Murang'a guardian issue 4

Equity now eyes Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon

Mother breast feeding another woman’s baby

The Murang’a Guardian | May 1-May 14, 2015

MAY 1-MAY 14, 2015 KSH 20 ISSUE NO. 2201405

Murang’a governor, Mwangi Wa Iria. Nairobi governor, Evans Kidero.

Pg20

Scandal of employerspaying Sh266 per day

ON OTHER PAGES

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Big money in Mayweather,Pacquiao fight

Ending the scramble for Gikuyu cradle

Court to rule on Murang’a - Nairobi

water tunnel

Why Kaggia was Murang’as finest

Police Officer who fights against drug abuse in spare time

Story Page 4

May 1-May 14, 2015 | The Murang’a Guardian2 |

By Grace Njeri

Workers employed by private sector in Murang’a are low-est paid according to a sur-

vey conducted by this newspaper. Seven out of 10 people interviews earned below minimum.

In 2013, the national government in-creased the minimum wage by 14 per-cent from Sh11,995 to Sh13,674.

But our survey indicates that the 7 out 10 workers in Murang’a earn wages of between Sh5000 and Sh10, 000.

Another two out of 10 workers earn wages between Sh10, 001 and Sh20, 000. One out of 10 people earned a wage of between Sh20, 001 and Sh100, 000.

Essentially this means that 70 percent of private sector workers are grossly un-derpaid compared to their counterparts employed by both national and county government.

It also means that many of the private sector needs cannot meet their basic needs. The situation becomes worse when the employee has a family.

Five out of 10 workers said they depend on their parents to supplement their food budgets while another three had inher-ited some plots of land where they did subsis-tence farming.

Alarmingly, we also found that out of 10 workers; only four have any form of social secu-

rity such as National Health Insurance Fund membership or National Social Security Fund Membership.

This means that if such a worker is struck by a disease, their only recourse is the public hospital.

Although Murang’a is a relatively slow county compared to other counties such as Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, Nakuru,Nyeri, Kisumu and Mombasa, the cost of living is relatively especially for those living in urban centres.

On average, a household that lives in any of the urban centres in the county such Thika, Kenol, Murang’a Town, or Kiria-ini will spend at least Sh400per day. This includes Sh200 on food, 200 on shelter and Sh100 contingencies.

Curiously, eight out of 10 workers do not belong to any trade union contrary to constitution which guarantees em-ployees to join trade unions of their own choices to negotiate for their wages and

other welfare concerns.The biggest formal em-

ployers in Murang’a are banks, cooperatives and su-permarkets. Other big scale employers are Tea factories in Aberdare zone, Kakuzi in Gatanga, Delmonte in Kandara, Nicola Farm and Equatorial Nut processor in Maragua.

Hospitality is also a big employer in the county with new hotel facilities, bars and restaurants coming up every so often. But the big-gest numbers of workers are engaged in the small busi-

nesses than run private primary schools, private hospitals, eateries, lodgings, hardware shops in the urban centres,

But as the world celebrates the in-ternational Labour Day, thousands of young people continue to grapple with the high rate of unemployment.

A high, static youth unemployment rate across the country is the result of a range of factors, the most significant of which is a marked reduction in the num-ber of genuine entry-level jobs in the la-bor market.

In Murang’a only few are lucky to se-cure permanent jobs, others are in the informal sector but a large number is still ‘idle’.

James Kagoni the youth representa-tive in Murang’a county assembly says close to 86,000 young people who have excelled in various professions are yet to secure jobs while 144,000 have joined the informal sector.

Kagoni says there is need enhance efforts to create more platforms to em-power the young people economically and ease the burden of their dependence on the society.

“Young people are key in spurring economic growth and we need to engage them across all sectors becays ehtye are energetic and productive” he says.

Recently, Members of Murang’a coun-ty assembly adopted a motion seeking to compel the executive to follow the Na-tional Government Circular on unbun-dling of procurement and engage the young people in various development projects.

The motion which was moved by

News

BIG STORYGovernor orders freeze of bar licenses

IN BRIEF

By Shadrack Kabiru

Businesspeople wishing to set up bars in Murang’a will have to wait until a survey to establish the num-

ber of the existing liquor outlets in the county is conducted, Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wairia has said.

Essentially, this means that issuing of licenses has been frozen until the county government gets the report of the survey.

Wairia said the number of bars in the county exceeds that of schools and church-es.

He said the survey will help to identify the liquor brands in circulation and assist in eradication of counterfeit alcohol.

Wairia said a section of the media has continued to brand Murang’a as a ‘drunk county’ yet no research has been conducted to find out what part of the population has been affected by alcoholism.

He was speaking at Kenol town while launching subcounties liquor licensing committees.

Wairia said his government will set aside funds to establish a laboratory to test liquor brands to ensure only certified brands are circulated in the market.

“The new liquor committees should make sure bars open between 5pm and 11 pm as required by law. This will control al-coholism and ensure our youth remain pro-ductive throughout the day,”he said.

Wairia said residents have complained that wine and spirits outlets do not observe operating hours and are open from 6am until midnight after illegally converting from wholesale to retail outlets.

He said he has plans to establish reha-bilitation centres to rehabilitate alcoholics including police officers, teachers and other professionals.

Wairia asked the provincial administra-tion to beef up surveillance along rivers Sagana and Chania that borders Kirinya-ga and Kiambu counties which have been identified as brewing dens.

“They find these areas favorable because they can easily cross from one county to the other using small boats which they also use to trade their brews. I am asking the county security team to ensure these areas are well secured,” he added.

CYoung people are key in spurring economic growth and we need to engage them across all sectors becays ehtye are energetic and productive

Private sector workers lowest paid

By Macharia wa Njoki

The fact that trade union activity have very little or no role in protect-

ing Murang’a workers from ex-ploitation from their employers does not mean that the county had no history in fighting for workers rights either locally or nationally.

Many people in the county may not know that in the run-ners up to independence, Mu-rang’a produced one of the fin-est trade unionist in the name of freedom fighter Bildad Kaggia. Bildad Kaggia was born in 1921 in Dagorreti where his father had moved to from his home in modern day Murang’a Coun-ty. Two years later his father moved back to Murang’a. Kag-gia schooled at Santamor Estate and later at the Church Mission-ary Society School at Kahuhia.

Its while in CSM in Kahuhia that Kaggia stunned his teach-

Murang’a produced Bildad Kaggia,the finest trade unionist that ever lived

Kaggia (extreme right) and Jomo Kenyatta( third from left) with other kapen-guria six after release from prisonMurang’a Governor Mwangi Wairia.

The Murang’a Guardian | May 1-May 14, 2015 | 3News

Private sector workers lowest paid James Kagoni, the representative of the youth in the county seeks to have many young people with knowledge on labor based works incorporated in the project in order to reducing an unemployment among the youth.

Kagoni said it is unfair for the contrac-tors who have been awarded various con-struction tender to bring their own work force while the local youth stay idle.

He said unbundling the procurement will help many youth get employment and a share of the development fund thus gain some income to boost their lives.

He said the number of young people without employment in the county is swelling day by day which has become a concern to many.

“Young people can provide unskilled labour in the development projects such as road construction grubbing and check dams and this would earn them some money” he said.

He said in the current situation the 70/30 rule is not being applied in the county and this is making the youth feel neglected.

Various youth groups have come to-gether to form groups carrying out var-ious income generating project such as pottery, bee keeping and value addition in agricultural products.

His sentiments were echoed by Wanji-ru Mwicigi who said lack of employment has driven the young people into desper-ation and they end up indulging into alco-holism and drug abuse.

She further pointed out that high rate of unemployment has also seen the youth engage in criminal activities as they seek to earn a living.

“There is need to cater for the young people by giving them alternative source of income to make their lives better” she remarked.

ers with the assertions that he would wish to be a warrior after schooling and send the white man back to Britain.

Despite his excellent perfor-mance in exams Kaggia was unable to proceed to Mangu to further his education and it’s at this point that he secured a cleri-cal job with the colonial Govern-ment.

Upon the start of the Second World War, Kaggia and other young Africans were recruited in the King’s African Rifle army to fight along British allied troops.

Kaggia would later return to Kenya in 1946 only to be con-fronted by distress and disgrun-tlement that Africans were grap-pling with in the hands of the colonial masters.

As a prominent and a rad-ical black young man Kaggia would join hands with Kenyat-ta, Kimathi Wa Chiuri and other gallant young Africans to sup-press the British Colonial rule when they founded the FORTY GROUP which would within no

time metamorphose into the le-thal Kenya Land and Freedom Army popularly known as MAU-MAU. MAUMAU would later roll on a massive insurgency operation geared towards repos-sessing Kenya from the colonial government.

The deplorable conditions in regard to wages, housing and general welfare that the African workers had to bear with work-ing for the whites disgruntled and preyed Kaggia much and this informed his entry into trade unions activism. A fiery trade Unionist Kaggia would rise through the ranks to lead in the giant Labor Trade Union of East Africa in what was seen as ded-ication inspired by his socialism ideologies.

Kaggia’s Socialist ideologies would see him found the African Independent Church to African-ize Christianity. Kaggia would later in 1950 desert his young family and head underground to the MAUMAU war front play-ing a very crucial role in mobi-

lization and organization of the armed struggle especially after the execution of Dedan Kimathi.

In 1952 MAUMAU had taken a lethal purge on colonial domina-tion and this made the colonial government to declare a state of emergency; it is at this juncture that Kaggia, Jaramogi, Karumba and others were arrested, tried and convicted. They were lat-er held at Kapenguria Prison in what came to be popularly re-ferred as ‘Kapenguria Six’.

The six would later be released in 1961.In 1963 Kenya was grant-ed internal self independence with Kenyatta as the prime min-ister, Kaggia became Kandara Mp and a Minister in this new government.

Kaggia would later be disillu-sioned by endemic corruption in the new government, injustices on Kenyans and unscrupulous accumulation of wealth by the then government machinery at the disadvantage of the poverty stricken Kenyans. Kaggia had re-

alized that his former comrades were perpetuating greed laced vices that were contrary with the socialist ideologies upon which KANU, the independence party was founded.

Kaggia’s advocacy and crit-icism against the government placed him at logger heads with the govt top honchos and in 1964 he was hounded out of KANU together with Jaramogi. The two formed Kenya People’s Union (KPU), a socialist party which they popularised as the alterna-tive to KANU..

For founding KPU, Kenyatta inner circle started a campaign to malign Kaggia accusing him of betraying the first president more specifically because he teamed up Jaramogi who was seen as the regimes biggest rival. This would cost Kaggia his par-liamentary seat in 1966 General Election when Kenyatta criss-crossed Kaggia’s Constituency campaigning against him. Kag-gia eventually lost the seat.

The machinations of the Ken-yatta inner circle would lead to persecution of Kaggia’s who was arrested and charged for ad-dressing an ‘illegal political rally’ in 1969. He was sentenced to six months. Faced with authoritari-an regime that closed every door for his political activity, Kaggia retired from active politics in 1970.

The unapologetic left-wing radical spent his last days in a slum in Nairobi living with the poor Kenyans he had ruthlessly fought for as a political leader, a socialist and a freedom fighter a picture that was the stack oppo-site of his freedom fighting com-rades who were living flashy and opulent lifestyles with sleek cars, posh homes with multi-million fortunes.

Kaggia succumbed to stroke on 2nd March 2005 and was never accorded a state send off like other freedom fighters. He survived by two sons and a daughter.

Rachael Omamo, acting Labour Minister


Tribunal to rule on a Murang’a World Bank

funded water tunnel project

News

By Shadrack Kabiru

A tribunal will next week rule on whether it has ju-

risdiction to hear a contempt case filed Athi Water Services Board and National Environ-ment Management Authority (NEMA) chief executives for failure to respect a court or-der stopping work on North-ern Water Collector Tunnel Phase I in Murang’a.

The case was filed before National Environment Tri-bunal by Kuria Mwangi, an Engineer from Murang’a fol-lowing a stop order issued by the same tribunal.

In the first hearing of the case two weeks ago, one of the defendants challenged the jurisdiction of the Na-tional Environment Tribunal in hearing and determining the matter.

The Athi Water Services Board Chief Executive Of-ficer Eng. Malaquen Milgo through lawyer Charles Ag-wara filed preliminary ob-jection to the suit arguing that the tribunal lacked the “requisite jurisdiction to hear, entertain or determine the appeal” to have the duo charged with contempt of court.

“The application dated March 31, 2015 is a strata-gem by the appellant to vex and harass the respondent despite the appellant being aware it does not lie in law,” states the affidavit signed by Prof Albert Mumma.

Eng Mwangi through law-yer Njoroge Wachira wants Athi Water Services Board and NEMA bosses charged with contempt of court for disregarding a Stop Order on the construction of the Sh6.8 billion World Bank funded tunnel issued by the tribunal.

Lawyer Njoroge told the tribunal despite them having served the defendants with the Stop Order, the contrac-tor, M/s China Ghezouba Construction Co. Limited was going on with the con-

struction of the tunnel.Lawyer Agwara was hard

pressed to explain why his cli-ent was disregarding the Stop Order. The tribunal directed him to ensure his client com-plied with the order and set the hearing for the main appeal on May 8, 2015.

The order issued by National Environment Tribunal and ad-dressed to Athi Water Services Board CEO had directed that all activities on the proposed Northern Water Collector Tun-nel Phase I in stop.

“The purpose of this letter is to direct that all activities re-lating to the appeal in question MUST be stopped until the ap-peal is heard and determined by the Tribunal,” says the order letter signed the J.K. Awour for the Tribunal Chairman.

The order was issued to give effect to Kenya environmental law provision which declares when there is an appeal over environmental license issued by National Environmental Management Authority, activ-ities on the project in question should be stopped immediate-ly.

In the case of the tunnel project, the engineer has gone to court challenging the issue of environmental license by the environmental watchdog.

Athi Water Services Board

was issued with the license for the project, which seeks to tap water from three key rivers in Murang’a, in February paving the way for the project to com-mence.

In suit documents filed at the end of February seen by The Murang’a Guardian, Eng. Mwangi has asked the at the National Environment Tribu-nal, which operates at the same level with the High Court, to quash the approval granted for the Northern Water Collector Tunnel project.

The engineer through his lawyers argues that NEMA breached the constitution in the issuing the approval. “The approval for the project is in breach of the constitutional requirement for fair adminis-trative process by granting the approval without informing the public and key stakeholders of its final findings and of its in-tention as a regulator to grant the approval,” says Mwangi.

Mwangi further argues that Nema issued the approval on the basis of an inadequate envi-ronment and social impact as-sessment. “There is no evidence of the use or consideration of any independent, objective and verifiable baseline and statisti-cal information,” he says.

According to its design, the project will involve digging a three meter high, 11 kilome-ter long tunnel that will run between 20-250 meter below ground level and will collect wa-ter from three rivers in Kange-ma for onward transmission to Ndaka-ini Dam.

The project has been dogged by controversy since December, last year, when the Murang’a county assembly ruled that the project be stopped awaiting an alternative environmental and social impact assessment re-port.

Farmers and business people from Murang’a fear that if al-

lowed to go ahead, the project could drain under ground wa-ter sources as well as reduce water supple to people living downstream.

Other political leaders have also raised concern over the project. Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura has cautioned against rushing to commence the project before the conten-tious issues have been ironed out.

MCA wants stiffer penalties for sexual offenses

BY Grace Njeri

The Murang’a County Assem-bly has adopted a motion which seeks to severely pun-

ish sexual offenders in efforts to curb the vice which is reportedly on the rise in the region.

The motion, which was tabled in the assembly by Caroline Njoroge the chair of the Youth, Culture and Social services committee, elicited reactions from the members some of whom had proposed castration to be done on men who commit sexual offence.

Addressing the assembly, Ms Njoroge said that sexual assault and gender based violence cases are on the rise in the area where women and young girls have become vulnerable.

She however said there has been no law to stipulate how such issues can be dealt with and in most cases the victims do not get justice.

In her motion, the MCA proposed that the county government should develop a post rape care policy and establish a forensic laboratory for gathering storage of DNA samples after the rape.

“In most cases the victims are still exposed to danger because they are not protected and the evidence can easily be tampered with,” she said.

She also suggested that fee charged to the victims for the ser-vices at the hospital to be waived to make it available to all people.

“Most of the rape victims are not able to access medical attention be-cause they cannot afford to raise the fee charged at the hospital,” she re-marked.

She also said the law enforcers have been playing part in corrupting the cases brought to them by forcing the victims take compensation of-fered by the offenders thus blocking justice for them.

“There should be court to specifi-cally handle such cases to make sure the victims get their justice,” said Njoroge.

Nominated members Mary Waith-era and Rebeccah Mwicigi attribut-ed the increased cases of sexual and gender based violence to alcoholism and drug abuse which is rampant in the area.

The two said a lot of effort has to be put to fight the vice claiming that it would help reduce the cases.

“Nobody in their sober mind would attack a little girl or a woman and rape them unless they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” they said.

They also said people who are physically and mentally handi-capped often fall victims because of their defenceless nature.

The application dated March 31, 2015 is a stratagem by the appellant to vex and harass the respondent despite the appellant being aware it does not lie in law

Ndaka-ini Dam

The Murang’a Guardian | May 1-May 14, 2015 | 5

2 EducationFOCUS May/June 2015

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EDITORIAL

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Lets reject some MPs push for North vs

South rifts

As we trudge on in the third year as a County, we note that there has emerged some dangerous signs in our political class. For the last few months, some well re-

spected political leaders with support of big business leaders have been working day and night, in the open and in secret to divide people of Murang’a along the North, South lines.

Because these attempts predictably lead to bloodshed, loss of property and entrenchment of certain self serving eco-nomic interests, it’s therefore important for us to remember where the North, South dichotomy started.

The division of Murang’a into North and South was the brainchild of KANU mandarins in the 1980s. The actual ob-jective of the division was to plunder Murang’a whose county council had emerged as the richest and best managed.

Among its assets were vast tracts of land, thriving markets, vibrant cooperatives and a fat collection of cess from tea and coffee.

KANU leaders in Murang’a under former President Daniel arap Moi regime and some greedy civil servants schemed a way of stripping the county council of its assets. That could only be done if the county was split so that assets such as land that fell in between North and South would be sold for a song.

That is how the county lost huge tracts of land formerly called Samar Range which was owned in trust for the people of Murang’a by their county council.

Those county council members who opposed the scheme faced hell on earth. Several of them were murdered in cold blood. Others mysteriously disappeared. Others were eco-nomically harassed and sent into bankruptcy.

The destruction of people’s lives by this scheme is a scar that is yet to heal in the county.

The beneficiaries of the grabbing scheme were a few politi-cians from Murang’a who were close to Moi and civil servants in national government who helped to push the bureaucratic process. They grabbed huge tracts of land which they have been subdividing and selling off at prices that ordinary peo-ple in Murang’a cannot afford. Some have put factories on the land where workers earn peanuts.

It is important that the young generation of Murang’a are alive to these facts before they are bogged down by another round ridiculous pitting of the people against each other. As the political drums continue ringing, echoing the false narra-tive that one side of the county treats the other contemptous-ly, we need to interrogate the real motive of those playing the music.

What is it that they want to conceal by pitting people against each other? Who is funding this political bandwag-on? For what motive?

We should also ask the proponents of this North vs South ideology what we have lost by being united.

In conclusion, as part of this community, this newspaper will never allow this divisive politics to find space in our pag-es. It is a commitment we make because we stand for what is right. In this case, unity is right!

Engage citizen for better devolution

resultsBY Robert Godec

Two years in, devolution is succeeding. Authority and money have been trans-

ferred from the national govern-ment to county governments. Counties are delivering services. Infrastructure is being built. And people have greater contact with their elected leaders than ever before. Devolution has begun to build a Kenya where better social and economic opportunities are more widely available.

These changes mean a better life for Kenyan citizens. Now even as we celebrate successes, we must renew our focus on what’s next. Indeed, we must redouble our effort for much remains to be done. Over the past two years, we have found the best formu-la for moving forward: patience plus partnership equals progress. First, on patience: devolution must be built over time.

Citizens’ expectations of devo-lution remain very high, which is good. But devolution is complex. It requires a rethinking of gov-ernment. In Kenya, devolution is still new. And, the learning curve is steep.

In the United States, we know this all too well from our own experience with devolved gov-ernment. In 1788, a Founding Father of the United States and champion of our Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, said: “This balance between the National and State governments ought to be dwelt on with peculiar atten-tion, as it is of the utmost impor-tance.” Indeed, just as our Con-stitution sets out a separation of powers among the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches, it also establishes a balance between national and state power. The same is true of Kenya’s new Constitution.

Now, there are some Amer-icans who believe in a strong central government and others who prefer stronger state govern-ments. We have argued for close to 240 years over the questions of power, especially when it comes to laws and budgets. These de-bates are challenging, to be sure – but they are essential. An ongo-ing conversation about the prop-er role of government is critically important.

As you have this conversation, don’t just engage other politi-cians. Engage the citizens. Ask them for their views. Tell them how they can participate. Talk with them in person and through the media. Let them know where their money, the taxes they pay, is going, and why. Give them realistic timeframes for your de-velopment plans. And they will support you. In all of this, devo-lution will help, because it brings the conversation closer to the cit-izens that all governments must serve.

Which leads me to my second point. For devolution to succeed, partnership is essential. Rein-venting Kenya’s government through devolution remains a huge task, but collaboration, partnership, can make it easier.

In all of these efforts, civil soci-ety can be one of your strongest partners. As President Obama said earlier this month: “Civ-il society is the conscience of our countries. It is a catalyst of change…Strong nations embrace and support and empower active citizens.” Civil society provides critical services in tandem with government, and they ensure everyone in society has a voice. In short, civil society can be a powerful ally for both the na-tional and county governments,

helping to deliver services and find innovative solutions to shared problems. As you devolve power and build your nation, the United States and all of the international partners will work with you. We have already accomplished much together these past two years.

In conclusion, Kenya is a great country. Kenyans are a great people. Whether it is meeting the challenge of strengthening securi-ty or building devolution, I know you can…you will… succeed. Day by day, step by step, you are forg-ing a stronger, more secure, more prosperous, and more democratic Kenya. As you do, know this too: the United States stands with you. As we all look forward to the visit of President Obama to Kenya in July, as he returns to the home of his father, I promise you this: our partnership, our friendship is unwavering. For it is built on the strongest foundation of all: shared values, shared hopes, shared dreams.

Together, we will accomplish far more than either of us could alone. Together, we will build a better, brighter future for both Kenyans and Americans.

The writer is United States Ambassador to Kenya


By Guardian Reporter

Drought in Kenya, the largest tea producer in the world, has raised hopes of price increase for the do-mestic tea producers in India.

Speaking about impact of the drought for domestic companies, Kamal Baheti, CFO, McLeod Russel , says it could be positive in terms of quantity and prices for exports out of India.

Last year the first quarter produc-tion for Kenya was at record highs but this year right from January it has been dry and there has been a reported a loss of around 15-20 mil-lion kilogram till March, which has

propelled tea prices in Kenya by 25-30 percent.

He also expects the drought sit-uation in Kenya to help boost Mc-Leod’s exports to 20-22 million kilo-grams from last year’s drop to 13-14 million kilograms. Another positive for the company is good rainfall in Assam over the last 15 days and with the monsoon is also expected to be better, the company would be able to recover the crop loss they suf-fered last year, says Baheti. Going forward it depends on further the weather in the Q1 and Q2 higher prices and better production. Indus-try overall should also benefit from this situation, says Baheti.

Indian tea multinational celebrates, as drought hits Kenya’s production


By Grace Njeri

A middle aged woman from Githina village in Kangema Murang’a has

surprised many in the area after offering to breastfeed another woman baby in her absence.

Regina Wanjiru aged 24 years and a mother of two extended her love to a four month old baby girl Prossy to raise her alongside her two month old daughter Rose An-gel.

According to John Mucha-chi, Wanjiru’s husband, Prossy’s mother attempted to abort the baby in the eighth month of her pregnancy but failed and was ad-mitted a Murang’a district hospi-tal. The medics were able to save the lives of both mother and baby. The baby weighed 1.7 kg and she was put under observation and lat-er discharged to go home. Mucha-hi had been married to Prossy’s mother three years ago in a mar-ried that did not work.

For close to two weeks, the Prossy’s mother went in to hiding and no one knew of her where-abouts, including her family.

Muchachi says this was the second time that his estranged wife tried to abort his baby add-ing that she had done it again secretly and terminated a young innocent life.

“Every time she wanted to ter-minate her pregnancy she would run away to her relative’s home and come back and this caused a lot of conflicts in our marriage,” said Muchachi.

He said he could not under-stand why his ex-wife who he had committed his life to, would com-mit such heinous act and he opted to get another wife who was ready to give him children.

“I was ready to settle down in marriage but my first wife ap-peared to have a different perspec-tive in life so I opted for a second wife,” he remarked.

The drama did not end when the two parted ways. Prossy’s mother was not ready to take care of her daughter and so she sneaked into Muchachi’s home and placed the baby on bed before running away.

“I was feeding the cows when I heard someone open the gate qui-etly and sneaked in to the house. When I rushed to check I saw her running away having left the little girl,” he added.

With the help of villagers Muchachi was able to nab the run- away mother and they took her to the chief’s office where they had a written agreement on raising the baby together but she became de-

Woman offers to breastfeed another woman’s child

fiant.She blatantly refused in the face

of Kangema children’s officer that she will not breastfeed the baby and few days she fled to her par-ents’ home in Gatuya , Kahuro.

A warrant of arrest was issued against her and police found her selling in a family pub.

She was taken to court where she was charged with child deser-tion and was sentenced to serve six months in jail.

Muchachi got a short reprieve after an officer from New Life Home Trust based in Nyeri of-fered to take baby Prossy until the family dispute was solved.

However the little girl was ad-mitted at Nyeri Provincial general hospital where she stayed for two months forcing the father to make trips everyday which was tedious.

After her discharge New Life Home Trust took her in where she stayed for several weeks.

When Wanjiru delivered her baby Rose Angel she requested her husband to bring baby Prossy back home saying she was ready to take care of her as well.

“My wife told me it was not right for that girl to stay away from home and she requested me bring her home.” he recalled.

He added; “I am happy to have

both of my children are with me and I appreciate the effort by my wife to raise them together with-out any discrimination”.

On her part Wanjiru said she could not let the little girl suffer for mistakes she did not commit adding that she shall treat her like one of her own.

“The little girl is innocent and I cannot stand see her suffer when I am alive” she remarked.

The family has received over-whelming support from the neighbours and well-wishers who applauded Wanjiru for her great heart to accommodate baby Prossy.

John Muchachi and his wife Regina Wanjiru holding the little girls Prossy and Rose Angel in their home Kangema.

By Shadrack Kabiru

You risk going to jail if you are caught running a roadside eatery. That is

the warning from the Murang’a ministry of health following a case where suspected food poi-soning killed one person and left 34 others hospitalised.

Murang’a Health Minister Dr. Susan Maganda has direct-ed health officials to shut down unhygienic food premises add-

ing that the county government had also banned the hawking of foodstuff in all the towns in the county.

The executive said she had sent a team on the ground to inspect all food establishments to ensure they comply with the required health standards.

She said the directive aims is to protect the community by con-trolling the spread any food re-lated diseases to the community noting that all premises that do not practice proper hygiene have

to be closed.She asked public health officers

to intensify surveillance to curb preparation, display and selling of all foods under insanitary con-ditions more so at night when the activity intensify.

Flanked by all sub county health officials Dr Maganda said those without proper documen-tation and found hawking food in open places will be arrested and prosecuted.

She urged the health officials to

enforce the laws to the letter and ensure all food handlers and their premises must have valid health licences and food handlers must be medically examined.

She also urged the public to be extra vigil too when and where they are buying food and cooper-ate with the county government by reporting those who have no valid papers noting that food re-lated diseases spread very fast thus seeking public help to pre-vent such occurrence or outbreak

in the near future.Agriculture executive, Albert

Mwaniki said that the county was awaiting the report after samples were taken to KEMRI for analy-sis.

Mwaniki said that county ab-attoirs, animal disease control and vet services including meat inspection, licencing and control were devolved and issued a direc-tive that all traders dealing with meat or its product must produce a valid certificate of meat inspec-tion always.

Health minister orders crackdown on dirty eateries

Feature

I was ready to settle down in marriage but my first wife appeared to have a different perspective in life so I opted for a second wife

The Murang’a Guardian | May 1-May 14, 2015 | 9Feature

Late J.J Kamotho was grandmaster of Kenya politics

but died a bruised manBy Macharia wa Njoki

Born 72 years ago in Gacha-rage-ini village, Kangema Constituency in Murang’a

County John Joseph Kamotho fondly known as JJ would rise in ranks to become one of the grand master of Murang’a and Central Kenya politics. Kamotho dominat-ed the national political arena with his fiery brand politics during the KANU regime.

Kamotho made his entry into elective politics in 1974 when he was elected as the Kangema MP, a position he held until 1983 when retired Moi engineered a purge on perceived traitors in the aftermath infamous 1982 attempted coup d’etat.

Chief architectThe beginning of 1984 would mark the onset tough political times on Kamotho and other KANU legis-lators who were perceived to bear ties with the former Constitution-al Affairs minister Charles Njonjo and who were alleged to be the chief architect of the 1982 coup.

To ensure the purge was effec-tive, Moi called for a ‘snap election’ in 1984 that was orchestrated to-wards kicking out Kamotho and other Njonjo allied KANU MPs who were perceived to be disloyal to Moi. Kamotho lost his parlia-mentary seat and the education ministry portfolio he had held since 1979.

Upon losing his seat the shrewd Kamotho hatched a plot that would eventually lead to Moi reaching out to him for reconcilia-tion. In the late 80s rumours start-ed spreading in Central Kenya that Moi’s school feeding programme popularly known as ‘maziwa ya nyayo’ was laced with family plan-ning drugs.

RumoursFor Kamotho, this was the per-

fect opportunity for crafting a po-litical comeback. He took on the rumours head on ensuring that his attacks on those spreading the rumours got sufficient press cov-erage. His strategy of antagonising those Moi’s ‘enemies’ in Central Kenya earned dividends immedi-ately as Moi reached out to him ce-menting a relationship that would last up to December 6, 2014 when he breathed his last.

It’s this renewed friendship that would see Kamotho recapture the Kangema seat as a beneficiary of the notorious 1988 election that

was conducted by queue voting commonly known as ‘mlolongo’ election.

After the 1988 election Moi ap-pointed Kamotho as an assistant minister in the office of the presi-dent and later elected as the KANU chairman, Murang’a branch. It is at the start of his Murang’a Kanu branch chairman that his political star in Kanu would shine. As the party honcho in the district, he was also in charge of determining who vied for that year’s election.

The elevation of Kamotho into Murang’a that infuriated the then Kiharu MP and father of multi-party democracy Kenneth Matiba. The reason for Matiba’s anger was mainly because Ka-motho engineered a coup against him during the KANU nomina-tions for the 1988 general elec-tions. The nomination was con-ducted in the Mlolongo system and even though Matiba had the longest queue, it was his opponent who was declared the winner.

VowAn angry Matiba resigned from

cabinet and as Member of Par-liament, vowing never to return to KANU, signalled the onset of a long drawn political war with Moi.

This would also mark the be-ginning of a frosty relationship between Matiba and JJ that lasted till the time of JJ’s death.

The man who is remembered for his proclamation that ‘KANU will rule for a 100 years’ would continue winning Moi’s heart and with the demise of Moses Muda-vadi, Kamotho replaced him as the KANU National Secretary General in 1989 a very plum position back then.

Kamotho would in the same period earn himself an elevation serve in full capacity as a minister. The Kamotho’s 14 years stint as KANU Sec Gen rendered him to be the most hawkish KANU defender with a very sharp tongue. His high octane controversial statements saw him become a darling of the media.

Rubia

The anti-KANU wave that swept across Central Kenya where multi-party point men were led by Mati-ba and Charles Rubia proved it dif-ficult for Kamotho to win in future elections on KANU ticket in Mu-rang’a. His long time rival, Joseph Michuki thoroughly trounced him in the 1992 and 1997 general elec-tions on opposition party tickets.

Despite Kamotho’s humiliation in Kangema, Moi would nomi-nate him to parliament twice and crown him with a ministerial po-sition. So painful was the 1992 defeat to Kamotho that he would make remark that is remembered to date ‘that even a dog would have won a seat in Murang’a if it vied on a FORD ASILI (Matiba’s party) ticket’.

The former Kanu Secretary General would continue enjoying a friendly relationship with pres-ident and the trappings of power until the tables turned in the year 2001. In that year, Moi’s KANU and Raila Odinga led National Democratic Party merged a pro-cess that saw him kicked out from the Secretary General’s position. Raila took the position.

Defect

The following year, Kamotho would team up with Raila, then Vice President George Saitoti and then Foreign Affairs Minister Kalonzo Musyoka to defect from Kanu following Moi’s declaration of Uhuru Kenyatta as the sole par-ty presidential candidate in that

year’s elections.He joined jumped on the Na-

tional Rainbow Coalition and won the Mathioya Parliamentary seat. Mathioya had been carved out of Kangema in 1997 specifically for Kamotho.

In 2007 general election he was trounced by then political green horn Clement Wambugu and ap-peared to have quit from active politics until 2012 when he would gun for the Murang’a County Sen-atorial seat where he lost at the TNA primaries to Kembi Gitura the deputy speaker. However Ka-motho contested the nomination results alleging that the process was flawed.

Not much would be heard pub-licly from Kamotho until May 2013 when his family came to dispel claims that were trending on social media that he was in a comma.

Kamotho’s was loved and hated in equal measures but behind him is a legacy on some public utilities and infrastructural facilities such as Murang’a Teachers Training College courtesy of his drive at the helm of KANU.

•Kamotho schooled Muthangari Primary School, Njumbi intermediate School and Nyeri High School between (1942-1962)• Graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Syracuse in US in 1968.• Before joining politics Kamotho had earlier worked at East African Customs and excise modern day KRA, Standard Chartered Bank and Kenya Institute of Administration.• Served as a Minister on these dockets; Education, Transport, Environment, Trade and Local Government.• During his tenure as the Minister for Education 7-4-2-3 education curriculum was abolished and 8-4-4 was introduced.ï HE survived by a widow Eunice and four children.

Bonus points on the late JJ.

The Late John Joseph Kamotho


LAIKIPIA UNIVERSITYOFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR (ACADEMIC AFFAIRS)

LAIKIPIA, NYAHURURU, MARALAL & NAIVASHA, NAIROBI CAMPUSESACADEMIC PROGRAMMES ON OFFER

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIESPROGRAMME QUALIFICATION DURATION & PATTERN/ MODECERTIFICATE COURSES: • Certificate in Community Development• Certificate in Public Administration & County Governance• Certificate in Sports Science and Management BRIDGING: • Certificate in; Kiswahili and English • Diploma in French i-iv (DELFAI)• Diploma in Community Development• Diploma in Sport Science & Management

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES:• Bachelor of Science (Community Development)

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies

• Bachelor of Sports Science and Management

KSCE with a Mean Grade of C+ and above (or equivalent), and at least grade C+ in the subjects of specialization

KSCE with a Mean Grade of C+ and above (or equivalent), and at least grade C+ in the subjects of specialization

Four (4) years Laikipia Campus OnlyMode: Full-time

Four (4) years Laikipia Campus Only Mode: Full-time

• Bachelor of Arts (Communication & Media) KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a C+ or above in English OR Kiswahili OR recognized Diploma

Four (4) years Laikipia Campus Only Mode: Full-time

• Bachelor of Library & Information Science KSCE with a Mean Grade of C+ and above (or equivalent), and at least grade C+ in the subjects of specialization

Four (4) years Laikipia Campus; Four (4) years (in 2 ½ Yrs Trimesters) at the Nyahururu & Naivasha, campuses Modes: Regular/Day classesEvening & Weekend classes Mode :Full-time/ School Based

• Bachelor of Psychology KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a C+ in Mathematics, English or Kiswahili and a B- in Biology

Four (4) years Laikipia Campus; Four (4) years (in 2 ½ Yrs Trimesters) at the Nyahururu & Naivasha, campuses Modes: Regular/Day classesEvening & Weekend classes Mode :Full-time/ School Based

• Bachelor of Arts in Kiswahili and Communication Minimum score of C+ in English or Kiswahili OR Approved Diploma Program

Four (4) years Laikipia Campus OnlyMode Full-time

• Bachelor of Arts in English and Communication Minimum KCSE score of C+ in English or Kiswahili OR Approved Diploma Program

Four (4) years Laikipia Campus Only Mode Full-time

• Bachelor of Arts in Peace Education KSCE with a Mean Grade of C+ and above (or equivalent), and at least grade C+ in the subjects of specialization


• Bachelor of Science (Geography) KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B-(minus) in any of the three following subjects Geography/ Mathematics/ Economics/ Biology/ Agriculture/ Fine Art


• Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Security Studies

KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ OR a Distinction Cer-tificate from a recognized Institution

Four (4) years (in 2 ½ Yrs Trimesters) at the Nya-hururu & Naivasha, Maralal campuses Modes: Regular/Day classesEvening & Weekend classes

PH.DAvailable for all the above specializations

Masters Degree in the relevant specialization Laikipia CampusMode: Part time

POST-GRADUATE COURSES• Masters of Arts (Applied Linguistics) • Masters of Arts (History)• Masters of Arts (Religion • Masters of Arts(Kiswahili

Bachelors Degree in the relevant field, 2nd Class Honours Upper Division or 2nd Class Honours, lower division with 2 yrs relevant work experience

Two (2) yrs at Laikipia CampusMode: School Based

KSCE with a Mean Grade of C+ and above (or equivalent), and at least grade C+ in the subjects of specialization OR ‘A’ Level certificate with two (2) Principal passes in relevant subjects, and one (1) subsidiary pass.

Four (4) years (in 2 ½ Yrs Trimesters) at the Nyahururu & Naivasha, Maralal campuses Modes: Regular/Day classesEvening & Weekend classes

KCSE Aggregate Mean Grade C (or its equivalent ) OR A certificate in related course

KCSE Mean Grade C+ Two (2) months at Naivasha, Maralal & Nyahururu campuses. Mode :Day & Evening2yrs in Nyahururu & Naivasha

3 to 9 months (full-time & Part-time) at Nyahururu & Naivasha, Maralal Campuses.Mode: Day, evenings and weekend classes.

KCSE Mean Grade D+ or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.

NEW

NEW




SCHOOL OF BUSINESSPROGRAMME QUALIFICATION DURATION & PATTERN/ MODECERTIFICATE COURSES:• Accounting: ATC; CPA• Certificate in Business Management

3 to 9 months (full-time &Part-time) at Nyahururu & Naivasha, Maralal Campuses.Mode: Day, evenings and weekend classes.

KCSE Mean Grade D+ or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.

DIPLOMA COURSES• Diploma in Procurement & Logistics Management• Diploma in Business Management

Two (2) years at Nyahururu , Maralal & Naivasha Campuses Mode: Day, evening and weekend classes-Two (2) years at Nyahururu

KCSE Aggregate Mean Grade C and C- in Mathemat-ics & English OR A certificate in related course

• Bachelor of Agribusiness Management Four (4) years Laikipia Campus Only Mode Full-time

KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B in Biology and a B+ in Mathematics

• Bachelor of Science (Economics & Statistics) Four (4) years Laikipia Campus Only Mode :Full-time

KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a C+ in Mathematics OR a C+ in Mathematics and a B in Economics / Commerce/ Accountancy

• Bachelor of Arts (Economics & Sociology) Four (4) years Laikipia Campus OnlyMode Full-time

KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B in Biology and a B (plain) in either Mathematics

• Bachelor of Arts (History & Economics) Four (4) years Laikipia Campus OnlyMode Full-time

KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B(plain) in Mathematics, Economics/Commerce/Accounting and at least B (Plain) in History and Government

• Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics Four (4) years Laikipia Campus OnlyMode :Full-time

KCSE with a mean Grade of at least a B- and at least a B (Plain) in Biology and a B- in Chemistry OR a B(plain) in Physical Science

POST-GRADUATE COURSES• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Two (2) years at Nyahururu , Maralal & Naivasha Campuses Mode: Evening & Weekend classesWeekend Programme Mode- Weekend at TBM- Solution Tech Place- Upper Hill

Bachelors Degree, Second Class Honours (Upper Division) and aboveBachelors Degree, Second Class Honours (Lower Division) with at least two (2) years of relevant work experience

• Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)

Nairobi Campus: Mode Part Time commencing in January 2014 at TBM- Solution Tech Place- Upper Hill

Bachelors Degree, Second Class Honours (Upper Division) and above OR Bachelors Degree, Second Class (lower division) with relevant work experience OR Equivalent Professional qualifications and work experience.

• Diploma in Education(Arts) Two (2) years at Nyahururu, Maralal & Naivasha Campuses (regular/full time/ School based)

An aggregate grade of C (PLAIN) in KCSE and grade C (PLAIN) OR above in any TWO Arts subjects OR languages on offer in secondary school curriculum ORONE principal and TWO subsidiaries in KACE (OR its equivalent) ORDivision II in KCE/ with credit passes in any TWO Arts subjects OR languages on offer in any school curriculum

• Diploma in Education (Primary) Two (2) years at Nyahururu, Maralal, Naivasha & Laikipia (School-based mode)

P1 teacher certificate and grade C Minus (C-) and at least grade C (PLAIN) in any TWO Arts subjects OR languages on offer in secondary school curriculum.

• Bachelor of Education (Arts) Four (4) years at Naivasha, Maralal& Nyahururu (Full time/ School-based).

Applicants must possess a KCSE Mean grade of C+ and C+ in two teaching subjects or Diploma in Education from a recognized institution or 2 Principals Passes and 1 Subsidiary Pass in KACE.

• Bachelor of Education (Science) Four (4) years Laikipia Main Campus Only: Mode :Full-time / Regular

KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a C+ in two science teaching subjects e.g. Biology ,Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics

• Bachelor of Early Childhood Development Education

Four (4) years at Nyahururu, Naivasha and Maralal (School-based mode)

KCSE with a mean Grade of C+

• Bachelor of Education (Primary) Four (4) years Laikipia Main Campus onlyMode : Full-time & school based mode

KCSE (C+) or C(plain) with P1 and 2years teaching experience

• Bachelor of Agricultural Education and Exten-sion

Four (4) years Laikipia Campus Only: Mode Full-time

KCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B in Biology ,Physics, Chemistry, and a C+ in Mathematics

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)

Four (4) years (in 2 ½ Yrs Trimesters) at the Nyahururu & Naivasha, Maralal campuses Modes: Regular/Day classesEvening & Weekend classesMode: Weekend IntensiveAvailable at Nairobi Campus Mode- Weekend Only at TBM- Solution Tech Place- Upper Hill

KCSE Mean Grade of C+ and at least C (plain) in Mathematics, English or Kiswahili OR Diploma from a recognized institution with at least a Credit pass and CPA II

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

NEW NAIROBI CAMPUS OFFERING






POST-GRADUATE COURSES• Master of Education (M.Ed Guidance & Counseling)• Master of Education (M.Ed Educational Management)

• Post-graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

CERTIFICATE IN: • Computer Applications; Computer Repairs and Maintenance, Information Communication Technology BRIDGING CERTIFICATE IN:- Mathematics , Biology, Chemistry, Physics

• Certificate in Science Laboratory Technology

• Diploma in Information & Communication Technology

• Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science & Technology)• Bachelor of Science in Information and Communication Technology (BICT)• Bachelor of Science (Statistics)

• Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry)

• Bachelor of Science in Utilization and Sustainabil-ity of Arid Lands(USAL)

KCSE with B-in Biology, Geography, Physical Science and C+ in Chemistry and Mathematics

Laikipia Campus OnlyMode: Full-time

Certificate 500.00 15,000.00-19,000.00 p.aDiploma 1,000.00 70,000 p.a

Degree 2,000.00 100,000 – 140,000 p.a

Masters 2,000.00 116,000.00 -120,700 p.a.

KCSE Mean Grade D+ or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution

KCSE Mean Grade C+ .This will enable potential students upgrade their grades to permit entry to the degree/diploma programmes of their choice KCSE mean grade of D+ or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institutionAn aggregate KCSE Grade of C (PLAIN) and grades C- (MINUS) in Mathematics and English or Division II in KCE with Credit passes in Mathematics and English or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.Credit pass in ICT Certificate or an equivalent qualification from a recognized Institution A KACE certificate with a subsidiary pass in Mathematics or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institutionKCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B in Biology ,Physics, Chemistry, and a C+ in MathematicsKCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B in Biology ,Physics, Chemistry, and a C+ in MathematicsKCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B in Biology ,Physics, Chemistry, and a C+ in MathematicsKCSE with a mean Grade of C+ and at least a B in Biology ,Physics, Chemistry, and a C+ in Mathematics

3 to 9 months (full-time & Part-time) at Main, Nyahururu & Naivasha, Maralal Campuses.Mode: Day and weekend classes.

Two (2) months at Laikipia Campus.Mode: Full-time Day

Laikipia Campus Mode: Day

Two (2) academic years in (1 ½ yrs trimester) at Nyahururu, Maralal and Naivasha Campus.

Mode: Day and weekend classes

Laikipia Campus OnlyMode :Full-time

Laikipia Campus Only Mode: Full-time

Laikipia Campus OnlyMode: Full-timeLaikipia Campus Only Mode: Full-time

Bachelors degree Two teaching subjects on offered in sec-ondary school curriculum

One (1year) Nyahururu, Naivasha, Maralal and Laikip-ia mainMode: Full-time school-based

2 yrs Maralal, Naivasha & Main CampusesMode: School-based

Bachelors Degree, Second Class Honours (Upper Division) and above

Bachelors Degree, Second Class Honours (Lower Division) with at least two (2) years of relevant work experience

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND APPLIED TECHNOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF ARID LANDS MANAGEMENT

FEES STRUCTURE Program Applications fee (Ksh.) Tuition fee (Ksh.)

1. Application Procedure

a) Application forms are available at the Office of the Registrar (AA) Laikipia University or Nyahururu or Naivasha, Nairobi or Maralal Town Campus upon payment of non

refundable application fees as indicated in the fee structure above OR download the form from www.laikipia.ac.ke. The form can be mailed after being duly filled with the

appropriate banking slips and certified copies of certificates and photographs.

b) Applicants are requested to indicate on the application form the preferred campus of choice in which they intend to pursue their studies.

c) Application fee payments may be made by Bankers Cheque payable to Laikipia University or banked at any Co-operative Bank of Kenya

branch in the country A/C No. 0112925576702 OR at any Equity Bank branch A/C No 0160295840456 OR Kenya Commercial Bank

A/C No 1101909080. NB. Fully completed forms with certified copies of certificates should be returned to: The Registrar (Academic Affairs),

Laikipia University, P.O. Box 1100-20300 NYAHURURU.

SESSION DATES FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR

School Based Intakes: December, April and August

REGISTRAR (ACADEMIC AFFAIRS)

P.O. Box, 1100- 20300 Nyahururu, Tel: 020671779, 020671771 Nairobi Campus Tel. 0202361233, 0717921553,

Naivasha Campus Tel 0202671776, Nyahururu Campus Tel 0202671783, Maralal campus Tel 0717777776

E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.laikipia.ac.keApplicants are invited for the following Self-sponsored Degree, Diploma

and Certificate courses to be offered as indicated under each school at specified Campuses and modes of Study.

The Murang’a Guardian | May 1-May 14, 2015 | 13Business News


Equity Bank has concluded plans to expand to 10 coun-tries in Africa over the next

five years. The expansion will cost Sh200 billion .

The bank has already entered into loan deals for Sh36 billion . After the shareholders approval in the recent annual general meet-ing, the bank also created addi-tional shares worth Sh20 billion. The rest will be raised through a rights issue or an IPO, as it seeks to extend its operations.

Equity Bank says its expansion plans will be achieved through ac-quisitions and new investments.

“For acquisition we will give shares in Equity Bank instead of cash,” said James Mwangi, chief executive of the company. “In some countries it is difficult to start from scratch because they are too big so we will enter by ac-quiring a medium-tier bank and upscale it.”

Equity Bank already operates in four countries within East Africa, but its new plan will venture west to Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon. It will also open up branches in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique in the South.

The lender, however, intends to start with East Africa, the re-gion where it has consolidated

Equity now eyes Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon

its brand. The five-year plan will start with Ethiopia, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Con-go over the next two years before it expands further to the rest of Africa. Although in 2012 Ethio-pia locked out private investors from its financial sector to boost home-grown investment, Equity

Banks believes the fast growing economy would finally join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and will be forced to open up its market.

In the meantime, the banks mobile platform Equitel brand has made an impressive impact in the market since its recent launch.

The banks’ mobile virtual net-work operator (MVNO) is Fin-serve Africa Limited, but it trades as Equitel.

Late last year Equity beganis-suing ordinary SIM cards for tele-com and mobile banking services to its 8.7 million customers across the country which has given the

How county government halted scramble for Gikuyu cradle

bank a considerable advantage.The advantage for Equity is

that its MVNO does not own its own network, but uses other op-erators network, including base stations.

However it offers its own prod-ucts and services separate from its host network and this has been a bone of contention with competing Safricom.

According to industry sources, in Kenya, most operators have idle capacity due to Safaricom’s 80% dominance.

Equity Bank customers can use the service for a number of banking transactions including money transfer to other accounts or to any mobile money service through their mobile phones. Us-ers can also use the SIM to make and receive calls.

According to the Kenya Com-munication Authority quarter-ly report, for Q2, financial year 2014/2015, the Equitel had 394,606 subscriptions compared to that of Orange Money, which stood at 190,129.

The Equity Bank Kenya Limit-ed’s parent company, the Equity Group Holdings Limited, has a customer base in excess of 9.2 million in the six East Arican countries that it serves, making it the largest commercial bank on the African continent, by cus-tomer numbers.

BY MACHARIA WA NJOKI

Located about 10 kilome-tres from Murang’a Town, Mukurwe Wa Nyagathanga

is not only the greatest and most valuable heritage for Murang’a County but the entire Gikuyu tribe.

Mukurwe Wa Nyagathanga can be termed as the mythical Garden of Aden to the Gikuyu tribe as the central dispersal point of Gikuyu upon arrival at Mt. Kenya.

In this piece this writer dissects wrangles that in the past have threatened to tear this heritage to smithereens and initiatives rolled out to promote and preserve this cradle of Kikuyus.

In the year 2012 a tough su-premacy battle pitying a council of elders which operates under the auspices of Kiama kia Maa (the true council of elders) against the defunct Murang’a County Council took centre stage with the latter claiming the elders were politiciz-ing the affairs of the shrine.

The battle was seen to be or-chestrated by big moneyed poli-

ticians led by the late billionaire politician Njenga Karume who used to run his own council of el-ders called the Kikuyu Council of Elders.

The elders claimed ownership of the shrine and said they were in charge of its maintenance and development whereas the County Council held its position as the le-gal trustee.

The wrangle derailed the devel-opment of the shrine with revela-tion that rival factions deem the shrine as a critical ewe of political fortunes.

The Central Kenya political elites use the shrine to rally the community on a common course through traditional prayer re-treats and sacrifices.

The site is also a potential tour-ist facility with huge commercial fortunes a factor that explains the intrigues behind the battles for its management.

The supremacy battle saw plans being hatched for demolition of an incomplete multimillion shillings hotel facility that was under con-struction in the compounds where

the shrine sits.Karume’s council held that the

shrine needed a face lift while Kia-ma Kia Maa and led by the chair-man Wachira Kiago held that a cleansing ceremony had to be un-dertaken before any on the site.

The row simmered until 2013 when the Governor Mwangi wa Iria took power in Muranga and laid a comprehensive plan on preservation, management and development of the shrine as the legal co-custodian of this site to-gether with the Kenya National Museums.

In the comprehensive approach on rehabilitating the shrine, the County government entered into an (MOU) with Kenyatta Uni-versity on the developing the site while still conserving its rich her-itage.

The five-year partnership which is said to have the blessings of Kiama Kia Kiama will involve co-operation in training, research, crafting development plans, showcasing best practices, ex-change programmes and holding joint cultural events.


Housing prices continue upward trend in first quarter

During the first quarter of 2015, the size of the house was a key price driver

There is evidence that demand for houses on offer were influenced by the taste of the increasingly discerning households. Ease of access to social amenities and preference of gated communities speak to the search for convenience and security by home owners


House prices in Kenya in-creased by 2.75 per cent during the first Quarter

of 2015 compared to the previ-ous Quarter’s 2.18 per cent in-crease. According to the Kenya Bankers Association Housing Price Index (KBA-HPI), al-though this increase is mild, it represents an upward trajectory.

According to KBA Director of Research and Policy, Jared Os-oro, the price movements were characterised by the softening of the price movements for bun-galows and maisonettes, with demand and supply dynamics pointing towards apartments significantly accounting for price movements during the quarter.

The decomposed price move-ments during the quarter rep-resents a reversal of the previous quarter’s state where bungalows were the main drivers of price movements and prices maison-ettes and apartments being sta-ble.

According to the KBA-HPI, the

house price movements reveal the underlying demand-supply market conditions, with instanc-es of price increase implying increased effective demand for the given units available in the market.

They also reveal the linkages especially between bungalows and apartments especially in the high end of the market where the demand for the bungalows hing-es on the desire to redevelop the property into apartments. That accounts for the prices swinging from an increase in bungalow prices during one quarter – in this case the fourth quarter of 2014 – to a decline in the follow-ing quarter that is accompanied by a rallying of apartment pric-es. In essence there is a lag of at least two quarters during the re-development stage.

During the first quarter of 2015, the size of the house was a key price driver. This can be inferred from demand for the houses offered in the market that was influenced by a signif-

Moses Kuria leads political activists in JAP lobby group launch

icant extent on number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and whether a house has a backyard and domestic staff quarters.

The same attributes featured prominently in influencing house prices during the fourth quar-ter of 2014, except that demand for houses avail-able in the market then revealed a preference of fewer bathrooms if that will result in an additional bedroom.

By Macharia wa Njoki

JAP RELOADED a lobby group of the Jubilee Alliance Party has launched a massive campaign to enlist 7Million voters across the 10 Mt Kenya region Counties. The campaign was launched at General Ihura Stadium in Murang’a County where constituents had turned up in large numbers.

The event was graced by popular Kikuyu musicians led by Kamande Kioi who serves as the interim chair of JAP RELOADED and Dennis Mu-tara.Gatundu South Mp Moses

Kuria was among the political leaders present.

Mt. Kenya unity was the rallying call as nearly all the speakers emphasized on the need to speak with one voice and urged the elected leaders to desist from political battles that can derail the develop-ment agenda and water down unity.

JAP RELOADED leaders led by political activist James Mwangi who is acting as the lobby’s Secretary General read the declaration statement that anchored the initiative and its goals.

Part of the statement ex-

pressed discontent over the way JAP leadership conducted its campaigns losing the seat in Kajiado Central mini poll and also highlighted the ap-proaches through which JAP RELOADED seeks to revamp JAP and bridge it with the grassroots.

This development comes at a time when various factions in Mt. Kenya are engaged in political battles for stakes in JAP. The lobby also officially opened its regional offices in Murang’a and is set to move this campaign to the other nine Counties.

Business


Kakuzi profits for 2014 fall on the back higher spending

Other factors that influ-enced the price of the hous-es include the size of the land the house was sitting on, social amenities in the neighbourhood, amenabili-ty of the house to re-devel-opment and security.

“There is evidence that demand for houses on offer were influenced by the taste of the increasingly discern-ing households. Ease of access to social amenities and preference of gated

communities speak to the search for convenience and security by home owners.” Mr. Osoro Said

To better guide investors on the trends, the banking industry’s umbrella body Kenya Bankers Associa-tion (KBA) launched the KBA-HPI in February 2015 to provide market players and policy makers with an improved analytical tool that is useful for tracking

the housing sector based on locational and qualita-tive and quantitative char-acteristics that influence pricing.

“The KBA HPI is an im-portant tool which will pro-vide institutional investors and individual homebuyers with information about house prices trend, con-sequently enabling them make better comparisons and assessments.” said KBA CEO, Habil Olaka.

By Shadrack Kabiru

Murang’as listed agricul-tural firm Kakuzi Ltd has returned a 2.7 percent fall in 2014 pretax profit blam-ing the drop of higher costs.

Profit fell to Sh232.8 mil-lion shillings.

Kakuzi, which also pro-duces pineapples, avoca-dos and macadamia nuts, said in a statement total revenues rose 22 percent to Sh1.69 billion while pro-duction costs were up 16 percent to Sh1.13 billion.

“Avocados were the sig-

nificant contributor to prof-its mitigating the down-ward trend on return on tea for 2014,” the company said.

“On tea, although pro-duction was up ... market prices were very poor due to a high supply situation in Kenya. We barely broke even on this operation and there were months when sales returns were below our cost of production.”

Kenya is the world’s lead-ing exporter of black tea and the commodity is a ma-

jor foreign exchange earner for East Africa’s biggest economy, alongside horti-culture and tourism.

Data from the regula-tor Tea Board of Kenya’s showed that tea output rose to 444.8 million kg in 2014 compared with 432.2 mil-lion kg a year earlier.

Its earnings per share fell to Sh8.17 shillings from Sh8.42 shillings in 2013, and the firm will pay a div-idend of 3.75 shillings per share, unchanged from 2013.

By Shadrack Kabiru

National Bank of Kenya has opened its ATM network for nationwide sharing aiming to

attract millions of cardholders from other banks, in a new partnership with Kenya’s largest interbank ATM aggregator- PesaPoint.

Following launch of this service, ATMs belonging to National Bank effectively become part of PesaPoint meaning cardholders from all other PesaPoint partner institutions can now use any National Bank ATMs across the country. The partnership has drastically reduced ATM transac-tion fees for other banks. PesaPoint and its 32 PesaPoint Partner banks encourage cardholders in Kenya to use any ATM branded with the Pe-saPoint logo to enjoy a wide array of benefits.

Speaking during the event, Nation-al Bank’s Managing Director Munir Ahmed said launch of PesaPoint ser-vices at National Bank ATMs was a strategic step for the bank as it will provide all card holders and banks customers with easy and convenient access various ATM services thereby, boosting the bank’s (non-interest) revenue.

“The Bank has expanded its net-

work across the country- growing both the brick and mortar footprint and digital channels. Our branches grew in 2014 by 15 to total 75, ATM network by 26 to 123 ATMs nation-wide. And our customers continue to enjoy access to over 1000 other ATMs belonging to PesaPoint and its partners around the country,” said Mr. Munir. He added: “As we con-tinue with our transformation agen-da, we are strategically leveraging on innovation and technology to expand the scope and reach of the distribu-tion network. We are therefore also providing Kenyans with faster and convenient transactions 24/7 from our new Mobile Banking (NatMobile)

and Internet Banking (NatConnect) platforms. Our focus remains to de-liver innovative channels through which we can efficiently provide ser-vices to all customers.”

Bernard Matthewman, CEO of Paynet – which the PesaPoint net-work belongs- thanked National Bank for the continued and long standing partnership. National Bank customers have since 2006 been able to access services at PesaPoint brand-ed ATMs around the country.

“As an e-banking innovations lead-er, PesaPoint shares the same vision with National Bank that if more banks embraced ATM (infrastruc-ture) sharing and interconnection, customers of financial institutions in Kenya would enjoy affordable access to services at any bank’s ATMs. With infrastructure sharing partnerships, the bank’s ATMs serve more custom-ers (from other financial institutions) and thus report more return on infra-structure investment, while custom-ers of all banks enjoy lower ATM fees, time saving and the convenience of using any ATM near them.”

Mr Matthewman added: “The PesaPoint network has been work-ing with partners such as National Bank to bring down inter-bank ATM transaction fees for Kenyans. ATMs marked with the PesaPoint logo are improving convenience for cardhold-ers by encouraging the use of any ATM, regardless the bank it belongs to.”

PesaPoint’s interconnected net-work now comprises over 1000 ATMs. Interconnected ATMs are identified by the PesaPoint logo. The network comprises PesaPoint’s own ATMs and ATMs from NIC Bank, Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), CfC Stan-bic, Family Bank, Prime Bank, GT Bank and now, National Bank ATMs.

National Bank has been on a trans-formation trajectory since rebrand-ing.

National Bank joins PesaPoint’s fast

growing interconnected ATM network

PesaPoint services officially go live on National Bank ATMs around the country as the infrastructure shar-ing among financial institutions in Kenya gains mo-mentum

Business


New rule fail to push out U. S mining firms from Africa war zones

By Ross Keith

Russian weapons exports surpassed the U.S.’s by more than $2 billion, marking a 35 percent increase in Russian arms sales data for 2013

arms sales, the most recent, shows.The United States may be the land of guns, but it seems to have lost its place as the world’s top weapons source. Since 2003,

the U.S. has led the world in arms exports, shipping more than $7 billion a year in weapons on average, according to data collected by the Stockholm Inter-national Peace Research Institute.

While weapons manufacturers in the U.S. saw an average decline of more than 6 percent, Russian companies in the top 100 defense companies as

ranked by SIPRI had, on average, the biggest gain in revenue.

The change in status quo has been partially fueled by a series of aggressive arms races. Countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East have increased defense spending and rapidly begun building up their military capabilities. Military budgets ballooned in every region, according to SIPRI, while nations in Western Europe, Central Eu-rope and North America, includ-ing the United States, have scaled back.

U.S. companies still comprise a majority of the world’s top defense companies. No other nation even comes close.

However, in terms of growth, U.S. companies slid from an av-erage revenue growth of almost 5 percent in 2012 to an average decline this year. With decreases in military spending, many have embraced diversified portfolios, investing in energy, transportation and manufacturing, as Defense News reports. But Russian com-panies have remained focused on defense technology and seen rev-enues climb more than any other country.

While Russian weapons have faced issues with quality in the past, U.S. goods can carry prohib-itively high pricetags, especially when it comes to high-tech mil-itary hardware like fighter jets. In 2013, Richard Aboulafia, vice

president of analysis at the Teal Group, told a conference of avia-tion industry experts that America had essentially priced itself out of the export market, according to National Defense Magazine.

Examining some of the latest sales, it’s not hard to see why. The U.S. finalized a deal with Saudi Arabia in 2011 to sell 84 F-15SA jets, upgrade 70 existing F-15s, and provide munitions and tech-nical support. That breaks down to $190 million for each jet. In Russia’s latest deal with India, 42 SU-30MKI Flanker fighters were sold for $38 million apiece. Even without the extras, that’s a 400 percent difference.

Most recently, Pakistan an-nounced a plan last month to switch from U.S. Cobra helicopters to cheaper Russian-made Mi-35s.

As military expert Alexander Goltz told the Christian Science Monitor last month, it doesn’t make sense for developing na-tions, which account for the ma-jority of the world’s weapons sales, to spring for expensive, high-tech American equipment when most of their enemies are limited to rocket-propelled grenades and as-sault rifles.

And in recent years, Russia has stepped up quality, even giving some experts a reason to believe that some of the newest gadgets could give NATO’s arsenal a run for its money.

Russia now sells more weapons that US

By Jamila Trindle

A new disclosure rule that forc-es companies to investigate whether their supply chains in-

clude minerals sourced from war-torn parts of Africa isn’t living up to the ex-pectations of watchdog and advocacy groups that pushed for it.

Trade of gold, tin, and other min-erals from the Democratic Republic of Congo supports armed groups that terrorize, rape, and kill civilians, according to advocates who have for years pushed for the new rules.

But companies that for the first time last year filed reports with regulators about products that may contain so-called “conflict minerals” aren’t doing enough, according to a new analysis by Global Witness and Amnesty Inter-national, both strong supporters of the new disclosure requirements.

“Companies that shed light on their supply chains help prevent a harmful mineral trade that contributes to a conflict devastating Central Africa,” said James Lynch of Amnesty Inter-national.

The two NGOs looked at the filings of 100 companies out of the more than 1,000 that filed reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last June. They found that 79 percent of companies didn’t meet the minimum requirements of the law. And only 15 percent of companies said that they had contacted or tried to contact the smelters and refiners that process the minerals they use.

There’s a reason the reporting wasn’t up to snuff. Companies were not required to meet all elements of the rule in 2014 because parts of it have been tied up in court. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and two other industry groups have argued success-fully that certain provisions of the new requirements, ushered in as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law that over-hauled the financial system, violate the companies’ right to free speech.

The SEC requires U.S. public com-panies to annually disclose their use of minerals that come from the DRC and neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. But because part

International

of the rule was frozen, companies cur-rently need only submit information about their supply chains — and not declare whether their products are “conflict-free.”

The minerals are used in everything from jewelry to aerospace equipment. They are found in light bulbs, cell phones, and tin cans. As the SEC was writing the regulations, it faced a broad array of complaints — including from mining groups, jewelers’ associations, and trade groups for makers of cars,

semiconductors, and medical devic-es. SEC Chief Mary Jo White said last month that the agency has spent $2.75 million writing the rule and later de-fending it in court.

Some of last year’s filings were so shoddy that they disclosed that compa-nies used gold from the central bank of North Korea. If true, that would violate current international sanctions against Pyongyang. Many of the companies later attributed those disclosures to a mistake on a commonly used report-

ing template.

Nonetheless, some companies have decided to fully embrace compliance even while the courtroom battle con-tinues. Four companies, including In-tel and Philips, had their supply chains audited, even though regulators don’t yet require that.

Michael Littenberg, a partner with Schulte, Roth & Zabel, said he expects to see better information and more voluntary audits when companies file their 2014 disclosures on June 1.


He said that in his observation boys are more vulnerable to drug addiction than girls.

He sadly notes that hundreds of kids have had their lives wasted away due to use of drugs shutter-ing their bright future dreams.

Among the major contributing factors highlighted by the victims include peer pressure, escalating poverty levels and family back-ground where the parents espe-cially some of parents are drunk-ards and smokers.

“Some men go home with liquor and drink it in the presence of their children. Some parents send children to buy cigarettes and usu-ally if this continues for long the kid will be tempted to taste it one day” he added.

He laments that the parents are apparently too busy to spare time to be with their children yet when they go astray them condemn and reject them.

“Some of these children find themselves in such situations be-cause they had no one to advise them to help them make better choices and our parents have com-pletely failed in their responsibili-ties” said Kimenchu.

He says he has his interest on the class eight and form four leav-ers who are just about to step out in to the decaying society and they need a lot of coaching to help them stay away from drugs.

He says he believes in creating a drugs free society which can only be achieved if the young people are cushioned.

“I believe if we teach our young people to keep away from drugs and inculcate this culture in them it would be easier for us to fight this menace which is deeply root-ed in our society” he added.

He added that the most of the drug addicts become desperate especially when they try to rescue themselves from the menace but they fail arguing that they need to be given a lot of hope for a better tomorrow.

Kimenchu says he shall spread his mission far and wide to reach as many people as possible to cushion them from the adverse ef-fects of drug abuse.

By Grace Mwangi

Driven by passion to save young people from alcohol and drugs, a police officer

has launched an intensive cam-paign to create awareness on drug abuse among the young people.

Moses Kimenchu, aged 29years is an administration police at-tached to Kigumo district head-quarters in Murang’a.

He says when growing up he saw many people being wasted away and others dying due to drug abuse.

In his own family one of his brothers dropped out of school and migrated to Mombasa where he became a drug addict. It was very difficult rehabilitating him.

This he says placed a heavy bur-den in his heart on the plight of students in high school who face the threat of destruction of a bright future by drug addiction.

Kimenchu says he has met many people who have fallen in to the trap of drug addiction some-thing Since he joined forces back in 2002.

“I realized am leading sick peo-ple in the society and I had to think of a way I could help” said the of-ficer.

To be effective in his calling, the officer enrolled for a short course

on drug and substance abuse ear-lier this year which has become his tool in accomplishing his mission.

He now spends his free time visiting primary and secondary schools preaching against drugs because according to him the young people are always at risk of succumbing.

He points out that from the vis-

Police Officer who fights against drug abuse in spare time

I build confidence in this kids and they are able to open up where they share their experiences and we get amicable solutions where possible

its he has made in the last few months he has discovered that drug abuse is rampant among the school going children.

To his advantage he says the kids have been open to him revealing the dark side of their lives and the reasons driving them to use drugs.

“I build confidence in this kids and they are able to open up where they share their ex-periences and we get amicable solutions where possible” he remarked.

Kimenchu has so far visit-ed 12 schools in Kigumo dis-trict where he takes the kids through a counseling session for about one and a half hours to two hours. He also takes his campaign in to churches on in-vitation.

During the sessions he uses teaching aids such as pictures to help the kids understand the hazardous effects of using any drug into their bodies.

Feature


Sponsors to spend Sh1.2 billion in Mayweather Pacquiao boxing fight

SPORTS

The Floyd Mayweath-er-Manny Pacquiao wel-terweight unification

megafight on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is expected to shatter all revenue records in boxing history, including for most money generated by spon-sors. We have converted the total sponsorship at the rate of Sh93 per dollar.

Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoter, told ESPN.com on Friday that their contracts with five title sponsors will add a record $13.2 million to the bottom line of a fight ex-pected to generate at least $400 million, with the vast majority of that money coming from the domestic pay-per-view revenue.

Exact records have not been kept, but the previous sponsor-ship record is believed to be the estimated $3.5 million to $4 million brought in by some past Mayweather bouts.

Title sponsors of the May-weather-Pacquiao megafight had to pony up record amounts of money to get in on the action.

Lucia McKelvey, Top Rank’s executive vice president of mar-keting since 2011, made most of the sponsor deals. She also has served as Pacquiao’s individual deal agent since 2011.

“We killed it, we blew it out

of the water,” said McKelvey, who worked with Bruce Binkow of Mayweather Promotions, co-promoter of the fight, on the sponsor deals.

The big one is the $5.6 million sponsorship from Tecate, the official beer of the fight. Tecate has sponsored Pacquiao fights and Top Rank events for several years. Its bid beat the $5.2 mil-lion bid from Corona, the beer company that has sponsored Mayweather’s recent fights.

The Tecate logo will be prom-inently featured on the center of the ring mat and adorn fight sig-nage and posters, and the beer will be sold at the arena on fight night.

“We have been sponsoring boxing since 2007 so we have been associating ourselves with boxing and been waiting for so many years for a fight like this,” Tecate brand director Gustavo Guerra told ESPN.com. “We know in the past we have had great fights but nothing is going to be compared to what is al-ready called the fight of the cen-tury. We wanted to increase our brand awareness and we will achieve it with this fight.

“It is like the Super Bowl of boxing, a gigantic sporting event. It’s good for us. It’s about credibility. We cannot have the

luxury of being out of this fight. This is very important for us.”

The other sponsors will also have logos displayed on the ring mat and on various pay-per-view graphics.

Paramount Pictures/Sky-dance Productions is promoting two movies: “Terminator Geni-sys,” a follow-up on the “Termi-nator” movie series that opens July 1, and “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation,” another film in the “Mission Impossible” series that opens July 31. The Wein-stein Company is promoting a new film, “Southpaw,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which opens on July 24.

Trailers for the new films will be seen between fights on the pay-per-view telecast.

Also sponsoring the fight are the Mexican Tourism Board with its “Mexico, Live it to Be-lieve it” campaign to promote tourism in Mexico, and Smart Communications, a Filipino telecom company that has long sponsored Pacquiao’s fights.

Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank set the minimum sponsorship bid at $1 million.

Elements of the pay-per-view that will display sponsor logos are the time clock, which will ro-tate sponsors during the broad-cast; the tale of the tape, which

displays fighter measurements before each of the three bouts on the pay-per-view telecast; and the CompuBox punch statistics.

Fight and Contract de-tails

The fight will be held under the following contracted terms of agreement:

The Split and BillingMayweather will receive the

lion’s share of a 60-40 money split in a fight that could gross up to $400 million. His name will be first—”Mayweather-Pac-quiao”—on the fight bill. He will walk to the ring second and be introduced second. Mayweather will also have his choice of ring corner and locker room in the arena.

LocationThe fight will be held at the

MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoter, wanted to open up the bidding to Dal-las Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who hosted two Pacquiao fights at Cowboys Stadium in 2010. Mayweather had no interest in fighting in Texas.

GlovesBoth fighters will wear 8 oz.

gloves with brands of their choosing. Mayweather will wear Grant gloves (colors yet to be

confirmed), and Pacquiao will wear red Cleto Reyes gloves. This is a very critical detail for both fighters due to past contro-versies over glove choice.

In Pacquiao’s third profes-sional loss, he was forced to use Winning brand gloves during his first bout versus Érik Morales. Pacquiao’s complaints were that the gloves felt like “pillows,” and they did not give him the same power as his Reyes “puncher’s gloves.”

More recently, Mayweather had glove issues in his first bout with Marcos Maidana, stating that Maidana’s Everlast MX gloves did not provide sufficient padding for the knuckles. The issue was later resolved with Maidana resorting to using Ev-erlast Powerlock type gloves, leaving Maidana’s trainer, Rob-ert Garcia, unhappy with the ne-gotiation.

Weight LimitThe fight will take place at the

Welterweight limit of 147 lbs. (66.7 kg.)

Drug TestingBoth fighters have agreed

to undergo United States An-ti-Doping Agency (USADA) Olympic-style drug testing. This drug-testing program consists of both random blood and urine testing, with the fighters agree-


ing to let their whereabouts be known at all times during train-ing so that random pre-fight testing can be administered. Both fighters will also be tested directly after the fight.

Neither fighter has failed a drug test during his profession-al career. If either fighter tests positive for the use of PEDs, that fighter will be banned from the sport of boxing for a minimum of four years.

Promotional ShowsHBO and Showtime will not

be holding their usual promo-tional shows. Instead of 24/7 and All-Access, each company has its own plans to highlight their respective fighter leading up to May 2.

Showtime has announced that it will air a four-part documen-tary, titled “Inside Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.” Showtime will highlight all of Mayweather’s preparations in training camp leading up to the fight, as well as provide an epilogue one week after the fight. The dates of pro-gramming for this series are April 18, April 25, April 29, and May 9.

HBO has announced its pre-fight programming titled “May-weather/Pacquiao: At Last.” This series’ main focus will be on how the fight became reality after six years in the making, as well as to highlight all of Pac-quiao’s fight preparations. The main show will be broadcast on

April 18, and it will be followed by a second half-hour special on April 26. In addition to the pro-gramming, HBO will also show previous Pacquiao fights start-ing on the weekend of April 17.

For viewers in the UK, there was a bid for the “Fight of the Century”, and it was confirmed that Sky Sports Box office had won the rights.

Lead PromotionsMayweather Promotions will

be the lead promoter over Top Rank Promotions. Mayweather will have the final say in event planning, from the press confer-ences to the in-arena entertain-ment.

Pay-Per-ViewShowtime and HBO will hold

a joint pay-per-view, with Show-time in charge of production.

BroadcastThe ringside announcers for

the fight will include Roy Jones, Jr. (HBO), Al Bernstein (Show-time), and Jim Lampley (HBO) providing analysis. Max Kell-erman (HBO) and Jim Gray (Showtime) will cover the locker rooms of Pacquiao and May-weather, respectively. James Brown and Paulie Malignaggi of Showtime will host the pre-fight show.

In the Philippines, Solar En-tertainment - the proprietor of broadcasts of Manny Pacquiao’s bouts since 2003 - announced an unprecedented deal to simul-

taneously air the bout on the free-to-air terrestrial television networks GMA Network, ABS-CBN and, TV5, as well as on its own cable platforms. Solar En-tertainment reportedly paid Top Rank and Mayweather Promo-tions $10 million (PHP 440 mil-lion) to win the broadcast rights for the Philippines. Prior to this joint terrestrial broadcast, GMA Network solely aired Pacquiao’s bouts since 2007 (ABS-CBN, before 2007), with TV5 airing replays through its sports pro-gramming block, AKTV, since 2011 until 2013.This is the sec-ond time that Big Three net-works will air this event simul-taneously since “Dolphy: Alay Tawa TV special in 2012.

In Africa, South African pay-TV channel SuperSport will broadcast the match.

RefereeKenny Bayless will be the in-

ring referee, as chosen by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Bayless has previously officiated five of Mayweather’s past bouts and seven of Pacquiao’s. Bayless will earn a record $25,000 for officiating the fight.

JudgesThe judges for the bout are

Burt Clements, Dave Moretti, and Glenn Feldman. They will each earn $20,000.

CornersMayweather’s corner will in-

clude: Floyd Mayweather Sr. (Trainer), Rafael Garcia (Cut-man), & Roger Mayweather (As-sistant).

Pacquiao’s corner will in-clude: Freddie Roach (Train-er), Justin Fortune (Cutman), & Buboy Fernandez (Assis-tant).

BeltThe winner of the fight will

receive a newly created belt by the WBC. The belt, valued at $1 million, is an exact replica of the current belt, except it has thousands of emeralds in place of the gold plating for the center logo. The belt also con-tains the faces of both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, along with the faces of the former WBC president, José Sulaimán, and boxing legend, Muhammad Ali.

Fighters’ GearMayweather’s trunks are

designed by Dapper Dan, hip-hop’s fashion godfather from Harlem. Following previous trends, Mayweather’s trunks and entrance motorcycle jack-et will most likely be made of leather. His trunks will also be including the logo of FanDuel across his waistband. Reebok will provide Mayweather’s shoes, and The Money Team (TMT), Mayweather’s person-al brand, will provide his socks and entrance cap.

Pacquiao’s gear is fully sponsored by Nike, Inc., under the “MP Fight Night” brand. This includes his trunks,

boots, socks, and entrance robe. His trunks and entrance robe are made of 100% recycled poly-ester, and his boots incorporate Nike’s latest flywire technology. Following previous trends, Pac-quiao’s trunks will have a design incorporating his notable “MP” logo, the colors of the Filipino Flag, and six confirmed spon-sors. Motolite, one of the Phil-ippines’ biggest manufacturing companies, is the sponsor on Pacquiao’s entrance headband.

MouthguardsMayweather will be wearing

a $25,000 mouthguard for the fight, incorporated with dia-mond dust, gold flakes, and a $100 bill cut-out. The mouth-guard is designed and created by Dr. Lee Gause of New York.

Pacquiao’s mouthguard is giv-en to him as a gift from Filipi-no dentist, Dr. Ed Dela Vega of Canoga Park, Los Angeles. Dr. Dela Vega, who has been cus-tom-fitting Pacquiao’s mouth-guards for the past decade, has put extra layers of polyvinyl ace-tate (PVA) in the frontal-interi-or portion of this new guard to give him added protection from blows. The mouthguard has a tie-dye/watercolor inspired de-sign created from the Filipino flag’s colors: red, blue, yellow, and white.

SponsorsThe official beer sponsor is

Tecate, which beat out Coro-na with a bid of $5.6 million to Corona’s $5.2 million. Tecate’s

logo will be the ring’s center moniker during fight night, and it will also be visible on all of the fight’s promotional advertise-ments.

Pacquiao will reportedly make an extra $2.25 million for selling advertisement space to six companies on his trunks and entrance headband. Four of those companies, Motolite, Nike, Cafe Puro, and Air Asia, have been long time sponsors of Pacquiao. Pacquiao will also be wearing an Organo Gold Cof-fee T-shirt during his weigh-in. Nike has also announced that it is unveiling a new line of Pac-quiao-branded clothing during fight week.

Mayweather will have the logo of FanDuel across his waistband. This sponsorship includes branding on his team’s clothing during fight week. Fan-Duel will also be holding other promotional contests through this time period, with one of the prizes being tickets to the bout on May 2. This is the first time in a while that Mayweather will be wearing a sponsorship logo on his trunks.

TicketsTickets for the fight went on

sale on April 23 after an agree-ment had been reached over ticket allocation. Around 1000 tickets will be on public sale priced between $1,500 and $10,000 for the 16,800 capaci-ty MGM Grand. The tickets that went on sale sold out within minutes.

May 1-May 14, 2015 | The Murang’a Guardian20 |We understand you have another life.

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