.4330 18.4202 18.4458 EURO 157.2968 157.1612 157.4324 DAN KRONER 21.1444 21.1289 21.1600 CHINESE YUAN 19.8131 19.7986 19.8276 CAN $ 106.6120 106.5224 106.7015 AUSTRALIAN $ 92.6941 92.6155 92.7728 AE DIRHAM 39.3144 39.2819 39.3470 Central Bank Rate 10.50% 09/08/2023 Inter-Bank Rate 12.00% 21/08/2023 CBK Discount Window 14.50% 10/08/2023 91-Day T-Bill 13.475% 21/08/2023 REPO 9.72% 24/07/2023 Inflation Rate 7.28% July,2023 Lending Rate 13.31% June,2023 Savings Rate 3.48% June,2023 Deposit Rate 7.82% June,2023 KBRR 8.9% 27/07/2016 KEY CBK INDICATIVE EXCHANGE RATES 22/8/2023

Harare, Tuesday The Zimbabweans are gearing up for the general elections set for Aug. 23. A total of 11 candidates are vying for the presidency, but the main contest is between the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who leads the ZANU PF party, and opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa, who leads the Citizens Coalition for Change. Mnangagwa, whose party ZANU PF has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, is seeking another five-year term.Mnangagwa on Saturday concluded his election campaign in his home province of Midlands, while Chamisa wrapped up his in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, on Monday. On the streets of Harare, calmness reigned on Monday as people went on with their daily business ahead of the elections. “My wish is that we cast our ballots in peace, we should not be partisan, we should maintain unity,” Mable Buta, a Harare resident told Xinhua. Her sentiments were shared by Ozias Tapukani, another resident in Harare. “I wish for a peaceful election since Zimbabwe is known as a peaceful country, that is what I am expecting as a young person,” said Tapukani. Street vendor Shumirai Gumbo said she was ready to cast her ballot, describing the prevailing environment as commendable. “All I want is peace so that I can continue working and providing food to my children because I have children who look up to me,” she said. According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, 6.6 million people have registered to vote, representing 83 percent of the eligible voting population. - Xinhua tary government to hold elections within three years. However, the AU said it was reviewing Ecowas’s plan of action and called on all of its member states and the international community to not undertake any action to legitimise Niger’s military government. “We are studying the Ecowas decision to prepare forces for deployment in Niger, and the African Commission will evaluate its repercussions,” the statement said. “We strongly reject any external interference by any party or country in the affairs of the continent, including private military companies.” The AU appears to have left room open for military intervention by a west African political bloc to restore democracy in Niger, as Algerian state radio said it had refused a French request to fly over its airspace for a military operation. Algeria opposed any foreign military action in Niger and favoured diplomacy to restore constitutional order, state radio said. French authorities did not immediately comment. France has about 1,500 troops in Niger that were stationed there before last month’s coup. It is not clear what military operation Algeria was referring to, but France has not said it would intervene militarily to overturn the coup. While the AU issued a statement “strongly” opposing any military action from countries outside the continent, it offered a more ambiguous view on any intervention by Ecowas, which has said it is prepared to send troops into Niger if diplomatic efforts to restore democracy fail. Saying it noted the stance of Ecowas, it said it would ask the AU’s commission to examine the implications. The statements follow a meeting of the AU’s peace and security council and reflect a more nuanced position on Ecowas’s potential intervention than had been anticipated from previous statements from the union. Reports on the eve of the meeting, including in the French media, had raised the prospect that the AU would come out clearly against any military intervention, including by Ecowas. - Agencies Zimbabwe gears up for decisive general elections A Nigerien police officer stands guard in Niamey next to trucks, mainly loaded with food, that have arrived from Burkina Faso. COURTESY AU suspends Niger over July 26 coup Addis Ababa, Tuesday The African Union has suspended Niger from the continental bloc with immediate effect, the latest of a number of sanctions on the West African country since last month’s coup. The decision, announced on Tuesday after a meeting of the AU’s Peace and Security Council in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, comes after several Western countries cut aid to Niger due to a July 26 coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum. Bazoum has been under house arrest since the takeover orchestrated by members of his presidential guard. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) also imposed sanctions and last week, agreed on a “D-day” to begin a military intervention through an already activated regional strike force. Ecowas said the use of force would be the “last resort” after exhausting diplomatic channels for negotiation. On Monday, it rejected a proposal by Niger’s miliThe AU on Tuesday noted Ecowas plan of action regarding Niger and would ‘evaluate its repercussions’ AU SIDESTEPS FOREIGNERS The African Union (AU) appears to have left room open for military intervention by a west African political bloc to restore democracy in Niger Algerian state radio said it had refused a French request to fly over its airspace for a military operation Former US President Donald Trump said Monday that he would turn himself in on Thursday to the authorities in Atlanta for the Georgia election interference case. Trump and 18 others were indicted on August 14 over alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia. Trump was charged with 13 counts, including violating the state’s racketeering act, soliciting a public officer to violate their oath, conspiring to impersonate a public officer, conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree, and conspiring to file false documents. The indictment followed a two-and-a-half-year investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The probe was launched after audio leaked from a January 2021 phone call during which Trump urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to question the validity of thousands of ballots, especially in the heavily Democratic Atlanta area. Trump said he wanted to “find” the votes to erase his 2020 loss in the state. - Xinhua Nigeria president Bola Tinubu, Monday, inaugurated his government of 45 ministers, calling on them to boost people’s confidence as the country faces serious economic and security challenges. “The challenges we face today are enormous, yes, but amidst all these challenges, we have the opportunity to implement long-awaited reforms,” said the president, elected in February during a poll still disputed in court and who took office at the end of May. This government is larger than that of his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, which consisted of 36 ministers during his first term. Under the Nigerian Constitution, the president must include in his government a representative from each of the country’s 36 states. Since taking office, Tinubu has launched a wide range of reforms aimed at revitalising the economy and investment, but the initiatives have led to a sudden rise in the cost of living, angering the population. - Africanews Trump to turn himself in for Georgia election interference Tinubu inaugurates Cabinet to tackle economic woes BRIEFLY China, Brazil leaders in SA Soldiers of the South African National Defence Force make an honour guard as President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (C) arrives at the OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni on August 21, 2023, ahead of the 2023 BRICS Summit. China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in South Africa at midnight on Monday for his fourth state visit to the country, which coincides with the 15th BRICS Summit. COURTESY 17 WORLD NEWS FOR MORE NEWS VISIT: www.pd.co.ke / www.epaper. pd.co.ke Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Deploying tech to fight air pollution Eureka Design, innovate, engineer quality is a unique source of inspiration for research and development of new pollution control technologies that have the potential to reduce emissions from different sources. “To effectively tackle air pollution, access to data and contextual evidence is important to show the scale and magnitude of air pollution. But most countries don’t have this data. That is why little to nothing is being done to fix this problem,” adds Simiyu. It is against this background that a group of innovators from Makerere University have developed a low-cost air quality monitor known as Binos Monitor. It efficiently collects information about air pollution levels and types of air pollutants. They provide accurate, hyperlocal, and timely data providing evidence of the magnitude and scale of air pollution across the continent. “We realised that the readily available accurate and real-time air quality monitors are quite expensive. That is why we decided to come up with this low-cost air quality monitor, which is still accurate and real-time,” says AirQo international operations embedded systems and network support engineer Gideon Lubisia. The monitors are designed to suit the African infrastructure, providing locallyled solutions to African air pollution challenges. The monitors are optimised with capabilities to cope with challenges such as extreme weather conditions including high levels of dust and heat. Powered by either electricity or solar, the device is optimised to work in settings characterised by unreliable power and intermittent internet connectivity. It runs on a 2G GSM network configuration for IoT sim cards. Adds Lubisia, “We came up with this solution to close the gaps in air quality monitoring across Africa. We are solving large, complex air quality monitoring challenges across Africa. We are providing much-needed air quality data to governments and individuals in the continent to facilitate policy changes that combat air pollution.” Modern problems call for modern solutions, and this is the reason behind an innovation geared towards a cleaner atmosphere in African cities Technology giant, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has said prototype “brain-like” chip it has developed could make Artificial Intelligence (AI) more energy efficient. Concerns have been raised about emissions associated with warehouses full of computers powering AI systems. IBM said its prototype could lead to more efficient, less battery draining AI chips for smartphones. Its efficiency is down to components that work in a similar way to connections in human brains, said IBM. Compared to traditional computers, “the human brain is able to achieve remarkable performance while consuming little power”, said scientist Thanos Vasilopoulos, based at IBM’s research lab in Zurich, Switzerland. He told the BBC the superior energy efficiency would mean “large and more complex workloads could be executed in low power or battery-constrained environments”, for example, cars, mobile phones and cameras. “Additionally, cloud providers will be able to use these chips to reduce energy costs and their carbon footprint,” he added. Most chips are digital, meaning they store information as 0s and 1s, but the new chip uses components called memristors [memory resistors] that are analogue and can store a range of numbers. The human brain is analogue, and the way memristors work is similar to the way synapses in the brain work. Using these components makes the new chip more energy efficient but the new chip also has digital elements. This makes the chip easier to put into existing AI systems. Many phones now have AI chips on board to help with things like processing photos. In the future, IBM hopes chips in phones and cars could be more efficient, promising longer battery life and new applications. -BBC BRIEFLY byMilliam Murigi @millymur1 A ir pollution is a major problem not only in Kenya, but also globally. Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) is the major air pollutant. The World Health Organisation says the problem is so bad that nine out of 10 people around the world breathe highly polluted air. It is because of air pollution that there is an increase in diseases and early deaths. The latest report by the Lancet also shows that an increase in PM2.5 has also led to increased antibiotic resistance. If nothing is done to fix this problem, a 10 per cent increase in PM2.5 pollution could lead to a one per cent increase in antimicrobial resistance. “Air pollution affects everyone and we cannot avoid breathing polluted air. That is why there is a need to prioritise clean air action for health to identify and address leading air pollution sources,” says Vital Strategies’ Sammy Simiyu. Air quality monitoring However, despite this, only few countries are monitoring their air quality. The reason is the huge cost of setting up air quality monitoring stations. Currently, available monitors in the market are quite expensive costing around Sh4.3 million (US$30,000). Air quality monitoring is the process of measuring various pollutants present in the air. Monitoring helps to identify areas with poor air quality and the pollutants responsible for it. Collected data on air New prototype brain-like chip promises greener Artificial Intelligence 18 PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Sammy Simiyu These monitors/sensors collect air samples, which are then analysed through a light scattering technology that quantifies the particulate matter’s concentration. The information is then relayed to a cloud-based network that determines the pollution levels in a specific area. They measure the air particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 —a mixture of solid particles in the air and the most common pollutants in African cities. They also measure ambient meteorological conditions such as humidity and atmospheric pressure. “The monitors are easy to install and can be placed on static buildings or bodabodas to improve spatial coverage and revolution. We have also come up with a mobile app which is easy to use and free to download allowing you to stay upto-date on the quality of the air you are breathing,” he says. Lubisia says to commercialise this innovation, the team has registered AirQo that is now manufacturing the monitors. So fa,r about more than 250 monitors have been produced. In Uganda, they have deployed over 187 air quality monitors in 80 locations in Kampala, Gulu, Jinja, and Fort Portal. In Kenya, about 30 monitors are in use in Nairobi and Kisumu cities. For Nairobi, they have worked with Nairobi City County Government and the Nairobi air quality committee to develop two air quality collocation installations using their low-cost monitors and infrastructure reference grade monitors. Through these collocations, a cityspecific calibration model and sensor inter-comparison has been developed. The collocations will act as one-stop centres to support research communities using low-cost sensor platforms for sensor comparison and more generally data quality assurance. Digital quality platforms In Kisumu, they have supported the city to develop an air quality management system that leverages locally generated air quality data from the hyper local air quality-monitoring network. The hyper local air quality infrastructure in Kisumu consists of air quality monitors and digital air quality platforms that support air quality awareness initiatives and research informed by data for effective air quality policy interventions. “With accurate and real-time access to air quality data, residents, policymakers, and people visiting the two cities are now empowered to take action and inform policies to address air quality and air pollution management in the cities,” notes Lubisia. Nairobi Air Research and Data Committee chairperson Paul Njogu says the technology is helping the city make notable progress in managing Kenya’s ambient/outdoor air pollution. “With the availability of periodic data collected by the monitors, now the county can establish the extent of pollution in particular areas, and the causes and develop necessary actions,” he says in ending. NJOGU With the availability of periodic data collected by the monitors, now the county can establish the extent of pollution in particular areas Gideon Lubisia One of the AirQo reference monitors installed in Nakawa Division, Kampala. COURTESY

Spice Flavour your day STYLE @adalla_allan PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 19 GET THE LOOK With Faith Kyoumukama Baraza Mwabe aka Bari is a serial entrepreneur and the visionary founder of Mwanaume Ni Effort (MNE) and its green arm Shoke Shoke Festival. He also has a striking fashion sense. He chats with Adalla Allan on his style and other fashion interests This piece is so beautiful and edgy and we love the details and the double slits. We love this little black dress. It is the perfect go to for a night out. Add a little sparkle to life Cynthia Nwadiora popularly known as Cee-ce is probably one of the most stylish Instagram fashionistas that we love. Her sense of style can be described as simpl e yet sophisticated with a touch of class. The current Big Brother Naija all stars housemate is the founder of her sportswear called Ceegar. Her wardrobe has unique pieces that you can wear anytime you feel like you want to add a little sparkle. This piece is so beautiful and edgy We love this little black dress. It is the perfect go to for a night EFFORTLESSLY CASUAL We love a little sparkle. And in the club, this piece will have you looking bold like a dancing ball. W ho is Bari? I am a lover of fashion and a sustainability entrepreneur who has a passion to bring people together through events. As I approach my mid 30s, I wanted to do what I do now, but to have more impact and that is when I had to add an element of sustainability to our event, which ties to an event dubbed Shoke Shoke, which comes from the word kesho which is a Kiswahili word for tomorrow. What is your key purpose with Shoke Shoke? Our main idea is flipping the narrative of tomorrow by acting it today. So, it is still used to bring people together, but now with a reason for bringing sustainability. We understand that the youth love entertainment, and so we bring them entertainment and educate them at the same time about sustainability and of course having tangible things in our environment that we do in how we execute our events. You are also a lover of environmental conservation. Tell us a bit about that. I recycle materials using a resource data called Yajayo, which is Kiswahili for the future. The whole goal is to see whether there is an intersection of what we are doing and what people out there want. I love people, so for me the goal is not only finding solutions for people, but also making partnerships with them. As a young entrepreneur, what is the biggest challenge you face while planning for the events? The greatest challenge most of us have is that we never find opportunities to learn through mentorships hence ending up learning from our mistakes and what we experience. Most of us are self-taught. My all time goal is to never retire as I try to make this sustainability thing work. Also I have a dream of employing hundreds of youths to try to end poverty. So, for me it’s like a continuous journey everyday. As a lover of fashion, how would you describe your style? I love my floral shirts for the weekend and polo shirts while going to play golf, which has become my cup of tea. I like keeping it simple on weekdays by going casual. I don’t like to spend a lot of my time thinking on what to wear, so I go for my black T-shirt or white ones with some khaki or jeans pants and sneakers. Covid-19 also assisted me to also adjust and realised that we don’t necessarily have to dress so formally as people shifted to work remotely. Further, people realised that you don’t have to be rigid; you wear suits and tie throughout the week. So, simple casual fitting any day. How has fashion helped you achieve your goals? What people don’t know is that when I started Mwanaume Ni Effort, it was a fashion line. We started by printing T-shirts in 2012 and then later moved into events because we did a quiz night event at one point to try to sell the T-shirts in 2015 and it turned out so well that people enjoyed it. So, without the fashion thing, there would be no events. It is what gave birth to all these events we do. Fashion has always been one of the elements of our events and of course for Shoke Shoke, we will always be looking at bringing that fashion element into it. Ruger will be headlining the Shoke Shoke Festival in September here in Nairobi. With the changing trends in fashion day-by-day, how do you keep yourself updated about the new trends? I surround myself with Gen Z friends. They keep me updated on what is happening. I get some inspiration from keeping myself around to some music and the young friends in my circle. What is the emerging trend in styling that you are in love with? I like how the oversized dressing is making a comeback. You can see artistes such as Rema donning them. Your best fashion brand is… I like Urban. Patagonia is among some other brands that I look up to, because it’s a brand with a sustainable course. Which fashionistas do you look up to both locally and internationally? I like Jay Z because he is able to combine formal and casual pieces so well. Locally, Achero is my favourite. Baraza Mwabe

20 Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY Clique & Clicks Get Spotted by Mburu Alex The second edition of the Dancehall versus Afrobeats event went down last weekend in Nairobi. The event dubbed The Rematch saw various deejays battle it out on the decks with one side being pro-Afro and the other leaning on the Carribean side. Big names in the industry led by G Money, DJ Grauchi, Wanyama the Deejay, ZJ Heno and UKbased duo of Randy and Gussy brought the house down leaving fans begging for more. PD/ALEX MBURU CNG The Deejay. Mixologist Steven Andera is the drinks master. THE FUSION STREET Revellers enjoy fun moments. ZJ Heno sets the pace. G Money rocks the party. DJ Grauchi can’t stop the mixing and hype. UK-based deejays Gussy and Randy in the mix. Coca-Cola Kenya commercial execution director Caleb Ajidahun. Coca-Cola Kenya marketing manager Miriam Limo. H_art The Band in the house! Media personalities Martin Kimathi and Azeezah Hashim. by Faith Kyoumukama Kenya’s rapper Khaligraph Jones and singer-songwriter Nikita Kering’, the Kenyan artistes representing Kenya in the new season of non-competitive music show Coke Studio, offi cially released their collision project dubbed Ex. The release of the song took place at the Nairobi Street Kitchen in Nairobi recently, where guests were treated to a listening party. The song, a remix of the hit song Ex by Nikita, is a beautiful fusion of Khaligraph’s rap and Nikita’s angelic vocals. PD/ALEX MBURU The battle heats up Revellers enjoy fun moments. Fun lover Hannah Wangui. Rapper Khaligraph Jones and singer Nikita Kering’ perform their mash-up jam.

PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 TOP SHELF FACTS 21 Ways to fail at a job interview These meetings are pivotal moments in one’s career journey, providing a chance to make a lasting impression on potential employers. Lorna Murunga, a certified human resource professional and consultant, sheds light on some common pitfalls that candidates often stumble into during job interviews, as compiled by MILLIAM MURIGI Ten 5. Overconfidence While confidence is good, coming across as overly confident or arrogant may alienate the interviewer. Employers want to see candidates who are genuinely interested in the position. To avoid being seen as overconfident, always ensure that you strike a balance even in your responses during the interview. Also, ask some thoughtful questions when given an opportunity because failing to ask questions may indicate a lack of interest or engagement. 6. Badmouthing previous employers Expressing negativity about previous employers raises concerns about professionalism, interpersonal skills, and discretion. It might make the interviewer question whether you’ll do the same about their company if you leave on unfavourable terms. Being able to discuss your experiences constructively, even if they were challenging, demonstrates maturity and professionalism. 7. Over-focused on salary and benefits While it’s essential to discuss compensation, emphasising it too early in the process might give the impression that money is your primary motivation. Companies look for candidates who are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the organisation’s goals but not those who are more interested in short-term gains than in the long-term growth and development opportunities the company offers. 8. Not addressing weaknesses Avoiding questions about weaknesses can make you seem evasive while acknowledging your weaknesses show that you have a realistic understanding of your abilities. Instead of avoiding questions about your weaknesses always acknowledge them and discuss how you’ve learned from your mistakes and grown. This level of self-awareness indicates that you’re open to personal development and improvement. Employers appreciate candidates who are transparent about their areas for improvement rather than trying to hide or deceive. 9. Appearing desperate While you may be eager to secure the job, avoid being willing to accept any offer. Show enthusiasm but also maintain your worth. Desperation might signal that you’re solely interested in securing any job quickly, rather than being genuinely interested in the company and its longterm goals. Employers want candidates who are genuinely excited about the role but also possess the confidence, professionalism, and strategic thinking necessary for long-term success within the organisation. 10. Not knowing job requirements Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experiences align with the specific requirements of the job. Remember, interviews are not just about showcasing your qualifications, but also demonstrating your professionalism, cultural fit, and ability to contribute positively to the company. 1. Lack of preparation Failing to research the company, the job role, and potential interview questions can give the impression that you are disinterested. Adequate preparation showcases your genuine interest in the company and role. It also allows you to ask insightful questions and express enthusiasm about the opportunity. Apart from that, being well prepared fosters meaningful and engaging conversations during the interview. This interaction can leave a lasting positive impression on the interviewer. 2. Poor communication skills Poor communication by either using too much jargon or not being able to articulate your thoughts clearly might lead to misunderstandings about your skills, experiences, or qualifications. This can prevent the interviewer from accurately assessing your suitability for the role. Demonstrating your ability to communicate clearly, thoughtfully, and confidently during an interview is not only a chance to showcase your qualifications, but also an opportunity to assure potential employers of your potential to succeed within their organisation. 3. Late arrival Punctuality is a fundamental aspect of professionalism. Being late sends a signal that you may not take the opportunity seriously or that you lack respect for the interviewer’s time. Arriving late also might convey a lack of genuine interest in the position or the company. Interviewers are more likely to choose candidates who demonstrate enthusiasm and dedication. 4. Inappropriate appearance Your choice of attire significantly influences the first impression you make on potential employers. Mismatched attire, whether too casual or excessively formal, can signify a lack of awareness about the company’s culture. It can also signal a lack of professionalism and awareness of social norms. To ensure that you dress appropriately, always research the company to find out what is the acceptable level of formality in the workplace before selecting the outfit to put on. Mismatched attire, whether too casual or excessively formal, can signify a lack of awareness about the company’s culture.

22 PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Family Fusion All about kin and kith Almost all of us have had our caregivers raising their voice at us as a form of punishment. And perhaps we are doing the same reflexively to our little ones. But does it help? MOMINTHEMIX WITH FANNE MWAMBI Having children of different ages places me in a position of constantly learning and understanding them better. I have my five-year-old Ella, nine-year-old Raine, 13-year-old Pesh, and my 16-year-old niece, Lily. I am tempted to add Liz, my wifi as we infamously call each other, but I will not. She is 20 and freshly out of school, but I consider her my child despite her being my husband’s cousin. Having these many people in my home shoved me into an intentional class where I need to learn all their needs and balance them as best as possible. Ella is strong-willed and independent. She seems to know what she wants and can fight for it. Raine is my ‘baby’. She is smart. Extremely smart, but craves my attention the most. Pesh is hardworking and tops her class, but needs to work extra hours to maintain it. Then comes Lily, my niece, who requires extra supervision to study, but is a splendid chef and hairstylist. I also have to keep pulling her from seeking boys’ attention a lot more. Let’s give Liz a break here. How I monitor them Like their different personalities (and ages), my girls find different content interesting, yet some, like music, interest them all. This also means you may find them picking their spots in the house to sit and watch different content on their phones. But how do I monitor what they watch? I habitually follow up and research various content that my children may stumble upon. I find the lyrics to songs they listen to and gauge if it’s good content, entertaining or spiritual. I then encourage all my girls to sit close to me while I sit on the floor editing books. This way, all their cozy spots are all over the living room, making it easy for me to hear what they hear, gauge their facial reactions, and sometimes, get a peek at what they share amongst themselves. This also helps me warn them of bad music or if the content is above their age without denying them gadgets. Somehow, it also helps them monitor each other and somehow seems to work for me. What works for you? Adjusting parenting according to my children’s age and personalities Yelling at children; not helpful for them and you! by Kwach Wakhisi @PeopleDailyKe M any parents —myself included— ind it hard to imagine how to get through the day without yelling at children. However, a study in The Journal of Child Development, a US- based research journal demonstrated that yelling produces results similar to physical punishment in children: increased levels of anxiety, stress and depression along with an increase in behavioural problems. Mercy Amuguni Masiga, a play and art therapist, who also doubles up as a psychologist says yelling is a natural response to a frustrating situation. However, she advises that it is prudent to take some time and relect whether if and when someone yells at you, does it make you afraid, angry or does it teach you behaviour change? Also, is yelling something you would want your children to do when they are frustrated and want behaviour change? In other words, should they emulate you? Are you yelling because of what the child has done or because of your own fears, frustrations, anger and pressure? “I remember an incident when my irst born was two years. I went home to visit my mum, a retired teacher with over 30 years of teaching experience. I can’t remember what my daughter had done, but I instinctively yelled at her with the intention of beating her,” says Mercy. “My mum calmly said in mother tongue, “Beat your child and I will beat mine.” Mercy paused. Then laughed. She couldn’t imagine her mum beating her up at that age. But she assummed that grandparents spoil their grandchildren and asked her, “Mum, you were harsh when we were growing up. Why the bias? What has changed?” Her mum answered, “I didn’t know better then. Now I do. Children will grow. Bring them up with as much gentleness as you can,” she shares her conversation with her mother. Mercy says it has taken her long; learning, observing and training herself on children and discipline. “The three questions I ask myself are; Am I doing this for them or for myself? Am I doing this out of anger? What emotion does this bring up in my child? Change did not happen overnight in my life. It has taken 10 years and I am still learning,” she says. Jacob Nanjinia, a father of three says through his parenting journey, he has observed that his wife does not punish the children, but instead tends to yell or shout at them. “On several occasions, l came to realise that this could be her mode of punishment. However, l have been opposed to it because personally, I understand yelling at your children is not right. It might result into various psychological issues in a child— among them fear, loss of self-esteem and stress,” Nanjinia says. They get used to it “However, children are always children and once in a while, you will ind yourself yelling, depending on the magnitude of the offence he or she has done,” he adds. Does yelling send enough warning to correct bad behaviour? Is it enough punishment? “It’s debatable. And it also varies from one person to the other. Personally, through yelling, I’m giving you enough warning that you stop the wrong(s) which you are doing. If the child doesn’t stop, then I take the next action of discipline, totally aware the child ignored the warning,” Nanjinia explains. While some children will take yelling seriously and stop bad behaviour, others might ignore it until the parent resolves for an alternative punishment. “That is why I advise other parents or guardians to take time and weigh the effects of yelling at the child because the moment you make it a habit to yell at your child, he or she will get used to it and ignore you, knowing your yells are harmless,” he says. Model good behaviour Mercy concurs and says it is important to be keen on discipline, and it is more important to be self-aware that we do not discipline out of anger as this may end up bringing undesirable results. “It’s normal to lose your temper and once in a while, you can ind yourself yelling. When I catch myself in this situation, I take a deep breath and calm down. I assess myself to see where this anger is truly coming from. I apologise to the child and let them know why I reacted the way I did and we candidly talk about how they acted or reacted,” says the expert. Susan Catherine Keter, a transformational life coach says yelling at anyone portrays two basic things; that you are not in control of your emotions and your communication skills are challenged and need some work. “If you train and supervise your children, you don’t have to yell at them. Train them. Ensure that they understand what needs to be done, when it needs to be done and how it needs to be done,” says Keter. “Display instructions in bright colours at relevant places such as on the bedroom door, on the fridge door, on the wall opposite the computer or TV, among others to serve as reminders. Model the right behaviour to your children by staying calm and composed,” she adds. The expert further notes that it is bad to yell at children since they learn a lot through modelling. She opines: “If your way of communicating is in form of yelling, your children are likely to model that as well, resulting in them manifesting aggressive behaviour such as bullying. You may ind yourself being called to school over your child’s behaviour. Imagine a scenario where your boss uses yelling to get you to do what needs to be done. What does that do to you?  Way forward She says yelling at your children will negatively impact their self-esteem, rob them of the chance to become conident, effective communicators and set them up for struggles throughout life.  “They are likely to struggle with healthy communication in their own relationships and that includes romantic relationships, professional relationships and parenting. The unhealthy communication patterns will keep rolling down your generations.” In as much as parenting is demanding, Keter says for parents to stop yelling at their children, they need to take good care of themselves. She offers: “Prioritise self-care as you parent. Get help for some tasks such as cleaning so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Take some time out when you feel overwhelmed and don’t hesitate to speak to a professional if your emotional well-being is not good. You are not a superhuman. It is also important to nurture healthy communication with your children. Encourage two-way communication. Reward good behaviour. Explain things to your children rather than just giving commands that are to be obeyed. Apologise when you are wrong. Your children will model your behaviour. You don’t want them to model aggressive behaviour.” Mercy Amuguni Masiga. Susan Catherine Keter.

handle children. They do not tire when the child keeps wandering out of their seat,” she shares. Instead, they allow them time to catch a breath before wooing them back, she explains.  She further adds that her staff observe stellar hygiene as children are easily susceptible to ailments. Linda Oudia, an entrepreneur and a mum of two used to do her eldest’s hair at home. It was convenient and easy. But soon her daughter outgrew the monotony of her home. Her mother began scouting for a salon. “My eldest daughter had a bad experience in one adult salon. The heat used to blow dry her was too much,” she shares. She discovered Belle and Beau online and once she brought her two daughters, they were immediately sold. “My eldest loves playing with the tablet while the youngest loves hanging out with her sister,” she says with a grin. Since the unpleasant experience, Linda vowed never to use heat on her children opting for hair products with an abundance of moisture and softening properties. Child-friendly products Stacey afirms that the salon’s selection of hair products is child friendly. “Products with sodium lauryl parabens, synthetic colours, coal tar, or diethanolamine will damage or break a child’s hair,” she explains. “If you cannot pronounce the name or do not understand the irst ive listed ingredients in a container, do not buy it. Alternatively, you can create your natural hair products at home,” she advises. She also adds that establishing your child’s hair type will guide you to purchase the correct ingredients Hair is classiied as either ine, medium, or thick. Most Africans fall under the thick category, which would be type three or four. This type of hair is usually coil or kinky and very voluminous. I n a hair salon located in the upmarket residence of Lavington, a child bobs her head in time with the beats of a preschool song she is watching on a tablet. The video’s amusement has completely distracted her from what a hairdresser is doing to her hair. Meanwhile, just next to her is an 18-month-old, who is getting a funky hairdo with not so much as a squirm.   This is a sight to marvel as children are known to resist and get agitated during grooming sessions. Belle and Beau Salon has unlocked the secret of managing these little young ones. The children-only salon was established in 2020 to provide specialised hair services to children. The interior of the salon has been designed with the child in mind; from carthemed seats, to rainbow-coloured walls and a well-supplied playing area giving the impression of a play park. “This salon was started because there is still a gap in children’s hair specialists. With children, you have to be patient and learn what works for them and what does not,” said Stacey Swakala, an executive at Belle and Beau.  She says providing tablets serves as an essential distraction that allows hairstylists to accomplish their work. Friendly staff Stacey adds that one of their unique selling points is their dedicated and committed staff. “Our staff know how to PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 FAMILY FUSION 23 STACEY SWAKALA With children, you have to be patient and learn what works for them and what does not DADDY’S DIARY Why a visit to salon needn’t be WITH JUSTUS NJOROGE scary experience for your child Wailing children, frustrated beauticians and anxious parents are scenes at most salons. However, solution can be as simple as choosing a child-friendly facility Last week, our local church had a week-long Daily Vacation Bible Study (DVBS) in our neighbourhood. I took a week off and volunteered my time for the week. Every day we were serving about three hundred boys and girls from the ages of three to 13 years. We had over 150 volunteers who played various roles to make the function a success. I volunteered in the parking and security, where with a group of about 10 men, we worked together to help manage traffic, parking, and general security of the venue. It was quite fulfilling albeit tiring volunteering to give my time to this noble cause. In the process, I noted a few boys and girls who could be on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and possibly the parents could be or not be aware of this. What makes it even more difficult is that there are no two children who are the same and since it’s a spectrum, some children would have minor to mild symptoms, and some could be having major symptoms that would indicate there is an issue that needs attention. Some of the symptoms of ASD include, but are not limited to lack/limited/ avoidance of eye contact, limited or no speech, not wanting to engage with other children, repetitive movements, such as flapping hands, echolalia – repeating of same question or remark made by someone else. I am no medical doctor, but if you see your child exhibiting some of these symptoms, I think it’s time to have an assessment done. The biggest challenge for a parent seeking help is acceptance that your child could be on the spectrum. Family and friends frown at such a diagnosis, and are the first to tell you not to worry saying children will eventually outgrow these issues that are of concern. Early intervention is everything. I would rather you are informed that your child is okay and there is no cause for alarm, other than wait until later when you regret you started the intervention earlier. Interventions such as occupation and speech therapy are helpful. PARENTING 101 BY MUTHOKI KITHANZE @ MUTHOKIJOANN Experts advise people under this category to use products formulated with natural oils such as jojoba and botanical products.  She further advises against using relaxers, particularly for young children, as it can have a negative effect on the hair’s natural texture. “These products leave a trail of damage to the hair that may take a while to recover. We do not offer this service, however, we can wash and style relaxed hair in addition to offering aftercare consultancy,” she says. Bad hair practice While you may want your child’s hair to stay a little longer, getting a tight braid will set you on the path of a receding hairline. “It is not advisable that you pull the baby hair when plaiting. Long ago, people thought that you must pull everything. But if you do this, your child’s hairline will suffer in the long run,” she says. She also advises parents to ensure they wash and moisturise their children’s hair at home.  Washing a child’s hair is one of the practical ways parents can familiarise children with people touching their hair. Others are promising them a treat after a hairdo and allow them to play hairdresser with their hair, experts say. Margaret Mbugua says gone are the days when children would go to salons and bring the roof down by crying. “The staff handling the children need to know the temperament of the child so that they can win them over,” she says.  “My daughter loves box braids —when we do them they stay for 2-3 weeks before we undo them,” says the medical doctor. Margaret says it is commendable when niche businesses stick to priority areas as that gives clients conidence and trust in their services. The salon charges between Sh1,500 and Sh2,400 for a wash, while wash and treatment will cost you between Sh2,000 to Sh3,000. The highest-priced hairstyle is Sh4,500 for dreadlocks. Boy’s hair cut go for Sh1,000 and Sh1,500. “The prices vary depending on the hair type, for instance, hair Type One (also known as straight hair, is a hair type that lacks any curl or wave pattern) will be handled from a different expert than hair type three (coily) of four (kinky),” Stacey says. Child-friendly nail polish will cost parents between Sh1,200 to Sh1,900. What an eventful week! Nail technicians cheerfully attend to their little client. ABOVE RIGHT: A child sits on a child-friendly, car-themed seat while a tablet provides distraction as she is being attended to. PD/MUTHOKI KITHANZE

By 14, Kipyegon had tried her hand at football when, during a physical education class, she took part in her first 1km race. She finished far ahead of everyone else in class. In the words of Kipyegon, winning that race created an awareness that she could “run fast and be a good athlete”. Just two years later, she came fourth in the World Cross Country Championships under-19 event. At 16 she was the youngest finisher in the cross country top 21. Running barefoot, she started her winning trend at a cross country event the following year and achieved 1,500m Olympic gold in 2016. After world 1,500m titles in 2016 and 2017, Kipyegon took a break to give birth to her daughter, Alyn. She faced the conflict of many women athletes, between family and career. “I was so afraid, maybe I will not come back, I will just disappear,” she said. “I thought it was the end of my career, but it was the beginning.” It took great mental strength to take a year off and gradually rebuild her stamina, strength and speed. In a vibrant comeback, she seems stronger than ever. Winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and last year’s world championships made her the first woman to claim four global outdoor titles in the 1,500m, thus the greatest female mile runner ever. Kipyegon spends five days a week training, separated from Alyn and her husband Timothy Kitum, the 2012 Olympic 800m bronze medallist, who serves in the army in Kenya. For all three of her world records, she wore a bracelet adorned with her daughter’s name and the colours of the Kenyan flag. Alyn wears a matching bracelet while doing schoolwork back home. Well deserved victories Her successes on the track have brought riches to her and her family. The Kenyan @PeopleDailyKe A ll eyes are on Faith Kipyegon at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. That’s because the Kenyan 1,500 metre and 5,000 metre star broke three world records in less than two months on her way to Hungary. As expected, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya are spearheading Africa’s hopes for medals, continuing their dominance in middle and distance running events. At the 2022 champs, Ethiopia finished second and Kenya fourth in the medal table. Between them they won 20 of the 28 medals lifted by African athletes. Over time, Africa is earning fewer gold medals at the event, even from Kenya’s famous male distance athletes. Kipyegon, however, is set to buck the trend. Considered by many as the greatest female 1,500m runner in history, she is the one athlete who has been consistent for the last eight years. Kenya’s hopes hang heavily on her.. As a sport scientist with a research focus on Kenyan athletics, I have followed Kipyegon’s career with interest. But who is she, what drives her and how did she manage to achieve this level of success despite taking a break from competing to start a family? World record spree Of the last five World Athletics Championships or Olympics dating back to 2016, the 29-yearold Kipyegon has only missed out on 1,500m gold once. That was in 2019 when the championships took place 15 months after she gave birth to her daughter. She KEY HIGHLIGHTS Faith Kipyegon is married to middledistance runner Timothy Kitum, the 2012 Olympic 800 m bronze medallist. They have a daughter, Alyn, born in June 2018. Her elder sister and former training partner Beatrice Mutai is a 10 km and half marathon specialist. Her father Samuel Kipyegon Koech was a 400 m and 800 m runner in his youth. She has won seven individual gold medals across gigantic championships. Of the last five World Athletics Championships or Olympics dating back to 2016, the 29-year-old Kipyegon has only missed out on 1,500m gold once. That was in 2019 when the championships took place 15 months after she gave birth to her daughter. In 2010, at age 16, a barefooted Kipyegon made her international debut at the World Cross Country Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland, competing against athletes up to three years her senior. Kipyegon: From walking to school to setting world athletics alight 24 PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Relatively Speaking Inner circle truth The ongoing Budapest World Championships is another momentous outing for Faith Kipyegon, who has been on a winning spree KIPYEGON I thought it was the end of my career, but it was the beginning... comfortably won Olympic gold medals in 2016 and 2021 as well as two world championship titles – in 2017 and 2022. She broke the 1,500m world record in June 2023 and just a week later stunned the stadium – and herself – by smashing the 5,000m world record. It was only her third race over the distance. Her season has simply been outstanding – also smashing the world record for the mile. The 2023 World Athletics Championships presents her with an opportunity to cement her legacy and single season success – which already compares to other historic feats such as US stars Usain Bolt’s 2009 and Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 1988 performances. Who is Faith The eighth of nine children, Kipyegon grew up on a farm in Ndabibit, a village in the Rift Valley province of Kenya. Like many kids educated in rural areas, she walked and jogged many miles to and from school. Little did she know that this would instil the fundamental locomotion and physical skills that would form the foundation of her athletics career. This walking is enhanced by the physical education and sports activities that children engage in while in school. government has rewarded her excellent performances with cash and a house. During a recent speech she broke into tears, saying: Now I can buy my father a car. I promised him when I was going to break a world record that I’m going to buy a car for him. So now I can fulfil my promise. Kipyegon’s humble background meant that her parents couldn’t watch her win gold at the 2016 Olympic Games because they didn’t even have electricity in their rural home. It is inspirational to see what her vision, focus and application have yielded over time. Her training environment at Kaptagat in Kenya also reveals her humility. She’s part of a group of 30 or so athletes who largely live together and share chores, along with marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge. Gold or no gold, world records or not, Kipyegon’s story is worth telling as she heads into the finals in Hungary. She stands as an inspiration to countless girls back home and, indeed, a continent -The Conversation Faith Kipyegon is a 1,500 and 5,000 metre champion. PD/FILE

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY 25 Leo’s shining moment BRIEFLY It has been Leo’s turn to shine its confident energy upon us all. During this time, the energy is focused on boldness, creativity, and confidence. Leo is a fire sign, which means that the energy is passionate and dynamic, encouraging us to take risks and pursue our goals with enthusiasm. In astrology, Leo is associated with the Sun, which is considered to be the most powerful planet in the solar system. This energy is expressed as warmth, vitality, and selfconfidence, making it an auspicious time for taking action and pursuing your goals. Leo is also associated with the fifth house of the zodiac, which is the house of creativity, self-expression, and romance. During Leo season, we may find ourselves feeling more confident in our ability to express ourselves and connect with others in a meaningful way. According to astrologers, this year’s Leo season is a time to embrace our creativity, lift up our loved ones, and harness our full power. Leo season starts when the sun moves into the sign of Leo on July 22 and lasts until August 23, after which point the sun moves into meticulous Virgo. During this time, the characteristics and traits of the confident fire sign could feel, especially acute for us all—especially as we emerge from Cancer’s more reserved time in the spotlight. Ruled by the sun, which astrologer Rachel Lang calls “the brightest luminary in our heavens,” Leo shines brightly in all areas of life, and is, especially adept when it comes to leadership and creativity. It’s no wonder the sign is symbolised by a lion; Leo energy is confident, loyal, and ambitious. It’s this solarpowered confidence that colours the vibe of Leo season in 2023, giving every zodiac sign the determination to express themselves and chase after what they want. In turn, Leo season is the time to step into your power and pursue your dreams and desires; start that project, make some adventurous fashion choices, and flex those leadership muscles. Beneath all that energy, however, can lie a harsher reality—that embodying confidence is often easier said than done. According to astrologer Sean Pacheco, “Leos tend to approach people with a bright, big smile and may seem like they always have it all together, but you have to remember that sometimes this is a mask.” There may be a fakeit-’til-you-make-it mentality in Leo season, especially given that genuine self-expression opens you up to criticism. But even though a Leo can be prideful and prefers to avoid embarrassment, they still see the risk of ridicule as worth the potential reward of being fully themselves and being celebrated for it. And that’s exactly the energy that we should all feel empowered to harness this season. “No matter what, Leo will dedicate themselves to building their talents and continuing to express themselves, and that’s a very admirable act,” says Pacheco. -Wellandgood.com by Sandra Wekesa @wekesa_sandra W hile abortion is generally illegal in Kenya, except in cases where the life or health of the woman is in danger, it’s an open secret that it has been happening behind closed doors. Coerced abortion, especially for young girls isn’t new. ‘Well-meaning’ parents are often worried about their daughter’s future and think abortion would be the best choice. Other times, men responsible for the pregnancy may threaten their partners. Some even fund the abortion. However, when abortion occurs in marriage, many questions arise. Rita Were, says that one of the reasons she procured an abortion was the fact that her husband had just lost his job and as a stay at home mother, she wasn’t able to provide for her family. “We were unprepared and didn’t know what exactly to do, especially since we were both at home and lacked money at that time,” she says. Although it might have been a hard decision for them as a family, she says that it was the best decision she had to make. Nearly half of all pregnancies in Kenya are unintended and 60 per cent of them end up in unsafe abortion, according to the State of World Population 2022 report. There have been calls for reform of Kenya’s abortion laws to make abortion more widely available, particularly in cases where the woman’s health is at risk or the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. However, these efforts have been met with opposition from conservative groups, religious organisations, and some politicians who argue that abortion is morally wrong and should Taboo Let’s talk about it be prohibited in all cases. As a result, the legal status of abortion in Kenya remains a contentious issue. However, contrary to common belief that single women lead in procuring abortions, Kenyans will be shocked to learn that married women or those in long term relationships represent a majority of those treated for abortion complications, the fi gure standing at 64 per cent as per the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and Ministry of Health. Pressure from the husband? Ultimately, the decision to have an abortion is a personal one that should be made by the woman who is pregnant, in consultation with her doctor and loved ones. But what if the husband coerces his wife to have a pregnancy terminated? One of the leading causes of marital abortion is economic struggles. Ken Munyua , a psychologist strongly believes that if a husband requests his wife to have an abortion, it can be a very diffi cult and emotional experience for both the husband and the wife. “If a husband is requesting an abortion, it is important to understand the reasons behind his request. It could be that he genuinely believes that an abortion is the best option for the health and well-being of his wife or their family,” he says. In any case, it is important for the wife to communicate her feelings and concerns with her husband and to make sure that she fully understands her options. On his part, Brian Otieno, a psychologist says when a man requests his wife or partner to have an abortion, it can create various perceptions and reactions depending on the circumstances and individuals involved. “Some women often perceive a man’s request for an abortion as a sign of irresponsibility or an unwillingness to take responsibility for the pregnancy and child. It can be seen as an attempt to avoid the emotional, fi nancial, or social consequences of becoming a father even in marriages,” he says. A wife can also interpret it to mean that the husband thinks the child is not his leading to loss of trust. He adds that requesting an abortion can be seen as disregarding a woman’s autonomy and right to make decisions about her own body and reproductive health. It may be viewed as an attempt to impose one’s own desires or preferences on the woman, undermining her agency. “A man’s request for an abortion can sometimes be interpreted as a lack of emotional support for the woman during a challenging time. It may suggest a failure to provide the necessary assistance, understanding, and empathy needed during pregnancy,” he says. Marital breakdown In some cases, a man’s request for an abortion may be driven by concerns for the physical or mental well-being of the woman. It could be due to factors such as fi nancial instability, relationship diffi culties, health risks, or other personal circumstances that may make parenting challenging or detrimental to the woman’s health. In some cases, the decision to pursue an abortion may be the result of mutual agreement and shared decision-making between partners. “In these situations, the perception may be different, emphasising the couple’s joint consideration of their circumstances and the best course of action for their lives,” he says. One international study shows, the rate of marital break-ups and relationship dissolution is anywhere from 40 to 75 per cent, often related to the breakdown of intimacy and trust. In addition, many women experience depression, guilt, and anger related to feelings of having been let down by their partner which, in turn, lead to communication problems and, frequently, sexual dysfunction. If their partners have manipulated or coerced them into having an abortion, women tend to feel angry and betrayed, and men, typically, feel a loss of control and pride, especially if they were not consulted. Suppression of mourning, which occurs in many of these situations often has marked negative effects on relationships with future children, some women reporting emotional numbing and inability to bond maternally. Living children in a family where there is an abortion are also negatively affected, frequently exhibiting fear, anxiety, and sadness at the loss of their sibling. Of men pushing wives to procure abortion When you think of someone terminating a pregnancy, you think of a school-going girl who wants to continue with her education, or a single woman who has no means to provide for the child. What about a woman in a committed relationship being coerced by her partner? Farfetched? Not at all… RITA WERE We were unprepared and didn’t know what exactly to do, especially since we were both at home and lacked money at that time BRIAN OTIENO Some women often perceive a man’s request for an abortion as a sign of irresponsibility

PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 26 ENTERTAINMENT ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20) Be careful when dealing with investments. Travel for business will be advantageous. Be prepared to encounter new friendships that will provide you with valuable information. TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) Love can be heightened if you sit down and discuss your future plans. Take a break; you can inally mend any disputes on the home front. GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) You will have to be careful not to let infatuations with colleagues get out of hand. New relationships will surface through work related events. CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) This will be a very hectic day if you’ve made promises to too many people. Plan a nice evening for two. Secret affairs will only lead to deception. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Opportunities to get involved in self improvement projects will be rewarding. You will be overly sensitive when dealing with your personal life. VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) You may ind it dificult to communicate. Listen and formulate your course of action. You will be indecisive. LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Concentrate on home improvement. Small details will make a difference. Plan a trip to the country or take a drive to the beach. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) Don’t overextend your self in order to add luxury items to your entertainment center. Take part in stimulating debates that will allow you to show off your intelligence. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Try making some changes to your appearance and your attitude that will reinforce just that. Your dramatic approach to life has probably gotten to your mate. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) Secret affairs will eventually backire on you. Don’t make accusations unless you are completely sure that you are correct. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 -FEB. 19) Problems with in-laws or relatives may be more damaging than you realize. You may want to take another look at the investment you are about to make. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) You will get upset over trivial matters. Don’t rely on others to do your work. It’s hard to stay mad if the object of the anger refuses to react. 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. Self-important (7) 4. The scriptures (5) 7. Submarine’s main weapon (7) 8. Country singer, ___ Rogers (5) 9. Sumptous (6) 12. Adversary (8) 15. Write hurriedly (8) 17. Church official (6) 18. The ___ of St. Mary’s film (5) 21. Publication (7) 22. Entrance hall (5) 23. Somerset town (7) DOWN 1. Leslie ___, Comedy actor (8) 2. Gain (6) 3. Hunt (4) 4. Reserve (4) 5. Night-club doorman (7) 6. Covet (4) 10. Recreational activity (5) 11. Velocity (5) 13. Refuse (4,4) 14. Three-part story (7) 16. Large monkey (6) 18. Strength (4) 19. Prophet (4) 20. 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Assisting 8. Away 9. Obduracy 10. Number 13. Tulip 14. Know-How 15. Via 16. Sedated 17. Lover 21. Welles 22. Homicide 23. Hera 24. Designate DOWN 1. Magnetism 2. Marmalade 4. Store 5. Indiana 6. Turn 7. Nick 11. Chevalier 12. Swordsman 14. Kid 15. Version 18. Sweet 19. Pose 20. Mini

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY CLASSIFIEDS / NOTICES 27 GARAM INVESTMENTS AUCTIONEERS Western Heights, 5th Floor, Karuna Road-Westlands Nairobi, Wireless 020 2592949/90, 0722 715838/ 0786318663, P.O Box 63279-00619 Nairobi e-mail:-garam@africaonline. co.ke, website: www.garam.co.ke PUBLIC AUCTION DULY INSTRUCTED BY OUR CLIENTS WE SHALL SELL BY PUBLIC AUCTION THE UNDERMENTIONED ITEMS At AUTO GALLERY YARD LOCATED ALONG WAIYAKI WAY, OPP. LION PLACE-WESTLANDS NAIROBI ON 06.09.2023 AT 11.00 A.M (A) LANDLORD VS. MARBEL OPISA (B) VIOLET CHIMWENNE (TENANTS) (A) 5-Seater sofaset (2pcs) + puff, Dining table + 5 Chairs, Sideboard, 5 by 6 bed + Mattress + 2 side tables, Double decker bed + 2 mattresses, Von 4-burner cooker + 13kg gas cylinder (B) Mini fridge, Wooden stools, Single pedestal desk, 2 Burner table top cooker + seagas meko, 4 by 6 bed + mattress, Iron box, Kettle, Rice cooker, Curtains + net 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. FORM PLUPA/DC/3 (r.3(3)(xi) THE PHYSICAL AND LAND USE PLANNING ACT (NO. 13 OF 2019) CHANGE OF USER The owner’s of Plot Number Mombasa/Block I/490/A, Situated along Shimanzi Road in Shimanzi Area wishes to Regularize the change of user from Residential to Industrial, subject to approval by the County Government of Mombasa. Any individual or Institution wishing to make any representation or objection to the above application is requested to forward the same in writing within 14 days of the dates of this notice to: THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE MEMBER (LAND, HOUSING AND PHYSICAL PLANNING) COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MOMBASA P.O BOX 81599-80100 MOMBASA Duly instructed by our Principals, we shall sell the undermentioned goods on Wednesday, the 30th Day of August, 2023 At Pangani Auction Centre starting 10.30am IN THE MATTER OF DISTRESS FOR RENT ACT CAP. 293 LAWS OF KENYA LANDLORD - VERSUS- KENNETH MUTWIRI KAILEMA 4pcs sofa set, puff, coffee table, 3 carpets, TV stand, 6 curtains, small Utensils, Von microwave, Ariston cooker, TCL 48” TV, Sony Hometheatre, Bed, 2 Mattress, wooden shelf, shoe rack CONDITION OF SALE Sale subject to abid number no sharing No cheques accepted – cash only - Sale to the highest bidder - Cash at fall of the hammer - ALL ARE WELCOME!! ... visit us at DSM Place, Ground, 1st & 2nd Floors, Kijabe Street, Nairobi or email: peopleads@ mediamax.co.ke BOOKING AN ADVERT HERE IS EASY DEATH AND FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENT A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered! ANNE KAMUNGE SHAMBI 1968—2023 With great sadness and humble acceptance of God’s will, we announce the passing of Anne Wanjiru Kamunge Shambi of Mediamax LTD on Sunday, August 20, 2023. She was the wife of Kriss Shambi; daughter of Dr. James Kamunge and the late Esther Kamunge, and daughter-in-law to the late Phoebe and Manuel Shambi. Beloved sister of Christine, Mary, Elizabeth, John and sisterlike, Suzanne; aunt to Nimo, Esther, Eric, Denise, Kyra, Chanel, Jesse, Alden, and Tayanna; and grandmother to Nathan. Sister-in-law to David Muchane, Mary, Phyllislynne, Rosanne, Flay Meyer, and Flora. She was a cousin and friend to many. Prayers will be held at the home in Ridgeways at 5:30 p.m. from Tuesday, August 22 to Thursday, August 24. Please join us for a memorial service to be held at Ridgeways Baptist Church honoring the life of Anne (aka. Wanjiru, Shiro or Gaga) on Friday, August 25 at 2:00 p.m. The cortege will leave Montezuma Funeral Home, Mbagathi Way on Saturday, August 26 at 8:00 a.m. Burial will be held in Kangocho, Nyeri at 11:00 a.m.

28 PEOPLE SPORT FOR MORE NEWS VISIT: www.pd.co.ke / www.epaper. pd.co.ke THE ONE-STOP SPORT SHOP Wednesday, August 23, 2023 NAIROBI: Ligi Ndogo U15s showed their exceptional skills to emerge victorious against Michael Olunga Football Academy in the finals of the Ligi East Africa tournament. The teams couldn’t break the tie in regular time, leading to a nail-biting penalty shootout where Ligi Ndogo emerged as the champs. This year’s tournament was a hit, with a record-breaking 231 teams competing. Some notable ones included Teletubbies Kids League (TKL) from Uganda, who ruled the under 7s and under 11s categories, and Future Stars from Tanzania, fielding teams in three different age groups. The showdown was so intense, and the final couldn’t decide a winner in normal time, leading to penalties. The penalty shootout was heartstopping, but Ligi Ndogo’s nerve held, securing their victory and cementing their place as the champions. Over 1000 young players from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) participated, making the Ligi East Africa tournament a fantastic platform for nurturing young talent and promoting football development in the region. -Lucky Oluoch FOOTBALL Ligi Ndogo U15s win big in the just concluded Ligi East Africa tourney by Lucky Oluoch @LuckyOluoch A group of 159 league officials, drawn from both the FKF Premier League and FKF Women Premier League, kicked off their mandatory 2023/24 pre-season Physical Endurance Test (PET) training at the Kasarani Stadium on Monday. The intensive three-day training is set to equip them for the upcoming league matches. On Tuesday, these officials engaged in rigorous endurance and agility drills designed to evaluate their physical capabilities, coupled with comprehensive medical assessments – all in preparation for their roles as match officials. Among the participants, 114 match officials and 45 match commissioners underwent these assessments, solidifying their readiness to officiate the league matches. Moreover, officials from the FKF National Super League (NSL) are slated to embark on their PET training starting tomorrow, while FKF Division One match officials are scheduled to follow suit on Sunday, August 27. Traders and hoteliers reap big during sporting events, hugely contributing to the county’s economic growth by George Sayagie @PeopleSports11 Sports tourism has emerged as a major contributor to Narok County’s economy, fueled by a variety of major sporting events that the region hosts. These events, ranging from ball games and athletics to music festivals and marathons, have not only become a source of economic growth for local traders but also led to a ripple effect on the entire region’s commerce and trade. Narok County’s Director of Sports, Ben Kariuki, highlights that several factors attract teams to settle in Narok, including hotel capacity, security arrangements, and the readiness of the county to host such events. The William Ole Ntimama Stadium’s improvements and adjacent institutions like the Maasai Mara University sports complex have enhanced the county’s hosting capabilities. Recent events like the Water Sports Companies Organizations (WASCO) games and the Kenya Communications Sports Organisation (KECOSO) Games have showcased Narok’s Part of the match officials during the PET training at the Kasarani Stadium on Monday. COURTESY/FKF League officials embark on rigorous pre-season physical tests KIAMBU: Just one week after narrowly missing out on the Kenya junior Strokeplay title, Mikael Kihara displayed remarkable skill and finesse at Sigona Golf Club to claim the title of the top junior golfer in the 2023 Kenya Junior Match Play Championship Qualifier. Kihara’s (pictured) performance was highlighted by two wellexecuted birdies on the par 5 15th hole and the par 4 17th hole. While his second nine saw a couple of bogeys, he managed to maintain a level score. In the initial nine holes, Kihara faced a challenging start with consecutive bogeys, followed by three consecutive level pars. However, his determination shone through as he rallied, concluding with a double bogey on the last hole, number 9. Reflecting on his performance, Kihara commented, “The qualifier was a positive experience; it allowed me to familiarize myself with the course and its dynamics in preparation for the upcoming knockout rounds. The course was in great condition, contributing to an overall enjoyable game.” Belinda Wanjiru, despite a tough start with a double bogey on the first hole, showcased resilience and composure as she managed to play level par on six holes and secure one birdie during the initial nine. While her second nine posed some challenges, including a double bogey, three bogeys, and a birdie, Wanjiru’s overall score of 79 placed her a mere two shots behind the victor, Kihara. -Lucky Oluoch GOLF Kihara shines as best junior golfer at Championship qualifier prowess as a host. KECOSO, featuring disciplines like athletics, golf, snooker, swimming, and more, aims to promote sports activities within member organizations and foster closer relationships and business interactions. In the just concluded WASCO games, Nairobi Water maintained dominance after dominating in track and field events. In athletics, Nairobi reigned supreme in almost all the races leaving other teams wheezing for breath. Nairobi dominated field events including the 100m race won by perennial event winner Festus Waita who won at a time of 11:98 ahead of his Nairobi Water counterpart Titus Kuris(12:12) while Nzoia’s Ronaldo Wanjala came third with 12:86 amid cheers from jubilant City fans. They also dominated in the 10,000m both men and women categories, 5000m women, won the 200m race(women) after Grace Ndung’u dashed to the tape ahead of Elizabeth Nafula(Nzoia) and Vivian Nduku also from Nairobi. In the men’s 200m men, hosts Narok Water stamped authority after Erick Rampei displayed the Maasai moran in him against City’s Festus Waita and Thika’s Michael Ndirangu who came second and third respectively. Kecoso chairman Henry Mwasaru expressed his profound gratitude to Narok governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, for agreeing to host the event. “This collaboration resonates with KECOSO’s mission of “Providing quality sporting activities for competition, leisure, and recreation among its members in the region by optimally leveraging resources.” In parallel developments, 25 coaches who recently concluded the FKF’s refresher course on August 18 were honored with CAF A diplomas. This comprehensive training served to enhance their initial CAF A training, which took place a decade ago in Machakos. The refresher course was designed to acquaint the coaches with contemporary football education, encompassing aspects of sports science, technology, and current trends in the sport. Narok’s ‘winning formula’ A section of the William Ole Ntimama Stadium, formerly known as the Narok Stadium. INSET: Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu. PHOTO/ COURTESY

by Lucky Oluoch @LuckyOluoch Team Amani Cycling, made up of Jordan Schleck and Kenneth Karaya, emerged triumphant in the inaugural Hell’s Gate Biking Festival held at Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha at the weekend. Schleck secured first place in two events: the Elite Men’s Overall Buffalo race, clocking in at 1:40:13, and the Short Track with a time of 00:13:06. Meanwhile, Karaya clinched victory in the Cross Country race, completing it in 00:41:57. According to a team representative, Team Amani, which draws cyclists from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, aims to “change the narrative around bicycle racing” and cement the place of cycling as a professional sport in the region. The festival’s first edition was a resounding success, attracting numerous biking enthusiasts who gathered at Hell’s Gate National Park on August 19th and 20th for an exhilarating weekend. The event featured a range of biking activities, including crosscountry, short track, and buffalo category races, as well as leisurely biking tours through the stunning landscapes of the park. The festival was organized by Whistle Africa Events and Tours, in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service and White Cap Crisp, a light beer brand. The primary objectives were to promote biking as a sport and boost eco-tourism in the region. Jeremiah Njanja, the event’s organizer, expressed delight with the turnout and the enthusiasm generated by the inaugural biking festival. He highlighted Hell’s Gate National Park’s iconic status in Kenya and the opportunity to showcase it to the biking community. “We are thrilled with the turnout and the level of excitement generated by the inaugural biking festival. Hell’s Gate National Park is one of the most iconic destinations in Kenya, and we are happy to showcase it to the biking community.” In addition to the biking events, the festival featured a beer village courtesy of White Cap Crisp, food vendors, and camping facilities for participants interested in staying overnight at the park. become difficult to urge them on and get them going again.” Recently, Tore Bobe sealed a sponsorship deal worth Sh20 million from Chinese betting firm Bangbet. The one-year deal boosted Okoth’s ambitions to reinforce the squad with new signings and one of the arrivals in the team is former Sofapaka and Bandari defender Rodgers Aloro. According to Okoth, Aloro’s signing is a big addition to the team as he will bring the experience needed to play and perform well at the top level. “Remember we will be playing in the Premier League and not NSL and Aloro has what it takes to take us forward with his experience,” said Okoth, adding, “He has performed very well while at Sofapaka and did the same at Bandari and since he came here he has shown me that he still has the qualities to play at the top level. So he is among the experienced heads in my team and I am happy to have him around.” Other new signings at the club include Prince Ayieko, Hillary Wandera, Mark Okola and Salomon Omolo. The club is also on the verge of unveiling striker Johanna Mwita. Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY PEOPLE SPORT 29 NJANJA Hell’s Gate National Park is one of the most iconic destinations in Kenya, and we are happy to showcase it to the biking community Team Amani Cycling rides to double victory in Hell’s Gate Biking Fest Team Amani’s cyclists Geoffrey Lang’at (L), Kenneth Karaya (C) and Jordan Schleck (R) pose in between races at the inaugural Hell’s Gate Biking Festival. PD/DAVID NDOLO Rogers Aloro in action at a past event at the Ruaraka Stadium, Nairobi on December 21 2019. PD/RODGERS NDEGWA by Berlin, Tuesday @PeopleSports11 The main act appears to be the only one maintaining a sense of calm, while others can’t find enough words to praise Harry Kane. Despite having joined his new club, Bayern Munich, just a week ago, a wave of euphoria is sweeping over the Three Lions captain. Positive news seems to be pouring in, covering both personal and sporting aspects. A goal and an assist in his first German league game, along with the birth of the Kane family’s fourth child last Sunday, are being widely celebrated. The media is abuzz with catch phrases when describing his accomplishments. From game-changer to leader, goal and assist provider, to revitalizing Bayern’s long-lost self-reflecting principle of “We are what we are” (“Mia san Mia”), the burden placed on his shoulders seems almost unbearable. Coach Thomas Tuchel and teammates are speaking about the impact the 30-year-old has made in such a short time. Tuchel, the winner of the 2021 UEFA Champions League, is praising his “exceptional personality” and his role as a professional role model. Teammates mention that the team’s mood has shifted from frustration to glory, while former Bayern captain and German record international, Lothar Matthaeus, draws comparisons between the new arrival and the club’s icon, Thomas Muller. “He’s a crowd-pleaser, he’s close to the fans right away, he’s instilling a professional attitude within the squad, and he seems to embody the club’s motto ‘Mia san Mia,’ even though he might not fully grasp it at the moment,” said Matthaeus. Former Bayern player Stefan Effenberg acknowledges Kane’s impact, noting that everyone around him benefits from his experience. Kane (pictured) appears like a shooting star, streaking across the night skies and sparking a glimmer of hope for a club that has faced tumultuous waters over the past two years. He discusses the simple challenges of life, such as still having a driver as he adapts to driving on the right side of the road, which remains a future goal. Learning German is his next objective, “as I only speak a few words I need on the pitch,” he added. However, with a long season ahead and soaring expectations, Kane is requesting sufficient time to acclimate to his new environment. -Xinhua How Kane changed struggling Bayern’s mood by Dennis Mabuka @PeopleSports11 Shabana FC head coach Sammy Okoth has underscored the need to have a strong start when they launch their campaign in the new 2023-24 FKF Premier League on Sunday. The Kisii-based Glamour Boys will be making a return to the top flight after 17 years in the cold following their success to lift the National Super League (NSL) title last season. Ahead of their opening clash of the season against fellow promoted side Murang’a Seal FC on Sunday, Okoth has reiterated the reason for them to start on a positive note. “There is a big difference between NSL and the Premier League. In NSL you can start the season slowly and then catch up because you play a lot of matches but it is not the same case with the Premier League where you are playing with big boys,” said Okoth. “We want to make sure we are ready for a strong start, it is good to kick off strongly as this will give us the opportunity to know our strength and what we can achieve at the end of the season. That is what we have been working on for the last two or three weeks, a strong start and I hope we will achieve exactly that.” Okoth further explained why it is not good to start poorly in any competition especially the league by saying: “Starting poorly will not only affect you as a coach but also affect your players because maybe they are very young, new in the league and anticipating a good start then all of sudden they start losing their first matches, it will definitely Shabana coach happy with Aloro’s signing, target winning start in top-flight football Eyeing perfect start

HELSINKI: M-Sport Ford driver Adrien Fourmaux says he is giving everything he has to the sport right now, with his eyes firmly fixed on a Rally1 return. The Frenchman was dropped from the British-based team’s frontline World Rally Championship attack at the end of last season, but he has bounced back with a string of strong drives aboard a factory Ford Fiesta Rally2 in 2023. Second place in WRC2 at this month’s Secto Rally Finland was a highlight for Fourmaux, who led the category in Portugal and Sardinia earlier this year. “I’m doing everything I can,” said Fourmaux. “Finland was special and I think we could be really happy with our performance – fighting with the Finnish drivers and the Scandinavians was good. We know that’s an event for the specialists and second place was a nice result. “The car is feeling really good, we know we have more coming, but it’s working really well. “For me, the main focus is always to come back to Rally1. It’s not easy, but I’m doing everything I can. I’m really enjoying the season, the team is working really well and we’re doing a lot of events – competing in Finland was a bonus for me and I’m really grateful.” -WRC by Edwin Otieno @PeopleDailyKe After acquiring the services of three Uganda players, LA LIGA hypermotion side, CD Leganes president Jeff Luhnow has revealed that the club is seeking to put more focus on getting football talents from Africa, which could open up a route for Kenyan players to grace the Spanish leagues. The club has entered into an agreement with Rainbow Sports to realize this dream of getting the best talents from Kenya and Africa as a whole. Rainbow Sports owns the National Super League side, Rainbow FC that play’s in Kenya’s second tier. The partnerships between Leganes and teams from the continent could provide an avenue that will see more players from Kenya and Africa as a whole move to the club and other teams in the Spanish football structure. At the moment, no Kenyan player is playing in the Spanish top tier. The only Kenyan in Spain’s football pyramid is Harambee Stars midfielder Ismail Gonzalez, who plays for Águilas FC in the fourth tier. In a video call from Spain interview during a press conference organized by Laliga Kenya’s delegate in Nairobi, Luhnow said Africa is now the focus for the next generation of talents. He said his club will integrate more talented African players into their systems. La Liga East Africa representative Alvaro Abreau (centre) moderates a virtual meeting between Leganes president and Kenyan journalists. LA LIGA CD Leganes to open doors for Kenyan players 30 PEOPLE SPORT PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesay, August 23, 2023 INSIDE Sport FOOTBALL pagE 29 Shabana coach happy with Aloro’s signing, eye winning start in top light football ATHLETICS pagE 31 Reynold, Kipsang and Cheruiyot ready to lead Kenya’s medal hunt in men’s 1500m race today DEPORTIVO ALAVES Rioja 7’ Duarte 44’ Garcia 54’, 59’ Spanish La Liga SEVILLA Abqar 15’ (OG) Lamela 41’ Mir 90+7’ LONDON: England’s Lionesses arrived back in the UK on Tuesday morning following their World Cup final defeat against Spain but left Heathrow via a private transfer rather than coming through the arrivals hall. A number of fans had turned out early to greet the team off their 6.30am flight but were left disappointed when they were told the World Cup runners-up would not be passing through arrivals. The party departed Sydney on Monday around 24 hours after their 1-0 loss against Spain in Sydney. Hopes were raised when Alex Scott was spotted walking through arrivals, with fans saying she hinted the team would follow and the crowd burst out into chants of ‘Sweet Caroline’. The team’s bags with the squad logo were also carried through. But the disappointed fans were informed just before 7am that the team would not be walking through arrivals. -FotMob SYDNEY: Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has apologised for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women’s World Cup. Rubiales kissed the Spain forward during the presentation ceremony following the team’s 1-0 win over England in Sunday’s final. “I didn’t like it,” Hermoso said on Instagram, but a statement released later on her behalf defended Rubiales. On Monday, Rubiales said: “I was completely wrong, I have to admit it.” He added: “It was without bad intention at a time with a lot of excitement. In the moment, we saw it as natural, but outside a commotion has formed. “I have to apologise, learn from this, and understand that when you are president you have to be more careful.” Rubiales had come under fire on social media. -BBC FOOTBALL England return from World Cup but leave fans waiting at Heathrow FOOTBALL Spanish FA president apologises for kissing Hermoso after World Cup win RALLY M-Sport Ford driver Fourmaux “giving everything” for Rally1 return Did Mason deserve a chance? The inside story of why Greenwood will never play for Man United again Manchester, Tuesday @PeopleDailyKe When the Crown Prosecution Service announced they had withdrawn charges against Mason Greenwood, it was the worst outcome for Manchester United. They had acted swiftly to suspend the player on the day he was arrested in January 2022 — hours after deeply disturbing images and audio were posted online. United put their faith in the justice system. But a year later came the news that there would be no trial, no judge, no jury and most importantly no verdict. In the eyes of the law, the 21-yearold was an innocent man, but it would be left to the club to make the call. The ball was back in their court — and not many had seen it coming. United then launched their own investigation and said Greenwood would remain unavailable for selection until it had concluded. The responsibility was to lie on the shoulders of chief executive Richard Arnold. He enlisted the help of a number of senior executives, who included legal counsel Patrick Stewart, football director John Murtough, chief operating officer Collette Roche and communications chief Ellie Norman. The aim was to complete the investigation ahead of the new season and thus provide clarity to manager Erik ten Hag, who was keen to plan for the forthcoming campaign. The probe took place independent of the takeover saga, which remains ongoing. Although this was a huge issue to be dealt with, there was to be no input from the interested parties. The crux of the investigation was to decipher what had actually happened. Although the alleged victim declined to co-operate — as she had eventually done with the Crown Prosecution Service — her mother spoke to United with her blessing. Later in the process, when United had drafted their findings, both were given the opportunity to comment or correct any of what the club believed were the facts of the matter. No such clarification was forthcoming. United were quick to establish that the social media content that triggered Greenwood’s arrest.- Dailymail

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 / PEOPLE DAILY PEOPLE Sport 31 by Vincent Voiyoh @PeopleDailyKe Fast rising athletics star Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot is just hours away from realising his childhood dream of becoming a world champion in men’s 1500m. The 2022 World under-20 champion has an unlatched date with destiny in his quest for global stardom having achieved his premier goal of reaching the World Championships to lay bare his immense talent. Inspired by former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, Kipkorir will step out from the tunnels of the National Athletics Stadium in Budapest tonight as a debutant but his confidence will be a notch higher having tested the waters and triumphed in the semi finals against the big boys. In his ambition to grab a gold medal in the Hungarian capital,he will have to team up with countryman Abel Kipsang to stop the powerful world record holder in men’s 1500 Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen who has in recent races caused havoc for his mentor Timothy Cheruiyot. Ingebrigtsen who registered a superb 3:30.60 in Lievin, France in February last year smashing the world record is a clear favourite in the race that is set for 10:15pm today. Kipsang, 26, is hoping to tweak his career with a podium finish today having won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships early this year in Belgrade,Serbia. On the road to the final,he clocked 3.32.72 while Kipkorir had a time of 3.35.53. Before that breathtaking final,there will be other Kenyans in action,seeking tickets for finals in their respective events. Sensational Mary Moraa will be the first to open the account in day five of the World Championships that seems to be getting to fever pitch. Moraa, a Commonwealth Games champion in women’s 800 has an ambition of snatching the world title and will do the heats beginning 11:05 am. Vivian Chebet and Naomi Korir will also be in action in the same event. New world record holder in women’s 5000m Faith Kipyegon will be on duty again together with 2022 silver medalist Beatrice Chebet,Margaret Chelimo and Lilian Kasait in search of a final qualification berth in 5000m. Steeplechaser Beatrice Chebet, who has the world record, will commence the journey to reclaim the global gong when she steps out to compete in heat one. Youngsters Jackline Chepkoech and Faith Cheroitich will also be eager to show their potential for the first time at senior level. by Edwin Otieno @PeopleDailyKe Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions Sofapaka have completed the signing of highly rated offensive midfielder Keagan Ndemi Zakayo from league rivals Bandari, ahead of this weekend’s league kick-off. Keagan joins the 2009 champions as a replacement of Ben Stanley who opted to leave the team after the expiry of his loan spell from Migori Youth and he is believed to be headed to Ulinzi Stars. According to Sofapaka Team Manager Hillary Echesa, Keagan has fitted well in the team and may be selected to feature in their season opening fixture against Gor Mahia at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday. “Keagen is now fully a Sofapaka player. He has gelled well in the team and played very well during our friendly build-up match against Tusker at the weekend,” Echesa said. He added: “We have also released a number of players and Evans Malaichi has returned to offer back up in our left back position.” Malaichi who was in the team at the end of last season, had requested to leave the club after the season ended, but made a u-turn last week to return to the side. Players who have been released are goalkeeper Steven Otieno who had been recruited from Kakamega Homeboyz, midfielders Christian Lubulu who had been recruited from Kibera Black Stars and Coast region duo of Answar Shamuni and Lucky Murabu of Young Bulls. “Ben Stanley’s loan expired and probably he could be headed to Ulinzi Stars because he was seen playing for them against AFC Leopards during a recent friendly match. But Keagen would make a perfect replacement for him, given that he can play in all the midfield positions,” Echesa told People Sport. He added: “We are well prepared for our opening match of the season against league champions Gor Mahia on Saturday. The coach now knows his players and their strengths after the series of friendly matches we have plaed.” Sofapaka will use Machakos Stadium as their home ground for all their home matches for the new season. reynold, Kipsang and Cheruiyot to lead Kenya’s medal hunt in men’s 1500m today Kakamega County ladies tug of war team in action yesterday during the Kicosca Games. pD/ SHADrACK ANDENGA by Shadrack Andenga @PeopleDailyKe The Kakamega County Women’s Tug of War team has vowed to clinch this year’s Kenya Inter County Sports Association (KICOSCA) games after defeating Nyandarua County women’s team at the Kaaga Girls Playground in Meru County yesterday. Speaking after the win, head coach Mbego Ambrose was delighted and optimistic of the future. “ It was a tough win for us and had to involve a lot of hard work and tactics. Nyandarua were 676 kgs heavier as compared to our 660 kgs meaning that they had an advantage of 16 kgs to their favor,” said Ambrose adding that he wants to win this edition after coming in second last year in Kisumu. Team captain Sirilis Walunya was also in an upbeat mood echoing her coach’s sentiments. “ At the moment we are unstoppable, there is no other way but to win this title. We have been trying for the last three years, this is our year,” Walunya said. Defending women’s tug of war champions Kisii County will begin their campaign on Wednesday as Kakamega will look for their second win when they pull and shove against Kericho County. The men’s category saw defending champions Nakuru County being defeated by Kisii as Kakamega beat hosts Meru by 3-0 when both teams weighed in at 677 kg. The 10th edition of the KICOSCA games had an opening ceremony on Monday at the famous Kinoru Stadium where host Governor, Her Excellency Bishop Kawira Mwangaza commissioned the games that will see 40 counties take six days to compete in 24 sports disciplines. Several disciplines are being competed in including football, pool, darts, table tenni, athletics, chess and scrabble among others. Kakamega tug of war ladies team pip Nyandarua in Kicosca Games Kenya medal prospects Keagan Ndemi Zakayo (left) delivers a blind pass under the challenge of Baron Ochieng during Sofapaka’s training at Eastleigh High School yesterday. pD/ roDGErS NDEGWA Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot (right) leads Timothy Cheruiyot during the national trials to pick team Kenya in June. pD/ pHILLIp KAMAKYA TEAM KENYA SCHEDULE TODAY: 11:05 AM 800m heats (women) 08:02 PM 5000m heats (women) 08:53 PM 3000m SC heats (women) 10:15 PM 1500m final (men) Sofapaka complete Keagan signing, release ‘Softy’, Lubulu and Ben Stanley MEN’S 1500M FINAL STARTLIST: 1. Abel Kipsang -Kenya 2. Reynold Kipkorir - Kenya 3. Azzedine Habbz - France 4. Neil Gourley - Great Britain 5. Yared Nuguse- USA 6. Josh Kerr - Great Britain 7. Cole Hocker - USA 8. Jakob Ingebrigtsen - Norway 9. Mario Garcia - Spain 10. Niels Laros - Netherlands 11. Nerve Gije - Norway 12. Isaac Nader - Portugal

Budapest, Tuesday @PeopleDailyKe For an athlete who only just made it into the women’s 100m final, qualifying from one of the non-automatic spots, Sha’Carri Richardson (pictured) showed up in style to snatch the gold medal with a championship record in an iconic showdown that denied the Jamaicans the kind of golden finish they had envisaged. In the last decade, Jamaican athletes have won four titles in six editions of the World Championships, including a medal sweep last year in Oregon. They were gunning for a fifth at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, but were stopped by the new sheriff in town - Richardson. And as she crossed the line, pumping her right fist, this was indeed Richardson’s night - one that saw her rebound after missing the last edition of the World Championships due to less than favourable circumstances. The evening had started with some drama as both Ewa Swoboda and Dina Asher-Smith finished third in their semifinals with identical times of Wednesday, August 23, 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: thepeople@mediamax.co.ke or editor.people@mediamax.co.ke Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo says quitting social media was ‘huge’ BUDAPEST: Silver medallist Letsile Tebogo says quitting social media was key to his historic result representing Botswana at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. Tebogo, 20, became the first African to make the podium in the 100m at the championships by clocking 9.88 seconds in a thrilling men’s final on Sunday. “Going off social media was a huge thing to do,” the reigning African Championships 200m title holder said. “It wasn’t easy. I tried my best to stay out of it. Here is the result.” Tebogo, who became the first man from Botswana to win a World Championships medal added: “Everybody is saying whatever they feel like saying, so that [can affect] me mentally. “Then I just decided, ‘no’ - to let go of social media.” Akani Simbine was the sole African runner in the previous three finals, finishing fifth in 2017 and 2022 and fourth in 2019.-BBC BUDAPEST: Gudaf Tsegay’s world title in the 5,000m is among the greatest achievements of her decade-long career, but as she stood on the podium to receive her gold medal in July 2022, she was going through a personal crisis. The 25-year-old had not spoken to her parents and siblings for months. Tsegay is from Tigray, a region in northern Ethiopia that was the epicentre of the country’s recent civil war between November 2020 and November 2022, with government troops battling Tigrayan forces fighting for independence. The conflict claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, making it one of the deadliest of the 21st century. As it began, the roads to Tigray were closed and a governmentenforced communication blackout shut down telephone and internet services. “Not being able to talk to a father and brothers who had been advising you to strive and achieve more success every day is very difficult. It is even hard to explain,” Tsegay told BBC Sport Africa. “I didn’t talk to them for 18 months.” Despite the separation and anxiety, Tsegay continued training in the country’s capital Addis Ababa with her husband, who is also her coach. -BBC ‘I didn’t speak to my family for 18 months’ - Tsegay after becoming world champion Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez. PD/ FILE Budapest, Tuesday @PeopleDailyKe As Grant Holloway strode into the crucible of the National Athletics Centre here in the Hungarian capital, the last of the eight finalists in the men’s 110m hurdles to head to the start line, he passed portraits and video clips of the past greats of the event from the 40 years of the World Athletics Championships. One of them was of Holloway himself, having hit the gold standard in Doha in 2019 and on home ground in the USA in Oregon last year. Another was of Greg Foster, who finished on top of the world at the inaugural championships in Helsinki in 1983, and who followed up with victories in Rome in 1987 and again in Tokyo in 1991. Allen Johnson, another starred and striped great of the high hurdles, won four golds but in two bunches, punctuated by Colin Jackson’s success in Seville in 1999. Only Foster had won three in a row. Until now, that is. In the year that the original hat-trick hero of the event sadly passed away, in February at the age of 64, it seemed entirely fitting that a compatriot should follow in his hallowed footsteps. As Holloway duly did. Only third on the world list for the year heading into the championships – behind Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell, who crashed out in the first round heats the previous day, and his own rapidly-emerging teammate Cordell Tinch, who failed to make it beyond the semi-finals – the world indoor record-holder proceeded to make his golden pedigree tell. The din from the Hungarian crowd had hardly subsided in the aftermath of Daniel Stahl’s dramatic last-gasp winning discus throw when Hollway and his rivals got down to their own gold medal business. Peerless Holloway honours Foster’s memory with a golden three-peat in Budapest Grant Holloway (centre) crosses the finish line to win the men’s 110m hurdles final at the World Championships in Budapest. WORLD ATHLETICS The new conqueror 11.01. Richardson also faced a scare, with her heat being a sort of final before ‘the final’ - drawn alongside the fastest woman this year, Shericka Jackson (10.65), and two-time 100m world medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou (10.75). The 2019 NCAA champion was left in the blocks and had to fight for a ticket to the final, finishing outside the two automatic spots in third place (10.84). Eventually, all three athletes were given the nod, heightening the anticipation and intensity of the race – nine athletes to one gold medal. Julien Alfred was almost thrown off course too after being awarded a yellow card in the third semifinal for disturbing the start, which made her overly cautious leaving the blocks. Nevertheless, she came from behind to win in 10.92, with Brittany Brown following in 10.97. The final line up was as intimidating as they come, stacked with four of the eight fastest women of all time. Any newcomer would have been fazed, but not the 23-year-old Richardson who rose to the occasion when it really mattered. Being drawn in the outer lane proved a blessing in disguise for the US champion, somewhat keeping her out of the line of vision of Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who were assigned inside lanes. Richardson runs championship record to beat Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and claim 100m crown in Budapest WOMEN 100M RACE (FINAL): 1. Sha’Carri Richardson USA 10.65 CR 2. Shericka Jackson JAM 10.72 3. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce JAM 10.77 Sha’Carri Richardson celebrates after the win. COURTESY